Category Archives: Home Decor

ANOTHER Bedroom Post (sorry!)

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Ahh the bedroom – all talk, no action on my end so far!  I swear, this room really is next on my list for a makeover said the girl who cried wolf.

Do you remember this inspiration board I had put together for our bedroom??

I still love it, BUT… the rug is going to end up being too small!  It took me oh… six months… but I finally took measurements, and the 5×8′ rug that used to be in the living room is not going to work in the bedroom!  You literally won’t be able to see it from underneath the bed.

So, I’ve decided to sell it, and get something larger.  With the option to choose a new rug (which by the way, RugsUSA is having a 60% off sale that ends today) my options for the room just got a whole lot more exciting.

You all know how much I ADORE a creme colored upholstered headboard with nail-head trim… but after months of thinking, I’ve come to the conclusion that a headboard in this color won’t stand out against our off-white walls and it won’t add much interest to the room (sad).  I’ve shifted gears, and I’m going to be brave with color!

What color??  Navy!  I am now thinking of a lush navy headboard that will be the room’s centerpiece.

Taking a look on RugsUSA, I’ve narrowed down my choices to these three rugs…

Amazing right??  Not only are all three of these available in 7.6’x9.6′ measurements, but all three are below $300 – one of them is even below $200 (can you guess which one??).

I can pretty much guarantee that Kris will veto the zebra print rug immediately, even though it looks so soft, the grey is so pretty, and I love a good zebra print if it’s not too crazy.  I’m not even going to pick that battle…

I love the bold pattern and the rich color on the navy rug, but I worry that it will be TOO graphic (is that possible?).  On the other hand, if we go for a navy headboard, this rug would really tie everything together.

The third option is a pretty neutral trellis rug.  This rug (like the zebra) looks incredibly soft, and I love the colors, but while it will be versatile no matter how much I change up the room, is it boring?  Also, is the trellis pattern too similar to the rug in our living room?

I need to make a decision today since the sale ends today – if I’m not getting 60% off, I can’t justify a new rug.  To help me make this decision, I’ve put together two new inspiration boards for the bedroom.

Here is the first one…

I like this option… I yellow and navy look so great together, so I could use the extra fabric from the roman shade in our hallway to make a few pillows, and whip up a quick navy chevron lumbar pillow as well.  I keep coming back to the fact that the rug is simple, and that it will go with everything, no matter how many times I change the accessories up.

I also like the idea that I can move it into the living room for a very different look since these rugs will be the same size!

Next up, is the inspiration board with the navy rug…

This just looks awesome, right??  Aside from looking super styled and tailored, the navy rug is also less expensive!!  It will be just $200 with taxes tacked on!  I think I am leaning a towards the navy rug, but my head keeps telling me that the neutral trellis is the “safe” choice.

I have some thinking to do, but by the end of today, I might have a new rug on it’s way!!  No tricks this Halloween, just treats!!

Cozy Fur Throw

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I took the plunge… this bad boy is the newest addition to our living room… more pictures to come later, but trust me when I say… it feels AMAZING.  Pretty sure that Kris and I will have to duke it out (or row-sham-bo) for this super soft, super cozy (faux) fur throw now that the weather is cooling off.

Sometimes it’s the smallest things that get me excited, but I am absolutely LOVING my new purchase.

Gallery Wall Inspiration

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I’ve been toying with the idea of creating a gallery wall on the very blah wall behind our couch.  In the ideal world, the couch would get the heave ho, but that’s another story for another day.  Working with what I’ve got, I desperately want to draw the eye up, and replace the blah black and white photos (from Ikea, where else) that are currently there.

The question now is, how do I want this gallery wall to look??

I could go with large white mats, identical frames, and hang them in a symmetrical grid like this…

Gallery Wall

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Or mix it up with photos, letters, frames, slats of wood, old keys, and whatever else just looks cool like these next two gallery walls…
Gallery Wall Wall Color
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gallery wall

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I could go black and white all the way, but mix up the size and shapes of the frames a bit…
Gallery wall
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I could go eclectic with varying frames of different colors…

gallery wall, rug

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Or I could get all “beautiful mind” on the wall, and go nuts with a thousand small frames packed tightly together (very cool,  but something tells me we are definitely NOT going there)…
wall to wall gallery
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What do you think?  Maybe I should snap some photos of the living room wall as it stands now…

Bar Cart Update

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I WISH I could say that this little vignette is the newest corner in our apartment, but alas… it’s not.  Remember this bar cart I had my eye on at the antique store a few weeks ago?  It was a steal at $200, but after thinking about it more and more, I liked it… but didn’t LOVE it.  It had the right qualities, but was just too simple.

The image of the bar cart below from Life in a Venti Cup (original source unknown) just reminded me how much I adore the look of a swanky cocktail cart, but perhaps I will hold out for something more ornate… even if it costs me more in the long run.

While the one I spotted a few weeks ago was nice, it lacked a lot of the detail this one has.  
I love the raised sides and how it almost looks like the top could be removed as a serving tray (perhaps it can), and I love that underneath there are slots for stemware, and bottles of wine.  We already have a small buffet with a wine rack built in, but as an avid wine drinker, it’s not nearly large enough for the collection that has started to amass.
For now, I am keeping my eyes peeled for the perfect bar cart…

Tripod Lamps

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Let me start by saying, Pinterest is evil.  It really is!  There are things on there that you never knew existed… and then, like flicking a switch, you suddenly NEED it… like right now.

Damn you Pinterest!!

This Tripod lamp is now added to the “need” list after seeing it on Pinterest.  Isn’t it just plain cool?  Cool in the same way that a globe is cool… or an old wooden box.  It looks old and collected, and I feel like it has a story (even if it’s brand new… you can make it up, right??) Between the brass legs, the warm wood, and that perfect little linen drum shade, I am wanting it real bad!

Luckily, I’ve got willpower, and will be exercising it, instead of instantly purchasing the Easton Tripod Floor Lamp from Joss & Main…

Nate Berkus at Target

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I was able to get myself over to Target over the weekend, and came across some VERY empty shelves.  I thought to myself, this is odd… and then realized… this is where the Nate Berkus collection had been… before it sold out… in A DAY.

Needless to say that I didn’t leave with much since the shelves were picked clean, but I am absolutely DYING over this little chevron urn, and that awesome asymmetrical lamp.  I’m actually kicking myself for not getting an adorable hammered metal bowl – perfect for holly berries, holiday sweets, or even a small hand soap in the bathroom.

Did anyone else have better luck than me??

Trestle Table Love

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love this rustic table
Oh my… this dining room is pretty much perfection – the great french doors and amazing light, molding, and architectural detail make this room fabulous on it’s own, but it’s this table I am most obsessed with!  
One of my favorite things I own is the table in our dining room.  It is a small pedestal table, just large enough for four.  It was a Craigslist find that is around 100 years old, and while the top is wobbly, and always seems to be at a slight angle, it has a beautiful turned pedestal that reminds me a lot of the detail on this trestle table above.  Isn’t it pretty?
Restoration Hardware has a trestle table that is absolutely amazing, but it comes with the Restoration Hardware price tag (aka, they aren’t exactly giving it away).  Luckily for you, I’ve put together an inspiration board with less expensive options for recreating this look!

Where to Buy:

Trestle Table – if you love the Restoration Hardware trestle table, you will LOVE this.  One of my favorite bloggers just bought this exact one for her house – for pics in real life, check it out  here!!

Veranda Linear Chandelier – this look has been a longtime favorite of mine – the perfect compliment to a rustic dining room.  Pottery Barn’s version is relatively affordable, but I’ve seen fixtures similar to this at places like Lamps Plus or even Home Depot as well!

Nailhead Parsons Chair – if you are getting six of these for a dining room, costs can get really high really quickly, but this chair has great reviews in the blogworld, and are very affordable for the level of detail!  Not to mention, a parsons chair is ALWAYS in style

Burlap Panel Curtains – another affordable option – especially if you are looking for extra long curtains – Ballard Design’s version has a great fringed bottom

Tile Border Rug – Pottery Barn’s plush rugs aren’t inexpensive, but they also won’t break the bank.  My parents have a few in their home, so trust me when I say they are extremely plush, and have held up well!

Dark and Moody

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The weather has turned again, and I woke up very early this morning to the first storm of the season.  The rain was coming down in buckets, and I had to get up for an extra blanket before I went back to sleep.  This kind of weather puts me in the mood to hunker down, and that mood is definitely reflected in the colors I am drawn to.  The deep dark colors of these rooms are so rich, and  if it weren’t so hard to paint back over, I’d be slathering our bedroom in a dark hue tonight.

You’d think that a dark color in a small space would make it feel smaller, but with bright accessories, and the right lighting, I actually think it makes many of these spaces look even larger (check out that powder room with the slate grass cloth – fourth down).  SO amazing!

Enjoy these inspirations from Houzz…

Chandelier Envy

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If I could add a single thing to our home, it would be a crystal chandelier.  Truth.  Unfortunately, these babies run up a hefty price tag, and I just can’t bring myself to love (REALLY love) the less expensive versions.  Don’t get me wrong, I love a good pendant light with a drum shade or lantern, but our dining room is really calling for a fancy pants chandelier like these babies (on a smaller scale of course)!
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 Is this not the epitome of elegance?  You could have the queen for dinner in this contemporary meets classic, white and chocolate dining room.

Emily of a Well Dressed Home does it again – bedroom perfection capped off by a pretty chandelier.

White on white on white – a favorite look of mine (always has been).  This crystal chandelier almost (ALMOST) blends into the background, but the detailed plastered ceiling draws the eye up so it’s almost impossible to miss this beauty.

And finally, traditional meets modern here with pretty chandeliers enclosed by linen drum shades… and flanking a bed?!  Never seen this before, and it’s perfection!