Swoon Interiors

interiors that make your heart skip a beat.

More Progress: Home Office Makeover

There’s nothing like a snowstorm as incentive to stay warm and cozy inside and get stuff done around the house, I say!

Last weekend: painting.
This weekend: Furniture building.

Yep, as I mentioned before … in an effort to keep this makeover budget-friendly … we are using Ikea furniture until we are ready to splurge on built-ins … so that that means some good old fashioned elbow-grease! Dan and I were cracking up at the “pictures-only” directions.  Each set of directions started off with a picture of one chubby man with an X over him. Then an arrow pointing to a  picture of 2 chubby men. So I guess we were the 2 chubby men and we got to work. 

TWO days worth of building! We must have done a good job though because after school both boys raced inside and this is where I found them …

(But wait … here was the before …)

And the after …
Kyle exclaimed … “Mom I never thought I’d say this, but I was actually excited to come home and do homework today!” (Definitely worth the elbow grease!)
We still need to build one more desk that will come out on the left side next to the piece the lamp is sitting on, but it was all we could do to get these pieces done by Sunday night.
I also got my chairs (still waiting on a slipcover for the Parson’s chair) and was able to do a little accessorizing. We are also going to hang some long white shelves on the wall up above to make the most of the high ceilings. Then it’s just the rug and the window shade … both in the works.
The tufted chair by the chalkboard was a thrilling find I spotted on Joss & Main a couple of weeks ago. Each week they do a “Curator’s Collection” by a contemporary designer and this one was done by Copy Cat Chic‘s Reichel Broussard.
It is a soft linen fabric … exactly what I was looking for and a steal of a price!
I’ll do a full before & after post with all the details once everything is done … but for now I thought you might enjoy a little glimpse.
Have a good week!

Warm up your house with some fun winter decor …

I saw this image in the latest issue of Midwest Living the other day …

… and I thought it was such a cute idea for winter. They suggest hanging vintage skis, poles or snowshoes horizontally on simple hardware store hooks.  It would be fun to hunt for these things at antique stores and yard sales to build a collection.
I like how they’ve mixed in some vintage ice-skates too … they are in abundance on Etsy … or why not just use your own?
Come spring you can swap these out for vintage canoe paddles, tennis rackets or garden tools. So fun for a mudroom or entry way.
I also love the white birch logs and pine cones to fill baskets around the house. I have been craving green plants and flowers inside since there are none to see outside!
If your family does hit the slopes, here’s another cute idea I spotted on Pinterest. Swap out some of your framed art for vintage ski-lodge posters and lean a pair of skis against the wall along side.
Source: bhg.com via Colourful on Pinterest

And how sweet is this … do you have a set of perhaps handmade hats and/or gloves that you can’t bear to part with?  Why not frame them and hang them near an entry way during the winter. I love this idea!

Hope everyone is staying warm!

Painted!

My husband was busy painting this weekend …

… and so the boys were busy today.

The chalkboard paint wall is a big hit.
We put three coats of magnetic primer underneath the chalkboard paint, so I can also use magnets to tack things up. I like the idea of being able to put up an ever-changing display of inspiration photos, swatches, etc.

I think I also figured out why my rug is back-ordered!  I spotted this photo in a recent issue of Lucky Magazine. The article featured Christiane Lemieux, the founder of Dwell Studio and this rug from her line is also in the living room of her beach house.
It’s okay. I can wait.
Part one of the office makeover: complete!

More Friday Favorites …

This Friday I thought I’d share a few favorite things I’ve come across this week, including a little emptying out my iPhone photos.

I spotted these colorful handmade quilts at West Elm … each one is completely unique.

I’d lay one across the foot of a bed with white crisp bedding for a pop of color.

I think they would be great for a child’s bedroom or a guest room.
I also spotted this swoon worthy chandelier …
… at Pottery Barn! I love this shape and style … the chunky texture of the wooden beads. I’ve seen similar ones that cost a lot more.
And not for the faint of heart …
There’s something about this wallpaper that makes me smile. I’d love it in a powder room or maybe my walk-in closet! It’s from Thibaut’s new Jubilee Collection.
And speaking of wallpaper, One King’s Lane is running an interesting sale that began yesterday featuring John Derian (I am still waiting for him to do another collection for Target!). It is a collection of framed prints reproduced from a portfolio of 18th-century wallpaper fragments he purchased from a vendor at a Paris flea market.
Isn’t this one pretty?
And I like his suggestion …
Even if you don’t purchase one from this sale … do you have a favorite wallpaper you would consider framing?  Hmmm, perhaps I could frame that leopard wallpaper!
Have a wonderful weekend!