She might think she’s “just a girl“- but to many of us out here in blogland she’s A-MA-ZA-ZING!
Chris and I have been e-friends for a couple of years now, and I’ll never forget the day I received an email from her that said, “Uh…is Kevin at Ikea in Michigan? I think I just looked at him, but I didn’t say anything because I wasn’t sure.” I wrote her back and told her that it was indeed Mr. LC, and that he was there recording his album at the studio across the street. Unfortunately he left the store before they had a chance to meet- but I, however, made a super secret trip up to her neck of the woods again tonight. Â Yep. Â I did. Â I ate lunch in ‘Bama- but I was in MI by five. Â I wanted to do a little “surprise by design” style renovating/re-decorating for her while she and the family were out for their weekly Thursday night dinner at Outback Steakhouse. According to their next door neighbor, (a.k.a my accomplice) they usually don’t stay out long- so I had to act fast.
Chris recently told me she had been thinking about putting an arch over the doorway that leads to the living room, so I went ahead and threw that together for them real quick-like. Â A little drywall, some touch-up paint. Easy peasy.
Hey, did I mention I drove up there in a large U-haul truck filled with all sorts of home decor and Christmas stuff? Yep. I did. I do that sometimes. Just drive from one state to another, in a big, noisy vehicle, loaded up with a buncha neat-lookin’ stuff. Â Its really fun.
Long story short- I was able to finish my surprise makeover before they got back home, and weirdly enough, I was able to make the trip from Michigan back to Alabama in just 37 minutes. (Not one red light the whole way- yeehaw!)
I haven’t heard from Chris yet. Â They must have decided to go out and see a movie or something.
If you’d like to see how it turned out, simply move your cursor back and forth over the photos below. (Google readers you’ll have to hop on over to TheLetteredCottage.net if ya wanna see!)
Hope she likes it!
(Note: Obviously I’m kidding about traveling up to MI tonight and re-doing Chris’ living room. I just put those drawings together in Photoshop for her so that she could decide if she wants to do the “arch thing” or not. Hee hee!)
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Your Photoshop tricks are just too cool I tell ya! Love the rug and frame to the right of the mantel too. Oh, and it that a mirror above the mantel. That is a fun trick too. 🙂
Robyn
Very funny. I’ve got to get Photoshop! You are so creative with it.
Oona
Chris, you should definitely go for it! And buy that rug while you’re at it! ;D
Layla, your Photoshoppin skillz are amazing!!
Lisa
You completely GOT ME. I really thought you drove up there and did that! I love both you girls. <3 AMAZING inspiration every visit.
kim
omg!! i love it!! wouldnt it be great if someone would actually do that??/!! i know i would love it!!
whats on the wall on the right side of the fireplace? and whats over the fireplace? i know, i know , i ask alot of questions. 🙂
kim
Rachelle @ Fingerprints on the Fridge
So pretty! I was about to say, No way! You know I’m a hop skip and a jump away from Chris –and– oh no you didn’t come to Michigan and I didn’t get to meet you two! 😉
Speedy mc. speedy!
Roeshel
Count me in with the gullible crowd. Although I was about to completely resign if you did that kind of drywall job while someone was out to dinner. Too funny!
Great job on the photoshop’d arch and pretty accents! You’re such a sweet friend.
Ann
Too funny! I thought “gee, her house sure is neat for someone who didn’t know her house was going to be photographed!”
geri
OH POOEY!!!
As my sweet 3 year old granddaughter Kate would say.
I was truely hoping you would load up the truck like on
Beverly Hillbillies and ‘come a visitin’ here next.
A titch farther to Ct. but I would have LOVED it!
I need a layla fixer upper.
I am sure Chris will love your magic even if it wasn’t done
while she was out to dinner or a movie. hehe
You are a funny girl Miss Layla.
have a wondeful weekend. geri.
lindy
You had me for a minute. I was just fixing to say you can come and see me any time….I’ll leave the key under the mat and I’m only an hour away!!!
Deb Claytor
Layla,
I LOVE this arch. For our family built a Habitat for Humanity house in 2005, and we have a huge arch like this that spans some 22 feet, between my eat in kitchen and living room.
So REALLY how much work do you think making this arch would be?? I would love some pointers/tips so I could do this project.
THanks for ALL the INSPIRATION…..
You have been Blessed w/ some AMAZING talent,
and THANK you for bless so many others by sharing
your talent.
Deb CLayTor
Micah
baaa hahahahaha you had me going. I kept re-reading… Michigan to Bama in 37 minutes? what? I wish you could have heard my inner diaglogue. LOL
michelle
Wow! What a difference. Love the arch.
Sharyl@Thelittlebrownhouse
Dang – and I was so believing you in the U-haul!!
Susan
Layla, that’s just cool. And I LOVE the arch!!!
Melissa :)
Ha! You had me going & I was trying to figure it all out! Thank goodness you fessed up at the end, I might have been up all night trying to comprehend how you did it. LOL 🙂
Rene@BargainHoot
Layla…you are so cute! I love the uhaul pic and all the fun and festive Christmas ideas!!!
That arch makes me miss our old house …and I love it!
xo
Dana
if I was going to attempt to build something over my fireplace like that would I glue that mirror to the wall and then frame around it with mouldings? Or would I try to make it so the mouldings hold that mirror in place?
Better yet, is kevin available to come to my house and build it for me?
Kathy Kennedy
Layla,
I found the paint color *blue hubbard* at SW. Eternal thank you’s to you both!!
I also mentioned your website as my “go-to” place for decorating on my post today *while also asking for help from my readers*!!
Love you guys,
Kathy
http://www.mamajulep.com/2010/11/my-crime-scene-of-house.html
Kate
This is random, but I was totally excited to hear that your boy was at the MI Ikea/across the street! And I bet I know the Outback Steakhouse they were at! I’ve lived in Wisconsin for a couple years now, but I grew up about 10 minutes from where the Ikea is now – I wish I still lived that close, it would be great to visit Ikea more. 🙂