Decorating Dilemmas

Hey there Tiffany! Welcome back!

Gosh, I am so glad you had a very smooth move. The place looks so spacious and clean.

I had a idea for you kitchen, since you have red, black and white in your DR why don't you carry over those colors into the kitchen. How about a cute black and white check curtains to cover your spices? I think it would be so easy to make. Use red accessories. Is that a red kettle on your spice shelf I see? I know you can't paint, but maybe you could at least use some washable B/W check wallpaper and remove it later, you know that peel and stick kind or those plastic peel and stick tiles on your backsplash? You can use velcro too.

Here look, these come with peel and stick tabs:

http://www.improvementscatalog.com/home/improvements/792927019-metal-kitchen-wall-tiles.html

Something like this (link below) would look so cute and cheerful in your all white kitchen. What color is the floor? Can't see it in the photo.

http://openhouse.homegoods.com/index.php/2007/03/15/black-and-white-and-red-all-over/

That's a great DR set you got and I bet it was a bargain too! Buttery yellow would be nice, but you really have 2 accent colors already and it's your red and black. I would play these colors up in the room and get a nice solid red fabric or yellow would be nice too if you add this color to the room, hang it on one wall and use some theme photos all in black frames hung over the fabric for a focal wall. Maybe on the wall that is over your sideboard? Flowers, fruit, trees or food photos are great in a DR and black and white prints would be good too. Here like this:

http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-22580017-interior-view-of-cozy-family-dining-room.html

You could use some plate stands or wall hangers, for some of your R/B plates and either stand them up on top of your sideboard or hang some on the walls too. Yellow tablecloth and curtains trimmed in black and red? Do you sew? I wouldn't bother with chair pads, unless you can make some in a matching fabric with the tie on straps. The round ones never stay in place and with kids you will be always picking them up off the floor.

I really like your boots picture, looks nice and western, my small bath is done in a wildlife Western theme. I think I would go Western in there and try find some western style accessories in that nice rust brown color of the boots, then use some solid color, turquoise, black, rust and yellow towels for some color (mix them up) and turquoise or rust color area rugs. That should brighten things up some. I would take that photo with you when you go shopping to get a good match. I was thinking a nice rope like a lasso hung in there on the wall might be cute or some cowboy/indian photos in black or rust color frames?

Thanks for all the nice photos!

Have you made any decisions on the bedrooms yet?

Hey :)

Actually, most of my kitchen stuff is red or black but it all just happens to be in the cabinets. My crockpot, deep fryer, blender, food processor and mixer are all red. DH has promised that when our microwave dies that we will replace it with a red one. That is indeed a red tea kettle that is sitting up with the spices...there is also a set of red canisters that I figured I would take down and display on the counters.

The floors are white.

As to the dining room. The table linens were made by my sil as a bridal shower gift. There are also 3 matching bread/fruit baskets to go with the set.

Here is a my fear and why I am wanting to incorporate some other colors...I am worried that there might be to much red/black downstairs. Red happens to be my favorite color for household items. As you can tell it is used liberally throughout the dining room and in my kitchen appliances. My living room furniture is also red w/ dark brown wood accents (that in most light looks black) and there are black curtains hanging in the living room on the window and patio.

Those are some great ideas for the dining room that you suggested. On the walls there are several floral paintings and then over our sideboard there is a last supper painting. (We are Catholic and there are touches of our faith throughout our home.)

Yeah, if I do chair pads I'll be making them myself. (I do sew :D) Honestly, I am considering just making or purchasing one for my chair to use when my back is bothering me. I have back problems and when I have a flare up sitting at the table is very difficult.

The picture of the boots, I actually did myself. It is one of my favorite pieces. Since, it is just a half bath I was thinking maybe getting some hand towels and stitching a cowboy hat or some other western thing on them.

The only room I've really thought about upstairs where the bedrooms are is the hall bath. It has a clear shower curtain with large bright colored dots all over it. I am in the process of turning an old towel into a bath mat. I have some great white fabric that has bright colored striped running down it that I am using over the towel to make the mat. I was figuring I'd pick a solid color from the shower curtain dots for the things like a soap dispenser and towels.

Sound great Tiffany! The red in the kitchen will be awesome with a black and white check. It's so good you sew.

Nice table linens your sil made you. I think if you want to add another color to the DR you really need something for inspiration, to pull another color from, that also has red, black, white and a few other colors in it. What about a nice area rug in a style you like under your table? If you get one, just make sure it's large enough so when you pull the chairs out they are resting on the rug.

Funny! I made a last supper tapestry to hang on our church's wall a few years ago. Got the fabric, of all places....LOL Wal-mart.

I have a bad back too and made a pillow to carry around with me. LOL, even take it in the car and to church. Those wooden benches kill me.

Those boots are really nice and colorful. Did you paint them? I dabble in doing some paintings also.

Your dots bathroom sounds fun! Try and share some photos of that with us. You sound very handy and crafty like me. It's great to save a little money that way here and there.

Have fun with your new place and please keep us posted! If you need ideas for the bedrooms take some photos of that too.