Penny, I like the idea of a thread for decorating etc w/little money.

Also, I like dark colors. Half of my basement is a dark BM plum/violet color and the other half is a dark BM gray. I love it. The ceilings are lower there too, not standard 8', and it doesn't feel cave-ish to me.

Come on over, Missi...

I'm sure we'll annoy some people with our constant excitement!, but it can't be helped.

I did ask for a section of the forum for thrift/diy/budget but that request was declined :(

is it in Design Dilemma? I'll go look for it.

Hi Missi, here it is:

[https://www.houzz.com/discussions/the-diy-thread-ask-show-help-dsvw-vd~5414982[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/the-diy-thread-ask-show-help-dsvw-vd~5414982)

just posted in it-good timing haha thank you!

i like pierone and lamps plus for lamps. love your other thread. april has a couple cool ones too.

Bailey, if you want, we can throw more ideas at you...

Do you have existing stuff that can be re-purposed (a small dresser can be a side table or tv stand...) with a little diy? If you share your local kijiji, maybe we can come up with suggestions?

Totally not wanting to push, especially with your mind on other things.

(Or absolutely, please join us and post pics on the other thread about diy...more creative minds than mine over there)

Hi Penny, I'm away from home for a few days but when I'm back I'll take some better pictures of the space and some items I might be able to use in the short term. If I did any diy, it might be painting/refinishing end tables- but I would have to find the right ones first.

I live in a rural area, so it's a slow process to sometimes find items for sale on kijiji and make arrangements to pick them up. I've definitely got a vision, it's just going to be a sedate pace making it all happen.

sorry about last, i meant that for creative thread.

Run, don't wallk to get the new ikea catalog! i will try to get pics later. I am so tired today, went out for hours yesterday. but everything seems to be coming up roses this week! yeah!

(((((havingfun)))))))

Don't want to highjack this thread with my problem, but I'm pulling my hair out! Please note it's not finished, trim to be painted in simply white. Second coat of Newburg green needed. I am second guessing going this color! It could be that I'm just a neutral person at heart, or that I feel like nothing I have goes with it! I really do love the color, but I thought I could just get new nightstands and bedding, but It seems like I need to replace everything! Here's my stuff in my old house, and here it is now. Considering selling the dresser and amoire and starting over with just a dresser and 2 oversized nightstands. Don't really want white furniture though... Planning for a barn door for bath entrance.

Kulrn -I dont mind hijacking. I think the color is FANTASTIC. I really love it. IMO everything in your room works except for the two pieces of wood furniture. I would not change the bedding. It also looks great. I think I would change the style of the dressers. They dont go with the more modern look of the bed and walls. I also love, love, love the artwork in your old house. Did you keep it in your new bedroom?

I like the color too. The only jarring element I see is the headboard - it has a lot of pink in that beige color. Perhaps change it to something without the pink/beige - more like the bench color. JMO

Thanks, the art will go in there when it's finished. The dresser is from an old set I bought years ago. I had gotten rid of the matching mirror, nightstand, and sleigh bed already. It's thomasville, so good quality. I don't want to go all matching. The headboard was cheap. The recliner has to stay for the boyfriend! I thought about this bedding to bring in whites and beige. I know all white was suggested earlier. Any ideas on color of new furniture?

Friday, you are a very talented artist! LOVE that mural in the kitchen!

Our last house didn't get a lot of light. The white walls just looked dingy and dreary. So we decided to stop fighting the darkness and painted all the rooms in dark, dramatic colors -- red, green, yellow, blue, purple -- the whole spectrum. We had accent walls everywhere too. Broke all the rules, but we loved it. When we sold it we thought we'd have to paint everything generic white again, but our RE agent told us not to. People who bought the house loved all the colors and have kept them.

Our current house gets tons of light so we wanted to go with white walls for a change of pace, also because we wanted to fill the walls with art over time. However our windowless powder room is dark & dramatic, with navy textured wall paper:

Jennifer M - Thank you! I am just an amateur artist. I do love to paint. I love your bathroom. I love the texture. I also have a black bathroom that I posted on the previous thread before the update. Here it is.

Walls filled with art are one of my favorite things on earth. Art soothes my soul.... Please post photos of your art filled home!

Love your powder room!

Well, we are still working on filling it with art! Taking our time with that. Here's a couple of photos for you. I may post on your DIY thread as I'd love to get some creative ideas for our entry way.

Dining room - the floating lady was painted by a dear friend. The other piece was on loan and isn't there now. It's pretty cool (especially in person) but I can't afford it.

Living room - this piece is 3D, the image is made up of tiny fashion brand logos. It looks different from various angles. Like she is following you around the room with her camera.

Working on new (more interesting) pillows for this sofa. I love abstracts. In this one I see people carrying rocks on their backs. Do you?

Office is where that orange chair is. I've got a big blank wall behind my office desk waiting to be filled. The office is up on a platform. The stairs have LED lighting so people don't trip at night. Adds great mood lighting too.

Wow Jennifer. You have an absolutely amazing eye. Your place is devine. I love all of it. Every single room. As for the art, the lady with the camera is to die for. Love that she is made of fashion labels. Come on over to the [DIY thread[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/the-diy-thread-ask-show-help-dsvw-vd~5414982?hz_ref=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaG91enouY29tL3wwYzg5Nzc3YS0yYTAzLTQ2MmYtOTYzMi1jMDYyMDZhNTNlYzR8MTUzMzM5NjM3MDI1Nw). Creativity is my middle name. LOL

Thanks! We had help from an interior designer! I don't have enough talent to pull it all off by myself. :-( But we are now flying on our own (reno was complete 18 months ago) and I am still working on the finishing touches. Including art.

I posted over on your DIY thread -- would love some ideas for our entry way. And maybe also the office, but one step at a time.

Here is a better pic of the lady with the camera -- with lights on so you can see more of the detail -- this is what you see when you walk into the place, looking straight back (the entry door aligns with the window where the telescope is).

Kulm, I see those two silver animal horn things as a jumping off point in your room. I would want my room to feel like that. Kind of sexy and glamorous. So I think you're off to a good start with the color on the walls and the rug.

Agree with Friday, the dressers can go. Do you need the armoire for storage? Since the rest of the set is gone already, clearly you're not in love with it, no matter how "good" it is.

Also, I would stay away from farmhouse-y finishes like the gray woodgrain....Unless you love that look, I don't think it goes. Ditto for the basket...

does anyone else see the newberg green as a dark blue? I do not necessarily think there is a problem with the pink and green?. here is this what you are looking at?

oh and the patterns on the bedding are very straightlined and modern , so a bit old fashioned should not be a problem. maybe have a 3rd old fashioned item. maybe the pillows give you the 3rd?

BTW Friday please don't call yourself an amateur. Your art is stunning.

I love to see the art people choose to put in their homes.

Jennifer, your house is beautiful. It has tremendous presence and personality. Kudos! Working with an ID does not take away from the accomplishment at all. Lots of people work with IDs and do not achieve similar results.

Friday, shame on you. You are an artist- full stop. I am unaware of any professional credential for artists. Your art is moving and beautiful. What would you want your kiddo to say about his work if he were in your position?

Jennifer and Rita - Thank you both! I mean I dont do it for a living. I dont get paid for it. But on the other hand I dont get paid for any work but I work very, very hard. My job requires a tremendous amount of thought and planning and effort. I find it to be of great value and it brings me loads of satisifaction. So why does that line of thinking not translate to my thoughts towards my art? Rita and Jennifer you are right. I am an artist. ;-) What was I thinking? Its just my crazy thinking. I definately have no credentials as far art goes. As for my kid, I think his work is amazing. I totally see him as an artist. LOL

i agree with them friday. but i think that nonprofessional is not always a negative. first my understanding is that it means you have earned a degree or earned so much money. my mom is a fab artist, but refused to sell anything. A friend i worked with made earrings and refused to be called an artist, i would prefer to be called a craftsman and that would be more accurate since what i make almost always serves a further purpose.

Wow Havingfun. You said that so beautifully. What I make serves a further purpose.

I think if you create something, or you do something well that it creates a feeling in someone else., you're an artist. Many things can be art. I practice Taekwondo, a martial art, a beautiful art form--not necessarily when *I* practice it hahahahaha, but when you see it done properly/correctly, it's beautiful. My daughter plays the clarinet, that's her art. I have a phenomenal tattoo artist and I am supremely proud of the what he's done on my skin. I have an online friend who does sell her work, and I am pretty sure I'm the owner of the most pieces, but that doesn't make her more or less of an artist than someone else. Being able to make people laugh is an art. Landscaping, arranging flowers, music, writing something that makes you not want to have your feet hanging over the bed, or makes you feel emotion that comes from the pit of your stomach ..so many things.

uhoh, we had another long thread about who is an artist. i know people that do not wish to be called an artist, because they think hippy dippy. i agree, but i disagree with most people. I believe it applies to everything you do. you ever see those films of the traffic director? when i worked many commented on my amazing office skills, they thought i loved it, but i did not. it was a talent. a talent is what makes someone an artist at something and it can be anything. some things are more noticeable but still...many things can be taught, but it is that extra bit that comes from deep inside. a big example to me are the two big dancers Gene Kelley who wonderfully flowed and made all his partners look fabulous. whereas fred astaire was amazing on techniques but always looked to me choppy and always better on his own than with a partner. I don't even believe that those who can't teach. i am sure there are a few but on the whole? a teacher with art of teaching does not even need to be taught.

yesssss i had my office repainted bm Jade Garden over the last 2 weeks while we were on vacation.... we had 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and the hall repainted but only my office got the 'dark side' treatment. i'm so blown away by their prep job (150 year old plaster over lath) and the color i chose.

and of course, now my photo won't load. pfft.

Ninigret - Houzz is killing me..... I would love to see your photos!

Oofda, I didn't mean to rehash anything that's been raked over the coals, I'm sorry!

yay here we go! i cant wait to get all of the art back on the walls and the drapes and things.

grainy photo... ceiling is really smooth as glass.

Ninigret - That is one of my very favorite colors on earth. I would like a bathroom that color. Also I think I am drawn to Jewel tones. Im am sure your room will look fantastic once it is complete!

Agreed...One of my favorites. too. If I had my own way, my entire house would look like a box of gems...

Missi, if I missed something, I hope all is well.

i cant stop looking at it.

Wowzers, nini, that is one f-a-b-u-l-o-u-s looking wall!

@Ninigret that is one of my all-time favorite shades and your walls look forever deep and strong,makes me hear Coltrane's Favorite Things in my mind. Enjoy!

omg everyone has been so busy. i do not know why i am just noticiing this, but i love that green decoration on the couch bailey. maybe you should do the wall in a beautiful dark green.

Here's a sneak peek of my new sunroom/gameroom. It's a dark, dark blue. It was supposed to be a dark charcoal grey, but the paint chip didn't show how much of a blue undertone it had. I like it though. I'm dying to use the Pergo Blueprint laminate and this might be my chance.

Ashley - I think that's a fabulous color for a sunroom. It looks great against the fireplace. I can't wait to see it once its complete.

Except for hanging pics, here's my finished walls. I did get more neutral bedding. One day new night stands and possibly change fabric on bench.... Loving the dark!

Before.

Kulrn - It looks fab! I love the color and I think the nightstands are fine. I also notice your artwork. I love the thick matting. The rug is fantastic. It looks like a very classy and finished space.

That looks fabulous, kulrn. What a beautiful backdrop for art. Those richly hued walls make everything look great. Kudos.

Really nice look.

#TBT

Pierre - Wow. You cannot have a room like this without having a ton of confidence. I dont think I have ever seen a red ceiling. I love bold decor. Show us more!

@ pierre I like your work

Thank you everyone for your kind words!!