Painting the Family Room

Sterling Walls

Hi Guys,

Green Walls Before

Ever since we moved the green plaid sofa into the basement and purchased a red leather sofa for the family room, I have wanted to paint the family room's green walls a color that was more flattering to the sofa.

Green Walls Before

Gray Walls

Steve Painting

I chose Benjamin Moore's sterling. It is the same color as the back splash in the kitchen and looks lovely with the colonial blue wall in the family room and the northern air blue walls in the living room. I left the trim Super White. Gray is very neutral and looks good in any room, so if you're having trouble picking a color for your room, don't be afraid to look at the grays.

Finished Walls

My next project will be to make some pillows for the sofa that bring out the grays and blues in the room.

Pendant Lights

Lights Above Table

We also purchased two pendant lights to hang above the glass kitchen table. They are lovely and add a little class to the dining table and lucite chairs.

Finished Family Room--Gracie on the Red Sofa

Gray Walls next to Colonial Blue

As today is the final day of 2010, I wish you all a Happy and Healthy 2011.

That's my tip for today.

b

YouTube Videos

Hi Guys,

Well, it's taken me years, but I finally figured out how to put some pictures on YouTube. I had a lot of help from my son-in-law.

Go to YouTube and take a look at:  The Beautiful Seasons in my Neighborhood  and

Miss Yvonna Grace and Mister Zippy.

Let me know what you think.

b

Holiday Floral Arrangements

Tulips, Evergreen Branches, & Curly Willow

Hi Guys,

Tomorrow night is our Lexington Bicentennial Band Holiday Party. I went to the nursery to buy flowers for the food table. I looked at the arrangements, and the prices and thought, I can make that for a whole lot less. I already had vases, so I purchased individual flowers (mums, daisies, baby's breath, evergreen branches, and pink and white tulips) and three boxes of raw cranberries. I made three lovely arrangements for a little over $40.

Empty Vase & Cranberries

I started out with an empty vase and added water and a few cranberries. Then I arranged the flowers and filled the vase with more cranberries until they reached the top.

Vase Ready for Flowers

I added some curly willow to the arrangements along with some glittery eucalyptus that I had purchased for an arrangement a few years ago.

Mums, Baby's Breath, Curly Willow, Eucalyptus

I think the arrangements will look lovely on the table tomorrow night.

That's my tip for today.

b

Finished Mum Arrangement

Christmas Decorating Part 3

Decorated Dining Room Table

Hi Guys,

Today's blog consists of pictures of the way I decorated my house for the Holidays.

Dining Room

Please enjoy, and I hope they inspire you in your Holiday decorating.

That's my tip for today.

b

Family Room Hearth

Family Room & Living Room Tree

Front Entry

Living Room

Living Room

Living Room

Living Room

Christmas Decorating Part 2

Outdoor Wreath

Hi Guys,

Fruit and Pine Cone Wreath

Well, I spent the day finishing my Christmas decorating. A few years ago I made a wreath and decorated it with pine cones and faux fruit. It doesn't scream Christmas, so I can leave it up all winter. I hung it on the dining room wall.

Christmas Card Holder

I made a Christmas card holder and hung it on the inside of the front door. Pretty soon it will be full.

Bowl Full of Balls

I filled a glass footed bowl with small Christmas balls and put it next to a hand crafted Santa that was given to me as a gift.

Santa

I filled a bowl full of pine cones and red berries and put it on the coffee table in the living room.

Pine Cones in Bowl

Wreath & Candy Canes

We strung some lights on the ficus tree in the family room.

I decorated the outside of the front door with a decorated, lighted wreath. I bought some gold wired ribbon and made a bow that I fastened to the top.

Lighted Poinsettias

I hung two lighted poinsettia plants on the plant hooks on the front porch. Both the wreath and the plants' lights are on timers, so I don't have to worry about turning them off and on. The decorative lights on the deck stay there all year round. We like to light them for parties. At Christmastime, we light them every night.

That's my tip for today.

b

Lights on the Deck

Christmas Decorating Part 1

The Finished Tree

Hi Guys,

Adding Flowers

Setting up the Christmas Tree

Once again it is time to decorate for the holidays. I started my Christmas decorating on Thanksgiving by putting up the tree. Instead of adding ornaments, I added white poinsettias and lots of ribbons.

The Mantle Before

Today I decorated the mantle. I hung a lighted wreath on the brick and laid a lighted garland on the mantle. I added stocking hangers and stockings for each of us, even the dogs. I put some red beads around the wreath and gold beads on the garland and stocking hangers.

I still have more decorating to do, but this is a good start. I hope it gives you some ideas on how to decorate your home.

That's my tip for today.

b

The Finished Mantle