Living Room Pump Up

This is currently what our living room looks like. It needs a plan of some sort. The sofa and coffee table will stay in their location. The sofa is a little dated but its really comfortable and easy to keep clean. I think with the right coordinating pillows, it will look much better. The rocking chair will be moved to the office or the den. The wood side table (which Dave calls 'a stump') will go in the den. Once David and I get finished with the floor installation, I can really start getting our furniture where it needs to be. In the meantime, I've recently put together another mood board for our living room. Since we've lived here for a bit, I now know what I want each room to look like.

1. The living room and dining room are painted the same color, Lovely Buff by Valspar. The other colors will be accent colors throughout the room. 

2. I found this print at Z Gallerie and I thought, I can just paint this on a gallery canvas. I think adding some contemporary pieces to our home might add a little spunk but still keep it classy. Plus, if you know me and know my style, you know I love anything that has any circular design to it. I can blame my freshman design instructor, Professor Dunlap, for that obsession. This piece will be hung at the top of the stairs. (above tux in our current living room photo)

3. We are keeping our coffee table just as it is. I don't want to overload the room with multiple different types of wood stains so I want to add two glass side tables from Crate and Barrel on either side of the sofa. I hope by doing this, it will keep the room looking large and give it some airy-ness (believe I just made up that word). 

4. I found two lamps at TJ Taxx very similar to this one that was at Crate and Barrel last fall. Not bad for $30.00 a piece. The lamps will of course go on top of the glass side tables.

5. I love, love this rug from CSN Rugs! It reminds me of one that Pottery Barn use to have. This yellow rug will show nice contrast between our floors and our wooden coffee table. 

6. I have been eyeing this linen slipper chair at Target for almost a year now. I promised myself I wouldn't buy it until Dave and I were ready for our living room to become the living room. The chair will be in place of the rocking chair. The linen fabric will hopefully add some texture to this boring room!

7. Black console table. This console table once was David's mothers. She never liked the stain and didn't have room for it in her new home. So like a lot of our furniture, it was handed down which we are very grateful. I painted it black and it looks like a brand new table. A new table that was made well. This table will be at the top of the stairway, across from the slipper chair and sofa. I plan on hanging an arrangement of photographs and prints in white frames to create a balanced collage.

8. The Bar/hutch, another hand-me-down. I really like the shape and its the perfect size for a bar, but it needs something. I first thought about just painted to back bead board, but after thinking a bit more; that just isn't enough. Another thing that I had to consider now is that our floors and the hutch are pretty much the same color. If I don't do something to it, its gonna look like a big 'brown' blob extending from the floor. So I've decided to paint the entire piece a lovely blueish-teal and replace the knobs with clear glass knobs from Anthropologie. The official color is Lagoon from Martha Stewart. The teal color will really make the piece stand out. Some people might be hesitant about painting a piece of old furniture but I think paint gives some of those old pieces a second life. One good thing about the color I have chosen, lagoon, is that it can be inter-changeable throughout the seasons. The bar/hutch will be moved over to where the entertainment center is currently living. 

In the area where is bar is, I am gonna get David to hang a photo collage of David and I when we were kids. You'll see that update real soon! I'm really excited about seeing it all come together. Happy weekend everyone!

Birthdays and Bedrooms

Well David didn't hold back for my birthday this year! During a breakfast birthday celebration at the Crepe Myrtle Cafe with the moms, he gave me a down comforter that actually fits a queen bed. Let me just say that if you haven't tried the Crepe Myrtle Cafe in Auburn, its a must. They do all sorts of different crepes for you to choose from like the Florentine, which has egg, spinach, mushrooms, and feta. They even have dessert crepes! Plus you can check our Blooming Colors fresh market when you are there too. Back to the fun part, the gifts! The trick with finding a comforter that look good with your duvet cover, is you must get a comforter that is 90 x 92 inches or larger. A full/queen comforter with the dimensions of 88 x 89 inches or similar measures will look a little frumpy and your duvet cover won't be as full as you would like. So remember to keep your measurements in mind when you are looking for a down comforter.

After we got home I immediately put our bedding together and presto! Now David says its like his in a sea of pillows. I love it. I still need to work on some of our vignettes in our bedroom. Right now, they look a little rough.

Here's a before shot, the head board and comforter bring more "umph" to the room.

Not only did I just get a comforter, I got a lovely dinner at a great restaurant in town, Zazu's. Dave did let me that I was to get something else but I had to wait for it to come it. And Yes, it was the HTC Droid Incredible from Verizon. Its pretty awesome. But of course my luck would ring true, they already came out with a new version. Oh the joys of marketing!

Decorating in Stages

Good morning! So I haven't been able to do a post lately because I've been extremely busy at work, you know end of the school year deadlines and everyone needs a project done now. And my summer isn't going to be too relaxing either, we have several projects going on and our communication and marketing team is gearing up for an exciting fall! It been really great though, good to be busy. But to be honest, Dave and I haven't done much to the house since we've gotten the kitchen in order. I've been doing some projects here and there, but I haven't finished any of them! We've been saving up just a little more to do the floors. After that we will be able to move our entertainment area into the den where it belongs. Our living room is beginning to shape up a little more; we only have just a few boxes now! 

 

 

I still would like to move around some things. The bar-hutch will have a 'pop' color painted on its backing, and maybe a black wash over the entire piece, and then I want to move the bar-hutch where the television is. I'm still torn on the color. That will decide the mood of the room. I also have a console table that I need to refinish which is currently in the den just waiting for me! Dave and I really want hardwood flooring installed to replace the carpet because I don't know if you can see all the stains in the photos but they are pretty noticeable in person.

 

See only just a few more boxes! Our dining table is pretty much crap. We don't even have chairs to match it! We've hung the Ikea shelves and I'm still trying to design a layout for the shelves. Try to obtain that effortless-thrown together look but still tasteful while maintaining an interesting look. I'm probably just thinking too much about it! I loved the shelves so much I just purchased two smaller ones for our office. I'm starting to dread our office project. We have lots of stuff to go through and hopefully some re-arranging too. Of course I wish I could wave my magic wand, if I had one, and "poof" it would all be done to my liking! So for now we are decorating in stages to try to make our home feel like home. Now I'll leave you will a horrifying photo of our office. Maybe I can get Dave to paint the closets for me this weekend! Keep your fingers crossed! We also gotta remember to see your moms for Mother's Day! One busy weekend!

Guest Room: Revealed

You've seen glimpses of the guest room when I was working on the desk and lamps, but its pretty much complete now. I call this my fun, artsy-fartsy room. Its full of color but not too loud. I think my mom would call this chaotic! The guest room gives me a chance to show some of my paintings without them being so out of place. I do have to finish a few minor decor details and replace the ceiling light fixture with a ceiling fan. I do plan to hang something over the bed but I haven't quite started on that project yet. My great-aunt did a lot of crochet throughout her life, but now she isn't able due to her health. I've recently come to own a good deal of her work though some of it is unfinished. I want to take a few of her patterns and get them framed. A collection of sorts...It will add great texture to the room plus it will be nice to have my Aunt E's work hanging up near my own. Here are a few more photos of our guest room. Photo note: I think that we need something in the far corner with the chair. The chair is huge, it goes with the sofa that is in the living room but our living room is too small to pair with the sofa.

Hangin' In There

We got more curtains hung! I'm not too good with a drill so David graciously hung the curtain rods up for me while I ironed our white linen curtains and then I put them up myself. I only need one more pair to hang in the kitchen and I'll need to purchase two 27"x77" bamboo blinds for the french doors in the den whenever we move into that room. 

David's mother recently had a yard sale due to the fact that she is moving, so we have acquired some new furniture pieces. We took home the Ethan Allen chairs that you see in the photo above, a console table that I plan to refinish and put in the living room and a black coffee table that we are going to use in the den. Please excuse our floors!

I think it will go nicely with our sectional sofa, which is currently in storage and plan to get it re-upholstered as I'm sure I've stated once or twice. Its a great sofa, good 'bones', but just needs a little update. I can't decide whether to go with a microsuede or a velvet fabric or a combination of the two. I'm not very knowledgeable on fabrics, but I'm kinda leaning toward the velvet although I do like this Crate & Barrel lounge sectional that is shown in a high pile microfiber, in coffee. What do you guys think?

Let There Be Light!

I hope everyone is having a glorious Friday! This week was yet another exciting week at the Simon household. It was like Christmas morning as each box arrived. What was in the boxes? It was the light pendants that I've been dreaming about, the CB2 Eden pendant and the Ballard Designs amber pendant that I saw on the show Cougar Town. Which by the way, they have changed that gorgeous light to some generic almost ugly light. I'm not sure the set designer would've changed it. Why change when you've got a good thing going, thats what I say. The lights really make each room. We put the Ballard Design light in the kitchen and the CB2 pendant in the dining room area. 

I must apologize for my photography skills. I really need to update our family camera too. But don't the lights look great? The kitchen chairs are from David's mothers home, they are Ethan Allen circa 1977. We could pass up the opportunity to own something vintage. The chairs are very comfortable and give our kitchen a nice 'cozy casual' style. We still need to hang our bamboo blinds and curtains in the kitchen. Did you notice that we did get Vivan curtains hung in the living room though? They really bring a nice quality to our living room. A great upgrade for a great price, only $9.99 at IKEA. We found our curtain rods at Target, another great deal. 

 

The light fixture that was originally in the dining room was a simple five light brass chandelier. I didn't want to toss it out or purchase another light to go over our entire way so with the help of some white spray paint and some electrical work in the attic; we were able to save this poor dated chandelier. Now we got to patch the ceiling, so much fun. Does anyone out there know how to get that 'star' texture effect on ceilings? We've tried on other areas that needed patching but it doesn't quite look right. Any suggestions?

Happy Weekend! Soak up some sunshine!

Going Green

A few weeks ago I picked up my old desk from my mother's home which was also her desk when she was growing up. It's gonna go in our guest room to be use as a desk, of course, and a bed side table. Originally it was cream and gold, very vintage, and then when I got it when I was a little girl it was painted white with an inter-changeable trim. Its been pink, blue, and black. Since its completely mine now, I decided a go a little bit more bold. Green. I went with Behr's Asparagus. Here is how it turned out!

 

Here is what it looked like before.

 

Our guest room is almost done. I just need to hang a few pieces and change out the light fixture and I think that room will be pretty much complete. Here are some images of the desk in the guest room. That is one of my paintings by the way. It needs to be framed. I still need to finish up the desk with some maintenance to a draw or two. 

Defining My Style

I think I'm still trying to find my particular style of design. I took a quiz once on My Home Ideas or Martha's website. No, it wasn't that. It was on Real Simple, take your own quiz here. Great magazine by the way, but here's what they said. I'm a completely equal split between Sophisticated Classic and Cozy Casual. *Weird side note: although I don't take much stock in astrology, I'm a Gemini (the twins) so I can kinda see it. So what does this all mean? 

Sophisticated Classic means: I'm drawn to timeless pieces and luxe materials. I love rooms that offer an elegant blend of refined traditional furniture, jewelry-like accessories, and pale hues, pairing patrician old-world elements with cleaner Art Deco shapes. The look evokes a more formal lifestyle. Think Grace Kelly, Tiffany & Co., and Charlotte from Sex and the City. Here are some rooms that show this style.

 

 

So what is Cozy Casual? Cozy Casual means that I'm all about comfort and warmth, favoring warm, traditional rooms made for relaxing with family and friends. My ideal decor draws on English and early-American furniture designs, as well as laid-back country, cottage, and farmhouse styles. Weathered, low-maintenance furnishings are easy, inviting, and built for daily life. Think golden retrievers, fuzzy slippers, and just about any movie by Nancy Meyers (Father of the Bride I/II, The Holiday, Something's Gonna Give, What Women Want, It's Complicated-pretty much any "feel good girl movie.") Here are some images of rooms showing this particular style.

So I'm a mix between sophisticated classic and cozy casual. For shopping purposes, I should stick to stores like Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, ZGallerie, West Elm, and Ballard Designs. What's your style personality? Find it here.

I've Got a Crush

In a pervious post I said that I was in love with the light pendant that I saw while watching ABC's Cougar Town. I spent a while looking for it and come to find out that it was right under my nose. I'll occasionally go virtual shopping (window-shopping on-line) sometimes and I was checking out Ballard Designs and I couldn't believe it but I found my light! One problem...its $200.00 Not sure if I want to pay $199 for a kitchen light pendant?! I think I'm sure gonna have to cyber stalk this light to see if it goes on sale. Then I have to decide what color do I choose? Amber with Bronze trim and black cord or Celadon with silver trim and white cord? Would you go ahead a buy it, wait for the sale or find another light entirely or something similar? 

 

Making Headway

Happy Monday! Dave and I have certainly accomplished some things around the house this past weekend and you'll get a sneak peak at some of our projects this week! Recently I've been try to get our master bedroom in order. We had one of my mother's friends make us an upholstery headboard out of some fabric that was given to me which conveniently matched our bedding. I would have made it myself but sewing is one trade that I have yet to master. I can sew a button, cross-stitch and do the simple mending tasks but upholstery certainly isn't my forte. Check out what we've done with our bedroom although I'm not quite done yet. 

Before...

After!

 

Here are some more photos of our master bedroom. Its slowly coming together!