Posted by gwendolyn on June 20, 2005 at 04:24 PM

Some Of What I Have Been Up To Lately

Before picture of the Left corner/ back wall of the dining room as we were preparing to dive into the brave new world of bright yellow.

After picture of that same view (with no flash and the red pendant lighting it gives a very cool orange cast to the room). I decided the best option for the corners was some sort of lighting as the room is pretty dark. We also needed something with a great deal of height so that it wouldn't appear too small for the area. Candles give a warm cozy feel and bypass the messy look of cords hanging to the outlets for lamps. We have a colorful print of tall ships from Op Sail 2000 that we will have framed and put on the large back wall between the sets of candles.

After picture of Left corner and back wall of dining room (with flash to show true yellow color). The elephant tin sign is a replica of an old tin advertisement sign for a cement company. Terry really likes elephants so I got it and then we realized that the colors in it really went well with the dining room even though it wasn't intentional. I have it on good authority that it will work with the tropical decor.

Before Right corner/ back wall/short wall.

Before picture of the triangle wall under the stairs.

This is an after picture of the same wall but different angle. The triangular part of the wall that is under the stairs ended up a bit to the left of the frame of this picture. These are new brightly colored table linens and woven cattail chairs. I am going for a tropical look but wanted to even out the bright colors with some natural elements such as the wood of the table and bowl and the woven natural fibers of the chargers and chairs. The bowl may seem too large for the center of the table but if you saw the amount of fruit I have to keep in it for a week you would understand why it had to be large.

This is a picture I snapped after having patched some really huge holes made by the freaking heavy wood shelf that used to hang there and had started to prime the red wall. I was rolling away when it dawned on me that I might want to document the huge change between the bright red and what I would hopefully end up with if the picture in my head worked out okay. Bye sexy red wall. Not sure what we are doing yet with the shelf, it may possibly make it back to the wall.

This is an after picture of the Seafare blue, and Tahitian green I chose. This is a print I am thinking of buying and framing for one of the walls that inspired these colors at this link. I saw the print in Ron Jon's Surf Shop a few weeks ago. The water off of the Keys just south of us is also a beautiful shade of green like that. I am really just starting to appreciate where I live.

Additional views of the bedroom before.

This wall is on the right side of my bedroom if you are facing the bed. It has the entry door to the master bath and the walk in closet. All of the junk from my room was shoved into my bathroom while I painted. I am planning a spa-like feel in there with fluffy white towels and simple details. I won't paint in there. I am using a large piece of coral we brought home from the beach as a soap dish. I think it looks funky.

This is the same wall after with another vintage replica tin advertisement sign I liked with a Hula Girl and Hawaii on it. I have found several since that I think would look great in there but I don't want to over do it with the tin signs either. I am thinking later on there will be a tall narrow lingerie chest or something placed on the wall under the sign, perhaps white and distressed.

A closer view of the sign. (A tad blurry I apologize.)

This was my attempt to convey the way the light streams into the room through the striped linen sheers and the puffy comfy yet crisp new white cottons of the linens on the bed. Linen is a tropical feeling fabric. Linen pants with cuffs rolled up paired with white crisp cotton shirt reminds me of what people wear when they are walking on the beach at sunset. Again the walls will have more accessories as I collect more treasures. I don't want to just throw anything up there. It has to mean something to me or instantly appeal to me.

One of the most important elements to me where the bed is concerned is to mix and match textures and prints and high quality fabrics. I picked up the pillows at different times and had to really make myself not buy "sets" of anything. I will add more pillows as I find ones that appeal both in texture and shape. I think it adds an interesting element even though it is all very simple and crisp and white. I bought two sets of 440 thread count sheets, one plain white and the other in a white on white stripe, but that is it for sets. The sheets I chose are all the highest thread count I have owned thus far and we melt like butter every time we climb into bed. It is so nice. I don't know how I lived with 250 thread count sheets before. I wonder what an even higher thread count feels like? I bet like Heaven. Don't knock upgrading until you have tried it. Pampering yourself is well worth the higher cost. We haven't decided on a bed frame yet. I am considering a square white sheer canopy that would hang from the ceiling. Not sure. Things will be added a little at a time as I make up my mind and am able to match up my available funds to my picky taste.

Again, I went with a simple tailored bedskirt that has nice interesting detail and draws attention to itself but wasn't overly feminine or overly masculine. Normally I like ruffles. I wanted something more simple and crisp. Again, I think I had crisp white cotton shirts over tanned bodies in mind. That is a tropical feeling thing to me. Though I guess it could use a good pressing. I might get that done after I rest from all the painting.

I was very happy about this find as I wasn't sure what I was going to like for hanging curtains. These seashell mosaic finials were perfect. In my opinion.

I like the way this looks.

I like boxes. Especially ones that remind me of treasure chests. I especially like the medium sized one here that I found a couple of years ago. Both the lid and the base are carved out of solid pieces of wood and it is very heavy. I really like it. When there is a hurricane it is one of the many important things that goes in the truck after the humans and dogs.

I have some clear glass candle holders, mostly smaller votive ones that I am going to put sand and shells in with various candles like this. I may add more sand and shells to this one to take up some of the space but I really like the way this looks. Currently we are burning a candle we bought at Ron Jon's a few weeks ago that is called "Paradise" and believe me, it smells so good. It is probably the thing that started this whole makeover. Go order these from their site. They smell so good. Worth every penny.

This is pretty much the ideal place for the candles. Breezy linen, smell of tropical yummy paradise, colors of the sea, sound and sight of blowing palms and lit fountain off in the distance outside the window.

I rehung the ivory gauzy curtains and swags in the girls bedroom as they have all of the natural wood and natural color and fibers of the hemp sheets in their room. They love them. It did darken the room a bit but I can pull them open. Gives the room a very cozy and relaxing natural glow. I still love all the naturals. So it is good that I can still go in their room and have that happy feeling natural fibers and colors give me. Feels very Waldorfy in that room still. Great for little ones. You can see their nature table in the background with a camping scene made from natural plant dyed wool and things from nature. I made three dolls that look like the kids and we put them in scenes and bring some of the things we find outside our home in to enjoy and help us appreciate nature.

Both of the girls really like the wood doll cradle I found last week. I toted it home and cleaned it (though it was in very nice shape to begin with) and Hope made good use of it with her doll... I mean "daughter".Excuse me.

Okay, well that is just a glimpse of what is going on here. I have lots more to do. There is a large wicker and bamboo console type table with three drawers in the garage that I am currently trying to turn white that will be placed in my bedroom under the window. I have six dining room chairs in the garage that I am trying to talk my husband into helping me paint and then distress the iron and recover the cushions in something remotely waterproof so that I can put some of them out on the balcony. We will see. He isn't too keen on taking on that task.