Master Bedroom Progress: Art!

This is what our MB looked like for over a year... Well, it wasn't gray for a year, but this is what it's looked since I painted it in June. It basically looked the same before that, only with lilac walls, courtesy of the previous owner.

I found a bedside dresser for the Mister in July, made drapes in August, found lamps in October, and finally got around to hanging the art that's been sitting on our dresser for 4 months last weekend. And here it is now.

Since our walls are not normal plaster, but some kind of mortar/concrete mix, I hate to drill holes wily-nily.  And I can't just tap in a nail and move it if it's not right. Hanging things in our house involves a big process, lots of measuring, and a concrete drill bit in our DeWalt Hammer Drill. So I decided to try out the kraft paper pattern concept, which worked pleasingly well. I cut out two pieces of kraft paper the same size as my framed pieces. I eyeballed it a little on where I wanted them hung, then decided on an exact height from the ceiling to work with so they'd both be identical. I taped them up, marked the center where the hole needed to be and stepped back.

I decided they were too far apart, so instead of taking them down and rehanging them, I just moved the spot for my hole a little in on each one. I marked the correct mark with an arrow, so as not to confuse myself, and then I drilled straight through the paper and into the wall.

I pulled off the paper, malleted in my anchors, drilled in my screws, and TA DA!

We have art. Excellent. It's finally started to look "decorated". I still have a triptych I need to frame for the wall to the right and I need to figure out what to do with the walls next to the window, but it's definite progress.

Interesting story behind these pieces, too. I found this one, The Dreamer, years ago at an art fair. The artist, Randal Spangler, told me it was an old print that he didn't produce anymore and it was the last of it's kind. His style had changed to a more colorful Fantasy style and he was no longer doing the pen ad ink drawings. It was matted in navy and I never found the perfect place for him. 

Fast forward 6(?) years. My mother and I were at the same art fair looking through Mr. Spangler's pieces. I don't even really know why, since his newer stuff doesn't really speak to me in the same way. But low and behold, we find a mate for the Dreamer, titled Dreams. Dreams features a couple instead of a single man and I just love the huge window detail above the bed.

I have a small tattoo on my left wrist of a heart with wings that a friend of mine drew for me a decade ago, so the headboard detail in the drawing is especially fitting.

I re-matted both in black 16 x 20 mats and stuck them in Hobby Lobby MDF frames. I got the mat, the mat cutter, and the frames all on sale, 50% off. Can't beat that.

Master Bedroom Progress: Lamps!

I showed you guys these shots awhile back for Centsational Girl's "Where Do You Blog?" post.

In our old house we only had enough room for one side table in the bedroom and this was it. It was actually pink when I stole rescued it from my father's basement. Now I kinda wish we'd kept it pink... *sniffle*

So we had mismatched bedside lamps for over a year in this house because the Mr. didn't have a bedside table. I couldn't decide on anything. Plus, our bed is high and nothing was tall enough.

PLUS, I couldn't make a decision on lamps. I would find some that I kinda liked, not buy them, then decide that I had to have them, then they would be gone.

I found a pair of silver lamps at Sears that I loved, but one was missing the harp and the other had a funny golden hue to it.

Then I found an adorable teal pair at Home Goods, hesitated, and missed 'em.

Then a lovely cream double-gourd pair with a fun vertical ripple pattern at TJ Maxx's. They were gorgeous. I waffled for like a month, they had them the whole time... I finally went back for them and they only had one! I had them call every store in the city and no one had them... Sad, sad day...

I recently walked into Home Goods looking for something else (I have no idea what now) and the most wonderfully fabulous lamps ever practically jumped off the shelf at me!

They are high enough to read, they came with a huge, fun shade, and they look nearly identical to the first pair I wanted from Sears! Yay!

Mr. has a bedside table now, too. Post to come.

I am a spaz.

Do you see what I am seeing or am I completely neurotic? This is only the first real day of painting they've gotten in and I am already unhappy. I understand that brush marks and wandering paint are inevitable (obviously, I am not completely insane), but these seem excessive. Especially since I am sure they are not going to lightly sand before the next coat.

Plus, the Mr. is P.O.'d because he didn't want to hire the job out to begin with. He thought he could do it all himself. Grrr.

My advice on hiring a house painter?
1.) Drive around in your town's fancy, upscale neighborhoods.
2.) Pick a few freshly painted houses with signs in the yard and call those companies.
3.) Get multiple bids.
4.) Don't listen to your real estate agent.

Master Bedroom Progress

I have decided there will never be anything to call a finished "Before & After" here at the Little Pink House, only "Before & During". Remember how I talked about my inability to follow-thru with anything? Well, it doesn't seem to be improving.
I can't find any beside tables that I like or can commit to, I haven't found lamp bases, and I haven't hung the art I have for the room. I did find lamp shades and throw pillows that I absolutely adore at Target a couple of weeks ago, though. I also purchase the Pottery Barn Woodland Organic Duvet Cover on Ebay recently, but I still have to get the shams. There is a reason I don't normally buy things on Ebay; there is no return policy (usually). I should have looked at the bedding in person before I ordered it, there is a lot more brown in it than I realized. Oh, well. Shockingly, Mister actually likes the Duvet Cover. I really thought he was going to hate it!
Anyway, here is a glimpse at where our Master Bedroom is currently.

Things that still need to be done:

*Add trim to the curtains.
*Make or buy Roman Shades for the "radiator season".
*Make a black and white cover for the dog bed.
*Organize the bookshelves.
*Find nightstands.
*Find lamp bases.
*Hang art.
*Decorate the top of the bookshelves.
*Buy Woodland shams to match duvet cover.