From Dining Room to Office in 5 minutes

This room is actually our Formal Dining Room.  We entertain a lot so most of the time that is the purpose it serves.  Our office is upstairs, it is small and built into one of the dormers.  As my Interior Design opportunities have expanded, I have realized I need a place in my home, on the main level, to meet with clients.    

The solution, a 5 minute Switcheroo, from Dining Room to Meeting Room....     

When an opportunity to meet with a client arises, I have found a way to take the Dining Room, 

and turn it into a comfortable meeting/presentation area in 5 minutes.

 I just turn the table sideways, stash the side chairs in the garage, pull the zebra chair from the adjoining living room and... Voila...

Here is what the room looks like as the Dining Room,

and as the Meeting Room...

If you're coming to meet with me, just be sure to give me at least 5 minutes notice :)
Linked up to:
Not Just a Housewife
Delightful Order
Paisley Passions
The Shabby Chic Cottage
Chic On a Shoestring
Miss Mustard Seed
Funky Junk
TaterTots and Jello
Involving Color

One Wall, 6 Different Looks

I recently had the privilege of creating an Online Design plan for this room.  The Clients home is gorgeous, she just wanted a fresh eye and a few suggestions to take the room to the next level.  Just for fun, while working on her Design Plan, I used her "before" picture to make these virtual rooms.  

Here is a picture of the clients room before:

(Before) 

Here are 6 different looks I created for the same wall using the clients current furnishings:

#1 Paneling behind the sofa, floor to ceiling

#2 One feature wall painted chocolate brown

#3 A chunky wood mantel with a new grouping of accessories

#4 A large scale, graphic DIY painting on MDF

#5 Bead board Wainscoting painted two shades darker than the wall color

#6 White Picture Frame Moulding with two Potterybarn Mirrors 

Which look do you like the best?  

Can you guess which one corresponds with the Online Design Plan I created for her?

Vintage Four Post Bed Turned Desk

Since my recent post on My Daughters Room, I have had a few inquiries about how we made  her

 Floating Desk from a bed.

  It began it's life as a vintage four poster bed.  When she made the switch from the crib to her first bed,  her Grandparents bought it for her at an Estate sale.  

(Before)

When we moved into our new house a few years later, it didn't fit into her new room.  We were both emotionally attached to it and couldn't part with it.  That's when we decided to re-purpose it into a desk.

(After)

With the help of Grandpa, we used a circular saw to remove the headboard and footboard.  Then simply screwed them together on a 90 degree angle, caulked the seam, filled in the screw holes with a little wood putty and touched up the paint.

(After)

I picked up two large wood brackets from Home Depot and screwed them to the bottom of the desk.  We mounted the brackets to the wall and into the studs.

It is now a functional, stylish "Tween" desk with lots of sentimental value.

I can't wait to see what everyone else has been up to at this weekend's  Link-Up Parties. You are all so incredibly talented.

Spring is Here, Well, Not Really But Let's Pretend.

For most of the country the weather is getting warmer, days are getting longer, birds are chirping....

Here in Michigan, we are still in the Dead of Winter. 

 Using live plants and elements from nature, I tried to create a little Spring inside.  

Last Summer the kids found this birds nest on the ground under a tree. 

I picked up a cheese dome at "Sally's"  (The Salvation Army).

The nest fit inside perfectly.

I did my best to keep my ferns alive through the winter. 

I think this one made it (barely).  

It's extra large and completely fills up my laundry basket.  It can't wait to go outside.

Nothing says Spring like tulips...

This bouquet has a mind of its own...

The fresh cut flower selection at Sams Club is amazing, 

At $10/bouquet,  I was able to brighten up a few rooms.

Fresh green apples in the kitchen. 

A large fresh fern centerpiece. 

A window garden in the Family Room.

 And my Terrariums-in-a-jar all serve as a reminder that Spring will come...

...Someday.

Does anyone have any tips on keeping ferns alive through the Winter?

Linked up to Funky Junk.