Spring has Sprung...Sorta

At least it feels like Spring in mi casa!  I showed off my new storage shelves a couple weeks ago.  They  left a bit to be desired in the styling area.  Since we have our tv above the fireplace with all kinds of technology clutter surrounding it, I don't have a mantle to style for each season.  Why not style the top of this shelving appropriately and call it a day?!  So, here it is!  My spring shelf!

I mentioned it in my other post, but I got the faux window frame from Target.  It's actually a picture frame!  I already owned the pitcher (got it from JoAnns for cheap!) and stuck some $6 flowers in it from Sams Club!  Tip: create balance with your vignette by using an odd number of groupings of various heights.  Make sure to think about the colors of your items as well!  I made the wreath with a simple wreath form and a couple rolls of moss.  I tied it onto the frame with a simple piece of burlap.  The large metal letters came from Hobby Lobby.  I got them when they were 50% off so they were only $12 each!

DIYer-in-training!

There ya have it!  I love the pop of color it adds too!!

Anyone else compensating for the weather by bringing Spring inside??

**I'll be linking to these lovely ladies:

At the Picket Fence

The DIY Showoff

Serenity Now

The Shabby Nest

Shabby Creek Cottage

Just a Girl

Home Stories A to Z

Tatertots and Jello

Thrifty Decor Chick

The Lettered Cottage

For the Love of Storage

When we bought our house, we were young.  We were the bright eyed, about to be newlywed, living the American Dream kind of home buyers.  Oh yeah, and we were stupid.  Okay, not stupid per se.  But definitely had our blinders on.  Our home was a foreclosure, so we looked at the big picture rather than in the details.  But now, as our sink fills up with bottles and pacifiers, I'm realizing that we have a MAJOR lack of storage in this joint.  Enter the greatness that is IKEA and the Hemnes cabinet.

Of course, I had to make it my own.  I dug around in my paint collection and grabbed my peacock blue that I used on the desk in the office.  A few coats later, I placed all of our white dishes in the upper glass portion.  The drawers are stuffed with bottles and a sanitizer and extra pacifiers.  Finally, we've got room for it all.

I found a great window-looking frame at Target and my JoAnn's pitcher to stick up top.  I have a couple of things I want to add, but here it is for now!  Oh, and it blends perfectly with my wall-o-shelves!

Anyone else trying to find a home for pacis and breast pump parts?!  No?  Just me?  And because I'm a new mom and I just can't help myself...

This little love of my life is already 6 weeks old!  Feeling blessed these days!

DIY Office Shelves

TGIF!  It's been a busy week...which means I've got a little something to finally show off today!  I started this project here, when I realized I needed to run my business out of an office--not a cardboard box (or 3).  Clearly I needed storage and despite the beautiful shelving units I had spotted, I couldn't bear to cough up the sticker price.  When on a budget...DIY!

I gathered my supplies, sanded my boards (first with 80 grit, then 220 grit sandpaper), stained them, then decided how much room I wanted between each shelf.  Twenty inches ended up being the perfect measurement.  It was all gravy from there:

PROGRESS SHOTS VIA INSTAGRAM

And the final result:

And because we all love a good before and after shot:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I couldn't be happier!!

Now for the breakdown:

Wood Shelves (precut)    $40

Stain and Poly Coat in 1  $10

Brackets                          $13

Screws                            already owned

GRAND TOTAL: $63

I'll be linking this easy-peasy but oh-so-useful DIY to these lovely blogs:

At the Picket Fence

The DIY Showoff

Serenity Now

The Shabby Nest

Shabby Creek Cottage

Just a Girl

Home Stories A to Z

Tatertots and Jello

Thrifty Decor Chick

The Lettered Cottage 

Happy Weekend!

Wall-o-Shelves and Gallery Wall. Check.

The project started just three short months ago with this living room inspiration board that I dreamed up.  Then, I showed you my gallery wall inspirations along with some wall-o-shelves inspiration!  After an hour afternoon trip to IKEA, some bargain shopping at garage sales, and a handful of coupons at Gordman's and Hobby Lobby, we went from this:

BEFORE

To this:

AFTER

I apparently got a little camera happy trying to get every possible angle for the after shots.  So there are A. Lot. of pictures.  Enjoy!

Here's some of our stuff:

I'm in lurve with these linen boxes and magazine holders from IKEA!  They were a splurge since I had intended to go with the supa-cheap cardboard option before I saw these bad boys.  It was yet another way to add texture, forever storage (because we will be keeping these puppies for foreva!), and kept in theme with my mix and match of stark white with cream!

And now for some closeups of our gallery wall.  I showed you the process of putting this bad boy together here and here!  And don't forget my easy-peasy frame filling DIY projects (like my "pick your battles" poster and chair silhouette)!

And some more of our stuff:

Miss B wanted to get in on the action.  What a great little helper!

 

Okay, she's actually staring intently at a toy she just placed in my lap.  Anywho, there she is.  My l-oong project that was well worth the time, money, and I would say patience but the Mr. would beg to differ.  I'm still on the hunt for the perfect chair and end table for the corner to the right of the shelves.  One thing at a time.  In any case, the project is checked off of my mile long "to do" list and I couldn't be more excited!  Still a couple of tweaks to finish up (painting the rhino and dark chess pieces white) but no project is ever really finished anyways.  Right?

Project Gallery Wall (Part 2)

I believe I left here you in my last post:

Once I was ready to start slingin' the hammer, I busted out the measuring tape.  I measured from the top of the frame to the top of the hanging bracket (not quite sure of the technical term, but that's what the Mr. calls it).  Next, I found the center of my newspaper page that was taped where I wanted my frame to hang, measured down the length I found earlier and hammered away!  Pull the newspaper down, stick your frame up and--Voila!  You've got your wall hanging right where you want it!  Two down...

...the wall to go!

If you pay really  close attention, you'll notice a couple of these switched places by the time it was all said and done.  It happens.  Luckily I have pleanty of putty on hand, ha!  Aaaaaaand here it is--my finished gallery wall:

Okay, so I still have a lot of work to do since we have frames with nothing in them and 3 empty bookshelves, but the hard work of the gallery wall is finished.  Here is my attempt to at least fluff up the top row of the bookshelves so you can better imagine how amazing this space is going to look:

Lookin' good so far!  Time to fill those shelves up!

The Bookshelf That Michelle Built

That's right!  I built a bookshelf.  Okay, so Target technically built it, but I put it together!  Along with the help of my hubby and Miss B...and a glass bottle of wine.  I wanted to get the "wall of bookshelves" look, inspired by some of these pictures.  We had to put together three of them, so it took a couple of nights but...we did it!  I snapped a couple of pics to document the big event:

Miss B didn't want to miss out on the action!

She helped me read the directions 

Momma's girl! 

Night #2

Hmmm...Sangria and power tools are never a good mix...

...and this is why.  You put something together backwards.  Don't worry, Brandon fixed it!

Drum roll please...

Ta DA!!

(nevermind the stuff all around it...that's my decor stash!)

I snagged a few more of these frames for my gallery wall (inspiration photos here) that will be going above the bookshelves and hope to show some progress on that this week!

Shelves and Things...

I'm on the hunt for bookshelf accessories/decor to fill up my 3 shelves I ordered from Target.  Since they won't be here for a few more weeks (shame on Target for having it listed as "in stock") I'm getting a chance to gather decor ideas to fill the space!  Here are some of my favorites:

Loving the functionality of this with all the storage accessories!

I like how they only used a couple of varying colors!  Simplicity is more!

Ahh, so many choices!  Time to make a trip to IKEA!

Christmas in April

Online shopping is truly one of my favorite activities.  You get to sit in your pajamas, drink coffee, and look at items from stores that are a 5 hour drive away!  It's also dangerous because at the click of a button, I can make a purchase using a saved credit card and feel like I haven't spent a dime!  But the best part is when you come home a week later to a special delivery from the UPS stork and it's like Christmas all over again!  Well...here are MY special deliveries I'll be looking for this week, where you can get them, and how you can SAVE!

Madera Coffee Table from World Market, $250, FREE SHIPPING using code RETAIL100

Wood Gallery Frames from Pottery Barn, $16-$56, 20% OFF & FREE SHIPPING

**Another noteworthy sale at PB:  Save_20%_on_all_Lanterns

Carson_Bookshelf from Target, 25% OFF Home Event, right now only $90 & FREE SHIPPING

So what special delivery are you excited about?!  Happy Shopping :)