I Do What I Can
Written by admin on July 6th, 2008Sometimes I get this book out..
and dream…
I love, love, love this book, but I don’t know if it’s a good thing or a bad thing when I get it out and look at it! I mean, I can make everyone in the house miserable trying to turn my home into something it simply cannot be without a major rennovation!
My den — very much a family room, has seemed too dark and cluttered for me lately. Hey, I thought, why not get out the Shabby Chic book and get some ideas.
I can control myself.
I can control myself.
I can control myself.
I decided to get the book out. I told myself, “Self, you can redo the den, but only as much as you can do while staying inside your very own little budget and not turning this into a month-long project that requires a construction crew. Because you cannot hire a construction crew right now. Remember?”
I made myself apply only as much Shabby Chic as I could without overwhelming everyone in the house.
And without taking any deer heads off the wall.
The den used to look like this, by the way.
Now I realize this is not a dramatic change. I would love to have hardwood floors in a beautiful, light-colored wood. And much bigger windows to let in more light to brighten things up. And while you’re at it, a bigger den altogether. And could someone paint the entertainment cabinet? White, please? Actually, I’m wondering if painting the wooden bookcase and the coffee table in, uh, white would be a good idea…
See how out of control I can get??
But girls, I did it!! I kept myself in control!! First I cleaned up the room. The regular stuff like dusting and vacuuming. I did a quick decluttering fling and got rid of some 1 or 2 books we don’t use anymore plus some junk that had accumulated in the den. Then I plundered through my store of fabric and found an old, white bedspread that made wonderful pillow covers — very washable, and some floral fabric to make a cover for the large cushion in the wicker loveseat — also washable.
The curtains I made are a very light beige/pale yellow with just a hint of very pale pink in some of the larger roses. I put some pom-pom trim on them, which seems sort of Shabby Chic to me. Do you think so?
Ewwww, isn’t the fabric pretty?? Bear in mind that these pictures were taken at night. I had to use the flash on the camera, which just does not do the fabric justice. In the day light, these curtains really brighten up the room.
On the wooden coffee table, which I covered with an old scarf, sits a pewter bowl full of seashells. My decorating efforts stopped there. The room is brighter and it’s a change and I can be content with that.
Tomorrow morning when I sit down in my nice clean little den with my cup of tea, and light a white candle for ambiance, I’ll thank myself that I did not lose control tonight.
Updated Photos
I took a few more photos this morning after finishing up one last pillow and placing one more throw, and lighting my candle. 
The light’s starting to come in! On my wish list is a cover for my checked loveseat.
Sitting down with my tea this morning, this is what I see.
This room has also become a nature room, where we keep many little nature finds, including rocks, turtle shells, old (sometimes antique) dug-up bottles from yard…
and seashells.
With three teenage boys and a 9-year-old girl, I’m glad it’s all washable. And yes, that’s the same fabric I made my skirt from.
Lynn
The Hundred Dresses
The Family Under the Bridge
Caddie Woodlawn. With the Wisconsin big woods theme, goes along great with a FIAR study of The Raft.
A Year Down Yonder
A Charlotte Mason Companion: Personal Reflections on the Gentle Art of Learning
Pocketful of Pinecones: Nature Study With the Gentle Art of Learning: A Story for Mother Culture. Sweet fictional story about a newly homeschooling mother who incorporates nature study.
Nature Crafts for Kids: 50 Fantastic Things to Make With Mother Nature's Help
The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady
The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition
Awakening Beauty the Dr. Hauschka Way
A Redbird Christmas: A Novel
The Usborne Internet-Linked Book of Knowledge
What Your Fifth Grader Needs to Know
for you to leave a comment, but you can also e-mail me at lynn AT thehealthyhomeschool.com
7
PM
I adore Shabby Chic too…although my Hubby says it’s more shabby than chic (what does he know!).
I’m a seashell girl too…..your fabrics look very light and airy…even the white chenille!
Have a great day!!
7
PM
Robin, but what do men know? I mean, they do things like put deer heads on the walls. Blech.
Lynn
7
PM
I have that book also..love it ..love to dream
too..
smiles, deena
7
PM
Hi Lynn!
Glad to see you and family had such a great time,what good-looking kids you have!!
I have also wanted that book for years,but since I decided to go back to vintage things,shabby chic is not in my decor.
I love the changes you have made in the den so far.What a big difference from before.Love the print you put on the wicker sofa,so”chicky??”looking.And the pillows are so cute too,I use to have a bedspread like that.
Do you have anymore of that white pom-pom left? You could take some of that and use as tiebacks for your curtains,tie them back during the day.Also I took one of my chenille bedspreads and covered my love seat sofa with it,you could do that,if you had one or a old quilt or shabby chic sheet would look good.
I noticed that your kids had collected a lot of small seashells.What about putting some of them in those clear glass bottles you have on the shelf? Or,since you have a flower garden,how about putting a few in each bottle?
If I had a big flower garden like you,I would have fresh flowers in my house about everyday.Right now,I wish I had some gardenia bushes,sure would smell good in here now if I did.
For the summer,I would love to do a seashell theme for my mantel.Vintage child`s sand pails,shovels,huge conch shells,anything with seashells on it,even a hanging mirror with seashells glued on it.
Since your kids are into nature,a sea shell or beach theme would be awesome for your den.Couldn`t your kids paint on canvas something about the beach and you either hang them up somewhere in there or prop them up against something? Or get a bunch of shells and glue them onto something,make a jewelry box or onto a mirror of some kind?
Do you have any sea glass?? I think that is so pretty in clear glass bottles too.
I know what you can do with the deer head!Take some real flowers,make a daisy-chain necklace,and put around his neck!!! LOL.
And last of all,I think it would look real good,if you took your coffee table and painted it white.What would really look cool,if your dear sweet hubby could take one of those old glass windows in your backyard,and make you a cute,cute shabby chic coffee table!!!
OK,now I will shut up,your room is great as it is.I am starting to get carried away with decorating.Just overlook me,I talk too much sometimes,lol.
Your NC friend,
Vicki
7
PM
Oh, Deena, what would we have if we didn’t have dreams? I think I would have shriveled up long ago! LOL.
Vicki, my husband would take one look and then faint if he came in and there was a daisy chain around the deer head, but I myself personally love the idea. I had to laugh when I read that. I am really, truly contemplating painting the coffee table white. Thanks for all the ideas!
Lynn
7
PM
You lightened it up a lot! Looks like a different room! I would love a completely ’shades-of-white’ home, but with a husband and two cats…I don’t think so! Hmmm, wonder what white spray paint would do for those dear heads?!
8
AM
I do believe I love that little checked loveseat! I’d love to have it in a red and white gingham in my family room…I’d claim it as mine and put my little stack of books next to it with a comfy blanket on the side….it is just so cute! And the pillow covers look great in white. I love white, but my kids are so hard on it…I’m thinking though, that my old chenille bedspread would make some great washable throw pillow covers for my living room….You’re making me want to lighten and brighten my dark family room, too! But, that’s a GOOD thing
8
AM
Deborah, if I spray painted those deer heads… Well, there’s just no telling what might happen. I am hoping now that my children are getting a bit older, they won’t be too hard on the white stuff, but it is very washable and these pillow covers take about 5 minutes to make. Really. So far, so good.
Sandra, I do like the loveseat, but was wondering if the checks were too much, not that I have much of a choice. I do really like the loveseat, especially since it came from my aunt, who’s very special indeed. My kids are hard on white too, but I think since the covers are all washable they’ll be okay!
Lynn
8
PM
Hi Lynn
It looks great!! I think the check is cute and I wouldn’t cover it. How about putting some lighter colored pillows on it instead and some check pillows on the other couch?
rue
8
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Lynn I love the black and white checked loveseat with the high back - I would keep it this way. Agree with Vicki that small shells in the jars would look Summery. You did a great job on the curtains and pillows - I think the room looks just really cool and carefree for Summer.
As for the ‘heads’, I think you’re a fabulous wife to let your dh have those in your home - I just couldn’t do that being vegetarian! But I do have to put up with his piles of files on the kitchen table - and that drives me crazy. Amazing what one does for love isn’t it??
9
AM
Thanks, Rue. Wow, another vote for the loveseat. I guess I was in the mood for ALL white, but that happens sometimes. I think everyone’s right, though. I’ll be looking for more remnant fabric — including checks, to make some things from that will tie in the fabric on the love seat.
Mary, my husband is surely a hunter. I truly don’t eat much meat. I am probably 80-90% a vegetable and grains only eater, but for feeding the family, it’s almost exclusively venison. I am thankful that he provides so much in that way. Still, I honestly do not care at all for the deer heads on the wall. Yes, amazing what one will do for love.
Lynn
9
AM
I love it… I think it looks great..
It looks brighter and very shabby chic…
In addition, you have your own little nature museum.
I really love that…
Louise
9
AM
Thanks, Louise. I do love our little nature museum. You’re right about that. It does come in handy for school and interesting conversation. Decorating-wise, I’d rather not have the deer heads, but school-wise, it has come in very handy for biology to have a husband who hunts, loves and respects wildlife and wants to share it with the children.
Lynn
9
PM
It feels like a great place to curl up and read a book! or two…..