Thursday, April 15, 2010

Chocolate, Mercury Glass, and Change

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        Last Saturday I invited a dear friend and her mother- who was a dear friend of my mother’s -over to see my house and my yard. They came today.

        Those simple, heartfelt words, “Can you come by on Thursday?”, began a fabulous frenzy of clearing away clutter, moving and cleaning things, and creative house thinking that had me laughing to myself with pleasure and inspiration. I also enjoyed several days of needed rain that prevented me from sprucing up the yard until early this morning.

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        I started in the master bath. The walls are chocolate brown, and I have enjoyed them, but I wanted subtle sparkle.

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        I found it in two wonderful mercury glass lamps I found at TJ Maxx.  Then I found these rugs.

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        And so it became about chocolate and mercury glass and cream and charcoal.  I started painting frames of prints I had throughout the house with Krylon’s Satin Nickel- a wonderful taupe/soft silver color.

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        Everything started to work together, and I loved how my Venetian glass pieces looked with the mercury glass.

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        I had already painted the chair (with Satin Nickel) and recovered the seat with a soft silver/taupe) damask.

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        I painted a mirror I bought for $5, and I am using it as the top to my vanity now. I think the fact that it juts out a bit is interesting. (That’s my story…)

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        I also propped a full length mirror, also framed in silver, on the wall side of my vanity.

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         It looks especially pretty with just lamp light.

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         I have been dissuaded from climbing a step ladder, Satin Nickel spray paint can in hand, to spray the bathroom light fixture.

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        Instead, at the recommendation of my guests, I am going to add beveled mirror frames to the mirrors instead. (However, if I created a protective tent, held the spray paint can at just the right angle, stood completely still on the step ladder, worked very quietly so my husband didn’t know what I was trying to do, it COULD happen…)

        I am linking to the following parties, for the first time.

showandtell

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40 comments:

LPC said...

Looks great! And I love the Venetian glass especially.

From the Old InkWell said...

Love your browns! Very warm and inviting!

Lora @ my blessed life said...

I love that lamp!! Makes me want to run out to TJMaxx RIGHT NOW:) Your room turned out really great!

Tobi Britton*pinkpixieforest.blogspot.com said...

Just beautiful Laura! Love your blog!!!!(so do the pixies)
Mercury glass at TJMAXX? I guess I should go more often!
Sparkly Hugs,
Tobi and the Pixies!

Unknown said...

LOVE that yummy lamp! Nothing like guests coming to spur you on toward finishing projects. Everything that you did looks beautiful and inviting.

The Portland Pretty said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Carrie @ Cottage Cozy said...

Everything looks so lovely...what wonderful transformations. You are such a talented decorator. I am certain your guests must have thought it looked beautiful!

Thanks so much for your recent blog visit and for adding your name to my list of (for lack of a better word) "followers".

Have a nice Friday!

Theresa said...

Love the look in the Master Bath! Love the color and those pictures are beautiful. Great job, my friend:) Hugs to you and have a blessed day!

Stacey said...

Look at you! Nothing like company coming to make you kick into gear. You know we have graduation coming for our family in a few weeks, I've been working my fingers to the bone!

Your bathroom is stunning. Please tell us where you find those beveled glass frames..if you do. I love them but never find them.

Hootin Anni said...

Such wonderful talents...I think, if I were you, I'd grab the spray paint and do your thing!!!!

My New Doll -my Show n Tell. I would really enjoy your company if you can drop by to visit me. Hope you're having a terrific Friday!!!

Dixie said...

Laura... the bathroom is just beautiful... You're inspiring me! I love the chocolate with the silver and mercury glass! those lamps are fantastic!

I did paint a vintage light fixture full of crystals last year when I redecorated my office... It's a lot easier if you just take down the fixture, remove the crystals, paint... clean the crystals... and reassemble... sounds tedious I know... but you're gonna have to trust me on this one...

Have you thought about going to Paper Cowgirl in Waxahatchie in June? We're gonna have fun!

hugs. Dixie

Anonymous said...

Girl, you just threw this all together??? That would take me months and it wouldn't look nearly as beautiful as your room.

Stunning!! Absolutely stunning!!

Deb said...

looks good Laura...isn't it amazing how we get kicked into high gear when companies is a comin'

mrs. h. said...

Your bathroom is beautiful! I know just what you mean about the spray paint. If you still have feeling in your index finger...you're not done. You can't refab just one thing!!

I'm going to think of someone to invite over. Then I'm going to TJMaxx.

Thanks for the inspiration. :)

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Everything is so pretty!!!!
He will smell the paint ! :-D
Enjoy your weekend.

Southerncook said...

Laura, Love your master bath and the mercury glass lamp is fabulous and what a great "find". We seem to have similar tastes and I noticed that you are a visitor to Mary Carol's blog. I too am a fan of Mary Carol, love, love, love her.

Thank you for visiting my blog and I have added you to my favorites. Lovely blog.

Carolyn

Nola said...

Wow, how luxurious that looks now! You did a great job, but PLEASE stay off the ladder! It's just not worth the risk. Maybe suggest to hubby that if he could do it, you wouldn't have to!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Your bathroom is stunning. I love all of the beautiful silver and mercury glass. The full length mirror on the side wall is a fabulous idea. Love it all. Hugs, Marty

Helen said...

Dear Laura,
I hope you don't mind but I am going to 'steal' a few of your wonderfully inspirational ideas. I also have a wall crying out for a framed mirror to be propped against it. AND since I DO have a TJ Maxx here I'm going to pop in to see if by chance I can find one of those mercury base lamps! Thank you for sharing.

Debbie's Garden said...

Nice Job! Sometimes the best way to get your "to do" list done is invite someone over or have a party.

Bonnie said...

Laura, You make it sound so easy. It looks wonderful! I like mirrors everywhere and the mercury glass lamps and jewelry box are delightful.It all came together beautifully. Your rug is so pretty and the idea to put a narrow mirror on the corner wall was a perfect one. I need you in my bathroom for a total make-over.

Lou Cinda @ Tattered Hydrangeas said...

Looks Gorgeous!! Just be careful on that ladder and open a window so you don't pass out from the fumes!!

(This from someone who has done this sort of thing in the past) lol

Lou Cinda :)

June said...

Oh girl...this is BEAUTIFUL!!! I love all the reflection going on in there. The colors are so yummy too. I'm crushin' on those lamps too. Stay off the ladder!!!
I have missed so many great posts here and knew I would. But it has been fun catching up on all the new in your life.
hugs

Crystal said...

It's absolutely beautiful!!!! I just love all your mirrored things! Very classy!

Coralie Cederna Johnson said...

What a wonderful blending of earthen tones in this beautiful post! Great presentation!!!

Free Art Printables said...

It looks so gorgeous and hollywood!!!!

The Charm of Home said...

Oh, I love your color combos. Wonderfully sophisticated. I love Mary Carol Garrity too. I just added her blog to my page a week or so ago. The day she put it up I had it on. Love your style, now following you too. Thanks for coming by!

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Oh Laura, this is breath taking! I love the mercury glass lamp, and oh that rug is stunning! I love all of it! Thank you so much for linking this beautiful post to Favorite Things. laurie

Ali @ Honey and Maple Syrup said...

I love all the sparkle. It was a bold choice to paint the room such a dark brown and it looks so cozy.

Nancy's Notes said...

Oh Laura, what a fabulous and elegant look! It's just so striking, love the warmth, the lighting, your classy colors, just so lovely together. Your decorating sense, pure genius!

Tammy @BeatriceBanks said...

Just divine! Your friends must have been very impressed. I sure am. My fireplace wall is chocolate and this gives me just the inspiration I need to spruce it up. Thanks!

Debra@CommonGround said...

Love the combination! So elegant, Laura. Now would you come to my master bathroom and work your magic. Be careful, you might need to change your name to "Nickel Spray Paint"!
love it.
Debra

Blondie's Journal said...

Lovely tweaks!!

xoxo
Jane

Sarah said...

Wow, Laura, you were busy. It all looks lovely. Want to come help me get going on my list of things to do? LOL

Amy Kinser said...

Everything is just beautiful!!

Partying with you tonight. Come by for a visit...

Stephanie Lynn @Under the Table and Dreaming said...

Simply gorgeous! I love your color palette for the room! Very pretty!

Glamorous Girl Gone Goofy said...

Laura,

Your bathroom looks like brushed silver foil that can be unwrapped to find a decadent piece of chocolate. Mmmm… Yummy. I am sure your guests were love-struck by it. I love lamps in a bathroom and in the kitchen.
You have inspired me to try out the Krylon Satin Nickel. I have a huge frame and considered painting it white and doing a brown wash. I have been putting it off, since I have so many frames like that. The Satin Nickel would be perfect and would compliment my treasures that are going to hang out near it.
Thank so much for dropping by and becoming a follower.

It is good to have a Texas neighbor!
Kristtie

vignette design said...

Absolutely beautiful!

Pam @ Frippery said...

Just dreamy. Nothing like a visit to light a little fire of decorating inspiration!

Lemon Lane Studio said...

Beautiful post...you are so me. I know I could pull off that stepladder hanging upside down stunt...no problem. Ha..ha.

 

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