A Last Trick and a Treat

I know that it's one day before Halloween, but if you're like me, you're tweaking things until it's time to take them down. So I thought I'd share one last trick using these bags of skeleton garland I bought at the dollar store a while back. I could never find a place for them and then it occurred to me that maybe it was because they needed a bit of a makeover---a silver spray paint makeover.With a few decorative ornament hangers and my army of silver skeletons in hand I proceeded to the dining room.They're just the spooktacular accessory that my chandelier needed.I was so pleased with their gory to glam makeover that I gave a larger dollar store skeleton the same treatment. But while the paint was still wet I sprinkled on a little glitter. Tied with a bow he guards this shelf perfectly.
Be sure to visit on Monday. I have a wonderful treat in store---an exciting giveaway!

The Beast

I've shared bits and pieces of my family room.
You've seen the fireplace. The entertainment center that we built.There's a few walls of my collections.The thrifted side table that I painted.And the door sofa table that we built.But there is one piece of furniture that I try to avoid showing.

It's my well worn, well loved, often napped on sofa.

Let's call it "the beast!"

The beast is one reason that I don't love this room.
Sure I could replace beast with this beauty.But I know that the beauty would soon become a beast because of the habits of my wonderful family (okay, mostly my hubby).
Their bad habits have caused the death of three couches. Fortunately, for our pocket book, two of the three came from the thrift store in like-new condition. But after the harsh treatment they received in our home no thrift store would take them ever again.
I know that it will be easier to search for another gently used sofa to replace the beast than it would be to change my family's habits. But I also realize that I let my feelings toward the beast take over how I feel about the entire room. Even to the point of not finishing other projects, like hanging the drop-cloth window treatments I've had for almost two years on this 10 foot wide window.So I thought that maybe if I unleashed the beast for the whole world to see, it might motivate me to make a few changes. I've even given myself a deadline of the day before Thanksgiving. And as much as I love the red walls, I'm considering a new paint color----maybe chocolate brown or charcoal gray.
What about you? Do you have a beast that's preventing you from loving a room in your home? Are there other improvements you could make to help tame the beast? Would setting a deadline help? Why don't we form a club, we could call ourselves the Blogging Beast Bashers (it's not just a motivating title but a tongue twister as well). Come, join me and tackle your home's beast!

A Follow-Up

Remember the basement apartment master bedroom I had the pure pleasure of redesigning? The cute couple sent me some new photos showing their newly purchased duvet cover and the once empty frames now filled with photos. Of course, since they're real photographers their photos are much nicer than the ones I showed. So I thought I would share them with you.
This lamp was our inspiration for the room. And those vases were thrift store finds, as was most of the furniture and accessories.

The large furniture pieces were painted white and the thrifted chair was spray painted apple green.

Isn't this duvet beautiful? It's the perfect finishing touch!

Along with the chandelier decal. Gorgeous!

A few close-ups to show the distressing I did on their newly painted furniture.

These photos are proof that you don't have to spend a lot of money to have
the room of your dreams.

By the way,
Kathy at
Creative Home Expressions
posted her interview of me.
Go there to read
5 things you didn't know about me.
THANKS SO MUCH KATHY!!!