Art, hand-me-downs, and changing my mind

My last post was about trying to create a watercolor from a snap shot using an i-pad app.    Rosella from the blog Rhubarb and Roses kindly shared the names of two apps that she knew about. 

She suggested one called Waterlogue and another called Mobile Monet.  I hope to try them both. 

(I really appreciate her tip.  Thanks!)

Even though this is a fun project, nothing compares to REAL art (even if it is a poster or a copy version) of the master painters.  While we have amazing technology to change, edit, enlarge, and reproduce art, they had the insight and extraordinary talent to actually create it.

One of my favorite styles of art is French Impressionism, and I’ve mentioned before how much I like the art of Claude Monet (1840-1926).

While we were in the process of redoing our bedroom, we chose a Monet to hang on our wall.  We ordered a copy of “The Artist’s Garden in Argenteuil”  on line.  We paid a little bit more to have a framed canvas, but the price was still very reasonable and the shipping was free.

(Buying nice frames, non-glare glass, and mats can add up, so it was a good deal.)

We also lucked out that it was on a two day sale.

It finally came and I really do like it.

It seems to go well above the little gray chair.

(This shot is for you, Holly!)

The red dresser was one of those hand-me-down pieces that we acquired when we got married.  It was passed to us from Ken’s sister’s husband’s parents.  Over the years it has changed color a few times (it was originally blond wood, which we didn’t like), but it is a solid piece of furniture.  We did change out the knobs on the drawers.

Yes, the red color is bright.

Maybe it’s next paint color life will be a more muted shade.

As we were hanging the Monet, we noticed that EVERY SINGLE THING hanging on our walls was black and rectangular in shape.

Everything. 

(Even the mirror above the dresser.)

We painted the mirror red, and found an oval mirror we already had to change out for one of the black rectangles.

Before:

After:

It’s hard to tell from the picture, but the little mirror even matches the finish on the lamps, so it was a win-win change.

If you want to see the original post of the bedroom redo, go here.

While our decorating style (or lack of) may not follow the rules, our humble home is our castle.

We’ve spent many years working on it, one project at a time.  I look at the decorating shows and marvel that the home buyers can change out everything they don’t like all at once!

We are so grateful to have a warm, cozy place to live.

Do you change your mind as you decorate, too?

JoAnn

I took an online decorating style quiz that I found on

21 Rosemary Lane.

My style is 33% traditional, 33% cabin, and 34% Nantucket.  Sounds like a strange combination to me!