During this rental redo, I've had lots of grand ideas. To which most my loving husband has assitsted me in putting on hold for our permanent home. One of those ideas was a plank wall behind this sofa with 3/4 board and baten.

 

Really? Yes. Really.

 

In a rental. Yep. In a rental.

 

So, instead of covering this whole wall with reclaimed boards and wainscoting, I have decided to cover THIS wall instead. It's a tad bit smaller and less of a project than the other.

 

 Don't you agree?

 

 

Again, many of you (and lots of friends frankly) have asked why I would even bother making this place all nice and cozy or even worry about projects like this if we are only going to be in this place another year. To be honest, I don't think I have a really good answer for that. I just know that I need to create and I can't stop the process in my brain...it has to come out!

 

I am thinking we should have this project completed in the next two weeks or so. I would love to have it done tomorrow but I have a few more things on my to-do list before this so, it must wait!

 

In the meantime, this weekend I picked up a few things to add to our living room and I am beginning to put the room together bit by bit.

 

This lamp was one item that I picked up...are you ready...from Target! Don't you just love it? I love the chunky base and the black lampshade with gold lining screams sophistication. I plan on putting a pair behind the sofa on a console to "flank" the framed photos above. That wall won't escape my wrath, planked or not. I still have to finish filling it with accessories and whatnot to even everything out.

 

 

 

This isn't the most impressive picture of the lamp but it's really a stunner. Gold lining inside the shade and all. I will place a pair behind the sofa atop a console table and plan on adding some more eye candy to the wall behind.

 

 

This is staging at it's finest people...let me just tell ya. Ha! Really though...never mind all the pillows on the sofa and the barren table...it will all come together. I promise.

 

 

 

I picked up this awesome piece of chippy goodness at Haystack Antiques: HOME {eh hmmm, love that place BTW and if you are a local, you must visit} this past weekend as well. I went back and forth about the type of coffee table I wanted in the space and settled on this style. It's a far cry from my original thought of an industrial style table but so much more warm and cozy than wood and metal. I figure that since our home is temporary, and since this was such a good deal, if I got tired of it or changed my mind, I could always change it out for something else and use this as an event or photography prop. I fell in love with it though and had to have it!

 

 

I also picked up some ironstone and vintage botanical prints that I'll be putting up on the walls right after my {drum roll, please}...plank wall installation. Yah!

 

So, as I mentioned I've been dreaming of them no doubt. They stalk me. Seem to be everywhere I go. Okay, maybe not everywhere I go but kinda since they are in my thoughts everywhere I go!

 

Since covering the entire wall behind the sofa may be too much of a task given the situration here, I will be using one of our smaller accent walls to show off my DIY prowess. I am SO excited to bring in a little more character into the living area. And even more excited to share how we do it with you guys!

 

Anyhow, all for now...what do you think of my finds for the week? Thanks for letting me share my rental redo ups and downs with you! Hope you're having an amazing week!

 

XO, 



Sharing Over At...
The Feathered Nest
Jennifer Rizzo
Blissfully Ever After
Liz Marie Blog
What Meegan Makes

It's no secret by now that I am just a wee bit in love with gold. I also think it 's a great way to add an inspiring touch to just about any space. As Fall season is upon us I probably really should be writing about that and how awesome my mantel looks in all of its fall glory...but...my mantel remains empty. Truth.

Instead, I intend to wish you a happy Friday and inspire you to add gold to your beautiful autumnal displays and hopefully I will be able to come back later and show off my beautiful Fall mantel. Until then...swoon.

Contemporary Dining Room by Huntington Beach Interior Designers and Decorators Domicile Interior Design

 

Contemporary Living Room by New York Interior Designers & Decorators Chango and Co.

 

 

 

 

Traditional Bedroom by Austin Architects and Designers Hugh Jefferson Randolph Architects

 

 

 

 

Eclectic Living Room by Chicago Photographers Cynthia Lynn Photography

 

 

 

 

Traditional Bedroom by Costa Mesa Interior Designers and Decorators Jessica Bennett Interiors

 

 

Well, at least ONE of them! For those of you waiting, I am still working on the dresser and a few other furniture projects around the house. 

I've also decided that I am done with our dining area and how absolutely boring it is so I want to start the process of putting the "RHI stamp" on it.

With so many things on my to do list, I have GOT to start prioritizing things around here so that I can actually get some projects around our own home completed. 

I want to keep my word with you all so I'm working hard to get the faux finish tutorial up for you. I promise it'll be worth the wait! But, in the meantime, I kinda need your help.

Most of you know after reading this, that we are in a rental home. It took almost an entire year for me to settle with that and decide to begin making this house of ours, no matter how temporary, a home.

The next couple of months or so I would like to focus my energy on this space...

That would be our cute little sweet pea doing her homework as I snapped away!

It's our dining area. And, well, it's a little sad. I want it to be "happy" and to really express who we are as a family. The challenge, of course, is that it's technically not our home. I've thought of so many amazing ideas to make this a better place for all of us none of which exclude moving a wall or knocking something out of the way.

I also have issues when it comes to decorating my own home. Seems I can never commit. Ask me to help someone else design or decorate a space, I'm on it. Ideas flow freely. My space? Cricket, cricket.

So, as you can see, it's pretty much a blank canvas and the wall colors are neutral which I feel is a good thing but I'd love to make that wall (that one right there) a focal wall and perhaps even do a decorative paint technique, stencil or just paint it a different color altogether.

Our living space, which is directly behind this area is quite neutral with brown, tans, hues of blues and grays. (I know, exciting) Honestly, I love that space. You can see it here. But, in our dining area I want it to be cohesive with the living space but I'd love to pull in a different color.

I love this print from fabric.com. I thought I could use this for new panels on the windows and start there. 

But, I also love this one...

But I know that this one blends in with the wall color way too much. 

Then, there's this one...

I kinda actually REALLY love this one. It's ALMOST perfect. 

Can you see my problem now? Commitment. I just can't seem to commit to any one idea for this space. Ultimately, within the next couple of weeks I will decide on a fabric for the panels, choose to paint or not and decide on what will go on that focal wall. 

All of those decisions would be easier if you could help me! Pretty, please? With a cherry on top? 

Which fabric choice do you think would look best in the space and what are your ideas for THAT wall? That big, blank wall. 

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!