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Yeah, the cabinet doors and drawers aren’t done…yet. But it is nice to have my own space to spread out and organize.
This room also doubles as a library. I love having everything in one designated space, opposed to all over our house. Once the doors and drawers are built, my office will be complete!
I have already given some ideas on how to add a personal touch to framed photos, and now I have some ideas to add personal touches throughout the home.
1. Add monograms or your family name. Monograms are a quick and inexpensive way to make a room your own. Michael’s and Hobby Lobby are great places to look. The letters on the picture rail hail from Hobby Lobby and cost $9.99 each.
I had some scrap fabric lying around, so I made custom monogrammed pillow covers for each of our boys. You can’t really tell, but the painting in the photo above has their monograms, too. If you don’t want to spend $10 on monograms, craft stores also have cheaper MDF and paper mache versions, like the ones in my office.
Just add a few coats of paint and you’ve got a custom art piece. We also have a few monograms in our living room. I recently picked up some Power Ball-esuqe monograms from Pier 1.
You could also use monogram hooks in an entryway or bathroom to keep each family member’s items separated.
2. Choose prints and art with personal meaning. I also create custom prints if I am in need of a personal touch.
I love this bird print we have in our entry way because it shows our little family, wedding date, names and the colors are specifically coördinated to our room.
Another easy DIY project to inject a little more of you into your space are custom silhouettes. When I make our silhouettes, I take photos of each person in complete profile. Kids can be much more difficult, but with digital cameras, just keep taking pictures and eventually something will work. Then I open my photos in Photoshop and trace the outlines. Then I print right on to my colored cardstock and cut them out. Simply tape the silhouette onto another piece of cardstock and frame.
Don’t limit yourself to silhouettes of your family. The process is the same for making anything, so choose your favorite flower, tree, whatever and make another design.
Choose prints that have a meaning to you, not just something that looks pretty. Again, I make my own prints, but my I Love You This Much print began as something I say to my boys. Other typographic prints could look great, too. Choose a favorite quote, song lyric or phrase. Translate a phrase to another language for a less obvious, but still meaningful print, like the Je T’Aime (I love you in French) print above. A great place to start your search is Etsy because you can talk to the seller and ask to have something customized.
3. Spruce up a box store item. Don’t be afraid to spray paint something to take it from the big box store look to fit your home. Spray paint frames, sculptures or figurines, even furniture. It will definitely become more personal with little time, effort and money.
Ben has a lot of great ideas, especially when it comes to accent lighting. When we added this trim to our master bedroom, Ben got the idea to add hardwired rope lights inside. After taking the time to drill through each header, Ben had the wiring ready. Ben bought 3 to 6 foot long rope light strips from Home Depot. The lengths of the rope lighting depended on the width of the door or window they would go over. Ben plugged the lights in and wired in a dimmer switch. We love how handy the lights are, especially now that we’re waking up in the middle of the night to change diapers.
I had been planning my office for quite some time, but over looked the lighting. Ben suggested we install halogen puck lights to create task lighting. We have two sets, one on each side of the upper cabinets. The lights have two hidden switches located under my marble desktop.
I love how much task lighting I have now. It makes my work so much easier!
We recently revealed our new DIY dining table, complete with a dark green-black marble top. This isn’t the first (or last) piece of marble or granite in our house. In fact, we have quite a bit in 1 1/4 inch thick slabs and tiles. I thought I’d give a pictoral view showcasnig the granite and marble we have in our home.
All three of our bathrooms have granite-topped vanities.
The main bathroom granite is Giallo San Francisco:
Our master bathroom color is Galaxy Black:
The basement bathroom counters are Verde Maritoka:
Part of my office desktop has Carrera marble, while the other areas have Brazilian Cherry.
Each bathtub has a matching granite sill to rest on. Both the main and master bathrooms have marble tub surrounds, too.
The master bathroom floor is covered in white marble and absolute black granite checkerboard. The main bathroom has white marble floors in a brick lay pattern.
We decided to install granite and marble as some of our window sills to protect them from moisture.
The kitchen and dining room sills are Silver Spark:
Our master bathroom has Carrera Marble:
The half wall by our stairway has a brown granite topper:
Our love of marble extends to a few pieces of furniture other than our dining table. Two small side tables in our guest bedroom have marble tile tops.
This little table had a clear glass top, but it was easily replaced by one 12 inch square tile, left over from our bathroom remodel.
Why limit marble to counter tops when you can have a marble table lamp like this:
Just to recap, we have 4 countertops, 3 tables, 6 window and tub sills, 2 shower surrounds, 1 lamp and we haven’t remodeled our kitchen.
Why do we have so much marble and granite you ask? We love the timeless look, durability and we can get remnant slabs for a great price. And, it’s almost easier to work with than wood.
Here’s a source list for items in our house. If you have questions about anything, just ask!
Living Room:
Paint: Wicker Chair by Olympic and Behr’s Vermont Cream color matched in Wal-Mart’s Colorplace brand Rug: Flor Sofa: HOM Furniture Chairs: Dolce Lounge Chair from Target End Tables: Dror by Target Lamps: TJ Maxx Curtains: Target Throw Blanket: TJ Maxx Pillow Covers: Hand Sewn Fabric from Joann Bird Candleholder: Target Picture Frames: Wal-Mart, Target, Michael’s Artwork: Custom made by me Front Door: Home Depot Floors: Original Red Oak Hardwood
Living Room Other Side:
Rocking Chair: Lay-Z-Boy (is now in the basement) Desk: Repainted hand-me-down Desk Chair: Target Black Picture Frame: Target Large Frame: Target
Chair: Hom Furniture Mirror: Garage Sale-only $5.00! Candle Sconces: Linens N Things Pillow: I made it. Here’s how.
Entertainment Center:
Entertainment Center: Custom Built by Ben Door Hardware: Home Depot Modern Bar TV: 32″ Vizio from Costco Silver Picture Frames: TJ Maxx B Monogram: Target Candle Holders: Target Clock: Restoration Hardware on Ebay Tall Blue Vase: Crate and Barrel Short Blue Vase: TJ Maxx Wooden Sculpture: Target Magazine Files: IKEA painted Green Books: Used, Barnes and Noble Print: Made by Me Hour Glass: CB2
Dining Room:
Paint: Mistinted version of Restoration Hardware’s Silver Sage (The paint is from Wal Mart and they used the light base. The formula for one gallon is B-37, E-39.5, and T-37. This is the color used in our basement, too. It can look more green in some light) and Behr’s Vermont Cream-both color matched at Wal-Mart Dining Table: DIY Table Chairs: World Market Rug: Flor Curtains: Hand Sewn from Fabric From Hancock Fabrics Fruit Bowl: Thrift Store Plates: Linens N Things and Target Candle Sticks: Target Light Fixture: CB2 Curtain Rod: Wal-Mart Floors: Original Red Oak Hardwood
Guest Bedroom:
Paint: Restoration Hardware’s Sea Green, color matched to Behr and Behr’s Vermont Cream Headboard: Free from an apartment tenant Floral Bedding: Ross Sheets: Linens N Things Blue King Pillows: TJ Maxx Striped Pillow: Hand Sewn from Fabric from Joann Picture Frame: From my Great Grandma Photo: Forsyth Park Fountain taken on our Honeymoon in Savannah, GA White Nightstand: Built by Ben Lamp: Target Clock: World Market Candle Sconces: Bed, Bath and Beyond Curtains: Wal-Mart Curtain Rod: Target Apothecary Jar of Shells: Michael’s Pendant: DIY with coffee filters
Guest Bedroom Other Side:
Mirror: Found in the Trash-from Target Bedside Carafe: Two Glasses from World Market Shell: Target Artwork in the Hall: Family Tree made by Me
Main Bathroom:
Paint: Behr’s Vermont Cream and Restoration Hardware’s Lilac Vanity: Built by Ben out of Maple Drawer Pulls: Home Depot Countertop: Giallo San Francsico Granite Remnant Vessel Sink and Faucet: E bay Mirror: Reused from Remodel Light Fixtures: Home Depot Picture, Frame and Mat: Michael’s Glass Box: World Market Soap Pump: Target Lotion: Bath and Body Works Candles and Jars: Target Purple Towels: Target White Towels: Linens N Things
Main Bathroom Shower:
White and Grey Marble Tile (also on floors): Home Depot Faucet: Delta at Home Depot Shower Curtain: Target Towel Bar and Toilet Paper Holder: Home Depot
Master Bedroom:
Paint: Restoration Hardware’s Bay Laurel and Behr’s Vermont Cream Bed: Custom Built by Ben Coverlet: IKEA Pillow Shams: Linens N Things Throw Pillow: Hand Embroidered by Me Nightstand: IKEA Lamps: Home Depot Clock: World Market Pictures: E Bay Picture Frames: Michael’s Curtains: Wal-Mart Curtain Rods: Wal-Mart
Master Bedroom Other Side:
Mirror: Michael’s Upholstered Bench: HOM Furniture
Master Bathroom:
Paint: Behr’s Vermont Cream and Restoration Hardware’s Bay Laurel Curtains: Wal-Mart Floors: Absolute Black and White Marble from Home Depot Toilet: Kohler Highline from Home Depot Vanity: Built by Ben Countertop: Galaxy Black Remnant Ben Finished Shower Curtain: Target Towels: Target Towel Bar and Toilet Paper Holder: Home Depot Clock: Gift
Boy’s Bedroom:
Paint: Ralph Lauren’s Riesling and Behr’s Vermont Cream Crib: Garage Sale Dresser: Hand Me Down Curtains: Wal Mart Curtain Rods: Home Depot Crib Blanket: Crocheted by Me Sheets: Target Crib Skirt: Target Rocking Chair: Family chair Storage Bin: Tuesday Mornings Mobile: Made by Me Owl: Made by Me Silhouette: Made by Me E and V: Hobby Lobby Pillows: Made by Me
Bed: Hand Me Down Painted Red Bedding: Target Stuffed Animals: Kohl’s Pillows: Hand sewn by me Footprint Art: Inked Feet of my Boys Artwork: Canvas Painted by Me Bookshelf: Hand Me Down
Office:
Paint: Benjamin Moore’s Raisin and Behr’s Vermont Cream Cabinets and Shelving: Custom Built by Ben Countertops: Brazilian Cherry and Carrera Marble Desk Chair: IKEA Desk Lamp: Target Storage Boxes and Magazine Files: IKEA Curtains: Hand Sewn from Fabric from Hancock Fabrics White Marble Vases: Restoration Hardware Small Blue Vase: Target Little Bird: Felt Pincushion from Etsy Picture Frames on Shelves: Target Map Frame: Michael’s Map: Art.com Light Fixture: Home Depot Magnetic Tins: IKEA
Office Bookshelves:
Chair: Target Accent Table: Target Picture Frame on Table: Target White Vase: Target (was a reed diffuser) Storage Boxes: IKEA Brown Frames: Hobby Lobby Art in Brown Frames: My modern portraits Drawing Figure: IKEA Rose Candle Holders: Michael’s, Big Lots and Ross Bird Art: Custom Painted by Me Orange Clock: Hobby Lobby Wire Buildings: Target Butterfly Artwork: Custom Made by Me Globes: Garage Sales and Target Vacation Jars: Hobby Lobby filled with vacation items Books: Barnes and Noble, Thrift Stores and Garage Sales
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