This week has been a lovely party week, with sharing our homes on Tuesday,then the creative and glorious ball on Wednesday.
But today, caring bloggers are getting together to support Amy from 4 Sisters in a Cottage and her brave struggles with breast cancer.. If you are interested in saying a kind word of encouragement to Amy, go over Mary to find out more.
I thought I'd show a few more pictures of what I LOVE about my home.
When Sugarwing's Dad moved out on his own, we ripped out his bedroom, used half of it as a large master closet/laundry room and the other half as a master bath.
A private laundry room in your bedroom closet is a great idea for an empty nester couple. We filled the room with shelves and baskets, so that the clothes went straight from the dryer to the shelf , no baskets- no hauling- so simple.
Then, of course, we had the kids move back in. And out, and then in again. And a niece stayed with us for 8 months. Our laundry room and the bedroom leading to it, became grand central station!
But it works out, and I still LOVE that we remodeled and added this area. I'm not showing you a picture of my closet, because it hasn't been tidy since the day it was built. But hey, its a closet! I shut the door and don't care.
These cabinets used to be plain, and are meant to be for guns.
I added trim (me and my saw and nail gun!) to make them look built in and we actually designed the size of the room to fit them. We were a couple of inches off- you can see to the right side. Oh well, with the walls dark, it seems OK.
I cut these pieces to fit around the door too. They are from Home Depot and are made of a Styrofoam, and can easily be cut by an amateur like me. They sell all sorts of trim pieces to mix and match and use to foof up your home. I'd say I spent about $100 on what I used for this door.
I found the rose tile at a carpet and tile warehouse clearance center. It still wasn't dirt cheap ($190), but it adds so much to the room. By using an accent tile around the tub, I could go with a generic tile on the floor. It was from the same clearance center for 99 cents a tile.
The sconce is from an auction and was $15.
I'm thinking about painting the sink cabinet. I don't have much natural wood in my house and even though it works well here, my paint brush fingers are getting itchy every time I walk by it.
To make a round tub fit into the rectangular box it needed to go into, I came up with this mosaic. There were two of these little square tiles left and the person at the store just gave them to me. One is a rose, the other is a bundle of wheat (for Kansas!).
I used the decorative tiles on the front two corners of the tub, the back is a simple mosaic of the small pieces of travertine that are used as background for the decorative tile mosaic.
This iron table is from a garage sale for $22. I loved it because it has a shelf to put books and magazines on while I soak in the tub.
Three colors of white and tan were used to paint the cabinets and give them an aged look. I added these wooden embellishments and tied keys on the handles with sheer ribbon.
The chair was free. No one bought it at a sale and it was about to be thrown out! The fabric is frayed on the top, but I don't care one bit. The fabric underneath seems every bit as pretty, but I love the cabbage roses so much, I won't let myself be tempted to pull it off and see.
I lined the back of the shelves with sheet music.
And yes, I know, I spelled cotten wrong on the jar!
I made my Grandma Downey's old floor lamp into a towel/robe hook, since there was no convenient spot for a towel bar.
I tried to use pretty containers for the practical things needed to be stored in the room.
Well, I'm off to get Sugarwings for the day! This makes the 4th day I have baby sat her this week, if you are wondering why I have no "new" projects to show you. Did I mention she has had a flu bug all week? Poor baby. She has needed lots of cuddles.
Don't forget to enter the drawing (details on the last posting)
Beautiful! I love the way you used pretty containers and things for your bathroom supplies. The lamp is the best idea! They never have any pretty towel holders anyhow! lol
I was looking at all the moldings and things the other day at lowes... hubby isn't a carpenter so usually I end up doing stuff on my own too. Nice to see you do too!
xoxo Heather
Posted by: Heather ~ Pretty Petals | September 28, 2007 at 11:18 AM
kARLA,
Everything looks so nice,like you I always find the cute little jars and dishes to put things in, hate to hide them away in a drawer.
Glittered some leaves this morning, now I want to do hundreds, but its raining out so not a good day to pick up leaves. I posted pictures on my site.
Real tempted to go to the Thrift store, but I have already been twice this week, but what if something unbelievable is over there and I'm not. What to do what to do.
NANCY JO
Posted by: NANCY GARTENMAN | September 28, 2007 at 11:56 AM
Wow! Your so creative!! I love every photo you posted!! I love those styrofoam pieces around the door. They look gorgeous!!!! I thought they were real wood! I will have to look for those at home depot next time I'm there.
Posted by: Pattie | September 28, 2007 at 12:54 PM
I love home do-it-yourself projects. Your projects leave me speechless--I am so impressed!
Posted by: Junie Moon | September 28, 2007 at 02:18 PM
Since you are mostly empty-nesters again, can I move in?? I'll just take a teeney tiny portion of your bathroom.
Love,
Julie
Posted by: Julie | September 28, 2007 at 03:18 PM
Your home is just so so so so beautiful! Lots of inspiration there for all of we fellow bloggers!
Give your sweet Sugarwings a hug and kiss from us. Hope she feels better soon!
Posted by: beachy | September 28, 2007 at 03:33 PM
Love all your pictures. Your house is gorgeous. Hope sugarwings is feeling better. My three kiddos have been sick for the past three weeks. That pesky flu bug.
Posted by: Jennie Outterson | September 28, 2007 at 03:38 PM
thats a mighty fine set of portieres you have there! I have often thought my laundry should be upstairs with the bedrooms and bathroom and linen cupboard. So much more sensible.
Posted by: Rachael | September 28, 2007 at 03:59 PM
Karla, I have just spent the last 20 minutes checking out every detail of your post. Fantastic eye candy and ideas.
Also, I'm still partying and almost finished visiting all the great blogs that linked. Thank you for hosting a great party
Karen
Bluemuf
Posted by: Karen Young | September 28, 2007 at 04:47 PM
Gorgeous blog ! I keep finding all these beautiful blogs, no wonder my wee Etsy shop looks on the bare side --too busy drooling over blogs lol !
I LOVE what you did with the floor lamp, terrific idea and love those glass globes.
Thanks for sharing such a beautiful home :)
I've added your blog to mine and your lovely shop was hearted a few months ago.
Take care, Tracy :)
Posted by: Tracy | September 28, 2007 at 05:58 PM
I don't even know why I bother buying home decorating magazines anymore because your blog is much more interesting and inspiring!!! My husband's parents did the same thing when they became empty nesters. They have a turn-of-the-century stone house with one of those big old bathrooms, so they added a laundry room there instead of in the old summer kitchen! I love the brown color on the walls. You are so creative with everything! But please don't paint that wood-- it's gorgeous!!!
Posted by: Bethany | September 28, 2007 at 06:44 PM
How many times can I comment 'you never cease to amaze me'. LOL! This is no exception! Karla you're incredible, I love how you just DO stuff, it's fantastic! You have a solution for every little problem and you make it a beautiful design too! Love the gun cabinet and I'm thankful there aren't any guns in there! A much prettier display you have. ox
Posted by: Natasha Burns | September 28, 2007 at 07:19 PM
Karla, your pictures never fail to inspire me. I just LOVE your style. Thank you for sharing with us!
(I'm sorry about little Sugarwings; sure hope she feels better soon)
Posted by: Becca | September 28, 2007 at 07:49 PM
I loved taking part in your "party".
You will have to do it again when the homes are decorated for Christmas. :)
Posted by: Brenda@Coffee Tea Books and Me | September 28, 2007 at 07:56 PM
I'm so impressed you cut all those pieces with a saw yourself! I KNOW how much work there is in that kind of thing and I know I sure don't want to be the one doing it.
Posted by: Wanda | September 28, 2007 at 10:58 PM
You really should publish a book with all your photos and decorating ideas. I would buy it!
~elaine~
Posted by: Elaine L. | September 29, 2007 at 12:18 AM
I just never tire of your little tours of your house! So pretty! And such good ideas. What did you cover the music wiht after you put it on the walls? It all is so pretty!
Posted by: michelle | September 29, 2007 at 12:20 AM
What fun! I loved seeing your home!! I am thinking of wallpapering my dining room and kitchen in sheet music!! I loved seeing how you used it in the backs of the cabinet!!!-sandra
Posted by: sandra feazel | September 29, 2007 at 12:25 AM
Everything is so beautiful!! I could look at the pictures for hours!! I think I already have!! LOL Wish I would have been able to post some pictures....I missed it!! *crying*!!! Just love your site!! Happy Fall!!
Posted by: Michelle | September 29, 2007 at 02:49 AM
Karla, Your home is so beautiful!
Thanks for adding the links to Amy (FourSistersInACottage) and Joy (TheJoyOf) blogs. I have added this days post link from my blog to yours for Amy to view... Have a lovely day!
~Mary~ of IsabellasCloset
Posted by: IsabellasCloset | September 29, 2007 at 05:45 AM
i love everything you have done here. all of the trim is gorgeous!
Posted by: elsa | September 29, 2007 at 09:13 AM
Oh Karla, Your bathroom is gorgeous. What a great idea for that lamp. I wonder if I can get mine back from my best friend. LOL Beautiful job with the tile and the trim. I'll have to tell my daughter about the Styrofoam molding. She is looking for crown molding for her office. Did you get to see her new house during your party? She doesn't love the country romantic look as much as us, but she is sneaking some pink into her house little by little.
Posted by: Betty @ She's Sew Pretty | September 29, 2007 at 12:32 PM
absolutely wonderful. Can I live in the pictures? I just keep saying someday I'll get mine done. Give the baby lots of cuddles, we'll wait for projects.
Posted by: sherri | September 29, 2007 at 12:49 PM
Just beautiful. Every little bit is gorgeous!
Posted by: dottycookie | September 29, 2007 at 01:46 PM
I love Grandma's floorlamp!!!
And everything else. You are a decorator extrordinaire!!! So sorry Sugarwings is under the weather.
Posted by: phyllis | September 29, 2007 at 05:55 PM
Gorgeous photos. Your home is well done!
Posted by: Vickie | September 29, 2007 at 06:18 PM
Your house is sooo beautiful. thank you for such a fun visit. You can find me at Daisy Bouquet. Mary
Posted by: Mary Isabella | September 29, 2007 at 09:20 PM
Oh Karla,
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU...what a beautiful post for me!!!
Your house is FABULOUS and I am crazy for all of your creative touches. I might have to try my hand at a few of them for myself once I feel better.
My favorite is your FREE CHAIR....I always love saving for free, LOL!!!!
Thank you so much for your kind heart and I will be adding you to my favorite blogs to read.
Love and Hugs, Amy (Mom to the Four Sisters and Bonus Mom to Nick and Alex)
Posted by: Amy Joy Henry | September 29, 2007 at 11:03 PM
Lovely! The cabinet is really beautiful. I love old cabinets:)
Posted by: Inger | September 29, 2007 at 11:38 PM
I LOVED this post! I love looking at your gorgeous home! And normally for some reason I can't often access your blog but today it worked!! The fabric on your little chair looks like it's by the english firm Sanderson. It's one of my favourite of their patterns!
Posted by: Sophiehoneysuckle | September 30, 2007 at 10:57 AM
Love your blog. Wish I had found you sooner. I have a lot of catching up to do. Keep up the wonderful work you do and the
great inspirering pictures you take make my day. Thanks, Tricia
Posted by: Tricia Bourdakis | October 04, 2007 at 11:37 PM