One Room Challenge 2016 Fall Edition

I'm late to the party but I'm going to participate in the fall edition of the One Room Challenge. The challenge is the brain child of Linda from Calling It Home. Twice a year 20 Designers are picked to transform one room in 6 weeks. They post their progress on Wednesdays. And folks like me can play along as a guest participant and link up our rooms on Thursdays. There are lots of great looking projects and tons of creativity. Go check everyone out!

Let me introduce myself. I'm Kathleen and I'm in the process of refreshing my condo on Chicago's North Shore. This time around the overall look for my condo is what I like to call contemporary glamour -- sophisticated, feminine and shiny sparkly stuff!

This is my first One Room Challenge. I've decided to tackle my office. It was my son's bedroom. He is now an adult and has moved out to his own place. Its time to make the room mine. I had made a little progress last year on the shelves but I just used stuff I had laying around. Time for a redo. I want to lighten the place up, make it more feminine, add some storage and functionality and basically zhush the place up! (And I'm so tired of the pea green walls!)

Here are some pictures of the room after my son moved out. The main elements are a desk, shelves and a futon.

My plans for the room are

• Paint the room gray
• Paint the ceiling and trim white
• Change out the desk, add storage
• Change out the shelves - lighten up the place
• Update the futon - new cover, stain the frame?
• Add drapes
• Change out the art above the futon
• Change out the shelf decor
• Add a surprise design element!

Check back the next 5 Thursdays and see my progress!

Go To Week

2  3  4  5  6

Pink and Gray bedroom

Pink and Gray bedroom by kkendt featuring a white duvet

Oval table lamp
overstock.com

NuLOOM non skid area rug
overstock.com

White duvet
target.com

Wall mounted mirror
ikea.com

Heart throw pillow
walmart.com

Pink toss pillow
etsy.com

Zigzag curtain
walmart.com

R.I.P. Sebastian

It was with a sad heart that I had to say goodbye to my wonderful dog Sebastian the Marvelous after 12 years of loyal companionship. He was sick and it became unfair to keep him with me instead of relieving his pain and suffering. 

It has been several weeks now and I still look around for him and get up to take him out before bed and then realize he isn't here. My cat Starbuck has taken his absence very hard also. She walks around calling for him, looking in all his favorite spots. 

Living Room Sneak Peek

I just wanted to share a little sneak peek of some of the changes in the living room. Lots left to still accomplish, but I like the direction I'm heading. More to come!

Living Room January 2016

Word for 2016

I don't do New Year resolutions. I never seem to be able to keep them, no matter how specific, timely, accountable, blah, blah, blah I make them.

The last couple years I've chosen a word or phrase for the year. 2013 was "do", 2014 was "don't die" (leukemia diagnosis -- in remission now!), 2015 was "no projects".

I've got a couple to chose from for 2016. One is "home". I really want to focus on getting my home in order. I've got a bunch of stuff to sell on eBay, I'm painting and redoing most of the condo, I need to focus on cleaning more consistently, and I want to do a major declutter.

"Companionship" is another option. I need more friends in my life. I'd like to be in a loving relationship with a significant other. 

"Better today" is the last option. I don't just want to exercise more, or eat healthy, or go to bed at a certain hour. I just want to be better today than I was yesterday. Tiny changes daily.

 Do you choose a word or phrase for the year or set resolutions?

I'm obsessed

My new favorite singer, Stromae. I didn't learn of him in time to attend his September concert in Chicago, darn it. But I've got him playing on Spotify all the time right now.
 

Master Bedroom Plans - Again

So I have another design for my bedroom. This one is all neutrals with a pretty floral for the duvet cover. I've been wanting a quieter room than previous plans. Seriously I just can't get this room right. This is like the 3th or 4th plan. I get half way in and stall because I'm not really in love with the color or it doesn't function well with enough storage or some other reason. I've sold the furniture that I had purchased for my plan from February and have been gathering the furniture needed for this version. It fits into my new cottage / shabby chic design, although its darker/warmer than the look in the rest of the condo. I think its OK for the bedroom to be cozier. I like all the storage I have with this furniture, which is critical in my small condo. Of course I shopped Craigslist instead of stores and saved lots of $$. Guys, that fan is $450! Not sure my budget can take that, but it sure is pretty. The plan is to:

• Paint the walls SW Latte
• Paint the ceiling white
• Paint the trim white
• Hang the bed crown with lace drapes
• Decoupage the chest of drawers with vintage sheet music
• Hand paint the dressing table/chest with a design
• Paint the jewelry cabinet cream
• Make cross stitch painted bird art for the wall
• Purchase a bed skirt, euro shams and decorative pillows
• Use my Pottery Barn floral duvet cover
• Purchase some type of decorative window covering. I don't need privacy or light control.
• In the spring replace the window air conditioner unit
• Make a cover out of drop clothes for the file cabinet
• Switch out the closet contents and organizers with the sewing room
• Change out the current broken ceiling fan
• Clean up the vintage trunk at the foot of the bed
• Use the hounds tooth rug that used to be in the living room

I'm trying to work smarter not harder by purchasing ready made bed skirt and euro shams. I also plan on using ready made drapes with the bed crown and windows. So I have eliminated a few potential projects to hopefully make the process go faster.