Hallway Makeover

This week, I decided to do a mini hall makeover of my own. I've had two pieces of art hanging in our upstairs hallway that I've never been crazy about (I picked them up at an estate sale a few years ago). I really believe that every piece you have on your walls should "speak to you" personally. All these two pieces have said to me are, "Take me down, please."

I guess that's what I get from trying to make something work just because I wanted to fill the space. Lesson learned: If you don't love it, don't buy it. The right piece will come along and it will be well worth the wait!

Here is our hallway:

And here are the two pieces of art:

I wanted to replace them with something meaningful. I love the photo gallery idea but we already have many family photos throughout the rest of the house. So instead, I decided to frame a collection of our old ticket stubs. Our entire family loves music and theater, so we have tickets to everything from the Elton John/Billy Joel concert back in the late 80s (early 90s?) to "Wicked", Jerry Seinfeld, and local children's theater productions.

I picked up old frames at garage sales and estate sales.

I painted them with a high gloss white spray paint.

Then, I matted and framed all the tickets.

Here is the end result...

I'm definitely not finished yet. I found these drum pendants that come with an adaptor that allows you to change your recessed can light into a pendant light! Since we have two recessed can lights in that hallway, I'm going to replace them with these natural drum shades from Ballard Designs. I'll post pics when I finish the project...

You can tell a lot about a person by the music they listen to or the movies they like. Now, when our guests walk down our hallway, maybe they'll learn a little more about us by the story our ticket stubs tell.

And when we walk down that hall, maybe we'll get to relive a small moment in the past...whether it's feeling foolish meeting Bruce Hornsby and asking for an autograph or crying at the end of "Rent"...

Crazy Ol Bird Meets Entryway

I've been trying to decide how to use my Crazy Ol Bird chair. I LOVE this chair, but I really don't have a place for it in my home. I thought about using it in an entryway but unfortunately, my foyer is not big enough. If I had the space, here is how I would do it...

My first upholstery project, "Crazy Ol Bird".

Black Lacquer Console Table by Black Orchid Designs

Germain Wood Mirror by Pottery Barn

Great lamps - I have no idea where they're from!

How would you use this chair? I'd love to hear your ideas!!

Entryways and Hallways

This week is all about entryways and hallways...parts of the home we don't necessarily think about as much. Entryways are a guest's first impression of your home and they are your first "welcome back" after coming home from work or play. They definitely should be inviting and should reflect the overall "feel" and 'style" of your entire home.

Here are a few that i find intriguing...

Bold and sophisticated.

Designed by Jonathan Berger

Rustic and cozy.

Designed by Barbara Westbrook.

Simply glam fabulous!

The other main "thoroughfare" of the home is the hallway. Don't forget about it - it should integrate the rooms in your home.

I love the photo gallery idea!

This hallway is simple yet really makes an impact.

I really like the naked bulb pendants.

I like the runners in this hallway. They are a great way to bring in color and/or pattern.

Here is another photo gallery but on long ledges. The diagonal wood floors are divine.

I'm in the middle of my own little hallway design project. I can't wait to show you later this week! Have an inspired day!

DIY: Kid's Stage

My 6 year old son, Grant, loves music and theater. He told me recently that he wanted a "rock star" room. Of course, it doesn't take much to get me to redesign a room, so I went to work. Both he and my 3 year old love pretending to be in a band and putting on shows, so I decided to build a stage.

Since I'm not a carpenter, I spent a long time thinking of how I was going to pull this off relatively easily. I decided to use old pallets - the perfect platform!

I used two pallets and covered each of them with pieces of plywood.

I then covered them with an inexpensive gray indooor/outdoor rug from Home Depot.

They loved it, but of course, the stage definitely needed something more. I had left over burlap fabric that I patchworked together in a triangle shape and hung it from the

ceiling above the stage.

Honestly, my boys would have been very content at this point, but I wasn't. I didn't want to hang a stage curtain because it wouldn't have lasted long with two rambunctious boys around. I decided instead to paint the remainder of the stage on the wall. I taped off the areas and painted in several stages.

I used black chalkboard paint at the top as a marquee and "behind" the curtains...that way, the boys can write the name of their show and draw in their backdrop.

After I completed this, I decided to add the vertical marquee surrounded by DIY "lights". I cut ping pong balls in half, hot glued in wet floral foam and topped each with a small piece of paper. I then used Command poster strips to hang them. None of them have come off yet...I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Here is the completed stage!

My boys love the stage! They had friends over recently, and when I asked them what the name of their show was, they replied, "Rockers of Death." Uh, yeah...

Linked up at:

Decorating with Children's Books

I love children's books, and I strongly believe that a child can't have too many of them. While on vacation in Oregon, we visited the grand Powell's Books...the best book store

I've ever been to!

We lingered in the children's book section and I let the boys pick out a few to take home.

I ended up taking all the book jackets off of my kids' hardback picture books. I had a feeling that with two boys, it was just a matter of time before the jackets were ripped to shreds. There are lots of creative ways to use your empty jackets...I made this kid's coat rack with an old fence post, Modge Podge and whimsical knobs. You could also make a collage of your kids' favorite book jackets on a large canvas...

For my kids' bathroom, I framed several pages from the Dr. Seuss classic, "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish."

Perhaps the simplest way to use books in decorating is to just display them.

I love stuffed book characters - probably more than my kids do! You can display them together in a playroom or reading nook.

Happy Reading!!