I Confess ...

By Angie on January 8, 2006 11:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (43)

... I do not know how to rest. Or "How To Decorate For Under $200" After Christmas I was exhausted. The holidays kicked my butt big time. But then after a couple days I got bored, then sick, then better and then I got this burst of energy that had to be unleashed. I figured I should get on the ball and finish the upstairs bedrooms that have been waiting for almost a year for me to decide what to do with them. New Year's Day we spent 6 hours in the truck on the road to collect a $40 clawfoot tub. The same tub that the restorer will be returning to me FRIDAY looking like brand new. I am so completely excited!!! So on our return last Sunday afternoon I was sitting on the couch while Steven took J. back to her mother's and I was bored. I went upstairs, looked around her room, grabbed a paintbrush and roller and in 2 hours had primed her entire room. The next day I painted. The next day I hung the curtains and put everything back. Then I took a couple days to recoup and think and plan. Friday morning I attacked Colby's room and finished it this morning. In one week I have completely made over 2 bedrooms, top to bottom. I spent less than $200 each for materials, supplies, furnishings, and accessories. The pink room I did for Gracie back in the summer/fall can be seen here. MommaK can vouch for the complete change of these rooms since I have no idea which CD the before photos are on to show you.

This room is paneled. I don't know why someone would do this but I am not pulling it down. I don't have the energy or the will power to rip it out right now and have the room drywalled.

I had Steven put up moldings to imitate the look of old rooms with the high ceilings and plate rails. Everything below the molding was then painted in a Williamsburg reproduction paint. The paint is cabinet grade and will be durable and won't scratch eaily.

The bedding was purchased back in the summer. The girls love their featherbeds and down comforters. We searched a long time and found the duvet covers online and on clearance. This bedding retailed at $399.00. I purchased it for $59 through Smartbargains.

The curtains are embroidered sheers with an attached valance. I found these at the dollar store and paid $10 a pair for them. I have seen these same sheers in a department store for $30 a panel. So take this as a lesson, don't be afraid to be seen in a cheap dollar store and keep your eyes out for bargains. These curtains are part of a misrun and are seconds but the flaw is not noticable. There is a pink thread trapped in the embroidery that cannot be seen. I hunted for the second and found it only because my mother was a weaver and taught me how to look for the flaws.

This little desk is solid pine. It was hideous. I found it in a thrift store and paid $30 for it. Using the same cabinet paint it was given a face lift. The hardware was on clearance at the local hardware store. I paid $1 for each china knob. I have less than $40 invested in this cute desk.

The pictures over the bed and desk came from a dollar store. They are not pictures I will keep. I bought them because the frames are solid wood and they have glass inserts. I paid $10 for them. I could not buy the empty frame anywhere for $10. We will be keeping our eyes open for artwork to replace the current prints.

I started on Colby's room Friday. I wanted her room to reflect a grown up taste and be a lovely restful haven for her to come home to after long days of classes. School starts back for her tomorrow. This room was builder's beige and all the trim was turquoise when we moved in. Colby took the time in the week after we moved in to paint the trims and doors. It was hideous.

The shade of paint I chose for the top of the wall I had the guy at the paint center mix at half formula to get the same hue but a lighter shade. Choosing yellows is so very hard for me. I really like this shade.

The lower portion of the wall is a reproduction Williamsburg paint. The doors and moldings are a Duron bright white for contrast. I chose the least expensive chair rail avalable at Lowe's and Steven put it up as well as finished the base boards with quarter round. The molding added the most expense to this room.

The curtains I found on ebay this summer. They are some overstock from Ikea someone was selling. I paid next to nothing for them and they add a softness to the room.

The wallpaper border is a stock paper from Lowe's that was on clearance. It was chosen not because I loved the pattern but because it contains the exact shade of yellow as the paint I had chosen. I was considering adding crown molding to this room but when I found the wallpaper I opted out for the lesser expense.

The most expensive part of this room is this rug. I have searched for 6 months for a proper rug that I could live with and found this one last week at a furniture store. It was 3/4 of my room budget but I think I did well over all. The upstairs is turning into a rainbow of color. Gracie's room is pink and white. J's room is blue and white. Colby's room is yellow and white. The baby's room will be green and white. Each room is different. The colors compliment one another. The upstairs is beginning to flow. This afternoon I am headed to Lowe's for paint rollers and a few supplies. Tomorrow I attack the nursery and attempt to pull it together before I go into labor. I am so ready to be finished with this pregnancy but I am willing to wait a little longer if this baby will just let me get his room finished first. Please. Since my bathtub will be back Friday I am thinking Saturday I can start papering and painting in there. I am thinking red -deep rich wine reds.

43 Comments

Nicole said:

Wow! A woman after my own heart. I also cannot relax, am pregnant and can't stop upgrading our home. You are much better at it than I am (and you husband is much handier...) butwe sure have a lot in common. It looks gorgeous. Good job!

January 8, 2006 12:49 PM

Hope said:

Happy Birthday Elvis. Now, that I got that out of the way, lol. If you are nesting how will be able to tell the difference from all your other days? The rooms look so cozy and lovely. The dollar store is the greatest! Hope you get the other room finished before the baby gets here. Deep wine colors sound perfect. Your bathromm will look rich and luxurious.

January 8, 2006 1:11 PM

MommaK said:

And here I was happy thinking you had your feet up! Oh my, woman!!! You have a mad streak in you that is unmatched by anything I've seen. "Impressed" just doesn't cut it here. I am floored. You are amazing Angie. Truly. I love it all.

January 8, 2006 1:40 PM

kenju said:

I wondered what you were doing since there were few posts, but I feared you might be ill. You are Wonder Woman! The rooms look great; can I hire you?

I thought pregnant women were not supposed to smell paint fumes. Is that okay now?

January 8, 2006 1:54 PM

old horsetail snake said:

This looks like stuff out of Good Housekeeping, only better.

Hey, Angie! Take it easy, for Pete's sake! You're wearing both of us out.

January 8, 2006 2:11 PM

blackbird said:

so, no new posts, and I assume you are on strict bedrest.

oh, no, not YOU.
I'm tired just looking at it all! It's goregous, of course!

January 8, 2006 3:13 PM

J&J's Mom said:

Amazing...simply beautiful and amazing! Are you nesting???

We found salvaged heartpine flooring this weekend but ended up with a new bedroom set instead! The floors will wait...can you please pass on some of your bargain hunting skills to me? I seem to have a taste for the "simply expensive"! Glad you're all better! Keep those legs crossed until your bathroom is done ;0)

January 8, 2006 4:17 PM

"D" said:

While you are having your 'babymoon' with your new baby, you could contemplate coming to visit me and telling me how to do MY rooms! I am a terrible decorator and have NO sense of budget...seriously! I will let you sit and rock while pointing out what I need to do. I will bring you tea and burp clothes while the paint dries... sigh... it's a nice dream!

January 8, 2006 4:17 PM

MistressMary said:

And here I was worried that you had gone into labor early. I should have known better. The rooms look fabulous. Seriously fabulous.

January 8, 2006 4:46 PM

kate said:

All I can say is beautiful! You did a fabulous job and thank you for sharing!

January 8, 2006 8:49 PM

Lucinda said:

You are amazing. Totally and completely amazing.

January 8, 2006 11:32 PM

MommaK said:

psssst! Come see me today Momma...

January 9, 2006 6:20 AM

Holly said:

linking over from lucinda's virtual babyshower

you are talented! i can't get out of walmart for less than 200$ (and come home with nearly nothing to show for it) and you're redecorating your whole house! ack!

happy baby shower to you!

January 9, 2006 8:15 AM

LadyBug Crossing said:

Your decorating is exquisite. I can't believe you did this while you are pregnant - very pregnant!! I am impressed!! Happy baby!! - I just hopped over from MommaK's baby shower.
Congrats!
LadyBug

January 9, 2006 8:38 AM

liz said:

Your home looks beautiful. Nesting Strikes!! Although, you seem always to be nesting - your home shows that so well.

All my love

January 9, 2006 10:32 AM

jenny said:

Angie, your home is beautiful. And you, you seem to have caught a bit of that nesting bug that goes around in the last weeks of babymaking.

I so enjoyed your baby shower ~ great job girls!

January 9, 2006 10:50 AM

MistressMary said:

Beautiful new design for the journal!

January 9, 2006 12:05 PM

Alison said:

We've finally moved our office to the basement & now have an empty room for a nursery ... but it'll take us months to get it carpeted, painted, decorated, etc. I wish you were in Ohio, so I could hire you to come help!

January 9, 2006 12:21 PM

running2ks said:

CONGRATULATIONS, ANGIE!

January 9, 2006 12:38 PM

poopie said:

Honey...I am the dollar store QUEEN!! Glad to see you've gotten so much done. It's gorgeous, as usual. Now..sit down and enjoy this shower. That's an order ;)

January 9, 2006 12:56 PM

old horsetail snake said:

Happy baby to you, Angie.

I played the guessing game on arrival date, guessed Feb. 2. Hope that doesn't put a hex on your plan for earlier arrival!!

January 9, 2006 1:05 PM

Carolyn R. said:

Congratulations, Angie - you're amazing. Delurking to say happy end of pregnancy and happy birth. Lovely house. Thanks for blogging about it, you inspire me to become a better house"carer".

January 9, 2006 1:10 PM

Judy said:

scooting over from Raehan's to say happy new baby soon! Your renovations look GREAT - oh my goodness I wish I could do that! Get some rest soon, though, because that little boy is going to keep you hopping!

January 9, 2006 1:28 PM

lisa said:

beautiful, just beautiful. :)

Now, go lay down. You're having a baby. :)

January 9, 2006 1:39 PM

Vicki said:

It's good to see you're resting, ah, nesting. I love the yellow room!Enjoy your shower around the 'hood. And here's the weather report for Ann Arbor, MI: 36F, mostly cloudy, 76% humidity, winds 8 mph WNW, and most importantly! the barometric pressure is 30.16 and rising. Have a great day and thanks for your visits and comments!

January 9, 2006 2:06 PM

kenju said:

Angie, I cannot wait for this baby boy to get here! Hope he arrives soon, and hope that you have an easy delivery with no pain! (lol)

I love the new header on the blog; that pic of the baby is so very sweet.

January 9, 2006 2:31 PM

InterstellarLass said:

Someone is nesting...great job on these rooms! I am very impressed with your skill. I wish I had the time to do mine. It seems like such a big task! Best wishes to you and your family and your newborn!

January 9, 2006 3:23 PM

better safe than sorry said:

those rooms look absolutely beautiful, i would love to have my own bedroom look like that, let alone one of my kids.
i came by to wish you a very happy and healthy baby day, via your blog shower hostesses.

January 9, 2006 4:09 PM

Holly said:

Holy Camole! You are due to give birth in a few weeks or ANY DAY really... and you are doing all that???? It looks great, but did you ever hear of RELAXING right before the baby comes?

Anyway, I am mostly joking... the rooms do look phenomenal, and you are a woman after my own heart with your ability to find bargains.

Here via... Raehan's online shower. Congratulations on your impending birth, and to insert my favorite baby book as requested by Raehan.

It actually isn't MY favorite, but my second son's: "Everywhere Babies" by Susan Meyers. He has always loved that book since he was teeny tiny, and at the age of two and a half, he still picks it as a favorite! Son #1 loved Goodnight Gorilla and Goodnight Moon.

Hope your baby's birthday is a wonderful one!

January 9, 2006 4:20 PM

J&J's Mom said:

Glad you're enjoying your shower!! Again, I looked at your rooms and I think you're definately nesting!! Motivated me though so thanks! Love the new design!!! Hope you had fun at the party ;0) Peace chickee!

January 9, 2006 4:41 PM

D said:

Thanks for inviting me to the shower! It was fun... hope you enjoy everyones 'most embarrasing'... Happy birthing, happy parenting...

January 9, 2006 5:05 PM

peggy said:

Wow! love the bedrooms, you did a wonderful job and congrats on the new baby, bet his room will be just as beautiful!

January 9, 2006 5:49 PM

Laura said:

Well, you know... after the baby is old enough, if you get another burst of engergy, you can always start an online interior decoration business! I'd hire you!

January 9, 2006 6:54 PM

Irina said:

That is absolutely beautiful! I wish you the best! : )

January 9, 2006 7:44 PM

halloweenlover said:

Congratulations Angie!

The rooms look GORGEOUS. I love the idea to put that strip at the top, how unique!

January 9, 2006 8:48 PM

Vanessa said:

Wow, you are talented! You are so smart to shop for bargains and incorporate them into your rooms and make them look like designer rooms! You did an excellent job.

Happy Baby Shower! (I'm a reader from Lucinda and Mistress Mary.)

January 9, 2006 10:52 PM

jakapk said:

The rooms look beautiful and I'm sure the nursery will look darling-Just wanted to check in, see how your feeling and say I hope your feeling and doing well and I'm very excited for you all-that sweet boy will be here soon and I'm sure your all ready to meet him!

Take care of your self Angie and get some sleep now-hehe-Jak

January 9, 2006 11:37 PM

Jennifer said:

You can have the baby today :) It's my birthday!!

The rooms are beautiful

January 11, 2006 3:17 PM

Manolia Mom said:

Happy De-Lurking Week!

January 11, 2006 6:17 PM

Kismet said:

Everything looks grand. Can't wait for you to fill those rooms with the pitter patter of that little guy.
Impeccable tast.

~K!