ORC. Week Six. The Reveal!

May 10

Well my friends, this is it. ORC Link Up is DONE. If you are just checking in for the first time here, I have been part of a One Room Challenge Link Up orchestrated by Linda of Calling It Home. I have said this time and again ... and will continue. Thank goodness for Linda, she makes me get things done in my own home! Every Wednesday for the past 6 weeks, there has been an Official ORC with 20 Designer/Bloggers taking a room from nothing to greatness. Much to be learned here! And then on Thursdays approximately 200 others of us have been doing the same. I have to admit, I had it kind of easy comparatively. We are in a rental for the next few years and I needed to make it mine. My goal was to use everything I already own. You can go Here if you want to start from the beginning.

I did add a few things. Just a few. Wallpaper, paint and two new lamps. Not too bad I think! Hopefully you can gain a little insight if you are trying to work with what you have. Sometimes it just takes a couple of items to mix it up and make it all new.

So here we go ... Oh! And thank you so much Emily O'Brien my wonderful and wonderfully patient photographer!

Flashback to February. Move in Day. #KMIProjectRental begins.

There is a stone facade wall that is partly in our kitchen, partly in our dining room and my inspiration was the stone/gray color. The colors are a little muted and blue toned for me so I decided to bring in a darker hue.

And this is when I found Gardenia Swirl in Noir from Root Cellar Designs. I was a little nervous telling Don I wanted to slather flowers all over the dining room, but when he saw this he got it. Or, he gets me and said go for it. Happy Dance!

Then I finally got up the nerve to paint my chairs. This is hysterical to me. I tell everyone on a daily basis to paint wood. But I was paralyzed. Now I am Free!!

Sherwin Williams - Iron Ore. My color/flavor of the moment. I have extra so watch out.

And this is when nature meets timing. The lilacs were givers this year and being able to bring this bold purple hue into my space was truly a gift of God.

The two head chairs and chandelier are from Aiden Gray, one of my favorite vendors. It is kind of funny, I am all about color. But the soft brushed tones of Aiden Gray's French style furniture have always been appealing to me. And here I get the mix. Win - Win. And Win - Win is no joke. I was extremely lucky last year at HighPoint and won product. I chose the two chairs and the chandelier. I remember the day. I had no idea where or when I would use these. I chose what I loved. And the love is returned!!

Everything in my room has a story.

Even my newest purchase ... my Flambeau lamps from Lucas + McKearn. They will always make me remember the day my friend Linda and I got to HighPoint early and just started walking through while vendors were still setting up. I spotted these and knew they were the jewel I needed to complete my room. You know ... my Jack Rackham!

I'll take this moment to circle back to my "pirate" theme ... It really wasn't about the pirates, but it is about the patina. While I totally enjoyed watching Charles Vain and Jack Rackham on Black Sails, I really enjoyed their backdrop. Everyone deserves a good backdrop!

Now back to reality and day to day designing for others. Which I have to say makes my heart sing. There is more to be done, progress and fun to be had in #KMIProject Rental. So I hope you stay tuned. Although without Linda or my Girl Scout Leader Betty to hold me to task ... it might be slow!!