New Art, A DIY Light Fixture, & Some Furniture Shuffling
When last I posted, back in February, some wonderful person left a comment suggesting a new furniture arrangement in the living room. I'm a little embarrassed to admit I hadn't ever considered a different arrangement! We used to keep a TV on the credenza, so the couch kind of had to be oriented that way, plus the old couch was too huge to go anywhere else...but neither of those issues are relevant any longer, so:
I also recently built a little shelf behind the credenza to hold the modem/router/cord mess out of sight--just a scrap piece of foam core and two 97-cent shelf brackets. It's fantastic! Then I left my laptop cord draped artfully across the front for the photo. Oops.
I'm really pleased with the new arrangement--it's cozy and intimate, and turns the focus to the fireplace & painting above the mantel. Total win.
This painting is a new addition...the only way it could make me any happier would be if I could find somewhere to hang it where it'd get more attention. Behind the front door isn't exactly ideal.
I've not really shared pictures of my husband's office before, because it's generally an enormous mess. He did some major clearing out recently, though, so while it's still pretty cluttery I thought it was in decent enough shape to give you a peek.
The dining room (someday maybe we'll get a table and it'll make sense to call it that) came with a pretty ugly light fixture.
That's it up in the left-hand corner. I mostly seem to have avoided photographing it.
So my most recent project was to make a new one! I had intended to install a bare hanging bulb and make a shade for it, but then I realized I could cut out the wiring part and just make a gigantic shade to cover the entire fixture.
And that is what I did. I found these instructions online. They're for a much smaller shade--mine is made with two 24" quilting hoops, twelve 16" dowels, and basket-weaving reed instead of wood veneer strips. I hung it by crossing two sturdier dowels through one of the links of the chain and gluing them to the inside of the top hoop.
One last little update: I do believe I saw this idea on this community!
I felt like a crazy person, freehanding with a Sharpie all over the wall, but I figured it was nothing I couldn't undo with a coat of paint (...okay, a coat of primer then maybe a couple of paint) and the results are super fun.
I also recently built a little shelf behind the credenza to hold the modem/router/cord mess out of sight--just a scrap piece of foam core and two 97-cent shelf brackets. It's fantastic! Then I left my laptop cord draped artfully across the front for the photo. Oops.
I'm really pleased with the new arrangement--it's cozy and intimate, and turns the focus to the fireplace & painting above the mantel. Total win.
This painting is a new addition...the only way it could make me any happier would be if I could find somewhere to hang it where it'd get more attention. Behind the front door isn't exactly ideal.
I've not really shared pictures of my husband's office before, because it's generally an enormous mess. He did some major clearing out recently, though, so while it's still pretty cluttery I thought it was in decent enough shape to give you a peek.
The dining room (someday maybe we'll get a table and it'll make sense to call it that) came with a pretty ugly light fixture.
That's it up in the left-hand corner. I mostly seem to have avoided photographing it.
So my most recent project was to make a new one! I had intended to install a bare hanging bulb and make a shade for it, but then I realized I could cut out the wiring part and just make a gigantic shade to cover the entire fixture.
And that is what I did. I found these instructions online. They're for a much smaller shade--mine is made with two 24" quilting hoops, twelve 16" dowels, and basket-weaving reed instead of wood veneer strips. I hung it by crossing two sturdier dowels through one of the links of the chain and gluing them to the inside of the top hoop.
One last little update: I do believe I saw this idea on this community!
I felt like a crazy person, freehanding with a Sharpie all over the wall, but I figured it was nothing I couldn't undo with a coat of paint (...okay, a coat of primer then maybe a couple of paint) and the results are super fun.