This Little Nest

Holiday Recap!

2011-12-27T14:22:00.000-08:00

It's been quite a busy holiday season! Besides the all the giving and receiving, we've been doing lots and lots of other stuff. Here's a quick photo snapshot of our last month!

Tons of cocktails.....

and puppy snuggle time.....

family hiking....

nephew cuddling...

and goddaughter snuggle time....

My heart is full with family, friends, food, wine, and Mexican dominoes! What a wonderful month!

Happy Holidays to you & yours!

~Katie

I got you Ryan Gosling for Christmas!

2011-12-23T08:13:00.000-08:00

Ok, we all know that's not true. Because if I had Ryan Gosling, I wouldn't be sharing him, right? I'd build this amazing lavish dungeon where I'd hold him captive for my own entertainment and keep it a secret from all the world....

But anyway, I did find this lovely image which I think will fill you all with Christmas cheer!

Enjoy! See you on the flip side of Christmas!

~Katie

Two Words

2011-12-13T10:13:00.000-08:00

Color. Blocking.

Skirt- J Crew; Top- Tibi; Scarf- Banana Republic; Watch- Michael Kors

It's my new obsession.

Given the fact that I went for years with a freakish fear of patterns, I've got alot of solid items in my closet and I'm loving that color blocking is back in vogue so I can put them all to good use.

What about you? Are you digging this trend or am I crazy?

~ Katie

Christmas Living Room Sneak Peek!

2011-12-05T13:23:00.001-08:00

I just wanted to share a sneak peak of the Christmas tree in our living room! I went with a gold & silver color scheme with a few pops of color.

We've yet to collect a large amount of Christmas decor for the house so the tree, the mantle, and the front door are about it.

I'll be posting pics of the entire room in all it's festive glory later this week!

On the horizon:

Living Room- complete but always in progress
Foyer- complete
Dining Room- complete but always in progress
Kitchen- complete

~Katie

Cincinnati Weekend!

2011-10-31T14:21:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a soulful weekend in Cincinnati. I road-tripped it up there with a darling friend of mine who was headed up for her hometown baby shower (I'm hosting her Birmingham shower in a few weeks....and I'll be posting a major amount of photos!) and she dropped me off with T, my best friend from college. T lives in the most adorable historic building on this gorgeous street...

Friday night we hit up the local blues bar and were thoroughly entertained by not only the band, but several creepy older gentleman....no sir, my cell phone does not vibrate...

Moving on....

Saturday we spent the beautiful morning at a Basset Hound Parade (peculiar, I know) and then headed out for lunch and a day of shopping at Findlay Market.

We shopped for a while before sitting down to listen to this child play the violin with literally everything in his soul. It was a perfect moment watching him.

Later we took a drive through the city, as it was my first visit there, while singing Dire Staits songs at the top of our lungs... Not a pleasant experience for those who may have heard us.

Then we headed out on a party bus with some of T's Cincy friends for a night of bar hopping. In a last minute effort, we managed to find the only two adult costumes left at Big Lots and went as Blue Brothers (Sisters) that night.

It was a fun-filled weekend that spawned tons of new inside jokes. I loved seeing T and I LOVED Cincinnati. I most definitely will be planning another trip so I can bring the huzzby along!

Love you Cincy!

For sure as the cards will be fallin'

And chips in the pot pyramid,

for a buck, Lady Luck will be calling

Whoah, the Cincinnati kid

I mean the Cincinnati kid

Whoah, the Cincinnati kid

I'm talking about the Cincinnati kid

Everybody knows the Cincinnati kid

Have you heard about that the Cincinnati kid

~Ray Charles

~Katie

She Sheds Her Skin

2011-10-19T14:47:00.000-07:00

Exterior renovations began on the new abode today! It looks a little like a haunted house right now, but soon enough it will be restored back to its originally beauty! Here's a before pic to refresh your memory...

Cotton Candy blue...ugh!

Here's its current state as of lunch time today when I drove by to stalk the progress.

Kind of spooky...

There's just a small portion of the front siding left to be removed before they move on to sides and back . Once the original heart pine siding is restored (nails and staples from siding have to be removed and their holes patched), it will get a fresh coat of Behr's Bleached Linen, black shutters will go back up, and the new colonial columns will installed under the front stoop!

I can't wait to drive up to the finished product!

PS- I've been working on the master bedroom and it's almost ready the reveal. I'll take some sneak peek shots to share with you later this week!

Ta ta!

~Katie

Falling Hard

2011-10-06T09:06:00.000-07:00

Not sure about your gusy but I absolutely LOVE this time of year. The weather here in Bama is perfect, the beautiful old oaks in our new neighborhood are starting to change colors, tailgating is a weekly occasion, and the fashion is definitely my favorite of all seasons.

I plan on sipping lots of this....

http://www.starbucks.com/

While enjoying one of these on our brick patio in our lovely new backyard with all my fabulous friends...

http://blog.thebarbequer.com

While wearing something along the lines of this fall fashion combo- skinny jeans, boots, leopard print scarf, and cozy sweater....

http://katiegulas.polyvore.com/

All while decorating the new house with beauties like this....

http://www.etsy.com/shop/twoinspireyou

Hope you are enjoying this beautiful fall weather as much as I am!

Before and after/progress photos of the new house are coming soon! The master bedroom is almost finished!!

~Katie

Guest Post: Want It Wednesday

2011-09-21T10:15:00.000-07:00

Hi, everyone, I’m Susi and I write as a guest blogger for Design Shuffle, a fabulous social media site that promotes interior designers and their work from around the world. My writing focuses on things I'm passionate about: interior design, decorating ideas, home furnishings, gardening, travel and art. I get to look at gorgeous things all day and write about them. I'm a very lucky girl!

Being asked to write a Want it Wednesday guest post was like turning a kid loose in a candy store. I realized I am coveting so many things right now that it was hard to narrow it down to just 8! I think it is the back to school shopping feeling in the air. I want to change décor with the seasons. So here are 8 thinks I want this Wednesday. What are you wanting?

Little Emma English Home via

Love the shabby chic style of this long table. Used as a console table or kitchen island, it would add a lot of charm to a kitchen, hall or living room.

The Haystack Needle via

A graphic and colorful kilim rug from Turkey is definitely at the top of my list of wants right now. A kilim has such great color and style—perfect for a bedroom, living room or home office.

Super Market HQ via

With Fall right around the corner, these squash colored felted wool bowls would look great on a dining table filled with apples or decorative gourds.

Little Emma English Home via

I don't know what they are but I want them-- the molds (?) on the shelf that look like rustic crowns. How charming for kitchen decor! Must add this to the kitchen design ideas file.

A Girl Named Bong via

Love the new home line from Lilly Pulitzer. This hot pink Chinese Chippendale style chair is the Boulevard chair from Lilly's line at Horchow. Love her dragon print as a pillow too!

Free People via

How cool are these light bulb vases?! This is a great DIY project from Free People. Adorable!

Decadent Green via

A classic leather chesterfield... I think this is on a lot of people's want lists. Such classic lines but it can work in so many different decors. Love.

Shop Candelabra via

I saw a few of these when I was on vacation on Cape Cod: a sphere composed entirely of oyster shells. They are gorgeous in person and are truly sculptural works of art that kick up a coastal interior design. Wonder if it could be a DIY project.

What are some of the things you want this Wednesday? Make sure to stop by at Design Shuffle and browse all of the different styles of interior design ideas, inspirations, tips and trends. Be sure to say you saw us here at This Little Nest.

Quest for the Perfect Powder Room Wallpaper

2011-09-20T08:20:00.000-07:00

I may not have executed it all, but I at least have plans for just about every room in the new house except the downstairs half bath. Here is its current state.

The rest of the house is rather neutral so I decided to go bold with this room as it's small and low risk. I've got a huge white carved wood mirror for the back wall and the corner sink will soon be replaced by a square pedestal sink. I've decided to go blue and white with the wall and I've been desperately searching for the perfect wallpaper pattern. Here are my favorites so far!

I love this wallpaper print but I'm afraid the repeat is too small and would be overwhelming in a small bathroom.

This wallpaper has a larger print, which I love, but has more white than blue, which I don't love.

I think I REALLY love this chinoiserie navy print wallpaper but it's sooooo bold. I'm just a little apprehensive but part of me says I should just take the pluge.

I think this print, like first one, is too small and would make a guest to our half bath dizzy!!

Wallpaper is so difficult to decide on. It can easily get too stuffy and outdated. I'm hoping that this mix of traditional colors but with a fun, bold pattern would be the perfect way to keep it fresh. Which do you like best?? (Hint, hint: I'm trying to get you people to comment!)

~Katie

NYC Trip in Photos

2011-09-19T13:20:00.000-07:00

I recently returned from a trip to NYC for a work conference. It was a long week full of lots of eye candy and "outfits of the days" so I figured I'd give you guys a little taste with a photo post. Enjoy!

~Katie

Home Inspiration Photos

2011-09-07T15:01:00.000-07:00

With the looming move and work beginning in the new house tomorrow, I've been an online inspiration photo addict as of late. I'll be posting updates and before and after shots as work begins but I thought I'd share with you some of the pretty photos (and a few sneak peeks) I've come upon and gathered while brainstorming about the new place.

www.kitchenbackplashes.blogspot.com

www.houzz.com

www.decorpad.com

Sarah's House HGTV

Helen Gillilan artwork that will be going in the living room

Pillow & Curtain Fabric for the Living Room

www.houzz.com Bedroom I ADORE!

See you soon with some progress pics!

~Katie

New House! We're Moving!!

2011-08-31T14:06:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to tell you guys this FOREVER, but didn't want to jinx anything so I decided to wait until after we closed today! We are moving in just a few weeks to our new home!

Before Pic!

Please excuse the poor photo, but it's all I had on my phone! The house is in a charming neighborhood just 10 minutes away from our last neighborhood and within walking distance to several of our friends' homes! I'm just ecstatic about all of it's original features: great moulding, built ins, hardwood floors, a sweet little sunroom, and a screened in balcony off the master!

In just a few short days, the blue vinyl siding will be coming down and the original 1925 exterior will be getting a fresh coat of chalky white paint, the hedges will be getting a good trim, and I'll be going into manic decorating mode! Our goal is to get it restored to it's historically accurate state so we can get that historic marker back up! (I'm assuming the historical society had a fit when someone decided cotton-candy blue vinyl siding would be a good idea) Lots of before & after photos to come your way soon!

Anyway...if you're looking for me in the next few weeks, try the local fabric store! Toodles!

~Katie

Big Announcement Coming!

2011-08-30T15:09:00.000-07:00

Tune in tomorrow afternoon for a big announcement from This Little Nest! (And, no, I'm not pregnant. Geez.)

And here's a pretty picture of Kristin Cavallari because I love her.

Guest Post: Colorful Shabby Chic Bedrooms

2011-07-25T14:48:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! Arcadian Home offered to do a guest post on the dear old blog about colorful shabby chic bedrooms and I thought you guys would enjoy it! Let me know how you liked it!

Shabby chic interior design has been popular for many years now. It’s aesthetic is one marked by aged, distressed or vintage home accessories and decor. With colors ranging from whites and pastels to the worn-out colors of woods and metals, shabby chic interior design is also ultra feminine.

With an emphasis on texture and layering, it makes for a lovely look in the bedroom. So if you’re in need of a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing, take a look at these beautiful and shabby chic bedrooms.

Sarah Klassen via Elle Décor UK

Who wouldn’t want to spend all day in this fluffy, gorgeous, shabby chic bedroom? The color palette of robin’s egg blue and dusty rose are soft, pretty accents to the frilly white bed and white bedside table.

Down & Out Chic via House to Home

Admittedly, the bed is lovely, but this wonderfully creative wall art steals the show. Acting as a headboard, the designer created an arrangement consisting of salvaged shutters, vintage frames and an old window. So pretty!

Interior Design via

This lavender and purple bedroom is perfect for any little girl with a sense of style. Texture is the star here -- with different textures layered upon one another, from the woolly knit throws to the area rug and the heavy, printed curtains.

Country Living via

When you hear or see, "brick accent wall," you may not immediately think of something feminine, let alone, shabby chic, but that's exactly what this lovely room is. The brick accent wall is softened by vintage nightstands and lamps, as well as a pretty chandelier and a soft pink throw.

House Beautiful via

Shabby chic bedding is the star here, while soft pink roman shades and a flower vase full of pink roses add surprising bits of color.

When done well, there's something incredibly feminine and well-worn about the shabby-chic look. Though all different, these bedrooms are such dreamy havens, with plush white linens, antique furnitures and décor.

Content provided by Arcadian Home Decor, a site that specializes in top quality home accessories at extremely affordable prices. Come visit us today!

My New Hobby: Wedding Flowers?

2011-06-29T12:50:00.000-07:00

In the last few years, I've developed a hobby of flower arranging and have been asked to use my "talents" (and I use that term loosely) for wedding of friends. I absolutely LOVE doing it and thought I'd share my latest wedding with you all: Siobhan & Alex

Siobhan and Alex have been friends of mine for years when I began working with Siobhan right out of college. They're an awesome, laid back couple that I adore being around. Their wedding was unique, modern, gorgeous, and most of all FUN!

I created bouquets for Siobhan and her bridesmaids.... as well as centerpieces for the ceremony and reception (which were funky and modern).

This was a spring wedding with dark, moody (and gorgeous) flowers.....

which isn't exactly an easy combination.....

....but with help from my friends at David Wholesale Florist , I was able to find what I needed. They're a great wholesale florist in Birmingham that is open to the public. So whether you need enough for one arrangement or an entire wedding, they're a great local resource.

Hope you enjoyed the photos! Email me if you'd like me to create something for your next event (shameless self-promotion, I know)!

Beauty Must-Haves

2011-06-28T07:28:00.000-07:00

I've been a huge fan of Ole Henricksen products for a while, but I recently splurged on some of his "new-to-me" products. I've been using the Aloe Vera Deep Cleanser and Grease Release Face Tonic for some time and they've been very good to my oily-proned skin.

But I went into Sephora to get my next bottle of cleanser and couldn't help but be intriqued by all of his other options, especially the Three Little Wonders set.

I've recently noticed a few minor wrinkles here and there around my eyes and forehead (I'm sure it's a result of lifeguarding with little to no SPF in high school) and I've yet to begin taking any precautionary steps to prevent aging so I thought now was the time to start. This set has a Collagen Booster serum to be used at night to fight off current and furture wrinkles, an Invorgorating Night Gel (oil free which works much better for me than your typical night cream) and Sheer Transformation, an oil free moisturizer to be used at night and before makeup application.

My skin is a catch 22. I've been hesistant to use creams and moisturizers because I tend to be so oily, only to find out that my skin is oily because I don't use them. When skin is dehydrated like mine, it over produces oil leaving your face super shiny. I've been using the Sheer Transformation moisturizer for only a week and I can tell a huge difference at then of the day when it comes to shine control.

So, I get this is a blog about home design but the truth is, I feel like sharing a little more about my life and interests than just decorating. So here you go, hope you don't mind!

Overstock Me! Living Room Edition

2011-06-23T13:36:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you guys, but I do WAY too much online browsing when it comes to home interiors. I love so many different styles and tastes that I'm constantly picking out so many items, I could decorate hundreds of living rooms. And the one place that I always see something I like, no matter what style I'm into that day, is Overstock. So I attempted to style an entire room (graphically) in nothing but Overstock inventory. It turned out a little masculine, but I'm actually totally digging it....and with the idea of a possible new house and new living room to furnish, I could definitely go with this look. Let me know what you think! I'll come back and source it all tomorrow! Enjoy!

I'm Baaaccckk!!!

2011-05-22T16:00:00.000-07:00

First off, my deepest apologies for absolutely no posts in months. The truth is, I'm usually apt to post when I've got projects going on in my own home, but lately there haven't been many. We're casually thinking of moving and in the process have looked at a few houses on the market. Seeing all these gorgeous homes have got me mentally decorating like a mad woman. Today I put together a mood board for what I'm hoping will be my next living room (whenever that happens). I've included some sources if you're interested.....

It's a mixture of what I have in my current living room (the pillows, a brown sofa, pops of burnt orange and light blue) with some additional elements like the chair and Michelle Armas painting (she does commission pieces...check her out!). I like that it has some modern elements to it, but is still pretty traditional. Our living room walls right now are a light smoky blue and I love the color but it makes decorating hard when your walls aren't neutral. I think using main pieces of furniture like wing back chairs is a great incorporate way to incorporate fun colors into an otherwise neutral room. Hope you like it!

~Katie

A Little Living Room Inspiration

2011-01-18T15:00:00.000-08:00

A sweet friend of mine, Meg Cook, whom I recently purchased some fabulous art from, sat down with me to do a little brainstorming for my living room. While I love the french blue color of our wall, I find myself struggling to incorporate any non-neutral colors with it. I splurged a few weeks ago on a cowhide rug that I'M IN LOVE WITH and it gave me an itching to update the room a little bit...give it a little more "wow" factor. The bold rug was making everything around it look so boring in comparison. I felt myself hitting a wall and called her up for some advice. Her advice was to incorporate a burnt orange color in the room with accessories. So far I've added two of these to my sofa.

I love them! They add a pop of color and the pattern is transitional so it blends with both the modern and traditional elements in the room. I'm still working on finding a complementary fabric to do some additional pillows....but now I've set my sights on the wall above the sofa. My husband gave me an Mary Bryan New York skyline painting that now rests above the fire place opposite of this wall and I'm thinking I'd like a mirror to reflect that painting so that you notice it as soon as you walk in the room. The problem is a big mirror over the sofa is....well....boring...right?

Right now the wall has four vintage car prints but the wall is large and looks sparse and I'm ready for a change. Which leads me to my inspiration photo.

Isn't is lovely?! This living room is much more traditional than mine but I think the gallery of sunburst mirrors is a fun eclectic touch (even a tad modern) which is exactly what I'm looking to incorporate into my living room. I have two sunburst mirror in other rooms of the house that I can repurpose into the leaving room but I need at least three more and I'm hoping to find some vintage/antique ones to add in. And so the search begins.....

Time for a Dinner Party

2010-12-20T12:49:00.000-08:00

First, let me apologize for my 3 month long absence. I've been out of pocket since our September trip to Jamaica, but I'm back and in full swing, baby! That said, getting ready for the holidays has been about all I've done recently....including planning my first "real" dinner party! It looks as though we're hosting some folks for a New Year's Eve dinner this year so I, of course, used it as an excuse to become obsessed with decorating the table! Here's a look that should be similar to mine. Farmhouse table- check, white table runner-check, now on to adding the finishing touches.

The elements below will make up a majority of the table. I'm going with a combination of formal and informal. My every day Juliska Berry and Thread china, gold plate chargers, lettuce-edged linen dinner napkins with my new silver napking rings and a few hydrangea arrangements.

Throw in a few candles and the right guests and I'll think we'll have a great time! It will also be the perfect time to take show you the "after" photos of the dining room I've been promising for so long! Hope you have a Happy New Year and check in the first week of January for details from the dinner party!

House Tour: Our Living Room

2010-09-08T09:03:00.000-07:00

As you may be able to tell by reading this blog, I constantly have projects going on in our house. Currently, all of which are not at post-worthy status (yet). And as these projects continue to grow, each room of our house gets a million tiny makeovers. While other rooms are in progress, I thought this would be a great opportunity to catch you up on our living room in it's current state. Here are a few photos.

The wall with the sofa, the fireplace opposite of it, and the extra seating nook by the window are the main areas of our living room. My goal with this room was to keep it neutral but interesting, polished and neat but lived in and cozy. And so far, I think we're getting there. One of the easiest ways to make a room feel cozy is with fabric. These Kravet ikat throw pillows are my favorite!

Vintage pieces like these super old and naturally patina-ed iron candlesticks I snagged at a yardsale for next to nothing keep the room feeling used and lived in.

And probably my favorite part of our living room is the seagrass tray on top of our cocktail ottoman that holds some of our favorite tabletop books (Greek Islands, Esquire's The Meaning of Life, and a vintage Chanel Look Book is found at a THRIFT STORE!). On top of the books is one of my many McCoy pieces and our brass elephant bookends to show off our college pride.

So that gives you the gist of our living room! It honestly is the room where we LIVE...we use it the most out of all the room in our house and that's why it was important for me that we love being in it. I'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions (because it's always evolving).

Thanks,

I've linked my thrift living room to:

www.southernhospitalityblog.com

Bedroom Choices: Chinoiserie or Cottage? Help Me Decide!

2010-09-02T09:52:00.000-07:00

So my Waverly Olana drapes have officially been hung and now the decisions start rolling in! Once hung, I began to realize that drapes are definitely going to be game changers in our bedroom. And after staring at the pattern for what seems like hours (I'm a little obsessed), I've decided the room can go one of two ways: Chinoiserie inspired by my new favorite blog Chinoiserie Chic or Cottage style (which is kind of my safe place).

Here's an idea of what's going on in the room currently:

Tufted headboard, sunburst mirror over vintage bamboo dresser, and a jute rug, a few lamps, etc etc... I don't hate it by any means, but compared to my dramatic drapes, it's a little...well, bland.

Let's take a look at Option 1:

Add in a coordinating fabric with a bamboo/chinoiserie vibe to it, a bamboo mirror (but preferably one without the $600 Horchow price tag), my favorite painting by my all-time favorite artist, Patrice Brunet (I wish! But, hey, a girl can dream), and a ceramic stool for a little bit of seating. Overall, it's got a Chinoiserie feel to it, but it's not too over the top or "theme-y."

Here's Option 2:

Add in a traditional striped fabric for possibly a bedskirt and some throw pillows, some monograms (of course), a few chippy pots/vases from Anthropologie, and a random antique chair that I'm sure I can find a Urban Suburban.

My first instinct play it safe with cottage style, but part of me wants to do something a little more bold and dramatic. That's where you come in faithful readers...I need you comments, questions, and suggestions! Help me decide and leave a comment below!

Thanks!

Bedroom Fabric Sneak Peak

2010-08-31T17:52:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentleman, the pheasants have made their way to the bedroom!!! I'll have a full post up soon but for now here's a sneak peak!

Please excuse the awful photo...all I had was my phone camera!

Once I get the finishing touches complete, I'll continue the house tour into our master bedroom.

YAY!

Shop Birmingham: Urban Suburban

2010-08-30T10:12:00.000-07:00

This is the first of a new series of posts I'm starting about where I love to shop for furniture and items for our home or just browse for inspiration. For my first post in this series, I'm starting super close to home. In fact, one of my new favorite shops is Urban Suburban in the heart of our neighborhood, Crestwood. It just opened on August 3rd and has already found a special place in my heart. It's full of great furniture pieces...

(I adore that rug under the antique French chair!!)

Urban Suburban is not your run of the mill antique market. They've got a truly unique atmosphere and besides all the great antique and vintage finds like these amazing vintage suitcases that clearly have a story to tell...

or this entire booth of awesome vintage signs...

Check out those AMAZING light fixtures!

They also rent booths to local artists to display their work...

And it also doesn't hurt that it's right next door to Crestwood Coffee Company where I've become a regular. Nothing puts me in an antiquing mood like an iced coffee and a homemade peach muffin.

So, if you're in the Birmingham area and looking for a new place to treasure hunt, I highly recommend you take a Saturday afternoon to browse Urban Suburban! You'll probably see me there!

All images via www.urbansuburbanantiques.com

Things I'm Loving Thursday

2010-08-26T12:07:00.000-07:00

Things I'm loving today...

These sleek initial throw pillows from the beautiful living room of

Emily A. Clark

and this georgous House of Harlow Peacock Cuff I've been eyeing for over a year now...

Available here if anyone feels the need buy me a gift in the near future.

Two totally unrelated things, but who cares? That's what I'm loving this Thursday!

Fashion for Your Home: Trina Turk

2010-08-12T08:02:00.000-07:00

I like to think of decorating my house as the domestic version of getting myself ready every morning. In the same way I use my clothes as an avenue to express my individuality and taste, I use rugs, fabric, pillows, acessories, paint, etc to style my home. Curtains in my living room are like a chic scarf on my purse...throw pillows are like earrings for my sofa...you get the idea.

So it only makes sense that we are seeing a recent trend of fashion designers moving in to the world of interior design. One of my favorite designers, Trina Turk, has started designing accessories for the home in the past year. Check out these georgous pillows and how they mesh with her fashion aesthetic.

(images via www.trinaturk.com)

Meet Trina here and learn more about what has inspired her fashion and home lines!

As we continue to see more and more fashion lines transition into the interior design arena, it's certain we'll see loads of beautiful pieces popping up all over the place! I think it's time i splurge on a Trina Turk pillow...what do you think?

Fabric Makeover for the Bedroom

2010-07-30T08:06:00.000-07:00

I posted a while back about attempting to find fabric for to update our master bedroom. As it is, there is very little pattern in the room and it's verging on the side of boring. At first, I was picturing some type of toile but then I happened upon a BEAUTIFUL Waverly fabric called Olana in a scrap bin.

I found just enough to make three euro shams, which is what we need to cover all the way across our California king bed, which looks similar to this:

I then began a restless online search for the same fabric by the yard so I could have a bedskirt made to match the shams. I was having a hard time finding anything so I'm assuming this pattern is in the wind-down phase. And then suddenly... I hit the jackpot, people. Randomly searching Etsy for my beloved Olana pattern, hoping someone would be selling their scraps, I found FOUR CUSTOM MADE FRENCH PLEATED CURTAIN PANELS in my exact pattern and color scheme. Bedskirt? Pppssshh. I'm going full on pheasant curtains! I ordered them immediately, the pleats are being sewn and they should be in our bedroom in t-minus ONE WEEK! I am so pumped about the purchase! Now I just have to get my euro shams made and I will have completely transformed the look of our bedroom with nothing but fabric. I still need a coordinating fabric for bolster pillows, but that's the last thing on my list!

Today's Lesson: Fabric is a powerful thing, readers. I never knew it could make me feel like this. :)

Inspired by Corn? Decorating with Yellow

2010-07-14T14:14:00.000-07:00

Yes, you read correctly...corn! That's my decor inspiration this week. I just returned from a business trip to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Never heard of it? Really? That's odd.

Anyway, I'm mid-presentation feeling confident about my expertise in the area of all things advertising and I glance out the window and see....horses. It's not every day you're hosting a meeting to tell your client how to spend millions of dollars in advertising adjacent to a horse pasture. And corn. Lots and lots of corn. So in honor of furry friends in Iowa and the crop that has fueled that state for decades, let's talk about decorating with YELLOW!

If you love what can be a somewhat bold color like yellow, but aren't comfortable going all-out

image via www.stylebind.com

Then let's take it in baby steps. How about adding in a chair with a great pattern? This one could work it's way into many different style rooms...

via www.crateandbarrel.com

Or what about a neutral sofa in a nice shade of yellow...nothing too crazy....
via www.crateandbarrel.com

Let's say even those two things are a little to bold for you (I'm assuming you are more scared of color than I am, as most people are). Then, let's work in some fun & cheery throw pillows like the one below.

Purchase at

http://www.etsy.com/shop/swoonstudio

Or have some custom pillows or maybe even curtains done in a great fabric...

If that's too traditional or "country" for you, spice things up with a funky print like the one below.

Both fabrics from www.calicocorners.com

The bottom line is, no matter what the inspiration, don't be afraid to put something you love, like a color, in your home. It's your home! Why not? Break away from the beige, people! Sometimes it's easier to take it little by little. Personally I love a pretty yellow toile duvet or shower curtain in an otherwise neutral room. It brightens things up, but isn't over the top. On the other hand, a living room like the photo in this post is georgous. To take a color like that and throw it on the walls is courageous, but it definitely paid off.

Decorating & design are all about expressing yourself through your space. Do what you want! And do it in color!

Dining Room Update, As Promised

2010-07-11T07:57:00.000-07:00

Hello All! Well, even without a real camera, the guilt of not following up on a promise is weighing me down. So I snagged the hubby's Iphone to get a few photos to share with you! My dining room before was just a little lack luster, click HERE to refresh your memory. So I began looking for inspiration.

Our dining room is seperate from the kitchen, but has an open concept, and isn't exactly what you call formal. So, I felt that a casual farmhouse table look would be the best way to go. I came across a great, heavy farmhouse table on Craiglist for a minimal investment, sanded and stained it, and somehow managed to get it up to the dining room from the basement (it took the hubby and I quite a while). And here it is!

(looking left into the dining room from where the living room meets the kitchen)

I found some parsons chairs to go along with it. The fabric was UGLY and in poor shape so I purchased some white slipcovers to give them a more custom look (still need to get them monogrammed). Our Juliska Berry & Thread every day china has a French country look to it that I think blends perfectly with this style.

The wall to your left walking into the dining room houses a small buffet given to us by my mother-in-law that holds our Pottery Barn monogrammed cake stands, white porcelain accents, and a topiary. The chair prints on the wall are one of my favorite things in the house and are from Ballard Designs. The just scream dining room!

Below is the closest to a full-room view as I could get. It's taken from the far corner looking toward the kitchen walkway into the living room. The wine bar on the left side of this photo holds a Barbara Cosgrove Lamp, Vietri tray and decanter.

The room has really started to come together. As with the rest of our house, it's definitely an eclectic mix of furniture and accessories. In this one photo above you can see farmhouse, traditional, & oriental all in one shot.

And now one more detail shot of the every day china I'm still as obsessed with today as the day I registered for it. And check out the georgous antique linens I snagged at a yard sale yesterday. $5 for 4 placemats and 4 napkins, and they are practically a perfect match for my china and the room as a whole!

Now, I've got just a few more updates to make. The wall with the old window hanging on it is SCREAMING for a china cabinet, but i just haven't found the perfect one yet. And if I've learned anything decorating this house, it's that you shouldn't buy something just because there's a space in your house that needs it. Wait until you find something you truly LOVE. Placeholders until that moment are just a waste of time and money! Same story with the light fixture. I just haven't found exactly what I want in here. To be honest, I'm not sure exactly what I want, but it will hit me when I see it!

Hope you've enjoyed the dining room tour. As always, please leave comments and suggestions!

Bedroom Fabric Inspiration!

2010-07-08T13:04:00.000-07:00

Well, I have another excuse for no dining room update...no camera. That's right, we forgot and left it last time I went to visit my parents, so that gets me off the hook for a little while longer on the dining room. That said, I really do apologize for the sporadic posting. So many of the blogs I follow post so often I find myself reading more inspiration than giving it...which is fine by me, but no point in having a blog if I don't post, right?

I feel like I've finally gotten our living room to a place I'm happy with (for now...until I decide to rearrange and redorate...again). And now my obsession has moved into the bedroom. (DECORATING the bedroom, people! Get your mind out of gutter!). Right now, we've got a great khaki tufted velvet headboard mostly because it takes up less space than a full-on bed and, being in an older home, we've got a small bedroom. We've got a Pottery Barn-esque rug with deep reds, olive greens, and a very pretty light blue color in it that I love with the color of our walls. The curtains are Pottery Barn linen, which I love, but I'm guessing you can sense an overwhelmingly neutral tone in here. Khaki headboard, khaki curtains, brown duvet.....yeah, it's

With the rug being the only colorful part of the room, I decided to use is as inspiration to find fabrics to customize our bedding. Here's what I'm thinking...Three euro shams & a matching bedskirt in this toile...

Then some bolster pillows in a great stripe like this one...

And finally a few extra throw pillows and upholstered vanity stool in something similar to this...

Oooh, and one more thing! Some trim like below and a little of the striped or dotted fabric and the bottom of my curtains...

What do you think? It's a little more "mature" than my usual choices, but I want something classic that I'll keep for a long time- especially if I'm going to make the investment in nice fabric and custom made shams. And honestly, I prefer a solid duvet cover that can blend in with whatever decorating phase I'm going through at the time. This way I'm really just accessorizing.

Once I've made final decisions on the master bedroom, I'll move on to the guest room, which I plan to do a in a little more fun and playful style.

I'm planning to go fabric shopping soon! (Which I will document because you have GOT to see this great little fabric outlet I found...crazy deals, I tell ya).

Opinions, please!

~Katie

I'm Digging So Haute!

2010-06-02T07:08:00.000-07:00

Ok, guys...so maybe the "it's coming" post I threw up there a bajillion years ago was a bit of a fib. We hosted a get together a little while back and moved some extra tables in the dining room for food and drink and let's just say...they are still there...because lugging them back down the steep staircase to the basement just hasn't been a priority for us lately. But I PROMISE I will post dining room photos very soon! I still have one blank wall that I'm trying to collect some art pieces for but other than that, I'm pretty happy with its current state!

That being said, I wanted to post today to share a blog I've recently discovered. It's by no means "new", but it's new to me and I'm officially obsessed. I just read an entire year's worth of posts on it last night and just had to share with you.

Meet decorating and lifestyle expert Nicole Gibbons.

She's a savvy, stylish New Yorker with mid-west roots and a whole lot of good taste! Her blog covers all things decorating, design, style, entertainment, and travel. She's also a publicist for a well-known fashion brand. (I haven't figured out which one yet). Bottom line- she's got great taste, an adorable apartment, and I want every outfit I've seen her wear in a photo.

Enjoy her blog and take a look at her awesome apartment. I hope you love as much as I do! I'll be adding her link to the blog list on the right side of my blog!

Coming Soon: A finally finished dining room, custom fabric bedding & discount fabric shopping, how to create an inviting guest room, and a few bits of inspiration!

~Katie

It's Coming....

2010-04-16T12:01:00.000-07:00

That's right, loyal readers, tonight is the night....the night I finally reveal my newly decorated dining room. It's been a long time coming and isn't even necessarily complete, but it's as complete as it's going to get for a while. I'll have it tidied up and photos taken and posted by tonight! Hope you enjoy!

Dining Room Sneak Peak

2010-03-02T07:56:00.001-08:00

Sorry for the lengthy time between posts but I've been taking care of sick husband and planning a huge fundraiser event that you'll be happy to know went off without a hitch! Over $100K raised for our local autism center!

That being said, it's time for a new post. Not only have I not had time to post, but I haven't had much time to work on pending projects either! So, today, you'll just see the inspiration for my current project! I've been dreaming about a new dining room set up since my first Want It Wednesday post and the day of dining room redecorating is looming near! I found an antique dining table that needs a little refinishing (working on it people!) and slipcovered parson chairs that are awaiting their monogram. See my inspiration photo below.

via www.countryliving.com

The entire room is a little traditional for my taste. But this is literally my exact table. My parson chairs will have full length skirts instead of these slipcovered chairs, but the overall aesthetic is very similar. With a more contemporary drum shade pendant chandy, my vintage eclectic dining room will be complete. (Oh, and with the new sideboard that I will...fingers crossed...purchase this weekend!)

via www.paloma81.blogspot.com

via www.thethriftynester.blogspot.com

via www.decorpad.com

via www.decorpad.com

Hope you enjoyed these lovely images! Can't wait to reveal my new dining room to you soon!

~Katie

Southern Living in My Living Room

2010-02-10T19:35:00.000-08:00

Ok, so the title of this post is a little misleading. Southern Living was not doing a photo shoot of my magnificent living room....in my dreams. But for those of you who don't know, the magazine has it's own line of home decor. It's set up a little like Mary Kay in that you can host a party in your own home. A rep/consultant will bring some samples of the product and it gives you and your friends an excuse to (in the case of my party) eat pasta, drink wine, and buy lots of pretty things! As a hostess you earn discounts and credits! I used mine to get a few new things.

Like this Santorini Urn for my living room....

The color is beautiful and really blends well with our Rocky Mountain Sky painted living room. And my husband is Greek, so I like the name.

I paired it on our TV console with some chippy candleholders I was given as a wedding gift...

And the verdict is....I love it!

I also found a few things to dress up my fireplace. You may remember that I've pointed this fireplace out as a major design dillema before. The mantle is too high and it just looks bare no matter what I do. Well, I got a beautiful firescreen to dress it up a bit.

The screen was a "hostess special" and you wouldn't believe the deal I got! It's got feet (which you can't see in the photo...should really pay more attention to detail when taking those), and the middle portion is actually a door that opens so you don't have to move the entire screen to poke the fire or throw on a log. I love love love the acorn finial on the top!

The hurricanes up top are new from the Southern Living at Home line as well. They're a coppery bronze color with a georgous turqoise patina on them. I used them to flank a bronze mirror I already owned and a "G" that plays musical rooms around our house...he just goes wherever I need him! I haven't decided what to put inside them yet. I'm thinking some creamy white candles on moss to bring some springtime cheeriness into the room...maybe easter eggs in April...and I can already see gold & silver ornaments for next December!

All in all, the SLAH party was a success! I got few more things for the house, but I'll save those for a later post!

~Katie

Want It Wednesdays

2010-02-10T12:41:00.000-08:00

It seems like the only thing I can manage lately is the weekly Want It Wednesdays posts. I apologize for the sparsity in my blogging lately, but life has taken a turn for the busy if you know what I mean. Not only is it hard to find the time to post...it's hard to find the time to finish all of my projects to even post about! A vicious cycle, it tell you...

Now moving on to the wants! My last few "wants" have been pretty major things...new furniture and lighting. And let's just be honest with ourselves, those kind of large purhases just aren't a daily occurence in my house...if they are in your house...you're probably reading the wrong blog, honey. Either way, I decided to tone it down a little this week with a few smaller wants.

I've been dreaming of French toile lately. Now I firmly believe it can look outdated and stuffy if you put it on every chair, couch, and curtain rod you own...but in well proportioned doses, it is quite elegant and pretty. And where else do I want to put it but the LEAST elegant room in the house....THE BATHROOM! I know, I know- first the mirrors, now the toile! But take a look at this...via www.potterybarn.com

Pretty foliage and sweet little birds in my teeny tiny bathroom sounds delightful! So, yes please, Pottery Barn...I'll have that. K thanks.

And speaking of sweet little birds...I LOVE ALL THINGS BIRDS....nests? love 'em....eggs? love 'em... And check out this pretty Thomas Paul pillow from www.allmodern.com.

Love it too! So that's it...I will not allow myself to want any large things this week (yeah right....I'm just not admitting them). So here are my watered-down Want Its! Hope you enjoy! What do you want????

~Katie

Want It Wednesdays (Even Though It's Thursday)

2010-02-04T12:42:00.000-08:00

For this (late) installment of "Want It Wednesdays", I'll recap a little from last week's post and talk about what I'm lusting over this week!

So last week I posted about my burning desire for a new dining room table. Well, the round table didn't happen, BUT I did snag a large rectangular dining room table for a sweet deal. It seats 6 comfortably and could probably fit eight if I really tried. It needs to be sanded down and stained (as almost every piece of furniture I bring in does), but I was waiting until I decided on chairs befored I chose the stain. Well, I decided to go with white upholstered, skirted parsons chairs. They'll be coming in any day now and then the slipcovers will be off to get monogrammed. I should be able to post a whole new dining room in the next two weeks or so!

Now that I've got the furniture (and a newly redecorated wall and buffet that you will see in my next post), I'm moving on to....what else?! THE CEILING! Currently this thing is hanging above the table....

And for those of you who are giving it the benefit of the doubt thinking "oh, well that could be cute country cottage-ish"....no, not so much. This thing is straight up 1995 Home Depot clearance rack. I think the previous owner of the home "thought" they were updating by putting this in.

So isntead I would love to grace my ceiling with the presence of THIS BEAUTY!

via www.overstock.com

Just imagine it hanging over my new table and chairs (that you'll also need to imagine for the time being). Perfection.

I've also been thinking about what to put on the empty wall of my bathroom. I'm not really into the bathroom-themed stuff and our bathroom is very neautral...white and khaki. So at first I wanted to add something with a little color. But alas, bold colors just are really for me. Then I ran across this photo on www.inthefunlane.com and I think it's originally from Martha Stewart.

I love how bright and open the room looks with all of the mirrors. And I love the eclectic collection inthis photo....

And considering how small our bathroom is, all that reflection can only be a good thing!
So it looks like this week I'll be off scavenging for vintage, frameless mirrors to create a collection for the bathroom wall. And I'll be purchasing the dining room fixture in the next few weeks as well. (I'm still working on the patio furniture...using my birthday as an excuse to get it and I think it's starting to work on the husband)!

By the way, how do you like the new look for my blog? It's fun right?! Props to www.backgrounfairy.com for the design!

Go forth, followers, and WANT! (Even though it's Thursday...and wanting is only allowed on Wednsedays.....yeah right).

~Katie

Wow! That's a Green Wall: Pottery Barn Bedroom Makeover

2010-02-01T13:56:00.000-08:00

Warning: There is not a final "after" of this Before & After post yet, but there will be soon.

I spend a good bit of the weekend making over a friends bedroom. It's been a while since I've done a major overhaul on a room and it was so fun to watch the progress! Here is her room before....

There is absolutely nothing wrong with it...she's got all the essentials: pretty bed, seating, night stand, dresser/mirror, even a media center (that you can partially see on the right side of the photo). The furniture is really pretty in a dark mahogany color and the cute chair adds a little vintage touch to the room. You almost can't tell in the photo but her bedding is a very, VERY light robin's egg blue. It's a very pretty color, but up against the almost empty beige wall, and the beige ceiling, and the beige carpet....well you get the point...it's a little, dare I say, drab.

Haley was looking forward to creating a bedroom she could really enjoy! Something bright, and cheerful! When she she told me she wanted me to help, I was definitely excited. But when she told me she wanted to paint an entire wall green.....well, that's when I really got into it.

This lovely Pottery Barn bedding was her inspiration...

via www.potterybarn.com

So, first stop was to order the bedding. Since she had a 10% discount for in-store purchases only, we went into the store and had them order it there. Even though it was ordered online, because we were "in the store", the discount still applied! YAY! Also, if you live in the Birmingham area and need assistance at the Summit Pottery Barn, ask for Holly...she was awesome!

Using the bedding as inspiration, we headed to Home Depot for paint. She chose Behr's "Granny Smith Apple Green".

With my super-fly paint rolling skills...

We really made some progress....

And it finally turned into this....

The photo shows the wall looking a little on the lime side, but the paint dried to be a nice mossy, peridot color. And remember, that the new bedding will be here in just a few days. Then I will post the final "after"! Once the bedding is on, the room is going to have a fun, cohesive look! I'll post the final results soon!

Cheers to Haley and her almost made-over, cheerful bedroom!

~Katie

Weekend Finds!

2010-01-24T18:41:00.001-08:00

I spent a good bit of time this weekend getting rid of home décor. I took a few of my things to a friend's yard sale and managed to clear some space in the basement. But you know that doesn't mean I didn't find a few new (or old) things to replace them! My first find this weekend developed from a trade off. My friend hosting the yard sale gave me this great huge seagrass tray in exchange for a couple of items of mine.

Since the addition of the larger coffee table , I've been looking for something to put on top that didn't obstruct views at eye level. I hate a tall piece in the middle of a table that people have to look across…it just doesn't make any sense! I also wanted something that served a functional purpose like holding the remotes, magazines, etc. This tray is the perfect size for the table, adds great texture, and looks great with the rest of the room. Now, I'm on the hunt for similar baskets to put underneath the table to hold blanket and dog toys!

After the yard sale, I hit up a few antique stores and scored a few small things like this vintage apothecary jar to store cotton balls in the bathroom.

I'd like to find another, larger one to display my monogrammed soap collection. I'll have to keep an eye out for that.

I also found some great vintage plates.

One is white with scallop detailed edges and the small blue one has a greek key and clover design. I especially like the blue one. My husband is Greek so I love most anything with the greek key motif. These will go with the rest of the small, but growing collection that will eventually adorn one of the walls in my dining room. I foresee a lot of plate arranging in my future before I'll be able to commit and actually hang them!

So there you have it! My finds for this weekend!

~ Katie

Want It Wednesdays

2010-01-20T18:51:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the first Want It Wednesdays post. I'm contantly thinking of projects I want to do and pieces I want to add to my home. So why not designate an entire day/post of the week to some of the things I'm dying to have? And believe me, at one day a week, this could take yyyeeeaarrrsss.

1. Round Dining Room Table: I love a round dining room table. It just feels so inviting! Our home isn't really a "head of the table" type of environment so the idea that everyone is included and facing each other during a meal is very appealing to me. Currently, we have a bar height four top table with matching bar height chairs that serves it's purpose.

I like the dark wood and clean lines, but it's a little modern (and dull) compared to the rest of the house which has a more vintage cottage vibe. It was a gift from my parents for my first apartment, which it fit perfectly, but we now have a dining room that could host a larger table like this beauty.

via http://www.restorationhardware.com/ (duh)

I'd love to have this table or a DIY project that garnered similar results...with some cream slip covered chars and a silver bowl of fresh fruit in the center. Done. My ideal dining set.

2. New Patio Furniture: The second item(s) on what my husband considers an endless list is new outdoor furniture for our front deck/patio. It's a large...almost as large as our living room actually, and can handle several different seating/dining areas in it's space. It currently looks like this:

Please don't judge to harshly as it's been wet and freezing here for week, my flowers are dead dead dead, and the entire deck just isn't up to it's spring time par. What you see in the picture is a mixture of old and new. The antique white rod iron benches were a fairly recent purchase from Garden Ridge. The chimanea was a recent gift from my parents for my husband's birthday, the black rod iron table and chairs were given to us by my mother in law, and the planters were left here when we purchased the house. I couldn't fit it all in the photo but just two the right are two teak arm chairs with a small rod iron and wicker table between them. Altogether, it's just a little hodge podge. Neither Gusty nor I had a large outdoor space before we got married and just weren't prepared to fully furnish this huge deck. It saddens me that we've neglected it because it's truly the first part of the house people see and it was our favorite part and a large factor when we bought the house. So what I'd loooove to see out there is.....

and

Both images from www.potterybarn.com

I definitely want to include a dining table as Gusty and I love to have people over to cook out and enjoy the outdoors, our charming bamboo, and the view. But I also want a relaxing seating area that really gives it the feel of not just a patio, but an outdoor room. I think these pieces all tie in well together, but jointly have a pretty large price tag. So between now and spring, I'll be on hte lookout for a budget friendlier alternative....or I'll be sweet talking the hubby.

So that's it fearless readers, my first Want It Wednesday posts. I'm constantly adding things to my "long term, but I wish it was short term" wish list and I look forward to sharing them with you each week! Feel free to share yours as well!

~Katie

Wallet Friendly Art that Really Makes a Statement

2010-01-17T21:22:00.000-08:00

I love a beautiful collection of art in a home. It adds so much interest and gives so much insight into the kind of person a home owner is. Whether it's modern abstract paintings, traditional oil still lifes, pop art photography...I could go on and on. I've been in so many houses (my husband's a realtor) with breathtaking artwork...the kind it takes a lifetime to collect...and almost a lifetime to afford. But let's face it, I'm not filling my house with artwork that costs as much as my car anytime soon. The true value of art is in the eye of the beholder. For me, it's the ultimate accessory in a home and I've found a way to do a little "collecting" of my own without comprising my paycheck. Here are a few tips (and photos) I have to share.

1. Vintage/Antique/Hand-me-Downs: I'm lucky on this one as my mother-in-law owned an antique store at one point and her storage house is full of great finds. She's always showing up with something new (but very old) for us to use in our home like this...

If you aren't lucky enough to have some great vintage/antique pieces in the family, go find some of your own. Check out what's hanging out in our bedroom...

I discovered these two antique ceiling tiles from a pile o' crap in the back room of the antique store just down the street. I paid $15 a piece for them and they fit perfect on this wall. Now to you, these may not be "art", but to me they are. Someone designed them, someone made them, and the "well loved" look of them as I like to call fits in just perfectly with our taste and decor.

2. Etsy: Etsy.com is another great place to find original artwork from paintings to drawings to mixed media as well as vintage prints of anything from birds to botanicals to primitive cars. Which is what you see here.

I purchased these vintage car prints on Etsy and had them custom framed to go above our sofa. They are one of my favorite finds. It's easy to search by category or just type in what you're looking for and whether it's handmade or vintage. The inventory is simply limitless and your chances of finding something you like are high. And for the most part, prices are great because your are typically purchasing directly from the artist and not paying any kind of gallery fees.

3. DIY: A theme you'll hear alot on this blog is "do it yourself"! I recently starting photographing again for the first time in a long time. I got some great shots of local landmarks in our town (I'm a sucker for vintage theatre signs) and turned it into this... (excused the blurry photo please)

I found a frame that matched beautifully with the wine rack below and great linen matting and saw it as an opportunity to showcase some of my own (amateur) work. Most of our guests are surprised to learn it's something I did myself. It's not hard for anyone to take a camera our and get some great shots...so the next time you've got a wall to fill, look to yourself for a little inspiration. (Shameless self-promotion...you can check out some of my photography at www.photonest.etsy.com )

4. Local Art Festivals: This is another great way to purchase art without paying a gallery fee. We just recently had an local art festival in our neighborhood park where I purchased this.

It's a charcoal and pencil sketch on recycled burlap mounted to a salvaged cabinet door. How's that for eco-friendly? I bought it from a local artist for less than $100 and part of the proceeds went to benefit a local non-profit. So I helped someone else and I helped my bare wall at the same time. I actually just relocated this piece above the desk in our guest room to make way for the new artwork I purchased for our dining room. I will post photos once they are hung!

So that's it, loyal readers, those are my tips for filling your home will beautiful art and banishing bare walls forever without squandering your unborn child's college fund! Let me know if I can ever suggest local sources in Birmingham for you as I spend alot of Saturday's scavenging for new, unique pieces for my home!

~Katie

Updating a Sofa

2010-01-17T20:56:00.000-08:00

So we all know the easy "inside the box" ways to update a piece of seating furniture- throw some new accent pillows on it, a throw, or the ultimate...have it recovered. And since I just finished having a loveseat recovered for almost the same amount as the piece actually cost me, I will NOT be doing that again anytime soon. Don't get me wrong- I would reupholster almost everything in my house if I had the skill, but I'm done paying someone else to do it. Anyway, I have a point, I really do...You see, I'm not a big fan of our sofa. It was purchased for me by my parents when I got my first apartment after college and it served it's purpose well, but now...not so much my cup of tea. It's small, not the most comfortable thing in the world, it's microfiber, and I HATE the feet. I know...it's a wierd thing to hate, but I truly do. The more you read this blog, the more you'll find that I love just about anything from Restoration Hardware, especially the English Roll Arm Upholstery Collection and I am OBSESSED with this sofa. But since I was just complaing about paying to reupholster a loveseat, you can rightfully assume I won't be purchasing it anytime soon.

One of the things I love most about the RH sofa is the feet and I've decided that is my GENIUS solution to updating my sofa with a new look. The feet on mine currently look like this...

Image via www.tablelegs.com

They are very casual, which is really ok for the vibe of my living room, but they are short and the sofa sits lower to the ground than any other piece in the room. And I just plain don't like them. So I'm going to replace them (they just screw right off...it's that easy) with these:

Image via www.tablelegs.com

Not necessarily formal, but a little dressier than what I currently have. They'll lift the sofa higher from the floor and add a little architectural interest. They come unfinished to I can stain them to match my coffee table perfectly. I'm very excited about this project as it doesn't seem as though it will be too difficult but I am confident it will make a huge difference. The feet are priced well and won't be too expensive of a project either. And every time I lust for that RH sofa, I can look at my new feet and be content....for the time being.

I love The Nester's mantra that "it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful." I'm a total believer in that. These may not be the feet my sofa came with, but with a little effort, they will be beautiful in our home. I will update you once the feet are here and I've finished the project with a step by step "how I did it" in case you want to take on a similar project in your home.

~Katie

Coffee Table Update

2010-01-13T19:58:00.000-08:00

If you read my last post, you know I've been teetering on the verge of upholstering a great-shaped coffee table I snaged for a deal. It needed a little TLC and I found the perfect fabric, but once the foam and batting were placed on top, I became concerned about the height of the table. So in an effort to stall, I decided to sand down and stain the entire things and use it as just a table. My husband helped me sand it down (that's definitely my least favorite part) and I stained it with left over stain we used on our french doors a while back, so the project literally cost me nothing! Here's the finised product....

And, of course, the pretty details on the sides and legs...

Aside from some slight imperfections in the stain (most likely due to poor lighting in the basement where we worked on it), I'm happy with the outcome. The color is great...it's a bit darker than the camera shows...and it blends well with the rest of the wood in the room. And the best part is, I got to keep the ball feet! That is until I get bored with it in two months, chop them off, and reupholster it the way I originally planned! :)

It's important to remember that you don't have to spend thousands of dollars on a luxury piece for your room. If you choose quality pieces (even if they are from the thrist store) and put a little sweat equity into them, they can become a beautiful addition to the room. Had I purchased a table like this brand new from somewhere like Restoration Hardware (not that I don't LOVE RH), I would be out close to $2k. But this project cost less than a pair of shoes...hmmm...shoes....not a bad idea.

Now if only I had THIS underneat it....

~Katie

And an upclose shot of the pretty details:

Just a Quick Little Post

2010-01-12T07:55:00.000-08:00

Just to update you on coffee table dilemma, Gusty and I sanded down and stained the table last night. We used a Minwax Gel Stain in "Walnut". It's currently drying in our basement (it's taking a while since it's so cold here) and I have my fingers crossed that it will turn out great! I plan on moving it back up into the living room tonight and will try to get some photos and post them! Thanks for you suggestions!

To Upholster or Not To Upholster

2010-01-10T19:10:00.000-08:00

In my last post, I gave you a "tour" of our living room, but left out a critical piece of furniture. That's because I think it deserves its own post!

Ah, the coffee table. I used to have these adorable, salvaged window coffee table in our living room:

I bought it from a friend when I moved into my first apartment after college and I absolutely love it, but it was just too small for the space in our new house. I was in desperate need (or lust) for a larger round or square coffee table. First it was just that I wanted a new size and shape, but then it turned into an obsession with an oversized tufted ottoman table like the one here, but I wasn't down for the price tag. So I found a tutorial on how to make one myself at the Little Green Notebook and quickly found the perfect size and shaped coffee table at the local Salvation Army. It's 38x38 inch square. The top needs major sanding and restaining, but check out the gorgeous detail on the sides and the legs.

I also found some fabulous fabric at a local discount fabric store that I'd love to reupholster it with. I ordered custom cut foam to fit the top and purchased batting from my local Joann's Fabric Store. But I've been keeping the table in the basement and didn't bring it into the living room around the rest of my furniture until I was getting ready to upholster it and I realized that once I added the foam and the batting, it was just too tall. I could cut the ball feet off to shorten it, but that would definitely take away from the character and shape of the piece.
And then I got this great estate sale piece I talked about in my last post.
So now I'm thinking I may use the fabric for the chair and just do a total makeover on the coffee table by sanding it down and staining it with leftover dark walnut stain we used recently on our front french door. Pulling the fabric and batting over the side would hide so much of what I love about the table. And that would leave me enough fabric for a couple of throw pillows to scatter around the rest of the furniture so that the fabric shows up in different areas of the room.

So loyal readers, all 1 or 2 of you, what are your thoughts? I think for now I am going to work on staining the table until I make my final decision. But your opinion is desperately needed!

~ Katie

House Tour: The Living Room (and some estate sale finds!)

2010-01-10T14:16:00.000-08:00

This weekend lent itself to some nice estate sale scavenging!

Gusty found himself some tools which he has already used to trim (chop) down the overgrown crape myrtles in our front yard that the previous owner had let grow way beyond their intended height. And I found this beauty.....

I LOVE THIS CHAIR. You can't tell very well by the photo, but the fabric has a little bit of pink in it, making it less than perfect for the room, but it actually blends in our living room pretty well for the time being. I know I want to upholster it, but I'm undecided on what type of fabric I want to use. Those were our only finds for the day, but I definitely consider the morning a success because I LOVE this chair. The shape and color of the frame (antique white) and the cane siding are just my style.

So as promised, this post is the beginning of what I like to call "The House Tour." I'll be taking you room by room through our house highlighting the things I love, the things I'd like to change, and what projects I have going on (almost every room has at least one project at any one time). The living room has been my biggest focus as it is the room we use the most and the most public room of the house. When we bought the house, almost every room was painted a boring beige with an awful tinge of pink to it. We decided to paint the living room a calm grayish blue. We found the perfect shade of Behr called Rocky Mountain Sky. I think it turned out to be a great decision. It keeps the room from being your typical boring khaki or beige, but still keeps it neutral so that I'm not stuck in a strict color scheme.

When you first walk into or living room, this window is to your right and probably one of the first things you see.
Notice all the trees and no house lurking too close by. That is one thing we fell in love with about this house. It sits up on a steep hill and just about every room has view of nothing but tree tops and blue sky. And when the leaves have fallen in the fall and winter season, we have a decent little view of city lights.

So, back to the window, we found two great dark brown leather club chairs at a discount store a few years ago that we originally used to stage Gusty's house to sale before we got married. They're pretty sturdy pieces and add a nice, modern flair to our predominantly vintage cottage. The drum table was a STEAL at (probably) around $60 from an auction at our local antique store...and when I say local, I mean within 5 minutes walking distance. We love walking over, grabbing a coffee, and browsing their eclectic inventory. I added a unique lamp I received as a wedding gift from some of my hostesses and a grouping of photos of family and friends. I do feel like this area is still a little bare because I do not have any treatments on the window. At our last house, I had only needed 4 panels for the living room windows and now can't find any additional ones that match, so I'm on the lookout for all new drapes for the entire room.

To the left, on the same wall as the front door, is this fireplace flanked by two large crank windows.
This fireplace, while adding great architectural interest and symmetry to the room, has been a major problem for me. I LOVE a home with a fireplace, but I've hard a hard time deciding what to put on this one. The mantle is too high, making the bottom half look naked, and it's skinny, making it hard to layer objects on it. So for now, this HUGE antique white frame I snagged from a yard sale for about $30 lives here. I'd love to give the fireplace a whole new makeover with a new mantle, but there are too many projects higher on my priority list right now.

Opposite of the fireplace (and the front door) is the focal wall that houses our sofa. I recently purchased some great vintage prints of early primitive cars on Etsy. They were pretty inexpensive, but the custom framing was a fairly pricey project.
Here's an up-close look at them. I absolutely love the outcome. The matting is ivory and the frames are beautiful brushed copper that takes on several different shades depending on the lighting and angle.
The mirror over the mantle was originally over the sofa, but I felt like it was super girly and wanted something a little more gender-neutral for the focus wall (considering between the dogs and I, poor Gusty is the only man in the house). I think they add a great vintage touch and are definitely conversation starters as they actually have the name of the models hand written on them.

So, besides the two leather club chairs, the sofa, and the new estate sale find, I have one other piece of seating furniture which is the loveseat. We originally purchased it in a beautiful cream color, but should have known that was a poor decision considering the two dogs. It wasn't long (maybe 6 months) before it started looking super rough and worn, so we decided to have it reupholstered. There are very few things I'd like to learn to do more than conquering sewing and upholstery, but I just haven't gotten around to it yet....Hey! I'm only 24! I've got plenty of time, right?
We chose a great fabric from Waverly called Pascal-Bourbon. It's got a heavy texture/weave that's very durable, but still soft and comfortable. It's got a little bit of a deeper color than this photo shows, making it much easier to keep clean. We are definitely enjoying actually sitting on this piece now without constantly worrying about getting it filthy!

So, these are the major parts of our living room. We only have one common living area, as opposed to a den + a formal living room, so my focus here is to make it a comfortable, cozy livable space with quality pieces (at bargain, budget prices). You may have noticed I left out one of the most crucial pieces of a living room: the coffee/cocktail table. Ah, do not fret, multitudes of people who ready this blog! That will be my next post! In the meantime, I'd love comments and suggestions on the space (especially my sad fireplace...it's really got me stumped!).

~ Katie

This Little Nest

2010-01-08T08:28:00.000-08:00

Hi, there! There is most likely no one reading this post (yet), but the first post sets the tone, right? So here goes. I created this blog to journal the process of growing my house into a home for myself and my family, which includes my husband, Gusty...

and our two dogs, Ali and Sushi...
We've been in our house just over a year now, and I am finally progressing from the mindset of furnishing to creating an warm, welcoming environment in our home. And I have to admit that I'm pretty addicted to it. I spend alot of my time looking for inspiration online and realized, so are alot of you! So why not blog about my experience of a real woman trying to create a beautiful home with real parameters (like a budget and a husband that watches it closely). It's important for myself (and you) to remember that it's not about the THINGS in a house that makes it a home, but using those things to create an environment in your home that is therapeutic, warm, inviting, romantic, exciting, cozy, fresh....you get the idea. So, I invite you to follow along as I do just that. I'll be posting alot about my own home and family, but will also use this blog to share ideas, inspirations, and deals on creating a home environment. In addition, I'd love for you to offer up your own opinions and ideas! So thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy This Little Nest.

Next post...our home.