Meet Delores

 Meet Delores! She's brand new to our formal living room. 

Note: I intentionally set out to NOT do any home design projects this Summer until after school started ... I did 3 rooms that were not even on my list. I am my mother and am constantly redecorating rooms, often spontaneously! 

Our den (reveal coming soon) went through a total transformation which then resulted in some changes to the formal room with the additional of these etageres, removal of the tv and Delores.

With the etageres now flanking the mirrored console, art was needed on the wall. Because this room is traditional, I wanted art that's modern and interesting but complemented the current color palette.

In scrolling online I found this portrait. I named her Delores. I find her elegant and also mysterious. She an unexpected piece bringing interest to the room. 

When I added the grasscloth wallpaper to this room several months ago I realized the windows needed formal dressing. I decided on long drapes in a rich golden yellow color.  To me, they were the perfect finishing touch. 

Adding a jewel tone to the soft muted colors really added depth to the room!

BEFORE

AFTER

'Delores' Art Print - Etageres - Drapes - Drapery Rods & Finials 

I encourage you to be creative in your living spaces and add fun art!

Dress Your Home Beautifully

XOXO Sarah Louise

Chartreuse Sunroom

 Every now and then I get a 'wild hair' ... meaning a spontaneous impulse to do something. Most often it's a home design project and sure enough this weekend that was the case! I had actually decided when making my Summer list that I wasn't going to tackle any rooms until after school started. I should know myself better haha

I decided to add chartreuse paint to our sunroom! 

Our sunroom is the room that literally lights up my days. It's surrounded by windows where I can see the sunrise, bird watch and enjoy the beautiful scenery of God's creation. It also houses bunny Ethel and several plants I've been tending for years.

I've felt like the white walls, while clean and bright were not complimentary to the rich bold colors in the room or the nature surrounding it.

Now the art, furniture, floor and windows really POP!!!

Since purchasing our home we've designed this room to look like a conservatory with classic black & white tile flooring, bold tropical furniture and pretty art.  This post shares our sunroom transformation from the beginning. 

Fun Fact: I painted the sunroom in our first home the same chartreuse color.

Tip: I paint the air vents and switch/outlet plates.

Like my gal pals says "white wall are not me!"

Paint: Sherwin Williams Chartreuse

Dress Your Home Beautifully with Color

XOXO Sarah Louise

Grasscloth Wrapping

Fact: I would wallpaper every single wall (and ceiling) of my home.

Also Fact: I'm married & have a budget.

White walls do not showcase my personality; not even close! I'm a cheerful, dynamic and full of enthusiasm which means color, prints and textures are key in having our home reflect who we are (ok more me than him). 

I also have a very traditional and classic style that suits wallpaper beautifully.

I have already papered our dining room with cranes and our foyer with hydrangeas but the formal living room in between just fell flat.  I chose to wrap this room in a whisper blue grasscloth paper that adds just the right amount of subtle compliment.

BEFORE

AFTER

The BEST part of this project was the gal that hung the paper! She's a very dear friend that generously shared her talents and did a beautiful job of adding beauty to our home! 

Here are some close ups. This paper is actually a faux grass cloth in a peel & stick application. I find it's a pretty option for adding color and dimension to your walls.

Bonus: you can easily remove it with no consequence! 

It pairs so nicely with the adjacent rooms & papers.

One of my favorite outcomes was how our dental crown molding shines! 

I wish I could share the tips, tricks and tools you'd need - but I bet you have talented friends like mine and together you can have a blast wrapping your walls!

FAUX PEEL & STICK GRASSCLOTH WALLPAPER

I chose color Whisper Blue

I may add some art and drapes! 

Dress Your Walls Beautifully with Grasscloth Wallpaper

XOXO Sarah Louise

Crawdad Room

I strive for our home to tell the story of us, the people who live here. Our guest room hasn't reflected us since we moved in 5 years ago.

This year I really wanted to give it attention and design so that it could be a welcoming and pretty space for our loved ones.

My inspiration for this room came from my collection of coastal treasures, Kiawah Island where Ryan & I vacation each year and the book 'Where the Crawdads Sing' (which is where the name from this room came from). 

This pelican piece of art is a focal point & makes a bold statement!

I love birds and this one sparked joy for me.

I've been wanting to incorporate yellow in our home and these elements add just the right touch.

This half of the room has the chair that holds nearly 6 years of memories from Vivian's room.

This new home across the hall houses it beautifully. 

My hope is that our guests can curl up in it and relax the same way my darling & I did.

The secretary belonged to Ryan's Grandpa. He purchased it in Japan while serving as a Marine in the US Military. I remember him sitting at it paying bills when we were just dating. 

The lamp and mirrored tray I found in a vintage shop.

I have jars of seashells throughout the room that I've collected over the years.

Nature reminds me of God's majesty, His creations and His vast love!

I find caned furniture to be beautiful. It really gives the room a natural & coastal feel.

I chose pale yellow coverings on the bedside tables to complement the rug.

This shelf belonged to my late Grandmother.

The plate represents our late cat, Scragley. 

The heron figurine was a gift from my Grandma to my Mamma and recently to me.

A lot of the shells were a gift from my Mamma and the glass jar houses my collection of sharks' teeth.

BEFORE

AFTER

Paint Color 'Antique Jade' - Rug - Headboard 

Drapes - Rods

Dress Your Guest Room Beautifully

XOXO Sarah Louise

Pop of Paint

I love decorating our home! It's where we make a great deal of our memories so I want it to be beautiful and represent us, the people who live here. On the other hand, I'm not so fond of DIY projects but I can brush on a coat of paint (just please don't look too close!).

This room is our den. When we purchased this home this room had brown paneling, a tan ceiling and very dark brown trim and doors. We had it ALL painted prior to moving in. 

But it's still felt flat and lacking to me over the years. I got the idea to just add color to the walls flanking the fireplace to add depth and some green. I love green. 

BEFORE

Gracious my darling girl has grown! 

This was 2 years ago

AFTER

This deeper green really makes the shelves stand out! 

Rather than paint an entire room, I encourage you to find nooks, and accent walls where you can add dimension with some color.

Accent wall color: Magnolia 'Eden'

Wall color: Classic Gray (it's NOT gray at all but a cool white)

Etagere Shelves

Dress Your Home Beautifully with a Pop of Paint

XOXO Sarah Louise

Pink & Marble Bathroom

 

If you're ever our guest this precious pink bathroom will be yours.  You'll be sharing it with our precious Vivian but she's little and quite the helper when it comes to beautifying in the mornings.

This bathroom was actually complete nearly a year ago except for painting the vanity cabinets white.  I've been avoiding it because, well, it's the worst! And wasn't a big enough project to hire out.

When school started I bit the bullet and along with some good music took these cabinets from dark to light and I can honestly say it was worth it!

Our upstairs guest bathroom was simply dated and just needed a refresh. It is actually quite large and has a very unique vanity. The floor, porcelain tub, and toilet were original to our home's 1963 construction.  There was a update to the fixtures and vanity around it's midlife but even it was in dire need of retirement.

 I wanted this bathroom to be light, bright and classic.  I chose large porcelain tiles to complement the higher square footage, a matching quartz countertop and shiny chrome fixtures since I was keeping some that were existing. Also, Ryan won't let me cover the entire house in shiny brass, sigh. 

Note: While marble is beautiful it's expensive and super fragile. This bathroom 'looks' like marble but is far more practical.

BEFORE

AFTER

I found these vintage hand towels & holder at an antique shop

I absolutely LOVE the large window!

But I do know that the kids that were raised here prior escaped out of it

We kept the bead-board ceiling - I would have never done it but I think it's pretty.

I swapped out the light globes for clear modern ones.

Countertops | Flooring | Faucets | Vanity Light Globes | Shower Curtain | Pink Ribbon Paint 50% |

Cabinet Paint | Cabinet Lacquer |

Dress Your Bathroom Bright & Beautifully 

XOXO Sarah-Louise

Conservatory Sunroom

Welcome to our sunny space. Walking to the back of our home you'll find what we like to call, our little piece of paradise. Our first home and now our second and forever, are both mid-century traditional designs having enclosed sunrooms off the back. It's our favorite architectural element and room. 

This room allows abundant sunlight in and beautiful landscape views all while providing comforts of the indoors.  It is such a happy place to enjoy the sunrise with a cup of coffee, curl up with a good book, fellowship with friends, play games with Vivian and even a sweet date night.

This room didn't look like the classic conservatory that it is now when we purchased this home. Now it doesn't have a glass ceiling like a European conservatory but it does have lots of windows to make it bright. I brought the traditional design elements of a conservatory in with a black and white diamond patterned marble floor, dark palm printed fabrics and all my special plants.

I completed this room in December and here's a look at the transformation ...

I love that our late sweet Scragley is in this picture. It was his favorite room too.

We removed the door leading into our home once he passed.

I started by white washing the brick wall that's a part of our home's exterior.  

I prefer this over painting as it allows for the texture and various colors of the brick to remain.

Then I painted over the concrete mosaic floor.

While this truly lightened the room this was not practical.  This is the room we enter and exit our home through and it could not withstand the traffic. And it showed every single spec of dirt and dust. 

By adding porcelain tile and new fabric the room is complete!

I chose this porcelain floor that resembles marble for durability.

I kept the classic rattan furniture and just replaced the covers.

This room allows me to prepare meals in the kitchen and other tasks inside while providing clear views of Vivian playing out on our patio. 

My plants bring me great joy! The palm is over 30 years old, a gift from my Mamma, the fig 6 and Lilly nearly 5. 

Dress a Sunny Space in Your Home Beautifully

XOXO Sarah-Louise