ORC ~ My One Room Challenge!!

Hello everyone!  

Today marks the first week of the One Room Challenge Link Party!  I am so excited to jump in and be a part of it!  I have been wanting to change every a few rooms in my house, and just don't carve out the time.  So a six week challenge is exactly what I need!  One Room Challenge was started by Linda of Calling it Home, and I am so grateful that she thought of this!  Thank you Linda!  To follow along with tons of others, visit her blog!

So the way this whole thing works, is every week I will post an update of the progress I have made on my room!  And the final reveal will be in five short weeks!  Make sure to check back each week to see what I have done!

My One Room Challenge 

I chose my living room.  The living room is the first thing you see when you walk in the door, and I just really want it to reflect my style and taste.  It's not a bad room to start with, just not something I'm crazy about.

So here's the deal.. My husband loves this brick, but I'm not diggin it.  I never have.  I feel like everything I put on top of my mantle just competes with the brick.  I find it very busy.  I like a little more simple, lot's of creams and whites.. more details, but not busy.

Here are a few more before pictures of the room.  I also included my entry, which basically feels like it's part of the living room.  I'm going to include that in my challenge!  I hope I'm not setting myself up to fail! haha I think I can do this though!

Needed:

Woodwork surround on the fireplace

Custom Built Bookshelves to each side

Accessories

New wall paint

Fireplace stove repainted

New pillows

Something to be done with the ottoman

New clock idea

By the way, that wood square on the wall.. that's an unfinished project. ;)  I have a lot of those around my house.

This picture below.. it's not bad, but not great.  I feel like something more needs to be done with this space.  My ceiling is at it's peak on this wall, and leaves it feeling kind of bare.  If you have any ideas on how to make this a better focal point, but not too busy, please feel free to share!  I will definitely be doing something different with the pillows.  

 

Needed:

Different Pillows

Accessories

Something more to the wall space?

Picture below, I want to do something with a little more pop, and maybe some balance?  I'm also going to build two matching end tables to go on each side of this couch.  Add a new lamp, and accessories.. 

See that concrete foundation just above the carpet?  Well, that has been driving me crazy for years now!  It used to have carpet on it, but when we replace all our carpet, I said, nope.  I don't want carpet going up my wall! haha.  So I will be trimming that out to match the rest of the wood work, a creamy white paint of course. 

  Needed:

Two new custom built side tables

New Lamp

Accessories

Something more uniform on each side of the curtains

Here is my entry.  Not bad right?  But not what I want.  I have had this more contemporary console table for about eight years now.  Ready for a change.  I am going to build a new console table for this spot.  Something that more reflects my style.  I also would love to change this mirror up a bit.  I have a few ideas, but something to make it larger and give it more detail.  I hope it turns out like I'm seeing it in my head!!

 Needed:

New custom built entry table

Mirror built up for a larger look

Accessories

Maybe some woodwork on this wall? Not sure yet...

So now onto the plan!!  I have mentioned several times, "not my taste/style".  So what is my style?  Well, If I could have my perfect home, it would be a French Farmhouse with a Coastal Cottage flair!  Might sound like a lot of different looks, but it seems to work for me. :)

Here are a few inspiration pictures to give you an idea of where we are headed.  This part gets me really excited!!

I will be adding horizontal planking above the fireplace.  It's very cottage-farmhouse, and I'm in love with it!  I will also be building bookshelves to frame in the fireplace, so the backs will be planked as well.

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Above, I love the blue and white grain sack striping.  This pulls in a little bit of everything for me.  Farmhouse, old French grain sacks, and the blue and white are a coastal combination.  I may include this look using pillows, but not totally sure yet!

I love the look of old and new white pitchers.  So I will include some of these in my accessories.. I have a few already, though nothing like this collection below!

 

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I love this look below for my new entry table.  Something lighter, more rustic, and more shelf space.

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I could post inspiration pictures all day long, but I think this gives you an idea of where we're headed.  I look forward to starting this next week and sharing the progress with you all!  Any tips or ideas are welcome!  Thank you for stopping by! 

xo Jen

Linking up at:

Calling it Home: One Room Challenge

Creamy Tomato Bisque with Grilled Feta on Dark Rye

....Ingredients...................

CREAMY TOMATO BISQUE
 
2 lbs Ripe Tomatoes (seeded & peeled)
2 cans Tomato Sauce 
2 tbsp Tomato Paste
1 cup Chicken Broth
1/2 sweet Onion, Chopped
6 Garlic Cloves
3 leaves of Fresh Basil, chopped
2 tbsp Olive Oil
3 tbsp White Sugar
3/4 pint of Heavy Whipping Cream
1/4 tsp Ground Nutmeg
2 tbsp Flour
2 tbsp Butter
Salt/pepper 

Toasted Feta and Mozzarella on Dark Rye

8 slices Dark Rye bread (Serves 4)
 Mozzarella Cheese (Enough to generously top the bread)
8 1/4 inch slices of tomato/basil Feta cheese

8 Thinly sliced pieces of Italian Dry Salami
Butter

..................................

 

Hello friends!  Are you feeling like a warm delicious creamy comfort food in the middle of this ever so cold winter!?  If you are, try this recipe!  It's sure to warm you right up!

First, run the tomatoes through a food mill to remove the seeds and skins, (if you don't have one, just cut and spoon the seeds out) and place in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in the chicken broth, sugar, salt, pepper, fresh basil, garlic cloves, onion, tomato paste, and tomato sauce.  Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, and simmer 1 hour. (You can slow cook it all day if you'd like!)

When the mixture has cooked and simmered for an hour, remove from heat and pour it into a blender.  Be sure that the lid is closed tightly to keep from getting burned.  Simply puree the mixture until its super smooth and saucy!  Return to the original pot.

Next, in a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour to form a roux.  Next whisk in the whipping cream, and nutmeg.  Be sure you are stirring constantly until thickened and mixed well.  Now you can pour your creamy mixture into the Tomato sauce.  Give it some good stirring until it's completely mixed and a beautiful creamy orange!  Now, set aside on low heat while you make the rest!

Now for the sandwiches!  The DeLiCiOuS sandwiches!  All you do is butter your bread on one side, and toast it in a pan on medium heat.  While it's toasting, layer your Mozzarella and Feta on top.  Then place two slices of the Salami on top of the cheese.  Sprinkle the salami with a little more Mozzarella.  This is so the other piece of bread will stick to the sandwich.  Flip the sandwich and brown.  

Okay, now you can serve up the Bisque and garnish each bowl with a pinch of fresh Basil.  Grab the sandwiches and serve with a hearty salad! 

My family really enjoyed this meal!  I hope you do too!  I would LOVE to hear what you think!  Have a wonderful day! 

Linking up to My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia