Category Archives: Our House

04.04.11

You’re So Vain.

I have a few exciting things in the works, and I quickly came to the realization that I didn’t have a headshot.  So, a few weeks ago I enlisted the help of my friend Ryann Laden of Ryann Colleen Photography to help a sister out.  (Sidebar: I am pretty awkward about having my picture taken, especially by myself.  I couldn’t even do it on my wedding day -weird, I know.)
 Thank God for Ryann who was AMAZING at coaching me through my photographic-awkwardness.  We were able to cram the entire session in while the girls were at dance class. What was hilarious about the whole thing is that Bailey kept creeping into every picture- so much like my real life, she is right by my side. 

Recognize this Forever 21 dress?

I just adore this one of Bail– a framer, for sure!
Loving my EmersonMade Poppy!

My baby is getting so grey around the face– she just turned 10!

I felt a little ridiculous with this one in my boudoir– but this is where the majority of the magic happens… For the blog, that is.
Thanks again to Ryann, she is a true professional, and quite the perfectionist– which I love.  Ryann also does Portrait Parties for children– what a great idea for Spring!

03.30.11

Such Is My Life.

For some reason, as luck would have it, whenever I get something new that I am really excited about, disaster strikes.  I get a new car, it gets scratched. I bought a new pair of earrings out in LA, they were stolen out of my luggage. The list of terrible, horrible, no good, very bad things goes on and on.  
This little baby was no exception.
A few months ago, I bought this rug on Overstock.com for our foyer.

 I had a brilliant idea to have it monogrammed to spruce it up.

(Nobody’s fault, just coincidence) No more than 3 minutes after laying it down, Mike and our friend Dave wheeled an 800 lb. TV that we were getting rid of RIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF MY RUG.  Argh!  I just about died.  Here are the results.

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People tell me that the lines will “work themselves out.”  Does anybody have any suggestions?

01.21.11

Double Trouble.

Look what Momma just scored off of Craigslist… two wingback chairs- $175 for both!   These will go in our living room, and I have yet to decide what fabric to reupholster them with.  I am for sure painting the legs high-gloss black,  As you may know by now, I have a hankering for all things pink….  I would LOVE to cover them in this pink linen from Highland Court…. I can’t wait to hear what Mikie has to say about that one! 
Remember that pink chair that I fell in love with at the Design Center?  I can’t stop thinking about the possibilities!

What do you think?

12.29.10

Not Your Ordinary Holiday.

I think most of you know by now that I love a good bargain. Well, as most of us do before the holidays, I had been running around like a chicken with my head cut off, and realized in the 11th hour that my table clothes were uber-boring and had minor stains.

I went to the fabric store for another project and found this fabric in the remnants pile for $5/yd. I loved how unexpected the grey and cream would be. I bought some red grosgrain ribbon to add around the hem to make it a bit more festive. After going to several cleaners and receiving quotes as high as $80 to hem two tablecloths, I decided 1.) I need a sewing machine and 2.) how much I love my mother-in-law. Since she was here without her sewing machine, I bought some no-sew hem tape and Grammy attached the ribbon on Christmas Eve morning and had it at the house just in the nick of time to set the table.

I didn’t have time to go to the flower market, so I used a mixture of whatever I could scoop up from Wegman’s and Costco. I added cranberries to the vases of all of the arrangement for a festive touch.
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I love the look of fresh fruit in floral arrangement. Just buy a pack of wooden skewers and pop the fruit on top.

Our monogrammed china.

My Christmas color palette is red, cream and apple green. It goes so well with my decor.

Remember these vases? They were reused here.
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I used pomegranates as place card holders. Not only is it my favorite fruit, but it has significant religious meaning and is thought to bring good luck.

12.14.10

Green With Envy?

Remember this post about going green? Well, after months of slacking… I am able to unveil my console… which I absolutely love. As you can see, she’s all decked out for the holidays.
 
There is a lot happening in our living room and dining room (the first being that the mirror needs to be raised…) and once it is finally finished I will be able to show all of you. Until then, here’s a teaser…..
Before:
 

And After:

07.02.10

My Design Muse.


It all started on April 9, 2001. I brought home a 2 1/2 lb. sweet little puppy… Well, that puppy (that was supposed to be 35 lbs.) has now turned into a 65 lb. hair ball-producing beast we call Bailey. Don’t get me wrong- we love her to pieces, but I have never met a dog that produces so much hair. Which is why she quickly became my design muse.


For those of you that have been to our home, you know there is a lot of black in the design elements- furniture, kitchen cabinets,the back of our front door, our banister, and I am also saving every penny to put up forty sheets of this wallpaper on a feature wall in my family room. Lastly, my next project is to paint our dining room black… Stay tuned for that one. Here are some pictures from my inspiration files to tide you over for now…..