When my husband told me he was going to New Orleans for a week for a conference, I had two choices. I could go with him and kill time around the city (been there, done that), or I could spend the week at the lake house catching up with projects and cleaning that were either neglected or put on the back burner throughout the summer rush and busyness of welcoming two new grandbabies into our family. Turns out I made the right choice. It rained every day in New Orleans and it was a beautiful, 60’s-filled and sunny week at the lake, with fogged-over lake mornings, sunny days and full-moon nights. 
I painted, decorated, cleaned, sewed, sat in the hot tub, shopped, and took naps.
I had my lists of people to call, appointments to make and keep, emails to write, cleaning and projects to start and hopefully finish. I’d say I had a productive week. But as usual in the process of getting things done, I also added a lot of things to my list.
My painting projects included painting the master bedroom from a muted green color to Palladian blue. The same color looks entirely different in this window-filled room as opposed to the windowless basement bathroom where I also used this color. It instantly freshened and lifted the room.
I also started the process of repainting a used hutch I bought for our basement redo. It’s a work in progress. I don’t have a lot of experience using chalk paint and finding the perfect color can be tricky and expensive. For instance, this Shiplap color I picked up at Target looked a lot more creamy on the can and but when I painted my piece, it definitely was more white. I think I need to get further along in the basement redo to finalize the color but for now I’m leaning on a Shiplap white for the inside and a linen color for the outer parts.
Several years ago I snagged this old brown antique desk full of drawers with dividers and a glass top at a flee market in Raleigh. I’ve always wanted to paint it as it traveled from room to room in this house, switching colors I thought I would paint it, from a distressed creamy color, to a Robin’s Egg with silver top and even barn red.
Now that I am pretty sure it is in it’s final place, I settled on a “Weekend” color of chalky paint from Magnolia Market. This dark teal color finished with dark brown wax gave it depth and an updated aged look. I love it and it ties in so nice with the rest of room but keeps the richness of the dark wood.
In between coats and during drying time on my paint projects, I cleaned ceiling fans, blinds, floors, and closets, and switched to my winter clothes.
I took a break from painting and cleaning to also make a couple of slipcovers. As part of freshening up the basement, I had ordered a linen blend two-tone stripe tan fabric for the two table side chairs. I just love how a little bit of new fabric can completely change the way a room looks. It’s like getting new furniture.
With the falling temperatures and lots of falling leaves, we spend a little more time inside the house. And with the holidays fast approaching, I of course, start thinking about where the trees will go, which then in turn leads me to “rethink” room arrangements which in turn leads to a mini makeover. Actually it has just taken me over two years to figure out how to use my “rooms” in this open floor plan. But I am happy and relieved to say that I have finally settled in on an arrangement….but my husband doesn’t believe it. Bless his heart! He is patient and goes with the flow and lets me exercise my creative spirit. I’m lucky that way. I look forward to the day when all my projects are done and I can just go to the lake house and not have an agenda.
Until next time,
While visiting one of my new favorite fabric spots in Alexandria, The Fabric Place Basement, I found this cool linen like fabric that I actually had my eye on for a long time. The first time I saw this fabric was at the Fabric Emporium in Warrenton. It was showcased on a side chair as a slipcover and I fell in love with its wild side. But I didn’t have a project in mind for it. 
Months later I found this same fabric on clearance for $5 a yard at the Fabric Place Basement! I snatched up 12 yards for some future project that was yet to be determined at that time. 
Beside the squirrel damage her cushions weren’t in bad shape considering how long she has had them. The original Sunbrella fabric in a darker golden brown color held up well in the elements under her gorgeous covered outdoor patio. The metal frames of the furniture were still in excellent shape so it made perfect sense to replace the cushions. 
And then you see the cushions. (add sound affects….”brakes screech“).
What a difference! With eighties and nineties expected for this week (and with the pollen season done) Jamie and her husband can now really enjoy sitting on their old furniture with NEW cushions. 
