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Upstairs Guest Bedroom Progress

July 30, 2014 By Vidya Sukumaran 6 Comments

Remember the Navy and Coral game plan for the upstairs guest bedroom? The room is gradually taking shape, piece by piece. The process has been so drawn out that I hadn't planned on doing a reveal until a few weeks down the line. But then I picked up my new Crane and Canopy bedding and things started to fall in place as if by magic. Really, the Montgomery Blue duvet set makes the room. Don't you agree? The room is still a work in progress by all means; especially that star over the bed. It is a placeholder for a really cool project that I'm working on. ;) On a side note, I've been dying to use that star somewhere ever since I scored it at Walmart for $4 two Christmas' ago. I've got to admit that I started using duvets only recently. I used to be the "get a comforter and be … [Read more...]

DIY Glitter Cap Toe Flats

July 28, 2014 By Vidya Sukumaran 17 Comments

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® Elmer’s and Wet Ones, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #CraftandCleanUp http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV Have you ever come across a project on Pinterest that when you try turns out to be way easier and prettier than you thought? You know, the one gem that took you by surprise on how easy and gorgeous it ended up being and the one you want to share with everyone you meet from then on. Well I found my Pinterest gem, glitter shoes.....glitter cap toe flats to be exact. I have been wanting to try these for myself for so long but if there is anyone who loves glitter more than me around here then it has to be my 8yr soon to be 9 yr old. This is the first year she is gonna be in a school … [Read more...]

Same Look 4 Less – Home Decor Knockoffs

July 25, 2014 By Vidya Sukumaran 2 Comments

Oh how I miss my Same Look 4 Less posts! Yes, they were a lot of work as I needed to research high and low to find a knockoff that was in the same style and under budget but as in real life nothing beats the sheer thrill of finding the right piece. The bonus to all this is you end up being a walking talking research directory of home decor finds. The other day at Haven, I was having lunch with a few other bloggers and Kim from DIY Driftwood (by the way, I can't wait to try her fabulous product) mentioned how much she loves the Ballard Designs' Bornova Tables that were on display at the conference. She lamented that there was no Ballards near her and the shipping costs were more than what she would have liked. The next thing I knew I was telling her how World Market had a knock off of that … [Read more...]

Sometimes it is All About the Details

July 23, 2014 By Vidya Sukumaran 4 Comments

Remember the Clam shell candle holder that I made back in Feb? I was so excited about the project that I glued the clam shells on without priming the wood base. Well, it looked good in the staged pics that I put on the blog but in real life, not so much. Ok, to the average person it wouldn't have mattered as the candle holder is always on a tray on our family room coffee table where the base is not at all visible (you can see for yourself on my Shaw Floors Instagram video) but to the perfectionist in me, every time I walked past it all I could see was the unfinished base. Not any more. It bothered me so much that it was one of the first projects that came to mind when I came across these wonderful Minwax Wood Finishing Clothes at Haven. The clothes come in an 8 pack and … [Read more...]

Summer Wreath

July 21, 2014 By Vidya Sukumaran Leave a Comment

Have you noticed that we are half way into Summer and I still haven't talked about a Summer Wreath? I had planned on doing a Grapevine wreath for so long but haven't had the actual chance to sit down and make one. Wait, I take that back this one took me a whopping 5 mins to make, getting the stuff was what I needed to get around to. Amid a very tiring and fun weekend, we visited the Kings Dominion Amusement Park in Doswell with a bunch of friends, I finally managed to add some Summer color to my front door. Man, I tell you, getting older does take a toll on your body. The whole Sunday was spent recovering from all the activity day before. :) The kids had a whale of time, B too, me sorta. This is one thing I miss most about having Vertigo. I used to be that crazy gal who rode every ride … [Read more...]

DIY Stained Wood Picture Frame

July 18, 2014 By Vidya Sukumaran 4 Comments

This stained wood picture frame is one of those "Why didn't I think of it?" projects. Mm...'coz someone smarter already thought of it, duh! And the smarter folks are the 2 blogging sisters from Shanty 2 Chic. But they were gracious enough to teach many of us how to make one for ourselves in the Staining class at Haven. And oh, that's my Ammumma (mom's mom) in the pic. Isn't she pretty? These days she is not feeling all too well and needs a lot of help going about her day. As I was staging the shoot, I remembered how she used to love the Edward Rose bush in the front yard of her old home. It was a large unruly bush with Pink highly fragrant flowers that flowered on rare occasions in our hot and humid tropical climate. But when it bloomed the fragrance, beauty, and size of the flowers … [Read more...]

I’m a Haven Maven

July 16, 2014 By Vidya Sukumaran 21 Comments

As you all know last week I attended the Haven conference, a blogging conference catered specifically to DIY and home decor nerds bloggers, in Atlanta. This was my first time at Haven for that matter any blogging conference. The experience was mostly invigorating at times ethereal, challenging, and even daunting. True to my word of the year, Overcome, I pushed through the event battling my introvert demons, my DIY fears, and just plain old awkwardness. You know, deep down I've always been an introvert but from the day I met my uber social hubby, B his social skills started slowly but steadily rubbing off. As a result throughout the years I've taken conscious efforts to resolve my awkwardness and trust issues (another Aquarian thing) at every possible opportunity. Haven was no different; I … [Read more...]

Summer Garden 2014

July 14, 2014 By Vidya Sukumaran Leave a Comment

How y'all doing? Came back home yesterday after an awesome 4 day weekend attending the Haven conference in Atlanta. Finally got to meet so many of my fellow bloggers whom I've known only online. I'm still looking through hundreds of pics and business cards. Hoping to get my recap post up by Wednesday (remember we changed the posting schedule to M, W, F?). So while I was away my summer garden had gone bonkers! I tell ya, really things grew like crazy in all of three days, wait maybe a week with all the packing I was not paying much attention during the first half of the week. The most vigorous of all is the Lotus. The container is full I mean FULL of leaves with new leaves popping up by the hour (at least it looks like). I just hope that it will bloom soon; it is already mid July. Please … [Read more...]

Reading Nook & New Home Tour Page

July 8, 2014 By Vidya Sukumaran 5 Comments

Have you heard of the saying, things creeping up on you? That is exactly what is happening to me as we speak. Tweaking the Home Tour page and the general look of the blog has been on my mind for a while but I procrastinated like forever and decided to pull the plug on it this week (along with a blog schedule change). All these changes leading into the Haven conference (who am I kidding it is this Thursday) for which I'm yet to pack or haven't even clearly thought out what to wear! Wait, I'm already freaking out and talking all over the place. How about we check off the easiest things on the list first? Remember a few months back when I switched to the 3 posts a week schedule I said about experimenting with what days to post. After almost 5 months of living with it I'm kind loving the … [Read more...]

Paint My World Turquoise and Red

July 7, 2014 By Vidya Sukumaran 9 Comments

Today we have the talented and color loving Vidhya (yup, what a coincidence another Desi home decor blogger with the same name!) from the Paint My World blog sharing her Guest Bedroom with us. The room went through 5 different iterations, some of it on paper some in real life before it ended up in this pretty shade of Turquoise with a single Chevron stripe accent and Red accessories. Red is not the usual accent color that comes to mind when you think of Turquoise but Vidhya's clever use of pattern and especially the beautiful Quilt (Mudhut from Target) makes it click. It seems she had second thoughts on the Turquoise paint color (BEHR ULTRA Gem Turquoise) and was bent on painting it back to white and starting over! I'm so glad that she went with the flow and used a stencil … [Read more...]

Patriotic Planter

July 3, 2014 By Vidya Sukumaran 1 Comment

Did you know tomorrow is our 4 yr house anniversary, one of the many reasons Fourth of July is special to us? Can't believe it has been so long since we moved here! This year though as newly minted US citizens the holiday holds an extra special spot in our hearts. After the very late start last year I'd planned on getting my July 4th decorating going well in advance but somehow life got in the way. Result? Apart from a few flags on the porch, nothing nada! Fast forward to last week with me searching through my craft pile in the basement scrambling to add something patriotic around the house. That's when the left over Frog Tape Shape tape from my painted tray caught my eye. A few supplies, some painting help from my Amma (mom), and; Isn't she pretty? A couple of planters like these … [Read more...]