Friday, September 20, 2013

It all started with fish...


I fell in love with this fish picture at a local consignment store.  This is when I learned the fun of consigning.  I get rid of stuff I don’t want, and get to take home things that I do. I have loved fish and gravitated toward the East Coast since I was a child.  When I was ten I wrote the Chamber of Commerce of every Eastern seaboard state asking for travel information.  It baffled my parents and, I think, scared them a little.  They did not share my wanderlust, nor gravitated, it would seem, in any direction.

Not being able to ride my bike to the shore I started raising fish – fresh water, tropical, salt water.  I was lulled to sleep every night by the noise of the bubbler. It was not a bad way to drift off to dreamland.

Back to the present, a.k.a. REALITY.

When Mr. O-P came home from his hip surgery I was sent to the guest room.  He needed time to heal on his own.  Now, for a lover of solitude like me, you’d think this was no problem.  Well, take a look at the guest room.

Here is the layout of the lower level and the room.
Here are pictures showing just what each corner looks like.


Yep, a little room that has been ignored since I moved into this house about 20 months ago; it was the last of my priorities.  For the next six weeks or so, this, for lack of a better word, cell will become my home.  Are you stifling sobs?  Yeah, me too.

One of the problems is that not all of our furniture is here. Some remains at the old house. So, I always figured that I’d just wait to decorate this room.  You know, when I actually had decorative items, or even a bed.

I know there are A LOT of savvy decorators out there, so I need your help in telling me just what to do.  Keep in mind that my budget is pretty much $0.  More sobs? I know.

The headboard/footboard combination dates back to the 80s and I hate it.  Number two son suggested that I paint the headboard off white and distress it, and then bolt it to the wall, eliminating the need for the footboard.  I like this idea, plus, it will go with the theme.  Did I mention it is coastal?  Yes.  Those of us with no coastline, long for coastal.

I have moved a bed into this room and topped it with a rather mish mash of bedding from what I have on hand.
This chest, from an old set that son number one used, shown here at the old house, was muscled into my Subaru by number two son and my humble self earlier this week and is now in place in the guest room.  The sides have what look to be slats, so I plan on painting this an off white too, and I think those side planks will add to the coastal theme.
Here is what I like, all items found at a shop on a recent trip to the Lake of the Ozarks. 



I plan on painting the walls a sand colormaybe something like this


I want the colors of the room and bedding to be the colors of sea glass.


So, my question to you all isnow what?

Please comment!  Don’t be shy.  I’m desperate here!

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7 comments:

  1. Pattie, I love your plan. Which shop is this?

    I love that chest. It is perfect for a coastal look. Using quilts is another great idea. I would paint the furniture off white and do the headboard as you planned. The sand color is nice for the walls.

    Did you ever find a fillable lamp? They still had a couple at HomeGoods (St Peters) this past Monday.

    First step, paint the walls and furniture.

    Fill a lamp with seaglass and shells.

    I love the fish print!

    PS: You are near two fairly large bodies of water and three if you count the lake(after all, it boasts more shoreline than California)...therefore, you are sort of coastally located.;-)

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  2. ThĂ nks for your very helpful comment, Pat. The shop was none other than Ozark Maid Candy Kitchen. Go figure! I found a ton of stuff that I liked there. Now I wish I would have actually bought a piece or two.

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  3. OMG, I have a chest almost EXACTLY like the one you showed in our guest room! I am panning to paint it, probably a creamy color. I love all the items you have chosen. Some art on the walls, a few plants (real or faux) will bring LIFE to the space, some of your favorite books and magazines and you will be set!!! XO, Pinky

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  4. Pattie,
    First of all, I hope you hubby is up and around very soon! Get well!

    The fish picture is a real find! Wonderful! I might mat it in a the soft blue of the fish. I think this will give it more "weight".


    I'm going in a little different direction than my friends.

    It seems that you have a lot on you plate right now! It must be a lot of work and emotional stress to help you dear husband recover. It might not be the best time to jump into a huge project like totally transforming a room.

    I love the vision you have for this bedroom.. the "seaglass" colors will be perfect for a bedroom. I might paint the room as a start and get together a design board with lots of ideas. This is the time to dream and plan.

    Get it all down on paper.

    Down the road I'd paint the bed a pretty sea glass color and have small hooks on the ceiling installed to hang a huge fish net over your bed like a canopy.

    I also might put the dresser up on a platform with legs and paint it.
    It has a very "sea chest" feel.

    I love the idea of a fillable lamp. Lamps Plus has a great one for under $100.00. Fill it with sand and shells etc. Very beachy idea!

    You're off to a great start... you are forming a vision. So many people start before they think it through and end up not pleased in the end.

    Thanks for letting me add my two cents. I'm praying for you and your hubby!

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  5. I'm not good at advising, but I love the colors of sea glass and all the beachy looks and applaud your efforts! I would highly suggest looking on Pinterest and houzz.com, and in the meantime if I find anything that might be even remotely helpful, I'll send it your way.

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  6. Pattie, I love the idea of a coastal theme! I'd start with bedding, and find a coverlet from Bed, Bath & Beyond or Kohl's online, they always have great sales and then you can apply a coupon. Use Sherwin Williams ColorSnap app and get your paint color. I like the idea of a pale aqua or sea color for the walls and white paint for the furniture. Target and Lowe's have lots of affordable lamps.

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  7. I love the idea of this theme - you can use the colors inthe photo and find other items that will compliment the artwork - the choice for the wall color is fantastic - should look great! I am delighted that you shared with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

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Thank you so much for commenting, I love every one of them! I am, however, unable to respond to anonymous comments.