Lived-In Living Room

Seems like every design blog out there has pictures of perfectly put together living spaces.  No clutter, pristine furniture and definitely not a toy in sight.  I don't know about you, but I don't live in that world.  Even at it's cleanest, our house always has toys, clutter, dust, old furniture that we would love to replace, major and minor renovation projects that need starting and/or finishing, etc. etc.  

Don't get me wrong, I can stage a house for sale or even just long enough for a picture to near perfection but the homes that we actually live in are ALWAYS a work in progress and ALWAYS a MESS (more often that not a really big mess).  So to share our living room design I decided NOT to "stage" it but instead just to show it off the way it looks when we are actually living in it.  Well, at least while the toddler and crawler are sleeping.  The toys in the corner (and from every other room in the house) tend to takeover when they are awake.  

This first picture is the before/after when we first moved in just to show you what a difference a coat of paint can make.  The before beige wasn't terrible, it was just boring beige and I wanted something different.  The best part is that I was pregnant at the time so ALL the painting was left up to my husband and I didn't have to lift a finger.

 I LOVE how the paint color made the gray in the fireplace marble POP and made the white moldings really stand out.  We plan on eventually upgrading the carpet to some sort of hardwood or laminate but for now it is nice to have a little cushioning for our wobbly crawling baby.  We are also working on creating a baby safe cover for the fireplace that I will share soon.

See what I mean about a "lived-in" living room?  I couldn't even get our dog to leave her bed during my cell phone photo shoot.  The boys nap time is also her nap time since they don't leave her alone if they are up.  My biggest NEED in our home is always storage space.  I even went against my own frequent mover advice and bought the larger entertainment center so that I would have more baby proof storage/display space.  It of course backfired in this house and we had to place it on an angle for it to fit in the space.  I always recommend for other frequent movers (military or not) to purchase smaller, more flexible furniture pieces so that they will be more likely to fit in any home you may end up in.


Many of our accessories are Trinkets from our Travels, things that we use frequently like books, toys, and storage baskets or are just personal things that we love.  I also use this space as my 'office' since I am usually pulling triple duty as stay at home mom, interior designer, and blogger.  So, I have my laptop, paint swatches, design magazines, etc. stashed in the yellow secretary desk (thrift store find that we previously used as our china cabinet but recently gave a yellow face lift).  I also keep a portable file box in the bottom of the pillow basket so that it is easily accessible but out of sight.

 Another one of my favorite storage pieces is this vintage trunk that was a gift from my husband.  He is one of those rare guys that pays attention (and actually remembers) when I point out liking something in a store.  I know, I'm pretty lucky.  It not only serves as a great place to keep our more precious belongings (wedding album, baby books, yearbooks, kiddie artwork) but also provides extra seating for guest.  The white side table was my grandmother's but the original top didn't survive one of our moves so I replaced it with the metal tray (which was my grandpa's grilling pan) and sprayed the whole thing white, except the green rubber handles.  The chair and lamp are more thrifty finds that I have given face lifts over the years.

 Our well "loved" sofa is towards the top of my would love to replace wish list but for now works great for our not so neat and tidy toddler.  I wrote about some of the other pieces in the room in a previous post which you can find here.

Finally, I am pretty proud of our DIY ottoman (post coming soon).  We needed something small enough to still allow for plenty of play space but padded, sturdy and in a kid friendly fabric.  It isn't perfect but not too shabby for my first tufting project and my husbands first indoor furniture project.  I am ready to tackle an upholstered headboard next.

Not too Shabby Scraps

It is definitely HEATING up around here so we are busy getting our house ready for Summer. I'm super excited to share these projects that were completed completely with scraps we had around the house. Of course, my husband and I are both admitted DIY hoarders (it's a serious problem but in this case very convenient). 

The first project took me about 5 minutes. I had a little fabric left from an old pillow project, twine and the chalkboard that I use for random holiday decor (Hobby Lobby). Just a little help from the staple gun and we now have a super cute and easy summer door decor.

Our pallet flag took a little more time but was still pretty easy. My husband disassembled, cut and reconfigured an old pallet into this flag shape and I did the painting (so maybe just easy for me). It was originally a little brighter but we let it get bleached by the sun when we lived in the desert for a short time and I actually like it better than before. 

Finally, I am really excited about our "new" back porch buffet! The best part, it was totally free! My dad had given us a bunch of scrap wood for our boys play set and this was all leftover. My husband made a modified version of an Ana-White table and I couldn't be happier about how it turned out. 

Can't wait to see what else we can make from scraps around the house! I'm sure my husband is excited too😉

 

GUEST ROOM WORK IN PROGRESS

When people find out that I am an Interior Designer they often assume that we must have a perfectly put together home filled with beautiful brand new furniture.  I wish!  The truth is, like everyone else we have more important things that our money tends to go towards (kids, food, bills, bills, bills) so while I would love to have a house full of Restoration Hardware for now we have to find more thrifty ways to decorate. 

Slowly but surely we are transforming our guest room from a hodge podge of random extras to an actual guest retreat. 

The soothing wall color is Mindful Gray from Sherwin Williams.  I found these vintage prints at Country Home Furnishings of Cataula recently and couldn't pass up the $15 steal! The frames were a little out dated but nothing some spray paint couldn't fix (I'm obsessed with spray paint).  

I found these pillow covers at Hobby Lobby (another obsession) and instantly brightened up the room from our old black and white motif. The dresser is a hand me down from my grandmother (Hobby Lobby pulls) it needs a little TLC but the size is perfect as a nightstand and it is very functional for extra storage. We try and keep at least two of the drawers empty for guests and use the others for office storage (this room doubles as our office space, I'll share that in a future post). 

I still have plans to paint the mirror but haven't decided on a color. 

The Target lamp shade helped to tie in the teal drapes that I have had since college.  They are in great shape and are the best black out curtains I have ever had so I can't part with them.  I think I originally found them at Pier 1.  I combined two Pinterest ideas to create the "Be our guest" Wifi password frame (more spray paint).  The coasters are from one of our road trips out west and the tray is not only a great place for guests to store tiny odds and ends but was also a wedding gift.  

When we have guests in town I try to put some fresh flowers out, always have clean towels ready and keep a stash of tiny toiletries in case they forgot to pack something.  

This room, like every room in our house is always a work in progress but thankfully our guests are usually pretty understanding.  

PCS e-design service

It's PCS season again!! After two cross country moves last year alone we are thankfully,  not moving again this year (at least not that we know of yet).  So since I have a little more free time,  I am offering a military family geared e-design service to help you get through the stress of how to set up your new home.  I know first hand how hard it can be to uproot and move to a new place (over and over again) and that one of the most important aspects of every move is to try to feel at 'home' as soon as possible.  This affordable e-design service will help guide you on how to re-use your existing pieces in your new home and if needed I can help you create a budget friendly shopping list.  Please visit my design website for more details... mgfinteriors.com

BOYS BATH- WORK IN PROGRESS

As is the case of almost every area of our house, this particular room is still a work in progress.  But, as you will see in the before pics below we have come a LONG LONG way.  After a thorough cleaning (see my post on move-in cleaning) my local handy man (very local since he is also my husband) did a great job with the new paint and tile.  I installed new hardware and then the decorating began...

What we still want to work on in this room...

- Framing the mirror

- change out the faucet

- fix the baseboards (waiting to finish all the floors in the house and do this all at once)

- Maybe put in new countertops (not likely since these are in good shape and it's not a top project priority)

- Paint the cabinets (we will keep them white but they are in need of a little touching up)

The wall color is Sherwin Williams Languid Blue SW6226. Tile is Daltile Sandalo in Castilian Gray.  

The towel bars, towels and shower curtain are all from Target, hooks from Ikea.   The real stars of the show though are our adorable baby boys.  I just had a few home photos blown up through Shutterfly and displayed them in these colorful frames from Homegoods.  

5 FORGOTTEN AREAS TO CLEAN WHEN YOU MOVE-IN

So admittedly, I am not the tidiest person in the world (no surprise to anyone who has been to my house).  But while I have no problem living in my own mess, I am still a germaphobe when it comes to thinking about who else has been somewhere before me.  While I can't always sanitize every inch of a hotel room (one of my favorite parts of owning our own travel trailer) I can at least make sure that every new place that we live is spic and span and has a clean slate for collecting our own personal germs.  Of course, as a military family we have had lots of practice with move-in cleaning and I have also somehow gotten roped into helping several of my family members with their moves over the years.  

Everyone knows how to clean the obvious places, floors, kitchen, bathrooms, windows, etc.  But there are a lot of little nooks and crannies that get overlooked, especially if you hire someone to professionally clean for you.  We have had professional cleaners come in before, which is a huge help for all the major mess areas but I ALWAYS give everything a good sanitizing myself too.  Think about it, no one is going to clean your house as well as you since it's your tush that will be sitting on that toilet.  

So here is my list of places that people tend to overlook when cleaning a 'new' home:

1. Walls!- no, you don't have to scrub every square inch but you might want to take some disinfectant to a few key areas.  

  - Back splash- food, grease, and who knows what else.  They may look clean but just remember you will using this area to prep and store your own food so cross contamination is very likely.

  - Around toilets- the toilets themselves should be an obvious place to clean but the complete area around them are often overlooked.  walls, floors, nearby cabinets and outsides of showers/tubs are all in the 'splash zone'.  Super gross, I know but a necessary area to address.  

  - Behind towel bars- think about it, every time you get done wiping your entire body with a towel and hang it back on the towel bar that towel then rests against that spot on the wall.  It did the same thing with the hairy guy that lived there before you so make sure and sanitize that spot.  

  - Eating/cooking areas- not just the kitchen but the breakfast table, bar, dining room, etc. get a lot of food splatter (especially if toddlers have lived there in the past).  

  - Areas you are painting- not necessarily for sanitary reasons, but a good dusting is highly recommended before you paint anything.  Not only will it help paint adhere better but it will also help keep mysterious specs out of your paint job.  I recommend a Swiffer type dust mop to reach high areas and to make the job go a little faster.  

2. Handles-doors, knobs, cabinets, light switches.  Any area that has frequent contact with any ones hands not only gets germy but also grimy and dirty looking.  Lysol and a rag can go a long way but for tough spots (around door knobs often get a lot of dirt transfer) try a Magic Eraser

3. Holders- drawers, shelves, medicine cabinets.  Anything that holds your toothbrush, towels or unmentionables probably held someone else's before you so give it a good scrubbing.  Clean all cabinets and drawers inside and out.  You know that toothpaste splatter on your bathroom mirror, get the last guys off before you add yours.  

4. Hangers- toilet paper holder, hooks, towel bars.  Think about it, when do you change the empty toilet paper roll?  Yeah, that is when everyone changes it, so clean that entire area.  If your TP holder has one of those springy plastic things just throw it out and get a new one.  They sell them everywhere, dollar store, Walmart, even the grocery store.  

5. Cleaning Tools- washer/dryer, disposal, dish washer, sink drains, tub jets, shower heads.  All the things that are used for cleaning, DEFINITELY need to be cleaned themselves.  For the appliances, check the hardware store for cleaning products specifically designed for these areas.  For your sinks, tubs, showers make sure to get every nook and cranny including the overflow drain.  I always run a jetted tub with cleaning solution (I prefer bleach but check to make sure it won't ruin your jets) several times before I ever step foot in the tub myself.  

I hope this list doesn't gross you out too much.  These are of course all things that you should clean in your home regularly anyway but my most thorough cleaning always comes when we first move in (or when we have a guest coming to stay).  Also, if you live in a brand new home don't just assume that none of this applies to you.  I have been on many, many construction sites that are much nastier than you could even imagine.  Even the best contractors have occasional disgruntled employees who are just plain nasty so clean that tub before you take your first bath.  

What areas do you make sure to give an extra good scrubbing in a new home?  

Favorite Flowers

 My mother-in-law recently fell in love with a piece of art that would be perfect for her Tuscan inspired screened in back porch but was not ready to fork out the hefty price for something that would be hanging outside.  So, she asked if I could attempt to create something similar using some pallet wood that we have been hoarding (was holding all the tile that we recently installed).  My husband was more than happy to have a way to get rid of it and an excuse to use some of his tools.  After he created the 'canvas' I got started on the painting.  I intentionally went for a rustic and rough look since it will become more and more weathered over time anyway.  Can't wait to see it displayed on her Tuscan porch (in Florida).

After starting the Sunflower project, I was on a bit of a painting kick (and in need of a few Mother's Day gifts) and decided to keep going and make some smaller pieces for a few other momma's in my life.  The Amarylis was for my grandma-in-law (GG) because she sent me a beautiful one last year when we were living somewhere with very few flowers.  

Black Eyed Susan's are my mom's favorite flower and have been since my Dad first picked some for her 42 years ago.  He occasionally still stops on the side of the road to pick a bunch for her and brings them home in whatever fancy container he has on hand, usually a coke bottle.

Personalized Presentation

One of the most common mistakes I see in home decor is a lack of personal touches.  Many people feel that they just need to fill the space and forget to make it reflect themselves.  To make a home feel like YOUR home it has to represent you and your family.  Of course, there is nothing wrong with a few generic store bought elements but be sure to mix them in with your personalized details wherever possible to make your design more YOU.

Here are a few examples of ways that we have personalized our home both aesthetically and functionally...

Personal touches- The silver tray was a wedding gift, the mirror and the type writer box were both from antique store ventures with my mom, which is a pretty frequent thing(the type writer is on display in our office).  But, the real PERSONALIZATION here is in the functionality of this arrangement.  The storage basket (from World Market) is a hiding place for our 2 year olds train track toys and the console is of course a great place to hide all kinds of junk.  As I continue to share pictures or our home in future posts you will probably notice a trend of storage solutions for toys.  We are swimming in toys these days.  Entry Table- Hand-me-down from my parents that I refinished to tie in with the rug (also a hand-me-down).  No, that is not chalk paint.  It is just a paint and primer in one from Lowes and my own dark wax concoction (regular furniture wax with ebony stain mixed in).  The pulls are from Hobby Lobby.  

This wall decor collage is full of personal elements.  A print my Dad gave us from an artist in his hometown, a map of our beloved SouthEast, New Orleans print from our first road trip together, vintage postcard from our time living in Arizona and the Hobby Lobby magnet frame is a great way for us to switch out more temporary photos.  

The Family Business- This is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE artwork.  It may not be pretty to most people but it has a very personal story behind it and means so much to me to finally be able to display.  My grandfather was a draftsman and the hours and hours that I spent with him in his workshop growing up are a big part of why I decided to become a designer.  I actually used a lot of his drafting tools in my architecture classes in college and have several of them displayed throughout our home (including the two small compass on the wall).  This floor plan and detail that he drew were for a home that my parent's built that I grew up in from age 8-18.  Up close, you can see his perfect architectural handwriting and even eraser marks since this was an early on draft. I have been carrying these around for years and my parent's had these framed for us as our housewarming gift.  

MANTLE DECOR- I have a never ending obsession with switching out this arrangement, especially for various holidays.  Right now though, this is one of my favorite looks mainly because of my PRICELESS artwork.  Yes, that is a finger painting from my two year old!  I would much rather have this displayed than art from any other artist and the best part is it was free!  It makes me smile every time I see it and he loves to show off his "painting" to all of our visitors.  I always like to include elements from the various places that we have lived so when I saw an episode of Fixer Upper where they used cotton branches I had to steal the idea to represent the cotton farms that we live near.  The milk jug and window are more antique store finds and the vase and bird are my splash of color, I change my mind on colors pretty frequently too so I like to use things that are easily switched out or moved to other rooms.  

Farmer Sam

Here is a sneak peak at the theme for Sam's nursery.  We decided on a farm theme but only have a few elements that are strict to the theme so that we can switch them out as he gets older.  We also kept with the same basic color pallet as his older brother's room in case they ever end up sharing a room in a future house (very likely with how much we move).

The changing table is on loan from my sister, I think it was from Pottery Barn.  Canvas baskets are all  from Target and go great with the buffalo check that we re-used from his brothers room in a few places including the crib skirt and floor pillows (pictures in future post)

The Farm Animal artwork was a personal touch from Mommy and Daddy.  My husband made the plank 'canvases' and I hand painted the cute farm animals. I am thinking about making more to sell on Etsy in the near future.  Oh, and I ordered the minky and chevron blanket from OhSewCutiePie (the back is orange and white chevron).

Preparing to PCS...AGAIN

So we are moving cross country again for the second time in 6 months!!  Even though this time we not only have a toddler and I will be 6 months pregnant I am surprisingly NOT STRESSED!  To most normal, non-military people this kind of adventure would sound like a nightmare but we are actually really excited and really prepared.  Below is my TO-DO list for this last month before our big move.  I thought it might be helpful for some of you who are either new to  PCS moves or are just a little rusty.  Moving twice so close together is actually really helpful because the dos and don'ts are fresh in our minds.

PCS TO DO LIST...

Date	Task
5/6/14	Get medical records for J	Pick up on Post with his last appointment
5/10/14	Email Landlord Orders	Or as soon as we receive them
5/10/14	Paperwork on post	Get assigned a mover/packer and schedule walk thru for them to estimate weight, be sure to point out appliances that are yours, attic items, back yard, etc.
5/10/14	Set up pack/move date with movers	Pack 6/25-6/26- Load Truck 6/27
5/23/14	Set up final walk thru date with landlord	6/30 @9am- We are planning on getting on the road immediately after this but will have a few cleaning supplies and spackle on hand just in case we need to do anything last minute.  Also, don't forget to change out the air filters!
5/23/14	Notify Utilities of shut off date: electric, water, gas, cable	Shutoff on 7/1 so it is still on for walk thru
6/8/14	Start Prep for Packers	Assign areas for packing:  Wall stuff in Closets, Camper stuff in our bath
6/8/14	Take stuff off walls	Guest: Pics,drapes   Hall: Pics,hook,nooks  J: Shelves,books, pics  Fam: pics, drapes  Master: drapes
6/8/14	Patch holes
6/15/14	Find OBGYN in GA: Notify Tricare	Researched preferences ahead of time
6/15/14	Gather liquids	Organize by room/type
6/15/14	Gather Candles
6/22/14	Bag Drawers and Clothes	trash bags to group hanging items together (label), large zip locs for small items in drawers
6/22/14	Last minute wall stuff down	J’s Black out Drapes
6/22/14	Pack Camper	We have a camper that we stay in the last few days before move but you can prep your things that you will need during move process in a bathroom or separate room so the packers don't pack them.  List of suggestions below.
6/23/14	Get medical records for me	Most people can do this sooner but since I am preggers I am having one last appointment just before the move.
6/28/14	Clean House: dust, windows, mirrors, cabinets, counters, floors, baths, porches, garage, filter,	Carpet cleaners and final pest control (required by our landlord) will happen the day after movers take our things, we always stay in town for at least 2 days to clean and prep house so we can be sure to get our full rental deposit back.  It is also impossible to clean the house thoroughly with stuff still in it.
7/1/14	Get utilities turned on at new house: electric, water, gas, cable	Schedule this well in advance, can take a few days for them to actually get to your new home and you don't want to be without lights, hot water, etc.  Will also be needed if you plan on having carpets cleaned before movers arrive.  Find out from new landlord or previous owner if they did this after last move out so you aren't double cleaning for no reason.

A few other things to remember...

- We always leave cleaning out the fridge to last because we try to use up as much food/condiments as possible.  We have the camper to take some things with us but if you have no way to take cold items with you then consider asking friends and neighbors if they want anything before you throw it out.  Movers won't pack this stuff anyway so don't stress about it until they are done packing.  

- Important items- we use a large plastic bin to keep photo albums, baby books, jewelry, and other sentimental items that we would really be upset about if they were damaged or lost.  We take these things with us.  Basically, anything that you would truly miss and could not replace (sentimental not monitory) keep with you if you can.  If you are moving overseas, consider asking a family member to store for you while you are gone.  

- Documents- we have a small fire safe that we keep birth certificates, marriage license, etc. in so we just bring that with us to be safe.  You also will want to have a binder with all of your paperwork pertaining to your move.  

      - Military orders (several copies)

      - Lease agreements (new and old house) 

      - Purchase documents if buying a new home

      - Copies of last month of each utility bill

      - Phone numbers for new utility companies, landlord, realtor, anyone you might need to contact

      - Directions to new home and any hotels, rv parks, etc. that you are staying at along the way (just    in case cell phone isn't working when you really need it)

      - MOVING COMPANY CONTACT INFO INCLUDING THE TRUCK DRIVER"S CELL NUMBER- you will want to be able to contact them to see when your stuff will arrive at your new home.  Don't forget to get the truck driver's phone number and maybe even email.  

   You will also want to pack some things yourself and set aside so that you are prepared for the in-between days while the majority of your belongings are in transit.  Remember that when the packers come you need to be fully prepared ahead of time and have things clearly blocked off and labeled that you do not want them to pack.  I was really surprised how quickly they will get things packed and they usually split up to different parts of the house so you won't be able to still be working on your own in a different room.  We even had one pack the food that we bought for them to have while they were working because it wasn't exactly in the labeled and dedicated area we had assigned.  I have also heard of them packing trash cans with the trash still in them so make sure to take that out before they arrive or you could be in for a stinky situation.  Pack the same way you would if you were going on a trip but be sure to include a little extra in case there is a weather delay or something with the moving truck.  If you are planning on getting to your home before the movers and don't want to stay in a hotel you may want to include an air mattress, sheets, towels, simple provisions for meals,(paper plates, cups) etc.  

Since we move in our travel trailer we have pots, pans, plates, sheets, towels, etc. already set up in the trailer.  We add food, clothes, toiletries, toys, etc. and move to the RV park on post a few days before packers come to make it easier on us to not be living in an upside down house with our toddler.  You may want to consider staying in a hotel or with a friend once the packers show up or if you are more adventurous than us then make sure to set aside an air mattress and pac-n-play for kiddos.  

Suggested packing list...

- Clothes for transition time (comfy and things you can clean in)

- Toiletries for whole family

- Sensible shoes- again something you can clean in and wear for long car rides

- TOYS, books, car toys, dvd players, iPads, etc. - lots of ways to keep kids entertained

- Stroller, pac-n-play (with sheets), 

- Snacks for the car ride (red bull for my husband)

- Small cooler for drinks in the car

- Baby food, formula, bottles, pacifiers, bibs, etc. 

- Diapers and wipes 

- Jackets or bathing suits, depending on the weather.  If you stay somewhere with a swimming pool or big snow pile it might be nice to let the kids (and you) have a fun break

- Fill your iPod with lots of music and audio books to help with the drive.  Mickey Mouse videos work great for our toddler too.

Suggestions we have used from friends...

- Put all drawer/basket items in bags (we use giant zip locs and trash bags).  Packers will sometimes just dump drawers boxes and it can be a nightmare to unpack and re-organize.  If you group your utensils then it is much easier for unpacking quickly.  I will even be putting my clothes in trash bags this time so they don't all come un-folded and I will label by season, type, mine/husbands so we can find what we need faster.  

- Special toys- a friend of mine buys a few new books and toys for her kids and also hides a few of their favorites a little bit out from the move.  That way, when they are in the car for hours and hours she can pull out an old favorite or a new exciting toy and keep them entertained a little longer.  

- Nap time travel- Our toddler is still taking two naps a day so we try and schedule our drive time during those naps.  This may mean stopping for a long lunch and play place somewhere but it is much easier on us all to have a sleepy baby than a cranky baby in the car.  If you are driving in separate cars you could always send one ahead to set up the hotel for the night.  

- Make your trip a real trip- Usually we are on a bit of a time crunch to get to the new home before the movers but if we can we try and squeeze in a few fun stops.  The big plus to being military is that we have friends all over the country so we usually try and stop for a visit (even if it is just dinner) along the way.  There are also endless road side attractions all across the country that can give the whole family a nice break.  Map out your route well in advance and search online (or in an atlas) for fun stops that aren't too far off your path.  

Finally!  Have FUN!!  Make your move an adventure, not a stressful event.  If you are upset about leaving your current post take some time to research and discover your new post.  Find Facebook groups, blogs, events, etc. that you can get involved in even before the move so you know what you have to look forward to.  Every post has something to look forward to and if not, at least you know with the military that it isn't permanent:)