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?

Gorgeous and Functional Office Spaces

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A beautiful home office

Wouldn't it make Mondays a little easier?  I sure think so!

This is my type of space...a desk with a lot of surface space, and gorgeous natural light!
via Rue Mag

A desk you really love is important. And if you can't contain yourself to a mood board, why not try a mood wall?!
via Adore Home

A great collaborative loft space.

3 above via Bethany Lynn Nauert

Small can be beautiful - but it must stay immaculately organized!
via Elle Decor

Inspiring REAL Home Offices

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via Lonny Magazine

via Lonny Magazine

via Lonny Magazine

via Apartment Therapy

via Apartment Therapy

via Apartment Therapy

A Functional Office

FREE IMAGES Between tax season and spring cleaning, I've been trying to plan how I'm going to reorganize and clean out my office to make it a little bit more functional and pleasing to the eye. Here are some looks I've been loving

via livesimplybyannie

Loving this cabinet/bookshelf. Use matching decorative boxes or baskets to store receipts, paperwork and office supplies that you don't use on a daily basis.

via pinterest

Labeled drawers are a great way to keep your supplies and items organized. I love the simple look of the picture above and the labels are barely noticeable so they don't take away from the piece of furniture. The large drawers are great for keeping papers flat and not bent or rumpled.

via theglitterguide

A simple open shelving bookcase with a few baskets might do the trick for you! This can give you great places to add a little decor as well as store items. I actually have this same shelving unit in my office and love it.

via BHG
Keeping everything I need to get my task complete close by is key for me to stay productive.

I love a good inspiration board as long as it's kept somewhat tidy! Mine can get a bit cluttered and then I find them distracting...
via Sweet Home Style

Collections and archives are great as long as you are able to keep them grouped together and orderly.
via Sweet Home Style

Deliciously chic and glamorous eye candy!

FREE IMAGES I've been running around like a chicken with it's head cut off these past few days preparing for my baby sis's baby shower, being a freelance web designer, trying to unpack and get settled into our new home, and wiping up puddles of puppy pee-pee.  Right now I just need some gorgeous eye candy to remind me that all my hard work CAN and WILL pay off!

This is actually an office! I love the look - and that wallpaper would look great in my home office!

Canopy beds always say luxe to me.

Gold, cream, gray, and a touch of pink...and horses...what else could a girl want!?!

all images vie Rue Mag Oct.

Unusual and fun ways to add a little flair and personality to your home

FREE IMAGES It's tempting to always play it safe when decorating your home - I know I will try something a bit off-beat, but then doubt myself and try something more traditional. And while safe can be beautiful, it doesn't usually have that "WOW" factor. Here are a few ideas, some drastic, some not, for getting a reaction when people step inside your home...

We've all seen or used our own fridges to showcase photos, but how about covering the ENTIRE fridge in photos that make you smile?  Especially when contrasted with the super sleek lines of this kitchen, I think it looks pretty cool!

Hang something BIG not typically used as art in an artistic way.  Lying in a rubbish pile you may not see the potential of a worn plank of wood, but hang it like an expensive piece of art and it can make a beautiful impact (at low cost).

Use one oversized print in an oversized way!  This sofa is beautiful, but would I ever have the guts to put it in my home?  I don't know... maybe if you're nervous, try a big print in just one or two colors... 

You've seen inspiration boards, well how about an inspiration WALL?  Love it.

Fancy yourself a wordsmith?  Chalkboard paint a piece of furniture otherwise in need of TLC, and practice your craft!  This would be helpful anywhere you need to make a lot of notes, too.

Put your furniture on diagonals.  This may sound weird, but I think furniture placed diagonally can really add movement to a space, and open it up and add a welcoming feeling.  Maybe start by just putting your bed at a diagonal in the far corner of your bedroom?


So, what do you think?  Any of these you love? hate? tried before?

1. Interiors Porn 2. Covet Garden 3. Home Spun Style 4. Interiors Porn 5. Sweet Home Style 6. Small Space Style

Back from Vacation, and needing some home office inspiration

FREE IMAGES If you think Mondays are bad, what about a Monday after spending a week in the beautiful Outer Banks of NC?

It's hard for me to not wistfully daydream about how just yesterday morning, I was sipping coffee on the beach.  ...sigh...  Anyway, it's back to work and I definitely could use some pretty, organized home offices to help inspire me to be more productive.

The gray is such a nice background for everything.

Check out the pop of yellow from their Nat.'l Geographic collection!

The three above images are from the office of a husband and wife team, who work out of their home. A quick side note, check and make sure you don't need to supplement your home insurance if you are running a business out of your home.

read and see more of this office at Country Living

Love this crisp, tailored home office.
via Adore Home Mag

I would LOVE to have a work space with windows like this one!

2 above via Interiors Porn

A mod work space

via Lonny Mag

*disclosure: this post brought to you in partnership by SwiftCover.com