Mood Board

(Apologizing in advance, since the following post is not anywhere near being related to photography.)

Since moving to Arizona, I haven't had many photo shoots to keep myself occupied, and so naturally my attention has turned to decorating our new house. Of course, if I had more photography work then I could better afford to get the things I want, but then I wouldn't have time to do so. Such a terrible problem to have!

I created a mood board to keep myself focused as I decorate. I got the idea from one of my favorite DIY blogs-Young House Love. Check them out for some amazing inspiration and tips to transform your house within a budget.

At the moment, my house is a very tan, blank slate:



The curtains below are the first things things that I've purchased from my mood board. This weekend I'll be adding a chocolate brown panel to the bottom 1/4, bringing them all the way to the floor.


The red prints on the wall will GO. I'm so not into red anymore.


The color of the walls are most accurate in this picture. I seriously need something on the floor to warm things up:



What I'd like to do is add some texture with lots of baskets, add warmth with chocolate brown accents and and to maintain the airy feeling with a calming blue and tan palate-sand and sky.

So here is my mood board-most of these things are from Target:



1. The colors I love-chocolate brown, tan, pale blue-gray, creamy white.

2. I found these amazing curtains at Ikea, but they are 6" too short so I'll be sewing chocolate brown panels onto the bottom 1/4 to add length and hopefully a bit of style.

3. These prints, or something similar, will hang on each side of the dining room window. I just love the sand and sea colors, but you won't find any pictures of beach scenes or any sea shells in my home. Too cliche' for me.

4. To add texture and depth to the room, this sisal rug will go under the dining table and chairs.

5. and 6. These tables will go in the living room-one is for the TV, the other is to go behind the sofa.

7. and 8. I love this little birdy pillow. I'll need at least two of each of these.

9. A very thick throw, in the perfect colors.

10. and 11. Two lamps and a decorative bowl. These will go on the sofa table. Or somewhere. I love them.

12. and 13. More rugs for the entry and hallway by the stairs.

There are a few other things that I have my eye on, such as some silver candlesticks, wall art, and green plants, but I can get those things pretty much anywere.

I plan to get a little at a time, it simply isn't in the budget to purchase everything all at once. But thats OK, I'm enjoying the planning and hunting for the perfect combination of price, function and beauty. I just hope that we are still in this house by the time I get it all together.

White Painted Table-Part Two

It's done! Yesterday, finally, I put the final coat of paint on my tired, old Craigslist table. I worked on it very sporatically, spending an entire day here and there, an hour or two occasionally, and mostly not doing anything at all. For weeks.

But over the last few days I went into overdrive because I'd like the entire set to be finished by Thanksgiving. Now that I know how difficult the chairs are going to be, I don't see that happening, but I'm going to get as far as I possibly can.

In case you've forgotten, here is the "before" image:



It really wasn't the ugliest table, but I wanted a white one.
Note the hideous water damage on the base:


And now it looks like this:






The table was first lightly sanded, then primed using Zinzer Bulls-Eye 123, painted with Valspar's Off White latex paint in a satin finish, detailed with some brown craft paint mixed with the Off White, and finally top-coated with water-based, clear semi-gloss Polycrylic Protective Finish by Minwax.

Here is a close-up of the detailing on the pedestal base:


...and on the top:


The water damage is long gone:


I worked endlessly trying to get a perfect finish on the table top, and I can honestly say it just wasn't going to happen. I believe I have (not kidding here) at least 20 coats of paint on the top, because I couldn't stand the brush marks. I tried using a sponge roller, several different brushes of different sizes, and a flat applicator. No matter what I tried, the brush marks were visible. I believe that I could have achieved a spotlessly smooth finish if I used a sprayer or even spray paint, but that was an expense that I couldn't afford.

After many, many days of painting, sanding, painting, sanding and painting again, I finally decided to purposefully apply the brush marks in a random pattern. And it looks JUST FINE. I could have saved a tone of time and paint if this had occurred to me sooner.

You can see a little of the brush marks, purposefully applied, here:


I'm so happy with how it works in the room. I love light and airy spaces, how can you feel down in a such a happy place?


Here is a side-by-side look at the table before and after:


So, what do you think? Was it better before? Did I ruin a perfectly good table? I'd love to hear your thoughts, so let me have 'em!