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Girls’ Room: Painting Progress! Walls and the Bookshelves

June 12, 2013 by Morgan

Thank you to Ikea Hackers for picking up Liv’s little kitchen! 

We have made some awesome progress in the girls’ new room (and just in the nick of time, right? please let me not go into labor tomorrow with my hallway full of furniture and toys…) including painting that new built-in bookshelf and the walls. You may have caught a sneak peek of the nursery paint samples or the wallpaper installation over on Instagram, but here are a few more photos to document the nursery transformation.

Painting the Nursery | PepperDesignBlog.com

Kevin sprayed each bookcase using our Graco Magnum (also seen here) for that clean, brush free finish early one evening last week.

Painting the Nursery | PepperDesignBlog.com

Painting the Nursery | PepperDesignBlog.com

An alternative to a sprayer is using a small spongey roller designed just for cabinetry. I’m sure that once the bookcases are installed we’ll go back and make small touch ups using this technique which is a hair more time consuming but great for indoors (and when you don’t want to cover everything in plastic).

To be very honest, I’ve been having a hard time letting go of our current nursery. I’ve been looking forward to doing something special in this room for the new baby – and the girls together – and I love the inspiration board, but when it comes to actually painting the walls it has been a struggle.

Liv's Nursery | PepperDesignBlog.com

So many happy memories in this space! But they are well documented…

Speaking of painting walls, do you ever suffer from paint-sample-paralysis? It’s this terrible problem I have… and I hope I don’t suffer alone. I go from choosing too many paint samples at the store:

Painting the Nursery | PepperDesignBlog.com

To staring at them on the wall for a few days in various lighting…

Painting the Nursery | PepperDesignBlog.com

(New wallpaper sneak peek!)

To very shortly a wall that looks like this because I begin mixing them all together (which is a TERRIBLE idea because the paint stores can really never color match that correctly).

Painting the Nursery | PepperDesignBlog.com

The ultimate decision paralysis.

And then guess what? I end up not choosing any of those options. I finally settled on Hot Springs Stone (by Benjamin Moore) but color matched to mix into an Olympic Elite gallon. That’s a no VOC, paint and primer in one that does a terrific job of keeping coats to a minimum. The below white sprayed primer spots are where we really needed another top coat to help cover a few dark spots form the multiple (!) samples and a patched picture frame.

Painting the Nursery | PepperDesignBlog.com

Looks uncannily similar to the previous paint on the walls when I was sure I was going bright white or a dark, dark griege. But now that the paint is up I couldn’t be happier! It is MUCH better than the previous tan (this one is more rosy/grey rather than yellow) and plays so well with the lighting. Which is a good thing because it’s not getting repainted any time soon.

So now here’s a little dilemma… Kevin and I both love this little tree on the wall so much and we’re trying to figure out a way to keep it. But is it awkward that it is cut off with the new bookcase? (not installed yet, just up for the photo). The owl is sort of peeking out in a cute way, but he also looks like he’s accidentally chopped in half.

Painting the Nursery | PepperDesignBlog.com

We might keep it for a while and see if the tree blends in well with the rest of the space. Maybe it will? Maybe it will look odd… Now I just need to go and trace its branches a little more carefully…

Painting the Nursery | PepperDesignBlog.com


Next up: wallpaper, bookcase installation, a changing table makeover, an upholstered big bed for Liv and so much more… the fun continues!

PS More nursery progress here!

PPS Speaking of nurseries and babies, how cute is this bump? I would like to request that cuteness the next time around.

- posted on June 12, 2013 Filed Under: DIY, Girls' Room, Home, Liv's Nursery, Renovating Adventures Tagged With: Bedroom, Decorating, DIY, Nursery, Paint, Patterns & Color

Our Fireplace Screen Sneaks Into This Old House!

June 10, 2013 by Morgan

Hey all! Something amazing landed on my doorstep this weekend and I couldn’t wait to share!

This Old House Feature | Faux Log Fireplace Screen | PepperDesignBlog.com

Do you subscribe to This Old House? It could be that we have a very old house but it’s one of my favorites. I was feeling a little courageous a couple of months ago and submitted our faux stacked log fireplace screen – and guess what! It was chosen as a feature in their recent July Before & After issue!!

This Old House Feature | Faux Log Fireplace Screen | PepperDesignBlog.com

When the editors called to ask for additional pictures and more details, I almost drove off of the road (don’t worry Cali friends, I was hands free).

I initially tackled this project when I was about six months pregnant, TOH asked me to shoot a few more step-by-step photos at 7 1/2 months and here I am at a full 9 months with moonbeams coming out of my ears!

This Old House Feature | Faux Log Fireplace Screen | PepperDesignBlog.com

(Sorry for the blurry photo, we kept moving during our little happy dance. And don’t you love that Liv is giving me a really great and exasperated ‘oh mom?’ look).

Here’s one behind-the-scenes shots at 7 1/2 months:

This Old House Feature | Faux Log Fireplace Screen | PepperDesignBlog.com

But they chopped (no pun intended) that one a down a little more and thankfully the belly was saved from the final edition.

Ahhhh, I’m so excited I can hardly contain myself. Off to purchase a dozen more copies to send to all of my family! Grinning from ear to EAR!

- posted on June 10, 2013 Filed Under: Crafty Solutions, DIY, Favorites, Featured In, Home, Our Living Room, Projects, Renovating Adventures Tagged With: DIY

Father’s Day Gift Guide 2013

June 7, 2013 by Morgan

Father’s Day is about a week away! Kevin is more of the ‘plan an activity’ type rather than the ‘gifting’ type so we’ll probably try and do something fun and adventurous (as adventurous as this 38 week prego body can be) as a family. I originally planned on booking us a tent cabin about an hour east of San Diego for hiking, skipping rocks at the river and campfires, but then I realized that we might be having a baby that weekend. Ha! So we’ll stick close to home.

In other news, Liv started preschool!

Liv's First Day of Preschool! | PepperDesignBlog.com

It’s just what this active, loves-playing-with-new-friends girl needs. We’ve enrolled her in the summer session of a local school for just two days a week so that she can get used to the big adjustment before little baby arrives. The feedback so far? She absolutely loves it. Prior to preschool we’ve had an awesome set of local college girls rotate long playdates with Liv at the house each day while I work or before Kevin is finished with school/work (I highly recommend college-aged girls as great nannies when you have as unusual of a schedule as I do! They usually have unusual schedules, too).

But back to the post… I have a round up of favorite Father’s Day gift ideas to share today and I hope they’re helpful as you plan out what you might be gifting that special dad, grandpa, hubby or other man in your life. Enjoy!

Father's Day Gift Guide, 2013 | PepperDesignBlog.com

1. There are so many creative and handmade iPhone cases over on Etsy these days, this mountain biking version (on that cool wooden panel) is one of my favorites.

2. Speaking of biking, here’s a creative solution for the two-wheeled traveler: a leather growler carrier built to add to the back of your bike! Kevin is a craft brew fan so we have plenty of growlers around the house, now biking and balancing a glass jug for refills at the local brew house (or friend’s house to enjoy) is convenient.

3. I gave Kevin a Himalayan salt block last year for serving yummy appetizers on while entertaining. Check out these salt block shot glasses – pretty nifty for Tequila, right?

4. A beer flight for the house would be a creative way to showcase your own home brews. Or to enjoy various varieties with various courses for a fancy dinner.

5. A Father’s Day card for the Star Wars dads, you cannot go wrong.

6. How cute is this mini super hero shirt for kids? Surprise dad on Sunday morning with a cape and a day of family super hero games. My Dad is a Super Hero tees found here.

7. Mustachifier: an entertaining gift for the new dad, and one that he will want to show off to all of his buddies.

8. Handmade by artist Lee Goodwin, a driftwood iPhone dock would look snazzy on dad’s desk or on the living room console table.

9. Customize a six pack with printable retro Father’s Day beer labels, this is a neat idea for a family dinner or bbq!

PS here’s a link to all of the gift guides posted on this blog for more great ideas (you might have to hunt through a few but there are plenty of round ups from previous years), and here’s a link to all handmade gifts posted here!

PPS these would be great for dad’s too. Oh and check out the French 75 kit here to learn how to infuse an alcohol, or try the homemade sea salt and olive oil infusion recipes (for the chefs – so easy and always a hit).

 

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- posted on June 7, 2013 Filed Under: Father's Day, Gift Guides, Holidays Tagged With: Father's Day

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Welcome to my little slice of the web where I practice finding family, career, homemade & inspired balance on a daily basis. This is where I capture my happy moments, and I'm honored that you're here to join us. Home + creativity + good eats + journaling + life as a working mom. Read more...

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