I've asked some wonderful bloggers to post about their favourite Old & New things - the new things which make their home feel fresh and modern, and the old things which infuse their homes with history, meaning, or a sense of family.

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Hi! Can I tell you how happy I am to be here in Canada with you today?! You can normally find me in the western mountains of North Carolina at my blog Shannon Berrey Design. Jennifer thought it would be fun for me to share my favorite new and old ideas with you. One of my favorite new projects is the remodel of my guest bathroom. Here it is in it’s before shot.

This is the way it was when we purchased the home—functional but horrible. We first started with tiling the floor with tile I found at Overstock.

And then moving up the walls, we added {faux} wainscoting.


My inspiration for the room was this Schumacher wallpaper.


This wasn’t inexpensive wallpaper. Nope, this was going to be far more money than I was willing to spend. It is a fairly large bathroom and using this paper above the wainscoting would have cost over $600.

In continuing to look at the design of the wallpaper, I thought I could possibly recreate it by using Sharpies and a little craft paint. With a pencil, I sketched the design out by using the above picture as my reference. I took a deep breath and began making my permanent art.


It was a slow process. But after a couple of weeks of drawing at night, it started to resemble the original.


And then the color was added to the butterflies and birds with a little paint.


I found a vintage mirror that was hot pink but got recovered in a coat of black. Before putting my paintbrushes away, I added a painted monogram to the lampshades that topped my Etsy sconces. I love their brassy patina.

The original vanity was painted turquoise and then Anthropologie knobs finished them off. A shower curtain and a faux roman shade were made from a rust chevron fabric.


Even though this is my favorite new project, it is full of old items! And speaking of old…
Let’s now discuss my favorite ‘old’ item. Vintage finds are just the best. Maybe it’s my overly active mind that loves the stories I create about the life the vintage piece has lived before coming to live with me or just the enjoyment of knowing that a piece is a one-of-a-kind. Whatever the reason, I love vintage! And if the piece came from a family member—how my heart fills!! One particular favorite piece has lived with me almost my entire life--my crosstitch sampler my mom lovingly made for me when I was born.

It hung on my nursery wall. We won’t say how long ago it was, but it definitely qualifies as an antique! Then, 16 years ago, I excitedly unpacked it and hung it on my daughters bedroom wall.

I love looking at it and connecting with the feelings mom must have had waiting for her little girl to arrive. I remember smocking the tiniest of little dresses for my daughter and dreaming about the life that she would embrace, the talents she would show, the dreams she would chase…


It even made a guest appearance in a Showhouse I designed.

It was fun to see how others who visited the house responded to it-- stopping and telling their stories of how they too had stitched the same piece for their kids, or just remembering it from their childhood. Now it hangs in my kids playroom. Perhaps it might one day make its way to a grandchilds nursery….
Thanks so much Jennifer for the invite to ramble with you lovely renovators!

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Wow, what incredible old and new faves, Shannon!! I marvel at your DIY Schumacher wallpaper and your whole bathroom transformation. And that cross-stitch looks tailor made for the showhouse you designed. Thanks for dropping by!


Jen