Our Own Artwork For the Basement

The redecorating of the basement is slowly coming together. This is the artwork my kids and I worked on a couple of weeks ago.

 

Our inspiration was this amazing piece done by Connie at Salvage Savvy. I have it pinned on my Canvas Art board on Pinterest.

Using a 16x20 canvas board and some acrylic paint we had in the house, the kids painted the entire piece in this turquoise color. This served as the  background.

Then, using watercolor paints and paper we chose color combinations to paint on. There was no plan with the swirls or streaks. I did shades of orange swirls. The kids chose pink and purple, blue, green and some brown.

Using a papercutter, each sheet was cut into 1"x1" squares - sorry no picture of the cut squares.

We assembled a random pattern of the squares on the turquoise-painted canvas to give us an idea of how the piece would look overall in terms of color placement.

And then the glueing process began. I used Elmer's glue.
 

The kids will agree this was a fun and easy piece to create which they will enjoy for a very long time. Having created themselves makes it more special. Definitely worth trying with kids of any age.

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

 

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.
 

Creating Artwork for the Basement

Before the kids headed back to school, I decided that we would work together on a fun, easy art project for the basement to add to the growing collection of artwork on the different walls.

 

 

 

 

This is just a preview of what we did. It took up very little time and we are thrilled with the result. I will share the inspiration and our piece next week.

 

Enjoy the weekend!  I plan to take my kids biking on the local parkway which is closed to traffic on certain Sundays in early and late summer for this particular family activity. Our first opportunity this year.

 

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

 

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

 

 

 

 

 

Frames for the artwork

I had shown you some great prints I had purchased for the basement from Etsy shop, Margin. I wanted to showcase them in frames that would not take away from the colors or patterns; ones that appeared lightweight and modern at the same time while being unobtrusive.

I have them up on the walls in the frames I found last year.

I found these acrylic frames at Muji. They come with wire for hanging in either landscape or portrait position. I bought four of the 10.6" x 14.2" (outer dimensions) Inner dimensions (from the metal bolts) - 8.3" x 11.7" which fit the 8 x 11 prints perfectly.

Some close-ups.

 

But as you can see, the wire is not the best for hanging. It is tough to hide and looks untidy.

I am planning on using hemp instead.

But for now, here are the four prints along the stripes I had painted on the wall.

 

I am happy with these frames. They showcase the prints  beautifully. Excuse the angle of the pictures. I was trying my best not to get any reflections off the acrylic frames.

I have had a couple of weeks to sort of recharge - more like catching up on paperwork, studying and other routine work after visiting family departed from NY. I have also been trying to get the kids' school supplies bought and sorted before the buying frenzy really being in August. We go back to school in early September but I feel more organized to get it out of the way once we have the lists in hand.

On another note, I need a new camera. I had been looking for one for a while and have found one but have not bought it yet. And on our road trip, while taking pictures inside the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C., I dropped the point-and-shoot I have used for years. The zoom function is stuck. For now I am relying on my iPhone to take pictures like those above.

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

I Am Excited About These Home Goods Finds

I am so thrilled to be able to incorporate these new pieces into the redecorating of the basement. I happened to come across the four fun items on a quick trip into Home Goods a couple of weeks ago. As usual, I was multitasking and was not looking for items for the basement.

The first two pieces can double as tables or seating. They were $69.99 each. I love this drum-shaped one with it's fluted sides and spiral top.

This seagrass-like piece I picked up first. I think it is a great piece to lighten things up and for adding a natural element and texture. Both pieces are lightweight so will be easy for the kids to move around as required.

They will make perfect accents to the PB teen sectional.

This fun chevron-patterned throw pillow was $16.99.

  

 

Lastly, this wire magazine holder which will balance the heavier pieces, I plant to keep stacked against the wall. It is perfect for a book or 2, incomplete artwork, journals, anything the kids may be working on/reading that requires a temporary home. A convenient, accessible storage system. 

This cost me $19.99.

 

I also liked the magazine holder because it will (hopefully) help the kids keep any items in there organized as everything will be visible. The price...

 

 

In a couple of weeks we have family visiting us from Australia so I have to have some of this in place before then so that all the kids can enjoy this space when they are required to be indoors.

We are finally in the last couple of days of final exams and I have 2 moving-up/graduation ceremonies this week and a couple of home projects to complete. So bear with me if I am a little late in visiting your blogs this week.

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Sectional For The Basement

I have yet to share pictures of the furniture in the basement but I wanted to show you where I shopped for the main seating for this space.

A few years ago I had my heart set on a lounge sectional from PB teen after having weighed different options. I have used faux suede for my home and for clients so when I saw this collection online and liked the overall look and shape and height of the pieces I knew this was the solution for my kids and their cousins and friends who visit frequently.

When purchasing any type of seating (or bed) it is important to take into consideration who it is being bought for and have them test it out. Before making this purchase I did want the the kids' opinions and so we visited a PB teen store on Manhattan's Upper East Side and tested the floor sample. They sat and yes, they "lounged" !

I wanted something that would last many years - durability, comfort and of course, style were the criteria.

This is perfect for an adult to lounge on, too. The basement has the second of 2 televisions in the house - the first one is in the family room. On occasion I have watched a movie or a show on this ever-so-comfortable couch.

I opted to buy the four pieces shown above with the cushions in the exact chocolate brown color. Many color options are available.

The bases offered are white turned wood (shown above), storage base (below), or pedestal base. The storage base comes in white, chestnut or espresso finishes while the pedestal base can be purchased in white, chestnut or dark espresso finishes.

I chose the pedestal base in white finish.

This lounge set has been used in different configurations as the kids desired. It was as much a perfect choice a few years ago as it would be if I had to purchase it today. We love it.

The cushions can be used without a base if one prefers. At a sizable 31" square the seating is so very roomy and extremely comfortable. Height varies depending on the base.

I love low seating options. They lend a casual feel to a space and I find them more inviting.

The navy twill with white piping option (below) was not offered when I was looking.

Neither was this Trailblazer faux suede option which really looks like leather.

This collection is currently on sale at PB teen.

Meanwhile, I found some perfect (and unexpected) pieces last week while on a quick trip to Home Goods. I will share those with you next week.

Enjoy your weekend and Father's Day!

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Please Note: I have not been compensated in any way by for this post. The views and opinions expressed here are solely mine and are based on my experience with and on my purchase of this product.

Art For The Basement Walls

I have been redecorating the basement for the kids. It has always been their playroom but the room needed to "grow" with them and required updating. I wanted to move toward adding more color with the artwork. I have some old and found some new ones which I am incorporating into the plan for the space.

Last summer I purchased some stunning prints from Etsy shop, Margin. These Kaleidescope Flora pieces have so much vibrant color and are such fun. I thought they would be beautiful displayed as a set. These are just the patterns. Each is sold separately as an A4 size print.

I have found the perfect frames for them and will share those with you later.

We have had these 2' 3" x 1' 6" laminated wall maps from Lakeshore Learning Store for a few years. They have great color and the kids still use them as learning tools and to play school so I have held on to them.

 

 

This metal subway sign was purchased last year on ebay.

 

And this huge, stunning piece was created on brown paper by my daughter, Isabel, a couple of years ago, when she was 12. At the time she did it, it was just a person. I have interpreted it to be a person in motion - dancing, exercising, having fun. This was part of an art class in school. By the time the piece made it home at the end of the school year it had been rolled up and had crinkles all over. It lends the piece some texture, I think.

 I purchased a roll of white paper from Michaels' last year and used Mod Podge to adhere the brown paper piece onto it to give it a frame of sorts and to highlight the piece against the taupe wall color. It is now 3' 2" x 5' 2".

This artwork has been up on a wall in the basement for a while - an appropriate spot which will be shared with you in time.

So far so good. The basement is coming together.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Basement Reorganizing Under Way

A few weeks ago I started reorganizing our basement. It has been the kids' playroom for almost thirteen years and has undergone a couple of changes of the years - after construction and again after a flood.

My kids are now fourteen and almost-eleven. They have outgrown a lot of the toys they accumulated over the years.

Now they are more into Band Hero and the Wii and playing loud music to listen to with their friends, watch television. The enjoy playing 'restaurant' and they still play 'school', use their tents and occasional play 'dress-up' for fun.

We had bought shelving from The Container Store many years ago. It is a free standing piece; quite large.

This was the shelves a few weeks ago when I had not organized or cleaned it up in weeks.

Wonderful!

There are items here that we decided to keep - arts and crafts miscellaneous, the more complicated puzzles, advanced board games, a domino set and so on.

A lot of crayons sent home at the end of each school year.

They need to be contained in this organizer, purchased at Lakeshore Learning Store.

We have outgrown Barbie and to some degree, Sponge Bob.

I gave them each some pink post-its to place on items they were quite sure they did not play with any longer. These would be handed-down to cousins, donated or thrown (if broken or missing pieces). It is tough to donate kids' items these days as most organizations do not accept them.

Much progress.

(The doll was purchased for me when I was very little by my father on one of his trips to Singapore).

Love Pictionary!

The keep pile grows but is manageable.

The shelves are finally empty! This piece has served us really well for many years. It will be moved into the adjoining garage for storage of other household items, like paint cans.

Now we can enjoy the striped walls I had painted some years ago. I will keep you updated on further progress.

I love reorganizing. It can be hard work but is therapeutic and so very rewarding.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.