Christmas Decorations

Hi Friends....Come on in to my little house and help me welcome in the Christmas Season. As you can probably guess I like to use reds, green, silver and gold in my decorating. Anyway, come on in through the front door and the first thing you'll see is my double fireplace. Upon entering the front door you'll be plopped right into the living room. I moved the furniture around a bit but liked the tree in the corner. You'll also see Carson's crate sitting under the table in the bay window. He enjoys siting there and watching the world go by.

Go through the archway, past the fireplace in the den and is my dining room. Remember, I love all things Italian and this bright pasta picture makes me happy. The scale wasn't big enough for me so I painted a large red rectangle on the wall to make the picture seem bigger.

Here is the dining room fireplace and mantle. I used my snowman and more brightly colored trees in this room. I like the way they look with the red wall. Having dinner by the fire is a great way to enjoy a meal or sit and linger when it's cold outside and the fire is glowing. On the opposite wall I created this artwork from a poster, some modge podge, tissue paper and painter's canvas. My butler's pantry was created from of a bit of wasted space (we think it might have been the former laundry room/back porch). I faux finished the top to look like black granite.

Happy Holidays and try not to get so busy that you forget the REAL REASON FOR THE SEASON! Have a blessed week!

My Bedroom and Dressing Area

Below is a shot of my bedroom (and Ms. Riley who INSISTED she be in the pic!) About a year ago I re-painted it from a pale lavendar to this much bolder purple. I THINK it works since I have so much natural light and white mouldings. Do you? Originally my house was a 3 bedroom, 1 bath. When I bought the house about 8 years ago there were only 2 bedrooms. The master was HUGE...the previous remodel has torn down a wall and created a HUGE master bedroom but the bathroom they added was tiny and no others words would describe it for me, except, ICKY! I don't even have pictures of it....we tore it out pronto and that was WAY before I blogged or thought about before and after pics. It was a closet size bath with pedestal sink, aging toilet and mold covered shower stall.

This is a shot that is taken as if you were sitting on the bed. You can see the entrance to my dressing area that can be seperated from the bedroom with the slidding door on a rail. The door is from a salvage shop in Houston (Adkins Architectural) and was from a School. It's got really cool ripply glass. I want to do something to spiff it up.....would a valance look ok over the sliding rail? I don't like that part of the door.

I'll show you more of the dressing room and bath on my next post but wanted to finish the bedroom tour. This is the corner opposite the bed. I'm pondering putting a tv in the armoire...right now there is only a stereo. All my friends say a tv in the bedroom is great.....what do YA'LL say?

Here is my problem wall; however, I think I have a solution. Just the weekend I moved the black chest (it's filled with jewelry) into my dressing area. I have the mantel I salvaged from the re-do of the fireplace in the den. I thought it MIGHT look nice put on that wall. Right now it's in my garage and I've puttered with it a bit, sanding, pondering painting or just leaving chippy.

Here's a picture of the mantle. What do YA'll think about that? I was envisioning being able to decorate the top of the mantle and maybe put white lights in the hole where the fire should be. Or do you have any others suggestions for this wall?
Here's a view of the built in shelf. I have just a little bit of "stuff" in them right now. I like a simple line but there is just something missing. Any ideas? Paint the back of the shelf? The shelves are glass and adjustable.

And finally, this is a view FROM the dressing area looking into my bedroom. I hoping to eventually put hardwood in this room. It's the only room in the house that is carpeted (except for bathroom and kitchen and they are tile). But that's a project that will have to wait until the economy gets a little better....ya know what I Mean!??!!? Thanks for ANY input or advice you have about how I could PERK up my boudoir!