DIY Accent Wall to Brighten Our Den

Our house turns 90 next year.

She looks pretty good for her age, huh?

Matt bought this house before we met. He spent the first 4 months he owned the house doing a total rehab of the kitchen... including moving multiple bearing walls, installing cabinets & countertops and repainting EVERYTHING. He loves working on this house.

On my side, I lived in one condo (with my roommate, Ashlee!) where I was able to paint my walls, and I only got through my bedroom (and 3 coats of purple paint on ONE wall) before deciding that the bathroom and hallway were fine just the way they were ;)

Before we started the master bedroom project (one that took almost an entire year, I might add) we committed to making the den habitable so we had a nice place to relax. It was the first room we did together and I loved it.

Curtains: West Elm // Rug: Ikea // Couch & Ottomon: American Signature (similar) //
Shelf: Garage Sale // Pillows: Target // Media Cabinet: Pottery Barn (via Craigslist)

Lamp: Ikea // Side Table: Garage Sale

Ignore the seat from our car when I snapped these photos & messy media cabinet! But you get the idea.

Even though I love this little room, I could never figure out what to put around the TV that wasn't distracting. I liked the yellow accent wall but I realized it didn't serve its purpose of lightening this space up. I also felt like it was a little too matchy-matchy and wanted something different. I think being home for the last several weeks has made me look harder at our house.

I started looking online for inspiration and finally found something on A Beautiful Mess.

via

via

Like I said, I am usually trying to avoid doing work on the house, but I was definitely inspired. I showed Matt this blog on Thursday, and we were making a trip to Home Depot on Friday after work.

By Saturday night we were watching a movie in our newly painted room.

I am in LOVE with how it turned out! It looks super bright because I took these photos in the morning... but it brightens the entire space up! Since our wall didn't have windows like the room on A Beautiful Mess, I decided to space my dots further apart. I also wanted to use metallic paint... it just sounded like fun. We did this wall in less than 24 hours. Here's how.

1 gallon Glidden Marshmallow White  
1 quart of Ralph Lauren Metallic Antique Bullion 
1" flat craft brush (like in this set)

Painted 2 coats of Marshmallow White over my goldenrod yellow wall. I painted the 1st coat Friday night and the 2nd coat Saturday morning. By Saturday afternoon, I was ready to paint my gold spots. 

Now, this was definitely risky -- but I did the gold spots completely free form. 

I decided that life is too short to worry about little gold dots. I did a practice round on our decaying shed out back and just went for it. The key was using the bottom half of the brush and having a fresh dip of paint with every stroke. 

In hindsight, I probably only needed a "sample" size of metallic paint since the dots were single-coat and spaced apart. But I think we'll find a fun way to use it up.

There are a few dots I might erase at some point... but I think it turned out pretty well! Don't you think?

Now I'm searching for a new rug (the $20 Ikea rug is being retired to Matt's office!) and some new pillows. 

Even though I typically avoid working on the house, I really enjoyed this project! I think it might have to do with living here for almost two years now and being ready for a change. Now I'm feeling confident and trying to think of ways to add a fun wall to our guest bedroom/my office.... any ideas? Have you ever painted a free form pattern or accent wall?

xo

Girly Home Office

As of a few months ago, the job I loved so much at Rhetorik was no longer available for me. My friends and co-workers were moving in different directions, and as I was SO HAPPY for them, I was so sad to leave this little office and company I've found so endearing.

But change is life, and it's usually for the best.

I dabbled over what to do with my newfound free time, and wasn't sure if I should find a job or freelance? Were there cool start ups out there? Was I destined for a trousers and a 9-5? Was freelancing an option for me? It's such an interesting place to be at. And my interesting, I mean overwhelming :)

I interviewed at a few companies, but was offered some freelance work by a few different friends, and took them up on it.

Turns out, it works for me. So as of a week ago, I officially am doing Freelance PR, Social Media, Copywriting, Marketing and Producing. Exciting!

With this development, it gives me the need for a home office. Since Matt already works from home and is occupying one room as an office, I get a corner of the guest room (which totally works for me!).

It's this cute little nook with great natural light (a major perk!) with a desk already built in. It has all these shelves above the desk and next to it, but I'm going to take some of them out.

obviously these are high quality iPhone shots ;)

Right now, the "nook" (as I call it), has been a serious catch-all during the remodel process we are going through. It has serious potential but is pretty blah right now! Luckily, we are (FINGERS CROSSED) a few weeks out from being all done with that, so these random items will have a home.... and the Nook will be my little work corner!

Here's what I'm kind of envisioning.

- Less of the shelves/add a few drawers for hidden storage
- Pretty little details
- A better light (i hate that lamp!)
- Simple, well used decor

Here is some of my inspiration I've been found on Pinterest

Love the two shelves and the pin board next to it. Simple, but fills the space nicely.
via The Everygirl

Love these colors. Neutrals with some gold. Also love the plant on the side of the desk! Which leads me to....
via The Everygirl

I love the storage aspect here - two drawers and two cubbies - perfect! Aiming for something practical like this.
Photo via In Honor of Design

Succulents for my windowsill! Indoor plants make me happy. And succulents are hard(er) to kill.
via Pinterest

gold details. Love all of these so much!

Mini Geodesic Table Lamp via West Elm. Dream a Little Bigger print via Counter Co. Desk styling via The Everygirl.

Green accents to go with my succulents, and keep with the neutral pallet. 

candle via Anthropologie. Large teardrop vase via Pinterest.

I'm excited for this project and a space to call my own. I'm also thankful for a handy husband who can actually help me create the kind of space I want! I'm pretty dang lucky.

Any input? Any suggestions of decor that might accent this space? I'm all ears!

xo