Decisions Made

You probably know by now that it takes me awhile to make a decision. Not always, but I can take my time. But after struggling with some decor choices, I think I've finally made up my mind.

First in the dining room, I think I've found curtain fabric I like. Well, two fabrics, either of which will work:

Pretty, aren't they? They have the colors I'm looking for (a white background with red, blue and yellow—well, they're more gold, but close enough), and the patterns are fun and not too traditional. Jo-Ann's didn't have enough of either pattern when I was there, but I'm sure I'll be able to find what I need.

I also want to make a matching panel for the sliding glass door in the kitchen. I've been struggling with what to do about that since we moved in. It has vertical blinds (shudder!). I leave them open most of the time since we don't have privacy or light control issues there, but I like to close them when the gardeners are here, because that calms my dogs (OK, only a bit, but I'll take what I can get). The panel can go over the blinds and hide them for the majority of the time they're not in use.

I also think I'm going to use a stencil rather than wallpaper on the back wall of the dining room. My reasoning is that if I decide I don't like the stencil, I can always paper over it. Plus, I want to use the stencil in other rooms, so it won't go to waste. I haven't decided exactly which stencil yet, but probably this one.

As for the living room, I think I'll take Charmaine's advice and paint it the console coral. It's a very bold choice for me, but I need to push myself a bit. Thanks, Charmaine!

I've also decide to stick with the curtains that are there but maybe add some trim to the ends in the same fabric I use in the dining room.The colors will work, and it will all tie in together.

So now that I've made my decisions, it's time to get to work!

Are you stuck on any home projects? How did you finally get past it?

Should I Paint the Console?

I'm thinking about painting the console behind the sofa in the living room. There's nothing wrong with it as it is (well, except scratches on the top from dogs), but there's just so much dark wood furniture in the room, and then the big dark fireplace. It feels a little heavy, and I think paint might lighten things up a bit.

Then of course I have to decide what color. White is an obvious choice, but it's predictable and, besides, the cute owls from West Elm wouldn't stand out—and I love those owls.

I'd like a light gray, but I'm not sure how it would work in the mostly tan room.

I think I'm leaning toward blue. Something light and bright and fresh. And it would work with the side chairs, which are called "sea foam" but are really kind of an icy blue. My only concern is that blue might look a little too country, which is not at all the look I'm going for.

What do you think—should I do it? And if so, what color?

Curtain Call

There's nothing like a trip to Jo-Ann's to get my creative juices flowing. I'm not much of a DIYer—I generally prefer to buy things already made. The pros can do it better than I can, and I know my ideas are more ambitious than my follow-through.

But sometimes I get something very specific in my head and just can't find it in a store. Or I have something that just needs a little somethin'-somethin' to spruce it up. That's when I head to Jo-Ann's for inspiration. And my latest trip gave me all sorts of great ideas.

I'm looking for curtains for the living room and dining room. Last year we got new living room furniture, and the old curtains—really more of a window scarf—just don't work any longer. The old furniture was green, but now the sofa is a cocoa color and the chairs are pale blue. I'm leaning toward something bold, with blues and greens, a striking contrast to the soft green damask I have now.

For the dining room, which is primarily yellow/gold and red, I want to add some blue. That would tie it into the living room a bit, since the spaces are adjacent, with what is essentially a half wall separating them.

I've been eyeing these curtains (without the valance—really, they're cuter in person), but there's a problem. I made the curtains that are there, and they're longer than your standard store-bought panels. So I figure I have three choices: rehang the rod lower, add trim to the bottom of a premade curtain, or make them from scratch.