Hello friends. I tried to get this post up yesterday but my wordpress wasn’t cooperating. Speaking of wordpress, those of you that have a wordpress blog, do you know how to get the comments emailed to you? When I first started this blog, each comment would go to my email and for whatever reason, a couple of months ago that stopped happening. If you leave me a comment, I always try to respond in the comments section below your comment. I hope to get this figured out so that I can personally email you back. Even my “blog guy” is stumped. Just thought I would throw it out there to see if you have any suggestions. Thanks!
Over the Christmas break…which seems like yesterday ( how can it be April?) I started working on organizing my office studio space which is upstairs in our bonus room. I started off by organizing my filing cabinets and quickly realized I needed more storage space for files, but wasn’t ready to plop down $230 for another Ballard’s filing cabinet. Soon after, I came across this basket from HomeGoods for $29.99.
I knew it was too good of a deal to pass up and figured I would be able to use it somewhere in my office. A couple of days later I was in Office Max and found these hanging file frames that you can customize for $11.00.
and they fit into my new basket!! Here is my $41 “filing cabinet”.
As I mentioned, I have been working on this space since Christmas and hope to share it with you in the next couple of weeks.
Last Monday, I received an email from Tracery that I had won their book giveaway….my book arrived on Friday. Yay!
I started collecting design books a couple of years ago as souvenirs from places that I’ve visited. I write the date and the city where the book was purchased inside the book cover. For me, I am more apt to spend $50 on a design book when I am on vacation rather than just walking into the bookstore and buying one. You know how that vacation mentality gets to you?!?
This past weekend, out neighborhood clubhouse hosted an Easter brunch with none other than the Easter Bunny.
As you can imagine, my older two were thrilled to have to go along with this charade. Everything was going well until the Easter Bunny asked me what time it is right in front of my daughter. What? The Easter Bunny doesn’t talk??? I guess he was counting down the minutes until he could get out of his suit.
They are happy to be off this week for Spring Break.
Hope your week is off to a great start.
It’s been a while since I’ve posted a Cottage Living favorite….here is one for your Friday.
Can you believe this kitchen is from 6 years ago?!! It still looks just as current and stylish today. I love that with a few stylish pieces…..lighting, bar stools, island and accessories, they transformed a basic kitchen into something classic and fresh. Isn’t that light great?
Didn’t you love this feature?
Unfortunately, the light has been discontinued from Circa Lighting. But if you would like to add a little bit of this look to your kitchen, check out these adorable bar stools from Bed, Bath and Beyond for $124 (and you know you can get a 20% off coupon!)
Ivory and Black
Ivory and Green
They have cute bistro chairs as well that are indoor/outdoor.
Woohoo it’s Friday!
Have a great weekend.
I wanted to give you all a peek at my daughter’s room the other day when I posted about the rugs (btw, thank you for your encouragement!) but I ran out of time. Just wanted to show you how it’s starting to come together!
What started off as taking a few pictures of her room, turned into an impromptu photo shoot when Ellie jumped in front of the camera.
The lamp I pulled from another part of the house, I have two of them. The lamp base is from Home Goods and the shade is from Jamie Young, which is available through Lauren Leonard Interiors. And the starburst mirror I pulled from my room until I can find one for her’s. Don’t you love shopping the house….it’s free!
Some artwork is going up this weekend, I’ll post it on Monday!
Have a good one, friends.
I’m coming down to the final stretch in my daughter’s room. Yay! Her bed skirt is being made, the headboard is upholstered and ready to be hung, and the pulls have been put on her dresser. I’m really happy with how everything is coming together so far. But now, I am stumped on a rug. I am looking for something soft, not a lot of pattern, and inexpensive. Not hard, right? The handles from Anthropologie weren’t planned in the budget, although I’m very happy with how they transformed the dresser, I am now having to get creative with my rug options. It got me looking at DIY painted rugs. I think these turned out amazing…hard to believe they were painted.
From Charm Home
From A Little Bit of Everything
Look at the meticulous taping job she did!
These rugs all have one thing in common, they started with this rug from Ikea.
And at $39.99, why not?
So I am thinking about giving this a try. Have any of you ever tried this at home? Do you have any suggestions for what type of paint to use or what works best? Fortunately for me, I need to keep the design on the rug simple because the print on her bed skirt is a small pattern, I’m thinking maybe just some type of design around the border. Any suggestions?
Now I just need to get to the nearest Ikea which is 2 hours away! (Sister, won’t you passing one on Friday?!?!)
Why can’t you order more of their products online?!?
Hello friends. Hope you are having a nice weekend. Feel like I have been M.I.A for a while. My baby girl was sick this week (I know, she’s 5 but she is still baby girl to me…and her dad!), fortunately she’s feeling better but that took me away from things for a few days.
Here’s another reason why I love Savannah. Have you received the April issue of House Beautiful? This living room from a historic row house in Savannah is gorgeous, don’t you think? Neutral with touches of color….so pretty.
images via
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This home, designed by Elizabeth Newman, is located in another favorite city of mine, Charleston, South Carolina.
Another neutral space with touches of color. I like how she placed the tongue and groove up to chair rail height and topped it off with substantial trim.
I clipped a few of those palm branches on Friday while I was at the park with my daughter. I keep a pair of scissors in my car just for that reason. Although, I am afraid I am going to encounter a snake one of these days!
And are you ready for this?!?
Holy moly, that’s a pretty bathroom.
Her portfolio is definitely worth checking out. It’s filled with lots of pretty pictures, like this.
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It’s a beautiful here in Jacksonville, I plan on doing a little poolside reading today.
Enjoy your day!!
A while ago, I posted about one of my recent antique shopping trips, and I asked you to guess which “treasure” came home with me. Do you remember that? I didn’t mean to leave you hanging for so long, but you know how one thing leads to another when you start a project.
Well here is the little treasure that I brought home.
It even had a big, red bow on it waiting to go home with someone for Christmas. But no takers. It was still waiting for me in February. I know, you are probably think…ewww honey-gold?
At the time, I wasn’t looking to change up my foyer but I fell in love with the unique style of the bench and the spool-style legs and back, and didn’t think I would ever come across another one…you know how that get’s you every time you’re at an antique store. Plus, I got the dealer down to $125….I think that was a good deal??? What do you think?
Yes, the color was hideous but after many cans of spray paint, I am very happy with how it turned out.
(I probably included too many pictures, but I have hard time editing out pictures)
The two cream and blue block-printed pillows I made from napkins that I purchased from World Market for $4.99 each. I am crazy about block printed fabrics and they are usually very expensive so anytime I can get my hands on some at a decent price (even napkins!), I snatch them up. I backed them in a cream linen fabric that I already had on hand.
I also made the ikat pillow out of a fabric remnant, I believe it is from Kravet, but it has been discontinued. The gingham pillow is from Ballard’s and the seagrass stool is from Target from a few years ago. The floor lamp is from Circa Lighting.
I wanted to mix the block print fabric and the ikat (1 trendy fabric…wink, wink) with the other elements to keep the look from becoming too “sweet”.
I also gave the walls above the planking a fresh coat of paint and went with BM Indian White, a soft, creamy yellow. I’ve been wanting to paint my foyer a different color from the rest of the house for some time, and I’m so glad I did. Funny how a quart of paint can help make a space feel new again.
I’m laying off the “treasure hunting” for a while…too many good things out there!
Camille from The Vintique Object tagged me in a fun, get-to-know-you-better blogger game. She came up with 11 questions and tagged 11 bloggers… and I get to play along. Then after I answer, I tag 11 more bloggers and come up with 11 new questions for them. Here goes it.
1. Light and airy or dark and dramatic?
While I love dark and cozy spaces, I am definitely a light and airy kind of gal. These rooms say it all for me.
2. What is your sign?
Don’t hold this against me…..but I’m a Scorpio. I think Scorpio’s get a bad rap, but then again, it’s probably mostly true!
3. Introvert or extrovert?
Definitely an extrovert. I like to get to know people and I like to know their story….it’s interesting to me.
4. Where and when did your love for decorating begin?
It started in my tiny bedroom growing up. As a little girl, I would constantly rearrange my bedroom furniture, which was was dark brown with caning accents on the drawer fronts (think 1970′s) and it just grew from there. Whenever, I would drive past a beautiful house, I would try to imagine what the inside looked like or I would “design” the house in my head. Not much has changed today.
5. What’s your favorite project to date?
Oooh, that’s a tough one. I guess I have to say my bunk room. I was so excited to be asked by HGTV.com to be featured, that I think that room will always be extra special.
6. What’s your least favorite project?
This is easy…any room that I have to repaint twice to get the color right! I am my own worst critic and a perfectionist. If I am not 100% happy with something…I’ll keep at it until I am. So unfortunately, I have repainted a few rooms in my time.
7. What is one design trend you love?
I am still loving industrial lighting. I love the look and feel that it brings to a design and now stores such as Home Depot are offering some affordable lighting options so it’s really easy to add that industrial feel to your space.
8. What is one design trend that you don’t care for?
I love trendy fabrics but when I see a room filled with every trendy pattern out there, I cringe a little. I think it’s best to pick either a trendy pattern for a rug or an accent pillow and just stick with one.
9. Have you met any other design bloggers in person?
No, not yet, but I hope to meet some in the future!
10. What would we see if we visited your first place right out of high school?
You would see my bedroom that I grew up in! But my first “grown-up” apartment was when I was 21….that would have been in the early 90′s. I had a hunter green and white striped sofa and loveseat, with pink floral pillows (think chintz), and pickled oak side tables with gold trim and glass accents. Oh and the best part…mauve carpet! It was a vision of pink and green and I thought it was fabulous!! Gosh, I wish I had pictures of that place.
11. Which food do you consider and indulgence?
Does wine count as a food group?? Just kidding. Any type of dessert is an indulgence for me. I do not discriminate.
chocolate sour cream bundt cake
Now it’s my turn to tag 11 bloggers…
1. Holly at Holly Mathis Interiors
2. Kristen at Cottage Modern
3. Sherry at Design Indulgence
4. Paula at Two Ellie
5. Tessa at Nine and Sixteen
6. Cathy at RoomRX
7. Mary Ann at Classic. Casual. Home
8. Autumn at Design Dump
9. Brooke at Blueprint Bliss
10. Laurie at Traditionally Modern
11. Bryn at Bryn Alexandra
And here are their 11 questions……sorry, I had to recycle some questions.
1. Lake house or beach house?
2. If you could hire any designer, who would it be?
3. What is one of your favorite pieces in your house?
4. What is one trend you are loving right now?
5. If you could go back in time, which time period would you like to live in?
6. Favorite place that you’ve visited?
7. What place is on your “some day I’d like to visit” list?
8. Would you rather prepare a “gourmet” meal at home or enjoy one at a restaurant?
9. What project(s) are you currently working on around your house?
10. If you have the house to yourself, do you enjoy background music or peace and quiet?
11. Introvert or extrovert?
Thanks, Camille for asking me to play along…it was fun!
Hope your week is off to a great start.
Here’s a little bit ‘o green to get you into the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day.
Beautiful bedroom by Tracery Interiors.
Oh, we all remember this kitchen, don’t we?
I couldn’t resist posting this again.
I love this color combo…and that necklace!
Do you have any fun plans to celebrate St. Patty’s Day? Have a great weekend!
Here in Jacksonville we are lucky enough to have one of the two Ballard Designs retail stores in the country. Prior to the grand opening, my side kick Maria and I were invited to a preview party at the store. After looking at their products on the pages of their catalogs for so many years, I remember it felt like I was walking through the catalog. Since then, I have shopped there many times and often source their products for local clients, as well as E-Design. I like that I can see a product in person before I use it in a design. I’ve always been happy with their quality and pricing …..this is starting to sound like a paid promotion…I promise it’s not!
While I was there last week, I snapped a couple of pictures of some things that caught my eye and to also give you a glimpse inside one of their retail stores.
I love these chairs! So cute.
This has to be one of the best priced chairs out there. This chair is upholstered in a beige/natural basketweave linen and it’s a glider….super comfortable. $679 (and you could probably catch it on sale!)
This island is adorable….great size too…not too big.
Their sofas are extremely comfortable and well priced.
Here are all of their custom pieces of furniture….I really like that small X bench.
Love this baker’s rack…it reminded me of the one in this house.
Pretty, right?
Love this antique cabinet…..pricey little thing….$5500.
Wouldn’t this be a cozy spot to have in your house? It has coffee and blogs written all over it.
This looks like the square version that I posted about here.
Have you checked out Ballard’s blog, Style Studio? They recently teamed up Traditional Home to help customer’s solve their design dilemmas….it’s fun to see what they came up with. You can even submit pictures of your favorite pieces from Ballard Designs.
Do you have a favorite?
Hello there. How was your weekend?
For the past couple of months I have been training for a 15K run that includes 2 bridges….one affectionately known as the “green monster”. It’s big and scary and at the end of the 9.3 mile race. Well the race was on Saturday and I’m happy to say that I conquered the beast! All of the training paid off. I ran with my mom a.k.a. running partner and my niece, who is home from college on spring break. We had a blast!
Those are big smiles of gratitude that it was over!
After I rested my legs, I tackled one of the projects on my never-ending list. Please tell me you have a project list, as well.
This project started with these………..
A set of 4 pictures from the antique store. They were $10 each. I liked the colors in the prints but the 1960′s frames had to go. But before I tossed them, I painted them, white-washed them, even spray painted them. No luck. Didn’t like how any of those attempts turned out.
I purchased 4 of these frames on sale at Pottery Barn. I was not looking forward to hanging these frames because each frame has 2 hooks on the back…which means you have to be very precise with your measurements. Precision and measuring, neither of which are my strong suit. So this time around, I thought I would try something new….I cut out 4 “frames” from old wrapping paper, which happened to have the one inch square cutting lines…yes! That really helped when it was time to measure and mark where the nails needed to go.
One down, three more to go.
And here is the finished project….
You can see Barbie’s dream house in the picture. She moved in at Christmas time and has no plans on leaving anytime soon.
It’s the start of another busy week. Hope yours is a good one!
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