For before pictures look here and here.
View from the doorway:
Two weeks ago I walked into The Brick (Canadian furniture store) with my DD, did a sweep of the store and just as I was about to walk out I spotted this chair (below) from their Loft collection, it was perfect and the ottoman was 1/2 price when purchasing a chair. Score!
The frames/shadow boxes have scrapbooking paper in them in black, white and pink and tons of different patterns. I went to Home Depot to get picture hanging supplies and the guy helping me practically cried he was laughing so hard when I described the job I had for hubby. Therefore, I reconsidered and decided to do it myself. I Googled "hanging pictures gallery style" and got great tips. I traced every frame on craftpaper and cut them out, numbered them, layed out their corresponding frame in a pattern on the floor, taped a straight line across the wall, stuck the paper frames on the wall (bless you, green painter tape!), and started hanging. I even used a level! Oh, and bless 3M Picture Hanging Strips too! I used them where ever I could. The actual hanging of the frames probably took 2 hours and I only have a minimal amount of "extra holes."
My desk. It measures about 5 x10 and is from Ikea. I knew I wanted tons of storage to fit underneath and the Helmer and Alex drawer units fit the bill! (Desk design was by my friend, I just specified the drawer units I wanted.)
I really wanted a bar height "island" to work at. Sharon figured out the bar table and stools from Ikea . This way the kids can join me, though I thought long and hard before assembling the second stool, LOL. I have a very hard time thinking "outside of the box" and would never have come up with this. Thanks Sharon! I already had the bookshelves (Ikea again), just added the doors.
Sewing corner. Hubby hung these shelves for me! ;-) And put my desk together, Thanks babe! See my trusty Bernina (it's circa 1960's) sitting there? My gramma gave it (along with her great-grandmothers fabric scissors) to me when she went into a nursing home. It means a lot to me. She helped me make burping cloths, receiving blankets, etc when I was expecting DD on that very machine.
I was going to make my own bulletin & chalkboard then I figured out home much it would cost to buy cork, chalkboard paint, frames, etc. I lucked upon this huge one at Home Sense (like Home Goods) and snapped it up. Actually, like my usual, I thought "Self, this would be PERFECT! You should get it!" I replied "Great idea." Then talked myself out of it and emailed Sharon for some design hand-holding. Guess what she told me...? For being such a decisive person, when it comes to my house, I suck!
My stitching buddy, Oscar. He was tired from sleeping all night. And all morning...
It's been a long time coming but so worth it. I officially used it for the first time yesterday. I sat a the bar table with my stitching and a cup of tea for 1 1/2 hours. It was awesome!
Thanks to my dad for the use of his truck for the trips to Ikea, Sharon for all your expertise (she also found about 90% of the knick knacks for me) and hubby for all your help hanging shelves, putting my desk together and accompanying me to Ikea!
Let me know what YOU think!
