Recreating an Inspiration Room

Have you ever looked at a designer room and thought "I want that!" but are too intimidated to attempt it yourself?  Well, there is no reason to be afraid!  Everyone is capable of creating the home of their dreams within a reasonable budget.

All you need to do is break down the room's elements, and piece your space together, while working with what you already have and new pieces within your budget.  I'll show you how, with my new weekly post called "Recreating an Inspiration Room"

For my first post, I'm looking at this beautiful Master Bedroom as my inspiration room.  I love the soft, neutral palette.

Let's look at the elements in the room and see how to put the space together!

Easiest and cheapest fix... paint your walls

Benjamin Moore, Clay Beige

If you are replacing the flooring...

Low pile wool carpeting.  Available at most flooring stores.

If you aren't getting new flooring. consider a similar area rug

Sisal 8'x10' rug.  The Home Depot $439

Next, change your light fixture.  It has the biggest impact in a room (other than paint!)
The light fixture in the Inspiration Room is from Pottery Barn.

Camilla Chandelier.  Pottery Barn. $592.90

But shop around, you can always find one cheaper.... be sure to pick and choose where you splurge

Light Fixture.  The Home Depot $189.99

Now, think window coverings.  Buying fabric by the yard, and sewing your own curtains means you get exactly what you want.  But, it can be costly and time consuming.  Ready made panels are available every where and are nice and cheap! But, you may have to compromise on the style and/or colour.

 Robert Allen Linen Duck Fabric.com $11.98/yd

Pinch Please Curtain Panel.  BedBathStore.com.  $34.99

In a bedroom, linens are so important.  I don't recommend you cheap out on them.  You sleep on them every night.  I'm one to talk since my sheets and duvet are from IKEA, but I'm working on it.  I'm just really picky!!

Hotel Collection Bedding.  Bed Bath Store.  Queen Duvet $184.99

When it comes to furniture, always try to use what you have.  Paint it or reupholster it.  Consider just changing knobs, or mix and match pieces through out your house.

If your handy, you can easily DIY this headboard from Sears for around $100 bucks!
Here's a tutorial from House & Home

Tufted Headboard.  Sears.  $799

This is the original bed from the Inspiration Room.  I have to admit, I may be tempted to splurge on this bed.  Beautiful.

Eloise Bed.  BenMade by BrownStone. $3980

End tables are easy to pick up at garage sales or thrift stores and re purpose.  But if you are going to buy new, shop around.

Silhouette Nightstand West Elm. $104.97

Next add in all the other 'stuff'!

Peyton Table Lamp.  Sears $119.99

Rattan Tray.  Crate & Barrel.  $33.70

Bench, Bombay & Co.  $499

Faux Orchid in Copper Pot.  Pier1.  $35.00

(Art Work) Stretched Canvas available at most art stores.  JYSK has them for cheap.

A deal from my Favourite Store!

My most favourite store in the whole world in Tradewinds in Waterford, Ontario.  It's a second hand shop where you can find some pretty unique treasures.  Oh, how I miss going there once a week.  Now, I just drag my mom-in-law everytime I go for a visit.  Actually, I don't really need to 'drag' her, do I??? ;)

Anyway, here is my latest purchase.  It was $29.  A little pricey, but I just loved it.  I think I'll re do it for Grace.  It's quite small, which you can't tell from the picture.  But, it's a perfect kids chair.

What little girl wouldn't love her very own Hello Kitty chair?!?!?

fabric.com

Or how about this for a "story-time" chair?!?!

fabric.com

Favourite Finds Friday

I love cable knit stuff.  I got a wee bit obsessed with it this week.

Cable Knit Euro Shams.  Pottery Barn.  $64.70

Cable Knit Tea Cozy.  Indigo.ca.  $14.50

Cable Knit Ceramic Serving Bowl with 16K gold Edge.  Etsy.com.  $145

Cable Knit Lampshade.  Etsy.com. €69.00

Family Room is Complete!

I am so excited to share this room with everyone.  It's actually my favourite in the house so far.   It's so cozy, and now that I finally have the PVR hooked up to the TV in there, I can snuggle up with Marley and some pinot and watch my shows after the kids go to bed.

Here is it!

This is what it looked like before we moved in.

Remember when I painted the fireplace surround??

And here it is today....

Yes, hello Marley.  We all see you and love you.

I painted the walls Ancient Marble (Behr) on top, and Crisp Linen (CIL) on the bottom.  The TV cabinet is from IKEA, but I replaced the knobs with some EBay finds.  The coffee table is also from IKEA, but it is a project waiting to happen right now.  I'll be experimenting with nail heads soon!!!  I Love  a good Ikea Hack.

The rug is the rug from Ryan's office.  I hated how my 'make two rugs into one' turned out (see post here).  The seam was way too visible in the open space of the office, but it works perfect in this room.  The 2 rugs are from JYSK.

Here are a few of my favourite things in the room:

My Sister-in-law (and Brother) bought this jug for me for Christmas last year.  It's honestly one of my most favourite things ever.  The candle stick was an engagement gift from my Maid of Honor Lisa waaaaayyyyy back in the day.  

"Remember as far as anyone knows, we are one big happy family" hehe.  My Mom-in-law has a matching one.  LOL

The framed 4 leaf clover was a gift to Ryan.  I bought it as a house warming present to him.  But Lord only know what house it was from.  Anyway, it's a real 4 leaf clover.  I thought it was cool, he however shrugged at it since it wasn't found "au natural".... it was grown in someones green house.  Oh, Ryan.

Those beautiful mercury glass vases are from m mother in law.  I have a thing for mercury glass.  That white jug was a wedding present from Ryan's friend Paul.  Although I am sure he has no recollection of giving it to us, he did.  

And here is my poor naked couch wall.  I have a few things to do here. One, I am going to spray the mirror from Ryan's Office white and hang it.  And two, I found these beautiful frames at Home Sense that I'd like to put up.  Also, my mom bought me this adorable shabby chic mirrors that I'd like to incorporate some how.  It'll be a progress.

I'd also like to spray that lamp blue.  Add it to the list.

Anyway, that's my new cozy family room.  Hope you like it!

Favoruite Finds Friday!

Happy Friday!

I LOVE patterned stair runners.  I saw this picture and was determined to find the runner online.

I think I came close!

Payless Rugs $27.99/ft (they ship to Canada FREE!)

I absolutely love these marquee letters from Home Outfitters.  I would love to have them in James's room, but to spell "James" it would cost me $900 bones.  Maybe I can DIY them some how?!?!?

Urban Outfitters, $179.99ea

My dog Marley gets into EVERYTHING when I am out of the house.  His most recent bad-dog-meal was a batch of home made play dough.  Ohhhh, how I would love to get this for him...

EYENimal Pet Video Camera by DOGTEK

Wreaths!

One of my most favourite accessories to any home, is an inviting, interesting and beautiful wreath on a front door.  Wreaths come in so many different colours and styles, they are an easy way to show the outside world, your sense of style.  Here are some of my favourites for this season.

Peacock feather wreath.  Pier1 ($29.95 US)

Country Living Wreath.  Sears. ($68.54)

Modern Wreath.  Etsy.com.  ($65.00)

Boxwood Square Wreath.  West Elm ($61.68)

Debbie Travis Gold Magnolia Wreath. Canadian Tire. ($22.99)

Grains Wreath.  Williams Sonoma.  ($73.69)

Peony Wreath. Etsy.com.  ($120.00)

Favorite Paint Colors

Head over to Favorite Paint Colors today and see my Entry Way!!!

It's one of my favourite sites.  You can see paint colours in actual homes.  You can browse by colour or room.  And she even has painting tips.  Great resource site!