Bag Organization

I am self-confessed BAG-AHOLIC.

Although by looking at our closet you couldn't tell because of how I treat my bags...

See? Bags on top of each other

Overflowing all the way to the floor

I didn't want to use one of these...

source

because I didn't have the hanging closet space for it.
And I didn't want this too...

source

... because all the reviews were not great on this cardboard organizer, plus with both these options, a lot of my big bags won't be able to fit in them anyway (I'm a big bag lover)!

Well, one Saturday afternoon, I decided to put a stop to all this "cruelty" I give my precious bags and made sure I will treat them right from now on!

Here's what I came up with...

Ta-da!

I decided to put some of my bags back into their boxes. I have yet to label them when I took the picture but I will do so soon. 

I also placed my smaller bags inside these...

GET IT HERE

and I absolutely love it!

How I wish these came in a much bigger size and with a lid too!

I would definitely get them for all my bags if they came in different sizes, but alas, it just came in this one small size. :-(

I placed the other bags in their dust bags to protect them as well. The ones inside the paper bags are also inside dust bags.

Now, I know where everything is at, and hopefully avoid the pitfalls of getting my bags deformed and dirty from storage.

Now, if I can only find a solution to organize my shoes..... ;-)

Happy Organizing!

VEL

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Linking back to...

Amaze Me Monday, Show And Share

Crushing on Horizontal Fencing

When I shared with you last week about our Backyard Make-over HERE, 

I didn't mention that we were also gonna change the type of fencing too!

And right now we are seriously crushing on these...

Contemporary Landscape by London Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers John Davies Landscape

Asian Exterior by Austin Architects & Building Designers Webber + Studio, Architects

Yup, it's wooden Horizontal fencing!

It can be cool low...

Midcentury Exterior by Santa Barbara Architects & Building Designers ON Design Architects

... or high

Contemporary Exterior by Emeryville Architects & Building Designers Ohashi Design Studio

...tight-knit

                    Modern Exterior by San Francisco Architects & Building Designers John Lum Architecture, Inc. AIA

... or with spaces in between

Midcentury Exterior by Austin Doors crestviewdoors

...nice in a modern home

Contemporary Exterior by Portland Architects & Building Designers Giulietti Schouten Architects

...and can go with a more traditional style

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Traditional Exterior by Biloxi Architects & Building Designers RJ Elder Design

I seriously have to thank Cassie for this...

Hi Sugarplum

...when she shared her gorgeous new horizontal fence for her home.

It made me think why not use this kind of fencing on our yard extension too?!

Thank you Cassie for this inspiration! You can see more of her Horizontal fence HERE!

Don't you just love blogging and all the inspiration it brings?!!!

Can't wait to share with you ours! Almost done!

Have a Wonderful Weekend!

VEL 

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Boys Bathroom Re-Do on a Budget REVEAL

When I shared with you the Boys Bathroom HERE, a couple of weeks ago,

We actually started to fix it up then.

What I shared on IG

It wasn't really a difficult fix since all it needed was a simple design element on the long wall and some cosmetic spruce up.

I had the boys help with the painting since this was gonna be theirs to use anyway!

I did not want to change the vanity, since it was still functional, and the huge mirror, which I love. Both fit with the clean lines I was going for in that space. It did however, have non-functional soap dispensers, and everything inside was a huge mess. And I also needed to update the decor since I also now have a teen in my midst, I had to change and get rid of the cutesy IKEA wall art in there. 

So, here it is now...

We first had the whole room and ceiling refreshed with POLAR BEAR White paint from BEHR, After that I taped off the stripes. And then the boys helped with the painting.

Got my Bamboo hamper from West Elm years ago

Would you believe I've had the paint for 5 years? Yes, that's how long I procrastinated about this room (told you it was embarasssing!)! Kudos to BEHR since the paint held up pretty well (a gallon cost only $25 then, compared to the $35 now), I just went to my local Home Depot to get the can shaken and stirred again to make sure the color was gonna be ok.

I chose this color since I wanted it to go well with the oak-tone in the vanity.

I had to add some GOLD element into the space right?!

All the bathroom fixtures have been brought out from their boxes after we bought them 5 years ago  (I know you must be cringing right?! I know I am!)! It's bamboo and steel,  brand is called FORMBU and we got those from MENARDS ( no longer available for sure).

Towels are from Nate Berkus for Target

I also painted the door & window trim SILVER (also from Behr), left over from Sophia's nursery project, so this was basically FREE. ;-)

I added this Bathroom Decal I got from TARGET on the wall. Initially I had planned on putting it in the middle of the mirror but it didn't look well, I think, it looks better here.

We also lowered the pendants

I covered the switch plates with contact paper

The Tub area was still in great condition, and I love the brass and acrylic fixtures in and out of it.

The 90's does have it's moments. :-)

The picture above the toilet was a Thrift store score years ago (from Chicago days), I think it adds a cute humor in that bare wall. I also added this simple Chrome Glass shelf from LOWE'S.

Got the cute Garbage can from TJ Maxx

All the other clutter on the counter top are now inside the drawers...

.. except for Sponge bob of course! ;-)

Overall, we were all very pleased with how this space turned out.

The clean-lines and uncluttered look make for a less chaotic morning and more calming for the boys too I think.

Of course, taking a picture of this room was a nightmare...

Yup, had to put it in here just to show you the weird poses I had to do for a shot!

And of course, I had to make you recall what this sad room looked like

I  have another bathroom project in the works, And I will share with you another sordid BEFORE on another post! 

Hew, at least one down!

Have a Great week!

VEL 

 Would love to hear your thoughts! Please share away...


Linking back to...

Amaze Me Monday, Show & Share, Tuesdays at our Home, A Stroll Thru Life, Inspire Me Monday, Wow Me Wednesday, Savvy Southern Style, French Country Cottage, Thrifty Decor Chick

Fixing up our back yard and fence

You guys already know what our back yard/ patio looks like...

Yup, looks pretty much done doesn't it? 

Well, it's really not.

You see, thru the magic of editing, I usually do not share with you guys what's on either side of this deck!

And there's a very good reason why I don't because it is A MESS!

To the RIGHT

To the LEFT

We tried fixing this sloping part of the yard on our own... several times. Weeds just seem to love it here no matter what we try and the sloping land doesn't make it inviting at all!

Yup, really, really bad!

To top it all, when we moved in to this house in 2010, the part of the fence that is currently wood, was destroyed (remember, we bought this house foreclosed), so my husband put up this 'temporary' fence to close it off.

Other side

It has definitely seen better days and needs to go - fast!

And since we're replacing this fence anyway, we decided to do more changes...

.. like EXTEND the back yard over all!

Yup, we're extending on where the marks are at. That way, we have more room in the back that's fenced up, for the kids to run in.

It's a snow-ball effect I tell yeah. 

So over all, this is what needs to be done:

1) Level off the ground on both sides of the patio and put some plants on it too

2) Remove the old fence and build a new  to extend the yard.

3) Cover up the pond ( oh yes, there is a pond too, small and ugly too ) and plant something nice on that area

Sounds easy looking at just 3 here on the list, but I know it is gonna be T-O-U-G-H since we started the snow ball rolling already!

Will tell you more about the plans on  my next post!

Have a Great Weekend Friends!

VEL 

 Would love to hear your thoughts! Please share away...

Wall Art for the Breakfast Area

Hello Friends!

It's been one VERY BUSY WEEK for me  with us trying to get our oldest son settled in in his High school dormitory in St. Louis! Hew! Orientations left and right and of course, making sure his digs for the next 10 months would suffice. I also had some work-related things to do on top of that! And of course, my middle one just started 5th grade! Did I mention we're doing some new fencing work around the house and finishing up the boy's bathroom as well?!!!

Hopefully this week will be slower for me (although the number of patients waiting for me have probably doubled; -) because I need to catch up on what all of you have been up to too!!!!

Anyway, enough of that, I have something pretty to share with you all today. :-)


I have been looking for the perfect wall art on our breakfast area for a while now.

I am still in love with the Philip Jeffries Wall paper here and that's probably one of the reasons why I was content for a while not to cover or add on any art to the wall.

But when I saw these at Wisteria....

So pretty

I knew that this would be perfect for the space.

And I think my intuition was right!

 For one thing, I loved the art on it's own...

 ... but it also perfectly matches the malachite Robert Allen covers on my chairs!

It took a while for me to get these, for one thing, the first one that arrived was broken. Luckily, Wisteria has great customer service and getting a replacement was easy. Only problem was one of the Malachite Wall art was on back order, so when it finally arrived, I was ecstatic!

I'm currently loving orange alstroemeria

Look at my $5 fiddle leaf figs now too!

Sometimes, things can't be hurried at all and you just have to patiently wait until your find the right piece and fit for your home.

Have a Great week!

VEL 

 Would love to hear your thoughts! Please share away...

Linking back to...

Dwellings the heart of your home, Coastal Charm, Our Home Away From Home, Inspire Me Monday, A Stroll thru Life, Gingersnap Crafts, Savvy Southern Style, The Dedicated House, The Pin Junkie, A Tray of Bliss, The Shabby Nest