My Toy Room to Teen Room Transformation!

My children are entering the teen years now. As they grow and change the needs of our home have changed as well. One of the bedrooms over our garage had been a "toy room", filled with plastic Little Tikes Kitchens, Legos and Trains- a place for forts and building castles. My teenage daughter suggested that we re-decorate the "Toy Room" to be more Teen Friendly. I agreed and so (sadly for Mom) we have said to goodbye to Pokemon and American Girl Dolls.

Here is the room Before (actually we have two identical rooms above our garage, they are mirror images of each other and this photo is of other side). Like all decorating projects we had Goals, Restrictions and a Budget. The Goal was a room for for sleepovers, a place to do school projects where they could spread things out (and not be near their parents), and a place to hangout with friends and watch Movies and I-Chat! Our main Restriction was the doorway size. It is only 27 inches wide. And our Budget was $2500.

Here is the room after we ripped up the old carpet. Then we painted the trim BM White Dove and the walls BM Lighthouse Landing. Paint cost $4o. Paint, as always is an immediate improvement!

The kids were allowed to choose everything in the room and I treated them like clients on our shopping trip. We found this great, thick wool rug at HomeGoods for $600. (did I mention how much I love HomeGoods for rugs??) The kids liked the Pottery Barn feel and the blue and brown color scheme. While we were there the kids scouted some great pillows that matched and two small microfiber ottomans. All together we spent $800.

Meanwhile at home, my sister, who LOVES to organize, came over and sorted through all our arts and crafts supplies and organized everything in the old bins which used to hold plastic food and Matchbox cars. Now it is a perfect go to space for all the supplies we need for projects at school.

Thank you, Sandra! Cost - priceless!

We couldn't let go of the blocks, (well I couldn't) so they stayed put and we moved an old bookcase into the walk in closet for extra storage for paper and other supplies.

Dramatic drum roll.... Here is the Before.

And the After! We found this thin couch at Macy's and once we took the feet off it fit through our tiny doorway! The sectional microfiber couch was $1400 and the bar table and leather stools $199. at Overstock.com.

Inspirational artwork was $50 on clearance! Bookcase, side table, and TV we already had!

The total Teen Hangout Room Makeover cost was.....$2489!!

We still had money left over for a Movie and some snacks!! We found some wonderful bargains, stayed with in our budget and came out with a great room! The kids are thrilled and call it their "Hang Out Room" - I call it a success!!

'

Also a heartfelt thank you to the many, many kind readers who sent me get well wishes and prayers. I am truly blessed to have so many friends in blogland. I was beyond touched! xoxo

(all photos Willow Decor and not to be copied without permission)

Pumpkins and Spice...

What a busy Halloween!

For some reason I was taken over by some crazy drive to pull everything out of my Halloween bag of tricks like some kind of superwoman. Not sure where that came from or what I was "possessed" by!

This is what I took on as my way to celebrate:

1. Craft time with the girls in my family:

2. Caramel Apples: using Werther's Originals and Honey Crisp apples...yum!

3. White Chocolate Ghosts for Sophie's Halloween party: (it was supposed to be treat-free, but when her teacher told the class that, Sophie piped up that I already had all the ingredients and would be "disappointed" if I couldn't send them in. Lucky me!

4. Craft time with some of Sophie's friends (too busy to take many photos!):

We made little Halloween trees with paint and glitter!

Annual Pumpkin Carving Party:

We had my spicy chili, rolls, delicious chicken soup and apple crumble pie made by one friend, and this decadent chocolate cake made by another friend:

 And the annual stoop shot, posing with their pumpkins:

 And last but not least, Halloween itself!!

Busy, but happy...

Happy Halloween!!!

New Asian Modern Home Decoration

Hanging Japanese lamp design, is now become trend, like on above picture, there are several hanging lamp. On below picture, there is a special tabel and cabinet furnitures.

New Asian Modern Home Decoration

Hanging Japanese lamp design, is now become trend, like on above picture, there are several hanging lamp. On below picture, there is a special tabel and cabinet furnitures.

New Bedroom Interior With Lamp Combination

If you love soft illumination and hate to sacrifice privacy, this bedroom interior has a brilliant combination of strategies from uplighting around the bed itself to wall panels that block direct views and sunlight but let light in around them.

New Bedroom Interior With Lamp Combination

If you love soft illumination and hate to sacrifice privacy, this bedroom interior has a brilliant combination of strategies from uplighting around the bed itself to wall panels that block direct views and sunlight but let light in around them.

New Modern Bedroom prefer plush padding a minimalist pillow

Do you prefer plush padding a minimalist pillow, a decked-out design or toned-down interior? From dazzling abstract designs to humorously offbeat sleeping spaces here are seven brilliant bedroom designs to inspire your imagination. And who knows, with a few decorative adjusts you might be able to remodel your own bedrooms to similar effect.

New Modern Bedroom prefer plush padding a minimalist pillow

Do you prefer plush padding a minimalist pillow, a decked-out design or toned-down interior? From dazzling abstract designs to humorously offbeat sleeping spaces here are seven brilliant bedroom designs to inspire your imagination. And who knows, with a few decorative adjusts you might be able to remodel your own bedrooms to similar effect.

New Living Room Interior Ideas

Living room interior design

Now I think that when you are searching for a new look for your home the more pictures you see the more clearly you know how your dream home will look like. So here is a new set of pictures with some beautiful living rooms. Finally one thing you should keep in mind if you want to create a contemporary living room design is simplicity, low furniture arrangements, modular sofas, abstract lighting sources, pedestal tables, sleek sideboards, etc.

New Living Room Interior Ideas

Living room interior design

Now I think that when you are searching for a new look for your home the more pictures you see the more clearly you know how your dream home will look like. So here is a new set of pictures with some beautiful living rooms. Finally one thing you should keep in mind if you want to create a contemporary living room design is simplicity, low furniture arrangements, modular sofas, abstract lighting sources, pedestal tables, sleek sideboards, etc.

New Ultra Modern Contemporary Furniture

Contemporary furniture makers have been taking a new approach when it comes to decorations. Most of them embraced the minimalist style with elegantly shaped objects and clear spaces. Their ultra-modern furniture looks outside the traditional box bringing functionality and beauty all together. Treat for the eye, their ultra modern living rooms have warm colors and elegant furnishings along with the Italian finesse that wins you over in no time

New Ultra Modern Contemporary Furniture

Contemporary furniture makers have been taking a new approach when it comes to decorations. Most of them embraced the minimalist style with elegantly shaped objects and clear spaces. Their ultra-modern furniture looks outside the traditional box bringing functionality and beauty all together. Treat for the eye, their ultra modern living rooms have warm colors and elegant furnishings along with the Italian finesse that wins you over in no time

New Minimalist Home With Fireplace

Most modern minimalist homes do away with fireplaces or believe that they are a tradition of the past that do not fir into the sleek, slender and futuristic design of today. One look at the collection of contemporary fireplaces dished out by the Belgian designers from MetalFire and it will set your pulse racing and you adrenaline pumping with delight. Simply flawless and stunning in an understated fashion, they epitomize everything that stands for space-age style. They amalgamate seamlessly into any modern living room and add multitude of warmth, charm and seductive beauty to the room. Take one look and your perception of fireplaces will be altered forever as you scurry around to find one akin to these.

New Minimalist Home With Fireplace

Most modern minimalist homes do away with fireplaces or believe that they are a tradition of the past that do not fir into the sleek, slender and futuristic design of today. One look at the collection of contemporary fireplaces dished out by the Belgian designers from MetalFire and it will set your pulse racing and you adrenaline pumping with delight. Simply flawless and stunning in an understated fashion, they epitomize everything that stands for space-age style. They amalgamate seamlessly into any modern living room and add multitude of warmth, charm and seductive beauty to the room. Take one look and your perception of fireplaces will be altered forever as you scurry around to find one akin to these.

New Luxury Seaside Villa

Completed recently by the interior designer Julia Palmer, this magnificent 530 square meter structure overlooks the Mallorca oceanside with casual grace and comfortable simplicity. Designed softly to accent the minimal color from the choices in incorporated artwork and furniture, the Villa easily walks a fine line between a comfortable, elegant family living space and structural accent specific to Mediterranean-designed homes. Calming and graceful, light moves organically through the building from the south side of the structure, but the allowance of architecture fixtures, the rearrangement of of windows and use of soft colors and reflective walls keep the light intensity from being overpowering and, in fact, can also contribute to an efficient use of energy.

New Luxury Seaside Villa

Completed recently by the interior designer Julia Palmer, this magnificent 530 square meter structure overlooks the Mallorca oceanside with casual grace and comfortable simplicity. Designed softly to accent the minimal color from the choices in incorporated artwork and furniture, the Villa easily walks a fine line between a comfortable, elegant family living space and structural accent specific to Mediterranean-designed homes. Calming and graceful, light moves organically through the building from the south side of the structure, but the allowance of architecture fixtures, the rearrangement of of windows and use of soft colors and reflective walls keep the light intensity from being overpowering and, in fact, can also contribute to an efficient use of energy.

New Modern Bedroom Furniture

Modern and contemporary bedroom furniture adds a beautiful look to bedrooms. It's makes the room look bigger, clean and uncluttered. Many modern bedroom furniture galleries offer variety of home furnishing styles including contemporary and traditional with a huge selection of platform beds and mattress sets at very reasonable and affordable rates.Choosing furniture for bedroom requires careful and perfect planning and many factors need to be borne in mind like bedroom interiors, expenditure, personal taste etc.

New Modern Bedroom Furniture

Modern and contemporary bedroom furniture adds a beautiful look to bedrooms. It's makes the room look bigger, clean and uncluttered. Many modern bedroom furniture galleries offer variety of home furnishing styles including contemporary and traditional with a huge selection of platform beds and mattress sets at very reasonable and affordable rates.Choosing furniture for bedroom requires careful and perfect planning and many factors need to be borne in mind like bedroom interiors, expenditure, personal taste etc.

The Best Home Interior Design Architecture 2010

The best Home interior design architecture 2009. This is perfect architecture for your home design style. It can be ispired you to remodeling your home with thie elegant and luxurious home architecture style. There are beautiful furniture, tv stand or lcd tv in the living room. Very good for your new inspiration.

The Best Home Interior Design Architecture 2010

The best Home interior design architecture 2009. This is perfect architecture for your home design style. It can be ispired you to remodeling your home with thie elegant and luxurious home architecture style. There are beautiful furniture, tv stand or lcd tv in the living room. Very good for your new inspiration.

New Interior Design and Architect Ideas

Television station is not the only source for home decoration information and ideas on Interior design. There are several great books on the subject that are able to help designers of almost any background and experience level. Color is an element that tends to inspire emotion in people because color has an influence on the value of life above and beyond other considerations. Colors therefore have a definite impact on the atmosphere that you want to create when doing interior design.