House Crashing: Opening Weekend

One of my very best besties Amanda and her wonderful fiance Clark purchased their first home this past week in OKC. She invited my mom and me up to help them unpack/decorate/organize/paint/drink wine and of course we said heck yes. 

Since every house crashing warming begins with a gift what better gift to give then to pass along my addiction for all things succy? As in succulents...here is the creation I whipped up the day we drove up to OKC (not actually sure if it's up or down in juxtaposition to tulsa but I don't make maps like Clark does). My usual succulent dealer contact wasn't in town yet (she sets up a booth at the Tulsa Flea Market every Saturday) so I had to look elsewhere. 

Home Depot actually had quite the great selection and all were nicely priced. I picked her up a variety of really cool looking succulents including Mr. Fuzzy, Ms. Prickly Aloe, Mr. Grows Really Tall, Ms. Hen and Chick with a Bonus Flower Growing Out The Top and Mr. Spread Out Really Cool and Has Tons of New Growth (these are technical terms people). I put together these succulents in my usual manner. Fiberglass pot, 3/4 full of mulch, arranged the succulents using just the dirt they came with, and filled the space around with pebbles. She loved it. 

Then came the clearing spaces out so we could see what we were working with. This photo is just a glimpse at three rooms (standing in the kitchen, room to the left is living, room to the right is bonus room). The first night we arrived we finished painting the living room, rearranged it and set out things to hang in the am.

This is the closest representation of the paint color in the living I could get. It's a nice grey/blue shade. We had a fear that the top half was drying a much different color then the bottom half (since they are two different textures) but after a day and some furniture got moved in the colors blended more nicely. I love that they went this dark in the living room because the space is so bright and open and huge that it really cozies it up. The color is Oxford Grey by Benjamin Moore.

This is the very first piece we hung and it's one of my favorite that Amanda's mom gave her. It hangs in that small wall that we were looking at above. It helps bring in the grey colors from the living into the kitchen. This art is all Norman, OK references by the way....it's where Amanda and Clark went to college.

And here is the money shot. The finished living room. Their new sectional was delivered Thursday and it fits perfectly and is super super comfy. I of course had to give them a gallery wall since they are my jam. We only had to go out and buy two mirrors on Saturday to finish off the space.

This is a close up of the six cabinet shelf over on the gallery wall. It holds two baskets full of cords and what nots, Clark's records and other knick knacks.

This is the shot that completely encompasses Amanda and Clark. Amanda's love for all things elephant and Clark's love for his record player and good tunes.

Here is a closer shot of that gallery wall. Amanda actually had quite a bit of knick knacks to hang including some vintage wall plaques that her mom passed on to her from her own childhood walls.

Amanda lucked out and got left these awesome leaf drapes by the previous home owner. They help shade the sliding glass back door and go nicely with a this little stool that we rested some of her many books.

We created this reading/homework nook for Amanda so she could still be in the living room with Clark but away from the tv. Those floating shelves are from Barnes & Noble and the table and lamp are from Target.

We sat this elephant that Amanda got as a gift on one of the floating book shelves. Book worm elephant.

The large mirror was one of our Saturday purchases from a furniture consignment shop in OKC for only 50 smacks. It hangs above some awesomely cool suitcases that once belonged to Clark's grandparents. We have them resting on top one another with some painters pyramids.

Here is their wonderfully great floor to ceiling brick fireplace. We had debated painting it like I do but actually decided against it (at least for the moment). They may go on to paint the mantle white to lighten up the space. One thing we did plan on doing (and actually taped off) was to spray paint the fireplace screen a nice oil rubbed bronze. We, unfortunately, ran out of time so that will come later.

We decorated their mantle with some teal glass accessories and zinc finished letters.

Moving into the kitchen nook we set up a small bar area with an old rolling cart, their wine cooler, their collection of decanters and carafes and some awesome 'M' monogrammed drinking glasses. Oh, and I set her succulent pot here to get some good sunlight.

Now let's go into the bedroom, shall we? Before we got in town they painted over the army green walls (and ceiling!) with a lovely grey color called Silver Fox from Benjamin Moore. We hung up a grouping of black framed prints that are subtle paired with her teal nightstand and mustard and grey comforter. They are working on finding the perfect drapes and shades for their big picture window which will create a nice backdrop to their bed.

This grouping is across the bed to help reflect some light from the window across the room. That small canvas print is a shot from Amanda and Clark's engagement shoot. This photo was taken right outside their high school marque sign since they are, in every definition, high school sweet hearts.

So this is the progress we made in about 40 hours with the help of 10 hands and little sleep. Of course there is a list a thousand items long that we all thought of over the weekend so I am excited to see the progress of this house over the years. I am so happy I got to be apart of this 'opening weekend' of Amanda and Clark's first home. There were lots of laughs and glasses of wine shared in these days and tons and tons of memories.