Being a Gemini is Exhausting

Are there any other Geminis out there? Do any of you fellow Geminis feel like it's almost impossible to decorate a room and be happy with it for any length of time because your "twin" will want a different look in a few months?

Why do I ask, you say? Oh, I don't know. It could be the fact that I've worked on my master bathroom for nearly 3 months now and I can't quite finish it because the twins keep bickering with one another.

Twin A: I want a light and airy bathroom.

Twin B: Oh, please. Give me some contrast. You liked the contrast
in the kitchen, right?

Twin A: Yeah, but this is the bathroom. Can't we have
a beachy look?

Twin B: Beach-Shmeach, I want a luxurious European flair.

It's exhausting I tell ya. So since I haven't been able to get my act together enough yet to give you the full reveal, I thought I'd show you what I have been able to get the twins to agree on...and accomplish.

First here's a before photo of my bathroom to refresh your memories.


Perdy right (...heavy sarcasm)? I especially love the burgundy laminate countertop (even heavier sarcasm). And I should note that this photo is with the PREVIOUS OWNER'S stuff. Am I ashamed to claim the burgundy candles and flimsy green towels as my own?...yes, yes I am. Boy I hope they never read this blog.


Well I took care of that countertop straight away by painting it to look a wee bit like travertine. Not bad, eh? Don't worry, I will do a tutorial in the very near future....oh, and I will be replacing the faucets.



I also removed the giant wall mirror and replaced it with two cute little oval mirrors from Lowes. I'll probably hang my faux vintage grain sack between the two (um, ignore the fact that it needs to be ironed...I didn't notice that until now).



I originally wanted the fancy tilting kind, but I was able to get two of these for just a little more than the cost of one of the tilting mirrors. I couldn't argue with those numbers.

I knew I needed to come up with some kind of storage solution for the weird empty space in the corner, so I bought a bookcase that was just the right size, painted it cream and adorned it with a little skirt to hide its legs.


Not bad for $48, a little fabric and a few upholstery tacks.

And...that's pretty much it for now. I'd show you more, but the twins are still bickering so I'll have to get back to you after I've been able to mediate and reach a mutually satisfactory solution.

Inspiration that Sticks with You

I hope everyone had a great weekend! We sure did. We drove to Kansas City to spend Easter with family...the way it's really meant to be celebrated.

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Do you ever have a decorating photo that just sticks with you? You just can't seem to get it out of your head? There are plenty of photos out there that I really like, and plenty I love...but every once in a while, I stumble on one that puts me in a decorating trance. I hope I'm not alone in this.
Here's the most recent photo that's been sticking in my creative little brain.

It's from The Home Book (which I finally returned to the library after renewing it as many times as they would let me), and I just love everything about it. I love the soothing color palette, the fluffy cushion and pillows that beckon you to curl up and stay a while (and knit a color coordinated scarf...if you know how). I love the mix of fabrics on the pillows, the sumptuous window treatments, and the charming white woodwork. I could design an entire room around this photo.

Here's another one that has inspired me. It's from Cottage Living (R.I.P...sniff), and I keep referring back to it even though I'm pretty sure I've memorized every detail at this point.

I love everything in this room, the comfy white chairs, the brown ticking stripe pillows, the cool brown fabric on the ottoman, the neat details on the mantel and coffee table. This could be my living room and, even I, wouldn't get tired of it.

Here are a few photos that inspired my kitchen makeover.

Photo: Cottage Living

Photo: HGTV Rate My Space - JBeachem

Photo: Unknown via Camilla at Home

Here's one more that I keep going back to over and over again. It's the fabulous Meg Duerksen's gorgeous master bathroom.

Umm, looking back at these photos I guess it's pretty easy to guess what color palette I'm most drawn to...lol. I guess that's the point of inspiration photos that really touch you, though.

If you haven't already done so, I'd highly recommend going through your favorite photos, placing them side by side and looking for similarities. It's very enlightening I tell ya. And when you find those photos that make you get all googly eyed and adrenalized hang on to them for dear life. :-)

I REALLY DO TRY TO BE FOCUSED....REALLY

I really try to just focus on one room at a time so that I can actually get one project finished (ummm, like my master bath) before moving on to the next, but I couldn't resist trying to nail down an idea for my master bedroom. Really, since the rooms need to be friends with one another don't you think it would make sense to have some idea of what my bedroom will look like before I finish the bathroom? That could just be my own convoluded justification speaking...but I'm going with it.

So, here's the story. I stumbled upon the coolest website. It's called sproost.com and it actually has one of the better "What's your style" quizes I've seen. It nailed my style right on the head "58% Nantucket Style, 42% Cottage Chic"...yep, I think that's about right.

It then shows you rooms that fit within your own style, like in my case these (although, I like the first more than the second):





And then they have this awesome feature where you can sort of create your own room by picking furniture and accessories that appeal to you (and you can buy them if you want, but that's not how I shop....$1600 for an armoire? I don't think so).

Here are a bunch of items I picked for my fictional room. It was somewhat enlightening for me to see that I'm drawn to both classic pieces as well as rustic/natural pieces. Apparently, I need that balance. I blame it on being a Gemini.

So, back to my master bedroom (see...I'm trying to be focused here). I was trying to come up with ideas and I thought, "Wait a minute. I love the elements I put together in that Sproost room, why not try to replicate that?". So there you have it. Here's my bedroom inspiration:

As usual I'll try to replicate items through flea-tique stores, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Craigslist, and shopping the house so I can create a room I love at a fraction of the cost. We'll see how well it comes together (after I finish my master bathroom!), but it's nice to have a starting point.

Have a great weekend!