Anything But Ordinary

Sofa King Awesome!

2011-03-07T11:22:00.000-05:00

New Sofa Being Delivered Today!!

Jonathan Adler Lampert Sofa
...A girl can only dream.

The day has finally arrived. After a year of living with the most despised couch in Baltimore, I am being relieved of my hatred with a most divine replacement. I spent a month with my nose to the grindstone searching every store in a 50 mile radius and every furniture website looking for exactly what I wanted for exactly the price I'd pay. Then it occurred to me, with President's Day Weekend in February, I'd make the plunge and purchase something then so that I'd get the fab discounts. The Thursday before President's Day I scouted all the online sales and made lists of the best deals and my favorite choices, but having bought not-so-comfy seating online previously, I decided that a trip to DC was needed to sit my tush upon the likes of Z.Gallerie's and West Elm's options.

Hours and hours. That's how long I toiled over 3 particular sofas. Going back and forth from Z.Gallerie to Macys (West Elm got knocked out early), calculating and re-calculating prices, discussing every possible way I'd regret my decision with the ever-patient BF, calling my mom hours away to walk me through making a decision... And finally, when it was all said and done, I left DC after 8 long hours with a beautiful and crazily discounted ~~sofa~~ rug.

...that's right, I said it. Not a sofa, but a rug.

This 5 x 8 West Elm Jaguar Rug to be exact that somehow we stole for $60! (I'm not asking questions.)

But... finally Sunday night of Presidents Day Weekend at approximately 11:55pm, I took the plunge and purchased this sofa online.

Home Decorators Collection Boxer Tufted Sofa

To understand how I came to this decision, you have to know what I was looking for and why...

1.) In a heavily trafficked area and with our need to throw large parties often, a dark color was most practical, but...the most annoying part of our couch now is that all of Addi Roo's tiny white hairs are drawn to it and a dark sofa would always look covered in hair. (My dream sofa would be a light grey so that Addi's hair doesn't stand out but it's dark enough to cover any spills.)

2.) I wanted tufting. Lots of tufting, but it turns out lots of tufting is expensive so I was fine with at least SOME tufting. However, I preferred for tufting to NOT be on the seat, because Addi's hair would get stuck in all of the crevices, and I preferred the seat to be one long continuous cushion for the same reason. (By the way, Addi Roo is NOT allowed on the furniture, but none-the-less her hair is everywhere and it drives me CRAZY!)

3.) I preferred NOT to have microfiber and really wanted velvet (which this sofa says it's velvet, but I'm convinced 99% of the sofa's in our price range are microfiber so we'll see what this one is when it gets here.)

4.) I preferred legs over a skirt.

5.) Price Range = or < $1200 (including shipping). This was mainly because I knew it was possible during the Holiday Sale.

I did compromise my wants slightly. There's not as much tufting as I'd like and the color is darker than hoped for, but I did get a grey velvet tufted sofa with legs in my price range. In fact, the deciding factor was price. The damage was an incredible $560, a fraction of our budget and $400 cheaper than our other options. At that price, we have lots left over for new tables, chairs and lamps...especially considering we got the rug for a steal as well.

Californication

2011-01-14T14:35:00.000-05:00

I just got back from a 6 day spur of the moment trip to California. It was my first time really exploring in California, and the whole thing really blew my mind. We started and ended in San Diego, and it was beautiful. It felt like we were in a Eurpoean city where everyone spoke English. Some parts really reminded me of Sydney, Australia, the laid-back beachy attitude that I've missed so much. Other parts, including Balboa Park and the architecture reminded me of Barcelona, Spain.

And, if you're going to visit San Diego someday, I would suggest you make time to do these three things.

1.) You absolutely must visit Coronado. It is my new favorite place in the United States. It's beautiful, with it's Spanish Colonial architecture, pristine beaches, perfectly manicured neighborhoods, and whimsical little shops. The most important sight to see in Coronado: the Hotel Del Coronado. (See pics below.)

2.) Next, you must visit Children's Pool in La Jolla. La Jolla in itself is a dream, but there are many beautiful beach communities in the US, and what makes La Jolla special is the sea lion viewing that happens at Children's Pool. The sea lions are everywhere, snoozing in large cuddly piles stranded atop rocks in the ocean, frolicking and splashing in the waters right below the viewing pier, or sunbathing on the beach just a few feet away from onlookers. (See pics below.)

3.) Lastly, you must eat South Beach Bar & Grill fish tacos. The food in San Diego is pretty delish. I might be a little more partial than most, because my two favorite food groups are Mexican and Seafood, but in general I'm very particular about my food and California came to play. But, I can honestly say, that South Beach Bar & Grill has one of the best things I've ever eaten in my entire life: Mahi Mahi fish tacos, and if you ever make your way to San Diego, you have to look this place up so you can get a taste for yourself.

Other noteworthy food and drinks: In N Out Burger - Double Double. La Puerta - Devil went down to Georgia (drink). Extraordinary Desserts - Chocolate Chai Latte and Chocolate Shortbread.

As for the rest of our California adventure, we went to Hollywood and saw the sign (which was nestled up on a hill through narrow windy neighborhood roads that reminded me a lot of Granada, Spain), went down Hollywood Boulevard to see the obligatory Walk of Fame and Grauman's Chinese Theatre, made our way down Sunset Boulevard, past The Viper, The Roxy, and The Whiskey A Go Go, and drove down Mulholland Dr and through Beverly Hills. We ate lunch at the always paparazzi-drenched Ivy and lazied down Rodeo Dr. But as a whole, I found LA, Hollywood, and Beverly Hills to be underwhelming. I had hoped Beverly Hills would have lived up to my lofty aspirations of a star-dripped town tortured by the surrounded scenery of obnoxious wealth and perfection and that West Hollywood would be gritty and grimey with mangled storefronts decorated by unknown artists, but alas it was a shadow of a town with not much energy nor surprising wealth (other than the cars, which I'm positive I saw 17 year olds driving Maserati's).

We drove to the Santa Monica Pier, which was a lot like a Jersey Shore Boardwalk, and we drove down the Pacific Coast Highway which went through iconic beach towns such as Huntington, Newport, and Laguna, but once again I was not awed as I thought I was going to be.

Our spur of the moment trip to California was action-packed and much-needed. I hope that I will make it back to San Diego someday soon, and that eventually I will make it to Northern Cali.

Holiday Wine and Cheese Party

2010-12-22T15:03:00.000-05:00

I love coming up with reasons to have everyone over, so with the holidays quickly approaching, I decided to have a little party to celebrate. Because I've been so busy decorating, Christmas shopping, and preparing for a trip back home to Kentucky, I wanted to make it as easy on myself as possible...so wine and cheese it was.

Here's wishing you all a Happy Holiday Season!

Egg Nog

Wine Station

The Hosts

Addi Roo in her Christmas Best

The Tree

Sunburst Mirror Project

2010-12-20T14:39:00.000-05:00

Remember this sunburst mirror project I blogged about in October?

You can DIY too, check out the step-by-step over at the blog Isabella & Max Rooms.

Well I finished it a while back and I finally have the pics to prove it.

I think it turned out pretty good, but it was much larger than I anticipated, so it actually doesn't really work over the couch as I had planned...it's hanging in the dining room at the moment. I went for a metallic silver, and one of these days when the dining room is repainted, the frame molding finished and a wine service station set up underneath, I think it'll fit in perfectly.

Hiding in a store near you...

2010-12-17T10:01:00.000-05:00

Yesterday while doing some last minute holiday shopping, I stopped into Burlington Coat Factory and found, hidden behind some holiday trinkets, these whimsical porcelain beauties.

The owls were marked at only $13 and the artichoke was marked at $20!

Because I promised, and I've had people ask for them...

2010-12-09T17:38:00.000-05:00

Here are some pics from this year's Halloween party...a month later.

The Hosts

The BF and I as El Dia de Los Muertos couple.

Other Clever Costumes

Wilma and Fred

Sushi - Her gloves are the wasabi

Zoro

And the winner of the Best Costume Award - Buddy the Elf

The Food

The food table - a slightly different set-up than last year

Bone Breadsticks and Bloody Marinara Sauce

A classic - Dirt Pudding

Veggie Pizza Graveyard

Mummy Dogs

String Cheese Witches Fingers

Ghost of Monte Cristo Sandwiches

And just to be fair to the holidays, I'll have Christmas pics coming soon.

Here's a peak at what's to come.

Blue Velvet Tufted Club Chair

2010-12-03T11:00:00.000-05:00

A few months ago I saw this beauty sitting in Homegoods for only $250. I didn't really have a place for it, but I loved it so much I snapped a picture.

Now, in the Dec/Jan issue of Elle Decor a very similar chair is listed as "What's Hot" for this month. The biggest difference? The price...a whopping $2,350!

Canvas

My favorite detail about these chairs (other than the tufting, of course) is the rich jewel-tone blue. Here are a few examples of just what blue velvet tufting can do for a room.

Decorpad

Sorry for the long pause...

2010-11-30T15:13:00.001-05:00

Alot has been going lately, but just in an attempt to start somewhere here's a project that I finished a few weeks ago...

Burlap and Muslin Ruffle Pillows

For the pillow project, I luckily didn't have to buy anything. I already had the pillow inserts and leftover burlap and muslin from other projects. I cut four squares of burlap slightly larger than the pillow insert. Then I cut four long pieces of muslin, hemming all the edges. I gathered and sewed two muslin strips each to two of the burlap squares creating a ruffle effect. Then to cover the seam, I just hand-sewed a thin piece of burlap down the middle. After that it was a breeze. I took one of the decorated burlap squares and matched it up with a plain square sandwiching the ruffles in the middle. I sewed around the edges of the two squares leaving a large opening on one of the sides to insert the pillow. Then I turned the whole thing inside out, inserted the pillow, and hand-sewed the opening being careful to keep the rough edges on the inside. It was fairly simple, but took a few days to finish just because my sewing machine didn't like the thick burlap fabric and my thread kept breaking, but all-in-all I'm happy with the outcome.

Halloween Weekend Arrives

2010-10-29T11:28:00.000-04:00

The Friday before Halloween has finally arrived and I still have so much to get done. Today I'll be finishing last touches around and outside the house. I'm going to start cooking some of the food for the big party, because trying to do it all tomorrow would just be insane. On top of party prep, I still have a house that needs to be cleaned top to bottom...having a dog makes it virtually impossible to clean ahead of time. But in the end, it's all worth it when I'm finally able to get suited up in my costume and everyone begins to arrive in theirs. I'm really looking forward to another magical Halloween night!

A few pics of costumes from last year's Halloween party...

The BF and I as Adam and Eve

Apollo Creed and Clubber Lane (Mr. T) from Rocky

Zombie Couple

Happy Halloween!

Tricks and Treats

2010-10-27T10:57:00.000-04:00

Every year we throw a big Halloween party. One of the things that takes the most time getting ready is putting together the food menu. Last year I was very ambitious, and most everything I made was from scratch. This year I'm making it a little bit easier on myself, but it's still going to be a lot of work. I'll e posting lots of pictures once it all comes together, but until then....

Here are some pictures from last year's Halloween food table.

This was everything minus the witches fingers breadsticks and ghost loaded potato bites (which I'll show below.)

Witches Fingers Breadsticks and Bloody Marinara

Ghost Loaded Potato Bites

Puppy Chow Mix

Spider's Web Nest Taco Dip and Black Tortilla Chips

Candy Apple Bites, Red Velvet Skull Cupcakes and, of course, candy.

Witches Brew with Floating Eyeballs

Why do front load washing machines make clothes smell moldy?

2010-10-21T11:00:00.000-04:00

I am so annoyed by this! My parents bought a brand new Kenmore front-loader a few years ago, and every time I would go to grab a towel at their house it would smell like mildew. I swore I would avoid this. So when we finally decided to buy a front loader we went for a Maytag Neptune. For the first month, it seemed we had no problem. We took some advice from the BF's mom to leave the washer door open between washes and still, just a few months after purchasing, our towels are smelling like mildew. What gives?! I would definitely ditch the front loaders, but the issue is that we're in the middle of renovating the basement and adding a organized user-friendly laundry room like the one below.

Does anyone else have this problem? Does anyone have any good remedies?

Take Five Tuesday: EELS

2010-10-12T14:55:00.000-04:00

"My Baby Loves Me" is a quirky upbeat song with a Where's Waldo feeling video off the EELS newly released album Tomorrow Morning. Tomorrow Morning is described as "the final installment of a trilogy that began with Hombre Lobo (June 2009) and End Times(Jan 2010)." The truth of the matter is that the EELS have been in the mainstream music scene since 1996. Stepping out during the era of grunge, front man, Mark Oliver Everett (aka "E") shared a stage with the likes of Tori Amos, Fiona Apple and others. You may remember the record "Novocaine For The Soul" which almost sounds new when listening to it again today. Also, check out the first video released off of Tomorow Morning, "Spectacular Girl". Overall, new or old, the EELS offer some good listening for a mellow Tuesday.

End of Week Wrap Up

2010-10-08T13:19:00.000-04:00

Happy Anniversary

I have not been very accessible this week, but it's all for good reason. I'll start by saying that yesterday was the 3-year anniversary for the BF and I which I found out after coming downstairs and being greeted by this lovely bouquet sitting on the coffee table. Now, don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't know when our anniversary is, it's just that, and this I'm positive of, he picks a different day every year just so he can beat me to the punch. As I understand it, the anniversary is Columbus Day Weekend (which is roughly around the 9th/10th every year). Apparently, he understands it as the Sunday of Columbus Day Weekend 3 years ago which happened to be October 7th. This seems a little fishy to me, but one thing we're both sure of is that 3 years have gone by in a flash and we're still very much in love.

As for the Yard Sale last weekend...

It was pretty much a bust. We woke up early, organized everything outside, hung signs everywhere (including the dog park, dunkin donuts, the bagel store, etc) and settled in for a bustling day. After 3 hours, we had made a grand total of $21. So we gave things to friends who had stopped by to cheer us on, loaded up the car with gobs of stuff to be donated to Goodwill and called it a day. The good news: our basement is much more clutter free and some of the better stuff we saved and posted on Craigslist and Ebay. So far from those efforts we have made a grand total of $245. So I'm feeling pretty good overall and we still have a few more things to offload.

Random Going-On's

I made these cupcakes. They were pretty delicious. Pumpkin cupcakes with maple frosting and Heath bar topping. Yum! The recipe came from the October issue of House Beautiful. The Barefoot Contessa came up with the recipe and it was yummy as promised. The best part...while baking, the whole house smelled like Fall.

I am going to attempt to make this DIY sunburst mirror. Janell from the blog Isabella & Max Rooms did a tutorial on how to make it here. I have gathered all the exact same materials, so this is definitely happening. I'll keep you updated on the progress.

A Sale For You

Click Here

Take Five Tuesday: Far East Movement [FM]

2010-10-05T15:02:00.000-04:00

FM is a group of four, each representing a different background in the Asian-American community (Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Filipino). The group first came to the scene in 2006 with their hit "Round, Round" featured in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. With their newest album, Free Wired, they've dropped a single called "Like a G6" which has placed #6 on the Billboard chart and #1 on itunes. So, with that said, you've probably heard this song...I for one cannot get it out of my head...and because I like to share everything with you, Dear Readers, I hope it becomes stuck in your head too.

Enjoy!

A few last minute things to wrap up the week

2010-10-01T11:41:00.001-04:00

Restaurant.com is having a deal today that you can buy any $25 gift certificate for just $1! There's no catch. Just type in promo code "WOW" at checkout. I just bought 4 $25 gift certificates and my grand total was $4.50. That's the second time I've bought from them, and I love it. They have a ton of restaurants on the site. There were over 100 just in a 5 mile radius of my house.

In other news...

Addi Roo has been very sad the past few days. It's been raining so she hasn't been able to go to the dog park to play with her friends. Lucky her though, I was going through boxes (for the yard sale...see below) and I found this mechanical cat that my mom bought for me when I was living in New York and missing not having a pet. This cat meows and purs and blinks and moves all based on motion sensor. So when I placed this cat on the ground, Addi had a fit. She barked and rand around it and looked at me as to say "What gives with this cat?" She especially did not like it when I would pick it up and pet it. She would then whine and howl and try to bite at it's tail dangling.

But after a while, she gave in. Really she had no choice; it was her only playmate option. She still doesn't love the cat, but...

She's learning to live with it. :)

Don't forget: Big Yard Sale at my house this Saturday morning. Email me if you'd like to come and I'll give you the address!

Yard Sale Alert!

2010-09-30T16:27:00.000-04:00

This Saturday from 8am until 1pm, we're having a YARD SALE.

Just look for these signs :)

After years of growing up helping my mom organize her garage sales, I'm having my first Yard Sale this weekend. After moving in with the BF and our continuous remodeling of the basement, we have acquired a lot of stuff and not a lot of space to store it. I'm so glad to get it all out of the house. Whatever we don't sell is going to Goodwill, so really...everything is negotiable. If you live in Baltimore, or are going to be in the city Saturday morning, email me or leave me a comment with your email and I'll give you the address to stop by.

Here's a list of just some of the items we'll have:

*Clothes (misses sz Small, sz 4) sweaters, winter coats, jeans, etc
*Shoes (womens sz 6)
*Purses
*Various small electronics (hair dryers, curling iron, cordless phone, portable iron, travel dvd player, dvd burner etc, X-box)
*Bar and dining items (wine cooler, shot glasses, shot glass holder, pitcher and matching glasses, decanter and matching wine glasses, cutlery, etc)
*Art and pictures ($2 - $5)
*Bedding, pillows and blankets (twin sheet sets, king blankets, twin feather duvet, throw pillows, bed frame)
*Curtains, curtain rods, towels racks, door hooks, towels, etc
*Furniture by ABO Designs (Dresser, Parlor Table, Lamps)
*Tools (cordless drills, small hand tools, wrenches, etc)
*miscellaneous iron pipe fittings
*James mountain bike
*Tailgating Grill/Cooler (Coleman Fire and Ice)
*Much, Much more!

Mid-Week Must Have's: New Arrivals at Overstock

2010-09-29T12:14:00.000-04:00

I love Overstock! The fact that they ship everything for $2.95 is insanely exciting. I love checking in every once in a while just to see what's new. Check out what I found today!

Cream Oval Back Settee $205.99

Antique Lime Green Sofa Table $319.95

Wood Leg White Accent Chairs (Set of 2) $196.99

Indoor 3-light Copper/ Crystal Pendant Chandelier $159.99

Gettin My Clean On

2010-09-28T17:31:00.000-04:00

The BF has been fighting off flu-like symptoms for the past week. I happen to think the change in season and crazy weather hasn't helped the situation. Maybe the biggest factor though is all of the dust having been kicked up over the week's remodeling projects and the countless mounds of hair hiding in the corners compliments of Addi Roo. So today in an attempt to get my baby feeling better, I have cleaned every nook and cranny of this house. I have to say...even I feel an ease in my breathing. But now, I'm pooped. I'll be back to play tomorrow.

Showing Some Love

2010-09-27T12:55:00.000-04:00

Today is what I'm calling "Blog Follower Appreciation Day." Basically, it's a cloudy, yucky day out and I feel like catching up with all my lovely followers and leaving them much needed comments on all the cool things they're up to. If you're stopping by for the first time today, become a follower and I'll stop by and say hello to you too!

Courtesy of Neko Arrange

Because I feel like sharing...

2010-09-24T17:35:00.001-04:00

Today, for various reasons, but mainly because it was hot and I normally don't see many people, I was wearing sneakers, white soccer shorts, and a blue University of Kentucky Wildcats t-shirt. I thought it was the perfect attire for walking Addi Roo to the dog park. We went, she acted a fool and had a great time. We were taking our leisurely stroll back to the house when out of the corner of my eye I noticed a few cars stopped at a red light and one car, in particular, had a guy inside with the window rolled down.

(Now let me paint the picture for those who don't quite understand... I live in Baltimore. Baltimore city to be exact. When guy's have their window rolled down it means two things: they're saving money on AC AND (not or) they are 100% going to "holler" at any girl that walks by.) So to combat this, I kept looking straight ahead paying no attention to the car, but none-the-less, I heard the shout out of the window...

Now right as the voice hit my ear I began to internally say to myself, "Really? You're gonna "holler" at me when I'm wearing this hot outfit?" Until a moment later it sunk in what the guy had said... "How you gonna walk that dog wearing THAT shirt?" So, naturally, I lowered my head to look at my shirt.

So I did the only thing I could, I looked over at the guy, who was actually an older gentleman on further inspection, and replied, "It's just mean, isn't it?" And he replied with a smile, "Terrible."

And here I thought I had my dog park outfit picked out perfectly.

I hope everyone has a happy and fun-filled weekend!

One Rue to Follow

2010-09-24T10:32:00.000-04:00

Have you seen this new online magazine called Rue?!?! Well, you have to check it out. Hailing from Chicago, and rivaling Lonny, comes the next best thing in online design magazines. The premiere issue came out last week, and I can't believe I waited as long as I did to check it out. My favorite part about Rue is that it is founded by a team of bloggers from such parts as Plush Palate, The City Sage, Live Creating Yourself, Sacramento Street and many many more. The interior design blog world coupled with photographers and designers from the likes of Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Domino, HGTV and on and on is a design-lover's dream come true. Just wait til you check out the first issue. I can't even...

Front window Halloween Decor

2010-09-23T13:43:00.002-04:00

This was another project, but very simple. I collected an assortment of (discounted) craft pumpkins from Michaels (two large w/ black glitter, two large with orange glitter, and three small white). I used a sharpie to write BOO on the white pumpkins like so:

And then I arranged them all in the window (we only have one front window as we live in a row home in Baltimore, but the good news is we get a lot of foot traffic in front of the house admiring the display) with some orange lights I had leftover from last year.

We also have the front door and entryway decorated with some sticky window decals of blood drips and splatters and a sign that lights up and says BEWARE, but my camera (also known as my blackberry...I know, I know, it's sad) is not the greatest.

Last Year:

Blood drips and splatters, orange lights, and spider webbing with spiders in it. That was the best I could do last year as I didn't live in this house and came up to do all of the decorating and cooking the night before our annual Halloween party.

Happy Birthday Woman!

2010-09-21T08:53:00.001-04:00

Today is my Gran's 80th birthday! She lives in Atlanta, which is a far cry away from Baltimore, MD, but I'm sending lots of love her way. I really do just love that woman!


Gran and I at Tavern on the Green, Christmas 2008.

So, in honor of this special lady, my Take 5 Tuesday song of the day is September by Earth, Wind, and Fire (a special favorite of my best friend Reed, who reminds me every year to listen to this song on the 21st). If this doesn't make you want to get up and dance, I don't know what will!

Halloween Banners

2010-09-20T15:46:00.005-04:00

I love Halloween, so you'll probably see a lot of Halloween things from me over the next month and a half. I already started decorating this past weekend, and I even finished my first Halloween craft.

I started with the idea to make a Halloween banner, and went to Michael's to pick up a few necessities: assorted paper, glue stick, suede string, and a few Halloween-themed add-ons (spiders, bats, and skull).

I cut the paper into pennant-sized pieces, and cut coordinating paper into rectangles for making the letters, which I free-handed because stencils are way expensive.

(Addi Roo was not much help!)

I wanted to use the skull as a spacer between my words, but it was originally brown so I painted it with some purple glitter paint.

Lastly, I attached the suede string and bats and spiders with a glue gun and had the BF hang it.

The end result: "Happy Haunting" banner that spans the living room.

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Unbeatable One Day Furniture Deal

2010-09-17T10:08:00.000-04:00

So I have raved before about how much I love Groupon and Living Social. Well, today Groupon is offering a deal that for $50 you get $200 worth of furniture and home accessories from Gardiners Furniture. I thought it was such a good deal I just had to share. Check it out here!

The deal only works at these Maryland locations: Bel Air, Catonsville, Pasadena, Towson, and Westminster.

Today I'm getting alot done...

2010-09-16T11:24:00.000-04:00

So...I'm leaving you with another house tour (I've been very big on peeking into other people's houses lately). This house tour comes compliments of Holly over at Life in the Fun Lane. I'm totally enamored with how serene this house looks.

Enjoy!!

Living Room

Laundry Room

Master Bedroom

Baby's Room

Powder Room

Family Room

Mid-Week Must Have's: A Chalkboard Wall

2010-09-15T01:08:00.000-04:00

After working with chalkboard paint for the first time this past week and admiring the darling chalkboard wall in the house tour from last Thursday, I can't help but to have the itch to go crazy painting an entire wall. I'm now totally obsessed with the idea of, not only, a large black accent popping out in a room, but also the idea of writing sweet notes to my darling, drawing fantastical pictures, and finding witty comments from our visitors all over the wall.

Check out this kitchen's chalkboard wall. If I don't get one soon, I'll definitely need one for when I have kids. How fun!

via My House of Giggles

Let's Play Pretend

2010-09-13T13:25:00.007-04:00

So all last week, I was working on a special present for the BF's twin nieces 2nd birthday, their very own dress up wardrobe filled with lots of fancy treasures to enjoy. It was so much fun to create and the girls just loved it.

For Sale: Custom Dress Up Wardrobes
Everyone loved the dress up wardrobe so much, that I've decided to sell custom/personalized wardrobes through my Etsy site. For more information click here.

Here's a quick step-by-step of all the work that went into it...

Step 1: We bought the wood, paint, trim, mirror, chalkboard paint, and hooks...then the BF cut everything down to size.

Step 2: We began to put the big pieces together (materials used: wood glue, a nail gun, a level, and the BF"aka: Someone Very Handy").

Step 3: Notched out a space to add the top piece.

Step 4: Wood puttied the nail holes and sanded it all down smooth.

Step 5: Added the wheels to the bottom.

Step 6: Applied two coats of primer, three coats of light pink to the entire outside, and taped off the name plate.

Step 7: Painted the border and names chocolate brown.

Step 8: Painted the inside dark pink and painted on the chalkboard paint on one of the sides.

Step 9: Took apart the hook plate and painted all the hooks chocolate brown.

Step 10: Taped off and painted the chevron pattern.

Step 11: Attached all the hooks and polyurethane.

(No picture...but you get the idea)

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Sorry for the absence...

2010-09-09T12:49:00.000-04:00

But I've been very busy working on a project. I plan on posting pictures soon, but until then, here's a little eye candy, a house tour of fellow blogger, Michelle, over at Three Men and a Lady. I am in love with this house! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Living Room/ Dining Room

Master Bedroom

Den/ Office

Boys Bedroom

Entryway

Guest Bedroom

Guest Bathroom

For more detailed pics click here.

If You Post It , He Will Come...

2010-09-04T19:18:00.002-04:00

Welcome to the world, Baby Abraxas!!
After much anticipation and 24 hours of labor. Abraxas finally entered the world this morning.

Baby Shower Bliss

2010-09-02T14:31:00.000-04:00

This has been a long time coming, but none-the-less, here are the pics from the baby shower I hosted for one of my oldest and dearest friends, Abby, back in July. She was not too keen on any kind of baby theme, so we had a nice intimate adult dinner at my parent's house in Kentucky with just a sprinkle of baby activities. Baby Abraxas should be arriving any day and we are all thrilled to meet him!

I used all of my mom's dishes. She has an affinity for animal print, so I just went with that and we were able to use alot of her pretty serving ware.

We started with cheese, grapes, prosciutto-wrapped cantaloupe, and bagel crips.

And we set salads of mixed greens, walnuts, craisins, bleu cheese crumbles, mandarin oranges, and raspberry vinaigrette dressing. (This was a big hit amongst everyone!)

We all sat down for a dinner of marinated chicken breasts, yellow and green beans, fried apples, corn cut off the cob, sweet potato casserole, rolls, and of course, sweet tea, lemonade, and an assortment of wines. (This is making me hungry.)

After dinner we decorated onsies and Abby opened presents.

Then it was time for dessert...

Coffee and an assortment of mini cupcakes: German chocolate, red velvet with cream cheese frosting, and yellow cake with chocolate icing. Yum!

I was able to send everyone home with a box of their own assortment of cupcakes to snack on later.

We have all been best friends since middle school, and I can't wait to add another little one to this crazy crew.

Mom and I in our hostess aprons. (She really does just have an assortment of aprons waiting to be worn.)

Mid-Week Must Have's: Jonathan Adler Sofa on Ebay

2010-09-01T16:29:00.000-04:00

Jonathan Adler Velvet Lampert Sofa

Only $510

Take Five Tuesday: Punch Brothers

2010-08-31T17:01:00.001-04:00

Because I'm from Kentucky and Bluegrass is in my Blood...

I'd like to introduce the Punch Brother's and their unique sound from the Tennessee area. They just released their second album titled "Antifogmatic" from None Such Records. I'm a fan of many of their songs, especially those with the more typical Bluegrass sound, such as "Rye Whiskey," but I can't help to fall in love with the heart-felt melody of "This is the Song." See the video below...(I love that they've taken Bluegrass all the way to The Living Room in NYC...that's especially nice to see).

For a few more incredible performances by the Punch Brothers, check out their version of "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" originally by The White Stripes or their take on classical Bach.

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

2010-08-30T22:20:00.001-04:00

While perusing the Brooklyn Flea Market...one of my favorite summertime things to do in NYC...I came across these colorful, massive mirrors (don't let the pics below fool you-these are large very substantial pieces of art) by Olde Good Things. If I had the means, I would have taken one home with me, now I'm looking into buying one online. Check these beauties out. Each mirror frame is made of upcycled antique tin ceiling tiles. Brilliant!

Why white paint makes almost anything look better

2010-08-26T15:23:00.000-04:00

As seen on Design*Sponge

As seen on Better After

I love me some color, but I'm thinking white for my next large piece...

Mid-Week Must Have's: Another Meal at Palma in NYC

2010-08-25T22:55:00.000-04:00

So the deal with NYC is that you can live there your whole life and still not eat at every restaurant. So it was no surprise that on my last visit I was introduced to an amazing restaurant that I had never heard of in my three years of living there. The only problem is now I'm constantly dreaming of visiting it once again. So with no further ado, the restaurant most on my mind these days is Palma NYC. It is the most adorable little spot with amazing homemade Italian food and ridiculously good-looking wait staff. It's just an all around perfect place to enjoy a meal. Thanks, Cat, for introducing me!

We had the opportunity to enjoy the outside garden area. Isn't it perfect?

See that door in the picture above? It leads inside this adorable little cottage that looks like it was plucked right out of an Italian countryside. You can rent the room inside for private dinners and spend the night dreaming you've taken the whole family to Italy for the evening. It really is remarkable.

Take 5 Tuesday with Exile Featuring J. Mitchell

2010-08-24T10:44:00.001-04:00

Exile is an LA producer that has mixed beats for the likes of Mobb Deep, Snoop Dogg and many more. He released a mostly solo instrumental album recently, titled "Radio", and after much hype on that album is once again preparing to release the follow-up "AM/FM." His concept is for every record to have unique beats while sampling vocals off different radio frequencies. AM/FM is a reworked, remixed collection of the original "Radio" tracks that is scheduled to hit stores August 31st. My personal favorite from the new album, maybe because summer is quickly coming to an end, is "Your Summer Song (Remix)." It evokes a sense of tranquility and peace that can only come from a perfect summer day.

Enjoy!

Exile - Your Summer Song (Remix Ft. J. Mitchell) from Dirty Science on Vimeo.

New Duvet Cover and Voila! Master Bedroom Makeover

2010-08-23T12:29:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago I made a list of all the goodies I needed from the Ikea 2011 catalog. Well, I made the trip to Ikea, but I didn't see half of the things on my list. None-the-less, I did find a gorgeous white duvet cover and white ruched bed throw (a la Anthropologie). Now, it feels like we're sleeping in a big comfy hotel bed every night, and even though it's a slight bit girly, the BF can't resist the look of comfort!

So we still need a few throw pillows (which the BF hates, so I'm trying to wait as long as possible) and perhaps some more inventive artwork behind the bed other than Daniel O'Connell III's World Travels (not that I would ever tell him that).

Before

Prior to the new cover, we had a mis-matched set due to a ruined previous white cover coupled with the fact I had not yet moved in or purchased anything for the room.

Real Housewives Auction Update

2010-08-19T14:32:00.000-04:00

NJ Housewife Teresa Giudice's Auction has been postponed until Oct. 3!

Good for her - Bad for us

For more info on the auction, click here.

Thanks again, Jenn, for the update!

Mid-Week Must Have's: Modern Dog Crates

2010-08-18T07:47:00.000-04:00

In the words of Rachel Zoe..."I die!"

BowHaus

eicrate

Take 5 Tuesday with Tame Impala

2010-08-17T07:06:00.000-04:00

Ok, so this band is not really obscure. They have been making their way up the charts since early 2009. The Perth, Australia foursome released their second album, Innerspeaker in May 2010 and became even more popular while touring this summer with MGMT. Anywho, I love this song, so take 5 and enjoy!

Real Housewives Auction

2010-08-16T18:51:00.000-04:00

Not sure if any of you keep up with this, but here's the lowdown... Real Housewives of NJ reality tv star, Teresa Giudice, spent last season filling her newly completely multi-million dollar home with expensive designer furnishings. Unlucky for her, not long after, she and her husband were forced to file bankruptcy. Now, in order to pay back the banks, Teresa and her hubby are auctioning off all of their barely used home items this sunday, Aug. 22nd. If you happen to be near the NY/NJ area, feel free to stop by and pick up a few things. Here's a list of the type of things on the chopping block. Click on the links for pics and descriptions!

Thanks to my former NYC roomie Jenn for the juicy gossip!!!

Empire State of Mind

2010-08-13T19:46:00.003-04:00

Heading to NYC for a few days for a little playtime with friends in the city I love. Catch you on the flip side.

Shop of the Week: Furbish

2010-08-13T16:30:00.000-04:00

I am so incredibly excited to promote this shop. It was started by a fellow blogger, Jamie Meares, that I have followed closely over the past 6 months. When I discovered her blog, I went back to day one, and seriously read every post. Ok, I know, it's a little stalkerish. But I could not help but to be enthralled by her motivation and enthusiasm to do what I hoped to be doing someday. She went from blogging about design, to opening one of the coolest home furnishing stores out there in just under a few years. I am so pleased to announce that now you can purchase her cool picks via the internet. Check out her blog, I Suwannee, and check out her online store Furbish. Here's lookin' at you, Jamie!

Furniture

Accessories

Bedding

Lighting

Dog Accessories

Jewelry

Dresser with Zebra Detailing

2010-08-12T10:50:00.000-04:00

Newest edition at ABO Designs

The lamp is also for sale and was just marked down. To purchase the lamp, visit my Etsy shop here.

Hand-painted original from ABO Designs. To learn more about and purchase this piece, go to my Etsy shop here.

This is what the piece looked like before...

Mid-Week Must Have's: IKEA essentials

2010-08-11T11:07:00.000-04:00

So I have kind of strayed from IKEA over the last year. I just have not seen much that strikes my fancy, until yesterday when I received the new 2011 catalog in the mail. Now, I'm making a list of all the things i need to pick up on my next trip to the big I...including some Swedish meatballs and a cinnamon roll or six (don't judge me).

The List...in no particular order

$14.99

$39.99

$179

$59.99

$9.99

$6.99

$2.99

$6.99

All of this for a total of $320.93! Can you believe it?!?!

Introducing...Take 5 Tuesdays

2010-08-10T09:58:00.000-04:00

Because even in a highly-styled world, we all need to take 5 minutes to let loose and dance. Not just that, but I hardly take the time to research anything outside of design these days and sometimes I just have the urge to find a new band or to just take 5 minutes to dance to an oldie i love. Enjoy!

The band I'm digging lately... The Black Keys

The Black Keys most famous song is most likely the opening song "I'll Be Your Man" for the HBO hit series HUNG, but my favorite is "Tighten Up" off the 2010 album Brothers. The tune has a cool vintage quality to it, the lyrics are right on, and the video is cute as can be - who can resist a playground love affair?

Modern High tech Fans

2010-08-09T14:31:00.000-04:00

After surviving the hottest July in Baltimore recent history and anticipating a devastatingly hot August as well, my mind cannot help but focus on the cool breeze of some of the newest fans on the market.

Here are my favs

Both from lumens.com.

Retractable Blade fan by Fanaway

Both by Matthews Fan Co.

Etsy Shop of the Week: Owl Creek Ceramics

2010-08-06T15:02:00.001-04:00

I'm loving the bright cheerful colors from Owl Creek Ceramics. In addition to the Etsy shop, there is also a website that tells more about the husband and wife team behind the creations. Check it out!

Mid-Week Must Have's: Metal Lanterns from Terrain

2010-08-04T15:26:00.000-04:00

Beautiful Perfection

Find these lanterns and more at Terrain.

Falling in Love with Emiy Henson Interiors

2010-08-03T15:51:00.001-04:00

Emily Henson believes "creativity before consumption" and that you should always repaint, reupholster, and repurpose before heading to the shops. I'm right there with you girl!

Design Inspiration

2010-08-02T15:44:00.001-04:00

I love the mix of colors and patterns at Designers Guild. I can always find something to inspire me. Check out their online sale here.

Weekend Shopping Bonanza

2010-07-30T03:08:00.000-04:00

I love flipping through all Serena & Lily catalogs. Every picture showcases beautiful serene rooms. While you can purchase the bedding, fabrics, and some larger furniture and decor items from their website, you can't always find the little furnishing props that make the pictures pop. Starting tomorrow, for 6 days only, Serena & Lily offers their Bazaar SALE...where you have a chance to obtain those one of a kind items you see in the photos. Happy shopping and enjoy the weekend!

Cup Obsession

2010-07-29T03:26:00.000-04:00

I am obsessed with vintage cups. I am especially obsessed with miniature glasses. I first became obsessed when I visited Germany and had a personal encounter with an older German woman's vintage glasses and hand-painted ceramic coasters. I could not get over the perfection of these tiny sets, so much so, that the BF finagled these sets from the woman and shipped them back for me. Yeah, I know, he's a keeper! Unfortunately, in a heartbreaking shipping malfunction (never use DHL), every glass and coaster in the set was shattered except for one glass and one coaster. Finally, a few months ago, the remaining glass was knocked off my shelf. It was just not meant to be.

Anytime I see vintage glasses, I am stopped in my tracks and barely fight off the urge to purchase. However, two weeks ago, I came across a deal I couldn't pass up. 7 kelly green vintage glasses with white polka dots and a vintage glass holder for only $17! The glass holder was an unappetizing pea green but after a few coats of white lacquer spray paint, I could not be happier. Anyone want to come over for some ice tea?!

It's Electric!

2010-07-29T02:59:00.001-04:00

A few days ago, I had my first encounter with Antique Exchange, a home furnishings boutique in Baltimore mixing carefully chosen antiques with fresh new design inspirations. This idea being close to my heart, I instantly fell in love as I walked through the door. I meticulously perused every room, then found myself returning back to view one particular pendant light.

I decided it needed to come home with me, and voila! we instantly upgraded our entryway. It was way overdue.

I love the shape and the bubble glass. We plan to finish the fixture off with an Edison-style bulb.

Weekend Projects

2010-07-26T14:26:00.001-04:00

The BF and I headed to CT this past weekend to visit with the BF's fam. While there, we got in some much needed QT:

swimming with the BF's sweet baby twin nieces

and watching our furry love child run free and act crazy

But we managed to fit in an impromptu project of recovering the kitchen chairs whose off-white seats had seen a little too much wear and tear.

And added a fresh new touch with a damask meets ikat inspired tan, black, and white fabric.

Thomas Paul Plates in Baltimore

2010-07-23T04:09:00.000-04:00

So since the beginning of the summer, the blog and interior design world has been oooing and ahhing over Thomas Paul's Sea Life Plates. Lucky me, I was able to see these plates up close here in Baltimore at In Watermelon Sugar, a darling home accessories store in the Hampden area. Here is their display...

If you'd like to learn more about Thomas Paul or peruse his collection of goodies, check out Thomaspaul.com.

A Deal a Day

2010-07-22T13:40:00.000-04:00

For the past few months, I have been receiving a deal a day in my email for local shops, restaurants, spas, and more. I have already purchased 3 different deals that offer me up to 90% off. I'm really excited for my latest purchase: $15 for $50 worth of home decor items from Phina's For the Home.

Groupon and Living Social both offer amazing deals and for many different cities. Check them out to see what kinds of deals you can gather in your city. Just remember, you only have 24 hours to decide if you want the deal!

Liora Manne Rugs

2010-07-21T16:19:00.001-04:00

Last week I walked into a local design shop to find a table full of colorful textiles. On closer review, I found that they were some of the newest designs of Liora Manne. I especially am very fond of the script lettering design as seen below.

And for some really unusually beautiful rugs, check out the beauties below.

Please excuse my absence...I've been juggling alot lately

2010-07-21T02:59:00.000-04:00

But do not fret...I have lots to share and I'm back in action.

Second Chance Antiques

2010-07-06T13:07:00.000-04:00

I hope everyone had a splendid Independence Day and long weekend. The weather was insanely hot here in Baltimore, but none-the-less, I managed to get out of the house and run some much needed errands. Yesterday, the BF and I wandered over to Baltimore Second Chance Inc. Even though it was 3 massive warehouses of sweltering heat, I was able to withstand the temps long enough to see some amazing antiques, get the creative juices flowing and scout some potential upcoming projects.

Here are just a few peeks from the Home Decor Antique Warehouse...

Antique cabinet for around $500

Antique mirror for under $300

Mid-Week Must Have's: Dabney Lee At Home Collection

2010-06-30T14:43:00.000-04:00

Square Lucite Tray

Ice Bucket and Coasters

Salt and Pepper Shakers

Desk Calendars

You can choose from different colors and patterns and you can add your monogram to most items. Love it for gifts! Go to Dabney Lee At Home.

Etsy Shop of the Week: Lola's Room Photography

2010-06-25T17:04:00.000-04:00

There's not alot that needs to be said about Lola's Room Photography other than the pieces are sweet perfection. See for yourself...

There are many other beautiful prints at very reasonable prices. The creator of Lola's Room Photography, Cassia Beck, also has another Etsy shop with vintage inspired prints at Cassia Beck Photography. You can also check in with Cassia at her blog.

Looking for a piece of art?

2010-06-23T11:31:00.001-04:00

Check out UGallery. It's an online art gallery where you can find pieces of art by medium, genre, size, color, price, and artist. You can even find pieces under $100! To see just what a piece might look like hanging on your wall, you can use the virtual wall application as pictured above.

I'm lusting over frame molding like this...

2010-06-21T15:21:00.000-04:00

Courtesy of Madison Custom Homes Inc

I think molding like this would be the perfect addition to our "coming-together" dining room. Go to this post to see pics of our dining room right now.

Mid-Week Must Have's: Michael Divine Signature Collection Gifts

2010-06-16T14:57:00.001-04:00

I am loving these, frames, photo albums, trays, and other littles from the Michael Divine Signature Collection. All of his signature prints also come in fabric, but I haven't discovered just how to buy fabric yet. Until then, I'll just have to settle on these accessories for the perfect pop of color.

Making Something Out of Nothing

2010-06-15T17:14:00.000-04:00

Window Table

I love the idea of turning these old windows...

Into this awesome table...

To see the whole transformation and to find out how you can do this too, check out I'm Topsy Turvy.

Decorating our Yard....errr...Parking Pad

2010-06-11T13:22:00.000-04:00

We have minimum space in the back of our house....so little space that it's merely called a parking pad. Amongst the concrete and mixed-matched fencing and block walls, I am determined to give us some sort of livable outdoor space. My first step....painting our plastic table and chairs. This is what it's looking like so far.

I used two cans of Plastic Primer spray paint and 6 cans of Wildflower Blue Satin spray paint.

I forgot to take a before picture, but this is close to what it looked like before....except it was actually worse because our chairs were white and the table was grey! EeeeK!

Camping in Style

2010-06-10T11:33:00.000-04:00

The only way to go camping....in Luxury!

All of this is offered at the luxury camping resort in Montana, The Resort at Paws Up. It's so glamorous they consider it glamping. To find out more, go to www.pawsup.com.

Refurb and Refab

2010-06-08T11:48:00.000-04:00

My dining room chairs needed a face lift....here's the fabric I decided on.

2010-06-04T04:05:00.000-04:00

Honestly....Why is this always the case?

Redecorating...One Fork at a Time

2010-06-04T03:43:00.001-04:00

So our dining room is slowly filling with furniture. The boyfriend's parents were so kind as to donate their first dining set, which at one point belonged to the grandparents, to our sad empty dining room. I am loving the furniture, but it needs a little bit of sprucing up. Today I gathered up a few lovies to display in the room, and I finally was able to unpack my 64-piece white ceramic basket weave dish set. I bought the set over a year ago on sale at JCPenny!

I picked up this silver coral statue today, and I'm in love.

I got this navy striped Kate Spade platter for $30, as well as the orange polka dot bowls, kelly green bread pot, and kelly green flatware all at Marshalls. I wanted a handful of other treasures, but I restrained. There's always tomorrow...

Pooch Palace

2010-06-02T10:30:00.000-04:00

I am loving this dog crate spruced up by Michael Tavano. We've come to the realization that our dog is going to need a crate, and I think I might be able to love it if I beautified it to look like this lovely.

Have a Great Memorial Day Weekend

2010-05-27T09:42:00.000-04:00

I'm heading to the beach...

Hope to see you there!

Does anyone know where to purchase a navy & white zebra rug?

2010-05-27T00:59:00.000-04:00

Such as one like this Jonathan Adler beauty...

I have been searching all over with no such luck. It seems zebra comes in every color of the rainbow....except navy! I need it to be at least 5x8 and under $500.

King Tut Octagonal Parlor Table

2010-05-26T23:27:00.001-04:00

Courtesy of ABO Designs

I'm excited to showcase this hand-painted original from ABO Designs. This gold parlor table has incredible detail in the woodworking and it pops with the metallic sheen. I love the octagon shape and the removable glass top. For more details or to purchase, click SHOP on the sidebar or go to my Etsy Shop here.

This is what the table looked like before.

I am a fan of Nacho Figueras

2010-05-26T13:10:00.000-04:00

Courtesy of NYT

And his beautiful home...

Thanks Elle Decor for this great house tour!

Suprise Weekend in Atlanta

2010-05-24T16:33:00.000-04:00

This weekend, the boyfriend and I headed to Atlanta to surprise my brother for his 30th Birthday and to put new floors down in his living room. My talented boyfriend had the floors laid perfectly in no time, so Sunday I was able to get in a little perusing and window shopping at a few shops I have been itching to see. The first stop was Armour & Co. I recently showcased owner, Jayme Armour Leffler's beautifully decorated home, so I was glad to meet her and see her shop's beauty first hand. I was not let down. She was as sweet as could be and her shop was as elegant as expected. Note: Almost everything in her store has a SOLD tag on it, but the good news is that she's anticipating the arrival of a new shipment this week. If you're in the Atlanta area, stop in to delight your eyes and pick up a few beauties of your own.

Last, I was able to stop by Pieces, which continues to inspire me. The shop was not open Sunday, but that didn't keep me from creepily peering through the windows for an uncomfortable amount of time. My mind was spinning with ideas as I walked away.

Colorful Vintage Geometric Patterns

2010-05-19T15:17:00.000-04:00

Loving these rugs from Louwers Antiques...

And these vintage quilts...

DIY: Bedside Table Fresh Ideas

2010-05-18T15:32:00.000-04:00

The easiest way to totally change a piece of furniture is to paint it and change the hardware, but I love learning new ways to give a piece of furniture new life. Here are a few of my favorite ideas to change this plain bedside table.

By painting and adding screen molding to the front of the door, you can get this look.

Step 1: Trace the area of the door with craft paper.

Step 2: Draw the design you'd like onto the craft paper.

Step 3: Measure and cut screen molding to match your design.

Step 4: Paint the screen molding your color of choice.

Step 5: Attach the molding with wood glue. (Trim nails can also be used.)

Add a woven ribbon panel to the front of the door, and add oversized modern drawer pulls to the top.

Step 1: Cut a foam board panel to fit the door inset.

Step 2: Cut ribbon to cover the board vertically and then horizontally, leaving an extra inch on each end to wrap around the back of the foam board.

Step 3: Weave the ribbon over the board and secure the ribbon to the back of the foam board.

Step 4: Attach the foam board to the door.

Step 5: Attach drawer pulls to the top of the table.

*Ideas courtesy of diyideas.com

Basket Full of Posies Oversized Vintage Lamp

2010-05-13T15:44:00.001-04:00

Courtesy of

ABO Designs

This is an oversized vintage ceramic basket weave lamp. It has been painted in a vibrant aqua color, rewired, and finished with a large off-white drum shade. To purchase, visit my Etsy shop here.

This is what the lamp looked like before...

Broken shade, scuffed off-white paint, and old shotty wiring.

A complete decorating overhaul is happening in my household...

2010-05-12T04:38:00.000-04:00

I'm working on a shoestring budget and dealing with a few major restrictions (which I'll explain as I go). I believe the first big purchase will be this beautiful area rug for the living room, courtesy of Ballard Designs...

Living Room Restrictions:

1.) A slightly brighter than Sage Green wall color

2.) All matching dark wood furniture

3.) A large overstuffed beige microfiber couch and matching loveseat....ugh

Today I'm dreaming of a new sofa

2010-05-12T03:46:00.005-04:00

Purchasing a new sofa is one of those things that won't be happening anytime in the next year, but I still can't help but to daydream about it everyday. Here are some of my favorite choices.

$1,499 Z Gallerie "Alister" sofa $1,799 Crate and Barrel "Azure"sofa

$999 Z Gallerie "Benny" sofa $999 Z Gallerie "Dean" sofa

$3,899 Neiman M. "Orleans" sofa $1,499 AllModern.Com "Luna" sofa

$3,999 Neiman M. "Raza Pressley"sofa $2,999 Neiman M. "Recamier" sofa

$3,279 Neiman M. "Sissy" sofa $2,850 William & Sonoma "Chatelet" sofa

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T13:28:00.000-04:00

Photo courtesy of Paula Stiller via Flickr

Etsy Shop of the Week: Modern Myrtle

2010-05-07T11:17:00.000-04:00

Joni Gardine is a wife, mother of three, and creator of Modern Myrtle. She customizes creative and well-made things for the home, all the while using beautiful fabrics from the likes of Amy Butler, Alexander Henry, Heather Bailey and more. Check out her Etsy shop to find anything from aprons to tablecloths, from baby quilts to dinner napkins.

My favorites are her custom shower curtains and bath towel sets. See a sample below...

You can also visit Joni at her blog at ModernMyrtle.blogspot.com.

Brooklyn in da House

2010-05-06T14:59:00.000-04:00

Brooklyn, NY has made a name for itself as being at the forefront of innovative style and design. This weekend, the best of the best of Brooklyn's Home Furnishings Designers are showcasing their work at the BKLYN DESIGNS 2010 exhibition.

MAY 7-9, 2010

St. Ann's Warehouse
38 Water St. / between Main St. and Dock St.
DUMBO, Brooklyn

Here are just a few of the beauties to look for...

Lamp by ALS Designs

Bench chair by Eric Manigan

Wallcoverings by Eskayel

Desk by Matthew Fairbank

Mid-Week Must Have's: Arturo Pani treasures

2010-05-05T11:18:00.000-04:00

In honor of Cinco de Mayo, why not showcase a few treasures from Midcentury Mexican interior designer, Arturo Pani? I would love to own any of these, but I have a fondness for the chair below. Enjoy!

Winter to Summer Home Makeover - Jayme Armour Leffler

2010-05-04T02:29:00.001-04:00

What's the best way to give your home a facelift for summer? Move around some furniture and add a few new accessories. Jayme Armour Leffler, owner of home furnishings store Armour & Co. in Decatur, GA, showcases her beautifully decorated cottage first in October 2009's Atlanta Journal-Constitution and then again in the May 2010 issue of Better Homes and Gardens. See how Jayme switches it up for the seasons.

This Weekend...Run for the Roses

2010-04-30T15:36:00.000-04:00

I'm a Kentucky girl. I love Kentucky basketball, Kentucky hot brown's and, of course, the Kentucky Derby. This weekend, as the first weekend in May every year, I anticipate putting my money down on the pony of choice and dressing up pretty. I hope everyone has a fantastic Derby weekend and Good Luck!

Etsy Shop of the Week: Mireio

2010-04-30T11:00:00.000-04:00

Since getting our precious puppy dog, we have been investing feverishly in scented candles so as not to become one of those households or couples that always smells like wet dog. In search of beautiful "smell good," I came across Mireio. This shop offers one of a kind scented candles showcased in vintage glasses.

Trina Turk - From Glamourous Clothing to Stylish Decor

2010-04-28T14:52:00.001-04:00

Trina Turk has for years been a style icon for me. Her clothes have the power to instantly transport me to my favorite vacation spots. I love that her residential line can do the same for my home. For an instant boost of inspiration, I love to fix my eyes on her residential boutique, designed by Kelly Wearstler and styled by Trina Turk. Can it get any better than that?

To purchase the Trina Turk Residential Collection online, go to TrinaTurk.com

Giving a long hard think about... Wallpaper

2010-04-26T15:23:00.000-04:00

I was raised to believe wallpaper is the enemy, and to only succumb to it when there's no other option. Now, I'm finding myself being drawn to the bold dramatic spaces wallpaper can create.

*Images courtesy of The Wallpaper Collective, Harlequin, and Camilla Deidrich.

Etsy Shop of the Week: Danny Phillip's Art

2010-04-23T12:37:00.001-04:00

Danny Phillips is an artist out of Austin, TX. He specializes in using recycled materials and reuseable paints. He offers his original mixed-media pieces as well as prints for incredibly affordable prices. I love the vintage beach quality his art exudes. Check out his one of a kind artwork at his Etsy shop, Danny Phillip's Art.

Danny Phillips is also a part of "the In Your Space team [that] has created award-winning custom wall finishes in both commercial and residential spaces." Check out his authentic wall designs at www.inyourspaceart.com.

Bed in the Living Room? Yes, Please!

2010-04-22T13:43:00.000-04:00

In the May issue of House Beautiful, Designer Thomas O'Brien tells why he loves having his bed in the living room. His arguments were compelling. I'm now convinced every living room needs a comfy bed for lounging.

Thomas O'Brien's Bed via Apartment Therapy

Crate and Barrel daybed via Apartment Therapy

Erin Featherston's Parisian-inspired daybed via Apartment Therapy

Mark Cutler's Design using a sleigh daybed via Elle Decor

Sue Hostetler's NYC home using a modern daybed via Habitually Chic

Mid-Week Must Have's: Pendant Lights from Pure Modern

2010-04-21T14:49:00.000-04:00

I love a touch of the unexpected in every room. Growing up, my mom used to accomplish this by adding a spot of black to a room where black normally wouldn't make sense. Funny how just one black lampshade could add so much drama. This is why I love these pendant lights from PureModern.com. Adding just one of these to any room can transform it. Here are a just a few of the many amazing options.

DIY Artwork: Ceiling Medallions

2010-04-20T12:16:00.000-04:00

I know ceiling medallions as artwork has been tapped into before, but recently I have been considering a few decor projects using these beauties.

Here's why:

1.) They're easily accessible. They can be bought online or at home improvement stores (Home Depot, Lowes).

2.) They're affordable. You can find them from $10-$100.

3.) They come in various styles, shapes, and sizes.

4.) They're lightweight and can be easily painted and hung.

5.) They look great, especially grouped together.

Image courtesy of Home and Garden

Image courtesy of daveandjoi.blogspot.com

Purchase these medallions from goceilingmedallion.com