LIVING ROOM UPDATE (PART 2)

I’ve been going through the very slow process of transforming my home into something that works a little better for this family. Something that fits the stage of life we are in – toddler proof, dog proof, STRESS PROOF (is that possible?!) – but still feels good, you know? I really want it to feel light, fun, but still “put together.” And amazingly, I’m actually starting to think it’s coming together quite nicely! It feels comfortable, which makes me stress far less about the constant state of mess that it’s in. It will always be a work in progress, of course, and there are rooms upstairs that go mostly ignored (ahem, the master and guest bedrooms…), but heck, I’ll take what I can get!

If you recall, the living room looked a little something like this…

Overall, not a whole lot has changed, eh? But that coffee table makes a world of a difference. It brightens up the whole room and gives it a better balance. To be honest, I initially wasn’t the biggest fan – something just seemed…off. But adding that pouf was a great move in so many ways (if I do say so myself!). It creates much more of an equilibrium with the oversized coffee table, provides extra seating, and excellent entertainment/climbing practice for the kid. He even rolls it across the house Cross Fit style so yeah, totally worth the investment (found ON SALE at West Elm! Unfortunately, it’s no longer available, but they do have other great choices).

The coffee table, by the way, was a $50 flea market find that I painted in Annie Sloan’s “Old White,” lightly distressed, and sealed with a beeswax. I originally refinished it with the intention to sell…a huge problem I have, actually. I only find and refurbish pieces that I would choose to have in my own home, and more often than I am willing to admit, this is exactly what happens – they end up in my own home. First world problem, I know.

As much of a “problem” that it is – I love that my home is full of pieces I’ve created. Is it perfect? NO. Sometimes these pieces are picked and painted to fill a void until something better comes along or goes on sale (hello Anthropologie, I’m talking to you…), but it makes my home mine and I know there is no other out there like it. It really is my happy place (framed picture courtesy of A Beautiful Mess after I pre-ordered their book). And I don’t know about you, but I’m getting really tired of seeing the same products and style in what seems like EVERY HOME in the blogosphere. I love the midcentury, but come on guys, give it a break and switch it up every once in a while!

Speaking of midcentury and quickly getting off of my high horse…I do plan on adding a little midcent style to my own home in the form of a 1960’s vintage record player cabinet courtesy of the hubby’s parents (meaning FREE!). It’s something they owned for longer than needed, and knowing my love for all things vintage, they drove it down from NYC and passed it on to very willing hands. And now it sits in my studio, waiting for a little hemp oil and muscle (aka The Husband) to get it home. Guess where it’s going to end up? Yep, that’s right – the living room!

Part 3 coming soon…

Feeling the Bohemian Vibe + Gift Ideas

Perhaps it’s my desire to adopt a more carefree attitude, or my need to relinquish a little more control (it’s so hard!), but I have recently found myself drawn to that laid-back, bohemian vibe.

I know that I will never be that true free spirit – I simply care too much about the judgments of others and I’m way, WAY too uptight to fully let that part of myself go. But as you may have read, I have been attempting to let go to the best of my ability and insert bits and pieces of this spirit into my daily life.

With that said, of course it only makes sense to insert some of that bohemian vibe into the one room I spend most of my time in…

A livable, plush living room with a bohemian flair via Lonny

Currently, my living room is a bit too Pottery Barn-ish with a neutral, natural color scheme. But, since I can’t disregard the furniture I already have, I am going with a vintage, cottage-y, bohemian style…

Yes, I definitely need a little more panache in my life! And for me, adding this flair makes it more inviting and child-friendly. So with credit card and wish list in hand, I went ahead and did a little Christmas shopping for myself…

All throw pillow via Society6

Throw blanket and rug via Ikea

You can find the prints here and here.

I must add, all of these accessories are $30 and under and would make the perfect holiday gift for those in your life that may need a little pick me up! Tis the season, my friends (one for you, one for me…).

Looking forward to sharing my mini-makeover with you once I get all these goodies in hand!

Incorporating the Modern…A Wishful Room Update.

There’s something about colder, crisper weather that makes me want to redecorate my entire house. Add to that my nesting instinct and it’s a recipe for trouble!

Of course, with a baby on the way, my decorating budget has dramatically decreased. And I’m pretty certain once my little one is in my arms I won’t give a second thought to what my house looks like for at least the first month, but in the meantime, a girl can dream, right?

Yep. There’s baby stuff around the house now!

When I moved into this home 2 years ago, I had a bit of an infatuation with Pottery Barn. Who doesn’t? But since then, my style has morphed a bit and I would love to incorporate a few modern touches. My new infatuation? Black and white!

However, I wasn’t sure how to incorporate this new infatuation with my much more rustic décor without spending an arm and a leg…until I realized that the answer was right under my feet!

Since my floors are a lovely, distressed black and white, I figured that I could easily (and cheaply!) tie this into the décor with a few fun throw pillows and blankets without things looking too hodge podge. So I turned to Etsy and Zara Home for some inspiration…

Let me explain…the throw blanket and pillow with yellow detail you see directly above would go on the armchair and incorporate the few pops of yellow that I already have around the room. And the remaining pillows would get arranged on the couch and would incorporate the teal-ish blue on the entertainment unit and game table/bistro chair.

I would also love to find or create a large piece of canvas art next to my fiddle leaf fig, and print out some fun artwork to replace in the two frames hung above the bench.

And voila! With very little effort I would have a completely new, modern vintage (“modage”) look. Now to replace the couch…

What do you think? Love it or hate it? Do you think the black & white clashes too much with the rug?

HOUSE TO HOME: DECORATING ON A BUDGET.

When my husband and I moved into our house a little over two years ago, it became our chance to mold and define our style together – other than a bed, an armoire (which I hate, by the way!), a couch, a chair, and an entertainment unit, we were starting fresh. And while there has been plenty of compromise and concession (ehem, like that armoire…), our house is finally evolving into a home that reflects our life and lifestyle together.

It’s a never-ending process, of course. The fact that we try to do as much as we can ourselves and by hand has slowed us down drastically! But this is something that I can’t help but appreciate (although sometimes not  until after the fact…) – a lot of blood, sweat, and tears have gone into this home so far!

So as someone who very much cares about the look of her home, has made an attempt to decorate said home on a budget, and as a self-taught DIY’er, I thought I’d share a few tips I’ve learned along the way:

1. Use what you already have.

Ever heard the phrase “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure?” Well, it’s time to start shopping your own trash and rediscover those hidden treasures! This entertainment unit, for example, was such an eyesore in my home. I hated it, despised it, and very badly wanted to trash it. My frugal husband, on the other hand, could see no logical reason in getting rid of it and since it was only purchased a couple years prior, insisted on keeping it. That’s where a good ole can of paint and a paintbrush come in – if you can’t toss it, then paint it! In just a few hours, I was able to transform the entertainment unit to something that meshed with our home décor and didn’t offend my sense of style. Is it ideal? Not quite, but it works for now. Which leads me to…

2. Be patient! Transforming a house into a home doesn’t – and shouldn’t – happen overnight.

When we first moved into this house, I wanted everything to be perfect immediately. I wanted every single room to feel complete, with rugs and curtains, a full set of furniture, a fresh coat of paint, and all the comforting details of a room that has been lived in. Problem was, the rooms hadn’t yet been lived in, not by us at least, and by trying to create something that only time and patience and living can create actually created nothing more than a stressful and artificial atmosphere. Take the time to find the rug that really appeals to you, a paint color that makes you light up every time you walk into a room, artwork that truly reflects your personality, and a dining table that you can imagine sitting at with friends and family for many, many years to come. Until then, get creative and make what you have work. Believe me, it’s worth it. This patience is also much easier on the wallet!

3. If you can’t find what you want at a price that you want it, then build it.

My husband and I love the look of original, distressed wood but this kind of furniture often comes with a hefty price tag. Luckily, we had the fortune of discovering old pallets and naturally weathered wood behind our shed when we moved and over the years, have put it to good use. So far, we have built a giant chalkboard, a console table, a sofa table, and a patio table and still have wood to spare! Don’t have weathered wood sitting behind your shed? Craigslist is the perfect place to find some. If weathered wood isn’t your thing, your local Lowes or Home Depot should do the trick! You can find the plans to build practically anything online.

4. Flea Markets and yard sales are your friend!

Going right back to that phrase “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”….it’s so true! I have found some amazing pieces for pennies simply by taking the time to scour thrift stores, flea markets, and yard sales. Sure, there are a lot of misses, but that one, perfect hit makes it all worthwhile.

(PS…crates are great for storing puppy or children’s toys!)

5. Paint your walls!

This is the first thing my husband and I did when we moved in – we painted our hallway and dining room in a color we love, and then we painted the living room, and the library, and then the kitchen; we painted an accent wall in the guest room and painted the nursery (once my office) twice. It’s amazing how something as simple as painting a wall can completely change a room, brighten it up, or add drama.

6. Create your own art.

Art is expensive and I am still in the process of finding the right pieces to fill my walls. However, one way I have managed to fill the empty space is simply by creating a hanging collection: a gallery of photos, a collection of hats and scarves, wall shelving filled with ironstone, even coats. Have a few old windows or empty frames laying around? Gather them together and layer them up! If you have scraps of pretty patterned material from your sewing supplies or old shirts, frame them and hang them. You can even collect a variety of leaves and flowers during your morning walk or afternoon hike, dry them for a few days between a phonebook, and again, frame them and hang them. Get creative!

In the end, a little creativity goes a long way and not only creates a home with a lot of personality, but also gives your wallet a little break. And believe me, I still have a long list of tips to share so stay tuned – I’ll be continuing the series next week!

Have some suggestions and home decorating tips to share? I’d LOVE to hear them!

DIY THURSDAY: REUPHOLSTERED DINING CHAIRS & A FEW NEW PURCHASES!

Ok ya’ll, let me start by stating: I am NOT a professional reupholsterer by any means. In fact, this was my very first attempt at reupholstering and, well, it isn’t my best work. But luckily, I practiced with very inexpensive drop cloth so…no harm no foul! And practice does make perfect, right?

So with that said, let me share with you my perfectly imperfect dining chairs!

I had been in search of new dining chairs for over a year when I discovered these chairs in the hands of a dealer and friend that I work with. Needless to say, I immediately fell in love – they were exactly what I was looking for! She had two of them in her space and when I sputtered my love for them, she mentioned that she just so happened to have two more in storage – SCORE! I snagged all four of them for an exceptional deal and went home a very happy camper indeed (thanks Ellen!!).

I painted two of them fairly quickly, in my go-to ASCP Old White, but they then sat around for a while as I got up the nerve to replace the stuffing and reupholster the seat. Let me tell you, it looks exceptionally easy but after pulling out hundreds of old, rusty staples, you’ll think otherwise!

I had a bit of trouble with 1. cutting the thick foam stuffing, so the seat corners ended up much more squared than rounded and 2. properly folding the drop cloth around those edges, so I simply folded the whole thing just like I would wrap a package. Whatever works, right?!

I have now finished two of them, have another painted and waxed and ready for reupholstering (waiting as I once again get up the nerve!), and one more needing the complete works.

Perhaps guests should think twice before sitting at my dining table…between seatless chairs and large dogs under the table, it could be dangerous!

But it’s coming together, slowly but surely!

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I also recently snagged a few pieces that didn’t need the slightest bit of upcycling (which makes me very happy!):

Ok, the mirror needs upcylcing, but the pie safe is pristine!

I had absolutely no intention of purchasing any furniture on my most recent thrifting trip – I have so many projects in the works that I’m already up to my ears! But when I came across this pie safe, I just couldn’t resist. Not only was it in perfect vintage condition, it was something I had every intention of keeping for myself. And when it was offered to me at an incredibly lowball price, I knew it was meant to be. I can’t wait to fill it with more ironstone!!

Next, I can’t say enough about a little town called Farmville, about an hour South of Charlottesville (VA). If you’re looking for furniture, this is THE place to go! In search of a new rug for the library and a glider for the nursery, my husband and I browsed through 12 warehouses and 700,000 square feet of showroom space that is Green Front Furniture. And holy moly! We ended up spending thousands of dollars and came home not only with exactly what we were looking for, but also a couple pieces that we weren’t. Like the leather chair you see next to the pie safe in the picture above (my husband is a very happy man!), and this guy…

It’s the perfect industrial-rustic touch for the library (aka Man Room).

With all these purchases, I think I’m going to need a bigger house soon!

THE CORNER OFFICE

If you read my previous post, you just may have heard the happy news: we’re expecting! And with a baby on the way, my mind is running a million miles a minute with all the things I need to do before the big arrival. I want every room in my home to be picture-perfect and magazine ready. I want to finish every single unfinished project sitting around the house. And I already have a collection of quick, easy, and healthy recipes that may possibly rival Martha Stewart’s. Some people like to call it “nesting,” but I just call it “crazy.”

And I’m pretty sure my crazy started with the nursery.

I have grand plans for the nursery, you see, but before I could get started on la chambre de bebe, I had to move my office/craft room into an itty bitty corner of the guest room. I felt a little disgruntled about getting stuffed into a corner (nobody puts Baby in the corner!) so to ease my crazy and to give myself a little pick-me-up, I purchased a new desk.

I think we’ve all seen the parsons desk (via West Elm) through our Pinterest stalking browsing…

…and since I’ve had my eye on it for quite some time, that’s exactly what I went with.

It’s a little outside my typical cottage-vintage style, but I love it. It’s sleek, it’s modern, and just a little glam with its glossy finish.

I need to hide the wiring and one day get a new computer, but as far as the office goes, I think crazy is content for a little while. Now on to the next room….

OH, SWEET SUCCULENTS!

Hello all and happy Spring! Although, I hate to say that it still feels like the dead of winter here in good ole Charlottesville (seriously, 35 degrees here people!). Oh, how I dream of warmth!

To give myself a bit of a Spring tease, however, I recently toted home a handful of succulents to strategically place around the house. But let me give you a little backstory first…

A few weeks ago my parents decided to pass off a vintage tea set to me. Despite the fact that I really don’t drink tea and have very little storage left in a home lacking closet and cabinet space…it’s impossible for me to turn down anything free and vintage! So I happily lugged it home and plopped the box in a corner of the dining room to sit for the next week.

Now, I’m quite the pro at letting things sit in corners for months at a time, but I’m really making the effort to actually use everything in my home – sort of a “use or lose” philosophy. So with that said, I unpacked the tea set and went about finding it a home, but with a vagrant tea set and a handful of succulents also without an abode, my aha! moment quickly struck….

A few more succulents here and there and voila! A little bit of indoor Spring whimsy. If only the outdoors would acquiesce…

Oh Spring, where art thou?

RAISING THE ROOF (OR JUST REMOVING IT) & CRAZY PUPPY ANTICS

Well hello my friends! I very unintentionally went on a bit of a hiatus. I must say, puppy ownership has been taking a bit of a toll and quite frankly, taking over my life lately! Owning and attempting to train a very large puppy is much different than having a purse-size puppy (aka Ms. Mattie-Lu). And while Ollie is still a giant lovebug, he’s also a bit of a monster. A monster that can already reach counter and table tops….

A rare moment of sleep…

I have been trying my darndest to provide consistent training and maintain my pack leadership using “calm, assertive energy” per Cesar Milan, but heck, it’s a constant power struggle with this oversized pup! Obedience class couldn’t come sooner – Feb. 2nd is my light at the end of the tunnel.

Today, however, I have a moment to myself – other than the dozen or so men pounding around on my roof…

Yep. Big house project happening as we speak – we are getting a new roof! And in order to keep peace in the house, Ollie-Face was sent to doggie daycare. (Insert sigh of relief HERE). And I’ll tell you what, for an entire day of puppy fun and socialization at $24, Ollie is going to become quite the regular. Thank you All Things Pawsibble! I think I may actually get to be productive today.

Now, let’s hope the roof replacement goes just as well…

ps…THANK YOU to all those that have stuck with me through my hiatus. I have a handful of projects in the works, a retail space to stock, and a studio to organize and I look forward to getting back into the blogging game and sharing it all with you! Much love.

AND JUST A FEW MORE HOLIDAY VIGNETTES FOR GOOD MEASURE…

Two more weeks and counting!

 

LINKED TO:

THE BIG BLACK BOX–REVISED…

If you refer all the way back to this post, you’ll recall just how much I hate my entertainment unit. My husband bought it when we were in our previous and much more modern apartment in DC, but now that we are in our 1918 farmhouse style home, it simply clashes…with everything.

The Big Black Box

While I couldn’t throw the piece out the door as was my initial instinct, I finally decided to take matters into my own hands with paintbrush and a few cans of paint.

I still have a few finishing touches, but here is a sneak peak:

Pictures and tutorial coming Thursday (oh, the suspense…)!

It still boggles my mind that it is next to impossible to actually find pictures of a television styled in a home. Although, I suppose it does make perfect sense – who really wants to see a towering and overbearing TV in the glossy pages of a magazine? But the reality of it is, we all have one. And if you happen to have a husband that enjoys football, you probably have a very large one! Truly, it’s impossible to hide so one must make do…

I think Miss Mustard Seed was the first to post a full frontal photo of an enormous TV setup that I actually liked:

She’s simply amazing, isn’t she?

I’ve come across a few interesting options since, so for those of you like me that have to live with the dreaded Big Black Box, this is for you!

Offset your TV on a large console with oversized art.

Frame your TV within a mantle piece. Or, if the TV is too large for a mantle (like mine) find or build a large, gilded frame to contain it.

Just put it all out there on an oversized easel!

Built-ins are your friend.

Or just stick it in a corner.

What do you think? How do you integrate and style your own “Big Black Box?” Pictures and ideas would be appreciated!