Bedroom Update July 13, 2009

So you remember the goal right?

Here’s what I’ve done so far. Notice anything missing? Right, just the focal point of the room, that stinking yellow bed. It’s a $200 Ikea bed (sitting on a $4000 rug, don’t you love when designers do that?). The biggest it comes is a queen, which we considered and then decided against since all the kiddos must at least be able to fit in there with us. So…we’re going to make it. I’m also keeping my eyes peeled for a lovely furry trunk. I haven’t changed the bedding either or bought that faux fox throw, I think I’m waiting for the bed. But it’s coming along.

Excuse me while I nest like a complete maniac April 3, 2009

Today’s topic: My bedroom and whether or not it’s a good idea to completely redo the space you plan to give birth in just weeks before you plan to give birth. Will it throw me off mentally to be in an unfamiliar setting or will I be so happy to finally have it done that I will be able to relax that much more. How will the kids respond? I contemplated posting a “before” photo here so that you can properly appreciate the “after” but decided against it. It’s just toooo shabby, and not even in a remotely chic way. It is a space that we have utterly ignored for the five years that we have been living here. And so far I’ve been pretty successful in keeping most of you from seeing it. So, you want to see the goal?

First you have to meet Henri. Henri Bresson. He’s a photographer that my dad first introduced me to a while back and I fell in love with him. He’s most famous for capturing people in decisive moments. Which street will I take? Will I jump in that puddle? Below is one of my favorite shots of his. I’ve just always been moved by the mood of this shot. I want to see the front of this woman and is she fixing her sweater or doing something else? (Edited 4/7: April wins. She suggested that the woman is probably texting. Aaahhhaa. Love it.)

My biggest connection to it though has got to be the dog.

Enter the first dog I remember, Monty.

Pretty wild how similar they are huh?

So what the heck does this have to do with my bedroom you ask? Okay, here goes. It took me a while but I realized that every idea in my bulging design binder is there because it somehow resonates with a photo I stared at as a child. So, here’s how Bresson’s shot translates into a room for me. I think we can pull it off since there’s little construction involved and I’ve managed to source most of the items. Am I nuts? I feel compelled. I’ll keep you posted.

We’re still at it July 22, 2008

I have strayed from house updates because it’s all we talk about, which makes me loathe to also type about it. But, it was a part of the old blog (I think I took the link out), it’s a HUGE part of my life, so along you come.

Some updates on the money pit.

New color for Wyatt’s room? I’m done with blue even though it was and still is the best blue.

Before Christmas we came back to the fireplace. Brian had boxed over all the black marble months earlier but the hearth remained uncovered while we decided if it should be the travertine that we laid in the entry and hallways.

Um, ah….er, mmm, I don’t know. Okay, yes, let’s go with the travertine. Good thing we bought the whole quarry. Bust out the tile saw baby! I make him wear those ear muff thingys.

Keeping Wyatt busy. Here, break all these up into really little pieces.

Then measure each piece really carefully

Make a mosaic using dad’s tile thin set. That’s non-toxic right?

Yeah for travertine hearths!!

I swear I did not set this up. I almost killed myself running for the camera so I wouldn’t miss it.

So here’s where we’re at currently. We had to stop again to finish canned lights (thank you uncle Glen) and work on the outside before exterior paint in August. Oh yeah, and Bri framed and built me an actual storage unit in our garage to house all my free junk that was getting ruined by all the sawdust. Here is the photo we’re copying though. It’s our friends’ fireplace. He is a woodworker (thank you God!) and she is one of my best friends who I know secretly works for Ballard and just won’t tell me. It’s a bad scan but you get the idea.