My Secret Room~Shabby Chic Office Before and After

During the ongoing transformations that have been occurring in my house during the last several months, I have never been more happy than with my new 'reflection' room / office. This room has always been difficult to first a) define what it should be b) decorate it. It is a north facing room that is often dark despite the big picture window and patio doors at either end. It was the original garage to the house at one point (obviously people had smaller cars in the 1940s!) and was renovated into a room. It has been used a t.v. room, office and most recently my vintage clothing storeroom. It was at this point that I had to gain control and make this room  into what is was destined for~ a room that I could relax in, enjoy my garden, entertain friends with coffee, read and still maintain a small home office.

I couldn't be more pleased with the results! I chose a wonderful purple grey colour inspired by an floral ottoman I found at a yard sale in the summer, paired with white wicker, Ikea furniture and vintage pictures, it is perfect! See for yourself!
Room Notes:
Painter, Contractor, All around Ikea Wizard: Michael Bush Hall, Simcoe, ON
Paint Colour: 'Slip' Benjamin Moore
Bookcase: Billy Bookcase and Doors Ikea
Lounge: Ektorp Ikea
Endtable : Waterford Antique Market
White Wicker Chair: Yard Sale
Art: Ikea

This lounge is soooo comfortable and this room is so cozy on a snowy day!

Antique bustform from Heritage Lane in St. Williams, ON and vintage pics of my Grandmother and Dad and I !

A soon to be listed antique book from 1897!

My office~

vintage shabby chic chair: Southworks Antique Market, Cambridge, ON

Wicker Desk: Yard sale

White Shelf: Ikea Levesik

Shabby Chic Dining Room Before and After

Wow, it has been a month since my last posting but I have been so busy!!! One of my personal goals before the end of 2011 is to have my house looking tip top! When I finally was true to myself and listened to my inner voice and no one else, I decided to renovate the house the way I wanted it! After all I own it and pay the mortgage. With a love for Shabby Chic and Paris Apartment style and a keen eye for decor at minimal expense, I set along the decorating path. Feeling a little like Martha and a little like Sarah Richardson, my team of paint experts at Benjamin Moore and my knight in shining armour Micheal (my painter, contractor and ever so handy man) have been transforming my house one room at a time.
Today I want to reveal the dining room. It is a south facing room so it gets lots of sun and has lots of windows. We really don't spend alot of time in there since eating in front of the TV or on the go is more our forte. I wanted a dining room that would be inviting, look great in summer or winter and be of course Shabby Chic therefore hopefully we would spend more time in it and be able to have a FAB Christmas dinner.
Even though I committed the cardinal sin of painting over original wood trim, I love how it looks and I'm very happy!!
Well here it is!

Ikea Lekvsik Round Table with Leaf:
$250 on Kijiji
White ikea chair covers: $5 each
Pink and white striped pillows: 2$ each Value Village
Chandelier: 10$ Yard Sale and the best bday gift from my neighbour, Carlotta
Gold Mirror: $1 thrift sale
Painting: by Micheal Hall
Paint: Wall: Woodlawn Blue, Egg Shell
         Trim: Cloud White, Semi Gloss
Christmas Items: Yard sale
I still have to put up some drapes yet, but I'll save that for another blog!