Week Three? How are we at Week Three already? This may be heralded as a six-week challenge, but the truth is it's more like a generous five for many of us. My room is being shot on Thursday, May 3 (a full week before the final post), and it is FAR from photo-ready. However, I did make quite a bit of progress this week. But before we dive in, have you seen the posts from weeks one and two? Hit those up first and then come back.

Week 1: The Old, the Ugly, the Outdated, and the Inspiration to Change It All

Week 2: We've Got a Plan, Man

So this week was kind of madness for me, as my boys were on April break, and we planned NOT.ONE.THING. for them to do. They're older now, so I thought it would all be fine, but I realized (yet again) that I am really terrible at trying to be a productive business owner while being at home with my kids. It just doesn't work for me. Can anyone else relate?

Anyway, the big news was that one of my favorite men on the planet -- my amazing carpenter, Bill -- came to install my plant wall.

For those who follow me on Instagram, you may remember the room that AnaVera Design and I did for the 2017 Junior League of Boston Show House last October. In it was a ten-foot living garden that we designed with my carpenter, he crafted, and then we all installed together. After completing that project, I knew I wanted one in my house, and given how spacious our dining room is (because, remember, it's actually supposed to be a formal living room), it was the perfect place.

Each box is hung on a French cleat system, allowing it to be moved and keeping it from damaging the supporting wall. In addition, Bill built the boxes around watertight liners, in order to keep the system from leaking when I water the plants.

It doesn't look like much right now, but this is going to be a huge addition to our house. Adding something living in a space instantly changes the feel of it, and this is going to be "something living" on steroids.

There were a few other decisions I checked off the list this week, including what fabric I'll be using for the sideboard table skirt (I'll be reusing something I already own), what color I'll be repainting the white chest of drawers (the always classic and perfect Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore), and which light fixture I'll be installing above the table (huge thanks to my Visual Comfort rep, Jeff Pomeroy from Light New England, for expediting that order!).

One decision I'm still wrestling with is whether to use our existing vintage Persian rug, or to swap it out for something more neutral. If we keep it, the rug will be a dominant element (you can see it in the pictures above) and the red/rust will totally define the palette of the room. However, if I go more neutral, it might suck all the life from the space since it's primarily white with blue and green accents. I keep going back and forth on this. Of course, finding this shot of MY EXACT RUG in Old Home Love, the book from One Room Challenge partners Andy and Candis Meredith, is NOT making my decision any easier!