Guys we have finally made it to week 8 of the One Room Challenge and I am so happy with the way everything has come together. I have to be honest in saying this little bathroom has to be one of my most difficult projects and rooms that I have ever done! I have never had so many things go wrong but I prevailed; even though some things were left undone. There will be a few minor tweaks that will happen in the coming days/weeks that are dependent on supply chain schedules but I have to say all in all I am so happy with the final design. But lets start with a look at where we started. Lets start with my design intentions for this space and what I was thinking and had to consider when designing this bathroom. First starting off I knew that I would not be changing the shower or floor tile, the vanity cabinet, or the countertop. With those things in mind I had to really think about how I wanted this hall bathroom to feel. This would be the space that guests would use when they visited as well as my husband's primary bathroom, being that the true primary bathroom is the size of an airplane bathroom. He hates to use that space so he then claimed this hall bath as his own. I wanted this bathroom to give a calm and relaxing vibe, a bit of a serene oasis. The existing tile had a pretty harsh juxtaposition of hard and soft textures and immediately I thought of spas. You always see a beautiful mix of hard and soft lines, textures, and materials when visiting spas. Wood, marble, cement, stone, linen, and cozy textures are the things that always stand out to me; so that was my starting point. I decided on a paint color and it was the only one I sampled which turned out to be a perfect shade, Behr paint in the color Eon. This color was perfect because it complemented all 3 tile options in the bathroom. I knew I wanted to add some type of pizazz to the walls but an accent wall felt forced in this small space, so I went with a double floor to ceiling board and batten. This was the best option for this room because it really gives the illusion of much higher ceilings. This is always a HUGE plus when working in spaces with lower ceiling heights; ours are the standard 9ft ceilings. Next I knew that storage in this small space was a problem and even though I'm not a huge fan of cabinets over the bathroom it seemed like the most functional option for this space. I tried to make it blend in more by painting it the same color as the walls and wrapping the board and batten trim on the cabinet. I think it makes the cabinet less offensive and blends much better into the space. The vanity light is one thing that caused a huge hold up with time because it as on backorder and then when it came in I was pretty underwhelmed with the design. It felt puny for a lack of better words, and it wasn't giving the same vibe as the photo online. Not to mention that the original hookup for the light was very off center. I took a few days to look for an alternate option but a friend came through and saved the day by offering to move the light. So while I waited for him to help out I moved into the hallway so that I didn't waste time. In my head I thought that 8 weeks was more than enough time to complete a tiny bathroom so I took on the hallway leading to the bathroom too. Man did I over commit, which is very much my speed if I may add. I knew that I would be using a two tone paint option on 70% of the hallway with an accent wall outside of the bathroom. For the paint I used Behr paint in the color Melting Icicles for the top and Behr paint in the color Dove for the lower part, to include the baseboards and trim around the door. I then decided this was the time to replace all the door hinges and handles to a beautiful matte black to really pop against the neutral paint and compliment the wallpaper. This was not part of my original scope of work or my budget but I had some cash back points to purchase the hardware. Once we moved onto the wallpaper I decided to use a new adhesive method that was shared on Instagram. This method consisted of using liquid cornstarch for pasted wallpaper opposed to the traditional wallpaper paste; this makes the wallpaper more of a temporary option opposed to the traditional pasted wallpaper. Ya'll this method was GOLDEN, it went on so easily and if I ever change my mind I can remove the wallpaper easily. Apparently this method was the old school way of applying fabric onto wall; think decoupage circa 1920. Once I moved back into the bathroom the vanity got a major facelift with some pole wrap and a moody zen paint which is Behr paint in the color Coastal Storm. I am still waiting for the handles to bring the vanity together 100% but I really love how to grey, green, and black tones work together with the wall color to solidify the zen vibe. The last big TO DO was removing the glass tub surround which was such an easy project and gave the space such an upgraded look and feel in both function and design. The final touches to this space always bring the whole project together. When looking for those touches I always shop my home first before bringing something new home. I had these vintage 1961 Picasso prints that were in the home I grew up in and love the linear illustrations for this bathroom. I had theses organic feeling vases with the rounded edges that that also gave off that zen resort feel as well as a little bit of greenery which is a must in every room. The tooth brush holder was an old thrifted find and the soap pump is from Crate and Barrel. I didn't find much else to add to this space at home so a Homegoods run was in order! I scored this stone catch-all and wooden wall hanging that I had to have. All in all I think this room really invokes the vibe and feeling I was going for and even though I over committed I am so happy with the outcome. Well that's all for now, until next time tribe! P.S. check out the previous posts to see the process 1 week at a time! - Leslie Week 1 l Week 2 l Week 3-4 l Week 5 l Week 6 l Week 7 l Week 8

We are approaching the finish line and after an exhausting week 6 the light at the end of the tunnel is feeling so good! Week 7 has consisted of a lot of store runs looking for the final touches and styling elements to finish the look. The light is still not adjusted but I am praying it gets tackled this coming week. I am working on someone else's timeline so I have to be patient. The final details have been added to the cabinet but I am missing a small piece of trim that is going to have to wait due to the material being backordered. I also am still waiting for the cabinet hardware to arrive, which may not be in time for the reveal, but we will push on. In this time where everything is backordered and delayed I just have to deal with the delays as they come lol. We also finished the wallpaper in the hallway using the liquid cornstarch method and it has been holding up perfectly! This weekend we removed the tub surround which was so much easier than I was expecting. I had been delaying this step in the process for weeks because I honesty thought it was going to be much harder than it really was. I was so relived that it came off so easily. That tub surround was such a hinderance on our standard sized tub. It was hard to clean, water would splash out when showering, and visually it felt like an after thought. So off she goes, and I don't miss it at all. Having a tall shower curtain completes the space so much better and it will function a million times better than the glass. All in all week 7 was pretty uneventful because it was the all the little "tidy up" details to be ready to for photos of the reveal. I am so happy with the way it has all come together and I cannot wait until you all can see it. I will have all the details ready for you in the reveal post. So that's all I have for you, until next time tribe!

I have made it to week 6 and regret is starting to set in! I am so exhausted and officially ready for this project to be over with. When I started this challenge I thought to myself, 8 weeks is way more than enough time to complete this puny bathroom, why not add on the hallway. I have serious regrets; I have underestimated how much time it would take to do this and still have time to enjoy life. This weeks focus has been on the vanity; I wrapped the cabinet with wood pole wrap to give a slat wood look. I was going for seamless look so I cut around the doors and filled in the seams with trim to hid the uneven cuts, which are very much a norm around here. I was worried when it came to wrapping the side of the vanity because I ran out of pole wrap and the material is again backordered. Luckily when I added the paint it has became less noticeable, which is good enough for me. I painted the cabinet using Behr's Cabinet and Trim Enamel in a Satin finish in the color Coastal Storm. This color is a grey with a blue green tone which I was inspired by from another ORC participant. I was thinking that I needed to go light but they shared a photo of a vanity that was dark grey with a black top and I knew that was the route I wanted to go! That is the beauty in picking colors, you can go a little more towards one tone or another for a completely different look. I will say if you ever use this material and plan on painting it, USE A PAINT SPRAYER! Priming and painting this cabinet took me a lifetime and I have a ton of paint splatter on the floor. But that is a challenge for another day. My pick me up after the cabinet was this beautiful wallpaper. I found this paper on Amazon almost 2 months ago and it was a steal at $23 a roll. The kicker was it was traditional pasted wallpaper which I fully committed to doing. I had every intention to get this wallpaper done last week but Mother's day festivities with my MIL pushed me back. But it was perfect because Shelby over at Pretty in the Pines shared a video of how to make pasted wallpaper less permanent by using liquid cornstarch! I couldn't have been more excited and the timing was perfect! Noah and I gave the wallpaper a try today and OMG it is everything I needed to get out of my funk and push me through the last 2 weeks of this challenge. Walking down the hall sparks so much happiness and I cant wait to see it all complete! This coming week the plan is for the vanity light to be centered and risen, add the remaining trim to the cabinet, remove the glass surround on the tub, and replace the faucet. I know the idea to remove the glass surround is taboo because the glass is considered a sought after upgrade. But on a standard tub it just doesn't work for us, so its got to go! I have never done something like that before but we will see how it goes. I also have to continue my hunt for a black stone ledge to go as a shelf above the vanity. Well that's all for now, until next time tribe!

Guys we are in the thick of it at week 5 of the One Room Challenge and per usual I’m sliding this post in last minute lol. But the good news is I have made decent progress this week. Last week I left you with my woes about the vanity light and it’s placement. But a friend has come through and saved the day by offering to move the light for me! Y’all I could have cried when I got that message from him. I really didn’t want to go further outside of my already over budget project. So now I started making headway on the hallway leading to the bathroom. I had every intention on starting the wallpaper this weekend but if I’m being honest, I chickened out! I don’t know why this wallpaper is so intimidating to me but it is! So instead, I painted the other walls, finished the trim (for now), and changed out all the door hardware. Let me tell you this black hardware against the paint is to die for! This small upgrade made such a huge impact to the aesthetic of the whole hallway. Also, I would like to note that the handles, hinges, and door stops (that I still need to install) are not part of this project budget. I had some Discover points that I used to purchase the hardware. I did a two tone paint detail in the walls; the top color is Behr Melting Icicles and the bottom is Behr Dove. I can’t say enough good things about Behr’s Marquee paint! I love the coverage so much; and the fumes are so low I don’t have to air the room! I literally finished painting this afternoon and can’t tell you how happy I am with how it has come together. The opposite wall of the hallway will not be completed for this ORC season because it is part of a bigger closet project that will hopefully get tackled at the end of the summer. I also started the trim detail on the cabinet which I was also pretty nervous to tackle. Getting a straight cut line has proven to be difficult for me. Time and time again I have found myself looking for ways to conceal my crooked lines; and this time is just like all the others. I had some issues today with my saw and blade so I didn't make as much progress as I had hoped but that's what is on the agenda for week 6 along with the wallpaper. Ya'll say a prayer for me, cuz ya girl is nervous! Well that's all I have to update, so until next time tribe!

Hey guys! Here I am bringing up the rear with a 2 week recap! Somehow in the midst of projects and my Houston trip I missed a whole week update. Luckily for me, and for you, there really isn't much to recap! I have been literally refreshing my tracking number, praying to hear that the vanity light that was backordered had shipped. This light has really been the thing holding up the show, because I didn't want to take the old light down until the new one came in. Which also prevented me from finishing the caulk and paint behind said light; as well as hanging the mirror. The biggest transformation is I was able to finish painting the entire bathroom along with the trim and hang my "towel bar" and toilet paper holder. Now lets touch on the "towel bar". I was really looking for SOMETHING but wasn't exactly sure what that something was. I knew I wanted a towel bar that was visually substantial, black, and longer than standard. I was having zero luck, so I switched gears and bought a CURTAIN ROD! Crazy I know, but why not! Seriously what is the difference between the two besides the bracket. So I found a rod that didn't rest on top of a bracket, rather it goes inside of the bracket and that felt more secure to me! It also worked pretty perfectly with the toilet paper holder. Since I am writing this post so late in the game you may now know that THE LIGHT did show in the mail yesterday and I was so excited because that meant the ball can start rolling again. However if I am being honest, upon opening the box I am so disappointed! The light is not giving what the photo said it would give! The marble discs are much smaller than I expected and are not marble at all. They show a bit more like a matte quartz stone, which I don't hate, but just not what I was expecting. Also, the metal part of the light IS NOT BLACK! I repeat IT IS NOT BLACK!!! Its more of a gunmetal color but black is what I wanted, so I spray painted it! Which fixes the color issue; but then I installed the hoe and its SO OFF CENTERED. With it being such a symmetrical light it is even more obvious that its way off centered. Again I have no one to blame but the lazy flippers that flipped this house. The last woe on this light is that it takes E12 lightbulbs which are the slimmer base ones that usually go in chandeliers. This is a huge oversight on my part but I wasn't going to stress because I knew they made adapters for that; which I also spray painted. So now I am here, elbows deep in spray paint, trying to decide what the heck I am going to do. I am going to give myself until the end of Sunday to make a plan and then we will go from there. But until then, I am going to go pout over my disaster of a light that I can no longer return because I spray painted it. That's one of the huge lessons about DIY, sometimes you win and sometime you loose. Week 3 and 4 feels like a big loose, but I am hopeful that this will all turn right and be amazing. Ok enough with my pouting and venting about this dang light! Until next time tribe! You can check out the previous weeks posts here Week 1 l Week 2

It's week 2 of the One Room Challenge and I have been chugging along. I really got started last weekend by addressing the failed caulk that was used in the tub, floor and toilet. As I had mentioned before, our house was a flip that had zero attention to detail. After a few months important things like the water seal had failed; so that was the first thing I tackled. We also have family in town, so I thought it was important to make sure we keep water from getting in the cracks. Next was the paint and ya’ll!! The paint I picked for the walls is EVERYTHING!!! I was a little nervous about my selection because I only got one sample. If you have been following me for a while you know that choosing a paint color is so hard for me. I usually have 3-5 swatches on the wall and look at them for days before pulling the trigger. Noah always gives his input to help me narrow down my selections, but I just went for it with this one. I knew I was going for a zen vibe but once I put the swatch on the wall it just seemed good enough. Once I got the color on all the walls it definitely gave me the warm and fuzzies. It’s so crazy how colors work, they pull so much from whatever is around them. Once the paint was on the wall it complemented the shower tile perfectly. It also pulled some bluish hues out of the floor tile, which only further propelled that zen vibe. Next it was time to get the double board and batten started. I knew I had family in town so I rushed to get this done. I originally wanted to have a horizontal 1x4 at the top of the wall to give a clean line for the molding; it was also going to mirror a chair rail version I have planned in the hallway. However, this old home didn't want any parts of my plan for a clean line. Between the uneven ceiling and crooked walls, it wasn't happening. So, I scrapped that idea and went with a floor to ceiling design. This was my inspiration for the board and batten. Photo credit: The House of Hood Being that I don’t have a table saw, I had to hand cut all of my trim pieces with my Ryobi hand saw; let’s just say getting a straight cut isn’t the easiest for me. Not to mention getting my measurements correct is always a hurdle that is met with defeat. I don’t know what it is but when I get my tape measure out, I am always off no matter how many times I measure. But I just kept going for it; going back and forth from the carport to the bathroom to get my trim pieces cut and placed. I had to fill in some smaller pieces but all in all it wasn’t bad. Now comes the bane of my existence, CAULK. I hate it, hate it, hate it! But you must have a smooth line and cover up all the gaps from the crooked walls. It was a necessary evil that I had to just go for. So me, my caulk gun, a tube of DAP caulk, an endless supply of paper towels and I got to work smearing and slapping caulk around to my hearts content. Trying my hardest to get a “decent” looking line. There has to be another way to make this less painful, but to be honest I really don’t want to keep trying to figure it out. I am comfortable having a cordial relationship with caulk. We just say hi and deal when absolutely necessary, but still try to avoid each other at all costs. After 2 tubes of caulk and a complete roll of used paper towels in the trash, I am happy to report I think I am almost done with the caulk! I only have some small areas to address behind where the old light is installed. My plan is to wait until the new light comes in and finish all the paining and caulking that is behind that area then. Which brings me to my last update! HOUSTON I HAVE FOUND A LIGHT!! If you read my post from Week 1 you know that my dreams were crushed when my inspiration of a vanity light came up sold out from every available vendor. But I have found a new light which is just as amazing. There is only one downside; it has 2 lights vs the 3 lights which is what I was looking for. Since there is a window in this bathroom, and we have plans to possibly replace the windows soon, it will still work out…..hopefully! The light is scheduled to ship at the end of the month, so I am impatiently waiting and continuously checking my email to see if there has been and updates. I am so excited to see this light in person! But until then I will be cleaning and touching up as much as I can. I still need to sand and paint all of the trim, so that is what is on the agenda for this week. Then we are heading to Houston for the weekend!!! Anyone reading have any must do things while I am there? Are you still reading? If so, drop your suggestions because I would love some tips. Ok tribe, until next time! You can check out the previous weeks posts here Week 1

So, I decided to participate in another round of the One Room Challenge, and let me tell you, I am already off to a rocky start. The One Room Challenge is a bi-annual challenge where designers, decorators, and enthusiasts get together and tackle a space to transform. Over the course of 8 weeks you can follow along as everyone is taking their spaces to the next level. Most people have their own creative process on how they start designing a space. When I did the last ORC I knew exactly what I wanted to do and had a general idea on the majority of the details. Yall, this time around I am stumped, and its all because my "inspiration" piece is SOLD OUT EVERYWHERE! Insert said inspiration I had such big plans for our secondary bathroom, which is currently my husband's bathroom. Those were completely shitted on.....shat on..... when this dang light came up sold out! Note to self, when you find something you like buy it, and figure out the logistics later. So now I have a complete vision without the staring cast member. So, as I obsessively comb the ends of the internet looking for a new star for this zen, resort vibe bathroom I hope I can find something else that can perform like the original. But enough with the dramatics, the plan for this bathroom is strictly design. Thankfully when we moved into this house the bathrooms were completely new. The downside is the workmanship and details were 1000% lacking. There is caulking that is cracked, baseboards that were never painted, poorly installed tile, and lumpy walls and ceiling. So I will be prayerfully fixing these details, as well as creating a bathroom that is much more our style. What that looks like is still somewhat up in air. Unlike my previous ORC I will not be creating a mood board as a starting point; the design process unfolded much differently, starting with that light. So wish me luck as I take the next 8 weeks to tackle this bathroom; and if time and budget allows I might be able to take the design out into the hallway. But you will have to stick around to find out!! Remember, the goal is always high design on a low budget. Follow along on Instagram as the process unfolds. On that note I will leave you with these photos of what I'm working with! Until next time tribe! -Leslie

I cannot believe the time has finally arrived and I am writing my first blog post. I have thought about starting a blog for the longest time, but after a failed blog, back when blogging was first cool, I kept telling myself I couldn't do it. I would tell myself that no one would want to read what I have to say. But I think the past 2 years have shown us that if you want something you have to go and get it! So here I am, GETTIN' IT, and being true to myself (which you will get to know). Another HUGE realization that I have had in the midst of this pandemic is that I have way more creativity inside of me! I rediscovered a part of me that I hadn't had the chance to really delve into. I found a passion for interior design and DIY that has always been there but grew exponentially in the midst of the crazy that was happening outside, formally known as COVID-19. Ya'll, when I tell you I DIY'd to get away from reality and was 100% not interested in making jewelry. Not only that but I had such guilt promoting my brand; every time you turned on the TV it was death and doom. I immersed myself with projects to forget that black folks were being killed without cause, and that there seemed like there was no way to get back to "the way things used to be." Even though I was finding so much joy in this new found passion, I couldn't help and wonder, "what about boheme en bluu?" That is when my wheels started spinning and I thought it was time to shake things up! It was time for boheme en bluu to grow just like I had grown. Why limit myself to one category when I have so much more to share, and sometimes over share. I am a huge believer in sharing; I have never been the girlfriend to keep it to myself. I want to share everything that I find valuable, with everyone I think may benefit. Which might be a huge plus to you all reading; are you still reading? So all of that to say this blog will be a mix of all things that inspire and bring me joy, in the hopes to inspire and share that joy! So on that note, here are a few things that have really been inspiring me and getting my creative juices flowing. What is it that inspires you and fills your cup? Do you have a creative outlet? photos sourced from pinterest I have been getting ready for summer protective styles and these #braidedhairstyles definitely fit the bill photos sourced from pinterest I am currently obsessed with exterior landscaping ideas. For the first time in my life I have my own yard and I CANNOT wait until I can bring my vision to life! This will definitely be a project that I share when the time comes but don't hold your breath, we have a long way to go! photos sourced from pinterest Spring nail designs have been flooding my IG explore page! My friend has gotten me on the wagon and I don't see myself getting off anytime soon!! Are you loving the comeback of nail designs? All images sourced from pinterest Im not sure why but recently I have been having tattoos on my mind. I only have 1 that I got with my bestie almost 10 years ago, but in recent months I have been thinking of adding another. Let me be the first to say I AM THE BIGGEST CHICKEN!! I ate a whole jumbo bag of sour patch candy on my first tattoo, but that's another story for another day! Well that's all for now; until next time tribe! -Leslie