I can’t tell you what the rest of this week is going to be like for me, but for right now, rather than sit and profess my sadness to you, I’m just going to pretend like I have no sadness.
That’s healthy, right?
Back in the day, I was always doing projects and reorganizing our house and making it incredibly difficult for Brian to find things because I was always rearranging things. But then, oh I don’t know, things change. You are diagnosed with Hashimotos, you start a blog and learn about twitter, you battle grief and depression and well, that mojo is just gone.
But while it’s gone, it’s missed and wished for every single day. So, last week when I rearranged our office, it really was a big deal to me. I felt so good about it all week long. (and Brian loved it, too,which is not surprising because did you see how awesome it was?) I felt like me and it was the loveliest feeling.
Then yesterday, I slept a little late, until nine or so and then after a few cups of coffee, I put my running shoes and bra on (the key to success) and I tackled the day. I organized drawers and kitchen cabinets, cleaned off the front of the fridge and did all of our laundry.
The big project, however, was in my bedroom. Since December November, I have had a pile of moving boxes in my bedroom, everyday I’d look at those stupid suckers and throw my dirty jeans on top of them at the end of the day. I knew one day I’d have the gumption to open those boxes up, but that day just seemed to never come.
Until yesterday.
And then I was feeling all inspired (as always) by The Nester. She’s been running a wonderful series on her blog called “Ten Minutes to a Room you Love.“ The idea being that you can improve your room simply, right now, with what you have.
There are many things that bother me about my master bedroom.
One: The pile of boxes. (duh.)
Two: Lack of drawer space.
Three: Our furniture does not match, it resembles a collage dorm. (Minus the posters on the wall.)
Fortunately, there are tons of things I love about the room, like the wall color, the size, the windows, my window treatments, my quilt (okay, my bed), the white trim, I just really love my room. But I knew it could be better.
So my goal? Empty the damn boxes and just do something different.
First of all, in my dream world, I’d like to think that I’d have either one of these two dressers:


but the truth is, I can’t spend any money, so, the only thing I can get at the Pottery Barn is inspiration, and that’s okay with me. And that’s just what I did. While browsing their catalog yesterday, I noticed a mirror above a dresser, I remembered that I had a mirror that I bought from Ikea almost ten years ago and immediately grabbed my hammer, a nail and that mirror and ran upstairs to hang this bad boy.
I already has this dresser in my bedroom, which I bought from Target about two years ago:
So simple.
I love the door handles on that dresser:

On the other side of the room sat the pile of boxes. I unpacked those and was left with just space. I was considering putting a little kids dresser there that Brian and I purchased for Ariel when she was just a baby swimming around in my belly, it was $99 at Babies r’ Us, but I just couldn’t stand the thought of something so chintzy being in my room, but I decided to try it anyway.
After placing everything in my room, I asked Brian if he would run to the hardware store to buy new drawer handles and he did. (yes, I know the idea was to do it without spending a dime, but I would not have been happy with the outcome with big, white plastic handles on the drawers. Leave me alone.)
Now these handles are probably not the handles I would have chosen (these are), but that’s okay, anything is better than what was there.
Is it just me or does that dresser not look like a $99 dresser purchased over six years ago? (warning: do not open the bottom drawer, it will fall apart.)
This change brought me happiness during a time when I really needed it. I’m so glad I did it.
Makes me excited for tomorrow…
































O.K. Honestly? I thought the first pic WAS the Pottery Barn catalog. BEAUTIFUL!!
Your room looks beautiful!
And sometimes… change is good…….
Okay, seriously? I thought the pics of YOUR BEDROOM were your INSPIRATION PICS. Looks good to me!!
Wow, everything is gorgeous! I LOVE, love, LOVE the color on your walls! And those wire flowers, where did you find those? They are so simple and beautiful. Enjoy your new look!
I am a constant furniture re-arranger too. Drives my husband crazy. Your bedroom looks great! I too could not see the difference between the inspiration photos and the actual photos of your room. I had to re-read it a few times. Our bedroom is sadly the one neglected room in our house!
Room looks fantastic! So impressed you did it for nothing but the price of some new handles..and love the color of the room! Dying for a change to my room!
Can you come do that to my room for the cost of some drawer handles? So beautiful.
I’ve REALLY been finding my own inspiration from her 10 minute room challenges. And thank you for even introducing me to The Nester in the first place. Wow. I know it will really help me, too. I know how refreshed you must feel- that all looks GREAT!
Steph
Good for you. Your room looks fantastic. It’s such a good feeling when you tackle a project that has been looming over your head and it turns out so well. Wanna help me next?
I love the color of your walls. I would sleep so good in a room with walls that color. xo
please check this out when u have some time. I felt this song on my heart for you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4xY-5cULO8
I love the handles. Little things that can change the entire look of a piece of furniture. Looks great Beth!
I give it the DesignHER Momma two thumbs up! It looks amazing, and sounds like it lifted your spirits too!
ok, totally thought that photo of your room was a magazine photo. you fooled me. it looks amazing! I love how you focused on what you DO love about your room!
Happy Post! Thanks for sharing it!
I love the door handles! Everything looks so nice! Still in my prayers… Chin up sister!
What color are those gorgeous walls?
Nice job!!! You ALMOST inspired me to do something with the 16,000 framed pictures that I have sitting on the floor of my bedroom for the last three years and have never hung because I have good intentions of changing the lighting and painting the walls and getting new carpeting – and well, a few pictures might screw all that up!!!
Your room is beautiful!
woohoo, it does look great, and I love the color of your bedroom walls too. You’re a rockstar on so many levels.
You have inspired me to do my master bedroom and get the three mounds of clothes taken care of and put my office together. Right now their are boxes all over the floor one book case kind of put together and the other still in its box and I moved in July. Better late than never.
Beautiful room and beautiful photos!
“I felt like me and it was the loveliest feeling.” I know what you mean here – and it’s true. Feeling LIKE ME is a great thing.
Looks awesome Beth!! Love it! Maybe I should start on my room! ;o)
As if I didn’t <3 you enough, there you go talkin’ about boxes still in your room (that I have, too, on my to-do list to unpack from months ago that I, too, put clothes and the like on), also with mismatched dressers AND you said chintsy. This is serious, are you my long lost sister?
My southern husband had never heard the term ‘chintsy’ before me (I’m originally from NY). Makes me all kinds of warm and ooey gooey
What you did is spectacular. I, like everyone else, thought the pictures of your room WERE the inspiration. You camera is gorgeous, and your skill is even more so. What kind of camera do you have, by the way?
I love it! Those dressers totally do not look like Target and $99. They are awesome. And, I need to know the color on those walls, it’s beautiful.
Um yeah. Like Thea, I also thought that was a catalogue shot. NICE WORK, mama. Wanna come work over my hacienda?
This is inspirational – might just tackle some piles and boxes of my own later (maybe!)
I’m so inspired now & I have you thank for it! I feel the need to change things up in my room & now I want to run home & do it! I just hope this inspiration lasts until I get off work…
Great job decorating! I’d say you can add decorator to your long, long list of professions.
HOLY MOLY! Your room looks amazing, but those pictures are unbelievable! WOWSER, girl. When are you going to get a job with Pottery Barn as their catalog photographer? You have to share your discount with me, though!!
Congrats on conquering your boxes and your master bedroom!!
I *heart* your room color. Its gorgeous. Congrats on getting the boxes out of there!
okay, now you have inspired me. I like both of the handle styles! your dresser looks awesome. and your paint color is beautiful! I will be rushing over to the nester right now.
btw – I am praying for you and glad to see these projects are helping you!
My husband might be a little angry at you because I now want to go home and do home things. But since I can’t move furniture so much right now (especially not with my back), that leaves him doing a lot of the work. Anyway, I love the shots you took and the new drawer handles! Amazing how something cheap like that can make a big difference.
I’m proud of you. You are doing great (with everything). Your room looks really good too!
You did an AMAZING job!! I love the brown dresser from PB too!! Congrats
Awesome room! Love the wall color & the dressers. I’m pretty sure we have the same quilt. I can’t be positive from these pictures, but when you mentioned the quilt it made me remember way back you posted a picture with you & the kids (I think or maybe just the kids) in your bed & I noticed it then. Your room looks straight out of a magazine!!!
Wow! You are awesome girl!! Could you PLEASE come over to my house as I swear that there is absolutely no hope for any kind of style in it, given our hodgepodge collection of junk collected over the years (90% of it hand-me-downs)
Great job! Aside from becoming super photographer extraordinaire, you should also seriously consider being an interior designer!
Oh how I love the makeover you did. I need to paint my bedroom so I can love it too. It is so small, and I know that there are things I can do to make it bigger. I just need to do it
Yours looks fantastic!
Looks fantastic Beth! I think we have almost the same colours on our feature wall and I love the flower “thing” you have hanging in the first pic! Great idea – you gave me the inspiration – now I need the energy!
B-U-T-FUL! That looks wonderful. I love it when a [cheap] plan comes together. =)
After I read this I was inspired me to clean up all the clutter in my house I let accumulate when I wasn’t feeling well the last few months. I’ve been better for a few weeks, but just couldn’t get motivated to do any real organizing. Well, I did it this afternoon, and I’m so happy. It feels really good to have things cleaned up again. So thanks!
Love it. So wish I could get inspired…
it’s really cute