I’m back!

I took a few days to re-group at the start of the New Year, mostly because it was the last weekend of winter break so I was playing games and spending some quality time with the family, then my youngest got sick and we spent a few sleepless nights with her. But things are on the mend now, and yesterday I was finally able to get around to photograph the changes I made once I took all of my Christmas decor down!

As I removed all the bits of Christmas from the house, leaving things feeling bare, but clean! …I contemplated my goals for this house. Last year about this time we had just moved in, and while I was busy unpacking, I had big plans for Shades of Blue, how it would grow, and also big plans for improvements on the house. Things took some unexpected turns in our family in 2014. I had to reevaluate my business plan. I also had to put on-hold projects that I wanted to do. Most of those projects are still on hold. But this year I started to think about change in a new way. Instead of “how much can I get done”, I’m thinking about what are meaningful changes I can make? What is best for my family? What is best for me? Some of the answers are scaring me a bit– not because they are bad… just a lot different than what I’ve planned on for so long. I haven’t felt ready to share them… with anyone really. I’m trying to take things slowly and go day by day, week by week, doing what feels right– what God wants for our family– and letting myself be guided to a better course.  Don’t worry, I will still be blogging regularly, and I will still be doing things I love– creating, painting furniture, building, and styling my home. But my pace has changed and my focus sharpened.

That pace change hasn’t been easy. I’ve always prided myself in being someone who, as my sister put it once, “gets shiz done!”

I see so many of my friends tackling big projects! and big reveals! and new this! new that!

I’ve felt a little frustrated about not being able to do what I want.

But my friend Lucy has told me several times that often when a situation seems most limiting, creativity blooms.

Comparison stifles that, as well as negativity.

Those are my biggest mental struggles. So this year I am going to work hard to

bloom.

You’d think at 30, I’d have fully grasped who I am and what I want in life. And I have… in broad sense… but this is more of a realization of talents and roles that are either hidden or not cultivated, and unearthing or uninhibiting them so they can bless the lives of my family and friends (that includes you… reading this:)).

 So, THAT, my friends, is my sentimental thoughts for the week! 🙂

Now, I’m going to show you our new living room layout. Sometimes moving furniture around can give you a fresh appreciation for what you have! You can see our previous layout HERE.

My husband has been wanting this layout for awhile, so we are trying it out and enjoying the intimate feel!

Now you can notice this little console table I was given by a friend, and I painted just before Christmas! (The curtains are the same no-sew ones I did a tutorial on last year)

 I chose to keep all the furniture in my living room white… ASCP Old White for the painted pieces to be exact. That way, I can let the decor stand out a little more and it is easier to change things out with the seasons.

 Those old chippy “windows” are actually cabinet doors from an very old, broken down hutch. I salvaged them over a year ago and painted them MMSMP Ironstone. They chipped so authentically, they are one of my favorite things on my walls.

 That square pouf I sewed and stuffed a couple months ago, and it is a welcome addition to our room. However, it turns out, with the cost of foam, materials aren’t that much cheaper than Target poufs. So unless I can find a cheaper source for foam, that isn’t a great DIY in my opinion! 🙂 Unless of course you are wanting a really specific fabric, in which case, it is definitely cheaper than hiring out a custom-made one! I already had that fabric, and it coordinates well with the rug I got a couple months ago from RugsUSA. The design is Tuscan Terali Moroccan Trellis Rug in Ivory and it is amazing.

This wing chair I slipcovered a couple years ago with the help of my mom and it is still hangin in there… however, it now is one of my favorite spots in the room thanks to Lucy’s adorable owl pillow and a cozy throw!

P.S. I know there is a promotion going on right now where you can get free worldwide shipping! But you have to go to her post HERE to get the link!

The gallery wall hasn’t changed much. But I’m planning on taking down a couple things and adding some new things, slowly, this year. The couch is home to another of Lucy’s creations: the polar bear pillow! It adds the perfect touch of winter! And I know the table isn’t centered to the couch… you perfectionists need to just breathe! 😉

This is the third pillow I’ve made using DecorSteals feedback fabric. I love all of them and how versatile they are in every room of my house! (well, except maybe the bathrooms) However, this pillow was the fastest one I’ve made thanks to an awesome tutorial for a zipper closure pillow by my friend Jen!

I was going to keep the coffee table centerpiece the same as during the holidays, since it was pretty neutral, but I fell in love with this combination instead… (that orb is a Hobby Lobby find)

 I’m excited to say, I’ve finally learned the very very basics of Google SketchUp, so the plans for adding a cabinet base to a bookcase (pictured here) is coming up on MONDAY!! I’m so proud of these bookcases, and even though we aren’t done with (will be adding crown moulding and trim to make them built-ins), I think they still look fantastic! The top bookcase is from a ready-to-assemble kit by PureBond (can be found on HD online) with the cabinet base that we built.

 And every well-styled bookcase needs something vintage and brass… 😉 A pineapple will do!

Here is the view facing our dining/kitchen. Those pillows I sewed from the same material I made the no-sew curtains! I kinda love custom textiles that tie a room together.

 This corner has never made an official appearance on my blog until now… This is where all my blogging happens!

I painted this one many moons ago and used mismatched brass hardware (a perk of refinishing furniture). That middle door opens to the keyboard but all the other drawers house the wildest assortment of things in a most disorganized fashion. 🙂

Junk drawers are my struggle. I go through them about two or three times a year and purge and organize. But when I’m cleaning up real fast, I tend to shove small miscellanea in the closest drawer! I mean. How do a measuring tape, nail clippers, headphones, an eraser, and packaging tape end up all on this desk top? I dunno… but they now all live in that top drawer where they don’t belong! 😉

 So that’s it for now! What do you think of the new layout? Do you have a sofa dividing your living space? Or is it an open concept?  How often do you change the layout?

Come back on Monday for more pics of those bookcases and the FREE PLANS for the base cabinets!

P.S. Because someone always asks… the wall color is Valspar Redstone Dakota Sandstone

P.P.S. This post includes links, from which I am receiving NO COMPENSATION for. I’m just trying to make finding the goods/sources easier for ya!