progressive decorating

i don't mean progressive as in, "favoring or promoting change or innovation."

i mean, "happening or developing gradually or in stages; proceeding step by step."

or as the mommy dictionary defines it:

"do what you can in 20 & 30 minute chunks during naps &

Veggie Tales videos."

so that's how i'm proceeding!

5 days later, i have a light fixture that is no longer shiny gold!

it's supposed to be 'oil rubbed bronze,' but it appears black unless you look closely.

oh well! good enough for me!

i don't really love the fixture, but i can't justify the big bucks for the kind of fixture i'd really love!

$6 for a can of spray paint is enough love for me!

there are 2 problems...

one is this:

the spray paint rubbed right off the moving parts! makes sense, of course- but i did not anticipate that. it gives it a bit of a 'shabby' look, i've decided.

the other problems is this:

i'm trying to be energy conscious, so i put in the CFL bulbs. yup- they stick right up out of the top of the fixture! they have a really ugly light, too.

would it be horribly un-green of me to use

incandescent bulbs just in this fixture?

i promise i'll be green in the rest of my house! i'd just like pretty light over my table!

so once i had the light fixture prettied-up, i turned to the rest of the room.

the time has come.

i am making holes in the walls!

before:

after:

yes, i'm a Nester follower (if you're not, you should check out her blog! she has great ideas for simple ways to get your home to feel warm & welcoming). that's where i learned about decorating with cheap plates.

don't like it?

that's fine- just don't tell me because i love it! ha!

and i love these flowers:

they were a super inexpensive purchase at an antique mall a few years ago, and i've never stopped loving their faded colors. i may switch them out seasonally- i have some other thoughts about what could go there in the Fall & Winter!

and yes, i went nuts with bunnies & Easter eggs already. i know it's not Spring officially, but i'm DYING for some color.

plus, caroline's 4th birthday party is around the corner and i plan to use the bunnies in her party decor.

don't call the cheesy police- i'm not going to begin decorating with dolls & stuffed animals year round. just a few bunnies for Spring!

this is how they looked when i took them out of the box yesterday:

wanna see that knot up close?

see? it took real dedication to get those bunnies untangled!!

but i promise this: the bunnies won't stay year round.

the plates will stay.

i also did a little work on the buffet table.

i'm considering painting it, but i'm not sure what color... any suggestions?

i didn't realize until i uploaded this picture how cluttered that feels... hmm.

that will probably change very quickly!

but i got a fun idea from Joys of Home to store my silver out where i can see it!

makes perfect sense- i have it, might as well display it. plus, i'll be more likely to use it when it's out rather than stored in my basement!

i think it's fun & sparkly... but apparently i'm a sucker for cute things (hence the bunnies).

so this is the dining room for now:

notice how i'm not showing you the other side of the room?

there's a reason for that!

work in progress... i'll update you soon.

well, probably not soon.

just being honest.

i also did a little 'spring-ifying' to the foyer:

yes, those are more bunnies.

don't un-friend me!

i have a fabric in mind for recovering the hall bench & doing some window mistreatments as well... so hopefully i'll get to that soon!

well, again... probably not so soon.

naptime is only so long, you know.