Tuesday Link Party #8

Welcome to this week's link party.  Before we get to the party, I just wanted to update you on what I have been up to. 

Last week was a crazy week for me.  I had some unexpected feedback on my office/craft room that made me question my design.  Ultimately, I decided to change my plan.  Because of that, I get to shuffle furniture around and repaint the room for a 3rd time.  It will probably take several days to paint it because I don't really have any room to put the furniture while I paint.  So that is what I will be up to for the next few days.  I do have some projects coming up that I will be able to show you after the painting is done.

So now it is your turn.  What have you all been up to?

Some party rules:

*Please follow If It's Not Baroque via GFC 
(if not on blogger follow through email or Linky Followers)

*Please link to a specific post not just your blog
(Must be home decor related - DIY projects, room transformations, and any other home related decorating)

*Link up as many projects as you want, old or new.  As long as you haven't linked it here before.

*Please do not link up giveaways, Etsy shops or other link parties.

*Please be courteous and put a link back to my blog 

(by using the button above or a text link)

*Please visit some of the other links 

Every week, I will pick a few of the links that I like the most and will feature them before the next party.

Link Party #7 Features

Happy Tuesday everyone!  

Last week's party, I think, was the biggest yet.  I am so happy that you all linked up.  There were some great links last week which makes it hard to pick my favorites.

Please continue to spread the word about the party and I hope that you will link up again later today.

Here are my favorites:

Kitchen/Dining Room Reveal by Andrea Arch

Vintage Desk Makeover by Ardent Hands Designs

 

Desk Organizer by I Love Doing All Things Crafty

No Sew Curtains by Life Love Larson

Diamond Pattern Wall by Pride In Photos

Thanks again to everyone who linked up.  This week's party starts later today.  So I hope to see you then.

Tuesday Link Party #7

Welcome back to my Tuesday link party.  I would love to have more links so please spread the word about my party.  

The office is all painted and now I have a lot of small projects to do in there.  Hopefully, I will get something done in there to show you soon.

Some party rules:

*Please follow If It's Not Baroque via GFC 
(if not on blogger follow through email or Linky Followers)

*Please link to a specific post not just your blog
(Must be home decor related - DIY projects, room transformations, and any other home related decorating)

*Link up as many projects as you want, old or new.  As long as you haven't linked it here before.

*Please do not link up giveaways, Etsy shops or other link parties.

*Please put a link back to my blog 

(by using the button above or a text link)

*Please visit some of the other links 

Every week, I will pick a few of the links that I like the most and will feature them before the next party.

Link Party #6 Features

Thank you to all who linked up to last week's party.  I would love to get more links, so keep spreading the word.  Don't be afraid to link up multiple projects either old and new.  Maybe someone who is following my blog hasn't seen it yet and would like to.

Here are my favorites.

Kitchen Reveal by Vintage Prairie Style

Spring Wreath by Our Pinteresting Family

DIY Marquee Letters by Making Life Beautiful

Chalkboard Globe by Craftivity Designs

Revamped Chair by Artsy VaVa

Thanks again for linking up and this week's party starts later today.  I hope to see you there.

The Liebster Blog Award

Hello everyone!  

I am taking a break from painting in the office at the moment to let you know that Two Everyday Divas has nominated me for the Liebster Blog Award.

The Liebster Award is given to up and coming bloggers with less than 200 followers.  It is to show that you are appreciated and spread the word about your blog.  I am honored that another blogger wants to help me get some attention in blogland.  It really means a lot to me.  

Per the rules of the award, I have to tell you a little bit about me, answer some questions and nominate some other new blogs.  So here we go.

11 Random Things About Me

1.  My husband is my best friend.  I know everyone says that but, he really is.  We do everything together and we actually like to be together.

2.  I love strawberries.  I could eat them for every meal every day.

3.  When I was little, I wanted to be a fashion designer.  I had a subscription to Vogue magazine at the age of 8 or 9 and watched a show called Style with Elsa Klensch on CNN as much as I could.  I am still into fashion and have seen every episode of Project Runway.  I just started sewing last year, so maybe there is still hope that I can be a fashion designer.  

4.  I have 10 tattoos.  I would like to get more some day but, they just aren't as important to me as they once was.

5.  I love Gwen Stefani and her music. (You'll see how much I love her here soon in a room reveal)

6.  I am really into sports.  Football is my favorite, but I really like hockey and baseball too.  I even like monster trucks (not sure if that counts as a sport).

7.  I have 2 blogs.  This one and a fashion blog called Punky Little DIYer.

8.  I have 4 dogs that are like my kids.  3 miniature pinschers and a chihuahua.  They have their own room.  You can see it here.

9.  I am named after Lauren Hutton who was a top model the year I was born.

10.  I live in Ohio and I am a huge Michigan Wolverine fan.  If you don't know anything about college football, Michigan and Ohio State is a huge rivalry.  It gets ugly.  So I live amongst the enemy.

11.  I hate moving.  I have moved about 20 different times in the past 15 years.  I liked decorating all the places I have lived in, but moving is so exhausting.

Questions from my Nominator:

1.  Sweet or Salty?

I have to eat something sweet after dinner every night.  A piece of chocolate, a cookie or a handful of strawberries.  It has to be sweet.

2.  If you were stranded on a desert island with one craft supply, what would it be?

I would have to say some type of glue.  I am always gluing something.

3.  Would you say you are technically savvy or technical not so much?

I am very technically savvy.  I love my gadgets especially my ipad.  I would be lost without them.

4.  What was your New Year's Resolution this year?  Have you kept up with it?

I didn't really make any resolutions this year.  If anything, I wanted to grow my blog and get more followers.  If I am getting this award, I guess it is going well.

5.  What was the single best day of your life?

The single best day of my life is the day I met my husband.  My life changed forever.

6.  What was your best personal hairstyle?

This is my best hairstyle.  I need to go back to it.

7.  What was your worst personal hairstyle?

I don't have a picture of it.  My mom would have it.  When I was little, I had a rat tail.  I don't know what I was thinking.  It looked hideous.

8.  If you could spend an entire day with a person of your choice, who would you choose and what would you do?

I would love to spend every day with my husband.  We have so much fun together.  We would play miniature golf and badminton.  Then we would eat yummy food.  Finish the day by watching Pretty Little Liars.  Just a regular day for us.

9.  What candle scent do you prefer?

Vanilla or sugar cookie.

10.  Are you a city mouse or country mouse?

I would say a city mouse.  I am from West Virginia, but I never really belonged there.

11.  What is your lucky number?

I have so many.  If I have to pick one, I would say 24.

Here are my nominees for the Liebster Award:

  1.  Desert Domicile

  2.  Seaside Interiors

  3.  Smart Girl Style

  4.  Everything Emily

  5.  Renew, Create, Restore

  6.  Magic City Thistle

  7.  Crystelle Boutique

  8.  This Old House in New Liberty

  9.  Design Fluff

10.  Feathering My Nest

11.  Lucy's Inspired 

The Rules for the bloggers I nominated:

1.  Add the award icon into your blog

2.  Link to your nominator and say thank you

3.  Post 11 random things about yourself

4.  Answer 11 questions from the person who nominated you

5.  Nominate 11 bloggers (and let them know)

6.  Post 11 new questions to the bloggers you nominated

Questions for my nominees:

  1.  What is something you would like to achieve in 2013?

  2.  What do you collect?

  3.  What is your favorite blog and why?

  4.  Name a person you would like to be for one day?

  5.  If they made a movie about your life, who would play you?

  6.  Looking out your front door, what do you see or show a picture  of what you see?

  7.  Silver or Gold?

  8.  Who is your most hated celebrity and why?

  9.  What is your favorite TV show?

10.  What is your favorite color combination?

11.  Why did you start a blog?

Tuesday Link Party #6

Welcome back to my Tuesday link party.  I really enjoy seeing all your projects.  Everyone is so creative.  

Since my kitchen is done, I took a small break from projects.  I will start working on my office tomorrow.  So I am excited to get back to work.

Some party rules:

*Please follow If It's Not Baroque via GFC 
(if not on blogger follow through email or Linky Followers)

*Please link to a specific post not just your blog
(Must be home decor related - DIY projects, room transformations, and any other home related decorating)

*Please do not link up giveaways, Etsy shops or other link parties.

*Please put a link back to my blog 

(by using the button above or a text link)

*Please visit some of the other links 

Every week, I will pick a few of the links that I like the most and will feature them before the next party.

Link Party #5 Features

Thank you to everyone who has commented on my last post.  This is the reason I blog.  My followers are great.  Thanks also to everyone who linked up to last week's party.

Here are my favorites.

Up-cycled Mirror by Lilikoi Joy

Lumberjack Nursery by Everything Emily

Pallet Heart Art by Renew, Create, Restore

Newspaper Storage Boxes by Green Willow Pond

Organized Pantry by Morganize With Me

Come back later today for link party #6.

  

Love Me or Hate me, It's Still an Obsession

I just wanted to thank the person who linked my blog to "The Knot" wedding forum telling everyone how hideously ugly my whole house is.  You actually have drove hundreds of people to my blog. 

Love me or hate me, you are still talking about me and others are checking out my blog because of it. 

My style isn't for everyone.  I know that.  But it isn't ugly.  I push the envelope in everything I do.  Some people don't get that.  Why would I want to be like everyone else?  I am an individual not a lemming. 

I had bright red hair a few months ago that looked like Ronald McDonald, but every time I left the house I received a positive comment about it.  If I looked like everyone else, nobody would care.

I don't understand why different equals ugly.  I can recognize good design and taste even if it isn't my style.  I hate the look of wood but have seen several rooms that I love that have a lot of wood in them.

It seems some people are having a problem with my chevron cabinet doors and the zebra floor tiles in my kitchen.  Or, they have a problem with the damask, chevron, zebra, polka dots and stripes in my mudroom/dog's room.  I like pattern!  

Are these rooms ugly?

Marie Claire Maison

Liz Caan Interiors

Apartment Therapy

Eclectic Bedroom design by Miami Interior Designer Deborah Houston Interiors

Contemporary Bedroom design by Boston Photographer Michael J. Lee Photography

Eclectic Dining Room design by Other Metro Interior Designer Cynthia Mason Interiors

Eclectic Kids design by Charlotte Interior Designer Holly Phillips @ The English Room

Eclectic Media Room design by Los Angeles General Contractor SoCal Contractor

Eclectic Home Office design by Minneapolis Interior Designer Martha O'Hara Interiors

Eclectic Bedroom design by San Francisco Interior Designer Jeffers Design Group

These rooms have a couple things in common, they are all different and they all have a mix of several different patterns.  They might not be your taste but they are designed well.  If you think they are ugly, then I would be honored to be in the same class as these rooms.

If you don't like pattern or bold colors, there is a good chance you will not like my blog or any of the rooms that I show from my house.  So, please go look at blogs that have rooms that you do like.  I will not tolerate negative comments on my blog and I will delete them.  Why?  Because it is my blog and I can.  

I am not a professional designer and I don't claim to be.  I like interior design and have fun decorating my house.  It is strictly a hobby.

Again, thank you for referring people to my site.  I really appreciate it.  I also would like to thank the people who actually like my rooms and have commented positively.  

Black and White Chevron Kitchen Reveal

It has been 4 long months since I have started transforming this kitchen.  It has been cold and snowy for most of that time.  Making it miserable to do anything in there.  But finally, it is done.  I am so happy about it and I can't wait to show you it.

Drum roll, please.

Let's go back and see what the rest of the room looked like before.

Here it is now.

I started by painting the room a medium gray and painting the ceiling and cabinetry white.  At first, I had no plans for adding anything to the cabinet doors but they were looking really boring. I decided to do a simple border around the doors, but my husband suggested doing something different and I immediately fell in love with doing a chevron design.

We updated the lighting, faucet, counter tops and handles.

We covered the hideous ceramic tile floor by using old Flor carpet tiles that I had leftover from my now closed photography studio.

We took out the Lack book case that was the home to our microwave and toaster oven and put in Billy book cases to act as a pantry.  I painstakingly painted the chevrons on each Billy door.  (one of the many problems I encountered in the remodel)

I added glass shelves in front of the window to display glassware and some decorative glass. 

I moved the pots and pans to a chrome shelf in front of the other window.

I came across this blog post by Flamingo Toes who made an utensil sunburst mirror.  I thought that it would look great in my kitchen. So I made my own version.

These Kassett boxes hold extra spices, food and baking supplies.  The vase is holding my wedding bouquet that my mom made out of faux flowers, brooches and feathers.

I had a collection of fortunes from when I get Chinese food that were hanging out in the kitchen.  I thought it was a neat idea to frame them and use as art.

I painted the insides of all the cabinet doors with chalkboard paint and drew a herringbone pattern on them.

I found these mini containers at the Dollar Tree 10 for $1.  I decided to use them for my spices.  I love them. 

That is it.  I absolutely love it.  It is very unique.  It is finally organized.  I tripled the amount of pantry space we had originally.  It functions so much better for us.  The best part is that this transformation only cost about $1,200.

Here is a break down of the cost:

Paint
Color Place Interior Semi Gloss White Paint $40 (Walmart)
Valspar Chalkboard Paint $13 (Lowe's)
Valspar Gloss Black Paint (for trim) $18 (Lowe's)

Lighting

Tidig Ceiling Light Fixture $40 (Ikea)
Grundtal Spotlights $25 (Ikea)


Furniture and Accessories from Ikea
Satta Handles $9
Numerar Countertops $160
3 Billy Book Cases $120
Billy Doors $140
Benno Book Case $30 (As is section)
Akurum Above Refrigerator Cabinet $60
Large Ribba Frame $25
Raskog Cart $60 (online only color so includes shipping)
Grundtal Shelf $15
Kassett Boxes $12

Miscellaneous Items
Shelf Liner $40 (Linens N Things)
Glacier Bay Faucet $98 (Home Depot)
Screen Molding (for chevron trim) $50 (Lowe's)
Baroque Frames $20 (Hobby Lobby)
Spice Containers $5 (Dollar Tree)
Canister Sets (in pantry and cabinets) $65 (Walmart)
Glass Shelves $13 (Local glass place)
Red Glass Bottles $8 (Hobby Lobby)
Roses in Glass Bottle $8 (Hobby Lobby)
Photography Prints (local photography printer, gifted by my mom)
Materials for homemade items $150

You can find more info on my kitchen remodel in these posts:

DIY Magnetic Menu Board
Kitchen Update
DIY Utensil Art
DIY Mini Fork Sunburst Mirror
The Curse of the Kitchen and Book Page Silhouette Art
Kitchen Sneak Peek...DIY String Art

PS  Don't forget to vote here for my blog for Apartment Therapy's Homie Awards.  I would really really appreciate it.

PSS My Tuesday link party is still going on here.  Check it out if you haven't already.

I'm linking up to:  The Real Housewives of Riverton, Snap Creativity, Lady Behind the Curtain, Rae Gun Ramblings, Sugar and Dots, The Trendy Tree House, Someday Crafts, DIY by Design, Free Pretty Things for You, Southern Lovely, The NY Melrose Family, Savy Southern Style, Mod Vintage Life, My Girlish Whims, Ginger Snap Crafts, Polka Dots on Parade, Practically Functional, Rolled Up Pretty, Green Willow Pond, A Creative Princess, I Gotta Create, Yesterday on Tuesday, House of Hepworths, The Purple Pumpkin Blog, The Artsy Girl Connection, Two Yellow Birds Decor, Suzys Sitcom, The Shabby Creek Cottage, The 36th Avenue, Mom on Timeout, Katherines Corner, No Minimalist Here, Adorned From Above, Seven Alive,  Somewhat Simple, A Glimpse Inside, Fireflies and Jellybeans, Happy Hour Projects, Ladybird Ln, One Artsy Mama, The Shabby Nest, Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, Liz Marie Blog, Finding Fabulous for Less,   See Vanessa Craft, 504 Main, Whipperberry, Serenity Now, Crafty Scrappy Happy, Nap Time Crafters, Just Us Four, Fingerprints on the Fridge, Bacon Time, Five Days 5 Ways, Shabby Art Boutique, French Country Cottage, What About, Create Craft Love, Truly Lovely, Tatertots and Jello, Designed Decor, Young and Crafty, It's a Hodgepodge Life, Six Sisters Stuff, Funky Junk Interiors, Glitter, Glue and Paint, Cheerios and Lattes, Claire Justine oxox, It's Overflowing, Serenity You, Jennifer Rizzo, Be Different Act Normal, Polkadot Pretties, To Sew With Love, Too Much Time On My Hands, The Crafty Blog Stalker,  Nifty Thrifty Things, A Lived In Home, I Heart Nap Time, Twigg Studios, DIY Showoff, I Should Be Mopping The Floor, Sew Can Do, Alderberry Hill, Homemaker on a Dime, Under the Table and Dreaming, DIY Home Sweet Home, Craft-O-Maniac,  Sarah Dawn Designs, I Gotta Try That, The Dedicated House, New Nostalgia, Serendipity and Spice, Skip To My Lou, Lines Across, Home Stories A to Z, Creating My Way to Success, Crafty Texas Girl, Between Naps On the Porch, Making the World Cuter, Pinkapotamus, Say Not Sweet Anne, Eye Heart, The Gunny Sack, Our Delighted Home, Mad in Crafts, Be Colorful, The Ironstone Nest, House on the Way, Kathe with an E, The DIY Dreamer, Hope Studios, Blackberry Vine, Coastal Charm, The Winthrop Chronicles, Lil Luna, Funky Polkadot Giraffe, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Chef In Training, Salt Tree, Clean and Scentsible, Romance on a Dime, Homework, Ladybug Blessings, Not Just a Housewife, Reasons to Skip Housework, Sweet Little Gals, Twin Dragonfly Designs, Sew Much Ado,