Inspired Interior: Bedazzled

I love browsing craigslist. I find real gems sometimes... In this case, I found a lot! I see potential, creativity and personality here, some really neat pieces of furniture too, great job, Sammy! I also see that someone got a little carried away with a bedazzler. I wonder if we know when we have gone too far? Sometimes, it's good to question that, I suppose. I would have loved to see the creativity here of the gems used in a large scale piece, like a large art piece or the entire screen wall or coffee table or a chandy dripping with jewels... as opposed to a little bit speckled everywhere. What do you think? Interestingly, I'm totally inspired now to take one huge item and just craft jewel the living heck out of it. I do have colorful ones for sale here, maybe I need to add clear ones to the mix? All this furniture, and accessories, with diamond trim (including a bedroom I didn't show), is available for $4,000.

 

 

Inspired Interiors: Classic Living TV Room

 

I got lucky when I came across bryn alexandra's post. She showcases a home she was working on that is very similar in concept to what I am trying to achieve. A tv room, with separate nooks and seating areas, storage solutions, gray couches and a huge square ottoman (ours if a coffee table about the same size), that has a classic, modern feel with some pizazz. The flooring is also very similar to ours.

Plus, I want to hang my curtains higher to give this room height, since the room is long and narrow with low ceilings. But then the crtains would be too short. I was toying with the idea of sewing a black edge on the bottom, and her design realizes that look for me in a setting that is similar to mine.

I love the use of blues, blacks and grays with neutral whites. Even though this post is a few years old, it is still a classic styling that gives me some great ideas. She has has some good ideas on getting started along with some 'progress' photos of this room to see how it came together.

Homefront: Moved In

We are moved in! Still unpacking, but we are here... and there are some interesting set of design challenges we have. Our living area is basically, one very long, narrow room. So, I can make two living spaces out of it, but I can't come up with a configuration that doesn't feel awkward. We have the tv seating area which is in the back of the space, than this other area in the very front of the room that contains my computer hutch (it's at the outlet on the long wall in the below photo). So, basically everything you see in these photos is open for a seating area. I thought a pair of wingback chairs would make a nice addition.

I got these two wing back chairs on craigslist... the fabric is in worse condition than I thought... and not exactly my style, but the deal was too great for a matching pair to pass up. Still trying to get them smelling clean and fresh though. I looked online for slipcovers, but all wing back slipcovers I find are for t-cushions. Now I'm thinking of trying my hand at upholstering or making a slipcover, probably jumping on the drop cloth bandwagon, since I already have a few. I would love to redo these, and my office chair in a matching fabric, since my computer hutch will share a living space with this seating area. It's going to be an interesting set up for sure. But first, we must finish unpacking!

I've been looking at a lot of design ideas for utilizing awkward and small spaces, creating a pretty/practical home, marrying two seating areas together and conquering the intimidating room, and have come across some neat solutions I will review soon. But better Homes and Garden's "What is Your Design Style" quiz caught my eye, and kind of gave me a starting point. I thought their answer sounded very much like me, I would love to hear what it says about your style and if it matches you!

Your Design Style is: Polished Casual

"You love to mix and match your favorites from several styles, so Polished Casual is the best way to describe your look. Crisp, fresh, and always comfortable, this approach anchors itself in neutral, subtle hues and furniture that isn't fussy but isn't slouchy either. Pair your clean-lined sofa with a dark leather wing chair or a weathered metal table—anything goes, but simplicity is key."

Homefront: Pneumonia and Moving

These last few weeks have been crazy. I got very, very sick about 3 weeks ago. Basically bedridden for several days, I went to the Dr and was put on a round of amoxicillin. They weren't working. After 9 days, my husband took me back to the Dr. They said, "Take your wife to the ER right now, she has a bad case of pneumonia." So, I was hospitalized for 2 days, should have stayed a few days longer but I was worried about money. I felt horrible, it was the day of the Colorado Batman shooting and I felt like I was a baby for being in the hospital when others where there for more serious reasons. I still feel very weak, dizzy and faint. I walk crazy like Captain Jack Sparrow. But I have lots to do because while I was in the hospital, our landlord decided not to renew our lease because she wants to move back into her house, and she basically said, "You have 30 days to get out." Just when I was starting to redecorate and get it cozy in here.

So, I'm still sick, and recovering, and we have been going crazy trying to find a place to live the past few days. Our area is in high demand. Homes are tiny, old, falling apart and dirty, and people are asking for $1200+ to rent homes that are worth way less. Realtors don't always call you back. Then they get all offended when you have to call someone else who will call you back. It's sickening and depressing. So, we finally found a place, that we can semi afford and that is mostly big enough and the bathtubs aren't rotting out... they got over 100 calls for it and almost bumped the price way up... but we got it through our own determination... even though I'm still sick with pneumonia. I almost fell over of weakness at the bank today getting the cashier's check for it. So, we will be wild with packing and cleaning and moving these next few weeks. Good thing I purged a lot and had a garage sale a few months ago when I was 9 months pregnant! I still want to do more de-cluttering though. Hopefully, I will recover from this pneumonia quickly. It seems I'm always sick on the weeks we move.
 
*Our landlord went crazy on us, and tried to pull a lot of illegal bull crap on us, even though we have been awesome renters and actually left her crap hole house 10x better than it was when we moved in. She tried to charge us like a crazy amount of money for simple nails holes. It was nuts and I threatened a lawsuit stating all the points in our contract in which she breached, so she backed down.  Win for us.

Happy 4th!

I hope you all had a happy and safe 4th of July! We ate at La Madeline's and went to a huge park with the family. My hubs and I took our balloons and made a lot of flowers, swords and such for kids and earned a little bit of extra cash, while grandma watched the boys play with frogs in the water.

We ended in the line in time to make it back to the family and watch fireworks. Caleb's 4 year old self demonstrated his independence, as he peed a strong stream into the pond during the National Anthem, right as the fireworks show was beginning. (And what an extraordinary show it was!  We parked and took a shuttle there...

...then we had to walk back. The line for the shuttle was so incredibly long and poorly coordinated, that we walked about 2 miles to the car. We left the kids with grandma off at a McD's so they could rest, then we finished the way on our own. We even turned down a small family who offered us a ride... what were we thinking? All I know is that doing this in 98 cent flip-flops was not so enjoyable. But the journey was great and overall we had a fun night! Elisabeth wasn't even phased by the loud fireworks. She just wanted a little nursing (okay, a lot) then she was all fine. I hope your 4th was memorable!

 

Homefront: Massive Roadside Coffee Table

I spied this massive coffee table, hiding under a dirty king size mattress next to a filled garbage can on the side of the road. I told my mom to "stop the car!" and we got out and saved this sucker, (she was worried we were stealing). She held up the mattress while I, in my crazy 9 months pregnant state, slid it out from under. Together, we hefted it into the trunk of my Volvo wagon and prayed it wouldn't fall out as we slowly drove home, since we couldn't shut the door. I had been searching for a sturdy, cheap coffee table and finding one for free is always awesome.

Now, we can all put up our feet, eat snacks, and the boys can destroy it all they want and it's not going to topple. We just removed the iron scrolls since two were missing, and now all it needs is a coat of paint, maybe a neat lace stencil design? This place is getting closer to what I envision it to be every day.

Blog Makeover : Love Jess Designs

It's been busy, busy, busy around here lately! With having a new 7 1/2 week old infant and traveling to showcase her to family, and hosting family to come visit, we are finally, and hopefully, settled for the summer. I haven't (embarrassingly) even unpacked my suitcase yet...

So, it's about time I acknowledge Jessie of My Mod Style, for my wonderful blog make-over! I love, love, love it!

 She is so easy to work with, she knew my style and was able to decipher my scatter brained ideas and help me stay organized. She gave my blog a clean, modern, fun and organized feel. Not only does she work with blogs, but she does websites, art prints, and even interior design boards, so she can even help you with redesigning your craft room or bedroom.

If any of you are in need of some graphic help, then she is your woman! Visit her Love Jess Design site for details.