{VIDEO} We all make mistakes, right?? (part 2)

I know you can picture it...

You are so excited because today is THE DAY! The day that your new furniture is to arrive!

What could possibly go wrong? It looked so beautiful in the store after all, and you felt confident that it would be gorgeous in your home...but after the delivery men leave and the box truck pulls away, something doesn't feel quite right.

This week we talk about another common mistake that costs us comfort and balance in our homes. Watch the video and see if you can recognize this problem in your own house!

{VIDEO} We all make mistakes, right?

Back in the first days that I owned my old farmhouse, I loved nothing more than to go to our local auction for their Wednesday night gatherings, and bring home a car-full of wild and unique vintage pieces. I would proudly show them off with animated gestures to my weary husband as he kindly helped me unload my little station wagon in the dark of night.

And then, still so excited from my successful shopping trip, I would get busy squeezing them here and there, into rooms that already contained far too much furniture from each of our families, and our college years, as well as all those other wonderful Wednesday night follies. :) 

Through my mistakes in those early days, I learned a lot-- both about my personal style as well as what things make a house feel good to those who spend time in it...

I'll give you a clue--cramped quarters isn't one of them. 

Hope you enjoy this week's video, and that you will take on the assignment I give you at the end! Your house will thank you for it. 

(P.S. watch to the end and see who has been sitting with me the whole time, lending moral support as I recorded the video <3)

Just hanging out on my porch...(VIDEO)

Last summer at this time, I had so much fun just sitting on my porch with Jo Ann sipping coffee and taking your questions!

AND I am excited about doing more videos THIS summer! 

This week we address two questions--one about how to open up spaces in a house that has a choppy layout, and how best to group artwork on a large wall. 

Do you have any questions you would like answered?? Be sure to put them in the comments below and you may just see them featured in the weeks to come!

It was a hole in the wall...

Some of the most frustrating obstacles in a room--and in life as well--can bring out our best creativity, grit, and outside-the-box thinking. 

HOW AWESOME IS THAT?!?

This basement powder room is in a house that I am prepping to go on the market for one of my lovely clients...

We are working from room to room, fine-tuning things over the next year so that her house can be put up for sale in a beautiful, pulled-together state that will make buyers get their checkbooks out and start a bidding war. :) 

However, this little room wasn't going to wow anyone in its original state.

The HUGE access panel over the toilet was so distracting -- an admittedly unattractive plywood focal point in the room--but it was necessary and wasn't going anywhere. 

Since our goal is to spend as little money as we can in each space while still making it gorgeous, extra construction costs to change this eyesore were not in the cards. 

So, what to do ? 

With a new color palette to bring depth to the room and a bold plan for the space, this petite bathroom now makes a statement...and it isn't just stating where the plumbing access is anymore. 

Because I couldn't do anything about the hole in the wall, I decided to cover the walls with a gallery of neat-o finds, including a large piece hanging over the toilet, disguising the cutout. We removed the trim around the access panel so that the perfect vintage mirror I found ($10 at a yard sale--woo hoo!!) could then be hung flush over it. 

The rest of the gallery is made up of fun, eclectic pieces that make the little room so interesting and cozy to be in--great qualities for a room frequented by guests. 

I love a challenge, and this one was so much fun to tackle!

It is almost DONE!

Back in January, I shared this picture with you as things got underway with the addition I had designed for some of my long-time wonderful clients:

It has been nearly two years in the making, with lots of meetings, plans, drawings and sketches...

Here is one of the first concepts I came up with early on in the process.. :)

I am so excited to say that we are now in the homestretch! The addition to this cool mid century home is almost done!

Here is what the addition looks like today:

Over the summer, after all the painting and landscaping is completed, I will have better photos and more details to share, but I just couldn't wait that long to show you at least a little bit of this project I am so proud of. 

I will keep you posted as the final details are put in place!!