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5 ways to take your bedroom from “bleh” to boudoir – Master Bedroom before and after reveal!

Wednesday ~ Posted by Karen Schravemade

Believe me, I know all about “bleh.”

When we moved into our house, our master bedroom looked like this:

The freshly-polished floors were lovely, but the walls were still the original scuffed dirty-white, and we had a floral flashback to deal with in the form of that half-broken curtain.

Basically, the room was bleh. Very dinghy, very bland, and with way too much brown in our furniture and decor accents. We’re talking brown cushion, brown bed runner, brown side tables, brown lamp bases, and brown floors.

Oh, and when we unpacked, we hung our wedding picture on a hook that was already in the wall. For the next year, every time I walked into that room, that too-high, off-centred picture irritated me.

Besides which, we had a very uninviting blank wall to look at from our bed, with a (brown) tallboy just stuck there in the corner looking all awkward and out of place like a pimply teenager at a dance.

When I was pregnant with Allegra, my nesting hormones kicked into overdrive. Suddenly this room update could not wait a minute longer. I HAD to fix this room, and not just this room but the boys’ bedroom and of course the new nursery. I spent weeks with a paintbrush in hand, balanced sideways on a ladder, because my enormous belly wouldn’t fit front-ways. I’m hardcore like that.

So, I’m going to show you what I did with this room – and then I’m going to give you the 5 tips I learned along the way for taking our bedroom from bleh to boudoir!

My first step was to paint the walls a dark, sexy, smoky grey. At least that was the plan. The colour on the wall had a slight purple undertone in some lights, but I liked the richness of it, so I kept going.

And what a difference it made. I love how painting all the walls a dark colour had the effect of unifying the whole room. There’s enough light pouring in from the balcony, and enough crisp white bedding for contrast, that the dark-toned walls don’t feel overbearing. Here’s the after shots:

Let’s break down how I got there. After painting the walls and trims, my next step was to tackle these babies. We bought them from Target when we were newlyweds, which was, um, *cough* thirteen years ago. (Gosh, we’re old.) And just like us (ha!) these little side tables were showing their age. They were scuffed and scratched and tired-looking. Plus, the orangey-brown wood tones were seriously dating our room.

So, I slapped on a coat of primer and then took some white paint to them…

So much fresher! I went for a “chippy” distressed look, which involved taking a sanding block to the edges and random other bits in a wild and haphazard fashion. Very therapeutic. I liked the chalky, matt finish, so I didn’t seal or varnish over top.

The last step was to switch out the old handles for some new cast-iron knobs from Bunnings. The black against white gives a classic little punch of contrast that I love.

I then shopped for a few key decor pieces to freshen up the feel of the room. A lovely breakfast cushion from Adairs, to continue the contrast of black against white:

And a turquoise throw rug I ordered online from The Home, to add a splash of accent colour.

I scored these lamps from Target for only $10 each on sale! They were marked down from $40 each. I love the texture of the black linen when the light shines through. And the glass bases with the cord coiled inside is funky and chic at the same time.

Above the side table I hung a vignette of Sid Dickens memory tiles.

I just adore these. It took me years to collect five of them. (One is hanging in our kitchen.) I asked for one for each birthday and Christmas for a while there. They’re not cheap! I just love the artsy, vintage feel they bring to the room.

Let’s take a look at the other end of the room. My biggest issue was taking that awkwardly-placed tallboy and making him feel more at home. Look how handsome he is now that he’s centred on that short wall, instead of lost in the middle of the long and empty one.

Hanging a mirror nice and low over the tallboy helped to anchor the vignette. Mirror sourced from Target for under $50 (can’t remember the exact figure, sorry). I then added a birdcage and some pillar candles we already had kicking around the house. The only item I bought especially was the little white candle, to bring a dash of freshness to that corner.

Here’s a detail shot of the edge of the mirror. I love finding items that look high-end but were actually really cheap.

I also added a tall vase and some artificial greenery to bring some balance to that corner. The tallboy sticks out less with something shorter just beside it.

The last step was to re-hang our wedding photo lower and centred on the large wall. We now have something much more inspiring to look at than a blank dirty-white wall. I wanted to also add a bench-seat under that photo, but I never found anything exactly right, and now it’s too late because we’re about to move out.

My favourite thing about this room is lying in bed with the balcony door open, looking out over the trees and mountain. It’s such a peaceful room.

So, here are my five hard-won tips for taking your bedroom from bleh to boudoir:

1. Paint the walls a new colour.
It’s the quickest and cheapest way to give your whole room an entirely new feel. In a master bedroom, you can afford to go for something a little dramatic. Why not take a risk and try something totally different? Go on… you know you want to.

2. Update existing furniture with paint for a fresh new look.
Bedroom furniture has a way of hanging around for eons. Take a look at the finishes in your room. If you have a bunch of different wood finishes that clash with each other, or the finishes are dated (like yellowy pine, or heavy dark mahogany), a whole new look could be just a can of paint away.

3. Dress the bed.
Crisp white bedding is a classic, fresh and romantic. I usually recommend avoiding busy patterns in your bedcover, and instead adding pattern and colour in the form of accents like Euro pillows, cushions, throws and runners. This way it’s easy to change your look seasonally, or when you just feel like something new.

4. Incorporate a reminder of your love for each other.
A bedroom is a place for romance. A wedding photo, a treasured photo of the two of you together, a framed copy of your wedding vows – all are ways to personalise the space and make it a celebration of your marriage.

5. Add mood lighting.
Nothing kills a romantic mood like those glaring overhead lights. Incorporate lamps with soft linen shades, lanterns and candles to create a soft atmospheric glow.

*

The master bedroom is often the most neglected room in the house when it comes to decorating. Why not make it YOUR space, a sanctuary to retreat to at the end of a busy day and a romantic haven to share with your partner?

Here’s one last before and after shot so you can see how far we’ve come.

And after:

I hope you enjoyed this room transformation! I’d love you to leave a comment so I know that you were here. Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for the next big room reveal – a sweet baby-girl nursery makeover! I can’t wait to share this one with you! If you don’t want to miss a post, why not subscribe below to receive my posts by email? And make sure to like my new page on Facebook!

Your turn to chat – is your bedroom more bleh or boudoir? Anyone else ever painted a room while heavily pregnant, or am I the only crazy person around here?

Linking up at Get your DIY On: Room Revamps!

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Categories: Decorate, Home, Room Reveals

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Lovely comments

  1. Julia M. Reffner says

    Monday at 11:24 am

    Karen,

    This is WONDERFUL!! I&#39m just curious, these room redos look like you could do them simply…are they expensive usually?

  2. Julia M. Reffner says

    Wednesday at 2:18 pm

    Karen,

    This is WONDERFUL!! I'm just curious, these room redos look like you could do them simply…are they expensive usually?

  3. karen says

    Monday at 11:24 am

    Thanks, Julia! This one was pretty inexpensive overall. It cost us a can of paint for the walls (about $60, a small cost for such a big difference) , and I already had the primer and leftover white paint for the side tables, so that part only cost us $40 for the new knobs. You could do that a bit cheaper, I just splurged for the cast-iron knobs at $10 each. I spent $80 on two ready-made curtains, $60 on a vase, $20 on some greenery (I already had most of it), $10 for a candle, $50 for the mirror, $20 for both lamps, $50 for a cushion and $40 for the throw. So the total (let&#39s see if I can add this up right) was $430. The "little" accesssories do add up, but to me that&#39s a pretty cheap room makeover for the difference it made. Also, everything is more expensive in Australia, so you could probably shave a fair bit off that total just because prices seem a lot more competitive over there. Shopping around for accessories and buying things on sale makes a big difference as well. Hope that helps! 🙂

  4. karen says

    Wednesday at 10:25 pm

    Thanks, Julia! This one was pretty inexpensive overall. It cost us a can of paint for the walls (about $60, a small cost for such a big difference) , and I already had the primer and leftover white paint for the side tables, so that part only cost us $40 for the new knobs. You could do that a bit cheaper, I just splurged for the cast-iron knobs at $10 each. I spent $80 on two ready-made curtains, $60 on a vase, $20 on some greenery (I already had most of it), $10 for a candle, $50 for the mirror, $20 for both lamps, $50 for a cushion and $40 for the throw. So the total (let's see if I can add this up right) was $430. The "little" accesssories do add up, but to me that's a pretty cheap room makeover for the difference it made. Also, everything is more expensive in Australia, so you could probably shave a fair bit off that total just because prices seem a lot more competitive over there. Shopping around for accessories and buying things on sale makes a big difference as well. Hope that helps! 🙂

  5. Karen L says

    Monday at 11:24 am

    Really enjoying the trip through your place. What a transformation…

    • karen says

      Monday at 11:25 am

      Thanks, Karen! So pleased you&#39re enjoying it. I&#39m glad you stopped by. 🙂

  6. Karen L says

    Friday at 2:04 pm

    Really enjoying the trip through your place. What a transformation…

    • karen says

      Friday at 4:49 pm

      Thanks, Karen! So pleased you're enjoying it. I'm glad you stopped by. 🙂

  7. Kathy says

    Monday at 11:24 am

    Hi Karen,
    I love the color you painted your bedroom walls. Do you mind if I ask what color and brand it is? The whole house looks gorgeous, sunny & open & I love it!

  8. Jenny Wren says

    Monday at 11:24 am

    Second request for the paint color 🙂

  9. Kathy says

    Friday at 3:24 pm

    Hi Karen,
    I love the color you painted your bedroom walls. Do you mind if I ask what color and brand it is? The whole house looks gorgeous, sunny & open & I love it!

  10. Jenny Wren says

    Friday at 3:31 pm

    Second request for the paint color 🙂

  11. karen says

    Monday at 11:24 am

    Kathy and Jenny, thanks so much for stopping by!

    The colour I used is Dulux "Strap". Dulux is an Australian paint brand.

    I&#39m not sure where you&#39re visiting from, but I looked up the RGB values of this colour and colour-matched it to a US brand in case that is helpful to you. The closest match is "Englewood Cliffs" by Benjamin Moore. It&#39s not an exact match, but it&#39s a very similar smoky grey with a purple undertone. You can take a look at it here: http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/englewoodcliffs

    Hope that helps! 🙂

  12. karen says

    Saturday at 3:02 am

    Kathy and Jenny, thanks so much for stopping by!

    The colour I used is Dulux "Strap". Dulux is an Australian paint brand.

    I'm not sure where you're visiting from, but I looked up the RGB values of this colour and colour-matched it to a US brand in case that is helpful to you. The closest match is "Englewood Cliffs" by Benjamin Moore. It's not an exact match, but it's a very similar smoky grey with a purple undertone. You can take a look at it here: http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/englewoodcliffs

    Hope that helps! 🙂

  13. Emily B says

    Monday at 11:24 am

    This is the area that is lacking personality the most in my home too. I love all of the details in your room. And the night tables are amazing. I would never have thought those could end up looking so rustic and great. I like the fine line between rustic and contemporary. Beautiful room! I love your blog and designs

    http://ourhousenowahome.blogspot.com/

    • karen says

      Monday at 11:25 am

      Thank you so much, Emily!

  14. Emily B says

    Tuesday at 3:13 pm

    This is the area that is lacking personality the most in my home too. I love all of the details in your room. And the night tables are amazing. I would never have thought those could end up looking so rustic and great. I like the fine line between rustic and contemporary. Beautiful room! I love your blog and designs

    http://ourhousenowahome.blogspot.com/

    • karen says

      Wednesday at 12:36 pm

      Thank you so much, Emily!

A blog by

Karen Schravemade

welcome!

Hi friends! So glad you're here! I'm Karen, Aussie stay-home Mum to four littlies, former teacher of Creative Arts, agented writer and interior decorator. I'm on a journey to bring beauty to my home and enjoy a more creative life with my kids - I'd love for you to join us. (Curious? Read more here!)

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INSTAFEED

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5 years ago, I was struggling with social media ad 5 years ago, I was struggling with social media addiction.⁠⠀
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My compulsion to scroll on my phone was making me deeply unhappy, but I couldn't seem to stop. ⁠⠀
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It feels incredibly vulnerable, but for the first time, I'm sharing my raw and honest story about how I became addicted to social media, and the exact steps I took to break free. ⁠⠀
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I've gone from wasting hours on a mindless distraction that only ever made me feel worse about myself, to falling in love with God's Word and finding true rest + peace in his presence.⁠⠀
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I'm a speaker at the 2020 Christian Women's Self Care Conference, and the topic of my session is "Stop the Scroll and Feed your Soul - how to break social media addiction and find rest in God's presence."⁠⠀
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There are 55+ speakers in total, speaking on a wide range of topics relating to self care. Registration is FREE, but only for a couple more days until conference starts on November 9th! ⁠⠀
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If you want to hold your seat, just tap the link in my bio and select "Self Care Conference", which will take you to the registration page.⁠⠀
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I hope you'll be blessed!⁠⠀
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Meanwhile, please tell me I'm not alone - has anyone else ever struggled with this?? Do share. ⁠⠀
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PS... You can read more of my story in my latest blog post! (Link in bio -> Visit the blog). ⁠⠀
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I also shared this super cute DIY phone box to help you interrupt the pattern of mindlessly picking up your phone!⁠⠀
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xo Karen⁠⠀
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#selfcare #christianwomen #christianlife #socialmediaaddiction #phoneaddiction #selfcaresistersociety
If there's one word to describe how many women hav If there's one word to describe how many women have been feeling this year... it would be "depleted."⁠⠀
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I mean, for real. Who would've guessed back at the start of this year that we'd be dealing with a global pandemic, homeschooling our kids, financial uncertainty, and a total lockdown on many of our most comforting routines?⁠⠀
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Ladies, it's time to refill those emptied-out tanks before this year is out. I'm so excited to share that I'll be speaking at the 2020 Christian Women's Self-Care Conference, alongside 55 other bloggers, authors and speakers. ⁠⠀
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It's totally online, and our aim is to bless you with help and encouragement for your 2020-wearied soul! ⁠⠀
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Even better, registration is FREE until the conference begins on November 7th, so make sure you hold your seat today! Just click the link in my bio and choose "SELF CARE CONFERENCE".⁠⠀
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Hope to see you there!⁠⠀
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xo Karen⁠⠀
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P.S. Swipe - do you recognise one of those Day One speakers...? More on what I'll be speaking about, very soon! It's a goody!! 😉 😍⁠⠀
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#selfcare #selfcaresistersociety #2020⁠⠀
It’s Reconciliation Week in Australia and right It’s Reconciliation Week in Australia and right now my heart is so heavy with the injustice in the world that I’m struggling to even find the words.

Knowing that I’m inherently complicit in that injustice because of my privilege is sobering. At times I’ve been silent when I should have spoken and at other times I've spoken when I should’ve shut up and listened to the only voices in this narrative that really matter - the voices of those who’ve experienced this sort of prejudice from inside their own skin.

Racial injustice has always grieved my heart, but there’s a difference between empathy and kindness. Having empathy is important, but it’s not enough. Kindness speaks and acts. And right now I don’t really know what to say but somehow I feel it’s important to say something anyway, however imperfectly. Because there is nothing as deafening as silence in the face of systemic suffering.

I don’t know a lot. But I do know that Jesus was always on the side of the oppressed and marginalised. And the Bible tells us that one day, the last will be first and the first will be last. To me that means that in God’s new restored kingdom, these corrupt systems of the world will be turned on their head. In that day, those who’ve benefited from a system of white supremacy (myself included) will be the least. Those who’ve been oppressed and mistreated in this life will be honoured and elevated with the nobility they deserve. What a day that will be!! 🙌

But it’s not enough to know that someday it will all be made right. I hope to see heaven come to earth. I hope to see more black leaders, politicians, policy makers, authors, artists, influencers, CEO’s, entrepreneurs, bank managers, lawyers, judges, scientists and professors. The system is unfairly stacked and our privilege is self-perpetuating. I pray for it all to be turned upside down within our lifetime.

In the (paraphrased) words of MLK, let’s not prefer a negative peace which is an absence of tension (aka passivity, complacency, complicity, silence), over a positive peace, which is the presence of justice. “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”
‭‭Amos‬ ‭5:24‬ ‭NIV‬‬
We’re in week one of homeschooling over here. Sc We’re in week one of homeschooling over here. School closures will last at least five weeks. I will not lie, I was anxious about how I would cope. But we are slowly finding our rhythm and perhaps one day in the distant future I’ll even have time to start scheduling posts to Instagram again. For now, this is a random mid week check-in to say, how are you surviving, friends? I’m thinking of you! Wishing you an oasis of calm in the midst of everything, whether it means getting up half an hour earlier than the kids for a morning walk alone, or locking yourself in the bedroom at night with a good book while hubby puts the kids to bed. #doneboth #wewillsurvive 💗
Easter iso style - camping on our land! When so ma Easter iso style - camping on our land!
When so many are feeling hopeless right now, we are thankful for the hope Jesus brings. 💚🧡 Happy Easter, friends!
There is no right or wrong way to be right now.⁠ There is no right or wrong way to be right now.⁠
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I've felt led to share some hope and peace with you this week. That doesn't mean you need to put any extra pressure on yourself if you are struggling to tap into peacefulness right now.⁠
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I'm an Enneagram 4, so I am well accustomed to getting trapped inside my own feelings. For the feelers, the weight of the world's problems can sometimes feel intense and overwhelming.⁠
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I was on the beach the other day, praying for a "4" friend who is struggling with this exact thing. And all of a sudden, all of these butterflies started flying from the sand dunes toward the sea, and out over the waves.⁠
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It was a windy day and they were being buffeted around. But I was so intrigued that despite their fragility, they stayed on course, flying directly into that strong wind to get to where they were headed. It started with one, then two, then dozens upon dozens of them. None of them were blown into the water or whipped out of sight. They just flew straight on, above the waves.⁠
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And it made me think of the sensitive souls of this world. Our "butterflies", who bring so much beauty with their creativity, perception, and deep compassion for others. ⁠
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Our butterflies are being extra buffeted right now by the winds of change and pain. That doesn't make them weak. In fact they have within them a surprising strength, to stay the course and to fly above the waves.⁠
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The thing is, you don't have to change who you are to be strong. You don't have to be something you're not. Your sensitivity is not a weakness - it's designed into your DNA by God. With so many people hurting and afraid at the moment, we need your compassion more than ever.⁠
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If you're feeling overwhelmed, it's okay to not be okay. Just trust that even if you feel buffeted by the winds, you are lifted by his grace above the waves, and you will not be drowned.⁠
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And even if you feel like you're flailing around out there, you never know, someone else might just be watching you, admiring your beauty and your grace. 🦋
I was reading a random little story the other day I was reading a random little story the other day from the book of Numbers, in the Bible. ⁠
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A king was scared of the Israelites and so he paid a prophet to curse them. Except every time they tried it, the guy spoke blessings instead. This is what he said:⁠
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"God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it! No misfortune is in his plan for Jacob; no trouble is in store for Israel. For the LORD their God is with them; he has been proclaimed their king." (Numbers 23:20-21)⁠
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Even the curses of the enemy will be turned into blessings for the people of God. ⁠
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He has given us an inheritance that cannot be shaken. ⁠
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💜 What blessing are you thankful for today? ⁠
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I'm thankful for the leadership of my local church, who continue to minister to peoples' needs both spiritual and physical. Our pastors have their own families and needs, yet they consistently look outward to care for their flock. ⁠
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Let me know yours below! Let's name as many BLESSINGS as we can!⁠
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xo Karen
Thank you God, for your goodness.⁠ ⁠ For famil Thank you God, for your goodness.⁠
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For family and a home and a table to gather around with our loved ones.⁠
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Thank you that when so much else is changing, you remain the same.⁠
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Thank you that you are for us and not against us. That your heart is toward us. That in you is all we need, now and always.⁠
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We pray for those who are lonely and isolated and anxious and unwell. For those whose jobs and livelihoods are lost or threatened. Give us creative ways to reach out with kindness, that we can be salt and light in a dark world. ⁠
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Let kindness for others not feel like a drain on our limited resources, but a natural outflowing of your continuous, abundant supply. ⁠
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Shelves may be bare, but you always have more than enough.⁠
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Every blessing comes from your hand and we are grateful.⁠
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Amen
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind an “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid." John 14:27⁠
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There is truly nothing like God's peace.⁠
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The world can offer mindfulness and yoga and candles and calming diffused oils and self-help. Nothing wrong with any of those things, in fact they can be beautiful tools - I use all of them. ⁠
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But I can say from genuine experience that the peace God gives is not like the peace the world gives. It's on a whole new level. ⁠
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It's the peace that he gives when you're in the middle of a storm and the world is turning to crap all around you and you're at the very end of yourself and self-help has begun feeling like trying to drag yourself from a pit via a rope around your waist that you're tugging on with your own two hands. ⁠
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We can't always lift ourselves out of anxiety or fear. So drop the rope. Stop striving. And ask God for HIS peace. He has an abundant well of supply for you to draw from. ⁠
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Fear is trying to hold tight to control in a situation we can't control. ⁠
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Faith asks us to let go, to repent of our fearfulness and surrender it all to God.⁠
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How do you find this miracle of peace? In the letting go.⁠
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We were never meant to carry this burden anyway. ⁠
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How are you doing today? Let me know how I can pray for you. ⁠
⁠
xo Karen
I was praying yesterday and felt God telling me th I was praying yesterday and felt God telling me that it's time to make a transition. Instead of being a person who looks for support from others in times of stress or uncertainty, he wants me to offer support TO others. ⁠
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I've often felt like I don't quite have it together. I'm sensitive, I feel things deeply, I tend to get trapped in my own head and in negative thought spirals.⁠
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But I felt like he was saying that I have something to offer, anyway. Just because I've always been a person who views myself as needy or weak does not mean God views me that way. He can see the strength that is in all of us and he delights in calling it forth. I love how when Gideon was hiding in fear in a winepress, God's angel greeted him by saying "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."⁠
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He was the furthest thing from a mighty warrior at that point. But God knew the battles he WOULD win in his future. He saw what did not yet exist and spoke about it as if it was already a reality. He saw Gideon's true identity and spoke directly to that buried and hidden place within him.⁠
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So. Maybe all I need is a shift in perspective. From looking inward at my own lack, to looking up at him. HE is the source of any hope and help I can offer. And if he wants me to share that, it would be my privilege to obey.⁠
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So let me know... is there anything you're particularly struggling with right now? If you're feeling anxious or burdened, I would love to support you in prayer. 🙏⁠
⁠
xo Karen
We haven't been quarantined yet in Australia, but We haven't been quarantined yet in Australia, but I know many of my American friends are stuck at home right now. Either way - sounds like a good chance to do "one thing for the home."⠀
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If you're feeling anxious, it can really help to get out of your head for a little while and do something practical. We can't control anything in the outside world right now, but we CAN complete one concrete task to make our immediate environment feel calmer and function better. And sometimes just having that one little win is all we need to break us out of a negative thought-spiral and restore some equilibrium. ⠀
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If you're feeling a bit helpless and panicky, I hope this helps. It's one thing you CAN control. And doing something with your hands will give your mind a much-needed break. ⠀
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🌟THIS MONTH'S PRIZE: A $50 AMAZON GIFT CARD! 🌟⠀
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Here's a reminder of how to play:⠀
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1. Decorate, declutter or organise one thing in your home, this weekend. No task is too small! One shelf or one drawer is all you need to tackle to be eligible!⁠⠀
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2. Post your "after" photo on the Facebook thread (click through via my link in bio). Pics DON'T have to be spectacular - they're simply proof that you did it.⁠⠀
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3. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. (Click through to my Facebook page via my link in bio)⁠⠀
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4. Tag some friends either on THIS post or on the Facebook thread to play along! If you complete the challenge, you will get a bonus entry for EVERY person you tag.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
5. Entries will be given for every challenge completed this month. We play four times in March - once every weekend! You can participate once or all four times, it's up to you!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram. The winner will be randomly drawn at 8pm AEST Monday, following the last Sunday of the month. Giveaway is open internationally.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I'll be going live on Facebook today at 2.30pm AEST to kick off this week's challenge and show you the space I'll be tackling today. International timezones are on the third slide - swipe right to see! Or click through my link in bio at any time to see the video saved on my feed.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I hope you join us! This will be fun!
I’ve been quiet this week. In situations of flux I’ve been quiet this week. In situations of flux or stress my tendency is to withdraw and process. (I’ve learned this is very Enneagram 4 of me.) I also feel major reticence about adding to the current noise. I feel there are enough voices talking loudly all at once about the same thing and you don’t need one more.
So I give you instead a prayer for peace. If you are feeling anxious, let this be your exhale today. 💙
Weekend feels courtesy of the "Hamptons House"... Weekend feels courtesy of the "Hamptons House"... 😉⁠
⁠
What are you up to this weekend, friends?⁠
⁠
xo Karen
It's Friday! Time for our weekly "One Thing for th It's Friday! Time for our weekly "One Thing for the Home" challenge! ⁠This month I'm gonna raise the stakes and give away a $50 Amazon Gift Card. 🎉🎉WOOHOO!!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
You can win just by getting something done that you've been meaning to get to around your home! ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Here's how to play.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
1. Decorate, declutter or organise one thing in your home, this weekend. No task is too small! One shelf or one drawer is all you need to tackle to be eligible!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
2. Post your "after" photo on the Facebook thread (click through via my link in bio). Pics DON'T have to be spectacular - they're simply proof that you did it.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
3. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. (Click through to my Facebook page via my link in bio)⁠⠀
⁠⠀
4. Tag some friends either on THIS post or on the Facebook thread to play along! If you complete the challenge, you will get a bonus entry for EVERY person you tag.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
5. Entries will be given for every challenge completed this month. We play four times in March - once every weekend! You can participate once or all four times, it's up to you!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram. The winner will be randomly drawn at 8pm AEST Monday, following the last Sunday of the month. Giveaway is open internationally.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I'll be going live on Facebook today at 2.30pm AEST to kick off this week's challenge and show you the space I'll be tackling today. International timezones are on the third slide - swipe right to see! Or click through my link in bio at any time to see the video saved on my feed.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I hope you join us! This will be fun! 🤩⁠⠀
⁠⠀
May the odds be ever in your favour! 😉⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Let's get this accountability ball rolling - let me know below what you're thinking of tackling this month!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
xo Karen⁠⠀
⁠⠀
⁠⠀
⁠⠀
#onethingforthehome #organized #organising #organisedhome #organisedlife #organisedmum #homeorganising #tidyhome #organization #organizedhome #aplaceforeverythingandeverythinginitsplace
We are getting closer on the home build front... a We are getting closer on the home build front... after two years of sketching dozens upon dozens of floor layout ideas and ultimately trashing all of them, I finally have a plan I LOVE!! ⁠
⁠
It ended up being a highly collaborative effort between our architect and myself - he came up with a general concept and gave me external parameters to suit the contours of the block, and I then designed the internal layouts to fit. ⁠
⁠
Turns out that is exactly what I needed - some guidelines! Amazing how much better our creativity flourishes within constraints. It was way too open-ended before our architect came on board, and I was flailing around in all that freedom like a tadpole in the ocean. Within a day or two of having a blank footprint to work within, I actually had a decent plan. We've tweaked it a little since then, but it's virtually the same.⁠
⁠
I love it when something you've struggled with for the longest time suddenly just clicks. Has this ever happened for you?⁠
⁠
Now we just need to draft it up properly and then see if we can actually afford to build it. Lol. ⁠
⁠
One step at a time... 😆Celebrating progress today!⁠
⁠
xo Karen⁠
⁠
P.S. Let me know if you'd like to see a sneak peek of our plan in stories!!
So here's a little Enneagram primer to follow on f So here's a little Enneagram primer to follow on from yesterday's chat! This is just off the top of my head, so please take it with a grain of salt - there is SO MUCH more to each type than what I can sum up in a sentence.⁠
⁠
Here are the 9 types:⁠
⁠
1 - The Moral Perfectionist: self-critical, organised, driven by the desire to make things right and good⁠
2 - The Helper: relationally driven, people focussed, places others' needs ahead of their own⁠
3 - The Achiever: success driven and ambitious, gets things done, image conscious⁠
4 - The Romantic Individualist: creative, driven by the desire for uniqueness, feels things deeply⁠
5 - The Investigative Thinker: introverted and analytical,  detached from emotion⁠
6 - The Loyalist: community minded, a team player, driven by the need for security and anxiety about the future⁠
7 - The Entertaining Optimist: positive, energetic and playful, driven to squeeze as much fun out of life as possible⁠
8 - The Protective Challenger: a natural leader, confrontational, confident and determined⁠
9 - The Peaceful Mediator: conflict-avoidant, gentle and steady, driven to seek inner peace⁠
⁠
I'm a 4 wing 5, married to an 8 wing 7. They do say opposites attract 😆⁠
⁠
Do you see yourself in any of these descriptions? ⁠
⁠
xo Karen
ENNEAGRAM⁠ ⁠ Where are my fellow Enneagram fan ENNEAGRAM⁠
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Where are my fellow Enneagram fanatics??!⁠
⁠
I've only recently "discovered" the Enneagram, and OH. MY. GOODNESS. What a game changer. ⁠
⁠
If you're not familiar with it, it's a personality typing system.  I've always been interested in personality differences and human behaviour - that's probably the novelist in me. But none of the other systems I've come across have resonated with me as deeply as the Enneagram.⁠
⁠
It is so accurate, it's almost uncanny.⁠
⁠
Basically, there are 9 types, representing 9 different ways of looking at the world, each with different motivations, behaviour traits, strengths and flaws.⁠
⁠
I'm an Enneagram 4. That's the "Romantic Individualist". It's an artistic temperament driven by creativity, love of beauty, a desire for uniqueness, introspection, and authenticity.⁠
⁠
I guess it's no surprise that when I had to ask my friends and readers to sum up my strengths for an assignment I was given, the two words that came up most frequently were "creativity" and "honesty".⁠
⁠
Enneagram 4's feel deeply and are very connected to our emotions. We'd  much rather have a meaningful conversation about deep feelings than make small talk about trivial things. ⁠
⁠
Each type can pull a little more to one or other of the numbers beside them, giving a different flavour. I'm a wing 5 (the "Investigative Thinker") which means I tend to be less temperamental/ moody, and more steady, reserved and analytical. ⁠
⁠
I'm also daydreamy, a big-picture thinker, and despise administrative details. My "fatal flaw" (each type has one) is comparison and envy. Ohhhhh yep, that certainly rings true. Because while we want to stand out and be special, which can be prideful, we also struggle hard with insecurity and feeling like we never quite measure up.⁠
⁠
Yes, yes and YES.⁠
⁠
If you haven't done the Enneagram test, do a search online - it's honestly so interesting and self-revealing.⁠
⁠
If you know your type, what number are you? xo
So I found out I have bronchitis. 🙄At least I f So I found out I have bronchitis. 🙄At least I feel less like a whiner - if I get sick I usually shake it within a couple of days, so I was starting to feel irritated with myself for still being crook after three weeks!⁠
⁠
Anyhow, could be worse, and I do feel like I'm starting to pick up again now. ⁠
⁠
This buffet in our living room holds a changing arrangement of mostly-white vases, with a bit of blue glass and green foliage thrown in for good measure. ⁠
⁠
Are you a chronic re-arranger, or do you prefer to leave things as-is? ⁠
⁠
To be honest, I've always been a "get it exactly how I want it then leave it like that forever" type of girl, but I've been loosening up and playing around more with my décor this past year, and it struck me that my buffet has gone through several style shifts now. I actually like it a little bit better every time I make a change! ⁠
⁠
Hope this new week will be an awesome one for you, friends!⁠
⁠
xo Karen⁠
BLACK vs WHITE⁠ ⁠ Let's talk kitchens! Our hou BLACK vs WHITE⁠
⁠
Let's talk kitchens! Our house build is on my mind, and even though we're only at the plan stage, I'm trying to nail down my ideas in a general creative direction. ⁠
⁠
The last three kitchens I've designed have been all white, with accents of grey. I really want to use black in my next kitchen. I love the drama of it (as we already established, I like a bit of drama. Ha.) I keep veering back and forth between all black, or some combination of black and white. ⁠
⁠
I'm interested to know... what would you choose? My guess is that white-on-white is still gonna be the most popular choice, and black will probably be controversial, but I could be wrong! ⁠
⁠
So let me know - I'm keen to hear your opinion!⁠
⁠
1. All white⁠
2. All black⁠
3. Black + white⁠
⁠
🖤♡🖤♡🖤⁠
Karen
It's Friday! Time for our weekly "One Thing for th It's Friday! Time for our weekly "One Thing for the Home" challenge! ⁠This month I'm gonna raise the stakes and give away a $50 Amazon Gift Card. 🎉🎉WOOHOO!!⠀
⠀
You can win just by getting something done that you've been meaning to get to around your home! ⠀
⁠⠀
Here's how to play.⠀
⁠⠀
1. Decorate, declutter or organise one thing in your home, this weekend. No task is too small! One shelf or one drawer is all you need to tackle to be eligible!⠀
⁠⠀
2. Post your "after" photo on the Facebook thread (click through via my link in bio). Pics DON'T have to be spectacular - they're simply proof that you did it.⁠⠀
⠀
3. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook.⠀
⁠⠀
4. Tag some friends either on THIS post or on the Facebook thread to play along! If you complete the challenge, you will get a bonus entry for EVERY person you tag.⠀
⠀
5. Entries will be given for every challenge completed this month. We play four times in March - once every weekend! You can participate once or all four times, it's up to you!⠀
⁠⠀
Giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram. The winner will be randomly drawn at 8pm AEST Monday, following the last Sunday of the month. Giveaway is open internationally.⠀
⠀
I'll be going live on Facebook today at 2.30pm AEST to kick off this week's challenge and show you the space I'll be tackling today. International timezones are on the third slide - swipe right to see! Or click through my link in bio at any time to see the video saved on my feed.⠀
⠀
I hope you join us! This will be fun! 🤩⠀
⠀
May the odds be ever in your favour! 😉⠀
⠀
Let's get this accountability ball rolling - let me know below what you're thinking of tackling this month!⠀
⠀
xo Karen⠀
⠀
P.S. You can decorate, declutter or organise anything you like. No task is too small! Tackle a drawer, a shelf, or a storage tub. Do that niggly little job you've been meaning to get to. Hang that picture. Paint that stool. Sort through the kids clothes. We’ve all got that “one thing” - let us know yours! xo⠀
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⠀
⠀
#onethingforthehome #organized #organising #organisedhome #organisedlife #organisedmum #homeorganising #tidyhome #organization #organizedhome #aplaceforeverythinga
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