Better Homes and Gardens
Hello, hello, hello my dear budget decorators!
Have ya’ll had a chance to go over to Melissa’s place (The Inspired Room) to see all the great Fall Nesting ideas and links? I’ve been meaning to visit her for a while and finally made it there this morning. Wow! What lovely, great ideas! It doesn’t really feel like Fall here in Atlanta yet, but I can feel it creeping toward us… just in the way I’m starting to think about cool weather foods like chili, and watching for the leaves on the tree in front of my townhome to start changing colors.
Anyway, I haven’t done any decorating of any type in a while, but reading all the great links to blogs across the blogosphere has really inspired me to get back into it. My home is YELLING for some help these days… with work and the kids being back in school, it’s been very neglected and feels that way. It doesn’t help that I’m really, really, really wanting to find a small house with a yard to rent for me and the kids. The townhouse reminds me of broken dreams now and just feels negative to me. BUT I’m locked into a lease until December, and, realistically, moving in the middle of the school year probably won’t be feasible. So I’m going to stop being a whiny baby and use some of the inspiration I picked up this morning to propel me into getting my home back into shape…
That said, I’m going to list my goals here so ya’ll can keep me to task, ok? My goal is to have these things accomplished by the end of September:
- shampoo the carpets
- reorganize Ian and Catie’s room (yes, again! The toys are OUT OF CONTROL!!!)
- New bedding for my bedroom
- Pictures for my bedroom
- Finish painting my new “retro” aluminum patio set
- Decorate the patio/outdoor room for fall
- Creative/budget friendly wall art for downstairs
- Seasonal decorating for downstairs
As I get things accomplished, I’ll date them and mark them off.
My first order of business is to figure out where to get inexpensive but attractive cushions for the patio furniture. I got this GREAT deal on an old 50’s aluminum patio set through Craigslist (of course!). It was $50 for a rocking chair, an arm chair, and a loveseat. Great condition, just some peeling paint… which, if I was into the shabby chic look, would probably be no big deal. Since my style is a little more modern contemporary, I’ve started painting them a flat, textured black. I’ve come across some clearance cushions, but the colors just weren’t what I had in mind… so I’m trying to decide if I need to stop being so picky (cause really, how often will I find 3 sets of outdoor cushions on clearance for $14?!?) or if there’s another DIY cheap option…
Just setting goals has me excited and feeling better than I have in a few months! Anyone want to get in on the goal setting with me? If so, post your own September goals list and then come back here and add the link to it in the comments section. Then we can egg each other on all month! (I’ll be the first to admit that I can use all the guilt trips you want to lay on me… I need to get myself moving in a positive direction!)
Before I go and actually get some work done (novel idea, when you’re AT WORK!!!), I’ll share a few of the photos that are inspiring me these days:
Pottery Barn, oh how I love your stylings…
I love the colors and the chanderlier
Look! the coffee table is made of books!
I love the green photos in black frames
I love everything about this office!
Happy Fall Nesting!
xoxo – Shauntelle
