Some Living Room Updates

<center></center>It's been a while since I shared some photos of the decorating progress in our house! I'm still trying to figure out what I want and where, but this set up has been working pretty well in our living room for about a month now.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1961.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_1961.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><a name="more"></a></div><br />Michael bought me a giclee print of my favorite painting by <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=minerva+teichert&oq=minerva+teichert&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i61.4636j0j4&sourceid=chrome&espv=210&es_sm=91&ie=UTF-8" target="_blank">Minerva Teichert</a> (an LDS artist who painted a lot in the early and mid 1900s) for my birthday back in October. I really need to get it mounted and framed, but in the meantime it's just tacked up on the wall (ha!) where I think I want it to be. I hope it goes without saying that I know religious art can be a divisive and sensitive subject on design blogs, but I so appreciate how respectful all of you have been in the past when I've shared projects and art in my home that are based on my religion. It's so great that we can all support each other in our different life choices and paths, and find beauty in the differences. This print and Minerva Teichert's work in general has a lot of meaning for me and I love having it hanging in our home. And hopefully sometime soon it will be hanging in a legit frame!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9497.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_9497.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />The Serge Mouille style sconces were <a href="http://www.infurn.com/us/msc-r1c-rotating-sconce-inspired-by-serge-mouille&affiliate=google-us?gclid=CKeO4oeCorkCFZFFMgodAGEAlA" target="_blank">bought here</a>. The site has really mixed reviews online. Lots of people claim they have never received their orders. It took about two months for these sconces to come (and then a couple more months for me to get around to hanging them), but they came and they were SO affordable at about $160 each. The quality is top notch, too. The brass fittings are absolutely beautiful and the whole thing is easy to install on the wall. So I guess if you have a couple months to sit around and wait, you can really get a great deal at Infurn.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2016.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_2016.jpg" /></div><br />The sofa was a recent Craigslist find from a local seller. Her name is Kirsten and she is opening up an <a href="http://luxeartifacts.com/" target="_blank">online shop</a> of really beautiful and well-curated finds. The silky blue velvet is in really great vintage condition. And I <i>love</i> that there are four seat cushions. This is where we watch TV so it's nice for all of us to have a seat and plenty of space to stretch out!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9404.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_9404.jpg" /></div><br />I threw the pink lumbar pillows (old, from Target) on the sofa just for the photos for a little color. I am working on an ottoman project that will bring in some color too, so I can leave the sofa bare then. I like it better without extra pillows.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1961.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_1961.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo photo21.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/photo21.jpg" /></div><br />The Eames style Plycraft chair was my Christmas present to Michael. He'd been asking for an Eames lounger for a while (ever since I got rid of his beloved-but-incredibly-bulky leather club chair - <i>whoops</i>) but I wanted a lounger in an interesting color and for a good deal, of course. I ended up finding this one on eBay for a really great price and it was shipped from Florida to Arizona on a Greyhound bus! That was the first time I'd tried that shipping method and I was happy with how fast and inexpensive it was. Have you ever used the Greyhound method? I had to go pick up the huge box at the local bus depot since they don't deliver, but it wasn't an issue at all.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9497h.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_9497h.jpg" /></div><br />The rug was from Rugs USA (<a href="http://www.rugsusa.com/rugsusa/rugs/rugs-usa-adileh/natural/200VBVI2A-P.html" target="_blank">still selling them here</a>) and the side tables are all vintage. The motel sign artwork and the LDS temple photo were hanging in our bedroom, but I decided to put up my Chinese panels in our bedroom instead and the scale of these two photos was perfect between the sconces.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9394.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_9394.jpg" /></div><br />Like I said, lots to figure out here, but we're making some slow and steady progress on getting this home decorated. I'm really excited to get that ottoman finished now!

Some Living Room Updates

It's been a while since I shared some photos of the decorating progress in our house! I'm still trying to figure out what I want and...

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Thank You (and a little Rothko-esque art project)

<center></center><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1282.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/IMG_1282.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Thank you all so, so, so much for your kind notes and words of encouragement lately. Each one has meant so much to me. :)<br /><br />It has been hard for me to share everything here, and I don't think it would have been appropriate at the time, but it's been a very strange and difficult couple of months for me, filled with a lot of challenges coming from what felt like every which way. I thought I was managing it all okay, but the last couple weeks were when I hit my breaking point (Ha! breaking point!). I guess I didn't really realize how buried I was getting until the holidays and my broken arm forced me to stop for a second and take an emotional inventory? Everyone goes through low points, and I think it's healthy and important to be really open with loved ones about these things, which I totally failed at this year. I should have asked for help earlier, but it was like I was too busy to feel or something, so when I switched gears for even just a minute, it all came crashing down hard on me. I'm sure many of you have experienced similar emotions. It's no fun.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1294.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/IMG_1294.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1256.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/IMG_1256.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Anyway, the good news is today I feel like the fog is beginning to lift. Things are looking up again. I'm feeling hopeful. I've decided I want to keep writing this blog and I've got some new plans that I'm truly so excited about. I keep having to remind myself that my arm (and my spirits) are still a bit fragile though, so I'm easing into it. :)<br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1201.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/IMG_1201.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Today I was itching to do something creative (and simple enough to do with one good hand). I had been looking around online for a print with some reds in it to fill one of my gallery wall place-holder frames, and I kept coming back to images like <a href="http://www.art.com/products/p14433291-sa-i3022392/mark-rothko-no-12-1951.htm?sOrig=CAT&sOrigID=0&dimVals=5000004-207268&ui=DDBF26D99AF1485191418BFFF8E7BAF4" target="_blank">this Rothko print</a>. I almost just bought one, but lately I've been wanting an excuse to paint something for myself. I didn't want to paint anything that required thinking or planning or really any technical skill. I just wanted to throw some colors on a piece of paper. (which is exactly what I did and is exactly the opposite of what Rothko did - just to be clear!)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1204.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/IMG_1204.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I used cheap acrylic paint from Michaels (which wiped right off my counters when I was done) and white wrapping paper (!!!!) because it was easy to find in my disorganized construction zone of a house, and it was the perfect size already for my frame. I used a ton of paint on this thing and it took basically all day to dry, but I had a great time layering on different colors, and mixing and blending.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1205.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/IMG_1205.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I buy thrift store art all the time, just for the frames. This huge 35x49 brass frame was only about $4! I just had to take the time to pull it apart, remove the old art (but I was sure to leave the old linen mounting board! Good stuff!), and install my new art with a roll of mounting tape from the dollar store. I like the bit of dimension the thicker mounting tape gives the art. The paint dried on the wrapping paper in an interesting way and I like that the raised mounting left a lot of the texture in the paper and didn't smoosh it flat.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1220.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/IMG_1220.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1222.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/IMG_1222.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1230.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/IMG_1230.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1234.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/IMG_1234.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You'll want to make sure all the mounting tape pieces make good contact with both the art paper and the linen board so you won't have any slipping issues in the future. (so annoying when that happens, right?)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1237.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/IMG_1237.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My painting's really not very good, but doesn't it seem like everything looks better under glass? Once I had it all framed up, I liked it more.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1241.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/IMG_1241.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1288.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/IMG_1288.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>I can't tell you how therapeutic it was to do this little art project today. It felt good to do a project for me, just because I felt like it. And it felt good to be happy enough with the results that I wanted to share the photos with you all.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1286.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/IMG_1286.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Also, I know it's lame to copy a famous artist, but I really love Mark Rothko's color study paintings, so it feels like a little ode to him rather than a knock off since this is just for personal use. It will likely just be a place holder until I find something more permanent to put in the frame. In the meantime, I'm loving the jolt of energy these bright colors brought into our living room! And I think when I look at it over the coming weeks, I'll be reminded of some of the hope and clarity I'm starting to feel today.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1244.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/IMG_1244.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Thanks again, friends, for your patience and understanding. Big hugs to you all. xoxo

Thank You (and a little Rothko-esque art project)

Thank you all so, so, so much for your kind notes and words of encouragement lately. Each one has meant so much to me. :) It has been hard f...

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Finished Fireplace!

The stone fabricators came last Friday and installed the four pieces of black Fossil Shell Limestone around our existing firebox!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9426.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_9426.jpg" /></div><br />I love the way it adds some movement and texture to the fireplace.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9451.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_9451.jpg" /></div><br />Here's right after it got installed, but before I gave everything a good scrub. You can see how the installers did a really great job of seaming the four separate pieces.<br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo fireplace.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/fireplace.jpg" /></div><br />I love how the fossil shell pattern is more concentrated in the upper right and the lower left corners. It feels balanced and not too crazy.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9471.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_9471.jpg" /></div><br />We installed the tv and mushroom sconces over the weekend and later today I'm going to tackle the dust on the floors (again!). I've also been doing a little decorating, which makes me feel like I can breathe again! We live in a house! With seating! Life is good. :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9463.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_9463.jpg" /></div><br />I will take some of the after photos today to share with you. The painters came on Saturday and did some touch ups needed on the sided of the fireplace surround, and I also wiped down the firebox and a lot of the soot marks went away. I had planned to paint it black with the special paint for firebrick, but I like the contrast of the lighter gray brick. I think I'll leave it as is for now.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9454.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_9454.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After photos coming right up! Back to cleaning and unpacking!</div>

Finished Fireplace!

The stone fabricators came last Friday and installed the four pieces of black Fossil Shell Limestone around our existing firebox! I love the...

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Painting the Fireplace Black

<center></center>I'm in New York this week for a really cool project and event that I'm excited to share with you all. Before I left for the airport this weekend I got the itch to paint the fireplace, just to see what it would look like in black, so I rolled on a quick coat.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8578.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2012/IMG_8578.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />It will need a couple coats of paint with sanding sessions in between, but so far I'm loving it!<br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8577.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2012/IMG_8577.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I also found a remnant slab of honed black granite at a local stone yard that I think will be perfect for the fireplace surround. The stone will be cut to fit all the area on the inside of the mantle, surrounding the firebox.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7665.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2012/IMG_7665.jpg" /></div><br />I love the texture of this stone! Isn't it pretty? It's a little bumpy, which I really like for an application like this.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7667.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2012/IMG_7667.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />When I get back home I'm going to paint the walls in the living room before finishing the fireplace. I think lightening the walls with a pale gray and a coat of bright white on the beamed ceiling will make for such a pretty contrast in the space with the all-black fireplace. I'm so, so excited to get this space done and functional!<br /><br />Here are a few of my inspiration images:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 69b9bfbcccbb8dd94f91d991afca9073.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2012/69b9bfbcccbb8dd94f91d991afca9073.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/339318153144444578/" target="_blank">via</a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 1262310f22236c7d9783d2706189da75.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2012/1262310f22236c7d9783d2706189da75.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/149252175120826551/" target="_blank">via</a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo d20ea2194ddbe2c6ef4d558179f94717.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2012/d20ea2194ddbe2c6ef4d558179f94717.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://georgianadesign.tumblr.com/post/42932259746/lucy-interior-design-minneapolis" target="_blank">via</a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 0167889b3aa071bbb67ad2f47bb2369e.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2012/0167889b3aa071bbb67ad2f47bb2369e.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://thecrossdesign.com/blog/page/2/" target="_blank">via</a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo housebeautiful51bd34b26b602bb2b9aa7ce800437e24.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2012/housebeautiful51bd34b26b602bb2b9aa7ce800437e24.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>House Beautiful</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo screen-shot-2012-01-15-at-8-07-21-pm1.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2012/screen-shot-2012-01-15-at-8-07-21-pm1.png" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/277393658272095879/" target="_blank">via</a></i></div>

Painting the Fireplace Black

I'm in New York this week for a really cool project and event that I'm excited to share with you all. Before I left for the airport ...

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Fireplace Mantel Progress

We've had some big wins in the fireplace department lately. Remember how I wanted something more traditional for the mantel, but with cleaner lines? This image from House and Home was my loose inspiration.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo showhome-study.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/showhome-study.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5835.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_5835.jpg" /></div><br />Jason worked on framing out the fireplace surround for me while I went to Home Depot to figure out trim to make the new mantel with.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aIMG_7199.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/aIMG_7199.jpg" /></div><a name="more"></a><br />I want a really rounded out molding - something to mimic the curves of the inspiration image's mantel. I felt like I was sort of striking out, until I spotted this hand rail. The rod had been planed so that there was a flat surface on one side - perfect for getting the look of that rounded, tube-looking molding that also sits flat.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7215.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7215.jpg" /></div><br />I picked up a few other moldings - some crown and chair rail - and also some of this smaller circular trim below, which gives the effect of a rounded beading. We used a small pinner nail gun to hang the molding after cutting it to size with a miter saw.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7291.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7291.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7274.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7274.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7272.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7272.jpg" /></div><br />We built up the outside of the mantel with trim and molding so it would stick out more than the inner-most frame of the mantel.<br /><center></center><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aDSC_0494.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/aDSC_0494.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7308.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7308.jpg" /></div><br />You can get a better sense of the angles of the mantel frame by looking at the floors here above. It's pretty subtle right now, which I like and I wanted, but I think once the mantel is painted it will look really special. I love it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7304.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7304.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7300.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7300.jpg" /></div><br />I'm working on filling the nail holes today and prepping for the paint job the whole fireplace will be getting soon. And actually the whole room needs to be painted (especially that ceiling) before we hang the sconces and the tv. Also, I still need to go shopping for some dark stone remnants for the firebox surround. We're quite a few steps away from finished here, but I am crazy-excited to have this much accomplished! Project progress is so good for my soul.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7298.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7298.jpg" /></div>

Fireplace Mantel Progress

We've had some big wins in the fireplace department lately. Remember how I wanted something more traditional for the mantel, but with cl...

Read more »