Progress in the Home Office

Well our home office makeover is now in full swing. I have started painting the old paneling in my favorite shade of white, Ben Moore's Navajo White, and OMGosh it is already making the room feel larger, brighter and definitely more crisp.

Here is the sad looking "Before" shot...

And now that the old love seat is gone, I brought in the Ikea shelving unit we already had in another room. I do plan to purchase a few of Ikea's wicker bins that fit into the cubicals. The wine rack is gone as well, but not the wine!!!

 You know I really love the look of painted paneling, it has kind of a rustic vibe, so as I was painting I started to think of what type of artwork I'd like to display in this space. We live in horse and farm country so I thought about giving the office a bit of a country feel. Then I remembered this painting I bought a few years back up at the flea and antique market in Brimfield Massachusetts.

The artist paints on reclaimed shutters, this one was from an old barn. Here she is with the piece she sold to me at her booth up in Brimfield.

Talented isn't she? I did have her card at one point but now I have no idea where it is. All I can tell you is that the piece is signed by A CLOUD.

But I have to tell you that paining this paneling is taking longer that I thought. Even though it has been painted at least twice before, that old wood is just sucking up the paint. I am pretty much putting on 3 coats of the Navajo White.

The furniture placement is not set in stone yet due to the fact that I am still editing pieces out.

All in all it is coming along and I think this room is going to be a great space for me and Mr. Rosemary Lane to work.

What projects are you currently working on now that the weather is getting nicer?

Hope your week is off to a great start!

 And don't forget to stop by tomorrow evening to link up your latest to the Share Your Style link party!

Also, beginning Monday March 23, your SYS hosts are doing a spring blog hop. And then next Wednesday evening stop and link up your spring projects, both old and new!!

Tootles!!!

XO

In the Throws of an Office Takeover!

(pottery barn)

Now that the entry foyer is completed it is on to my next project...our home office! This room makeover has been quite a long time in coming. I think it was 3 years ago that I wrote a post on office inspiration and the pending office makeover I had planned, but then nothing ever happened to update this much used space. And now with Mr. Rosemary Lane working from home 2 days a week, and of course me using the office for all of my blogging, I thought that it is high time we improved the look and functionality of our home office.

So yesterday we began to pulled stuff out of the drawers and from behind our desks in order to start moving around the furniture. This is how we are looking today.

This room has not only been put to use as a home office, but also as the "dump" room for extra furniture in our house that I didn't know where else to put. 

The sofa you see below...well it has gotta go!

And the old flake board desk way in the back in the next photo is from Office Max. I purchased it 15 years ago when I decided to go to nursing school. It is going to be moved on out of the room but I think I will hang on to it since it is in decent shape. Maybe one of the kids will use it when they go off to college in a few years.

Lots of papers to go through and really...a wine rack in the office??? And how about the VHS tapes on the desk...haven't looked at those in over a decade!

OK I am not brave enough to reveal to you just what is behind that curtain in the next pic. (I think I may need to drink some of my wine before I can share that with you! LOL) But there is some really great usable space inside, that is once we get out all of our old crap!

So this is where we are at right now. As soon as we can get some of the unwanted furnishings out of the office I plan to paint it Navajo White, the same color used on the wainscoting in the dining room and foyer. It is like the best color EVER! It makes the walls feel rich and blended and is pretty resistant to our everyday dirt and grime too. 

So what am I thinking about doing in this space? 

Well I'd like to move the cubical shelves we got from Ikea a few years back into our office space. I not only like the idea but also the look of a few wicker baskets on the shelves mixed in for storage.

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We also have two desks besides the old flake board desk, already in the room, one metal and one wood. I need to find a way of making them look more alike, so I am kicking around the idea of painting them the same color. I like the black furniture against white walls.

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As far as desk placement, I think the best way (and most fair way) to go is to have them facing one another. The room is a good size, we measured 11' X 18', so it can handle the configuration. We also have a large slider in the middle of the one outside wall, and with this arrangement we will both be able to look out the window. The thought struck me the other day as I was watching the snow fall through the window. It actually looked like a living piece of art! We will have to keep the drapes though because the room does get the full on afternoon sun.

But for now I just want to concentrate on the getting the room organized with good functionality. 

After that the fun part will begin!

And speaking of fun, don't forget to stop by on Wednesday evening at 7pm EST for the Share Your Style link party!

Here is wishing you all a great start to your week 

XO

Looking for Some Inspiration for Our Foyer

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As I have shared with you a couple weeks ago, I was and still am in the throws of painting our entry foyer. So of course with new paint in a space comes...

yes you know it and so do I...

A NEW FURNITURE ARRANGEMENT

...plus the purchase of a few other new items. So I have been perusing the Internet, Google Images being my favorite way to go, looking for some much needed inspiration. I had fun checking out the many beautiful foyer ideas, so I thought I'd share with you a few that really caught my eye.

Here we go in no particular order...

I just adore the cozy feel of this first pic from Southern Living. 
(I can imagine the palms outside that little window swaying away in a warm gentle southern breeze.)

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And I am really crushing on this wood and iron railing. Thinking that maybe just what is needed on our staircase. Isn't it pretty?

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This next entry is cozy as can be and wonderfully charming.

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Vanessa from the blog At the Picket Fence, shows off her elegant foyer. She strikes the perfect balance between wall art and furnishings.

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You know the saying...Go Big or Go Home! 

This is not the entry to the home, excuse me, mansion, it is actually on the second floor, however it very well could be a foyer. This is the Blairsden Mansion, one of the largest privately owned homes in the country, located in Peapack-Gladstone NJ. I went on a tour of this magnificent place last May. If you would like to see the entire mansion tour just click here.

And now for something really striking! (Or should I say "Striping"?)

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This next foyer is my hands down favorite. I love the architectural detail of the walls, ceiling and doorway casings, which seems to render this space absolutely timeless!

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And who doesn't adore StoneGable farmhouse? Yvonne has the most amazing style and her entry is simply stunning! Don't you love her new chair? I'd want to park myself in that chair for hours just to sit and admire her lovely farmhouse inspired home.

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Here's another entry idea from Pottery Barn. I've recently noticed that I am drawn to the idea and look of gallery walls. To me they tell a story.

And finally this last entry, which is way way way out of my reach, I had to share because I think it is just beautiful!

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So there you have it! Some wonderful inspiration for me to mull over in my mind. I do have a few ideas of what I'd like to do in our foyer, I just need to play around with them over the next few days. But in the meantime, I am wishing you all a very happy last week of February! 

Come on SPRING!

XO

Changes in the Foyer ~ New Wall Colors

If you have been wondering where I've been over the past few days, I haven't been very far away. Actually I've been in my foyer painting on new wall colors. The colors are from Benjamin Moore's Historical collection, Wheeling Neutral and Navajo White. 

What were my colors before you ask? They were much lighter, Ben Moore's Philadelphia Cream with a pure white underneath. 

And while I did like the color combination, it just became too impractical for such a busy area as our home's main entry. The kids were constantly running their hands up and down the walls and the poor white just took a beating from the dog, the kids, and all of their little friends running in and out of the house. So in an effort to maybe "hide" the dirt marks when they happen, I chose darker colors for both above and below the chair rail. 

I also wanted the wainscoting to be the same color as in the dining room. The Navajo White is a very creamy white and I think adds a little sophistication when paired with the Wheeling Neutral.

Our home is over 40 years old and the baseboards in the entry and up the stairs are missing quarter rounds since these areas were at one time were carpeted. The space between the wood baseboards and the walls are, well lets just say less than pretty. So I decided to add some caulking to freshen up the look.

Yes CAULK is one this gal's favorite friends!!!

And the painting is underway.

I am also hoping that we can add a stairway railing and possibly an electric sconce to the wall at the landing. Then it will be time to hang up a little wall art.

And despite all the snow and the days the kids have been off, they still have the extended President's Day weekend, so I am sure not much will get done over the next few days with regard to this project. 

But that's OK. 

I guess I'll just put on a pot of coffee and grab some of my favorite decorating magazines, and ride out the holiday weekend!

You all enjoy a wonderful weekend too!

XO 

PS...AND PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO STOP BY NEXT WEDNESDAY EVENING AT 7PM FOR THE FIRST SHARE YOUR STYLE LINK PARTY