Closet Bench Transformation

 We all love to find a good bargain, so when I go shopping I search the sale and discount area first which is usually in the back of the stores. I just love to see a markdown tag it just automatically make me happy. I've also been known to wait around for something to be markdown, it takes patience but I just believe in spending my dollars wisely. Well in the attempt to complete my dressing room/closet I was in search for a cute X bench to provide seating. I knew I wanted something on a smaller scale, but with a touch of glam.  X benches can cost hundreds,and mess up your budget so I was in search for a budget friendly bench and the perfect size. I did find the perfect bench but it need a little redo. Take a look:

                        From: Plain Jane

To: Stunning Susie
                                                                                                                 

Of course I search my house, just to
make sure that I didn't have something already. Well this is what I had in my stash. .

        A recent resale find on half price day, but not the correct style and much too big.

                             Cute resale find by not the look, back in the stash...

  This X bench sits in our foyer and is the perfect put spot to sit and put on our boots.  The size is much too large and the color wont work. It is in the budget to be upholstered for the foyer redesign in the spring.
I did search the internet and fell in love with some awesome benches, but they were OUT of my budget.

 I love this X bench, the nail studs are classy and elegant but the budget said NO WAY.  

                           This bench is stunning, the fabric and chrome...wait the budget said NO.
So while in the famous Tarjay(Target) with the hubbie I ran across this bench. I thought it would be great and provide a pop of color. I made the purchase just to see if it would work in the closet. My daughter named me Return Rita, so I would be true to the name and if it didn't work I could return it.                                          

                                 Bye little fuchsia bench she just did not work at all back to Target.
I tell you the truth I just don't know where I would be without HomeGoods, I could live in that store. I found this little beauty waiting for me to take her home, she was in the markdown section. She was the perfect size, price, and a X bench.

See that red sticker it makes me smile :). She was marked down because she had been abused and broken, the frame was loose and needed to be screwed back in. The budget said YES and at my house she would get all the TLC she needed.

         So I searched my fabric bin and found her a new outfit, of course Black & White. With my trusted staple gun and some fabric and a little Windex for the chrome, I knew she would be gorgeous.
 

                                      So allow me to introduce my new sitting room/closet X bench.

                              This was a really easy redo and can be accomplished with leftover fabric and a staple gun. It was completed with a small budget and is a true transformation.  She is ready to claim her spot.

My Closet Redesign

How was your weekend? Mine was a good one, the weather was a little bit warmer so I was able to get out and run some errands and of course do a little shopping.  I have been working on my closet/dressing room for a while now. I've been holding out on showing the  project to you all because I have not been able to pull all the accessories together to get it complete.  I believe that a well organized closet is a must. It also assists me in being organized in other area of my life. I'm close to showing you guys my final reveal so hold on. Today I have decided to show the first part of the redo and the wallpaper. So here we go.

 I fell in love with the closets in our house when I first saw it; well my husband fell in love with the backyard. Each bedroom closet has beautiful built in dressers which are spacious & deep. I appreciated that I would not have to purchase dressers for the bedrooms since that were already built into the closets.   Here is a before look of my closet,. I really hate to open this door to let you in.

OK step on in 

I only have one shelf for storage

My closet lacked accurate shelves for storage, the walls had no color and it needed to be organized.
After bringing my husband on board to help with this project we he installed new shelves from Lowes. We also gave the walls a fresh coat of grey paint.
                                                                  

                          
The new shelves provided space for my purses and shoes up top.We also got a new pole for my clothes.  Since this closet is mine I wanted to design a closet that would be girly and glam. No surprises you all know I'm addicted to black & white. I wanted to accent one wall so I decided on this wallpaper from Lowes Allen & Roth.

 I fell in love with this classic print. It's black & white of course with tones of silver, I smile every time I see it.
                                                      

  I have never installed wallpaper before but after YouTube,Google searches and checking blogs here she is my wallpaper all hung and stunning. Thank GOD for pre pasted wallpaper.

     :                                            

Up close

From this: Boring plain & colorless 

To this: Stunning, glamours, black & white 

                                            

            

I plan to do the reveal on this closet soon. I have scratched so much off my things to do list for this project.

Paint

Install new shelves

Install wallpaper on accent wall

Nail head trim on dressers

Purchase new hangers

Purchase shoe rack

Purchase new storage baskets

Purchase rug

Purchase stool

Paint & Hang mirror

Close to my reveal, I totally in love with my closet. What are you guys working on to get organized in 2014? Please share.  

It's A New Year. Just Do It!!!!!

Hey guys it's a New Year!!!! We always fake ourselves out with New Years resolutions, however after January we have fallen back into our old routines forgetting about our new commitment. Change is only a decision and can be made at anytime. Some people consider New Years in the spring when everything is new again, to each its own. However, I'm confident that GOD has great things in store for 2014. Blogger had some kind of update to IE and I couldn't post anything  for a week so frustrating. Presently Chicago is under dangerous weather conditions with a winter storm. This is serious hibernation weather people, however I have decided to focus on the opportunity to complete several projects and cross them off my list of things to do.  I have made a decision to post more in 2014. I want to share a sneak peak of some projects that I'm working on.

      My closet redesign. Dresser nail head redo .

My new/old wallpaper. My first wallpaper install.

HomeGoods  clearance bench 

Fabric for the bench makeover

Gallery wall in the redesigned guest room

Bathroom crying for a update

Thrift store chest for the foyer 

Thrift store sunburst mirror. Maybe for the foyer redesign.

I'm actually doing something in each room of my house. I have started my list for each room and will be sharing my list later. 

How do you guys handle multiple projects around your house? Please share. Leave me a comment.

.

Merry Christmas To All

Merry Christmas.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

Hey guy I cant believe it, Christmas is two days away. I have so many projects going on its crazy and I cant wait to show you all. I'll show a little peek of one of my current projects soon.  I'm finished, done no more shopping for gifts. My list this year was a short one, I'll be wrapping  gifts tomorrow evening and tying things up. I've been visiting Christmas Home Tours around blogosphere, oh what beautiful trees and homes.

Actually I keep things a bit easy and simple when it comes to Christmas decorations, I think I dread the task of taking all the ornaments and decorations down and storing everything away. Wow typing that statement just made me tried. Don't get confused I'm not related to Ebenezer Scrooge at all, I did put up a gorgeous wreath and decorated my foyer.

Truly Christmas is about more than the sparkle of ornaments and tinsel on the tree, gifts and shopping ,hold on now I love to shop and is always seeking a bargain. This season usually allows me time to remember and rejoice! To think about the true reason for the season Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Check out this video it totally moved my heart and helps me to stay focus on the Savior of the World.

    
                                                                    Merry Christmas
                                                  

Client Office Makeover

My current project is a office makeover. I'm working with a awesome client to makeover her office space. She is a working mother, wife and a soon to be grandmother. She and her husband made some major renovation work done to their house a couple of years ago. However she desired a space  to call he own. She was sure that she wanted a office. Here is her space. She recently scored this desk on Craiglist.

Here is the design board that I created for her space
                                                                 Stay tuned for the results.

My Living Room

Hello Folks,
I pray that your Thanksgiving was full of friends, family and food. I actually had a nice quite Thanksgiving at home. I did do some Black Friday shopping, just a little. Well in my last post I  shared about my thrift store rug and was indecisive about which room in the house she would live in. Today I wanted to show her off in my living room. I don't think I've showed you all my living room before, probably because I continue to update it. My design style has definitely changed over the years. I'll show how my living room has evolved over time.
                                              This mean green color theme was in 2010

 

 

Calming Cream in 2011

 

Black & White Stripe also in 2012 

Black & White with a pop of orange in 2012

Today

 

This room makes me feel happy

 

 This living room has come a long way over time. Actually I'm still changing things around, I don't know if I will ever stop decorating, moving and tweaking things around, honestly I don't want to its my love and passion for creating a pretty room.  I just purchased a cute Cynthia Rowley throw for the sofa. What do you guys think? How has your space revolved over time?

I will be doing some Xmas decorating this week and updating my foyer with some recent thrift finds.

I'll be back soon.

 

Loretta