Face Lift

I have no decorating ability at all. None. It's not one of my gifts and as much as I try, it's not one I've been able to cultivate.

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Thankfully, I've got friends who have the touch. I try and glean from them as much knowledge and style as I can.

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I was having a few high school friends over after Thanksgiving so I asked my dear friend Erika to come and help me stage my house so it would look like the decor I have made sense. She did a fabulous job working with my garage sale finds, arranging photos, and declutting my clutter. She also offered to help me realize one of my long-planned projects and volunteered to paint a wall for me. WooHoo! Here are a few photos of the before and afters:

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Wow, looking at this wall now makes me wonder how I lasted so long with no color in this room. The piano had already been moved when I snapped the photo, but it used to be to the left of the roll top desk.

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In progress. That's my cute friend Erika peeking out from behind the china hutch. She and her husband Josh made a short work of the wall and decorating and were finished in 2 1/2 hours. Amazing!

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The completed wall before the furniture was rearranged.

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We moved the piano across the room to make room for these beauties:

I found these antique screens at a yard sale in my neighborhood and paid $1 each. I removed the copper screens because they were painted on and horribly tarnished. These frames were actually the inspiration for the whole rearrange and paint job. I needed to find some way to work them into the decor, but as I had it before there was no cohesiveness with them.

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The third screen frame ended up above my kitchen pass through window. I intend to hang our family scripture in vinyl lettering inside the panes.

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I am SO pleased with how the whole project turned out. I love the navy blue wall. I'm still trying to sell Kraig on the cool antique, distressed (and cheap) frames, but overall he's thrilled with the change too.

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Thanks, Josh and Erika, for all your help!