July 31, 2007

Blank Wall No More

A couple years ago, I tried my hand at this faux finish in the dining room (translate= eat-in kitchen). It was so simple to do (just dunk an old t-shirt into some glaze and slop and swirl it on!) and added a ton of texture and visual interest. Unfortunately, the large expanse of wall remained blank for the better part of 2 years. I was at a loss as to how to fill the space. Later, we would like to add on and add windows, but I wanted a more affordable fix for now.
One day, I was at The Christmas Tree Shop and found these 2 ledges. $9 bucks each! I have to say, it was tough hanging them, and my husband and I were furiously flinging drywall anchors at each other (jokingly) by the end of it. I hate keyhole mounts! gaarh!!! We have too many chairs! lol , but the wall is no longer a boring stretch of nothingness. I would like to shop for more interesting doo-dads for the shelves (bigger things would look better up there) but for now, a few favorite things will do.
I had to mention this red piece of furniture. This was the center part of a small entertainment unit that my Aunt had built years ago. It had bookcases on either side, which she kept, but gave this to me when she moved into her new apartment. It spent a while in our office as a tv / printer stand, until I moved it in here to hold my cookbooks and table linens. That Grape-Nuts picture on the wall is an old grape-drying rack. That hung in my childhood home until my mother gave it to me for my first home, almost 10 years ago, and I love it. My friend Kelley threatens to smuggle it home every time she's here! LOL

4 comments:

Major Bedhead said...

Ooooh! Those electricity doo-dads! I LOVE those things. I can never remember the name - insulators? Something like that. Anyway. Very nice. I like your stuff. It matches but it's not all cutesy matchy-matchy, y'know? Sort of antique shoppe chic.

Lea said...

"antique shoppe chic"!!!!!

I love that :) Thanks for the compliment julia!!
yeah, those insulators- my husband is a phone guy and used to find them once and awhile for me. He hasn't come across one ina long time, though.

Erin D. said...

Oh Lea I love your dining room!

Yes, Antique shop chic describes it well!

Love the shelves and loooove the stuff on them, and I want that Grape nuts pic too, awesome!

The faux finish looks great and I really love the red accents, so pretty, especially that shelf/cart thingy, I just put one in my dining room too for my cookbooks.

You have such a gift for decorating! :O) You make it look chic and effortless!

Erin D. said...

Oh and I love your light/chandelier too! Very pretty.