Country road take me home.

My Sister lives in a beautiful little country home. The house is situated on several acres atop Palomar Mountain. The decor is warm, charming, country and comfortable. The furniture, walls and floors are all natural wood tones but we have added a variety of colors with pillows, pictures, throws and old treasures.
Recently I had the pleasure of redecorating my Sister's spare bedroom. When she assigned me the task the bedroom was being used as a storage/ office/ guest room. After discussing with her in detail what she uses the bedroom for most often, we decided to make the room a full time office. Not just a traditional office for business use, but a room where her daughters could do their homework, read, be creative and enjoy a cozy space.
The office furniture had already been purchased, so I knew exactly what I was working with. I made a list of the items that I wanted to incorporate.
It was time to get to work!

After gutting the room, including ripping out the carpet, we were left with this...

The floors were replaced and the walls painted. I had quite a few DIY projects to complete before hanging pictures and placing candles.

I made throw pillows and valances out of beautiful curtain panels. I also used curtain panels to close off the closet, instead of buying closet doors.  

After a few trips to Home Goods, Target, Home Depot and a large Amazon order, the room was complete. 

Modify Monday. DIY Headboard.

If you are a Pinterest addict like myself that you may have seen some of the amazing DIY home projects my fellow crafters have posted. Many of the DIY projects that I have seen look very difficult and intimidating and others are easy enough for even the non crafty's out there. I have attempted and completed several home decorations that I have found on Pinterest, it is a hobby of mine.

Not long ago I was looking for a DIY headboard idea. I felt that my bedroom really needed the added character and our bed frame did not come with a headboard. I searched online for quite some time and found several different ideas that were possible for me to complete on my own. I compared all of the options and settled on the headboard that was going to fit our bedroom style perfectly.

This project is so simple. Anybody and everybody that is in need of a headboard could and should give it a try. I am so happy with the way it turned out. Our bedroom is complete.

1. Go to a lumber supply store with your measurements.
-Planks should be even with or a bit longer than the width of your bed. We have a queen bed so I needed a plank that was cut 62 inches long. I decided to go with five 4 inch planks. The staff at the lumber store will cut your planks to the length that you desire, if needed.

2. Pick out your stain or paint color.
-The finish that you go with can make a dramatic difference. We have a beach styled home so I decided to go with white paint. I always have white paint on hand, so I used what I had.

3. Paint or stain your wood immediately.
-If you decided to paint or stain your wood it needs to be done immediately. If your wood is kept outside without getting painted it will begin to warp. If you can't paint your wood immediately you should keep it covered or inside. I wanted a bit of a warped look because of our beach theme, so I kept our wood outside on our porch for two days. (My Husband did not understand why I would do such a thing)

4. Hang.
-Once your wood is dry and looking good, it is time to hang. Make sure that you have a level on hand so that your wood is placed straight across. I started right below the top of my mattress so that there was not a visible gap. There are several different ways to hang the planks, go with whatever you think is going to fit your style best. You can nail the wood into the wall, use picture hangers or drill it in.

Flea Market Friday. Oceanside. Never. Again.

Last Saturday I made plans for my family to shop the Oceanside Flea Market. We weren't really sure what to expect because neither my husband or I had ever been. It is in a giant lot that used to be occupied by a drive in theater. The large movie screens are still in place, which makes it look a little creepy but as we all know, we should never judge a book by it's cover. When we arrived to the market mid morning we were surprised by the lack of vehicles we were seeing in the parking lot. Usually flea markets stay pretty busy, especially on a Saturday or Sunday morning.
We paid the $1 entry fee and immediately started checking out the booths. What we found was a surprise to both my husband and myself. There were very few vendors. Many of the booths were vacant and for some odd reason vendors were setting there booths up every 20-30 feet, which made it look even more empty. The lot looked like it was ready to house hundreds of vendors and maybe in the past it had, but it was completely lacking vendors and business last Saturday.
As we walked the grounds, from booth to booth we noticed that the quality of the items being sold was very poor. The vendors didn't seem as if they were there to sell, they never greeted us or acknowledged that we were interested in their items. When we stopped at a fruit stand, we gathered several different items while the vendor continued to have a conversation with a family member, not acknowledging us until we asked where we could pay. The entire experience was very odd.
We did find a few items: fruit, veggies and a house plant. They had great deals on plants and the man that was selling them was very friendly and informative. I am very happy that we weren't entirely skunked but I guarantee we will not return to that flea market.
I took a few pictures of our experience.

A few lessons that I learned last Saturday. 

1. Always look up reviews on the flea market that you are interested in visiting. 

2. It's worth a longer drive to get to a better flea market.

3. I can find something to buy anywhere items are for sale. 

Saturday Style Spotlight. Choosing a style.

There are several different options when it comes to decorating your home. Hundreds of different styles and thousands of ways to make the style unique.

I can imagine myself with a country home in a small town, a chicken coop out back, a giant garden, several acres, an old white barn with chipped paint, three gorgeous horses, vaulted ceilings, thick wood plank floors, antlers on the wall, blush pink, grey, white and natural hues, and a wrap around deck lined with upholstered swings and sturdy chairs.

I can imagine myself with a penthouse downtown in a big city, three levels, large windows with a grand view of the city's skyline, several balconies adorned with the few plants that the small space will allow, large furnishings, open floor plan, oversized bedrooms, clean lines and metallic accents.

I can imagine myself in a shingled cottage near the shore, a small grass lawn in the front, an outdoor shower for rinsing after a swim in the Pacific, coral, white and turquoise, large rustic beams, shells, grass rugs, bamboo, a patio table, fire pit and outdoor bar.

It is difficult to pick a style and stick with it, especially if your attention span is as short as mine. I could constantly be redecorating. In my opinion the style has to be fitting to where you are located. The house decor should enhance the natural beauty of it's surroundings. When choosing a style for your home decor you should take several things into consideration, here are a few.

1. Location, location, location. The location of your home needs to be considered. Your home decor should reflect your location. i.e. coastal decor when you live by the beach. 

2. The structure. Whether you live in a condo building, stucco home or stained redwood house, your decor needs to harmonize well with the architecture of the building. Nobody wants a modern design with rustic interior.

3.Your lifestyle. It is important for the homes furnishings to be practical and fitting to your lifestyle. A home should bring you peace and be fit to your personality. Decorate with items that you like, things that make you happy and furniture that you are comfortable in. 

4. Stick to a color palette. You should choose a color palette and stick with it. Homes look better when there is a common theme. When you choose a palette of a few colors that compliment each other the house will have a great flow and navigating through your home will be easy on the eyes. 

5. Budget. You don't want to have caviar taste on a tuna fish budget. Your home will never be completed if you can't afford any of the items that you like. Set a realistic budget and seek out stores that are fitting for you. The internet makes it so easy, you can find everything you need online on any budget. 

6. Theme. Finally you need to pick a common theme for the house. Country, Bohemian, Shabby Chic, Rustic, Modern, Coastal, Eclectic, etc. The home will come together completely if you stick to a common theme throughout. Study the theme you chose, get inspired and start shopping. 

NEW Weekly Blogging Themes

It's time to get excited… I will be disclosing OCD Lady's weekly blogging themes right NOW. I'm sure the anticipation has been killing you. What more could a person want, really?!

I'd like to keep this blog semi structured but still allow myself the freedom to stray. After all, I am overflowing with important information in regards to decorating and organization, and I know that you're eager to receive it.

This is a glimpse of what our weeks will look like together. Of course, nothing is set in stone and if I feel the need to change it up a bit, I will do as I please. If you'd like to suggest a theme or topic, please feel free to do so.

Modify Monday

Top Ten Tuesday

Trendy Wednesday

Thursday Organizer 

Freebie Friday 

Saturday Style Spotlight

Sunday Celebration

My blog for each day will relate directly to that day's theme.  OK? Let's get this party started. Back to blogging… 

Tranquil Tuesday. Peace in the bedroom.

Peace in the Bedroom

After a long day there is nothing that I love more than coming home. My home is my sanctuary. It is small but thoughtfully laid out, surrounded by chaos but very peaceful. When I am home I am  surrounded by my belongings, pictures, scents, memories and comfort.  

I recently redecorated our Master bedroom to make a more peaceful and calm setting. When I am in my bedroom I want to relax, most of the time anyway. I chose a beautiful color palette of soft blues, teal, chocolate brown and cream. I tied in the beach theme that I had chosen for the rest of our home. It didn't cost much to redecorate the bedroom because I already had most of the items necessary. One trip to Home Goods and our bedroom was complete. I am thrilled with the way it turned out, in fact, I am ready to head in there right now! 

Modify Monday. Trash into Treasure.

My Sister has been cleaning house for several months, redecorating rooms, organizing closets and donating several items. Lucky for me, I have scored some great pieces.
Today it was time to put some of my sanding and painting skills to work, to see what I could make of a little old brown table that my Sister had given me. I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome. 

Of course with a 4 month old, my schedule is based on my Baby's needs and desires, so when starting a project I always wonder just how long it is going to take to complete. Lucky for me, today Parker was as happy as a clam and turned out to be the perfect company while I redecorated this little table. 

By the time I remembered to take a before picture I had already gotten the hardware off and begun sanding… whoops. 

I invested in a sander a couple of years ago when I was tackling my first refurbish. This specific piece of furniture was so ready for a new life, the paint and stain was peeling off very easily. All it took was a light sanding over the entire table and inside the shelves. 

When the details are too small to be worked over with the sander I rub a piece of sand paper over it by hand or use a primer before painting. This table did not need the primer because it was responding so well to the light sanding. 

It is important to brush all of the loose saw dust, stain and dirt off of the table before painting. I sweep a broom over it lightly and wipe the wood down with a damp cloth. Once the sanding is complete it is time to start painting. I always keep a can of white paint. Since I live on the coast white is almost always perfect for the 'beachy' look that I am going for. Of course with white you have to do several coats, three on this specific table. Always let it dry completely before painting your second and third coats.

The drawer handle was very outdated and needed to be replaced. While the paint dried, my son and I went for a little shop at the Home Depot to buy the drawer some new hardware. Decisions, decisions…

There are SO many options and each option will give the piece of furniture a very different look. Currently I am liking the glass pulls, so that's what I went with. They are very inexpensive at $4.oo each.

Once the paint is dry and the table is put back together, it's time to find the piece of furniture a new home. 

I haven't found the table a permanent home quite yet. I thought that I wanted it below this picture, but it is too small for that space. I will update when I find the perfect spot for it.