living room inspiration board :: mrs. boom decorates

In my last home decor post I shared our newly decorated entryway. Today, I'm on to our next, much larger decor project...the living room. When Mr. Boom and I started talking about the design, he suggested using photos from our trips to Greece as wall art. Yes. This photo from our honeymoon immediately came to mind and became the inspiration piece for the room.

True confession: this room has sat empty under a pile of boxes for the full year and a half we have been in our home. When we found and purchased this house, we did so partially because it has room to grow. Lots of room to grow. Especially considering we moved in with three rooms worth of furniture from our former condo. We didn't need to use the formal living room and didn't have any furniture for the space. So, it sat. And it irked me every time I walked in the house as it's the first room visible from the front door. Now, we have a plan and are ready to roll!

I stalked watched the slipper chairs online for a few weeks and jumped to order two when I saw them drop to 50% off. Two for the price of one? Yes, please and thank you! The area rug was another sale grab and ended up close to 50% off. The white European fold roman shades have been installed for awhile now. The sleeper sofa has been ordered and will be shipping (fingers crossed!) momentarily. Mr. Boom has agreed to build the white console table based on plans by Ana White. The shelving photo is inspiration from @jeadoreblogger on Instagram and I have already gathered a few similar pieces from Home Goods and Target.

These accent pillows will replace some a of the printed ones that come with the couch. I cannot wait to see this all come together!

five minute autumn wreath :: a tutorial

Last week I made a fabulous new wreath for our front door. I saw the design on Pinterest, clicked immediately over to The 36th Avenue blog and read the instructions. Within two days, I had gathered my supplies and the wreath took shape. It turned out even better than I imagined! Sadly, I'm not sharing that project here today. You see, I was all excited to decorate for fall on Tuesday, took out the wreath, hung it on our front door, shut the door...well, no. I couldn't shut. the. door. The wreath is too thick to fit between the storm door and our interior door. Who would have even thought to measure for that? Ahem. So, that lovely wreath now hangs in our kitchen where I see it 100+ times a day. See, not a fail at all!

Today, I looked at our unadorned white door and grumbled. It is September. Autumn decor must be displayed. It's my favorite season. Everything apple and pumpkin and lovely warm colors! So, off to the craft store I went to try again and on the cheap. I saw one ready made wreath I loved but at $50? No, not happening. Armed with a coupon and keeping an eye out for sale signs, I picked up bits here and there, brought them home and got to work. FIVE MINUTES later, I was done and happy. You read that right. 5 minutes.

I made the wreath using very simple supplies from AC Moore, the nearest craft store to our home. Prices will vary at other stores but every big box craft store will have similar supplies on hand right now, likely at a discount. I did not pay full price for one piece of this project:

You will need:

Grapevine wreath // $2.50 (regular $4.99, used 50% Michael's mobile coupon)

Leaf Garland to wrap around // $3 (on sale, regular $5.98)

Berry Picks x 4 // $0.50/ea (on sale, regular $1.00)

Burlap bow // $3.59 ready made in the floral design section (on sale, regular $5.99)

Instructions:

1) Wrap the garland around the wreath, attaching it to the back with wire or pins. Or, since my garland had lops at either end, I just hooked it on a cut piece of the grapevine on the back and started wrapping, then did the same for the ending.

2) Add bow with wire. Mine came with a tan pipe cleaner as a stabilizer so I just twisted that around the wreath. 

3) Add two berry picks to either side of the bow. Just stick them into the dense grapevine.

4) Hang your finished wreath.

Totally do-able in 5 minutes while your infant eats puffs next to you and your toddler runs circles around your feet with a toy truck, yelling, "beeeeeep, beeeeeep!" Oh wait, is that just my house?

mrs. boom decorates: mantel decor series...

In the process of making this house a home, there is a lot of decorating to be done. We started with paint colors for walls and kitchen cabinets, added french doors to our office and had carpeting replaced. All big changes that have taken time and much effort. The paint, in fact, is an ongoing process that we will finish up as the warmer weather finally approaches (please?!).

One small area that we see nearly all day, everyday that I set out to decorate right away was our family room fireplace mantel. In fact, I put up the first seasonal decor before we had even moved in. I've always dreamed of having a fireplace of my own and have a Pinterest board full of inspiration for mantel decor. Our mantel has already seen Christmas, winter and St. Paddy's Day adornments. I have used mainly things that I already had on hand and added a bit recently to start a collection to have on hand.

Today, as I completed the Easter theme, I thought it would be fun to start a blog series here with my seasonal decor.

A closer look at the left side with jar fillers, mercury glass, seasonal picks, framed art and, of course, a B monogram.

The right side with more mercury glass, an owl, my favorite canvas and more Easter eggs.

A close up of the Peep bunting. My Instagram friend and fellow PL'er Barbara created this .studio cut file last year (click on the link to her blog to download it for yourself!). I simply added the holes in the ears and used my Silhouette to cut out several colors. They measure approximately 2x4" and are strung on pink twine. Simple.

SOURCES
Wreath, owl, green wicker jar fillers: Target
Glass vase: Ikea
Crystal Vase: Tiffany & Co.
White Birds, spring floral and egg picks: Michaels Craft Stores
Home print: free printable from eighteen25
Monogram: Hobby Lobby
Mercury glass vases and jar: Pottery Barn
Egg jar fillers: Walmart
Peep Banner: Silhouette cut file by Barbara at The Picinic Basket

You can also follow along on Instagram. I post under @jenboom and am using the hash tag #mrsboomdecorates to document my decorating progress.

boom renovation diaries: our new home...

Since we closed on our new home nearly two weeks ago much has transpired. Mainly painting, french door installation and tearing out carpet in preparation to install new. We were very blessed to have the help of two of my uncles and my parents last weekend and, my parents again this weekend.

Since my giant belly is preventing me from lending much of a hand, I'm trying to busy myself with making some decorating decisions that can be easily executed once we move in and that are budget friendly. Right at the top of our stairs is the main hall bath which will be the kid's bathroom. The floor tile is a cobalt blue with a Moroccan-esque feel. I wasn't so sure about it at first but, it's grown on me and I now really love the bold color and the unique shapes. Playing off of that detail and wanting to keep the room child friendly, I'm looking at a blue and orange color scheme with sea life details.

Sources:
Art: created by me in PSE using free clip art images from the web
Shower curtain: Bed, Bath and Beyond
Towels: Target
Whale accessories: Target
Toy organizer: Bed, Bath & Beyond

dreaming of decor...

Last weekend, Mr. Boom and I had HGTV on in the background as we played with George and did some things around the house.  As a Cash and Cari marathon came on, I casually mentioned that I would like to find and refinish a few pieces of furniture once we are find a larger space. I have an itch to take old discard pieces with good bones, sand them off, paint them interesting colors and give them home and function once again.

I want to walk into our home and see things that we have done together, created, made our own.  Just a few of numerous pieces that inspire:

I've been collecting images on Pinterest (not on Pinterest yet?  You need to be!) for the future, looking at blogs of crafty, talented refinishers and reading how-to articles on stripping paint, sanding and painting techniques.  Enamoured.

color my world...

This weekend, Mr. B worked tirelessly to paint our master bedroom and the ceiling of the office (soon to be nursery). We had purchased the paint a while back but, the time to do the actual work escaped us until now. The color in both rooms is a warm tan - think cafe au lait - and I love how it turned out with the addition of white crown moulding. And our bedroom? Finally sporting the bedding we received as a shower gift back in January! Here's the visual:
Bedding is Raymond Waites from Bed, Bath & Beyond. Lamps (one on each side of the bed) were a fabulous Home Goods find.

-- posted from my iPhone