August Scrapbooks etc. sitings and vintage LOVE

I did this several months back on assignment for Scrapbooks etc...oh my!  I just LOVED how it turned out...it's priceless to me.  Maybe not everyone's cup of tea, but this is a picture of my beautiful Grandmother and my assigment was to create a project (other than an advent calendar) using this:

 

What I came up with was a vintage style jewelery holder!  ...because I have few bits and baubles from my Grandmother's collection.  Place little treasures in the drawers for safe keeping and display a wonderful vignette in the center of the frame of boxes.  I wish I had better photos...but pick up the August 2010 issue of Scrapbooks etc and you'll find it in there!  Kaiser Craft has the most amazing stuff...check out their blog here.

Check this peek out from the magazine (I lifted this images from the SBE staff blog) and go pick up some FREE PRINTABLE JOURNALING CARDS here (see below pic) by the amazing Sande Krieger.

Speaking of vintage love...I'd love to get my hands on one of these printers trays...I have an old one...but these are fun too!

by 7 Gypsies

All this vintage love reminds me of one of my many in process decor projects...

 

This vast wall in my living room has been empty since we've lived here...waiting on something old, something new, lots of meaningful treasures to showcase....of course I'm not done yet.  As I said...IN PROGRESS.  We spent a lot of money doing the hardwood floors, painting the wood paneling, refreshing the kitchen and the fine details of the decorating wasn't really in the budget...so it is basically a long term adventure.  And that's okay.  We really enjoy our home because we've got space to move and there's really no hurry...

Here you get the full effect...not so great pic (in fact it really makes me hate that wood built in), but you get the just...

 

I got most of these old frames off ebay, the gold one is cast iron, its my favorite one, I think.  I'm going to rip out the Parisian gals, add glass and 4 x 6 photos to the window frame, update all the frames with new pictures of family and ENJOY.  I'm actually thinking of putting a piece of foam core in the larger frame to the right and covering it with linen and just PINNING on favorite photos...a little casual for the living space?  Oh, that's just it...comfortable living...and there are no rules, right?  Look at this idea I found at Vintage Farm Furniture...love it too...

 

(lifted this pic from Vintage Farm Furniture...check them out!  Their stuff is amazing!!!)

Now for the big question....what color should I paint the shelving at the end of the living room?

A. Same color as the walls (creamy light almond)

B. Black (to create a striking focal point)

C. Red

D. Taupe/Beige (darker tone to contrast with walls and make fireplace more of a focal point)

E. Don't paint...just rip them out and reconfigure the whole thing.  (I've considered this but it really hurts me to do away with something that is perfectly useful and good for only aesthetic reasoning).

I'd really love some feedback.  

Here's another shot of the living room...

Other notes:

• Obviously, this blog post is not meant to impress...so just don't mind the toys & sb stuff strewn about or the decor that is aimlessly placed.  I've been on a rearranging binge.
• Some day  I hope to get a super cool RED or maybe turquoise sofa or a set of occasional chairs to add to the mix (minus the tan recliner).
• I don't particularly care for the tan recliner but LOVE to sit in it :)  
• I don't know why that fan is over there in the corner?  hmm?
• We don't use the gun cabinet in the built in shelves, so I'm planning on either frosting the glass or adding silk panels (same as my drapes) to the inside.
• I'm still waiting to find something fabulous to put over the fireplace...which I do have an idea about--hmm?  I'm thinking a burlap covered canvas with a french looking motif/monogram?
• I have two end tables that I need to refurb...they will add some pops of color to the mix (robin's egg blue)

My style...I have no idea.  Just want it to be warm, uncluttered, inviting, livable.  Home sweet home.

Comments

[alicia king]

i love the vintage farm blog! her house is so cute! i wish i lived closer again, i'd be buying a lot of her stuff!

i would say paint the shelving either black or a darker tone than your walls! either one will make the fireplace stand out! i say no red...because of you wanting to do accent furniture & decor! that's my help :)

[Leiah]

I love, love, love, your frame display on the wall! I have a HUGE - 4'x5' open frame on my wall with a whole collage on the inside! Anyways, I also have lots of black furniture - entertainment center, sideboard, benches, etc...and it is one heck of a pain to dust! (we live on a farm and dirt is abundant) anyways, if you don't mind dusting then black would be gorgeous! But if not then I'd go with the darker tan too....not red. Your website is amazing by the way...super talented!

[Sabrina]

I love all your old frames on the wall. Okay you didn't have this option there really but from these pictures the shelving unit and fireplace seem so dark. I'd say paint it something light because from these pictures it just looks so dark there. Is it the actual wood you are painting. If so then maybe paint the wood a darker color but the wall behind it something light.

[Sam]

Hello!

Just a heads up that I’ll be featuring your free printables on your blog this coming Friday at Mom Undecided. http://momundecided.blogspot.com/

Love your blog!

Sam
[email protected]
Mom.Undecided.

[Kim M]

The whole thing blends in too much, you definitely should paint. I think I would go for red, something bold, it would give the room just the dash of color it needs without having to buy new furniture or accessories (paint is such a cheap way to bring new life to a space).

[Cary Bright]

I am torn... the wood adds warmth to the room but all the lineal lines compete with the brick because you have no real focal point or "center" to that whole wall. go to pioneerwomancooks.com, click on the home and garden tab and look at Hyciaths house project. She had similar problems and solved it with changing the backing of the cabinets with color. (she has a bit more modern tastes too). I think you could paint the back a deep red. Think about removing the rack of shelves on the left OR right so the TV could set more centered in this new space(and a bonus... you could have a bigger TV). Thus providing a new center point. Remove the doors on the cabinet to the right and come up with decorating epherma and a few silk green plants to place on these new "shelves". Now the space is more open, with things to soften the lineal look and balance with the brick. I would also add a thick, crown molded trimed mantal "shelf box" to the brick fireplace that would hold something tall or a large round mirror balanced on it, again breaking up all the lineal lines and help move your eye around the area... not just ping pong back and forth. (Remember that triangle from scrap pages!) With all that said, I think the wood can stay as it is with all the color moving around the room as accents... even the red couch! LOVE the FRAMES!Happy Decorating
Caryb
Washington State

[jen]

paint it creamy white!

[jannawilson]

Good idea, Jen!  Love your shop by the way!!  SO SWEET!!!

[Monika Davis]

Janna - I bought the Advent Calendar Box from Kaiser craft after seeing the projects in the magazine. I expected it to be assembled and it is not and there aren't any instructions either. I'm guessing I have to break apart or cut apart the pieces in order to build the box - is that correct? I looked on their site for instructions and could not locate any. Since you made one of them I was hoping you could help. Thanks,
Monika Davis
http://monikastamp.wordpress.com

[jannawilson]

Hi Monika!  I emailed you! ;)