Dill House Diary // Master Bedroom Makeover

Hello, everyone. You may have noticed that we were MIA for a week or so there. We've been undergoing some major changes around here, with the hubs getting a new job in Washington, D.C. and starting up his personal training business as well. Then, last week, we took an impromptu trip to Virginia to visit Mark's family there-- so blogging fell by the wayside for a few days.  We've returned though with another makeover post for your reading pleasure. Today, I wanted to share our master bedroom makeover. Like every other room in this little house, it underwent a big change-- going from drab to dramatic. Here's a glimpse at what the master looked like when we purchased our home: 

Can you say "depressing"? We were the proud owners of off-white walls, a clanking window unit, a rusty radiator, and one window shade. I tell you, that one window shade made all the difference. Yes, that was sarcasm. 

Because the carpet was brand new, we decided to leave it even though it wouldn't have been my pick of carpets. We decided to paint the walls and the radiator, and just give the room and entirely new vibe. Instead of drab and sad, I wanted a dramatic, eclectic look. So without further ado... here's a look at what the space looks like now. 

Because our bedroom faces north, we're limited on how much natural light we get through the day. Most of it streams in during the morning and then gradually diminishes throughout the day.  I knew a pale color wouldn't work well without the correct light; so I took a risk and went with a dark, dramatic shade of charcoal grey. we chose Arabian Veil by Behr Paints, available at the Home Depot.

It turned out to be the best idea. The charcoal grey has a deep purple-blue undertone that shows up in different ways over the course of the day. It's so pretty and works so well with the blue accents in that room. 

When Mark and I registered for our wedding, we decided that one major item we would register for would be good bedding. Having really nice bedding--sheets, duvet, comforter--  really can give your room a luxurious feel. Even if the rest of the room isn't totally perfect, crawling into a squishy, hotel-soft bed will elicit the most content sigh imaginable. 

We currently have these sheets by Cariloha and this duvet from Bed Bath & Beyond. 

Our dresser and Mark's beside table are painted in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint's Paris Grey. I did two coats of the Chalk Paint on both pieces of furniture, sanded to add some distressed touches, and then added two coats of the Annie Sloan Soft Clear Wax topcoat. The pale grey color matches our charcoal walls and somehow has a modern yet vintage touch at the same time. I absolutely love it. 

You can read more about the dresser makeover here. 

My favorite feature in our bedroom is the blue stained glass window that hangs above our bed. It makes such a big, bold statement and really sets the mood of our room. Can you believe I found that beauty at an antique warehouse for only $45 dollars? They had three others which I didn't buy. And to this day, I regret that I didn't! 

All in all, I love our master bedroom. I feel that it really encapsulates and showcases my style. Its eclectic, colorful vibe makes me happy everyday. It's cheerful and cozy at the same time, with lots of layered texture and bright hues. 

Like what you see here? Check out our kitchen renovation and home office tour. We're always renovating and DIYing around here. So stay tuned for more projects and makeovers! Thanks for reading!

Decorating Your Home with Fresh Flowers

Deep crimson, yellow ochre, dusky blues, and berry-bright orange-- these moody, jewel-tones have always been my favorite colors with which to decorate our home. Even when the rest of the world gravitates to white-washed pastels and farmhouse chic, I cling to the dramatic and the eclectic: bold patterns, mismatched textures, and funky colors. So of course, when fall rolls around, I'm thrilled! Finally the rest of the world dons it's autumnal hues-- my absolute favorite color palette.

One way that I love incorporating fall into our home decor is through the use of fall florals. Typically, when you think of using fresh flowers in your home decor, you probably think of it as a spring and summer accessory. But fall brings a plethora of floral options: succulents, pumpkins, sunflowers, wheat stems, dried hydrangeas, berries, dark roses, leafy branches, and of course the quintessential mum. Every year, I decorate our front stoop with mums and pumpkins. But I also love to incorporate fresh autumn flowers into our interior seasonal decor. There's just something about fresh flowers that cheers up a room.

Today, I wanted to share some ways that I've utilized flowers in our fall decor along with some inspiring ideas  from BloomNation.

Tip: Pick flowers that match your home's color theme. 

With its chocolate brown walls and broad leather couch, our living room is without a doubt the coziest room in the house. A common color thread throughout the room is yellow ochre. So when I saw yellow Craspedia (also called Billy Balls) at our local market, I had to buy them. They're so simple but just add a touch of whimsy to our decor. Plus, their bright mustard yellow color perfectly matches our color theme.

Tip: Choose flowers that will last a while, like sunflowers. 

The Craspedia in our living room have been in their vase for a little over a week. I regularly change the water-- I aim for once a day--and they still haven't lost their fluffiness or color. Some flowers, like tulips, are stunning but can wilt pretty quickly. You can always try placing your fresh flowers in the fridge overnight, but if you're like me, you may not have much room in there. Especially if you meal prep! So ask your local florist for flowers that will last a little longer in an arrangement. One of my long-lasting favorites for fall? Sunflowers.

Tip: Choose fluffy flowers that give you more bang for your buck.

Anyone who has ever planned a wedding knows that bigger, fluffier flowers are the way to go. You get more volume for less money because you're buying less stems. In our wedding, I purchased huge clumps of baby's breath, tied them with burlap ribbon, and put them into galvanized tin buckets for an inexpensive yet dramatic aisle decoration. Now, in my home, I love using hydrangeas because one or two stems create a voluminous bouquet for our dining room table.

Tip: Add texture through greenery, berries, or branches. 

Yesterday, my husband came home with a stunning fall bouquet: an eclectic mix of greenery, roses, sunflowers, and berries. While uniform bouquets can be beautiful, I love the textural interest that this bouquet had. I added two more branches to create vertical height alongside the soft greens and bold crimsons. In my opinion, textural elements like berries and branches really work well in fall decor because they evoke memories of long woodsy walks and campsites.

Tip: Don't be afraid to experiment. 

Not a huge fan of flowers? Or have allergies? Instead of a traditional bouquet, display a branch of changing leaves or even use wheat stems like the fall centerpiece we shared a few days ago.  You can even experiment with unique containers: a pumpkin, a bucket, or tea tins. Vintage or rustic containers really add to the fall flavor.

Need some inspiration? One of my favorite Instagram accounts and Pinterest boards is BloomNation, a community marketplace for discovering talented local florists. i started following them on Instagram @bloomnation awhile ago. Because, frankly, who doesn't love a feed full of stunning flowers? They give tidbits of flower arranging advice and can help you find a really unique florist in your area, just by typing in your zip code. In fact, all of the images posted today are from BloomNation, used with permission of course.

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Images sources:  top image: mine // all other images:  BloomNation Pinterest board (used with permission)

Dill House Diary // Dining Room Tour

Although we've owned our house for nearly two years, we're just beginning to add the details that make our house feel like a home. It seemed that for so long we had random, disparate items on the walls. One painting, hung in an awkward location, with blank space to the right. Or a wobbly out-dated ceiling fan casting a yellow light over the room. Yet over time, we've replaced the outdated (bye-bye ceiling fan), polished the classic (hello original hardwood), and managed to create a space that feels curated and homey. Now, it's a space that feels lived in, That feels like ours. 

Recently, I stumbled upon Sweet Clover Barn, a vintage home decor and handmade marketplace housed in an old dairy barn here in Frederick, Maryland. Let's just say, I experienced sensory overload when I walked through its rusty sliding doors. Seriously. Check out their Facebook page, and you will understand. I bought this hand-printed table cloth there and am in love with it. The marketplace is only open once a month, but I'm already dying to go back!

I love being able to create my own artwork for our home. Every piece, excluding one large painting in our bedroom, is one of my original acrylic paintings. If you look what you see in these pictures, check out my Etsy or contact me to discuss creating an original piece of art for your home! 

When we bought our home, I walked into the dining room, noticed this quirky wall beside the stairwell and thought "I want to make that a chalkboard wall." Now, we love writing whimsical and seasonal messages on it. It's a cheap decorative accent to add to your room--and every time you change the message, you give the room a new air. 

What do you guys think? Thanks for taking a look into our living room! 

Now we just need to have you over for a meal!