Bedroom Redo: The Mantel

Here are some photos of the mantel in my daughter's room. I have a few more projects to do before I finish the room, but my life has suddenly become extremely busy and I am lucky if I even get dinner made and the laundry done.

 

I just wanted a quick and inexpensive mantel makeover.

 

 

Here is a grainy before photo of the mantel-dark and boring.

 

 

I  painted the mantel a glossy ivory. I did not want to spend much on decor- I painted the backside of art I already had with a buffalo check and I added some vessels from the thrift store.

 

 

I've had this antique dress form for years and love the way it looks in this room.

 

 

 

I prefer the simple look of the mantel and my daughter seems pleased too.

 

 

Bedroom Redo: The Ceiling

My current house project is redoing my daughter's room for the umpteenth time. She is fickle by nature, and she always seems to wear me down because she knows I love to redecorate. Her bedroom is challenging because it is made up of an attic room and a standard room adjoined by an arch. That means there are quite a few windows, slanted walls, and pieces of furniture that have to be taken into consideration every time it is redone.

 

 Since the moment my youngest inherited the room from her older sister she has been bent on making it stark by removing all color, curtains, rugs and comfort. My oldest didn't care all that much what her room looked like (or if it was ever clean), so she didn't complain when I painted it rosy red and sewed up yards and yards of fabric to make curtains, bedding, and a canopy. Lately I have tried to impress on my youngest that the reason she now finds her room so uncomfortable is that she has removed all the warmth- I seem to be gaining a bit of ground. She is now replacing the cream she originally had, and grew to despise, with the dark grey she currently loves.

 

The photos below show the results of our first compromise-I agreed to pack away the dormer curtains if she would let me paint stripes on the ceiling. Here are the first shots of the dormer/bedroom, which is still a work in  progress.

 

The dormer with the curtains removed and painted a fresh coat of grey.

 

I striped the ceiling with a golden wheat color.

 

My other victory was putting the settee back in the dormer. She had recently replaced it with her vanity and it just felt awkward.

 

As long as there are no new changes to upset the progress I will try to keep you posted.

 

 

Juicing for Joy

Today is the perfect day to share my love of juicing and to encourage anyone who is considering adding fresh juice to their daily diet to try it out. For the past two years I have been juicing daily and my life has been enhanced in many ways. My state of mind has improved and I'm much more positive and energetic than I was in the past. My hair and skin are healthier and my weight is easy to maintain.

When I started juicing I used carrots, apples, oranges and wheat grass.

 

My current juice consists of carrots, apple, cucumber, lemon, broccoli, beet, chard, kale, dandelion greens and radishes.  

 

I highly recommend adding lemon to make it extra refreshing.

 

 

 

 

I juice enough for the morning and afternoon, but I also add snacks like natural peanut butter with ground flaxseed and raw honey to keep my energy up between juices.