Working with a small bathroom

Wel hello world, remember me? I think I am starting to get the mommy thing down and I am now getting back to blogging and handy house projects.  I am working on my bathroom this weekend and will be posting pictures a little later. Let's talk about working in small bathrooms.

Working in any small space it is about tricking the eye, and a bathroom is no different!

1- Raise the bar!

Perhaps the cheapest and easiest thing to do, is raise your shower curtain.  You can opt to buy extra long shower curtains-but I didn't want to spend the extra money. I simply used our existing shower curtain and added a little extra somethin-somethin to the top(will post later).  Another fab option is burlap!  Gotta love some burlap!  Super cute, cheap and you do not even have to sew -simply use fabric glue to add a trim.

2-Simplify

I think simplicity is good in general-but it is especially important in small spaces.  It is important to de clutter the room.  Clutter does nothing but make the space feel even smaller. Step back and look at it and see if you can do with out something.  For more personal items, sotre them in baskets, or hidden away in drawers.  This is a bathroom and yes we may all have many of the same personal items, but that doesn't mean we want to see them!

3-Color

Contrary to what you may think-you do not HAVE to do a light color in a small room.  I however, prefer it!  But then again, my whole house has a pretty light color pallet.  I think soft, soothing colors are the way to go in a bathroom anyway, but it can also help give the illusion of more space.  You can always add color and interst to the room with hand towels, curtains and small accessories-that can be easily changed out.

I love the airy feel blue bring to this room.

And what a serene green!

4-  Lighten Up!

Change out an outdated light fixture and simply open the blinds. For all you peeping tom's, I typically keep my shades open during the day.  I love the natural light in the room and it is the best light for make up applications anyway!


5- Mirrors

Mirrors are actually another great way to add light into the room.  A mirror can bounce around the exsisting light in your space.  If you have a mirror that is glued to your wall-please replace it with a mirror with a little more interest-or at least frame it out.  You can easily frame a mirror that is glued to the wall with inexpensive materials from your home improvement store.  Have a large cheap mirror, layers mirrors for an interesting, more unique look!

Simply Sweet Sample Sale

A sweet talented friend is having a sample sale on a few of her christmas items.  Check out her blog below for some great items.  I have a couple of her infant gowns and they are so cute and cuddly-I can't wait for baby Kelton to make an appearance in them!

http://www.thesimplysweetbakery.com/2010/12/simply-sweet-shop-and-sale.html?spref=fb

Neutral Nursery

We finally got a camera(thanks mom for the early Christmas gift)....so here is Baby Kelton's nursery!

We got an old armoire,pianted it white and added new hardware.  I have saved this old window for a couple of years and wanted to use it somewhere...it finally found a home in the nursery. I just love the way it turned out.

I really wanted a little something on the wall by the bed, but didn't want anything hanging over the bed...

so I came up with the idea of the tree and once I was brave enough I took a paint brush to the wall!  I just used the NO VOC Mythic trim paint for the tree and the left over Mythic paint from two other rooms for the green and blue leaves.  If this is something you have been wanting to do-go for it-you can always paint over it if it doesn't turn out as you had hoped!

I had beautiful oatmeal colored linen bedding made and I am so pleased with it.  

                                Etsy is a great source for good prices on custom made bedding. 

If you do not see exactly what you want-show them other pictures or give them measurements to help them create the exact look you are going for. For example, I loved this bedding, but wanted really large ties to create this droopy bow look.

                                          

The little changing table I painted a while back-it is now filled with clean baby clothes and diapers!

I have been packing for the hospital which is why there is "stuff" all over the top of the changing table.

I better get that bag ready...just two more weeks!

Since the room was so neutral, I choose a blue silk curtain and brought in color with a few self made art projects.  Who says blue has to be JUST for boys?!? I think the touches of blue and green throughout create a nice neutral, organic feel to the room and I could not be more happy with it!

Creating a Homemade Baby Mobiles

I have been looking for a good mobile for the nursery and in the process came across many beautiful homemade baby mobiles.  After looking closely at them, I decided " Hey, I can do that!"  I am SOOo one of those people.  I see something and will check it out closely and attempt to make it myself.  Many of the attempts are not sucessful, but then others turn out even better!

Here are some of the mobile ideas I am currently toying with....



The butterfly mobile is the most simple.  I could just use scraps of colorful fabric and hang at varied lengths.  I think this is a great way to add a touch of color to the room. 

The owl is actually a Christmas ornament-but isn't he so cute!  I think I could make several of these little guys and it would make a super cute mobile.  There is a templete for this owl that can be found here: http://juicy-bits.typepad.com/juicy_bits/2009/12/131-give-a-hoot-for-the-holidays.html

The next mobile is adorable and ties in the whole theme of this particular nursery.  I would have to come up with a creative way to make it more like baby K's nursery.  You can check out the rest of the nursery here: http://thegoodlifebyerin.blogspot.com/2010/10/emersons-nurseryfinally.html  Super cute!

The last one of love!  It and many others like it can be founf on etsy-but it comes with a price tage of $165.00.  Yes, it is beautiful, but no thanks!  Look closely and you will see it is sticks, wrapped in yarn, with fabric birds wired to it-how hard could that be-right?

Anyway, I am currently working on a couple of these and I will show you how they turn out.

Which is your favorite?  Have any of you attempted to create your own baby mobile?

Free FALLing

I have been a little behind in decorating for fall around the house.....been a little preoqupied with nursery and baby stuff!  The easiest way to bring a little fall into my house is the mantel in the living room.

Traditionally, Fall decor tends to bring out the warmer, darker tones.  I like the texture in this mantels decor.

But sometimes something unexpected like this is BEAUTIFUL for FAll.  I just L-O-V-E this bright and fresh fall take.  I mean really, how lovely is this?!?

This too is a great brights and airy fall mantel.  And how simple-just add some brightly colored fall leaves.

One of my favorite bloggers, Layla, over at The lettered Cottage, has a great fall matel and firplace decor. 

 If you have not yet visited her blog-click over there now-http://theletteredcottage.net/

Love her style-and she and her hubby are just so stinkin cute-they will become one of your favorites!

Beautiful Baby Bedding

I know it took me long enough-but I decided on this classic linen baby bedding.  I love the look and feel linen brings to a room.  Not to mention I can see myself using this with more babies to come and even passing it on to a daughter one day :)!  I think it has a sort of timeless look.

I was really inspired by neutral nurseries and adding touches of color through accents like art and a creative mobile.  I am actually working on that and will post pictures soon ;)  Can't wait for the finished bedding to arrive-I will be sure to post finished nursery pics then.

 


This is made by Debbie Park and she can be found on etsy(http://www.etsy.com/shop/cottageandcabin).  She does beautiful work and if you do not find what you are looking for she will customize it.  I asked for this bedding but with longer and widerbumper ties so I can tie the bumper on with large bows.  I am a sothern girl and love me some bows!  She can also do this in a soft pink, blue or white linen.

Making Way for baby K

Well, many of you know that we are expecting out first in a little over 7 weeks-YIKE-that is hard to believe!  The hubbs and I decided not to find out what we are having-which has been a lot of fun-but it has made some things difficult.  When you go into baby shops- it is usually devided into boy stuff and girl stuff-with very little in between.  Now, girls can wear blues, greens, browns, and yellows-but little boys can not wear pink, flowers and little girly slogans.  While I am touching on this-why is it that everything has to have a slogan right across the front of it!  Little slugger, Future All Star, Mommy love me...I mean come on!!

Anyway...

My point is, there is a very limited selection of nice gender neutral clothing out there.  This got me to thinking(late at night when I couldn't sleep but should be sleeping)....So I pulled out my old sewing machine(by old I mean this bad boy was purchased in 1998) and went serching for ideas on the internet.

This is my new project...

making my own baby gowns.  I love baby gowns because they are cute and oh so easy!  I can purchase my choice fabric or make them from old t-shirts(love this green idea)!

There is a great tutorial here for making baby gowns from old t-shirts

http://thismamamakesstuff.com/?s=newborn+gowns

If you make one, please post a comment and share your pictures!  I would love to see some of the results!