Remember in the last post where I told you I was done decorating and I was gonna be all Carol Brady and do crafts with my boys and like, rest, relax and enjoy and junk? I lied. It started out so innocently. Five minutes after publishing that post I just wanted to see how the armoire would look moved to the left about 12 inches or so. I couldn’t figure out why I had it pushed so far over towards the fireplace.
So I moved it, loved it and then I needed to move that red chair. I also have wanted to move the sofa over. I’ve always hated that my sofa floats but I wasn’t sure how to make it stop floating. We needed the walkway behind it and I had measured every wall in the house for that black hutch and it wasn’t going to work anywhere.
Guess what, the hutch fit somewhere else. Sometimes the only way to know if something will really fit is to try it. It would have been a huge pain to move it back but it would have only taken 20 minutes total both ways, and then I would have known for sure if it could work in a different spot and I could stop thinking about it. Well worth the trouble no matter what the outcome. Not only did it fit, it let out a big sigh of relief and said “it’s about time you put me in my rightful place, and by the way, you need to start working out.” I measured this spot no less than 5 times and logically there was no way this piece was supposed to fit there with the table and chairs. Y’all, it’s a Christmas miracle! The only problem is that there is a light switch right smack dab in the middle of that wall behind the hutch. Lights, smights. Who needs them?
Then I was faced with THIS montrosity. Monstrosity. A HUGE empty wall with nothing to fill it with. Meanwhile, my house is getting more and more disorganized by the miliseceond. Crafts? Right, my kids ate ketchup and cheese nips for lunch I think. I was all, “Mom needs to run to Home Goods, fend for yourselves, mkay?”.
I left them with this.
Came back and tried this lamp from our bedroom with some mirrors that I found. Nope, not expansive enough for that huge empty wall.
I took a photo of my son with his legos. See, I’m such an involved mom. I did at least notice what they were doing while I was tearing our house to pieces. They actually love it when I move stuff around because it gives them a new set to play in.
Then I decided to steal from Peter and give to Paul as my sister would say, and I removed all the blue/green plates from all the walls in my house. My bedroom was Peter and my living room was Paul if you are wondering. I guess that makes me Mary.
Two trips to Home Goods and 24 hours later I got this. I love it. I want about 24 more plates for the wall and then I’ll be done. The lamps are new and I love them but the shades are such a pure white they make it look like I opted for tiny hunks of the white hot sun in place of light bulbs. I prefer off white shades for warmer light. I can’t imagine how fast I’d blind my guests if I used those awful reveal light bulbs or those Al Gore curly, politically correct light bulbs.
I had to make due with this wall. I just kept repeating “like with like.” The key was to group like things together. And it’s the wall behind the sofa so I can’t have much there. And I don’t have anything else that will work there right now. No worries, I’m thinking on it.
The ramifications of moving my armoire 12 inches are far reaching. My son got a bookshelf in his room. We have 3 pretty mirrors above our bed, I’ve got a terrarium sitting in the middle of my foyer with no home. But our living room is so much cozier AND had 2 extra seats. For you that want to know, yes, I moved all the furniture by myself. Most of my pieces have those little plastic things on the bottom that make it slide really easily. My husband did help me move the bookshelf upstairs to our son’s room.
Our 20%2B guests will be here in about 24 hours and my house looks like a blind fraternity majoring in snacks containing saturated fat lives here with their dogs. And we don’t even have a dog. So today I will do exactly what I said I wasn’t going to do, I’ll clean like a mad woman, run to Target for a few stocking stuffers, remember that I forgot to take some new photos of my boys and have them printed out, try to wrap gifts, do a few loads of laundry and love every minute of it. For me the last two days were pure bliss getting to try my furniture in new places and the added pressure of a deadline made it all the more exciting. I have a sickness.
Does your armoire need to be moved 12 inches to the left?
Customized sign available here.
You are awesome! I hope your back doesn’t hurt from all the moving! Mine hurts just by thinking about it. I think you are inspiring me to move some furniture in our living room, but I think I will wait till after we take our Christmas tree down. Have a Merry Christmas with your family!!
Absolutely fabulous! I go mad when I see my home in disarray but remind myself that is all for a good purpose- my family. BTW, I love the pale yellow and cream “mistreatments”-do you recall where you purchased the fabric?
lurve. them. want. them. for. my. own.
Merry Christmas!
~Cathy
Thanks for keeping it real. I too have dillusions of relaxed today….but it is only 6 AM and I’m already planning projects and a trip to the store. Yikes!
But, have a Merry Christmas in your home, with all the changes you made!
Thanks Nester! reading about your Al gore politically correct light bulbs gave me my first giggle of the day. I’ve tried two in the new little lamp I just bought for my kitchen counter (Merry Christmas to me). The first was so tall it stuck out over the shade, and the second, though smaller, still gives a bit bright for me. Maybe a nice little incandescent will do the trick.
Oh, and my husband and I already spent a good portion of the day moving our armiore and adjecent bookshelves six inches to the left a few weeks ago. Time well spent!
Are we related? I laughed out loud when you said your kids had ketchup and cheese nips for lunch. I left to go shopping last night at 4pm, and the last thing my son said was, “So, we’re supposed to scrounge for dinner again?”
I did this in my office yesterday. I thought we don’t need this fiberboard desk. And then the armoire can be moved there and the treadmill won’t be in my way if I move it here. So I did it and I love it. Plus you always find trash and the like that needs to be thrown out along the way.
LOL at your post- I love it! The wall with all the plates turned out fabulously! Great job. And ketchup and Cheese Nips probably just makes them cool. ;-)
You ALWAYS inspire me! I hope we get to see the final living room in pictures! And…my thought on exercise is..there is no time for that when you have kids to smooch on and furniture to rearrange :) Keep gettin”it girl!
I thought you wrote “GIRLY politically-correct light bulbs” instead of “curly” … But then really, what’s the difference? :)
I’m going to start stockpiling my fave light bulbs in anticipation of the feds mandating we all have ugly blue light in our homes. It’ll be like moonshine during the Prohibition! Lightshine!
Merry Christmas!
Wow! Looks great.. Love the wall with the plates. Where do you find all of your pieces (besides Homegoods!)?
Merry CHRISTmas to you and your family!
Amazing what a few changes can do. It all looks fabulous! There has been a lot of meal scrounging going on a my house too. That’s okay. Makes them appreciate that Christmas Feast I am going to prepare all the more!
Merry Christmas!
i love it!!!
I am soo glad to know that I am not the only one who does this.
It’s good to know that crazy keeps good company…LOL.
I do love the outcome…very preeeety/
Does tearing down wallpaper and repainting my daughters’ bedroom the same week as our Christmas open house count? ;) But, like your rearranged furniture it makes me FEEL so better about the space! That’s good for everyday, even Christmas.
And, do you mean Mary versus Martha? Like in Mary chose better than Martha because Martha was too concerned with getting things ready instead of taking time to listen to Jesus? So now you’re going to take time to sit and listen now that you’ve gotten the Martha-ish things done? OR, more likely, I’m completely missing your reference. Maybe someone could explain it to me!
No, I’m not that theological although the thought crossed my mind earlier today and I had to look up which one it was that was all worried about the house and stuff and then I realized it was Martha and then I figured I would never forget that again because of Martha Steward.
I meant Mary because I said Peter Paul and Mary. I am so funny.
Martha Stewart. Not Steward. The opposite of Steward. Hate me.
I wonder how many times I can reply?
I have your same sickness, and yes, my armoire needs to be moved 12 inches to the left! It is two days before Christmas and I am 36 weeks pregnant and all I want to do today is rearrange my house! This was the wrong post for me to read today :) I must contain myself and wait until the weekend when kids are happy playing with new toys and husband is home to move the furniture. Normally I would do it myself, but seeing as my body is in complete rebellion to my (5th) pregnancy and I am going to PT twice a week for back issues I have no choice but to wait- (I can barely lift a laundry basket right now, let alone move any furniture!).
It’s a chain of events isn’t it? Kind of like dominoes! :)
I put one of those curly Al Gore politically correct lightbulbs in my dining room yesterday. One. My husband got home and stared and said, “Wow. It’s…….bright in here.”
And I really like the black cabinet in your dining room! Is there a place you can stash a dowel rod so you can reach back and flip that light off and on?
Right now we are using a yard stick. Our wall will be shredded to bits in a few months.
Nester – Does Homegoods have a large plastic outdoor candycane on sale for like 99 cents yet? Maybe you can just hang one on the wall as a decoration and whip that baby out to turn on the light when you need it. (Or, just wrap the yeardstick in white/red – lol.) Always love your site.
I love to move my furniture around. Unfortunately the house we live in makes it impossible to move the furniture anywhere. It is maddening. Maybe someday you will travel over to eastern NC and help me out. :)
Oh, you made me laugh with this post. Love the reference to the blind fraternity and the Al Gore lights! You cured me of moving any furniture until after the holidays.
My husband absolutely HATES when I move furniture, therefore I know better than to expect his help. So, like you, I just DO IT! I move what I want to where I want, experiment with placement, and usually do it all at the least convenient time. : ) The kids are usually scrounging through the kitchen for dinner….I’ll have to tell them about ketchup and Cheese Nips. ; )
What a dreamy day…. tearing stuff up, redoing it, Home Goods runs x2, heaven! Love your end result. Isn’t it amazing what a little scoot 12 inches will create? I love your statement about the blind frat party. Made me chuckle here at 5:30am. My house looks like that too but from 2 young dogs tearing stuff up instead. Love to read your blog. love it. love it. love it.
You’re my kind of girl. I love it! (Peter, Paul & Mary, indeed.)
Which is precisely why my husband groans when I say “Wait, let me just move this really quick, I want to see something” He always knows he’s in for it and the house will be utterly torn apart for a while. LOL
Oh Mary honey! (said with a grin) You did such a great job! Who would have thought that your room could be any prettier? That plate wall is to die for and I’m just going to have to do the same somewhere. I’ll tell you a secret….I have this mirror in my dining room that we paid…$300 or $400 for a few years ago. I’m tired of it…tired of it…I want it gone. I want those plates. Those plates make me happy!!
Those Al Gorge lightbults…really…ick!
Really Nester, you are so talented and you share the real world with us. We appreciate you! Merry Christmas to you and your family.
No you are not really Mary!
it looks great!! I love it:)
This is so something that I would do. The worst time to start moving furniture sometimes ends up with the most successful outcome. Our boys love it too. Your plates look absolutely beautiful! BTW, never again will I use the Al Gore lights :)
I’m outta breath just reading all of that! Whew! You had A DAY! But, of course, it looks fabulous in the end, which is why we all love to drop by every day. I LOVE that you shopped the house as much as possible.
Are we ever gonna get an in depth tutorial on hanging plates from you? I’ve seen others do it, but I’d love to have your take. It’s one of my most favorite things that you do!
This is my favorite post, ever. Ever.
And I think I dated one of those fraternity boys in college.
LOVE all your great furniture and accessories Nester!
Layla
everything looks perfect.
xo
This post made my morning! I so wish I had a little more “nester” in me. My inlaws are coming the day after Christmas and I told them I had a guest room for them to stay in this time. (Last time they slept in my 4 yr olds bed….not fun! We were hoping they would take our bed, but they wouldn’t have it.) At the moment there is a bed and a dresser. That’s it. I need to get my rear in motion and get ‘er done! Thanks for the extra little push.
You’re right, your living room is so much cozier and so worth the extra time.
I have been known to buy one little thing from Hobby Lobby and then have to rearrange my entire house to find the perfect spot for it.
I get it, Mary!
Pam
Great job!
Right before Thanksgiving, we shampooed our living room carpet. Before moving all the furniture back IN, my husband and I stood staring at the empty room…..hmmm…should we rearrange? Yes, we absolutely should! The last time we tackled any rearranging of that magnitude was when my baby still had her trach and was connected to 24 hour cpap, which meant putting her on a battery back-up and moving her crib and all of her machines as well. MUCH bigger undertaking. (My babies will be 6 next month, if that gives you any inclination of how long it’s been since we *really* rearranged!) Our TV cabinet is in a place it’s never been in before, and I love it! The sofa and chairs are perfect in their new spots. Perfect! I luuuuurve it so much! Very nice for conversation, while at the same time, the TV is viewable from 90% of the “seats.”
Hope you’re loving your new arrangement as well!
Love love this post! One of your best ones yet! I’ll be back to read it again. You’re blessed to have a Home Goods close enough to your house to be able to make 2 trips in a day. Our closest one is about 2 hours away. Gotta love living in the country.
wow! the blue plates wall looks AMAZING!
Wow, Nester, I am super impressed with all you did! Love the plates on the wall and all the grouping. When I was younger I used to move my bedroom furniture every other week, just because I loved to try new things. I may have to try it again sometime. ;)
This post is very, VeRy, VERY likely my favorite nesting post! I sit here in the Tucson airport reading it and have to put my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing hysterically. ARE WE SISTERS BY DIFFERENT MOTHERS? Oh, my goodness! I read “… tearing our house to pieces…” and absolutely lost it! I just had to write, dear. Merry Christ-MASS HYSTERIA! *smile* We are soooooooo much alike!
I LOVE it!! Your plates are beautiful!! Everything looks so warm and cozy. BTW, I saw your post on svelte sage and I am in the middle painting my sunroom that color!
I hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas!!
I love the plates on the wall – so beautiful!
Merry Christmas!
It looks great! I’m curious…what do you use to hang all of your plates? Have a wonderful holiday with your family.
Plate hangers from the dollar store!
Wait, the Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, or Dollar General? i went to the Tree and found jack.
OOOOH, AHHHHHHH…I LOVE it! Great job on staying focused and finishing your project. I probably would have gotten sidetracked and started cleaning baseboards and washing the walls as well! It looks great, have a Merry Christmas. Oh! I purchased several of the “Jesus is the Gift” platters in various sizes as gifts for friends and hostesses…even learned they’re located right here in my great state! {And they have an outlet store!!} :)
You, my dear, are a freak. And I adore you.
oooh, i like it!
I wish I had half of your energy!! Looks beautiful and worth all the effort! Judi
I love it all nester. Blue & that lime green is my favorite color. I’ve been doing the same thing all week. I finally did all my decorating (white tree w/ brown ornaments included). Yes, 2 days before Christmas! Sometimes an intervention is needed to stop us when we’re on a roll I think.
This is me in a nut shell. Everytime we have company I find some way to start a crisis with my furniture. I love what you did. perfect space and the plates I love those so much. You are an inpsiration. Way to go.
Wow – it’s amazing what you accomplished in such a short time. It all looks so beautiful. I just want to curl up on your toile couch and hang out!!
Come check out my blog today. I am showing some tassles I made thanks to your Ebook. I think I’m addicted!!
Merry Christmas
Turning out wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
What great fun! I love those “Hmmm… what would that look like there-moments?” They always lead to creative genius! My kids actually got involved in my madness…I switched their beds. of course, not while they were still sleeping!! LOL!
You’ve got a beautiful home! I especially am loving the wall with the plates (LOVE those colors) and all the apothecary jars!! On my to-do list is de-cluttering my pot shelves in the kitchen (above the cabinets). I need something sleeker…less cluttered!
Loved reading about your furniture moving-you are so me. You have inspired me to get up and exchange the table in my bedroom with the chest in the family room. Have been thinking about it for days. Thanks for the inspiration. Have a Merry Christmas.
I really adore the wall ‘o plates! I’ve always wanted a wall ‘o plates for myself, but haven’t had the nerve to do it yet. As always, you’ve inspired me – so maybe it’ll happen sometime before 2010 is over! 8-P