Our New Living Room

FREE IMAGES As some of you know, we are in the middle of renovations - opening up our kitchen, dining, and living room to be one big space.  Since my dear hubby is installing all of the hardwood himself, things are taking a bit longer than expected.  In the meantime, I've been dreaming up plans for what I want to do with the space.

I really like to mix styles - rustic with regency, feminine and masculine, etc.

1.  We already have our paint, Sherwin Williams "Retiring Blue" from the Harmony line.  Zero VOCs means it's safe for baby.  I cannot wait until the flooring is done and I can see this gorgeous color on our walls!

2. A small sectional.  This one is from West Elm.  While I'd love cream or white, no way that is going to happen in a home with a dog that lives on the couch and a little one on the way.

3. Our coffee table.  We can complements on this EVERY time someone walks in the door.  It's from a local artist Scott Alan Ewine (don't worry he sells on Esty - click here to see all of his work!) The wood all has a story and his prices are reasonable!

4. Yeah, I still love sunburst gold mirrors.  This one is from Joss and Main.

5. A gorgeous leather armchair has been on my wishlist for years.  This one is available on Gilt.

6. Gold and glass regency style side tables - I love how these contrast with the wood coffee table. Available at Gilt.

7.  Soft and pretty throw pillows. West Elm

8. Our gorgeous new flooring, cherry oak.

9. Our rug - it's two-sided so we get double the wear.  I purchased this from Joss and Main.

I can't wait until we can start decorating. What do you think?

Help choosing and finding mini pendant lights (and kitchen eye candy!)

FREE IMAGES So, we've recently had some demo work done in our house (pics coming soon!).  And as exciting as it is, picking things out for the revamped space is a bit daunting.  We are starting with looking for 3 mini pendant lights to go over our new breakfast bar, which is small at just 6' x 18."  The issue is that we would ideally like to spend no more than $70 per fixture, and hubby and I don't really agree on what style we like.

I want something transitional - I really had my heart set on clear glass, and he was frosted or art glass, which I just don't want.  We will ultimately have to choose a chandelier to go over the dining table, which is about 6' from the breakfast bar.  I don't want anything to be from a matching set, but I also want the chandelier and pendants to work together.

Here are some options I like:

Love these, but hubby thinks if we get these we might as well just have exposed naked bulbs hanging from the ceiling. I also like these because I feel like regardless of the chandelier we go with they will work together.

via Decoist

 These could potentially work, but I wouldn't know what finish to go with.
via Decoist

I like this style, but I can't find any in our price range.

via Home Decorators Collection

Maybe these?

via Home Decorators Collection

Traditional Kitchen by Narberth Architects & Building Designers Philip Ivory Architects

These are basic enough to work as well.

I like these vintage railroad pole pendants from Etsy.  They could be sophisticated in the right setting and have a story behind them.

Liking these globes too but I would want them a lot smaller and I doubt they exist in my price range...
via Pinterest via BHG


Any ideas for us or places for us to look?!?!?

Giveaway Winner!

FREE IMAGES

Today is the day we announce the giveaway winner for this lovely print by Meredith who owns Prints by Poppy Mae!

Congrats Paula C for winning this amazing Print!

Wall Art Finished and GIVEAWAY!

FREE IMAGES For those of you who might have seen a Guest post about Wall Art recently here, we have the finished room to show off as well as a giveaway for one of the pieces you'll see:

Jennifer started off with the canvas print in the middle and wanted to do a gallery style around it. She chose simple picture frames that all matched since there would be mixed media. She used two wall art designs with one of them being our giveaway today: the bottom left heart with love written in it. 

Meredith who owns an adorable Etsy shop called Prints by Poppy Mae is offering up the same heart print for one lucky winner!

To sign up to be the winner please submit your information in the rafflecopter below and a winner will be chosen on Oct. 15th! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

and here's what Jennifer decided to do on the other wall

Tell us what you think!

Mustard Yellow

FREE IMAGES Although not a typical color of choice for home decor - it surprisingly packs a punch! Check out some of the inspiration I found:

via censationalgirl

via etsy

via georgiandesign

via cape27

via apartmenttherapy

Would you use mustard yellow in your home decor?

Gallery Wall In The Making

FREE IMAGES

Guest Post via The Underestimated Mom

I have always been a huge fan of gallery walls and now that I finally own a house, I have been planning and decorating each room little by little and I am finally getting to my first gallery wall. My favorite ones are the mixed media styles, with canvas, frames, wood, a letter, and a sentimental item.

via liluna

My daughter's room has been a slow work in progress. With my office/craft room being first priority so I could get back on track with working, then having a baby kind of put a wrench in Emma's room design, but it's finally here! We got all of her furniture in and put together, the paint purchased, and I've slowly been buying decorative items!

via theunderestimatedmom

My first purchase for the gallery wall was this canvas picture of my daughter. Its a large 20"x16" and I'm glad I got that size because it looks so tiny above her headboard. Now I just need to decide if I want it above her bed or her dresser. 

via theunderestimatedmom

To go with the canvas I got a wooden E, the box white frames you see above that I'm going to put black & white scrap book paper behind, and a word collage from etsy that I need a black frame for! I also have a few other pictures on standby to fill in any gaps. The one thing I'm missing is a sentimental item!

via wordsturnedintoart

Here's a closer look at the canvas I got. I am so impressed with the quality of it and plan on buying another one for Payton's room!

via theunderestimatedmom

Where do you think it should go, above the dresser or the bed?

Friday Favorites: Barn & Gold Inspired

FREE IMAGES To go along with this weeks theme of barn style and gold decor - I've come up with a list of Friday Favorites thanks to some awesome finds via etsy!

N, Wooden Crate, Barn Table, Tea Lights, Pillows

Chic and Glamorous Art for the Fashion Lover

FREE IMAGES Good art isn't always easy to find. Etsy has made it easier though, and has made it possible to connect a lot of artists with people who love art that isn't mass produced or unattainable to most of us. One Etsy artist I'm loving is the Lady Gatsby shop with fashion inspired prints.

I love watercolors, and then paired with the subject matter - gorgeous perfume bottles, shoes, etc., there are quite a few pieces I'd love for my master bath and office. I was lucky enough to receive a gorgeous Chanel No. 5 print and some super chic correspondence cards, and they look even better in person!

Here are a few other prints and cards I'm loving:

Love it?  See more at Lady Gatsby

disclosure: I received these prints as a sample

Make the most of a snow day with some of these projects

FREE IMAGES Four great ideas of things you can do to change your decor while your stuck inside (since we are snowed in with over a foot of snow here and it's still coming down!). Might as well have fun - and if you're like me I can only watch so much TV before I need to get up and do something!

1. Rearrange your furniture:

via BHG

I get so excited rearranging my furniture.  It is really refreshing and can make old things seem new again. It takes some trial and error to get things just right, and don't forget that you can "shop" furniture from the rest of your house!

2. Clean out your drawers:

via bhg

In your kitchen, bathroom, pantry, bedroom, and more! Clean out those drawers by creating three boxes: throw away, give away, keep. Sort your items and when you get to the keep, figure out if you have any good trays, shoe boxes, or containers laying around that would keep the items corralled.  It looks like the drawer above is using small jelly roll pans, which is really clever.

3. Make that gallery wall you've dreaming about

I like Design Crush's tutorial, but there are a lot of great ideas and step by step instructions online i you just search for something like "create your own gallery wall."  Even i you don't have all the art you want to use yet, gallery walls can be flexible and expand over time, or you can at least decide where you want it and start composing it in kraft paper.

4. Style Your Bookshelves

2 images via DesignSponge

You will be surprised how many compliments you get when you thoughtfully arrange your shelves.  Thinking of a bookcase or set of shelves as a composition really lets you show off your favorite accessories and books while also serving a purpose. I'm not going to lie, it's not always easy to strike that perfect balance, and you'll likely always be making little tweaks.  I would start by pulling a few images that I really like to use as a guide.  Next, collect the items that will be on the shelves.  You may have to omit some items or add some along the way.  You will want items with a variety of heights and widths.  Other than that, a lot of the process is just "feel."  Step back from the shelves from time to time to make sure you are happy with how your "composition" is taking shape.

Show Your Decor: Lisa D'Amato's Modern Nursery

FREE IMAGES

Lisa just had her baby Daxel, and about 3 months ago Vanessa De Varges was hired to decorate her baby's nursery. Her and her husband live in a castle located in the Hollywood Hills - doesn't sound to shabby...

For the room Vanessa chose four basic colors red, gray, black and white - perfect for a little boys room! She wanted the room to have a modern feeling to it with out all the cutie baby stuff. This way the room can be used for years to come with out having to move things out or replace the look. She chose art that was more modern and vintage circus prints that they blew up and framed for the room. 

The walls are all black (its got a slight purple tone to it so its not too harsh on the eyes) and the ceiling and upper walls are painted bright white. Because she chose so many bright colors in the room and accents in white, including the rug, the room doesn't appear to look small, if anything her decorating tricks make the room feel bigger and more spacious. 

All the furniture, bedding and storage came from Land of Nod, the paint from Valspar and the flooring from Lumber Liquidators. The window treatments came from The ReRack Gals and the lighting came from Ikea (they did not donate), fabric from Premier Prints and most of the artwork came from different designers on Etsy were all sponsored for the Lisa's baby's room. 

Don't forget to submit your own show your decor and get your showcased on Decorology!

Last minute gift ideas for nesters and home decor lovers!

FREE IMAGES I like to give gifts that have a lot of thought in them or I know the recipient really, really wants.  That's not always easy, especially on a budget  If I'm stumped I tend to lean towards something unique that will be a conversation piece in their home.  Here are a few cute ideas I found..

This alpaca blend throw is sure to be a favorite for the lucky someone who gets it.  So pretty!
At Maker and Moss)

A row of glass bubbles that each hold a bud or two - or just looks like cool art when it's empty. At UncommonGoods

This Filigreed Metal votive set is absolutely stunning.
At The Loaded Trunk

These gilt edge agate coasters are so pretty, they will look fab just sitting on the table.
On Etsy

Glass containers for display or even some new candlestick holders! Try to find candlesticks that are sculptural so they look nice even without candles in them.
At Homemakers Online

How great is this book that acts as a router or charger cover? Great for those who love to read!
On XNY

A decorative pillow featuring their favorite pet. Pet-related gifts are always loved by parents of the four-legged kind.
On Etsy