Black & White Office Makeover

Over the weekend the hubs and I assisted Brooke and Brad in decorating her office at work.  We are very pleased with the results.

Here are a few before photos so you can get an idea of what we had to work with.

It's your typical office with neutral colored walls and harsh overhead fluorescent lights.

Brooke chose a black and white theme for her office.  This enabled her to display her love for nostalgia.

The first thing we did was hang single panel curtains on each side of the focal wall located behind her desk.  We used one curtain rod and split it to use one half for each side of the wall.  Similar to what we did in the hub's office.

This is a great example of how you do not need a window to hang curtains.  As you can see from the next photo, the drape of the fabric softens the look and frames the centerpiece.  The curtains also help ground the art work.

Next up was Audrey Hepburn.  Brooke LOVES Lucy from I Love Lucy (her bridal shower was the I Love Lucy theme), Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Frank Sinatra, etc.  What better way to surround yourself with things you love considering how much time you spend at work each day.

I love how great minds come together to create something beautiful.   We all felt that something was needed to frame Audrey.  Brad suggested a picture frame molding as an accent in the corners.  So off we go to Hobby Lobby (and a few other stores) to pick up some finishing items.

We all decided the metal brackets were the better choice.  Without a doubt, this was the best choice we could have made.  The hubs suggested we lay the brackets directly on the corners of the canvas.  We loved the look.  I thought it gave it a lacy, sexy look.  They thought I was crazy when I said that.

The next option was Brad's recommendation.  We decided to go with this option as it filled the space and framed the canvas.  Let me warn you should you decide to go with this option....iron work has imperfections.  :)  It is not perfectly straight so line it up the best you can to frame your art work.

What a difference a few items can make to the feel of a room, right?  Just to remind you of where we started here is the before pic of this wall...

and the after.  Now which office would you prefer to work in?  :)  Easy decision for me.

"Carpe Diem" seize the day or my interpretation is seize the opportunity to make your space special to you.

The poster on the right is Frank Sinatra's mugshot.  Here is the story of why he was arrested.

"In 1938, a 23-year-old Frank Sinatra was arrested in Bergen County, NJ. on charges of seduction and adultery.  According to the FBI reports, "On the second and ninth days of November 1938 at the Borough of Lodi" and "under the promise of marriage" Sinatra "did then and there have sexual intercourse with the said complainant, who was then and there a single female of good repute."  This, the charge stated, was "contrary and in violation of the revised statue of 1937."  The charges were later dismissed when it was determined that the woman involved was married."

Brooke is ordering three Lucy canvases to go over her computer.  The canvases are colorful and will add a "pop of color" to the black and white office.  She is also going to add a plant on the corner of her desk.

This is a photo of Oak Alley Plantation framed over the two chairs in front of her desk.  Oak Alley Plantation is a favorite place of Brooke and Brad's.

I want to give a "shout out" to the hubs and Brad for being such good sports and being patient with us in the decorating process.

I hope this inspires you with ideas you can apply to your home or office decor.  You don't have to "break the bank" to bring your space alive with the things you love.  All you need to do is surround yourself with the things that make your heart sing.

I'd love to hear your stories of how you chose to decorate your office/space.

Take care and have a wonderful day!

xoxoxo

Debbie

Beauty Is In the Eye Of the Beholder

We have beautiful weather forecasted for the next couple of days.  The sun is shining bright and the humidity is low.  Woo Hoo!  It's perfect for this weekend's Rodeo Barbecue Cook-off.  

Earlier this week when I was cleaning the pool I snapped a few photos of the blooms in our backyard to share with you.

Gotta love Knockout Roses.  They bloom off and on all year long.  But beware of their thorns!!!

It was so windy and I must have taken 10 shots of this rose bud and they were all blurry.  So I decided to hold it still so you can see the beauty.  God is crazy talented, right?

Aren't they beautiful?  I can't wait to see what Spring has to offer!!!

My heart goes out to those of you in the areas hit hard by the 50+ tornadoes this week.  I am lifting you and your families up in prayer.  God Bless you and may he keep you safe.

xoxoxo

Debbie

Just Call Me the Pool Girl

We had so much wind and rain the last couple of days it made a mess in the pool.  So yours truly pulled out the big guns and cleaned it right up.  :)

These photos do not really do the mess in the pool justice.

I pulled out this bad boy to help me get the job done.  It is a P955 Polaris.  It is the top of the line 4WD Robotic Pool Cleaner that features the easy lift system, motion-sensing handheld remote, dirty canister indicator, and Vortex Vacuum technology for best-in-class cleaning performance.  In other words, it is the Cadillac of pool cleaners.  :)

The hubs bought it last year and we love it!!!

You plug the system into the wall, attach the cord to the main board, and gently place the Polaris in the pool.  It will gradually sink to the bottom of the pool.  Once it reaches the bottom I press the start button and off it goes.

It takes about 1 1/2 hours to clean our pool and the side walls.  Once the Polaris is finished cleaning the pool all you do is press the lift button and the system climbs the wall for you to grab it and remove it from the pool.  As you are lifting the Polaris out the water is emptying out of the Polaris so it is not heavy with water. 

I used the net to fish out the branches so they would not get caught up in the Polaris.  I also skimmed the leaves off of the top of the pool.  The next thing I did was sweep off the tanning deck area so the dirt would go to the bottom of the pool and the Polaris would pick it up.

I think we did a really good job, don't you?  It was so tempting to just get in but it was 55 degrees and the wind was blowing 25 mph.  I think it would have been way too cold for me!!!

I guess I could always become a pool girl, right?!!!  Ha ha!!!

Hope you are having a great day!

Take care,

xoxoxo

Debbie

Weekend Recap

We had a nice weekend.  On Saturday our main goal was to trim the Crepe Myrtles in the backyard.  The hubs was able to get them all trimmed and the front yard work done all in time for Mr. W's birthday party.  The hubs bundled the branches on Sunday afternoon for trash pick up today.  Score!!!  One thing off of our list of things to do.

I trimmed and cut back the potted plants.  My least favorite ones to do are the ferns but it makes such a huge difference.  You don't have all the scraggly dead growth mixed in with the new growth and it is so much healthier looking.  See?  Did I mention how messy it is?  :(

Check this out....Pansies were growing in the pathway.  Say what?   I have been planting Pansies for years and have never seen this before.  Like NEVER!!!  I am so glad I am the one that was doing the weeding because the hubs would have pulled them up.  Not me!  I carefully moved the rocks away and dug each one up.  It was crazy to see the roots all entangled in the rocks.  Again, this is a first for me.  I didn't know seeds could fly off of Pansies???  Does anyone know anything about this?

All in all, I pulled up about 15 little plants.

I carefully replanted them in the bed.

I trimmed the rose bushes (or should I say I trimmed around the blooms!).

You can barely see the little ones I planted here.  I am hoping with all the rain we've gotten this week they are getting stronger and will survive.

It was very overcast so the photos are a little dark.

The bees have gotten off to a good start with the lime tree.  I'll have to stay on top of keeping away those pesky pests that love to eat the leaves.

The hubs went to get a water out of the outside fridge and discovered the motor had gone out.  We had to remove all of the beer, juices, and water and put them in the fridge inside.  You don't realize how much it holds until you have to unload it.  :)  We'll have to replace it soon because this is a very important part of our outdoor fun.  Even the not so fun yard work.

After all of our hard work we went to Mr. W's birthday party.  He is at such a fun age.  He was so excited it was his party.

The first thing we did was open presents.

Poor baby.  He thought we got him more pjs.  :)

He seemed to approve of his new clothes.

His Paw Paw bought him two sets of flashlights.  He was very happy with them though you can't tell by this photo.

He was very happy to find Duplo legos from Nonnie and Uncle Brad.

Bonnie and Uncle Brad also got him a leather jacket.

How cute is this?  He'll look good when he's riding the dirt bikes.  :)

So far all his requests had come true...down to the Cars cake.

He was so excited to blow out his candles and eat cake.

He loved the cake.  He kept asking for more.

Sweet P was so nice and built his blocks for him.

We had Raising Cane's for dinner (his choice).  We played the Game of Life on Amazon afterwards.  It was a lot of fun.  Our little man had a really good birthday.

The next morning his mom woke him up to get ready for church.  He told her after he had his birthday cake and party.  Too cute!  He wanted to have a do over!!!

I hope you are having a good week and did not experience any of the bad weather that blew through yesterday and is making its way up the coast.  Stay aware and be safe!!!

Hugs,

xoxoxo

Debbie