Family Rules....

When I was browsing in Homesense looking for things for Tyler's new bedroom plan, I unfortunately walked by this subway art canvas.

I tried to ignore it. I really did.

{Must. Stay. Out. Of. Homesense.}

But a strange magnetic force pulled me back.

Then I made a mistake..and read it.

 And it came home with me.

I don't have a ton of wall space left to hang things.

It found it's new home on the pantry door in the kitchen.

For now.

A Beautiful Sewing Studio...

I had the wonderful pleasure of helping to put together this wonderful sewing studio for a very good friend of mine.

She is a very busy mom of 4 children who works full-time and also takes on a full slate of volunteer commitments.

She is truly an amazing mother, wife & friend...always with a smile to greet you.

This sewing studio initally started out with a hodge podge of furniture with the sewing tables being 2 foldable banquet tables....like the kind you buy at Costco.

But a flood in the basement of the home required the room to have new flooring,paint & furniture.

My friend showed me the room when it looked like this....just a coat of pretty blue on the walls.

She asked for some help for this room.

As soon as I saw this room, my mind immediately recalled the beautiful blue studio of Donna Downey as shown below.

This became our "Inspiration Picture" for the room.

And here is the "After".

It is so much better than 2 folding banquet tables!

It is a space that is happy and bright.

A wonderful space for this Mom to relax and quilt and craft to her heart's content.

The trusty Pfaff sewing machine has it's own space with a clipboard above for hanging quilting patterns.

A comfortable chair  and a great light complete the sewing area.

A cheerful collection of artwork & vases with flowers add just the right amount of happy.

A little tea corner for a break from sewing sits here.

A ladder for displaying quilts makes this area interesting & fun.

And the workhouse for storage in this room is an IKEA expidite piece.

It holds books and fabric for future projects.

The IKEA island acts as a cutting surface for quilting projects.

Previously, Mom had been going upstairs to the kitchen to do cutting, but it was my suggestion to add this island to the room so she didn't have to trod upstairs anymore.

Isn't this a beautiful room?

I am so happy that my friend has this little haven for herself.

I think as busy Moms... we all need a happy space for ourselves.

This post is linked to these great parties:

Style & Organization for a Girly Dressing Room...

So another project that I tackled while I was home visiting in Nova Scotia was styling & organizing my Mom's dressing room.

{After}

My sweet mother realized that this large & spacious area next to her walk-in closet had become a bit tired and was in need of a little makeover.

She asked for my help & of course I said YES  because when the woman who has been one of your biggest cheerleaders in life needs help, you are at the ready!!

I  did a little shopping at IKEA and shipped a large box to her just as Canada Post went on strike. However, much to my relief, the goodies arrived not long after I flew to Nova Scotia.

We also did a little shopping at Winners before the big makeover day!

Behold the 'BEFORES':

 Notice in the photo above the 15 years of magazines like Martha Stewart, Gourmet, Canadian Living, and others.

We cleared those the heck out of there and donated them!

We worked hard to tame the wild piles of stuff...

coordinated some black & white & pink to make a slightly romantic & girly space.

And after I worked my magic...the 'AFTERS':

A sweet spot to sit in to do hair & makeup.

A simple vignette to make the space feel relaxed.

Shelves made pretty and hair stuff contained in feminine containers & IKEA boxes.

Makeup perfectly organized.

This little makeover took only a few hours but the results were well worth the effort.

Now my Mom has a space that feels fun & fresh.

{Love you Mom!!}

This post is linked to these terrific parties:

Strut Your Stuff Saturday @ Six Sisters Stuff

Sundae Scoop @ I {heart} Naptime

Tyler's New Room Plan....

I have returned from vacation and am throwing myself back into projects around the house like nobody's business.

It was great to come back after a fabulous 5 weeks in Nova Scotia because not only did I get lots of rest & relaxation...I got to come home and see my house with fresh eyes!

So my Mr. Tyler has been asking repeatedly for a new & BIGGER bed in his room.

He is a growing boy and he wants to say 'bye bye' to his twin bed and hello to a Double Double please.

Let me be honest here...his room is small.

I have been over the floor plan 6 ways to Sunday and there is no way a double bed could be added to the space without loss of a chest of drawers AND a desk. Boo!

I really believe every child needs a desk in their room, along with a bookcase.

I just cannot seem to bend on these issues...I think a place for quiet study in a private space is a must.

Let me share the new room plan:

I want to make a room that will take him to the end of High School...so it should be fun but also allow him to mature in it.

Remember that the goal is to add a double bed and keep a space for a desk and a chest of drawers.

After much careful thought... a LOFT bed seems like the best solution.

I didn't want this solution, but a measuring tape convinced me otherwise.

I have been wrestling with this decision for weeks and weeks...trying to talk myself out of a LOFT bed.

But with the lack of square footage, it offers the best solution.

{However, I may change my mind, but the colour scheme will not change.}

And Ikea offers great solutions at affordable prices...because you know I am getting the 'eyebrows' from the husband.

He agrees with the new bed. The rest...not so much. {Men!}

So here we have the double LOFT bed...as it will look in his room with the space underneath for a cozy study space and a chest of drawers.

The chest of drawers that will be placed on the right side behind the ladder.

A desk & shelves will be placed on the left side. I will paint his current desk and add some shelves.

The new wall colour. Benjamin Moore's Revere Pewter. I wanted a warm grey for this space in contrast to the black furniture.

The new bedding...a light gray that will take him right into teenage years.

Up in his little loft space, he will need a shelf for a drink and a few books:

And a wall lamp for reading...

And now for the fun part...zippy accents in red...like these pillows...along with some artwork and red draperies.

Thoughts? Comments?

Please do share!

Do you know of another gray that would work well in this room?

What colour should I paint his desk? Red? Dark Gray?

Ready..set..go!

This post is linked to these great parties: