Closet Organization

I recently followed Mrs. Limestone's Conquered Closet series and so many of the pictures inspired me to get creative and organize my own closet!  So, over the weekend I painted my coat closet.... it has been transformed from a space we hang coats, aimlessly toss hats and scarves on a shelf and throw shoes on the floor to an organized closet..... an organized black closet!  The new paint color, Benjamin Moore's Black Beauty, is perfect for the closet walls... it completely hides all those shoe scuff marks and brings a little style to the small space!

I started with a double-door closet that is tucked in a hallway toward the back of our house by two bedrooms and a laundry room.

Over time came the closet came to look like this.... no good!

It needed organization.... so I took everything out, cleaned the shelves, baseboards etc...

 

.... and then began the hard work.... squeezing myself inside the closet for a few hours, especially up on the top shelf to paint all the walls black.

Once the paint was dry, I brought most of our coats, shoes, hats, etc back inside the closet (the rest is being donated), plus a few extra goodies.

I bought matching gray suede hangers from Home Goods...

... and two galvanized bins to store our scarves, gloves and hats on the top shelf.  I printed labels and attached them to the bins, just like in our playroom (free printable here).

In an open area, I hung a gold frame with one of my new prints (free printable here).

I put my husbands shoes back in the closet (mine are now in the master bedroom closet- another area that needs to be cleaned and organized!).  The husband's shoes are stored on a make-shift bench of plastic bed risers and an old piece of wood.

And finally, what I love most, a good before and after photo....

 

Now that this closet is organized, it's given me the motivation to organize the rest of the closets in our house (and some drawers).  My mind feels more organized when my closets and drawers are organized.... think spring cleaning over here!

Black Walls

I've been admiring black walls for a while (just check my Pinterest boards).  Whether it's one wall, an entire room, a wall lined with black bookcases or even a simple display area, I love it!  The deep, bold color makes a room feel so cozy and intimate...

Windsor Smith via House Beautiful

Lonny

House Beautiful

Apologies, Source Unknown

 
High Gloss

Apologies, Source Unknown

 

Apologies, Source Unknown

 
House and Home

 
House and Home

 
Style at Home

While I don't think I'm daring enough (yet) to paint an entire room black, I am beginning a small project that includes a gallon (or more) of black paint...... Benjamin Moore's Black Beauty.

I've used this same paint color here on my back door, but this time I'll be painting the inside of my hall closet....

The hall closet is actually our coat closet which is a bit odd since it isn't anywhere near the front (or back) door.  The closet is tucked between my son's bedroom, the master bedroom and the laundry room.... you might remember the hallway from here with the pink chevron chair (the chair has been moved, but the painting is still on the wall).

I open this closet a few times a day and I think it's about time to make a change, a bold change..... wouldn't you say?

So, this week I'll be making a few updates to the closet, beginning with painting the walls black and ending with some organization.  My hope is to finish painting this weekend (in between going to the local rodeo where I'll be wearing my old boots!) and show you the after pictures next week!

What are your big weekend plans?  Any fun painting projects?

Fall Wreath

My friend Darya in Virginia recently sent me photos of her handmade Fall wreath.....

It's perfect for Halloween!  To make the wreath she used a golden-yellow colored felt, like these available by the yard or in pre-cut rectangles, then cut and rolled each piece into a rosette and glued them onto a grapevine wreath (she followed an awesome, detailed tutorial from Little Things Bring Smiles to make the roses). 

This such a great project..... and the best part is that it could easily be adapted to hang on the door for the entire season.  The ribbon is tied in a way so it can be quickly removed and the Boo sign is a lollipop stick wedged into the wreath.  To update the wreath for Thanksgiving, the ribbon color could be changed and the Boo sign could be replaced with Thankful or Grateful as the text!  Thanks for sharing Darya!

Welcome Fall

Today marks the first official day of Fall!!!  It's my favorite time of year..... leaves changing, windows open, cool breeze, sweaters, apple pie, hot chocolate, bonfires..... the list goes on!  Since it's Fall, I decided to update the look of my back door and make it a little cozy and add a wreath.

I've been storing up ideas Pinterest and thought it's about time to complete one of the projects saved to my DIY board.....  these are two of my favorite handmade wreaths.....

Smile Monsters

The Simple Standard via Etsy

I recreated the one sold by The Simple Standard.  Simple Standard's is made from burlap, but I used several extra painter's drop cloths that I had on hand, so my new wreath is slightly different.....

I cut tons of 1"x3" (approximately) strips of drop cloth, then washed and dried them to fringe the edges (if you wash the tiny strips in your machine you may want to put them in a mesh bag).  Once the strips were dried, I used my glue gun and put a dot of glue on the back/middle of each piece, then attached it to a styrofoam wreath.  I glued the strips very, very close together.

Then I added black and white fabric and an old, turquoise, knitted baby hat to one edge for some color...

And here's my wreath...

And since you can see my reflection and the reflection of my newest little addition to the family through the window, I thought I'd give you a better picture..... my new baby.... Riggs (he's definitely keeping me busy this Fall)!

 

I'm lovin' all that comes along with this time of year and I hope you're enjoying the beginning of Fall!  Happy Fall.... and happy Friday!!!

The Mini-Mudroom

The kids and I were painting all morning yesterday... they were painting with watercolors for an art display we're creating in the playroom (more on that tomorrow!) while I was painting our back door that opens into the kitchen.

I decided to paint the back door the color black to enhance our mini-mudroom, I mean our mini-mini-mudroom (by the way, that shirt makes me look kinda pregnant, so before anyone asks... no, I'm not prego).  I'm making a mudroom out of nothing because I desperately NEED a place to dump my stuff (kid stuff) when we walk in the back door.  The back door is really our main entrance... we use it to get to the garage, the driveway and the backyard.

Here's a before full-view of the back door leading into the kitchen area...

And, here's the freshly painted black door (with the Craigslist table and chair project that is waiting for me)... so much contrast, I LOVE it!

Now, don't laugh.... see that teeny-tiny wall space to the right of the black door?  That's what I'm calling our mudroom.  I added a frame for good memories, two hooks for coats, hats, purses, etc, and a much needed storage bench for shoes (remember, we live in TX so hopefully I won't need all the winter gear -- hugs to all my Northern readers, I don't know how you do it!).

I'm planning on giving the storage bench a little makeover.  I think the fake leather looks... well, too fake.  I'm thinking of adding extra padding over the tufted top and covering it with a black/cream ticking striped fabric that I have in my fabric stash... looks like this...

Black and White Ticking Fabric

I'll keep you posted on the mini-mini-mudroom progress.... it should be a speedy makeover since it's such a small space in the kitchen.

Psst, the rest of the kitchen progress is here.

French Doors

I absolutely love, love, love french doors.  I love them au natural, painted white, painted black, and especially painted in a fun, bold color.  We had painted white french doors in our house in Virginia and I loved the look.  This was a corner of our living room and the french doors opened to a sun-room -- or playroom as we called it, it was such a perfect layout...

The playroom in our new house also has painted white french doors on the entry way (think office), but today..... they were taken off.  As much as I love french doors they just weren't working for the room.  The doors took up way too much space when they were opened, almost three feet on each side!

Here's the before...

And now....

 

I want to give the kids as much space as possible to play, so the doors had to come down (curtains too).  Ahhh, I feel like I can breath now.... sooo clean!  It probably helps that some of the walls are now a lighter color (Floral White by Benjamin Moore) and the carpet has been updated (Martha Stewart for Home Depot).

Now, here's a little secret.... I decided not to patch the trim where the hinges were since the doors may eventually go back on (ya never know) and I'd hate to have to ask my super, sweet husband to carve away trim for door hinges.  So, I just painted the holes the same color as the trim and hopefully it'll blend so it's not such an eye-soar.  If you're ever in my house, just don't look to close :)  Shhh....

Oh, and did you catch a glimpse of the black chalkboard wall?  I love it (more on that later!).