Putting a project together.

I think I have mentioned before that my husband is a commercial airline pilot.  His route is mostly Asia [Beijing, Shanghai, and Tokyo].  He commutes from Chicago, so the beginning of his work day starts in Atlanta.  Since those flights leave Chicago around 11-12 he usually goes up the night before.  On Thursday I decided to fly up to Chicago with him just for the night.  A quickie [wink wink] as you might say.  

I have had some bad experiences riding standby in the last few years.  There have been times when we headed somewhere [domestic] and have been at the airport waiting for a seat for 5 or 6 flights.  It is brutal. Every time they fill up the plane and you don't get on, you grab all your luggage and shlep to the next gate.  Since I was only going for the night I was hoping for a small miracle.  Got it.  Up and back....no problem.

My point to all this is to tell you that I started a good book that a friend gave me....."Left Neglected" by Lisa Genova.  It is about a woman who has it all...high powered job, 3 kids, beautiful home, second home in Vermont....wonderful husband.

Then she is in a car accident and has a brain injury [kind of like a stroke called "left neglect"] which steals her awareness of everything on her left side.  She has to retrain her mind to perceive the world as whole.  I don't usually have a lot of time to read, but when I do, I am always glad I pick a good one.  This book made me realize how lucky I am every day that I have my health.

Now to the good stuff......

I have been  posting about an ongoing project [the basement], and I want to show you a little before and after.  After the renovation was finished.  We ordered the furniture.  She kept saying that she was unsure of the blue chairs.

 These are Lee Industries [1304-01] and the fabric is Willis Peacock.  

Here is the sofa:

It is also Lee Industries [1601-03] and the fabric is Flanders Cement.  Since this is where they watch TV, I urged them to use plantation shutters because they are so easy to open and close.  They are 4 1/2 inches and painted the same color at the trim.

A couple of people wanted to know about this light fixture:

I found it online here.  Also someone else wanted to know about the floor stain.  I believe it was a mix of Dark Walnut and Jacobean [minwax brand].  The paint colors are:

The Bookcases:  Benjamin Moore: Texas Leather 

The walls, ceiling and trim are: Benjamin Moore: 966  Natural Linen.

The fabrics we used are:

Paisley: Pindler & Pindler- P0022 Montclair

Blue:  Schumacher -Bleeker in Peacock

Tomato check:  Pindler & Pindler-2347 Carrele

The floral: Barry Dixon- Pappillon BD

OK...why is she telling us all this?????  Well....I am just going to show you my thought process on putting this room together.

So...the first thing I do is start shopping for accessories.  Flea markets, HG's, Pottery Barn, and a couple of yard sales!!!  I want old and new so the room looks more collected.

Here are a few of the things I found for the room:

These gorgeous pictures at a flea market!  Seriously so cheap I had to look twice.  They are framed by Fred Reed here in Atlanta, so I know the frames are custom.

This at a yard sale.

This small table at World Market.

Some accessories for the bookshelves....

This stool at a flea market.  The perfect color!!!

This runner at a flea market.  Perfect size.  

And this brass candle holder...which you have already seen.

I also bought this for $5.00

A framed vintage dried botanical.  BUT...the mat was way too white.  No problem.

I took the back paper off, pulled out the staples holding the mat in place, and took it apart as carefully as I could.

Then I went to the basement and looked for some paint.

Just took a drop and mixed it with water.

After testing it on the back of the mat...I just painted it on and wiped it off right away.

Done.  I wanted it to have an antique feel like the other pictures.  Put it all back together.

You will have to trust me that it worked out!!!

Hee Haw...I know you want to see it all right now but it is too beautiful outside so you will just have to wait.  I have to go walk my dogs.

Atlanta is delivering us a gorgeous cool fall day!  Finally!