A Young Girl’s Bedroom Update

Over the past several months I have had the pleasure of working with a friend on updating a few areas of her daughter’s bedroom. Her daughter had outgrown the pink and purple color palette and wanted a more updated and fun look.

My friend purchased Pottery Barn green polka dot curtains as well as blue and brown duvet covers she found on clearance to use as the starting point for this room redo. The duvet covers were used to create pillows and small curtains for a bookshelf.

After a trip to Calico Corners, we decided to add green and brown ball fringe as well as two fabrics – one striped and one floral print – to tie the entire space together.

This room redo incorporated many sewing projects including adding fringe to both edges of the curtains, creating a new window seat cushion, designing custom embroidered and appliqued pillows, and making small curtains hung from a tension rods to conceal the contents of a book shelf.

To bring the window seat fabric to another part of the room, custom Euro shams – striped on one side and floral on the other – and a large embroidered body pillow were sewn for the bed. By making the Euro shams from two different fabrics, my friend’s daughter can decorate her bed in all different combinations.

As you can see, this space is a great example of how mixing custom pieces and embellishing store bought items can create a great looking room. This was such a fun project and the best part was hearing how pleased my friend’s daughter was with the outcome!

Linking up to House Tour Party at No Minimalist Here
Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage

A Blue Glass Lamp

Not too long ago I shared my lamp moving adventure – a small project which morphed into an entire day of rearranging! At the end of this story I was left with one side table in our guest bedroom in need of a lamp. With lots of family coming to visit soon, finding something to fill this space became a priority.

I looked in all the normal places but just did not find anything (which was not expensive) that would work. I had all but given up when I happen to come across a pretty blue glass lamp while checking out a Craig’s list item (more on what this was later).

What caught my eye were the size of the lamp (almost 36 inches tall), the round silk shade, and the blue glass globe. I was not sure about the brass but figured I could always change it with some paint later. The lamp was part of a set found at an estate sale but unfortunately the other lamp’s globe was cracked along the bottom and the shade was stained. I ended up buying the one lamp and other item for the price of the other item – a free lamp!

As I mentioned above, I originally planned to use this lamp in the guest bedroom. However, once I brought it home I realized it just did not work with the green/blue cart I have for the bedside table. So I did some more lamp rearranging and brought back the original white ceramic lamp to the guest bedroom.

The blue glass lamp is now right at home in the master bedroom.

To bring blue to another part of this neutral space I added a silk pillow which I already had (still another story!) to the bed.

I think this little touch of blue is just what this room needed.

I am even growing to like the brass. Don’t tell Mr. RDH though because he finds it hard to understand why I like a brass lamp and don’t like the brass ceiling fan in the same room!

Linking to:
Between Naps on the Porch Met Monday

Parade of Homes House Tour

I am thrilled and honored to be participating in the 2011 Poppies at Play Parade of Homes. Andy has put together a fabulous list of 20 bloggers who, over the course of this upcoming week, will be showcasing some of their favorite rooms in their homes. It is sure to be fun and inspirational!

Whether this is your first time visiting Red Door Home or you are a long time follower – welcome!

Women’s Day Budget Decorating / Photographer – Michael Partenio

Stylist – Donna Talley, Regional Producer and Editor for Meredith Publications

I am Stacy, a stay at home mom who loves refurbishing vintage and thrift store finds, budget decorating, DIY projects, and sewing. Below you will find a small sample of some of the projects my husband and I have completed over the ten years we have lived in our home. I hope you enjoy the tour.

Basement Bathroom and Sitting Area

Better Homes and Gardens / Photographer – John Bessler

Stylist – Donna Talley, Regional Producer and Editor for Meredith Publications

Better Homes and Gardens / Photographer – John Bessler

Stylist – Donna Talley, Regional Producer and Editor for Meredith Publications

Our basement finishing project began with a simple goal – create a space suitable for guests but also one which would serve the needs of our family now and in the future.

Better Homes and Gardens / Photographer – John Bessler

Stylist – Donna Talley, Regional Producer and Editor for Meredith Publications

Better Homes and Gardens / Photographer – John Bessler

Stylist – Donna Talley, Regional Producer and Editor for Meredith Publications

Our wish list included a guest bedroom, bathroom, sitting area, bar area and storage space. We spent a lot of time planning and making many budget compromises along the way. (You can read more here and here.)

Kitchen and Bath Makeovers / Photographer – Bryan McCay

Stylist – Donna Talley, Regional Producer and Editor for Meredith Publications

Kitchen and Bath Makeovers / Photographer – Bryan McCay

Stylist – Donna Talley, Regional Producer and Editor for Meredith Publications

Kitchen and Bath Makeovers / Photographer – Bryan McCay

Stylist – Donna Talley, Regional Producer and Editor for Meredith Publications

In the end our basement turned out to be one of my favorite places in our house. Our guests seem to like it too - many times asking to stay longer the next time!


Dining Room

My dining room has come together over the last several months mostly by chance. The most recent addition being a pair of 1950’s velvet chairs which I found not too long ago.

This space is truly a mix of varying styles and price points. In the thrifty category you will find the Henredon table and four painted chairs (refurbished from Craig’s list), wall clock (painted floor sample), column centerpiece (vintage find), pair of alabaster lamps (Ebay) as well as the sideboard and dark chairs (painted and glazed thrift store finds).

The splurges include the blue and white zig zag rug and gray silk curtains – sewn by me.

By balancing the two I was able to create a unique and stylish space which didn’t break the bank! Future plans for this space include adding architectural details to the ceiling and walls.


Family Room and Kitchen

Women’s Day Budget Decorating / Photographer – Michael Partenio

Stylist – Donna Talley, Regional Producer and Editor for Meredith Publications

Women’s Day Budget Decorating / Photographer – Michael Partenio

Stylist – Donna Talley, Regional Producer and Editor for Meredith Publications

My family spends a majority of our together time in these two connected spaces.

Once again, the furnishings come from a wide variety of sources including vintage finds and new purchases, Ebay and thrift store items, repainted hand-me-downs, and flea market pieces.

Women’s Day Budget Decorating / Photographer – Michael Partenio

Stylist – Donna Talley, Regional Producer and Editor for Meredith Publications

The pictures of these rooms are from a 2009 Women’s Day Budget decorating feature as well as new photos I have not shown before.

Daughter’s Bedroom

Completed about a year ago, my daughter’s room was truly an exercise in compromise – she wanted pink, pink, pink and I wanted a room she would not out grow in a few years.

We kept or repurposed most of the existing furnishings and filled in the blanks with simple DIY projects including making dog silhouettes, sewing slipcovers, pillows and curtains, adding ceiling molding, dressing up a bulletin board, and more.

When it was all done we both came away with a space we loved!

Thank you so much for stopping by my home. I love meeting new blogging friends and hope you will leave a comment letting me know you were here!

The next stop on the tour is Gina from The Shabby Chic Cottage.

April Blog of the Month – For the Love of a House

Most of my favorite blogs are those which feature renovation projects and/or design. Joan’s wonderful blog, For the Love of a House is both – making it one of my all-time favorites and the April RDH blog of the month!

Joan and her husband moved from Texas to New Hampshire and are currently restoring their beautiful farm house. You can read their incredible and inspiring story of how and why this move transpired by clicking here.

As a former antique business owner, Joan’s impeccable taste and style can be found in every room of her house – especially her magazine worthy kitchen and living room.

The current renovation project at For the Love of a House involves the repurposing of a barn into a mud room and storage room. Like many houses of this era and locale, Joan’s house included an attached barn which originally housed livestock. The barn will now accommodate these two new spaces.

Antique iron gates from Argentina – shown below - will serve as the entrance to the mudroom. I can only imagine how beautiful the rest of this area will be and I am looking forward to seeing this space as it progresses.

Another favorite aspect of Joan’s blog is her creative use of salvaged items. Besides the above doors, Joan also designed this incredible headboard project.

Joan purchased the large antique wood garden gate posts thinking they would make perfect headboard posts – boy was she right! Using the posts and salvaged barn boards from the property, the on-site carpenter created a beautiful piece of furniture which is sure to become a family heirloom.

To see more of Joan’s beautiful house and inspiring style be sure to visit For the Love of a House.