Dining Room Idea...

So me and Austin thought about doing metal birds, white ones, on the long wall. We can't find them anywhere. And i'm slightly worried it's too modern for the rest of the house. :(

Then we thought of art... art is expensive. They're nothing we like that much to spend the $.

So I saw this at Ikea and took a picture. I liked the look of it.



I shared it with Austin, and while he liked it, we agreed that for us to do something similar, we needed:

• Two rows of five rather than three because of the woodwork in the dining room.
• We needed birch not silver - silver stuck out too much and it would be the only silver thing in our house aside from my office.
• We wanted to put music in it. Kind of weird, but I love the idea of black and whites of our favorite musicians with lyrics in other frames staggered similar to the above.
• For the pictures, we talked about buying this book - only $20 at Barnes and Noble, and framing pics from it.
• The frames are 17"x13", which I think is a good size, and only $10 each so we can do the whole wall for $120 + tax! (which, when I go to Ikea today, i'm taking back two throws and three gallery lights, which cost $95 before tax so REALLY i'm only spending $25 + tax... right? haha

K - hope you like the ideas!

If you have thoughts on the filler or think music in the dining room is a disconnect - holla! I'd love to hear your feedback!

Cute Girl's Room Idea

Love this!! Frame some cute doll/barbie outfits with fun fabric in the background!! I love it and think a little girl would too. Thoughts??

Do We Like this Lamp?

Which Idea Do You Like Better?

Still not sure if we can attend the stucco inspection/when it is/etc. OR if Terry and Kevin know each other! hehe In the meantime, let's play Which Idea Do You Like Better?

So there's the large room with the kitchen on one side and the pool table on the other side - which should we do?

A: A little lounge area with like 2 club chairs and a love seat (most expensive)

B: A 'breakfast nook' area with table and 4-6 chairs (next most expensive)

C: Use the high top/bar stools we have now and call it a day. (free)

D: Other (share your idea!)

Here are some things I like when I picture "a little lounge area" or a "breakfast nook."


This is clearly huge- but it would be the two chairs on this side, then a love seat on the other side and a much smaller coffee table - the end!


Again - too big - but this would be the love seat on one side with a small coffee table and two chairs again with a table in between!


This is kinda different - instead of a love seat it would be 2 chairs on one side then two squares on the other. I would NOT do an upholstered coffee table, too (personally). I WOULD do my current coffee table, and get a new one for the den!

The breakfast nook would be 4-6 chairs with a cool table. I would have it running the opposite direction the pool table does so it's not like table/table. It could operate as a 'game table' for weekends and a 'dining table' for eating. There is no bar to eat at so this would be it.

Another similar example of the one above, but with 6 chairs. I LOVE the upholstered look... I would probably do two upholstered arm chairs at the ends, and then all Parsons chairs in the middle.

So if we do A or B (or D!), what would I do with our current high table/bar stools? Put in the front room den? They definitely don't work anywhere upstairs.... hmmm. Maybe it would fit by the pool table in the pool table area? (I doubt it though). I would be COOL to mount shelves on the wall by the table and put the bar stools next to it! Then we could do what Mary said with the table and shave the legs down and use it in the nook with 4 chairs? OR save the table, but just store it upstairs.... so much to think about.

I welcome your ideas!! :)

Cute Idea + Updated Orange Guest Room Board

So at the first Pottery Barn class me and Devie went to we walked around afterward and I took pictures of things I liked. One was this - I think it's SO super clever to add color to your walls by framing fabric (i.e. straight up fabric or a placemat or napkin, etc.).

So, the next visit to Pottery Barn yielded three of these huge brown, laquer frames ($40 each - on sale for $8 people - thanks for finding, Dev!). So, $24 later, I was the proud owner of three frames. They could go anywhere together in a home, clearly.


sorry the pic is so bad!

However, I got to thinking about the guest room (orange). I was originally interested in painting the wall behind the bed orange to add color to the room. But now, I want to frame orange fabric and hang these three over the new headboard!!! Thoughts?! Here is the updated inspiration board - it's really coming together what with the lamp I bought yesterday and the bamboo side table, etc.!! Yes, you'll notice the brown cube is back in. I just love them and am going to buy them for something so for now they're on this board. Depending on how large the room is i'll use them! AND I have a Target giftcard burning a hole in my pocket so there you go!

Click to make it larger!

So I Woke Up Motivated to Do "House Stuff"

Found a blog i'm in love, Bower Power, and it gave me SO many ideas. One is this... what do you do? Basically - you go buy 4 cheap beveled mirrors (ugly if it makes them cheaper, preferably smooth surfaces). You take them home and cover the mirror with newspaper/tape. You spray paint them your desired color (I would likely do black). Then you remove the paper and hang them in a cluser - voila - you have a "large" mirror on the CHEAP. I like it because you could easily increase the number for a larger space (do 6 or do 9), or turn them horizontal, or even do a cluster of different sized mirrors. Very cool, easy and cheap!

Note: This could be done in any room, but she did it in her dining room and I liked it. I could see it in a guest room... :)

Odd Space Idea

We've been seeing this odd area in lots of homes, and I think this is such a smart way to handle it if it comes your way. Make it a small office! Or even, instead of desk/chair, put an oversized chair there and make it a reading nook. I think that little shelf from Ikea is perfect though, and the tree is even fun (without the stuff hanging on it) and I like that shade.

Multi-colored Dresser?

Clearly - i'm not a fan of the dresser above. Very boxy - that color is SO green. However, i'm intrigued at this idea of painting the drawers a different color. What do you think?

Clever Kitchens

I’ve been perusing Ikea and was thrilled to see they had a great flash presentation that showed model rooms. I loved so many – but I couldn’t copy/paste… I couldn’t even use snag it. I was so sad. Then I took a page from my MIL and got out the digital camera and took pictures of my favorite rooms!! (she pauses HGTV and takes pictures of her TV screen). YAY – I just love Ikea so I’m glad I can save the ideas I love from them.

So since I’m likely renting not buying, aside from just looking at kitchens as a whole I want to look at things in kitchens that I think are smart, neat or different – things I could add to a rental and take with me when I go! Here are a few photos of kitchens that inspired me (all Ikea).

Love: The European bar pulls; the glass cabinets; the hood; the pennent lamps, etc.
What I think translates in any kitchen: The lever bar mounted on the backsplash - great for hanging "the little stuff" - the spatulas, spoons, ladles, pot holders, etc. You could even hang small picture frames maybe! I like how they did the small plants below. I would only do one bar - not two.

I love these baker's racks. Not necessarily these specifically, but the idea of having a rack like this to put pots, small appliances, etc. on. I just know that we barely have space in our kitchen now so if we end up with anything smaller this could be a fun option. I could even use the rack I have in the kitchen as a baker's rack (isn't it one?) I forget since it's been elsewhere for so long!

I love the shelves. Not the whiteness, but how you can display the things you use the most - and I like how it has hooks at the bottom to hang mugs, pot holders, etc. I think it looks smart and chic and if you have the space for it (and don't have the counterspace for your stuff) I love the idea of displaying your cutest stuff.



This is a must-have - i'd love to have this little guy hanging over our sink for sponges, the drain thing, etc. I think it's very, very smart and keeps the sink area less cluttered!



So, pricing? CHEAP - go here for kitchen accessories>wall solutions! I played around and put together the one above the sink:

rail $1.99
caddy $1.99
hooks $3.99 (5)

So under $10 and i'd have an extra hook or two! I hope this is something I could do! I want to go to Ikea now! haha Austin would die - especially since we're hopefully moving in a month!!

Orange-Inspired Guest Room: On its Way!

K – I’m bouncing back! I’m going to try to see 5 townhouses on Saturday when Austin is back… and maybe 1 or 2 of the other houses. No reason they should suffer, right? One could be the one for us. Anyway, per my amazing sister’s genius advice I’ve decided to write a do-over of the guest room post. Here goes! For the ‘orange-inspired’ guest room here is the updated board (click on it to make it larger!):

I now have: Ivory bedding with Ivory Euro shams and rust standard shams; the ivory/brown leaf pillow to sit in front of all of those pillows and the headboard! My mom has the double bed, too!I always had: the bird cage & a burlap chair cover. I also plan to use this hexagon bamboo night stand that is currently my bedroom night stand. I’m still deciding where the bird cage will sit – maybe it will hang? Genius Dev will come up with something!! :)

I still need:

Sheets: Full Set of Mocha-colored sheets; will look at TJ/Marshall’s

Bedskirt: Burlap or organic looking – taupe/jute; will look at TJ/Marshall’s

Paint: For the rust-colored splash wall

Accents: rust-colored accents for the desk and birdcage.

Lamps: An awesome lamp (still watching that one but it's still $130 at West Elm). Dev had a great idea –get one table size lamp for the end table (maybe this one?) and a floor lamp to sit next to the desk. I like it. Also, Also, I kind of want these lamps – one for the desk and one for the nightstand maybe? They're cheap. But they’re kind of small…. Hmmm.

Nightstand/Chair Dilemma: Dilemma solved! I want a Leather Parsons Chair for the sawhorse desk and a straight back dining chair (covered with the burlap chair cover ).

Petite Sawhorse Desk: The Ballard's sawhorse desk (Austin is watching the outlet; last time mom/dev checked they didn't have natural like I want above).

Mirror: Maybe a large one that hangs – depends on space. Will probably get at Ikea – saw some cute ones!

Thanks to Dev, I no longer need: two brown cubes for the foot of the bed, a second nightstand, this chair in the corner, etc. Thanks for saving me $$$$, Dev, and of course the fab help and ideas!!!

Converting Buffets to Vanities

I found this buffet on a site. I think it’s amazing how she painted it white, and now uses it as a bathroom vanity!! I want to do this SO bad – I think it’s brilliant and so unique. I’m definitely going to look into how to and roughly how much it may cost because clearly, aside from any paint and hardware, you have to get a new surface, have a sink installed, etc. It’s like I love how it looks, but don’t get how it’s done! Haha Anyway… here goes:

BEFORE



AFTER




Photos by Meg Duerksen

Photo Walls

I've seen many photo walls, but my favorites are at my sister's house (Pier One glass with brown frames - she floats pictures in between) and one at Austin's mother's house. I don't have a picture of Devon's - dang - but here's one of Michelle's in her guest room:

I love the different pictures, the history, the different frames - I just think it's SO pretty. When you do the ones's like Michelle's that are less lined up, more "random" - I found online that people put down large sheets of poster board and lay them all out. Once they get it how they like it, they trace it on the paper, measure the distance between the traced frames and use that as a guide when hanging. I thought it made sense. Anyway, I can't wait to do a photo wall, and am pretty sure i'm going to do a 'wedding wall' with six of my favorite vertical black/white photos from our wedding, and put them in glass with black frames so I can do 8x10 photos floating in the frames. Here’s the frames I want.... they NEVER go on sale. Argh. It will be $15 x6 so almost $100. Not awful, but I'm going to look at Pier One, too - maybe i'll have some luck! And check online for a promo code!