Remember how I didn't see our townhouse until move in day? I signed a lease based on photos and videos and then was thrilled the day I moved and realized it was 10x better than I imagined. Seriously. I'm obsessed.
But one thing I knew right from the beginning that I would want to change is the fireplace area. The cushions on the built-in couches were old and faded. The lights above them were outdated. They were some of the first things on my list to switch up.
So let's refresh :
Color! Clean fabric! The lights are down and art is up!
It's shaped up into a pretty sweet little nook. I still have to figure out how to get the fireplace working, make and hang a big driftwood wreath over the mirror, get a standing floor lamp and sew up some little poufs as foot stools (or maybe make these), but I am pleased with the improvement.
I sewed new cases for the eight pillows out of Joel Dewberry herringbone fabric that I bought on etsy. The orange piping came from Joann's. For the cushions, I carefully took off the fabric of one and used it as a template for the new covers which were made out of indoor/outdoor teal fabric from Joann's.
The pillows are from Home Goods (arrow), Crate & Barrel (black and white) and the cute pink ikat one is from Moxie Mandie.
Above the left went our favorite photo ever. That striped rug is 5x8 and came from Crate & Barrel.
And above the right is the start of a gallery wall which I feel like will always be changing. From left to right : 5x7 print from For Me, For You in a C&B frame / art I made after taking Kal Barteski's script school workshop in a West Elm frame / a canvas I designed and had printed by CanvasPop* / a print by Austin Kleon from 20x200.
On the mantle is a lot of DIY art (copper & ampersand) that I have hung all over the place since our first apartment, a few Ikea vases, a pot from Anthropologie and a wooden love cutout from this etsy shop. That photobooth strip was from our trip to Palm Springs last summer. I just taped to a piece of thick white cardstock and stuck in an 11x14 frame. I LOVE big mats with little art.
Little by little the downstairs has took shape (see the rest of it here). Upstairs is still a bit of a disaster and I am trying to decide if I want to get it all set or if I'd rather wait for Paul to be home and be a part of it...
*that palm tree canvas was designed by me and provided by CanvasPop. I am happy to say the quality is fantastic and the site could not be easier to use. CanvasPop is currently offering a 20% discount on orders over $99 with promo code "ELISE20".
I am attempting to tackle 26 personal craft projects before I turn 27 on 02.22.12. You can follow my progress here on the blog or on pinterest.
See project 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 & 18.