We Bought a New Couch!

It's going to be a while before it arrives though. Boo. We got a Rowe couch, similar to my sister's, in a pretty neutral linen color. It's SO comfortable - I can't wait for it to arrive. 4-6 weeks. UGH. That's a long time. BUT, I think we got a great deal on it and it included pillows in our choice - we picked out a fun pattern.

I can't find a good picture of the couch online (they're all red with cream piping- not at all like what we got!) But I did find the fabric. Note that the texture is very nubby - almost like a burlap!

New Canvas Print for the Casa!

I found this today...

Photo from ballard designs

close up shot

I've been eying it for a while - I just love it. It's a 40" square - so a pretty substantial piece of wall art. It's wrapped on canvas. I wanted it so bad, but wasn't crazy about the $300 price tag. Here is is on their site.

But never fear, when there's a coupon there's a way. Enter yesterday, I received a 20% off entire purchase for Ballard Designs Back Lots (outlet). I head to the gym on Sunday, walk over, and one was there, in great condition, marked down to $223 (before tax). So with my 20% off it was still $178. Not cheap enough yet. However, today I went back to the gym and waltzed over and wall art was 20% off, and then another 20% off with the coupon. Yes, I purchased for $143 (before tax). That's what I call a bargain, right? Heart! Here's a pic I took of it in my casa - haven't hung it yet though, clearly!

TOTALLY worth the $ - can't wait to hang it and take updated pics - YAY!

Rugs... And Lots of 'Em Thanks to Devon + PB

So… my rug was delivered today around 1:30 p.m. I was SO excited. My sister was even over and couldn’t wait to see it, too. The guy takes it out of the fedex truck and I’m like oh shiz… it’s THIN. He takes it in, leaves and I roll it out and it’s WAY too thin, not at all what I had in mind. More like an outdoor rug. Total FAIL. My sister’s like come on, we’re going to the Pottery Barn Outlet now! So we hop in her SUV and ride up to the outlets.

I find one I LOVE for the pool table area and I’m still looking and looking and then they come over and say an additional 30% off all rugs. Then, a guy says if you go to the food court you can get a 20% one item at Pottery Barn… um, that’s it! We start pulling out so many rugs. I ended up with FOUR rugs:

1. Pool table area: 8x10 Natural Stripes Rug; Originally $549; on sale for $200, with 30% off… $140!


2. Dining room: 8x10 Chanille Rug; Originally $400; on sale for $250, with 30% off AND $20 off… $140!


3. Living room: 5x8 Links Rug; Originally $429; on sale for $130, with 30% off…$91!


4. Entryway: 3x5 Links Rug; Originally $179; on sale for $34, with 30% off….$24!

So, yes, I got FOUR Pottery Barn rugs for $395, with 7% tax a grand total of: $422.65. And, I had a leftover wedding gift card for $58.14… make that grand total: $364.51.

The other rug (the one that I ordered but was thin – blah) was $350 ($374.50 with tax). So yes, I got FOUR rugs for $10 less than the one I didn’t even like and isn’t nearly as nice/high quality as the Pottery Barn ones. I feel SO lucky today – yesss. So, here’s pics… I hope you like as much as we do!!

Ah... who doesn't love a fabulous sale?!! Clearly i'm still on a shopping high!


The seating area/pool table area rug and the new side tables!

The new dining room rug!

The new den rug (same as entry way rug - just a larger size!)

Entry way rug (smaller version of livign room rug)

A Wonderful, and Functional, Prezzy

Mom got me this little stool for my birthday! I needed it and it's EXACTLY what I would have picked out. Love it - perfect size, shape, pattern - yay!! Works out nicely with my little brown leather chair.

Pool Table Area is Coming Together

Sorry the lighting is kind of rough! Used the iPhone again and it just doesn't take the best pics. :( Either way - i'm super happy with the way the room turned out. Austin did a great job hanging the New York and the pool table light. The room is SO much brighter than it was before - we just love it!

Our Living Room is Done!!!

Eeee I just love it! I love the new couch, the chairs, the pillows- I even curled up with the throw tonight after dinner. I'm so glad to be able to use the new red pillows and think Austin did a great job with the curtains!! I love the set up Devon did with the jugs (note the sand, Dev - hope I made you proud!). It's a super cozy room and I love that it has a good bit of seating even though it's not the largest space. All that's left to do is ironing the curtains and filling the console with books and/or DVDs - woo!!

I got the hook-up, holla if you hear me!

Actually, my mom's got the hook up and I apologize but that song is very much in my head right now. Anyway, I have another new piece of furniture for a house I don't own - YAY! It's a PERFECT LCD TV stand. How do I know this? Because my mom has one. How do I know for sure? Because my sister ordered one, too. hehe That's how we roll. Anyway - I'm PUMPED about this piece. I can see it in the basement or in our bedroom - it's FAB! Thanks, Mom! I owe you! For real - $425?! AMAZING!!! hehe

Living Room: Likes & Dislikes

Likes: the couch - love the tufting. The black/white pillows - love how the one is inverted. The 9 hanging pieces and how they match the pillows. I love the idea of geting canvas and doing a fun project like this (yes, i'm sure there's wasn't homemade!).

Dislikes: The zebra rug - not for me. The heavy blanket. The dark color on the walls.

I wish I could see more of the room, but for now I definitely want pillows like this for the green guest room and LOVE the idea of 9 canvas pieces to hang that match pillows!!

Living Room: Likes & Dislikes

LOVE this room! Yes, it's a bit sterile, but overall - I think it's well edited and it feels warm!

Likes: The simple couch/3 pillows; the leather couch; the two matching lamps/end table; using two square coffee tables rather than one rectangle; the bookend bookcases/large window/drapes. It seems like a sitting room/lounge/chill area rather than a den or living room.

Dislikes: The rug, the lack of color pop (needs something), the lack of a print - the pillows should have a print (the printed rug - blah), the shades (would be cooler if they were drum shades!), and it almost needs more seating - one more chair?

Living Room: Likes & Dislikes

Likes: I like the simple piece behind the couch, I like the little boxes on it, I love the shades and the jute rug, the recessed lighting is fabulous, the build ings are nice - but is that wall paper behind them?

Dislikes: I'm not crazy about the little black end table, there's no color pop, the knick nacks are kind of plain/boring, and while I like that chair, it's too out-of-Africa when combined with the rug and shades. There just doesn't seem to be anything holding this room together - is that what bugs me?

What do you think?!

Living Room: Likes & Dislikes

Likes: This room speaks to me! I love the warm colors, the dark wood, the heavy drapes no the pretty windows, the matching lamps/end tables at each side of the couch, the way it feels 'lived in' but still tidy. I think what I like most is the overall feel this room puts off.

Dislikes: I'm not crazy about the slipcovered furniture - i'd prefer microsuede; I dislike the pillows on the couch - they blend too much and i'd like to see a color or pattern or a colored pattern! I don't like the lamp on the fireplace- doesn't seem functional? I think, like the green office post below, this room needs, as my mom says "some editing."

Living Room: Likes & Dislikes

Likes: That lamp is bada$$ (not in silver, but still); love the simple, solid sofa with the cool printed pillows; like the vase with sticks (not blue but still); like the thing on the coffee table (but it looks lonely); like the drapes (heavy, but not too haeavy, look nice).

Dislikes: the tables (both coffee/end table look cheap); again - dislike the silver part of lamp - looks like a hershey's kiss; and, while I like some things in the room, it seems kind of empty/sterile...

What do you think?

Headboard Help!

Thanks to mom I also got these two amazing Pottery Barn finds! These for the den:





Please ignore the fake foilage - EW! They're very cool in person - promise!


And this big pillow for the rust/ivory/woodsy guest room:



Won't it look fab on the ivory bed with the rust-colored shams?! I can't wait to move - yay!!! And speaking of...

I found this headboard on sale at West Elm: http://www.westelm.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?partNumber=WE-PRODf677&storeId=17001&langId=-1&catalogId=17002&viewSetCode=E&parentId=WE-SH1SLEFRN&retainNav=true&cmsrc=IMC1724. I think $130 is a fab price! But then you add $50 shipping... and tax... and it's about $200. What do you think?! I worry it's not high enough....

Thanks, Mom!

I got my first purchase for the new living room from my mom! First, it must be said, she tried to get us the fabulous Payson lamp from Pottery Barn that we thought we wanted so badly. However, we went to see it and realized it wasn't birch... it was metallic! eek! So she gave us a generous gift card instead which more than covered these fabulous pillows! Originally $64 EACH before tax (so $140 for two with tax BEFORE shipping) - they were on sale for $20 each - $34 with the insert so, including tax and FREE shipping, they will be mine (in 7-10 business days) for a grand total of $73.53 - $67 saved!! Thanks, Mom - we love them - and know that we still have more to spend for our new home thanks to you and Mike. We love you guys!!

P.S. I got the red ones and plan to put them on a neutral couch like the one above!

Oooh Another Favorite Color Scheme

Um.... I'm LOVING the darkish brown couch, the choclate accents and the pop of pumpkin orange! I think it's so classic and clean, but fun and casual. I would do without the yellow daisies (random) but I love the lamp to the left, the small side table on the right, the coffee table, etc. I'm also not crazy about the super rustic accents - but what are you going to do? I may steal this!! For maybe the guest room bath rooms!

Got Behind Again... and Den idea!

Sigh - hard to focus on what I want when our apartment complex is being so rude!! Argh!!! I'm so ready to move....

Anyway..



I love the idea board above from This Young House! Yes, I would go with taupe rather than white and yes, my green would be more woodsy than lime - but I heart the simple sofas, tiles, the 4 cubes (with storage) put together for a "coffee table" but that can be broken up for seating, I love the lamp - more the lamp shade than anything, and that PB desk chair is nice! I also think those boxes are neat (could see them on the ladder shelves we bought) - but they only come in green and red. Clearly those won't work - but it gives me something else to look for, right?! Yay! I'm going to try to post some more - I have ideas - just haven't done it!

Loving the Color Scheme

So i'm thinking about rentals now. And so many rentals we've come across have a lot of white accents like those above. We're not really big on white accents, but I think it looks super charming and even chic when combined with this toasty brownish color. I think the contrast is really pretty and could see this color scheme coming in MUCHO handy in, say, an office, den or living room. What do you think? I'd even be okay if it was lighter...

My Dream Living Room.... Only a Few Thousand Dollars Away...

Click to make it larger...

I'm obsessed with the living room that I worked on all day today!! I just think it feels so warm and fun, but also traditional and rustic with a contemporary twist. It makes me happy! And it's not that expensive. I already have:

• The coffee table
• The armoire
• The side table
• Decorative accents not included above like chocolate brown leather throw pillows, pottery barn trays, etc.

Stuff I need to buy:

• sofa - $400 increased to $500
• ottoman - $200
• leather chair - $500
• two accent chairs - $400
• table lamp - $160 on sale for $100
• floor lamp - TBD (would like to spend less than $60)
• throw pillows - $100 on sale for $80
• birch end table - $200
• wall mirror - $400
• red throw - TBD (would like to spend less than $30

Total: $2,430 (before added taxes & potential delivery charges; also before it potentially goes on sale and before added online rebates or coupons)

So while I don't want to spend $2,430 replacing my current living room stuff - it's pretty good that you can spend just that for a couch, three chairs, two lamps, an ottoman, an end table, two throw pillows, a huge mirror and a throw... I can't wait!!

P.S. My current living room stuff will be spread throughout the house (i.e. couch and leather "video game chair" in Austin's office; chaise in our bedroom; leather bench in the foyer). And, depending on whether or not we get a basement - the couch could go down there if it didn't fit in the office.

Ideas from This Simple, Fun Living Room

There's something about this room that I find really warm... I'm trying to put my finger on it.

Here's what I like: The colors (warm, neutrals); The color pop in the bright pillow; The leather ottoman as a coffee table; the neat mirror leaning against the wall; the "lived in but picked up" feeling it has.

Here's what I don't like: The wreath... i'm not a fan of wreaths; the pillows on the couch - they blend too much/don't contrast enough; the lamp shade - i'm into the 'drum' shade Devon called it!; the sectional - while I love the color - i'd much rather have a couch and two chairs than a sectional.

Lessons Learned: I like warm neutral colors with a subtle color pop (i.e. red), I like the leather ottoman as a coffee table and leaning mirrors, I like pillows that contrast with the couch, with a more modern lamp and a couch with two chairs... i'm getting somewhere!!

Loving This Chair...

It's inspring me! I could see these accent chairs in a den, or even in a bedroom. I'm a fan, and $220 isn't bad! I heart Target... it also has 15% off so it wouldn't be that much... I'd want two though. Hmmm.