Before getting to the Reader Redesign goods, we have a quick Burger-related story. Yesterday was a very scary day for us. Burger was sitting on Sherry’s lap and Clara and I came home and Burger was so excited to see us that he jumped off her lap (as he’s done a million times before) and somehow lost his balance and flipped in the air and landed on the floor on his back and neck. He yelped and Sherry scooped him up to see if he was ok but he shook his head and acted fine. So we put him on the floor but he couldn’t walk. He had no balance and walked into the walls and wouldn’t put weight on either of his hind legs and kept falling over.
While rushing to get everyone in the car to get him to the vet, Sherry called them to tell them we were coming and while she was on the phone Burger had what we think was a small seizure (he was very rigid and his eyes were open but he wasn’t focusing on anything and he was shaking violently). It stopped after about twenty seconds and by the time we got to the vet he was acting completely normal. He could walk and all of his vitals checked out. They think the stumbling and loss of balance along with the possible seizure was from the shock of the impact but he restored all function and checked out all of their many tests so we’re just so thankful he’s ok. They said we had to watch him for the next 24 hours for any signs that something’s off, and we’re still a few hours shy of that mark but he’s acting just like his old self and is jumping and running around (as hyper as ever, haha). Whew. He scared the heck out of us, but we’re all so thankful he’s ok.
But back to the reader redesign! Now that we’re shifting from kitchen to bathroom brain, it should come as no surprise that we’re gravitating towards the bathroom makeovers popping up in our inbox these day. And we’re especially charmed by ones like Michelle’s – because it (like ours) isn’t a total gut job. Instead, it’s just a few manageable updates that go a long way. And for Michelle, those big impact changes are paint, pattern, and molding (I was this close to an alliteration there). Check out her note below.
As fellow stenciling survivors, I thought you might enjoy our powder room make-over!
We added some moldings and used the Nova Trellis stencil from Royal Design studios to transform our boring powder room into a quirky new space!
The white is Ultra White by Valspar. The black is Black Leather by Dutch Boy.
We still need to add crown molding and wall art. I might also switch out the mirror and window treatment. This room is a little bolder than my usual conservative style but I’m digging it! – Michelle
We are too, Michelle. Thanks for sending the pictures our way. We love a bold pattern in a small space like a bathroom (rooms like that will never look giant anyway, so embracing them and turning them into something special is such a great call). It really wakes up the room in a nice way. And the molding and trim adds tons of style too. To read more about this project, visit Michelle’s blog. But first let’s hear what you like best. Is it the crisp white molding? The rich wood floors? The pedestal sink? Or the brave stencil job?
Poor Burger!
My dachshund, Gunther, got attacked by a bigger dog a few weeks ago and it was terrifying. It could have been a lot worse, but he only had to get stitches on his ear and neck. Dogs have always been members of my family growing up and Gunther is my first dog of my own, so I know how it feels when something scary happens to your dog. Gunther sends Burger get well kisses!
Ditto about Burger being the first pet that I’ve owned (i.e. not my parents’ or family’s) so there’s some extra caring gene that’s come out in me. We didn’t hesitate to jump in the car, cancel some evening plans and make sure he was okay! Burger says “Hey” to Gunther too.
-John
Poor Burger! Glad he is okay. Makes me want to go home and hug my dog right now.
So glad Burger’s okay! Our chihuahua, Penny, had a not-so-small seizure once about 2 years ago out of no where and I don’t think I’ve ever been so terrified in my life- she literally collapsed as I was holding her and for a split second, until the actual convulsing started, I honestly thought she died! They never found a cause and (as far as we know) she’s never had one again… So scary! I’m sorry y’all (that means Burgs too!!) had to experience that but, again, sososososo glad he’s’ okay!
Very scary, Amy! But glad Penny is also okay!
-John
Bless his little Burger soul! Mr. Big has seizures every so often that are mostly stress related, they happen if we’ve been on the road or out of town a lot, or if lots of people have been coming over. I know how scary they can be! I’m so glad he’s ok. We’ll say some special puppy prayers for him.
Oh my gosh – that’s a very scary Burger story! I’m a big animal lover and always have pets. Currently, we have 3 cats, a dog and a ferret. So we’ve had our share of scares as well. I don’t care what anybody else says – pets are part of the family and it’s just as frightening when they have a health scare as when any other family member does. Thank goodness Burger’s doing better. The fur babies are pretty resilient! Give him hugs and love from Texas. :)
Will do Valerie! Thanks for the virtual hugs!
-John
Poor Burgermeister!! I am sure he will be fine. We had a chihuahua that was run over by a german shepherd…broken leg and periodic seizures the rest of her life. She lived to nineteen, happy and healthy. When she had the rare seizure, we held her and she seemed pretty tired for a bit but it never lasted long. Also had a lab who ran into the bottom of a boat that was up on blocks…he had to have meds every day to keep seizures away – but he lived to 11. Our bluetick coon hound, Booger, had one a few months back for no reason at all that we were aware of and he’s been perfect ever since.
My point in this oversharing is that whether it was a one time thing or even happening regularly, all happy stories and I’m sure yours will be as well.
Thanks for the reassurance Gina. I appreciate your “oversharing” especially for the fact that you named your dog Booger. That’s awesome in my book. :)
-John
So glad Burger is ok! So strange– the same happened to my 15-year-old Cairn terrier on Tuesday (I couldn’t believe it when I started reading this post…). I thought it was because she’s a little grandma now, but maybe it’s more common with little dogs than I thought, especially seeing everyone’s posts on here. I’m glad to hear everyone’s pups are doing well!
You’re right – it does seem quite common given the comments here. But glad to hear everyone seems to be coming well on the other end of the scare.
-John
So glad Burger is okay, I have a little chihuahua named Spud. He’s edging closer to 12 now, but he’s still a mover and a shaker. He has those seizures, too. He’s had 3/4 that I’m aware of. . .the longest lasted 3 minutes. Pretty scary, for sure. I also have to watch him when it comes to furniture hopping. As they get older, chihuahuas can have trouble with their joints. Spud’s back leg can pop out of joint sometimes. I think it hurts me more than it hurts him.
Yeah, we’ve heard that about joint problems with chihuahuas. Hard to imagine Burger not having his usual spunk, but as long as he sticks around we’re happy! Tell Spud that Burger says “Howdy!”
-John
Poor puppy! We had a scare with our brussels/yorkie mix Berkley 1.5 years ago when he too fell like Burger and had a fibrocartilaginous embolism (stroke in his spine). He was beoming paralyzed in on his right side and back legs but luckily we had him at the vet fast enough that they started steroids to reduce the swelling, then came about 2 months of recovery and us working on physical therapy with him. He is doing great now though he still has some issues with his legs getting tired and slippery floor can be difficult for him to walk on. After seeing how Burger acts in videos, that is our Berkley! Sooo glad he is doing well.
Wow, what an ordeal. So glad to hear Berkley came out okay at the end. Bravo to you guys for helping him recover!
-John
So sorry to hear about Burger’s seizure. Our dog went through a spell where she had several seizures in a period of months. They are just so so scary and you feel helpless! Fortunately they went away, though the vets never figured out why they came. Anyway, I hope Burger never has anymore and everything is ok!!
Us too! Sorry to hear you had to deal with them on a regular basis – but glad that they’ve passed now.
-John
Oooh little Burger! Scarrrrry! I have a Chihuahua too. I hope all is well with that little guy. I love to look at the pics of him because he has a similar look in his face to mine, but mine is black and white. Take care!
My heart hurts for the scare you went through with Burger and I am relived that he is do well.
I love the molding. I have a small bathroom makeover in my future and I am looking for ideas. This is definitely going onto my Pinterest Board.
So glad lil’ Burger is ok!
oh no!!! big hugs, kisses and belly rubs to the Burger.
(I swear I almost started crying at my desk at work)
*hugs*
Oh, poor Burger! What a scary thing for you guys. So glad he’s OK. I love the redesign! I so badly wish that I had jumped on the stenciling wagon before wallpapering our bathroom….not easy, fun or terribly successful.
Oh I’m so glad he’s ok! My heart sank down to my stomach the whole time I was reading. Prayers to Burger!
So glad that Burger is okay!!! My chihuahua is 9, and she (Abby) looks like a girl version of Burger. She sleeps so peacefully sometimes that I wake her up to make sure she is okay. It’s really hard not to worry about them!
Sounds like Abby and Burger need to meet. It’ll be like one of those scenes in a movie when two people think they’re looking in a mirror and mimic each other’s movements.
-John
Not long after we lost our Doxie puppy due to a genetic condition we didn’t know he had, my husband and I saw a similarly-aged dauchsund take a header out of a shopping cart at the PetCo. I about had a panic attack, but he seemed to be okay. :( Poor puppies. I am glad to hear that Burger seems to be okay, though. My poor pregnant heart couldn’t take it if there was something wrong with him!
So sorry you lost Doxie, but glad your dachshund is okay! Having grown up with cats I sometimes forget that dogs aren’t as good at landing on their feet. Though I certainly won’t forget after last night!
-John
Ok. Now I definitely have to find something to stencil! Our house has rough plaster walls in most rooms, so I may have to save the idea for our next house. But from the lady who stenciled her bedroom ceiling (Better Homes & Gardens, I believe), to your amazing office, to this fun bathroom, I’ve definitely caught the bug!
And I’m very glad your little Burger is ok! Our Bella ate a diaper (unbeknowst to us) and was super sick for a couple of days. Yep, pretty gross. But scary because she’s 9 and that’s getting up there for a boxer. Anyhoo, hope Burger stays well!
Oh man, I can’t imagine a dog eating a diaper – how scary! Glad Bella’s okay now.
-John
So relieved that Burger’s ok! That must have been so scary.
Lots of love all the way from Sweden to all of you!
Happy Easter or Glad Påsk as we say over here!
Aw thanks Benita! Glad Pask!
xo,
s
Oh, you guys probably know this already, but you’re listed in “Blogging for Dummies” as one of the top 10 blogs to follow! And I quote “They could be cuter but I don’t know how!” Aaaww
No way!!! That’s amazing. Thanks Michele!
xo,
s
So scary! Poor Burger, I am so glad he seems to be better but I started tearing up reading that! I have a small dog too and his breed is very susceptible to seizures, but he’s never had one (knock on wood). I will be sending good vibes yours and Burger’s way. :)
That black and white bathroom is so classy looking!
Doing my usual afternoon check-in, and WOW! Poor li’l Burger! And you guys, too! So scary, I know. A word of caution: Resist holding, embracing or otherwise moving a trauma victim, human or doggie. Best to let them lie so you can assess the situation (airway, breathing, signs of injury), then make plans for evaluation and care, i.e. 911 or a trip to the vet, in your case. Glad he’s OK, just no driving or alcohol for the next few days! Sorry, Burger, but those are the rules. Take care, SherriMc, the ER nurse.
Good reminders, SherriMC! And we’ll make sure Burger takes it easy with the beers this weekend. It’s gonna be hard to keep him from driving though… :)
-John
omg, poor baby! kisses to burger!
love the stencil, it makes the room look very dramatic and dare I say sexy!
Poor little guy – I’m so, so glad that he’s ok. We had a scare with Phoenix, our adorable dalmation/shepherd mix last year. He was jumping onto the bed (like he always does – we let him come up when invited), but slipped and fell and immediately started shaking and whining in a horrible way.
He seemed ok, other than being a little scared and had a very slight limp. We called the vet and they said it was likely just a sprain, but asked us to keep an eye on him. I woke up several times during the night just to get him to walk around and make sure he was ok, and he was fine. I’m so thankful for every day we have him. And so thankful for you guys that little Burgs is ok!! xx
So glad he’s ok!
xo,
s
Aww, poor Burger! After reading that I had to run and give Barkley (Jack Russell mix) a hug. He sends virtual face licks and treats Burger’s way. XO
Aw thanks Kristen (and Barkley)!
xo
s
So glad Burger spontaneously recovered! Our pup, Herbie, has prompted many emergency visits to the vet (eaten an entire bottle of Advil and bit a sewing needle and got it stuck in his tongue), so we understand that feeling of desperation.
In regards to the bathroom redo, I love the moldings the best. It adds so much detail and a custom look. I will have to look into how she did that.
Oh man, so glad Herbie is ok!
xo,
s
First of all, SOOOOO glad Burger is OK! Scary stuff!
I love that the wall behind the sink is not stenciled. It lets the other walls pop without being too busy, plus I like how the lighting and mirror get to stand out.
Burger…don’t scare us like that…geez!!! Give us readers a heart attack! WHEW.. .so glad that he’s ok.
Redesign…I really love the molding all around. I like the bold statement that the mirror makes – I really do.
Poor little pup! Glad he is OK and that you included a cute pic of him on this post!
How about paint, pattern, and paneling?
This redo was amazing! Love the black and white!!
Poor baby! I’m so glad he’s okay. My pup is very clumsy (takes after his mom I guess ;) and has hurt himself before and really scared me. Thankfully he’s also just as resilient as I am, and it sounds like Burger is too. Nice Re-design!!!
My sweet mini dachschund, Crickett, has epilepsy. Even after 7 years, her seizures are so scary, so I can definitely relate! Glad Burger is doing better.
Oh wow – big pet parent points for you for having to go through that on a regular basis! Tell Crickett that Burger says “Hi!”
-John
Oh Burger! Feel better soon. That had to be so scary! We love our four-legged friends so much and it is so sad to see them go through this. Here is hoping for a quick recovery!
~Sara
I’m so glad that Burger is ok! My chihuahua hurt his back a few weeks ago, though we weren’t home at the time and aren’t sure how it happened. After a few shots, lots of muscle relaxers and taking it easy, he’s fine. But I can totally relate to that feeling of panic.
Glad to hear you’re chihuahua is recovered nicely too!
-John
Aw poor Burger! My 3 year old beagle (Rigby) had a seizure a couple of months ago while playing at doggie day camp. It scared me so bad when they called, but after many tests came back fine the vet confirmed that sometimes dogs (of any/all breeds) just get too excited, worked up, scared, etc and their brains can’t handle it and short-circuit a bit. Scary, but she’s been totally fine ever since! I had never heard that before our incident, so it’s good to know! She definitely got extra snuggles and treats after that, as I’m sure Burger is now :)
Interesting! That is good to know. Burger definitely does get worked up sometimes (usually when there’s a Dentastick involved).
-John
Our chi once jumped out of my arms (a loud noise scared her)and landed kind of splayed out but mainly on her feet. She let out the most horrible noise and started closing her eyes a lot which made us worry she had a concussion. After rushing her to the vet everything was fine and they couldn’t find any signs of permanent damage – like Burger.
I just wanted to let you know that he will hopefully be just fine. It’s five years later and Roxy hasn’t had any problems related to her dare-devil move. :)
So good to hear. We’re hoping we’re headed to the same outcome with Burger’s little scare.
-John
I will admit I teared up reading about Burger! We had a similarly scary experience with our pooch, Finch, a few years ago when a fellow pooch he was playing with got his teeth caught in Finch’s collar and choaked him. We had to cut off the collar and get him some cortizone shots at the vet to prevent swelling. We baby-ed him for WEEKS afterward…when they’re so small I think it’s even scarier! So happy to hear he’s doing well…he looks darling in the picture.
ALSO, Beautiful bathroom reno! LOVE that pattern…wowza
Sheesh, that’s scary! Glad Finch is okay. I’m also chuckling to myself because another person just commented about their dog Atticus. Maybe he and Finch should get together. :)
-John
That IS funny…because our Finch’s full name is Atticus Finch :) And our daughter is Harper….maybe we’re obsessed?
Haha, so cute.
xo,
s
not to negate the reader redesign – but OMG POOR BUDDY! Glad he’s been OK for the last 24 but so worrisome when your pet (aka family member) isnt alright. They are such wonderful companions to us and we hate to see them hurting. I sure hope this isnt the start of anything and hope it was just a fluke. Please keep us all updated!
Bethany
http://www.PowellBrowerHome.com
PS – check out our GIVEAWAY if you havent yet.
Glad Burger is OK – whew. I think the added molding totally took that bathroom from OK to WOW.
Also, did you see the shout out to your blog on Emily Henderson’s Style By Emily Henderson blog?? What a great shout-out from a celebrity stylist!!
Yes! We were so flattered / flabbergasted. So nice of her to say such kind things!
-John
PS – tell Burger his NOVA girlfriend Wilma is thinking about him (pictured right) :)
Aw thanks Wilma!
xo,
Burgs
Amazing!!! Love the panels and the black and white walls!!!
What a transformation!!!
Big hug for Burger! So relieved he’s ok!
This bathroom is so awesome. The stencil is really impressive.
One member of the posse used to have seizures — scared me to death, even though his previous owners had warned me about them. When he was neutered, though, they stopped. The vet has no idea why, but we’re glad he’s fine (and now extremely fat, as some dogs become after neutering).
Don’t scare us like that, Burger!
Oh man, what a scary thing to witness so regularly. Glad the neutering took care of it, though.
-John
Oh, this is so weird: our seven year old lab had (what the vet determined to be) a seizure last night. Bizarre and sudden paralysis, dazed look. We have a strange connection, Petersiks. Keep us in the loop!
Oh my! Sorry to hear we weren’t the only ones going through that yesterday. Hope your lab is on the mend too!
-John
Weird! And sorry to hear we weren’t the only ones dealing with that last night. Hope your lab is recovering well too!
-John
BTW, the powder room makeover is lovely. Black & white is a classic combo that never goes out of style.
Thank goodness Burger is okay!!!! My heart dropped to my stomach when I started reading. Seizures are strange things…the same thing happens to humans that have taken a tumble.
Dear Burgs:
Tell your parents that we like the reader redesign post, but we love you and your little sister Clara best of all.
xo,
Julie
Consider it done.
Regards,
Burger
Poor Burgermeister! I hope that was an isolated event! Silly pup! The bathroom is wonderful too! Love that stenciling!
SO glad to hear Burger is doing well! My Yorkie Wyatt sends his love to a fellow dog :)
LOVE the black and white in that bathroom – so classy!
So scary for your little man! Glad he’s on the mend. Too cute he is.