Stuck Inside

I have been stuck inside the house the last few days because my lips are sunburned and blistered beyond belief.

I really wanted to be in/on the water because it has been SO HOT, but the doctor said the best solution to heal my lips was for me to sit in a dark basement for a month.

My house isn't quite a dark basement, but it is out of the sun, my lips are feeling much better and remarkably, I have gotten a lot done.

After arranging all my clocks on the mantel, I had a lot of "spare parts" so yesterday I gathered things from all over the house for a bit of rearranging.

After putting a very simple display on the hallway cabinet, I tackled the guest room.

I thought of the lyrics, "it's my party and I'll cry if I want to" as I decorated the ladder.

My lyrics became, "it's my house and I'll use coastal decor if I want to" even though it's nearly fall!

I live in a beach house, so it works for me.

I bought the beach bucket on our vacation a few weeks ago.

If our guests want to see beach houses, there are plenty of books for inspiration

and no shortage of nautical trinkets.

Once I decided that the theme for the guest room would be the beach, I even went so far as to switch the paintings.

This is one of my favorite paintings - our old kayaks at Little Beach where we launch.

Both of these displays were in the living room all summer, but now they're in the "Beach Room".

The screen over the bed has a simple WELCOME message

with a few beachy touches.

The painting above the dresser is of our family in Kauai several years ago and is one of the paintings Steve will never sell.

A few of my buckets decorate the dresser 

and my shopping cart is full of shells we have collected on local beaches.

More shells decorate the side table

and my heart rock collection is in a prominent spot - the big heart isn't a found piece, but I added it for size.

The guest room is ready for family coming next month.

But, I won't be be using these spare parts today because two days out of the sun helped my lips

and I plan to be in the water 

or on the water escaping this crazy heat wave.

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Join me at

Ms. Toody Goo Shoes for Best of the Weekend

Change Happens

Change, constant change, is Steve's major complaint about me!

But, change happens sometimes when you are not expecting it.

Until last week, the guest room looked like this.

Our daughter has been staying with us during the week since October, but KC moved back to the Bay Area and took much of her decor/furniture with her.

I spent the last few days putting together the room because we have a special guest coming this week.

In my old age, I am realizing that I don't need to always be purchasing new items

so my goal for the room was to spend no money and only use things I had on hand.

The checkered shams are an old IKEA purchase and the white quilt was on our bed until last summer.

A favorite quilt adorns the foot of the bed complimented by pillows that have been used on our bed, on the window seat in the dining room, on the living room sofa and even outside on the chaises.

The little stool at the foot of the bed is one of several pieces KC returned to me after stealing it when she moved to town.

Among the things KC left behind were the navy suede headboard on the bed and her IKEA dresser - it's old, but does the trick for now.

My original plan was shelves and baskets on this wall, but I decided that "less is more" and I asked my resident artist for paintings.

The chair was a cheap Tuesday Morning purchase that I love tucking into empty corners.

While KC was with us, this little table served as a night stand, but I had other ideas for next to the bed so the table fills a space between the windows - Steve added one of my favorite truck paintings.

I have always wanted to use a ladder for shelves and finally I have the perfect spot.

Originally we hung a painting over the bed, but it was overwhelming

so an old screen hangs above the bed and a little bag for candy (empty for now or Lulu would try to get it) awaits our guest who will arrive on Friday.

 Steve's most recent painting hangs above a table I moved into the bedroom from the living room.

I am eagerly awaiting my cousin Vicki's arrival

as is Lulu - although she might be waiting for KC to come home.

I am happy with the room and pleased with myself that I didn't buy anything except flowers

and fresh flowers are a change that Steve can handle!

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Head on over to My Salvaged Treasures for the Vintage Inspiration Party

On a mission . . . from empty to finished in 5 days

KC moved to town last Sunday to a duplex filled with boxes and her limited furniture.

Like a tornado whipping through town, KC took that empty space and turned it into her own special haven.

Yesterday afternoon when I dropped by to take photos, she was relaxing on her sofa in a space decorated perfectly for her and the lifestyle she lives.

Her bedroom was finished on Monday morning except for the headboard that she redid Wednesday afternoon.

2 yards of blue suede, 134 nails and 1 blister were all it took to obtain a stylish and sophisticated look.

Nautical accents show KC's love of the ocean.

KC rented her place sight unseen and was pleasantly surprised that the bedroom was larger than she expected.

The kitchen came with only a stove so she shopped around for an apartment size refrigerator.

Favorite quotes, save the dates and pictures add color to the white room.

I gave her the K mug from Anthropologie several years ago so all she needed were the F and S to display knives, forks and spoons.

A butcher block cart from IKEA adds both a work surface and extra storage.

After I took the photos, she stole a large green metal basket from my hallway to replace the small wicker basket on the shelf.

The painting is a still life Steve did in an art class years ago.

KC had no dining room at her San Francisco apartment so she needed a table.

With limited space in the dining room, she opted for an outdoor bistro style table and chairs from IKEA.

  She "stole" the yellow bench from our bedroom to hold books and provide extra seating when she has company.

The "&" pillow is from Crate and Barrel.

The turquoise bar cart was a birthday present last May that I bought KC on my annual Mother's Day San Francisco visit.

I bought the CHEERS sign on the same visit and the painting of Fort Point is one Steve did for KC several years ago.

I can't believe what KC accomplished in 5 days - check here to see the living room.

I transplanted flowers from my garden to her yard today, but I am not nearly as productive.

It will take me far more than 5 days to create a garden worth photographing.

 And, I have to fill holes in my house created by all of KC's thievery.

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I am joining these parties

Twigg Studios - Sunday Showoff Linky Party

My Romantic Home - Show and Tell Friday

Funky Junk Interiors - Party Junk 210

The Dedicated House - Anything Blue and Pink Friday

VMG 206 - DIY Sunday Showcase