Hallway Wall Makeover

Unfortunately newly built homes don't have a lot of character to them. I have a long wall in my upstairs hallway leading to the gameroom that was naked for nearly four years. It was time for an easy and inexpensive makeover!

I wanted something neutral with a little coastal flare to it. I've always loved the way neutral thick stripes look on walls, but I also wanted to display a little personal art. So I came up with...

While we were in Orlando when Nikolas was three, we had a candid moment at Disney's Beach Club Resort where Nikolas ran out after dinner to make "snow angels" in the sand. I'm so glad I had my camera with me! I had a series of good shots that I was able to capture with my el cheapo digital camera! Later I sent them in to Walmart to have them made into 11 x 14" canvas'. I wish they had been in a matte finish (not offered at the time), but even still I love them and they were pretty reasonable for all four (around $65, I believe with a coupon).

The paddle is from Pottery Barn. I couldn't pass it up as I have an addiction to chippy old paint!

The bell was a find at T.J. Maxx in Destin of all places! I love it so much as it adds to that coastal vibe without being too "themey" (I know, themey isn't a real word, but you catch my drift).

My Coastal Summer Mantel

I was so inspired by our recent trip to Destin, that I wanted to have that happy beach feeling surrounding me at home. I didn't have a huge budget so I gathered a lot of the decor from other areas of our house.

The white lantern and rope starfish were from Nikolas' room. I got the large glass vase on clearance for $13.00. The freebies include the sand inside the vase from the beach, along with several of the shells. Can you spot the typo in the wooden sign (a T.J. Maxx find)? It's okay, I still love it!!!

Other areas of the house needed a little summer spruce up so I did spring on some new throw pillows. (These are a mix of Pottery Barn and T.J. Maxx.)

I used some industrial strength velcro to attach a starfish to the wall and a vintage inspired seashell tray.

I tied these wooden buoys together and hung them on a wall hook

 with the clock above for a little visual interest.

Now I've got my own personal beach house to bring sunny vibes all summer long!

Urban Farmhouse Pieces Just In!

My first pieces in six months! It feels SO good to be back to painting again!

Weathered Cottage Dresser $325

 

Wrought iron hardware and layers of weathered paint in shades of green, blue and tobacco glaze give this vintage piece an antique cottage feel. Would be lovely as a bedside chest, hall table, or small dresser.

40"L x 31"H x 17"D

Farmhouse Sideboard $450

 Farm French Provincial Sideboard in a distressed smoke gray with layers of cream paint chipping through for aged appeal. 66"L x 31"H x 17"D

Interested in Purchasing A Piece?

Email: Baylorkls@aol.com

or

Call: (469) 693-6743

*I am no longer showing at the Mercantile, so please contact me to schedule a time to see a piece. Each piece is unique and they sell quickly, so if you have your eye on something, please contact me promptly. I will be finishing 2-3 pieces a week for now. Please "follow me" at http://www.farmstylestudio.blogspot.com/ to see the pieces each week as I will post them the day they are completed and ready for sale.



A Great Loss & A Sunny New Perspective

Life has a way of turning things upside down on you....just when everything seems to be going your way, out of no where you get blind sided by a big, fat curve ball.

My dad passed away on February 1st, the day of the big ice storm here in Dallas. It was a heart attack after falling on the ice. It happened so suddenly that it took me a month before I stopped feeling numb from it. I've never lost someone close to me like that and in such a sudden and final manner. It was like being punched in the gut.

I'm an only child and my parents are divorced, so I didn't realize how much was to come in the months following, dealing with an estate. It became my new day (and night) job, leaving little time for Urban Farmhouse.

I was hurting so badly that I had no desire to think about design or be creative. I truly wanted to curl up under the covers and stay there indefinately.

We had planned a family vacation to Destin, Florida the first week of May.  I knew I needed to take a break and get out of town. I've been to Florida several times, but never to the Gulf Shores before...and I've gotta tell ya, this was exactly what I needed to get my spirit back.

We found a great little house called "My Margaritaville" in SanDestin. It was a stones throw from the beach situated in a small, quiet pocket of vacation homes.

The view from our porch

The cheery and quirky design was a breath of fresh air at
My Margaritaville

The house was colorful, quirky, and beachy with a huge wrap around deck where we hung out everyday.

Being by the water was just the therapy I needed to start feeling like myself again. I have a strong connection to the sea and always tend to incorporate coastal undertones when working on a design project.

               My boys playing on the shore

Thank you so much for all of the amazing emails and calls!  I was so touched by the overwhelming amount of support and prayers over the last five months. It's helping my heart to heal...