We live approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes from Galveston . . . not quite close enough to have a "beachy" house, but I thought a coastal themed bedroom would do. First, let me backup . . . when we moved into our house, this room was hot pink, with a big disney mural painted on the wall. Now, you're thinking cute, right?!? No! It was an absolute eyesore! So believe me, aqua was toning it WAY down for this space!
I wanted to do a little more than just aqua, so I added in the whites and greens. Very beachy, you think??
The mirror below was a freebie hand-me-down that was more of a tarnished gold when we got it. I painted it white, and added brown and blue accents to give the appear of wear and tear over time. Then, I stenciled it with craft paint to personalize it. The picture on the dresser below is of my Dad and I at Galveston when I was little.
This rocking chair was handed down from my grandparents. My grandmother watched me every day for the first two years of my life while my mom taught school. Even after all this time, her memories of those two years seem to be clear as glass. I love to listen to her stories of those years. I envision her rocking me to sleep in this rocking chair. I plan to someday rock my future babies in the same chair.
This little nightstand I scored for $10 from a local thrift store. It was one of my first renovations. A practice piece, I guess. The handles were brass, but I took them off, spray painted them silver, and then added a touch of blue to match the decor. The picture on the right is of my mother and I in Galveston when I was a baby. I wish I had a close-up. She's absolutely beautiful!
The church we now go to is somewhat contemporary, but the church I grew up in was very traditional. Several times a month the congregation sang "It is Well With My Soul," which has become one of my personal favorites over time. When my world is full of stress and conflict, this song brings me peace. Accordingly, I chose the hymn for the piece below.
The hymn's background is something I find so humbling and inspiring. The writer, Horatio Spafford, wrote the hymn after suffering several traumatic events. The first, being the death of his son during the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. The second, being in 1873 when he and his family planned to travel to Europe on the SS Ville du Havre. He was detained on business, but sent his family on ahead. While crossing the atlantic, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with another vessel. All four of his daughters died. Shortly thereafter, Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife in Europe, and as his ship passed where his daughters died, he wrote the hymn.
The dresser below was another one of my first pieces. It's actually one of two identical dressers that was in my room growing up. The two dressers were originally purchased by my grandfather for my mother and aunt. Dinged-up, and well-loved, it was in dire need of a transformation. I love antiques, and family antiques always seem even a bit more special.
