January Progress: Goal Check-In

by Erin Loechner February 1, 2012 No Comments

January has been a busy month of travel and heavy sunroom updates (drywall is up next!), so we didn’t get as far along on our goal list as we’d liked. We did, however, cross off two items last weekend — both of which happen to lie in the lighting department (one of my favorite parts of any room).

Remember our master bedroom closet? We’ve been slowly customizing it over time (starting with that hardware) and have finally put on the finishing touch: overhead lighting. Ken had to muster quite a bit of electrical knowledge to get the job done, but I’m happy to say that I can now apply my make-up in fully functional lighting.

Let there be light.

To offer a bit of industrial style to the space, we chose two outdoor lighting pendants that are as affordable ($5 each!) as they are quirky. Which brings to mind one of my favorite tips: Don’t be afraid to bring outdoor lighting inside (unless its marked “Not for use in dwellings,” of course), especially if you’re a lover of industrial style. The options are endless and often times more affordable.

Vanity = done!

Function never looked so great!

Of course, we didn’t stop there. Remember our bright-and-cheery pendants over our kitchen sink? I loved them. I really, really did. Yet the second we installed that gorgeous glass backsplash, I could feel the tensions rise. Sometimes, having two show-stoppers in the same room (in this case, those bright pendants and the luxurious backsplash) can cause conflict and dissonance rather than depth and beauty. And because the lighting was much easier to tone down than the backsplash, we opted to let the pendants take a back seat and let the glass tile shine.

A tiny change, yes, but a big difference!

See what I mean? The focal point moved from the pendants to the backsplash, and I love how everyone’s playing together in a much nicer fashion. Bonus? The white translates much better into the dining room, as well. Sometimes it’s the smallest changes that can make the biggest impact.

We love you, spray paint!

So, friends — that’s our progress for this month. We’ve got a long way to go, but are slowly carving away projects whenever we have a free moment. What about you? Any progress you’re making in your own home this month? I’d love to hear!