Headboard Project: Completed!

Well I finished my first headboard project! It was so fun and pretty simple. Here's how we did it:

As you know, we started with a piece of plywood. The next step was to attach the hardware that it will hang from on the wall. We got some D-rings from Home Depot and drilled holes in the plywood then attached them. We spaced them 18" apart since normal wall studs are 18" apart. I think we put more than we really needed to on my headboard, but better safe than sorry!

Next we used a dremel tool to saw off the ends of the bolts. This was the most entertaining because of all the sparks flying!

After all of that it was time to spray glue the foam down and cut it to shape. We used 2" foam and I think it ended up being the perfect thickness for this headboard.

After the foam came the batting. We used the staple gun to attach it to the back of the headboard and then cut off the excess. This was a simple step that helped to smooth the edges and create a good shape for the headboard. Here is a picture of what it looked like after that:

The next step was to add the fabric. I don't have many pictures of this step because I was so caught up in the process. First we got the fabric laid out how we wanted it and then started stapling. We were careful not to pull the fabric too tight so that we would still have a nice edge all the way around. It was pretty simple until it came to the corners, and then it took some thinking, cutting, and manipulating the fabric so that it would lay flat and look right. I am a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to things like this but we finally got it just the way I wanted it! 

After the fabric was on securely, it was time for the nailhead trim to finish things off! I got a trim kit to make things easier; you only have to nail in every fifth one! After that, we had a beautiful headboard ready to go home with me! I really loved making this headboard and hope to be able to make more for other people soon! I also got so caught up in my project mode that I recovered my upholstered bench:

Now that everything is complete, I just need to get it all put in my bedroom and find cute artwork and accessories. I can't wait to share my finished bedroom with all of you soon! 

My Colorful Christmas Wishes!

It is the first day of December, and I am in the mood for all things Christmas! I've got the tree lit, the CMA Christmas Special on, and have been doing some Christmas shopping. One thing I love this year is all of the colorful things out there! I love that colorful clothing and jewelry have been a big trend this season and plan on incorporating them into my Christmas giving and getting! So for any lady you might be shopping for, think bright! These are just a few of the things that I am loving right now. Most of the them are from Jcrew, with a few items from Kate Spade and Michael Kors. Be sure to share with me what is on your Christmas list this year, and Happy Holidays!

Loving my Living Room!

I am finally finished designing my living room (I think....). It has changed a lot since I first posted pictures, and I am so happy with the end result. This room is so special to me for so many reasons. I put a lot of thought into it from the reupholstered chair, to the painted lamp, and even the chevron rug and other decorative details. One of my favorite things in the room is the painting above the couch. My mom painted it for me and I know that I will cherish it forever! Well without much more rambling, here are pictures of the completed living room, hope you like it!

Thanks for checking it out! I hope everyone has a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving! 

Headboard Project: Started!

I started my headboard project today! You should have seen all the men staring at me like I was a crazy lady while buying plywood at Home Depot. I picked it out, got it cut to size, and then attempted to put it in the car by myself. I say attempted because I failed and had to have help from a nice man in the parking lot. Luckily for me, it was all down hill after that! I got to my parents house where we unloaded the plywood, marked off where we would cut it, and got out the power tools! We used something round that we found in the garage to create the shape I wanted and then started cutting! Here is how it looks now; what potential!

We could have easily completed the project today, but we are still waiting on the foam to be delivered early next week. The next steps will be to cut the foam to size and spray glue it to the plywood, wrap batting around the headboard, attach the fabric with a staple gun, and then finish it off with some nailhead trim. We hope to get it completed by next week and I can't wait to post pictures of the end result! Here are some more pictures of the headboard with the fabric:

Bedroom Makeover

Since we have moved into our new apartment, the living room has been my main focus, design-wise. I have now reached a point where it is looking great and I am almost done worrying about it (pictures to come). With all my attention focused on the living room, our bedroom has taken a back seat and it shows! I quickly got tired of the pattern of our old duvet cover, and decided that I wanted white bedding. The white is beautiful but boring right now. I am such a pattern and color addict that the solid bedding, curtains, and walls are really not doing it for me. My mom and I went shopping yesterday and I found the perfect fabric to totally revitalize the dull bedroom, thank goodness! I really believe that fabric is THE very best starting point, especially one with a great print. If you can find a fabric you love, then you can start to pull colors out of the main fabric to use as accent fabric, paint colors, and to give you ideas for artwork. I am SO excited to get the fabric in that I chose for my headboard. My mom and I will be making the headboard ourselves, which is something I have always wanted to try. Stay posted for updates on how the room is coming along!

The BIG Model Home Project

One of my favorite things that I have been able to do with my Real Estate job was to help design Model Homes for one of our builders. The builder was in the process of building two model homes at once and everything had to be decided from the color of the houses to the light fixtures inside. When I first saw the house it looked a whole lot like this:

It has been so neat to see the house go through every stage of building. I would get very excited to go and check on the progress each week. It also made me realize that if I have the chance one day, I would love to build. There is something so great about having the opportunity to design every aspect of your home, and it gives you even more reason to be proud of the end result. After the framing stage, drywall went up and soon it was time to paint. Colors needed to be chosen immediately for the inside of the house, as well as the Hardi-Plank exterior. We decided that the house would be red. I love the red because it is such a happy color and makes the house stand out while giving it a cottage feel. On the inside we decided to paint the main walls a light yellow, and the master suite a grey-blue. I am so tired of walking into model homes and seeing boring neutrals on every wall. The yellow gives the whole house a fresh feeling and everyone has seemed to love it so far. The blue in the bedroom is calming. Here are some pictures of the house in various stages of the building process.

The Yellow is Up!

The blue was not the correct blue and had to be re-painted so that it would be perfect!

Master Bath-Tile shower almost ready to be installed

Fireplace going in

The house with stone added and some Red Hardi-Plank

Progress! I love it! The next steps happened very quickly: Install light fixtures, tile flooring, hardwoods, cabinets, and stone surrond on fireplace:

After all this was finished, it was time for my wedding weekend, and therefore, I missed move-in week. It was so exciting to get home and see the finished product looking just as beautiful as I knew it would. I got home just in time to hold the house open during the fall Parade of Homes. It was great to have so many people visit the house and share with me everything they liked about it. It is such a cute home in a great neighborhood, and I can't wait to help future homeowners get excited about their own building process here in Southgate. If you are in the Huntsville area, be sure to stop by and see me and tour the house. I promise you will love it!