the living room and gallery wall

I am always thinking about potential projects for our home. Mark is always thinking about the end dates for those projects. We have lived in this home for ten years and he is still wondering if/when there will ever be an end to any of it. 

In my mind, a home is ever-evolving. So no end date.

In Mark's mind, that is a little slice of insanity.

My most recent project was to hang this gallery wall in our living room. I just used frames we already had and spray painted a few gold and a few black. I spent the better part of a Saturday laying it all out on the floor and then hanging them up with the help of my laser tool.

Mark came home and said, "This is the best our living room has looked in ten years!"

I am glad he likes it. And no doubt, he thinks this is the end. I do think it will stay for awhile, but I have plans to add more photos up to the ceiling and down to the floor, and probably change out the pictures every so often.

The opposite wall is flanked with three large mirrors. 

At some point, I will get tired of this wall and want to completely change it. Probably take it all down and repaint, etc. In fact, I am planning on it. The only constant is change. 

Shiplap entry walls and new light from Lucent Light shop on Etsy.  

Frames: Target, Ikea and West Elm.

Accessories: Target and Home Goods.

Pink chair found on Craigslist in its original fabric.

Paint is Benjamin Moore Gray Owl. (Looks more blue here than it really is).

drool

I am in LOVE with this Restoration Hardware chandy. A wee bit pricey though.

advent

I don't remember where I saw these advent bags originally (I'll figure it out), but I do know you can buy them here on etsy. I love the idea of the kids opening a little bag each day of December. And the trick would be to fill them with non-candy items, as 50% of our children have accepted the challenge to not eat candy for 1 year, and that year is winding down. The reward? 100 smackers. {Just to clarify: they DO get to choose 3 days during the year to have candy. Our kids chose Valentines Day, Easter and Halloween (or the day after). Also, they CAN have cookies, cake, ice cream, etc. Just not candy. Mark did it for 3 years as a kid. I don't think I could make it. The stakes would have to be higher. And even then, not so sure. I'm really proud of them for wanting to do this.}

A special note? A coupon to do something with just mom? What would you put in them?

Origami Christmas, etc.

Too frequently, the mail woman delivers small stacks of not-so-familiar catalogs to our mailbox. Have you ever heard of Viva Terra: Eco Living Style. Me neither. Until yesterday. I actually like some of their stuff.

I found these ceramic origami cranes (I would love to cover my whole tree with white origami) 

Paint SCHMAINT

This is the color of the interior of my home. Silver Sage. I love it. This is the color I'm going to paint the kids' bathroom. Sea Green.

With the ceiling in Silver Sage.

I know, not much risk here.

And this is the bathroom floor (only with dark gray grout).

This COULD be the color I'm going to paint our bedroom, and possibly the boys' room. Or something like it. And since I don't have a RH swatch, I have spent many an afternoon pondering Benjamin Moore's gray selection (and it is vast).

Does anyone know of a good gray that would look nice with...

this pillow?

Or not. I'm flexible. It seems like it should be so easy, but I have already purchased paint and tested it on my wall, and gray can be tricky. Too blue, too green, too purple, too brown. You get the idea. Just a nice neutral gray, that's all I want. And yes, I've already looked at Pottery Barn's Ben Moore offerings. Most are too brown.

light up my life

This chandelier from dwr would look fantastic in my kitchen. There's a gorgeous black one too. I would have a hard time deciding amongst the three. Fortunately, I don't have to decide. Because the price is $2900. End of story.

BUT, if anyone knows anyone who makes a knock-off of this, please share. C'mon Target!