Dining Room Chairs

This is what my dining room looked like that last time I showed it to you. I was in the process of getting ready to have the parsons chairs reupholstered, but I just kept putting it off. This dining room is tiny, and as much as I liked the parsons chairs, the sale was just off for this room.

The scale was off and I started to really be unsure about fully upholstered chairs verses a r chair with  just a fabric covered seat. We eat at this table just about every night and I have seen the backs of these chairs used more than just a few times as a napkin. I knew that I could easily change the fabrics on just seats every so often if I need/wanted to without spend a ton of money or time. So I was patient, waiting for just the right chairs to show up.

One afternoon I was headed to drop the boys off with their nana and meet my husband and father for lunch. As I drove down MY street my neighbor three houses down had a table and set of 6 chairs for sale in her yard. UMMM...they were perfect! I went on to lunch and then made my husband come back with me to inspect them. They passed his test so we took them home. We loaded the table in the back of my SUV and then I carried the rest of the chairs down the street. I'm sure that was a site!

 iphone pic

We brought everything in the dining room and then I was sure that the "new" table was NOT what I wanted just as I had thought. I listed the table that came with the chairs and all of my dining room chairs on Craigslist, and then headed to Target to pick up some fabric to recover the seats. I know that Target doesn't carry fabric, but they did have a Threshold Ikat print shower curtain that I had been eying was the perfect combo of teal and green. I picked up two to be sure I had plenty and then this project sat for weeks just waiting for me to tackle it.

 For the record, once I had this shower curtain home I had a very hard time not recovering everything in my house with it. I seriously wanted it in every room in my house, but that was obviously not a good idea.

The new chairs are great. They fit are space so much better. and I really like having some pattern in this room. One day my sweet husband will have time to build that farmhouse table for me and we'll be done with this room.

Linking up to these Blog Parties Tatertots and Jello - A Bowl Full of Lemons - The Bliss Diaries - Positely Splendid - Delightful Order - It's Overflowing - The Shabby Nest 
-House of Hepworths 

Open Shelving in the Kitchen

I have tossed around the idea of removing an existing cabinet door in our kitchen to create some open shelving for as long as we have lived in this house, but I didn't think we had a good spot for it. I always pictured it on the peninsula side of the kitchen where I have always kept my cookbooks and other various items, but the three cabinets are all open to each other. It is basically one long cabinet with three doors so there is no actual division between the cabinets. I knew that I couldn't afford to lose the closed storage for the whole cabinet, so I just kind of let it go.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago. My sis and I have been going through some of my Mother's things. She had tons of cookbooks and we each ended up keeping a pretty sizable stack of them. Since they belonged to my Mom and are pretty, I knew that I really wanted them to be more visible in my kitchen. I also knew that if I could see them, I would be more likely to actually use them.

I started looking at the rest of my kitchen trying to figure out which cabinet would be "the one". I finally realized that the one on the end was the perfect choice based on what was inside and the configuration of the shelves. Our shelves are fixed and this is the only one that has just two shelves leaving enough room for some of the taller cookbooks.

Once the cabinet door was removed I knew that I wanted to add some color to the back of the cabinet. My initial thought was paint, but the more I thought about it, the less appealing paint seemed. I happened to have a roll of teal and white wrapping paper on hand that I picked up in the dollar bins at Michael's many months ago and knew that it would be the perfect choice. 1. I didn't have to whip out the paint and paint brush. 2. It only took about 15 min. from start to finish and the project was done. 3. The wrapping paper could easily be removed if I changed my mind. SCORE!

Once the door was removed, the paper was simply taped to the back and it was time to fill the two shelves.
I kept the cookbooks that I am most likely to reference the most on the bottom shelf and the ones that I will use less often on the top shelf. I also added 2 of my favorite white bowls and a glass vase that I filled with my Mom's silver and copper cookie cutters. I did eventually go back and fill the holes where the hinges were and then touched up the paint. I waited a few weeks to do so to be sure that I was happy with the new set up.

I am really enjoying the addition of some color to the kitchen and it is nice to have the cookbooks out on display.

Have any of you been removing cabinet doors to create some open shelving? Do you have any type of open shelving in your kitchen? How do you like it?


Linking up to these Blog Parties Tatertots and Jello - A Bowl Full of Lemons - The Bliss Diaries - Positely Splendid - Delightful Order - It's Overflowing - The Shabby Nest 
-House of Hepworths 

Den Decor Board

Oh, Hi!

I feel like I keep having to explain my lack of very inconsistent blogging. I have had computer issues, we are trying to finish up the school year, and I have been knee deep in making changes around the house. Blogging just hasn't happened. I am hoping that with the computer issue resolved I should be a little more consistent. I really do have a lot to show you.

You may remember that I have been working on adding some color to our very brown den. I made a quick decor board to show you some of our main furniture items and a few of the ways I am bringing in some color. I am hoping to have the full reveal ready sometime next week.

Have a great weekend!

Mother's Day 2013

I am so thankful to be Mama to these two boys! They did an awesome job making me feel special.Gifts. Cards. Grilled Steak. Dessert. They took care of it, and made this Mama feel special.

It was good day, and a sad day. This was my first Mother's Day without my Mama here. I love and miss her so much.

Flamingo Round Up

Flamingos. My mother loved them. I will always think of her every single time I see a pink flamingo. Her birthday was Monday, and it was a lot harder than I expected. I just miss her. I miss picking up the phone to call her and meeting her for lunch.  I thought I would close out the week with a round up of my favorite flamingos on etsy.

sources

1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.

Have a great weekend!

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a custom DECOR BOARD! 

Winner will be announced Saturday, May 4th.

Den Update

The last time I mentioned our den I had picked out a brand new love seat that I was waiting to purchase, and planning to paint the back of our built-ins. Fast forward to now and almost all of our furniture has changed.

The original plan was to sell what I didn't want and purchase a love seat, but through a series of events, being patient, and needing to be creative with my resources, I managed to get a lot more than just a love seat. I didn't get the original love seat that I had my eye on, but I did get one that was only a week old, a new rug for the room, new dining room chairs that fit the dining room much better, and new living room furniture without spending any money out of pocket. I only used the funds that I got from selling pieces of furniture that weren't right for our home.

I am now starting with a very neutral/brown den, and couldn't be more thrilled about it. Now the plan is to bring in some pattern color. I just have to figure out what I want.

To Do List
sew a new window shade for the door, something colorful
possibly paint the mirrors...what color?
paint the back of the built-ins
add colorful throw pillows
art over the credenza

Anyone else switching all of your furniture around?

How many thirty-one bags do you spot? Join my private thirty-one page on facebook, Nikki Has A Bag For That. Stay up to date on current customer specials, and request info on purchasing or fundraising.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for the Custom Design Board. Winner will be announced on Saturday, May 4th.

Design Services + A Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed. Winner is announced at the bottom of this post.

I have been wanting to do this for a few years now, but have been a little nervous to put myself out there. I have decided to go ahead and take the plunge and start offering e-design services. I am excited about this new adventure and look forward to helping you decorate your spaces.





Here is a sample decor board that I recently did for an auction. Your decor board will include ideas for Paint and Color Schemes, Furniture Selections, Lighting, a Rug, Window Treatments, Accessories, and a source list.

In honor of my Mother's Birthday, I want to give away one of these design boards. You will have 3 chances to win. Please leave a separate comment for each thing that you do.

1. Leave a comment.
2. Like nikki's nacs on Facebook
3. Share on Facebook or Twitter

Winner will be announced on Saturday, May 4th.
Please be sure I have a way to get a hold of you.

The WINNER was selected using random.org. Winner is #3 Victoria @ Tales of an Artsy Mama! Congrats girl!

Easter 2013

HE IS RISEN!

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend celebrating the Resurrection Sunday with your family.

We started the weekend with lunch and an egg hunt with my husband's family on Saturday afternoon.

Sunday morning we headed to church with the fam and then our families came to our house for lunch. I got zero pics of lunch.

This was the first time I have used my tripod and self timer for a family pic.We were in a hurry, so this pic is not in focus, but it will do. Everyone's eyes are open. I need to practice.

After lunch and naps we colored Easter eggs. Cade hates the smell of vinegar, so I decided to go the Kool-Aid route this year, and it was great. We will probably color eggs like this from now on. It smells nice and the colors get dark really fast. Almost too fast.

We had fun making memories.