Have you ever taken on a project, thought this is a GREAT idea. It will be SO fun, but then once you get into the actual planning and execution of the project you’re wondering WTF am I doing???!!! Why did I think I could do this???
Yeah, I do that a lot, it seems. I’m a writer, a dreamer. I have big amazing ideas. I LOVE to start projects. Finishing them, uh, well, that’s sometimes another story. I’m redoing my dining room buffet. I’ve been “redoing” it for about three years now.
I’ve recently taken on a new project. I’m calling it a labor of love. Because if it weren’t for the fact that I love this person dearly, NO WAY could you talk me into doing this. Have you ever felt like you can’t possibly win? Like you know it could end badly, but you go for it anyway? It’s kinda like when you decide to date the bad boy, knowing from the start that he’s going to break your heart.
I’m doing something I probably shouldn’t be doing in the name of love. My daughter’s seventeenth birthday is in three weeks. I love her. I really do. She’s one of my best friends. She’s beautiful, and she amazes me everyday.
And I’m going to keep repeating those sentences for the next few weeks. For her birthday, I’m redoing her sitting room. We both love watching those HGTV design shows where they redo a room. We love the ending, the big reveal.
That’s what she wants for her birthday. The BIG REVEAL. And I’m scared to death! My daughter’s taste is nothing like mine. She HATES pink. Hates bling. Hates leopard. I really don’t know where I went wrong!
I should point out that my college major was Textiles, Clothing, and Design. I love decorating, interior design, and planning. I should be up for the task.
I’m not.
I interviewed her, like a good designer should, to get her thoughts on her room. This is our conversation.
She goes, “I want it comfortable and casual.”
I’m like, “Okay, I can do that.”
She goes, “But I also want it sort of ethnic, like Moroccan, but like not too much. I also want pictures of where I’ve traveled and the stuff I collect displayed.”
And I’m like, “Okay, comfortable, casual, ethnic. I can do that.”
She adds, “But then I kinda want it trippy.”
I’m like, “Trippy?”
And she goes, “Yeah, like psychedelic art work, seventies, black lights, rope lights on the ceiling, maybe a disco ball or something.”
And I’m hanging in there going, “Uh, okay.”
But then she goes, “Oh and beachy too. You know I love the beach. I also don’t want it all matchy matchy. Like I want it cool. And grown up. And maybe a little bit Asian, and sorta boho.”
I very calmly replied, “So let me get this straight. You want a comfortable, ethnic, casual, trippy, beachy, Asian and bohemian influenced room with black lights and a disco ball that looks grown up?”
She was like, “Yep, exactly.”
See why I’m doomed? See why I’m wondering why I’m doing this when I know it’s going to end badly? It’s her BIRTHDAY!! I could ruin her birthday! I can’t take this pressure!
Here’s just a little visual for you of what I’ve got to accomplish. I have to mash up these styles all into one AH-MAZING room.
Here’s some photos of the room as it is now. It used to be very cute and beachy. We stripped almost everything out of it in preparation for the big day. One of the coolest things about her room is the wall of signatures. (Please don’t read them closely. Your eyes might burn like Grandma’s do when she walks in her room.) Everyone that has ever come into her room has signed it. We started with one board, then added the other last year. That is a feature that has to stay. I’m also keeping the table and chairs, the TV and TV stand. She picked out a plain white sofa, so that will replace the way too small PB Teen sofa she has now.
Oh, and did I mention that my husband gave me a budget? A pretty tight budget considering I need to buy a couch, two chairs, side tables, and accessories. Which means I REALLY have to get creative.
So look for the BIG REVEAL here at Glitter, Bliss, and Perfect Chaos in about three weeks. In the mean time, I’m off to make a beercap coffee table, order new furniture, paint a picture to replace the one above the TV, and figure out how to combine everything she wants into her dream. And not go crazy in the process!
So how bout you?? Do you have any suggestions? Brilliant design ideas you’d love to share? Do you have a project that never seems to get finished? Have you ever taken on a project like this? One where you have complete control, but that you really kinda wished you didn’t??
Oh, and here’s a sneak peak of some things I’m considering. She loves hints, so we’ll give her just a few…..and I may sneak a few more hints into my posts in the coming weeks.
Bridgette Booth says
September 4, 2011 at 16:57What a fabulous mom project! That wall is amazing and I see why you are keeping it. Oh, I’d love to borrow your brain. (And so would MY daughters.) LOL.
Can’t wait for the Big Reveal!!
tamerietherton says
September 1, 2011 at 19:12Hahaha, I love Nancy’s idea!
Wow, I cannot wait to see what you come up with. I was with you until you got to disco ball. Then my mind went all pink and sparkly on me and the room I envisioned for her was really my dream room. Come to think of it, my office is my dream room. Pink & black shabby chic kind of vibe going on.
Back to you. So, do you have any ideas? At least you went to school for this. I’d be so lost and it would be a horrid mishmash of all her wants.
So cool!
Jillian Dodd - Glitter, Bliss and Perfect Chaos says
September 1, 2011 at 21:16Your office sounds like my dream. I want black and white with hot pink and bright orange!!
I do have an idea board but I can’t share it because it has a lot of the things I actually ordered and my daughter reads my blog. But I’ll post it when I post the photos after the big reveal!!!
Nancy J Nicholson says
September 1, 2011 at 07:12My solution….Take her sailing instead. The ocean is the decor she wrties on. Seriously, it sounds like a real challenge, one you’re absolutely up to.
Jillian Dodd - Glitter, Bliss and Perfect Chaos says
September 1, 2011 at 08:23She would love to go sailing! If we only had a boat:)
Diana Murdock says
August 31, 2011 at 22:48I shall live through you, Jillian. My house has a been a WIP for six years now. I’ve managed to paint three walls. The boys’ bathroom has been next on the list for two years now. I’m trying to talk my neighbor into fixing it up for me. I’m proud of you and am looking forward to seeing the results!
Jillian Dodd - Glitter, Bliss and Perfect Chaos says
September 1, 2011 at 07:07I have to admit that decorating is something I love to do. And I love rearranging furniture and doing floorplans. My next project is possibly turning our huge formal living room into something like a sportsbar.
Linda Burke says
August 31, 2011 at 22:17I forgot to tell you they have dry erase paint you can put on any wall in your house. Is that what you’re using on her wall?
Jillian Dodd - Glitter, Bliss and Perfect Chaos says
September 1, 2011 at 07:02No the panels on her wall are foam core boards wrapped with canvas fabric. All the writing is done on it with permanent markers and someday we can take it down and use the canvas to make a big quilt or blanket.
Dry erase paint I have never seen. Very cool, as is chalkboard paint, but chalk dust is so messy!!
Not to give too much away but the room is going to be pretty eclectic, usually you can tie multiple themes and eras together through color. I’ve finished the floor plan and the story board and I’m hoping it looks as good as I envision.
I’m also praying we’ve saved enough beer caps!!
Linda Burke says
August 31, 2011 at 21:08Don’t know how you can pull all those ideas together unless you make each wall a different theme and have the center of the room the neutral area. I have no designing gene although I am remodeling house (for the past three(?) years). Hopefully, it will be finished sometime.
Amber West says
August 31, 2011 at 18:56I super love that you are taking this on and wish so badly that we lived close so I could shop with you . The kind of Moroccan/travel theme is something I’ve wanted to do. HomeGoods (do they have that in Texas) and Ross usually have cool “lamps” that would be awesome in a room like that – and they are easy to work around with the other ideas she has.
You are an awesome mom! And I can’t believe your daughter is 17? Can I look like you when my kid is that age?
Can’t wait to see pictures. And I love those owls.
Jillian Dodd - Glitter, Bliss and Perfect Chaos says
August 31, 2011 at 20:55Ha!! The OWLS!! That is the hilarious part!! I’m so glad you noticed. I was in the Chi Omega sorority in college. Our mascot is the owl. Back then, owls were just plain ugly. Now owls are like ALL the rage!! My daughter’s friends love owls. I bought one friend the CUTEST rhinestone owl earrings for her birthday! Of course, as with most daughters, what I LOVE, she HATES!! So she hates owls. Well, so maybe the owls are kinda just a joke. But I am trying really hard for her to like owls, so that when she goes to college and rushes, she will be unable to resist the old X and the horseshoe. So I’ve been threatening to do her room in owls. It’s sort of a running joke between us.
And YOU NEED TO COME TO DALLAS and shop with me!! And Tiffany. We could shop, have drinks, shop, more drinks. It’d be fun!! Did I hear you are maybe coming for that DFWcom thing? Or whatever it’s called.
Chloe says
August 31, 2011 at 18:28Oh. My. Good luck with that. I’m sure you can do it.
Jillian Dodd - Glitter, Bliss and Perfect Chaos says
August 31, 2011 at 20:51Oh. My. Is right!! Thanks for stopping by and the encouragement!!
Tiffany A White says
August 31, 2011 at 17:16What a great mom! My mom and I both missed out on the decorative gene. I’m actually impressed my house is as put together as it is. I credit what little experience I do have in decorating to my decade as an executive assistant. Of course, then I had the budget to hire a designer. 🙂 Soooo much of my house is Kirklands. Yep – I said it. I did bring over my office’s designer once for a flat fee and she walked around my house moving stuff around and suggesting locations to hang things. That was nice!
Jillian Dodd - Glitter, Bliss and Perfect Chaos says
August 31, 2011 at 20:50Well my budget is not bad and since I do the bills, the budget is um, flexilble, lol, but yeah, it helps to have another eye. If anyone needs an GREAT designer in the Dallas area, I have a friend that is AMAZING!
patriciasands says
August 31, 2011 at 16:05I’ve already marked the date for The Big Reveal in my calendar. NOT going to miss that! What a good mom you are!
Jillian Dodd - Glitter, Bliss and Perfect Chaos says
August 31, 2011 at 20:49Thank you. Here at GB&PC we are praying the reveal goes well. I secretly wish sometimes on those design shows that the people would be like What the Heck? I hate it! Just for like fun, but I’m hoping that’s not the case here!
Angela Wallace says
August 31, 2011 at 13:49Wow, I’m not skilled in design at all, but even I can’t imagine making all of that work. Good luck! In any case, it will be beautiful when you’re done because everything will come together. Trust your style judgment, and it’ll be great. 🙂
Jillian Dodd - Glitter, Bliss and Perfect Chaos says
August 31, 2011 at 20:48Thanks, Angela.I’ll be sure to post the pics later!!
Hartford says
August 31, 2011 at 13:32O.M.G. You are a brave, brave Mom, woman and friend. Unfortunately, I have no words of advice or great ideas to share given that I am craft/decorating challenged. I can’t even pick out wall paint for God sakes. I had to find a home that was move in ready. LOL.
It’s quite a mixed bag of themes and ideas to bring together but here’s the great part – I think you ARE up to the task. You love her, you know her style, and I have no doubt that in the end, it’ll all come together, be beautiful and she’ll love it!
A room designed by a mother’s love – how could she not?!
Good luck and can’t wait to see the PICS!!!
Jillian Dodd - Glitter, Bliss and Perfect Chaos says
August 31, 2011 at 13:40The fact that she is a bit design challenged is in my favor. Plus she doesn’t want to make all those pesky decisions. She’s a good delegator like her father. But when you delegate you do give up power, so yeah it should be interesting!!!
Jillian Dodd - Glitter, Bliss and Perfect Chaos says
August 31, 2011 at 20:47Picking out wall paint is fun!! There are so MANY gorgeous colors!! I love to pick out paint. Especially knowing if you screw up, you just paint over it!! A friend of mine does a blog called the Hidden List and she featured rooms the other day with charcoal black walls. They were gorgeous!!
David N. Walker says
August 31, 2011 at 13:19Best solution – move into a 1600 sf house. Her bedroom will be so small she won’t even think about redoing it.
Jillian Dodd - Glitter, Bliss and Perfect Chaos says
August 31, 2011 at 13:37I kinda like having her around :). Keep in mind she reads my blog. I have to say that.
tamikaeason says
August 31, 2011 at 12:52This post is why I love this blog! You are a dream mommy! My daughter would love me forever if I had your design gift:) As it stands I have to make up for this shortcoming with lots of shopping!
Jillian Dodd - Glitter, Bliss and Perfect Chaos says
August 31, 2011 at 13:36Well this is going to require a bit of shopping too:) that will be the fun part. I hope!!