If you follow along on Instagram, you know that we made some major progress in the girls' room yesterday. The wallpaper went up! Chris got all the lighting installed (we'll talk about that on Monday) and I even figured out a fabric snafu I was having with the bench cushion. It felt like progress and for the first time like, hey, I think we're going to get this done in time!
Sconce | Wallpaper | Wardrobe | Knobs
This week, a painting I commissioned my sister to do for the room also showed up and every time I look at it, I get all teary-eyed. For so many years, we weren't sure if we were going to be able to have another child and now they want to share a room! You can check out more of her work right here. We have these getting dressed prints by her in our laundry room. One funny side note is, I was so focused on this painting and receiving it, that I completely spaced ordering any other art for the room! Luckily, I think we have enough art in Greta and Faye's current rooms to shift over...I hope.
More fun things this week!
• Did you see that Gwen had a sweet baby girl this week?! All of our love to that fresh bundle of joy...and I bet she still pulls off an out-of-this-world One Room Challenge.
• These Blackout curtains with tule (in so many pretty colors!) would be so sweet in a nursery or feminine room! And they have almost 500 5 star reviews!
• I thought this article about how 86 burglars broke into homes was really eye-opening. It's full of tips on what's keeping our homes safe (big dogs! cars in the driveway!) and what's not as much as we thought (security cameras were split down the middle between a deterrent and a sign there were valuables.)
• In my opinion, there are slipper people and non-slipper people. And if you're a slipper person like me, then you'll appreciate these gray cable knit ones, too. (Under $20!)
• Linda, who founded the One Room Challenge, always gives us lots of advice and I REALLY needed to hear her advice this week, "It's all about the pictures! I wish it wasn't that way, but it is. Get over it. Snap out of it. And show up! Show up next week with the best photos you have ever had on your site. We all know someone with a fancy camera and some photo-enhancing skills. Maybe it's you? If not, get that person to help you." It's always nerve-wrecking for me to try to portray in photos to all of you how our home feels in person, but I am putting all of those nerves aside now--which is probably the most challenging part of the challenge for me! I bought a tilt-shift lens for my camera, specifically for interiors--an investment in my photography that I'm determined to improve--and carved out time on Monday to hopefully capture "the best photos I've every had on our site." Knocking on all the wood the sun cooperates that day.
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
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Slipper person! ??
Everything is looking so amazing! Thank you for the article on '86 Burglars'...this was extremely helpful. So helpful, in fact, I'm going to share with my audience. Thanks again
I wish I'd read that burglary article when I first bought my home. Within the first month of living here, my house was involved in a scam where someone (who the police never caught) had a key to my home and was advertising it for rent using my name, and bringing people in for "showings" while I was at work. Based on my irregular schedule, they had to have been doing surveillance beforehand. They never stole any material items, but did attempt to steal financial information. It was terrifying and caused many sleepless nights and doubts about homeownership (as a single female especially). I wish I'd known all the tips in the article, and now I tell everyone I know to immediately change the locks when they buy a home.
How terrible! We had an experience many years ago where someone broke into our home in the middle of the night. We were all fine (it was just a foolish teenager) but it permanently scarred us and the feeling of violation has subsided but has never fully gone away. Worst feeling ever. (We got Charly shortly thereafter).
I am really excited to see how this room comes together! And I love the wallpaper.
BTW, I wanted to let you know that the blog pop-up ads are slowly making me crazy. I have had to stop reading the CLJ on my phone, because I can't click out of the popups (I get at least 3, with new ones popping up every time I close one). I use a Chromebook at home, and the popups cover 1/3 of my screen and kill my laptop memory as I try to click out of 3 popups so I can actually see your pictures, which means the page usually crashes as I try to click out, and then I have to reload and the whole process starts over again. I love your blog, but it's becoming really hard for me to actually get to the content!
No good! Can you send me a screenshot the next time you see it, so I can report it to our ad management?
Those curtains would be so pretty and they would block out light.
Hi Julia,
At some point, can you talk about your decision to use such an "adult" looking wallpaper pattern? It really is beautiful with the black built ins - I'm guess I'm just wondering what led you to dark/luxe versus fresh/bright?
Thanks!
I am so excited to see your photos and hope that you will do a post on your review of the tilt shift lens. I have been working on my interior photography skills for the last 3 years or so. I have learned a bunch, but still have a long way to go. If you have any tips or online classes that you recommend, would love to hear more :)
And...I made my husband read the burglar post. I work from home, and often am conflicted about opening the front door. Don't want to engage with solicitors, but at the same time, wouldn't want a burglar to think no one is home -- eek!
Best wishes on the reveal - I know it will beyond perfect!
I can't wait to see the finish result of this room. I'm so excited! Amazing job so far.
http://www.Kellynrivera.com
do you have any recommendations for articles or post on taking better interior photos. i feel like there are so many resources for other types of photography but i'm stomped finding good info for interiors.
That burglar article was so interesting! Adds another "pro" on my list for wanting to get a Great Dane!
I read ALL the beautiful design blogs (as a distraction from parenting teenagers) and let me tell you, I think you have gorgeous pictures regularly. I'm sure the new lens will be great but I want you to know that I think you have this photography thing pretty well in hand already.
Thank you, Erin! It has been a conscious effort of mine.
So I follow you on Instagram and when I read the first line of this post I couldn't figure out what you were talking about.
I had to log into Instagram and find your account. Let me tell you I was blown away by your wallpaper choice. Absolutely amazed, and totally surprised. When I first saw the pic I didn't even know it was the same room the feel changed so much. So bold and so awesome.
Anywhoo enough fan girling, can't wait to see the reveal.
Ohhh this room. I'm newer around here but I love your eye so I'm hooked! That whole wall of black closets, gorgeous wallpaper and that sconce...I'm drooling. Can't wait for the reveal!!! Also, that painting is so sweet. What an incredibly talented sister you have.
Love Casual Friday posts...I'm so excited about the combo of the wallpaper + the cute/whimsical fabric you got for the pillows. It's going to be a room they can grow into and won't feel "childish" in just a few years when they're older. Also...so cool that Gwen's baby was born at the exact same day & time as her husband. Wow!
Please tell me more about this camera lens!
I am still too scared to take it out of the box! But also excited. I've been wanting to improve my photography this year and I've taken some classes and lots of notes and for interior photography, a tilt shift lens is highly recommended. Now I just hope I can learn how to use it in the next couple days.
Tilt shift lenses are supposed to be awesome! Please do a followup if you can :)
I almost fell out of my chair when I saw how expensive that lens is (especially after looking at 17.99 slippers)! Here's to investing in ourselves!
First things first....the $18 slippers.
Can't wait to see the finished product! I love the wall paper. Not a typical print choice for little girls and that's what makes it great. Looking forward to seeing your sister's art as well!
Click the "showed up" in the first paragraph, or go to instagram to see it.