A Hunt Themed Office Makeover

I've been wanting to makeover my office (aka dining room) for a while now.  It had potential to be a nice space but the busyness of life and my own procrastination had left it unorganized and less than pleasing looking.

Well, fast forward to a few weeks ago when I found an amazing antique table online (for $25 including chairs, crazy, I know!) AND then Edie, my 18 year old daughter, mentioned her interest in interior decorating, more specifically learning staging for real estate.  Hello makeover time!!

So, let's look at the unorganized, no-plan BEFORE photos:

I know!  It's bad!

Map gallery wall that I'd fallen out of love with

We began by removing everything from the walls, putting extra tchotchkes in totes, and patching nail holes.  My favorite pieces that remained all had a similar theme...dogs and horses...so a hunt theme seemed obvious. 

Next, we decided to move the bookcases on a different wall to elongate the room.  I liked them flanking the window but it did make the room seem smaller.  We also added a 6-foot shelf between the two bookcases to create a type of credenza behind my desk.  

Here, it's probably easier to see than explain.  Let's check out the AFTER photos!

Bookcases moved, shelf added between, new table for a desk

My $35 auction find leather chair and thrift store dog pillow

Another thrift store dog pillow (sorry for the yellow photo, haven't mastered editing yet!)

Former map gallery wall now home to antique frame, mirror, and antlers

Beautiful new table - notice the pull ring on the right side.  It releases a leaf that pops up in the middle of the table!  Cool design

Federal mirror found years ago at the thrift store

Copper Scottie dog is a recent thrift store find...LOVE him!

These round brass frames were found at a thrift store many years ago.  I don't know the history of them but they have convex glass in them.  I added a textured paper background and glued vintage toy horses inside each one.

This tole planter has a simple design on one side.  I added my initials using a gold paint pin to the other side.  

The bookends were ordered from Joss & Main. 

I found these prints at Goodwill a couple of years ago and loved them.  They were $7.99 each.  The horse hook in the middle is from Hobby Lobby's clearance section (love their clearance items!) and the old horse bit was picked up at the scrap yard.

This!  This candle is a-m-a-z-i-n-g!  My all time favorite scent that smells good all year round.  I get mine locally but you can find them at Anthropologie or a little cheaper on Amazon.  

  It's the Aspen Bay Capri Blue Volcano Candle (affiliate link).  Try it!  You won't regret it!

I have to clarify here.  This beautiful makeover was done pretty much by Edie.  I think she's got an eye for decorating and a bright future ahead.  

I hope you enjoyed seeing my "new" office.  Thanks for stopping by and God bless!

Angie

Here's a pinnable photo for you to pin or you can click the pin it button on any photo above.  I appreciate it!!

I'm linking here:

THE STYLE SISTERS
JENNIFER RIZZO
HOME STORIES A TO Z
FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS

COMMON GROUND

HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON
COASTAL CHARM'S NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY

FRIDAYS UNFOLDED

FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY

ONE MORE TIME EVENTS

TWIRL AND TAKE A BOW 
SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE

STONEGABLE
UNDER THE TABLE AND DREAMING

A DELIGHTSOME LIFE
ART IS BEAUTY

CLEVER CHICKS BLOG HOP DIY SHOWOFF IT'S OVERFLOWING

THREE MANGO SEEDS

ELIZABETH JOAN DESIGNS

WEEKEND CRAFTS

PRETTY PINTASTIC PARTY
THOUGHTS FROM ALICE
HYMNS AND VERSES
MISS MUSTARD SEED
CONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT

Christmas around the House

Sharing a little of the Christmas decorations I've added to our home.  Have you finished decorating yet?

The snow globe picture I posted about here

I don't think I ever finish decorating.  My brain is always coming up with more ideas than I'm able to complete.  Guess I can always save those for the next year.

There are some things that must be used every year in the Christmas decor.  This is a little snowman that my youngest daughter made when she was just ten.  It's the Mad Hatter from the latest Alice in Wonderland.  I used to make altered snowman for my etsy shop back then and she wanted to make one too.

The decor in the foyer include a pair of vintage ice skates, a "SNOW" sign, and an antique crock with greenery.

I typically stay away from the traditional reds and greens of Christmas because they usually don't fit with my decor.  This year, I was dead set on using red and green tartan.  I love all tartans if you didn't notice my from tartan throw post :)  I found this needlepoint pillow earlier this year at the thrift store.  Its colors and design contain just enough blue to tie everything together.  (I have a thing for needlepoint pillows too!) 

Just a simple tartan ribbon added to a lamp shade

Thank you for stopping by The Altered Past and spending a little time with me as I share some Christmas decor.  I've got a little more to share later...the front porch and the shed.

God bless!
Angie


I'm linking here:
THE STYLE SISTERS
JENNIFER RIZZO
HOME STORIES A TO Z
FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS

COMMON GROUND

HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON
COASTAL CHARM'S NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY

FRIDAYS UNFOLDED

FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY

ONE MORE TIME EVENTS

TWIRL AND TAKE A BOW 
SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE

STONEGABLE
UNDER THE TABLE AND DREAMING

A DELIGHTSOME LIFE
ART IS BEAUTY

CLEVER CHICKS BLOG HOP DIY SHOWOFF IT'S OVERFLOWING

THREE MANGO SEEDS

ELIZABETH JOAN DESIGNS

WEEKEND CRAFTS

PRETTY PINTASTIC PARTY
THOUGHTS FROM ALICE
HYMNS AND VERSES
MISS MUSTARD SEED
CONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT

Vintage Bike Thrift Store Find

A couple of weeks ago I made a stop by my favorite thrift store...just my normal visit to see if they've put anything new out.  Lo and behold, as I walked to the front door, I noticed a sign stating "Moving Sale!"  What?  How did I not know about this and what kinda sale are we talking about here?

Um, an awesome sale, that's what kinda sale!!

I had been eyeing a vintage bike that the store had for a while.  It started at $79.99!  Even on half-off day, that was too much.  Then, a little later, they lowered it to $59.99.  Nope, even on half-off day again, it wasn't going to happen.  Well, this day...Moving Sale day, the final markdown price was 75% off.

Now we're talking!  The final markdown price was $19.99, and 75% off made it $5!

Oh yeah! (Doing the Vector happy dance from Despicable Me!)

Ever found such a great find that you immediately booked it to the checkout, hauled it to the car, and then IG'ed, pinned, tweeted, and hooted so that you could share it with e.v.e.r.y.b.o.d.y?!  

(Ok, hooting isn't an online thing but I'm sure I really hooted.)

So, what did I do with my vintage bike?

That's easy...put a basket and a banner on it and stuck it in my herb garden near the shed.

Isn't it cute?  Yeah, I'm loving it.  It's now spurred a whole-front-of-the-shed makeover.  Pitiful flower pot under window...now gone.  Um..."herb garden" that looks more like a bunch of weeds...yep, getting tilled under.  That's mainly lemon balm which spreads like crazy.  Time to get it under control along with the, uh um, weeds that are in there too.  I'm thinking morning glories would look great climbing up the bike frame next summer.

What incredible find have you found at the thrift store?

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!
Angie

I'm linking here:
THE STYLE SISTERS
JENNIFER RIZZO
HOME STORIES A TO Z
FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS

COMMON GROUND

HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON
COASTAL CHARM'S NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY

FRIDAYS UNFOLDED

FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY

ONE MORE TIME EVENTS

TWIRL AND TAKE A BOW 
SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE

STONEGABLE
UNDER THE TABLE AND DREAMING

A DELIGHTSOME LIFE
ART IS BEAUTY

CLEVER CHICKS BLOG HOP DIY SHOWOFF IT'S OVERFLOWING

THREE MANGO SEEDS

ELIZABETH JOAN DESIGNS

WEEKEND CRAFTS

PRETTY PINTASTIC PARTY
THOUGHTS FROM ALICE
HYMNS AND VERSES
MISS MUSTARD SEED
CONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT

A Fall Mantel

Hey all!  This is week 3 of our blog tour and it continues with fall mantel and shelf decorations.  Jennifer of The Striped House began our week with her burlap, birch branches, and mercury glass...beautiful!  Yesterday, Lisa of Concord Cottage shared her easy, no sew banner that she added to her charming mantel along with candles, pumpkins, and beautiful empty frames...love that look.

Today, I'm sharing a faux mantel.  My real mantel is also home to a huge TV...not so lovely to decorate.  Here's a shot from my Fall 2012 post.  You can see that I have a tiny spot on each side of the TV to decorate.

The mantel I decorated for today is one I created from an old door.  I made it to be used in my work room.  My room is in the basement garage with no heat so when I purchased this adorable heater for my room, I knew I'd need a mantel for it someday.  That day is now thanks to hubby's help this past week.  :)

I added the shelf and crown on top and it fits perfectly in my tiny 10x10 room.  

The decor theme is pretty neutral, using a lot of natural pieces.

Inexpensive plastic pumpkins from the Dollar Tree that I painted, dried okra pods, preserved leaves, and an old gold frame from the thrift store

An old Colorado state map and a 1921 silver trophy, both found at a local thrift store.

Isn't this old trophy adorable?  From July 4, 1921, awarded for the 220 yard dash...love it!

An old brass lantern (originally wired for a lamp post) found at a church rummage sale for $5

By the way, church rummage sales are the BEST sales around...lots of great stuff at great prices!

The large candle is wrapped with a strip of burlap webbing and I wrote the word autumn with a black Sharpie.  The webbing is great to use on candles and if you use a tape on the back to secure it, you 'll be able to use both sides of the webbing!  The other side could say happy thanksgiving, boo, or whatever floats your boat ;)

More dried okra pods, preserved leaves, and dried hydrangea 

Curly branches cascade over the top

That's it!  I hope you're enjoying our Fall Mantels week on the blog tour.  Be sure to stop by 2 Bees in a Pod tomorrow!  I know Jennifer and Vicki will have something amazing for us.

Here's a pinnable pic for you (see Pin button at the top of sidebar).  I appreciate it!

By the way, this guy's outside my work room door awaiting his debut in next week's Outdoor Fall Decoration theme ;)

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!

Angie

I'm linking here:
THE STYLE SISTERS
JENNIFER RIZZO
HOME STORIES A TO Z
FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS

COMMON GROUND

HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON
COASTAL CHARM'S NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY

FRIDAYS UNFOLDED

FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY

ONE MORE TIME EVENTS

TWIRL AND TAKE A BOW 
SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE

STONEGABLE
UNDER THE TABLE AND DREAMING

A DELIGHTSOME LIFE
ART IS BEAUTY

CLEVER CHICKS BLOG HOP DIY SHOWOFF IT'S OVERFLOWING

THREE MANGO SEEDS

ELIZABETH JOAN DESIGNS

WEEKEND CRAFTS

PRETTY PINTASTIC PARTY
THOUGHTS FROM ALICE
HYMNS AND VERSES
MISS MUSTARD SEED