Office Re-Vamp! A Surprise for My Mom (& Dad)

This has been a long time coming to you guys.

Since Christmas.

Part of the reason I wasn't blogging (even though I had a crap-load of stuff to show you) was that everything I was making and planning was for my parents office.

Ben, and my brother Caleb and I decided to surprise my mom with a fancy-schmancy new office.

And by that I mean, I decided.

We had about three days to complete, so I started planning in October.

Biggest inspiration was my parents love for Restoration Hardware.

Which, coincidentally made it easy on the budget.

My parents have been collecting old stuff forever, I ended up using stuff they already had.

Along with a few trips to Habitat for Humanity ReStore, we were in business!

Alright, enough chatter!

Here are the before pics!!

Pretty red right?

Pretty dark right?

Just and FYI, all these pictures were taken with my iphone :( 

Sorry for the poor quality and lack of editing!

Here's the reveal!

It happened on New Years Eve, Ben and I were at the Keg for a dinner party and Caleb had left for work out of town.

Mom and dad had just driven home (some 10 hours) from Summerland.

And walked into a room with a big bow on the door!

  Ben put up 1x8" cedar boards on the ceiling to look like exposed beams.

And I made a 'birdcage chandelier' out of wire hanging baskets and an old chandelier from Habitat for humanity.

My moms favourite part in Pride & Prejudice, hand written on a new lampshade.

Before pic of the old couch...

Waaa-lllaaaaa! 'New' couch!

I know you can't really see it, but the black framed picture is one that my mom has had for years. It's a pic taken by the Vancouver Sun back in the 1960's of her with Pierre Trudeau.

It's just such a fabulous picture that really captures the era.

It needed to be on display!

Next to it is a pair of vintage boxing gloves, stuffed with horse hair.

My had has two pairs that he used to box with his brothers when they were kids.

Salvaged galvanized shelving from habitat for Humanity ($2)

As well as a desk Ben made from an old steel door.

The paint color I picked was from Cloverdale.

I'll link up to my Pinterest board here so you can see where I got some of my ideas.

 Thanks for stopping by!

I Made This...Sort Of.

I'm on Pinterest.

A lot.

I just can't help myself.

And what do I find?

A link to a lady's blog in Brooklyn.

A blog that is so full of DIY's that I can't wait to do.

When I say DIY what I mostly mean is BDIH.

(Ben does it himself)

Feel free to use this new acronym I just made up.

Your welcome:)

Anyhoo, I'm just loving all the burlap, linen and vintage cotton that's out there now.

But I'm frugal, remember?

So this was the perfect blend of cheap, easy and vintage.

I'm pretty sure there's a joke in there somewhere....

This tutorial and free printable was on BrooklynLimestone.

I just had to make it!

So I did.

The only thing Ben helped with was cutting the wooden dowel in half.

This was the only window in our house that didn't have any treatment on it.

Maybe the one window in the house that for the past 4 years really should have had something.

The toilet room.

Now it does and it's just fabulous.

You can make it too!

Finally!!! Hollywood Glam Birthday!!

 You just don't even know how excited I am right now!

I can hardly type.

After a looooong wait, and a brief memory card/unreadable file/aneurysm moment, I can now present to you some fabulous pictures from my fabulous 1940's Hollywood Glam Birthday party!

Enjoy!

From the left, Val, Gail, Jody, Heather, Barb, Me, Jenna, Jen, Emily, Christie, Stacey, Jen, Kelsey, Ang, Steph

All my dames, looking glam!

Feature cocktail.

Welcome drinks to the first to arrive.

Bubbly! With drink sparkles of course!

My hair, with vintage brooch.

Every guest got to autograph their own star for the wall of fame!

From the left, Stacey, Kelsey, Christie, Me, Emily with our stars.

Where's Ben when you need him?! We were all ready to stamp our hands in cement!

Black and white cupcakes, with nutella whipped cream filling, chocolate hazelnut buttercream, sprayed with edible gold paint and a dusting of gold disco dust.

Which I will do a post for, I promise!

I had printed up ballots with 6 categories for the costume contest.

Best dressed, best hair, best hat, best makeup, sexiest outfit, and most authentic.

Prizes were an old fashioned note book, vintage style half aprons and a gold, multi-chained and jewelled necklace.

Tiramisu mousse on chocolate spoons, thanks Mom!

Bacon wrapped water chestnuts, SO good! Thanks to my sis Christie for the recipe!

Behind us is the Marquee sign that Ben and I made together.

And by together I mean I dreamed it up, sketched a pic, order the lights and handed it all over.

We make a great team!

There 4 dozen roses spread out in clusters to add to the drama of the night.

Thanks to my mama.

We had two little stars at the party. My cousin Jen with her baby boy, Samuel and my sister-in-law Stephanie, with her baby girl, Amelia!

Both were SO good!

Jen had her moms wedding gloves! I love authentic vintage.

A beautiful shot of my beautiful mom, who was voted best dressed for the night!

I just love this shot! 

Kelsey looks like an Audrey Hepburn!

Barb and my mom, sittin' pretty at the bar.

Kelsey and Stacey made faux cigarette holders from chopsticks, paint, white out and glitter.

They looked so real!

Cheers!

Jen with her mom Gail (left) and MIL Val (right).

I just loved these gold chandeliers! They changed the whole look of the basement. For less than $5 a piece!

Blow pop jelly shots, from JSTK. Love her!

Red carpet pose!

Party in full swing, and a shot of the caviar canapes and the shrimp cocktail appetizer that the waitress' passed around on silver platters.

Bartender/photographer/best big brother in the world, Caleb, with my girl Jenna!

Work it girls!!

Meatball lovers Unite!

Ang, Christie, Emily, Kelsey, Me and Stac trying to look all 1940's and serious.

 Just had to be done in B&W for the full effect.

Each guest got to go with SWAG bags of course! 

It wouldn't be Hollywood with out one right?!

Each bag came with a bath bomb, Rose scented and full of glitter. A Mac eyeshadow or pigment, a Dior or Mac Lipgloss and a pair of vintage clip on earrings.

Steph and Ang, who had great dresses!

 Steph's was her grandmas and Ang's was a vintage reproduction from a vintage website.

Both look gorgeous, sporting the red lips!

To say that the night was amazing just doesn't even come close to describing how I felt about it!

I couldn't believe how much thought and effort everyone put into their outfits and accessories!

Everyone was dressed to the nines and played the part. 

We all got to be red carpet, silver screen stars for a night and it was just an unforgettable night!

A huge thanks to my big brother who was such a great sport! He took all the pictures, bartended, dishwashed and just added another great element to the night.

A big thank you to all my Dame's who came and celebrated and went all out!

You ladies made my day!

(sniff)