Where We Live...

...Part One!

Ever since I began taking you all on my home's "Metamorphosis" Journey (thank you Susan!), I have wondered why I have so few Before pictures. They have all been weird angles and had horrible blurriness and, usually, only one shot of each room. I recently stumbled upon the answer to this mystery!

Oh...seeing that blue-striped wallpaper again makes me feel like I am going to break out in hives!

But, do you see the baby on that hip? I'm pretty sure she had something to do with the lack of Before photos. Also, the 5 year old who was running through this empty house like a Banchee! And, I truly never thought that these pictures would be posted up for all the world (ok, more like a handful of people) to see someday! I'm ashamed of my rudimentary photography skills but will once again pin the blame on my children as the reason those pictures are so lacking. Pinning blame on your children is a not often talked about Perk of having them!

Now on to the ONE Before photo I have of our Breakfast Nook...

Oh my! What a surprise! Another big brass light fixture!

Now, I have to show you how this space looked for quite some time before you get to see the 'Real' After.

Ohhhhh...look at those cute cheeks! Where has the time gone?

Anyway, this little round table came with us from our previous home where it fit perfectly into the little space we had for it in that kitchen. It was the first furniture we ever bought as a couple and I think we paid $150 for the entire set and it served us well for 11 years! It always looked very lost and lonely in this new space though so we set about trying to find a Dining Set that would be better suited to the space and our growing needs as a family.

Now here is the Real After of our Breakfast Nook...

And here is a closer look

This was one of the first light fixtures in the house to be changed and it is so much better! And there is the infamous

Black Bucket in all of it's "Un-Crafty" Glory!

(See Friday's post if this reference confuses you!)

I was going to take the Booster seat off the chair and put the other cushion on for these photos but then I thought again. I think sometimes a little dose of reality is good in a Home Decorating Photo! Don't you? I did clean it though, because you might never have come back if you had seen the crumbs underneath that thing!

And, just in case you are wondering what those cushions look like, here is a glimpse...

They were another Tuesday Morning find that I stalked for weeks to see how much the price would come down before I snatched them up. It really is a Rush, you know? Will they still be there? Will there be 4 of them? How low will the price go before I cave in? Like a cat and mouse game! So thrilling!

Ok, I think I just revealed a little too much there about how my mind works so we will move on.

Did you notice the fabric on the windows?

Doesn't it look an awful lot like the fabric I used in my Kitchen and Living/Dining Rooms?

Well, it may be the same pattern and colors but the treatments in the rest of the house were made, by me, from fabric that I scrimped and saved for and painstakingly lined each panel so it would hang just right. It also has a subtle sheen and a moire pattern to it. You want to know where I found the window treatments for the Breakfast nook?
WAL-MART!

They aren't lined and they don't have a sheen...but, who cares? They match! And, because when you enter our home you can see practically the entire downstairs with one sweep of the eyes, I really wanted a cohesive look with my window treatments. And, the best part about them being from Wal-Mart is that they weren't expensive and I'm not worried about them getting dirty since they are in a high traffic area!
It was like they were sent down from heaven just for me!

Oh, and maybe a few other million people who shop at Wal-Mart.

Here is what is along the wall opposite those windows...

I found this great buffet table at Aunt Bee's and even though it was missing a door in the front, I picked up these great baskets and think they really help warm it up. Plus, they are great for storing crayons, stamps and other art supplies!

Here is a closer look at some of the details.

Whew! I was really glad to see after I added this picture that there weren't price tags still stuck to the bottoms of those plates on that stand!

The Rooster Lamps were an Ebay find and I absolutely adore them! Here is a closer look at them all lit up.

I, like many of you, love to decorate my walls with plates. They can't be beat for adding instant interest to a space without breaking the bank.

The three small plates were found at our city's Assistance League and the large one was another great TJ's find!

Is it bad when you walk into TJ Maxx and
the employees know you?

"Oh, we knew you would be back for that purse!"

When I discovered this door to the right of the buffet table I'm pretty sure my heart stopped a little. It opens up to this...

It is this great storage area that goes all the way back under the staircase. Here is a closer look.

Don't you think those shelves are screaming for some sprucing up? What would you guys suggest? Some fabric? Paint?


Next week, I will show you Part 2 of "Where We Live" but here is a little taste of what is to come...

Blessings to you from this

Southern Girl at Heart,

Vanessa

*I'm Linking to these Parties*

Metamorphosis Monday
Debbiedoos B&A Party
Transformation Thursdays