design actually

Sweet Nursery

2010-12-02T21:43:00.000-08:00

I'm loving this vintage inspired nursery from Sara, who authors the gorgeous photography blog Sadie Olive. It was recently featured on the front page of etsy and I can't stop thinking about all of the beautiful details that make up this space. It has a peaceful, lived in feeling to it, as everything has been collected over time with much thought. When I read that Sara has just begun her journey to adopt a precious baby that will someday occupy this nursery, that made me love it even more. You see, my husband and I are on that same journey, we have already gone through the home study process and are certified to adopt. We are now in the 'waiting' stage, hoping that someday soon our dream to become parents will come true. However, our 'nursery' looks more like an empty bedroom with a rocking chair and stacks of my husband's books covering the floor. I think it's time for me to get crack a' lackin on my own nursery design...

I recently found this vintage printer's drawer at an estate sale. I'm not sure if I'll end up using it in the nursery, but I do love how Sara filled hers with tiny treasures for her future tiny treasure:)

Isn't this nursery just precious? You can check out the rest of the photos here. Have a great weekend everyone!

*via sadie olive

Dollar Days

2010-11-29T00:01:00.000-08:00

Who says a dollar can't get you anything these days? Last week I bought each of these for a just one dollar on Goodwill's dollar day. Can't beat that!

I see a lot of these tables on my thrifting adventures and usually pass them by, but this one was in great shape and had lots of cool details so I thought I'd give it a try.

I even styled it for my craigslist photo...I couldn't help myself

This wicker table doesn't look like much now, but once it gets a coat of black paint it will look brand new with a hollywood regency vibe.

This ottoman is a nice size but the fabric could use some sprucing up.

Parker doesn't seem to mind, this is his favorite new place to chill.

I'm hoping to sell all of these on craigslist, but I wouldn't mind too much if I had to keep the ottoman. I could always make a simple slipcover for it for a quick fix. I've been having good luck on my thrifting days lately, so I'll try to share some of my other finds throughout the week. Happy Monday everyone!

Progress...or lack thereof

2010-11-22T00:00:00.000-08:00

We're still working on painting the new night stands...and by 'we' I mean my husband with no help from me whatsoever. So sorry that I can't show any after photos yet, but I promise they're coming. In the meantime, I keep seeing photos of stylish wicker throne chairs around blogworld which is making me want to keep the chair I found last week rather than selling it on craigslist. Aren't these adorable?

Maybe I need to keep it for future children's rooms???

*via my chic abode, elements of style

Treasure Hunting

2010-11-15T19:36:00.000-08:00

Last week I found a few great treasures while making my rounds, these being my favorites:

I found these chests at an estate sale, $45 for all three. I've been looking for a new console for my back hall entry and the top chest is perfect for the space. I'm going to use the other two pieces as my nightstands. I can't wait to have all of the extra storage space, as my current ones are actually end tables with no storage. I'm thinking of painting them classic Dorothy Draper style like this set from Pieces that sells for $3800...

My steal of the week was this wicker throne chair that I picked up for only $1!

Not sure what I'm going to do with it, but for a dollar, I'll figure something out.

We've started sanding and priming the drawers, hopefully I'll be able to share some "after" photos by the end of the week. I can't wait to see how they turn out!

Black and White Friday

2010-11-05T00:01:00.000-07:00

Fab chair.

That is all.

Happy weekend!

*via little blue deer

Lonny Faves

2010-11-02T20:15:00.000-07:00

I know I'm a little late to the game, but I finally got a chance to flip through the latest issue of Lonny. As usual, it did not disappoint.

Some faves...notice the color theme

What girl wouldn't want this dressing room? The purse hooks are pure genius.

Oh, and Happy Halloween

2010-10-31T12:06:00.000-07:00

I'm Still Here...

2010-10-28T18:22:00.000-07:00

Hello, I'm still here...are you???? Please excuse my absence, I've had a busy couple of months with traveling, work, and just life in general and my blog kind of fell by the wayside. I didn't mean to be so neglectful, but once I got out of my grove, it was hard to get back on. In my time away, I was able to do some reflecting and decided while I do enjoy blogging, I don't necessarily have the time to do it everyday. Plus, I want to be excited and passionate about what I do share here, rather than just showing up and posting something just for the sake of posting. So I'm going to shoot for at least two entries a week, and if I happen to find something great to share on top of that, well then that will just be a bonus! Sound good?

Today I'll just share a bit of my Halloween decor with you. I normally don't do too much for this spooky holiday, but I guess I was feeling a bit festive (and crafty) this year.

Some vignettes around the house...

I bought the glass owl last year at TJ Maxx (for $2) and had no idea what I was going to do with it so it's been hidden away in my closet. This year I decided to break out my trusty metallic spray paint and give him a shiny new coat. Now he's perfect for Halloween!

I didn't change my entry console set up too much. Basically I just added the glittery skull under the dome instead of my coral and changed the white candlesticks to black.

I whipped up the pillow in the background from an old Ikea curtain panel & appliqued a felt raven on it.

I love making these fabric pumpkins, I've been scavenging through every pumpkin bin I see to find broken stems so I can add to my collection. Plus I can keep these guys around until Thanksgiving!

Do you decorate for Fall, or do you hold out for Christmas to switch things up? That's right, I said Christmas...it's going to be here before we know it!

Also, I discovered that the e-mail address attached to this blog, lstudio@live.com, has some sort of virus that's caused me not to receive any e-mails in quite some time. I'm so sorry if you tried to contact me this way, I hope you don't think I ignored you. If you need to contact me, you can e-mail me at fancify@live.com.

Fancy

2010-08-19T00:01:00.000-07:00

Have you checked out Fancify {my etsy shop} lately? I've been adding some fun new things...

{gala necklace}

{pink gala necklace}

Here I am modeling the pink gala necklace in my new $1.99 clearance dress from Ross. That's right I said $1.99! They were having a crazy sale and I picked up 4 summer dresses for under $2.49 each.

And I've added more fancy headbands like this one...the classy gal

You can visit my shop {here}

Black and White Friday

2010-08-13T00:01:00.000-07:00

Today's theme is shiny...

Nicky Hilton turned this vintage Chanel tray into a chic side table

I bet you could see your reflection in these super glossy black walls

Love the pattern of this floor

Have a great weekend everyone, I hope you have something fun planned!

*via instyle, decorpad, coco & kelly

Lonny

2010-08-11T21:04:00.000-07:00

Some faves from the new Lonny...

I seriously loved these glasses... unfortunately they're not available in the U.S.

Maybe I'll get lucky and find something similar at goodwill?

Black and White Friday

2010-08-06T00:01:00.000-07:00

Clean & simple, Domino style.

Sometimes you just need to get rid of the clutter and let the design speak for itself. Here, a little goes a long way. Have a great weekend everyone!

Budget Friendly Bridal Bouquet

2010-08-04T00:01:00.000-07:00

On Sunday night I got a call from a friend saying that her daughter was getting married the NEXT day and wondered if I could put together a bouquet for her. Basically they had less than 24 hours to throw a wedding together and somehow everything turned out beautifully. The bride was able to find a dress the morning of, I took care of the bouquet, another friend took pictures, another brought the cake and everything else just fell into place.

I was a little nervous about making the bouquet because I don't consider myself the best at flower arranging, but I figured I could make something work. For the colors, the bride requested something dark purple with white daisies. The dark purple was a bit hard to find, so after a trip to several different grocery store floral departments, I ended up with the following flowers to pluck from:

And here is the final result:

I also put together a little bouttonniere for the groom:

And here is the beautiful bride with her bouquet, she was very happy with how it turned out:

I meant to take more photos during the bouquet making process, but since I was a little stressed about getting it done in time, I didn't get a chance to. Basically I just perused a few wedding blogs to gather inspiration and winged it. I used floral wire and floral tape to secure the stems, keeping the flowers tightly packed in the center and used a little greenery for accent on the outer edges. I then covered the stems with a satin cream colored ribbon and secured it with straight pins. Together with the flowers, ribbon, and supplies, this bouquet cost about $20 and I even had some flowers left over to display in my home!

Congratulations Carrie & Johnny!

Country Girl

2010-08-03T00:01:00.000-07:00

Today I'm dreaming of packing it up and moving out to the country to live EmersonMade- style. Ok, most days I dream about living in the country, but this renovated home featured in this month's Country Living magazine makes me want to even more . There's just something about a big white house with a wrap around porch surrounded by nothing but green as far as the eye can see...

Cozy, huh?

*via country living

Bathroom Inspiration

2010-07-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

These stylish bathrooms are inspiring me today. I especially love all of the aqua cabinetry details in the first photo and the metallic wallpaper in the second photo. What details stand out to you?

*via decorpad, blueprint bliss, elle decor, canadian house & home

Black and White Friday

2010-07-23T00:01:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to decide what my favorite part about this fantastic living room is. Is is it the huge round convex mirrors stacked above the fireplace? The bold geometric rug? The zebra curtains that must be at least 30 feet long? Or just the overall simplicity of the room that gives it a clean, modern, uncluttered look? I'm thinking it's the mirrors. Definitely the mirrors.

*via eric cohler

Modern Beach

2010-07-20T22:05:00.000-07:00

Do you ever come across a photo of a space and think, "this is so me!"? That is what happened when I found this dining room photo, it had a familiarity about it that made me think I had blogged about it before, even though I know I haven't. Mostly the colors are what draw me in... the aqua, turquoise, and lime give this the fresh & tranquil feeling that I love in a room. The mix of the industrial nautical chairs with the feminine chandelier and venetian mirror are a perfect contrast to one another. If I had a modern beach house, I think my dining room would have this sort of eclectic mix.

*via canadian house & home

Black and White Friday

2010-07-16T10:04:00.000-07:00

I'm in love with this apartment of Nicole, author of the Sketch 42 blog. Everything from the mirrored wall in the dining room, the lucite chairs, the ginormous tufted headboard, and the master bedroom window treatment (designed with the help of Nick Olsen) are just divine.

Nicole also has an etsy shop with some very stylish items for the home:

I especially love the lucite items she carries, they're so fun and unique. Have a great weekend everyone!

Nursery Inspiration

2010-07-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

Thanks to an upcoming project, I've got nurseries on the brain lately. Here are some of my current favorites in my inspiration folder.

I love these subtle stripes

soft & neutral

I'd love to try a do-it-yourself version of this lighting fixture with the lil' birdies:

aqua + yellow, always one of my favorite color combos

black and white in a nursery? i'm a lookin' and I'm a likin'

love the modern eclectic vibe here

Do you have a favorite?

*via project nursery, decorpad, project nursery, house of turquoise, duc duc, young house love

New Wall Display

2010-07-13T00:01:00.000-07:00

I've always loved this shelving unit in the bathroom of Eddie Ross's former home and have since been on the lookout for something similar for above our master bath toilet area.

So I was pretty excited when I found this display unit at Goodwill last week for only $8.

{Sorry for the poor photo quality, the lighting is terrible in my bathroom. Trust me, in real life it looks much better!}

I filled it with little treasures that I already lying around, mostly thrifted. I'm sure the display will change as I find new things, but I think it works for now.

What do you think?

Just for laughs

2010-07-08T00:01:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon the Cake Wrecks blog yesterday and it had me laughing so hard that tears were running down my face. Cake Wrecks motto is "when professional cakes go horribly, hilariously wrong". It's the funniest thing I've seen in a long time, definitely check it out if you need a good laugh. Here's a taste of what you'll find on their site...

hmm, where should we celebrate?

eww, down where?

Even funnier than the cakes are the author's commentary on them. For this creepy baby doll cake she says:

Don't...make...eye contact...

All tucked in and ready to kill.

In need of a sexy bachelorette party cake?

I wouldn't get this one.

She also features amazing cake designs like this fabulous purse cake, but the mistakes and the disturbing ones take the cake for me...tee hee:)

Poor Patrice, I wonder if she knew her fate before getting her birthday cake...

Check it out here.

The best $5 I spent last weekend...

2010-07-06T00:01:00.000-07:00

Was on this j. crew skirt I found at goodwill. It's super cute, is in perfect condition, and was exactly my size. Score!

And because my husband was so sweet to photograph me in my new purchase, here are some other random shots he took...

And yes, since I'm sure you were going to ask, that is the bougainvillea corsage listed in my etsy shop that I'm wearing:)

And the winner is....

2010-07-05T00:01:00.000-07:00

*****Kelly R.*****

Kelly chose the Sorbet:

I was going to use random.org to pick the winner of the Fancify headband, but I wanted be sure that people got the extra entry if they were following my blog & became a fan on facebook (sorry if my instructions were confusing). So I went old school instead and enlisted the help of my husband pick a name out of a bowl. Congrats to Kelly R., and thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway. I'll probably be doing another one next month, so be sure to check back often. Remember, if you didn't win, you can always get your own fancy band in my etsy shop!

Black and White Friday

2010-07-02T00:01:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't this entry nook be nice to come home to everyday?

This little space is perfect- it's got style, storage, a place to sit and put your shoes on (or take off), and a huge mirror to check your look in before you head out the door. Just lovely!

Hope you all have a fabulous 4th of July weekend, be sure to enter the giveaway if you haven't already. I'll be announcing the winner Monday morning!

Giveaway!

2010-06-30T00:01:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to announce my first giveaway here on Design Actually! To celebrate the opening of my new etsy shop, Fancify, I will be giving away {one} of the following Fancy Bands:

You may choose either the {Sorbet} with an adult-sized band:

Or the {Cotton Candy} with a baby/child sized band:

So how do you enter? It's easy...just head over to my facebook page and become a fan, then come back here & leave me a comment saying which fancy band you would like if you win. ***You will receive an extra entry if you are a follower of this blog*** If you're already a follower, leave another comment saying you're a follower too. If not, become a follower & leave another comment. Easy peasy!

This contest will end on Sunday {the 4th} at 9 pm, and the winner will be announced first thing Monday morning. Good luck!

***This giveaway is now closed***

*fancify

Retro Cool

2010-06-29T12:59:00.000-07:00

This local Scottsdale house was featured in this month's issue of Sunset. The light-filled interior and gorgeous landscaping almost give the illusion that it's not 1000 degrees out here in the desert. Seriously, it's been close to 110 for the last couple of weeks, I'm so done with summer. And yes, I do know it just started. On the bright side, I have no desire to do anything outdoors, so I'm getting a lot of indoor projects completed. But back to this cool ranch home, a lot of the furniture and accessories are from HomeGoods, eBay, and Craigslist (minus the hanging bubble chairs) so it was very budget-friendly. Love it!

*via sunset

Weekend Highlights

2010-06-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

{in no particular order}

1. toenails painted peacock blue + sparkles

2. made my favorite new healthy dessert, peanut butter cups from this amazing book

3. opened my new etsy shop, Fancify

Could anything be more precious than this little angel modeling one of my new Fancy Bands? I think not. So yes, I now have 3 etsy shops, but I felt it was time to move my statement jewelry & accessories to their own home instead of being mixed in with the vintage stuff on junktrunk. I will be adding more to Fancify throughout the week...headbands for adults & kids alike, flower pins, and necklaces so be sure to check it out. I'm thinking a giveaway will be in order to kick off the new shop, stay tuned mid-week for details!

*photo credit touchoflovephotography.blogspot.com

Love Emersonmade?

2010-06-23T00:01:00.000-07:00

I know I do! Here's a chance to win one of these beautiful clutches:

Flourish Design is doing 11 days of giveaways, be sure to check out their site to enter. I've always been a fan of Emersonmade's paper flower designs. They are fun, yet sophisticated and their product shots are amazing. This is one giveaway that I would really like to win!

Inspired by...

2010-06-21T00:01:00.000-07:00

pops of punchy coral...

new Soft Flora Necklace {here}

I hope everyone had a nice & relaxing weekend and is ready to get back into the weekly swing of things. Last week was a busy one, but over the weekend I got to spend some time with my bff for some much needed girl time, then yesterday my husband and I got out of the heat for the day and took a little trip up north to Prescott. We had a nice picnic in the town square and strolled through antique shops all afternoon. It was the perfect day!

*via decorpad, canadian h&h, decorpad, junktrunk

Estate Tales

2010-06-14T21:24:00.000-07:00

Last week I attended an estate sale at what I'm guessing was a very interesting & cultured woman's home. She had all sorts of modern art & furnishings, unfinished sketches of her own, craft projects, and two entire bookcases full of old French novels.

I loved this huge canvas that was hanging in the living room, but it had already sold (not that I have any place to put it). It looks totally modern but was probably done 50 years ago.

I don't normally look through the clothing at estate sales, but I happened to notice the sleeve of this tunic sticking out of the closet so I decided to take a closer look. I'm glad I did, because it is beautiful, the quality is excellent, and it was my size. And did I mention it was $2?

Another interesting feature of this home were the huge fuscia custom rugs that covered the master bedroom & living room floors. The lighting was horrible in there so I wasn't able to photograph them, but I loved that someone had made such a bold choice for flooring. It's rare to go into an estate sale and actually like the overall decor. Usually it's just a lamp here or a dresser there, but this was a nice surprise!

Black and White Friday

2010-06-11T00:01:00.000-07:00

Here's a little black & white inspiration from the latest issue of Lonny. I'm so happy this online magazine came around, they seem to capture what is missing from many shelter publications...affordable, personal, unique, livable style.

I'm loving the pattern on this table...

The Ikea light fixture looks fabulous in this space. Wouldn't it be nice to have ceilings this high?

So this isn't really a black & white image, but I had to mention that I used to have a metal owl just like the one sitting on the mantel. It kind of makes me wish I had held on to it (or at least tried to sell it) instead of donating back to Goodwill.

Have a great weekend!

And another thing...

2010-06-10T06:54:00.000-07:00

I'm guest blogging over at Scottsdale Moms Blog again today. Be sure to head over there and check out some of my estate sale shopping tips!

Junk trunk

2010-06-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

It's Thursday, estate sale day, which makes this my favorite day of the week. I've been scoring some excellent treasures lately, which makes me all the more excited to see what I'll find this week. I just added some new necklaces & flower pins to my etsy shop, junktrunk. I've been incorporating some of my vintage jewelry finds into the new pieces for a truly one of a kind look. Here's a sample of some of the new things...

View the other items in my shop here.

Contrast

2010-06-09T00:01:00.000-07:00

I always love when the back of a bookcase or cabinet is painted with a contrasting color or pattern. I've seen bold colors and wallpapers done, but never stripes until now. I must say, I'm a fan.

*nesting newbies

Goodwill Finds

2010-06-07T00:01:00.000-07:00

Have I mentioned how much I love Goodwill? I know I probably have a million times, but here are the latest reasons why...

It was 50% off day on Saturday and I found a few really great things. I was over the moon when I found this ceramic bird lamp. It was marked $17.99, so I only paid $9 for it! It didn't have a shade, but I already had this one at home (a previous $1 Goodwill find) and I think it's the perfect size. I think these little birds will go live on my bamboo dresser once it gets refinished. The oil painting was $1.50, it's probably going to go in my guest bath with my other waterscape oil painting. In fact, I think I'm going to start collecting these and "wallpaper" my bathroom walls with them.

I also found this framed map drawing for $5.

It was going to go on my living room gallery wall, but it looks kind of nice above my bedroom chair. What do you think?

I found a few other things but didn't have a chance to photograph them yet. They include another lamp (I seriously have a problem), some milk glass cups, and some great sparkly vintage jewelry. I love Goodwill!

Black and White Friday

2010-06-04T00:01:00.000-07:00

This week's black & white post is a local Phoenix home owned by Berkley Vallone, head designer at Vallone Design. Featured in this month's Phoenix Home & Garden, this spread is a breath of fresh air compared to the typical bastardized Tuscan style shown in most local publications. I have to give a big thank you to Full House for scanning these images in (I never would have looked in the mag otherwise). You can check out the rest of the house on her blog.

LOVE the black wood floors & the eclectic mix of decor

I seriously need to have a tub like this in my next house

I'd probably spend more time doing laundry if my room was as fun as this

Love this seating area and the black & white stripes!

I hope Phoenix Home & Garden (and other local mags) will start featuring more inspiring homes like this. What I love most about this house is that you get a glimpse of the owner's personality and it's not just decorated to fit a certain style. Let's put an end to the dark, overdone, Tuscan nonsense that everyone seems so stuck on in the valley. C'mon, who's with me?

Happy Weekend!

*via full house, via phoenix home & garden

Blue & White

2010-06-02T00:01:00.000-07:00

I still love me a good plate wall...

I think these would be a fabulous addition to any of the collections above.

{available in my etsy shop}

*via remodelista, living etc., black & spiro, junktrunk

New dresser

2010-06-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

This might be my best estate sale find yet. I've been looking for a new dresser for our guest room and finally stumbled upon this one last week for only $50 (including the mirror). Needless to say, I was knocking down old ladies as I pushed my way to the cashier to buy it before someone else saw it. Ok, not really, but I totally would have if one of those broads got in the way:) A coat of shiny white paint and it will be looking fabulous!

I think I'll be sharing more great finds the rest of the week, there have been a few lately...

Black and White Friday

2010-05-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

This is an oldie, but goodie. I've always wondered about the art above the sofa...is it a canvas, a piece of wood, or a rug of some kind? I'm still not sure, but it looks amazing and it's what makes this room so memorable to me.

Happy long weekend!

*via decorpad

Patterned Sofas?

2010-05-26T04:00:00.000-07:00

I'm usually not a fan, but I'm loving these...

Perhaps because they are black & white? It also helps that it's not a large scale pattern, so from a distance it almost reads as a neutral. What are your feelings on patterned sofas? Would you tire of them too quickly? The graphic throw pillows make me want to switch mine out to something more fun and Springy, but don't tell my husband, he tends to freak out when I mention new pillows. Probably because of the growing "collection" stashed away in the closet. At any rate, it's better to surprise him with such changes, I'm sure you understand.

*elle decor

Peaches & Brown Sugar

2010-05-25T07:19:00.000-07:00

I just had to share this sweet etsy shop with you all today. My friend Natalie just opened Peaches & Brown Sugar, where she sells adorable hair accessories for the little girly girls in your life. Her work is amazing as are her product shots, featuring her two precious daughters doing their best modeling work. Check it out!

{Peaches & Brown Sugar}

Lately Loving...

2010-05-24T04:00:00.000-07:00

...this cheery peacock hue for walls. I've got the perfect room in mind for it.

Sorry for my absence last week, I had a major project that I was wrapping up but I am back now! Happy Monday!

*via domino, unknown, fit pregnancy

Black and White Friday

2010-05-14T04:00:00.000-07:00

This is the coolest room I've seen in a long time.

Perfection.

*via d magazine via madebygirl

Keep Calm

2010-05-13T04:00:00.000-07:00

...and carry on to Target. It looks as though this ever popular message has gone mainstream.

{love the mirror too!}

Gotta love Target! I also noticed that a lot of the Liberty of London stuff is on clearance now, so go grab it before it's gone!

Just hanging around...

2010-05-12T04:00:00.000-07:00

seriously cool.

*via anthropologie, of course

Hmm...

2010-05-10T04:00:00.000-07:00

What should I do with my latest goodwill finds?

I think they used to be lampshades, but I'm not sure. All I know is that I love the pattern (I can never pass up circles) and for $2 I figured I could spray paint them and find an interesting use for them.

Even Cooper thinks they have potential, but I'm pretty sure he was just waiting for me to turn my head so he could lift his leg on them.

I'm thinking I want to use them outside somewhere, maybe as planters, or use them as candleholders on my patio table. Any ideas?

Houseboat Living

2010-05-06T04:00:00.000-07:00

With the imminent 100 degree temps soon to hit Phoenix, I'm already dreaming of packing it up and heading to the water this summer. Perhaps a 1000 square foot prefab houseboat in California's Richardson Bay would do the trick...

Imagine waking up to the sound of waves every morning and checking outside the living room window for sharks and jelly fish. Falling asleep to the sound of seals and taking the ol' kayak out to run errands. I wonder if there's a Target nearby...not that the kayak could hold all of my loot.

Rooftop patio...very swanky & social.

Just think of the workout you'd get everyday just by leaving the house! I'm not sure I could live in a houseboat full time, but it would certainly be fun to rent one for a week or two. Could you do it?

*via sunset

Happy Monday

2010-05-03T09:08:00.000-07:00

I hope you all had a lovely weekend and are getting back in the swing of things this Monday morning. I've been under the weather, so I didn't get nearly as much accomplished as I had hoped. Today I'll just leave you with a little something that is sure to put a smile on your face. Meet Ghengis Khan, Martha Stewart's newest puppy who is just the cutest thing. ever.

Black and White Friday

2010-04-30T08:15:00.001-07:00

I saw this image over at Elements of Style the other day and haven't been able to get it off my mind. This room feels very fresh to me and I just love the black crown molding, the moroccan patterned carpet, and the pops of yellow. Maybe this is what my bedroom will look like someday when I'm all classy and grown up.

And I always love a touch of zebra print in a room, but I really hope that head on the wall isn't real because killing animals for decoration is definitely not cool in my book.

Have a great weekend!

Don't hate me because I live so close to old people & their cool stuff

2010-04-29T13:12:00.000-07:00

I found this amazing mercury glass lamp for $7 the other day while doing my weekly goodwill rounds. Sure it needs a new shade, and I had promised myself that I was only going to buy lamps in pairs from now on, but I just couldn't help myself. Can you blame me?

I also scored a cool mirror for $5 but I need to paint the frame black before it goes up. I'm hoping to get to that project this weekend so I can share photos next week. I love goodwill!

paper ink & earth

2010-04-27T22:00:00.000-07:00

I received the nicest package of stationery goodies the other day from one of my old high school friends, Katie, who just launched her etsy shop, paper ink & earth. I always knew that Katie was a talented artist and these sweet notecards are the perfect testament to that. I just love the quirkiness of her illustrated designs, the clever captions describing each series, and the superb quality and packaging of her products. Here are some of my favorite designs but be sure to check out her shop to view the whole collection. Congrats Katie!

love these, I wonder why...

{seats} because you can never have enough and your butt looks great in them.

{mentionables} now everyone can see your unmentionables. or at least wonder if you are wearing them.

{doors} the doors I grew up with. the last one goes WHAPP.

{four eyes} better to see you with my dear.

{owl lanterns} inspired by the owl lantern on grandma's back porch.

I love the seats but the doors are a close second...which is your favorite design?

Beachwear

2010-04-26T21:36:00.000-07:00

I'm back from the beach, but this window display from Anthropologie is taking me back...

gorgeous.

Vacay

2010-04-20T20:36:00.000-07:00

Hello all! Sorry I have been MIA, I'm off on a bit of a vacation and will return on Monday.

Hope the rest of you week is fabulous!

Nursery Inspiration

2010-04-14T07:01:00.001-07:00

I'm guest blogging at Scottsdale Moms Blog today giving some fun nursery design ideas. Check it out!

Black and White Friday

2010-04-09T04:00:00.000-07:00

That's it, I want to re-do my bedroom like, yesterday.

I saw a mirror just like the one below two weeks ago at goodwill for $10, I'm really kicking myself for not getting now

Have a great weekend!

*via decorpad

Birthday girl

2010-04-07T04:00:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! Sorry for the slow posting this week, I've been working on a project that is taking up a lot of my time but I wanted to stop in and give a quick hello to let you know I'm still here. Today is my birthday (yay!) so I'm taking the day off to celebrate with my leading man. I'll be back soon, but for now here are a few random things of interest around here:

my new milk glass vase that I found at goodwill yesterday

love it!

desert wildflowers {taken last weekend on our scenic drive to globe, az}

and since it's my birthday, this is what I'll be eating all day...

{dirt cake, the best thing. ever}

Black and White Friday

2010-04-02T04:00:00.000-07:00

I'm keeping this week's black & white post local with this tranquil urban desert living room. The sleek black fireplace, comfy white upholstery, and earthy sculptural elements make this a space I would love to relax in all weekend long.

Have a great weekend!

*via phoenix home & garden

Before & After

2010-04-01T04:00:00.000-07:00

I came across a really great blog last night while perusing Three Men & a Lady called Dwellings by Devore. Mrs. Devore is a girl after my own heart, she is a design lover and an avid thrifter & re-purposer of all of her great finds. I may have actually found someone who goes to Goodwill more than I do! You've got to check out some of her projects, here are a couple of my faves:

sewing table turned play kitchen

ugly light turned fabulous chandelier

Aren't these amazing? I don't know about you, but I'm feeling inspired. I'm off to estate sales today, hopefully I'll find some great things to re-purpose!

A few fun things...

2010-03-29T18:39:00.000-07:00

New pretties discovered at estate sales last week...

Polka dot packing tape in the perfect shade of Kate Spade green...found at Michaels for $1

Amy Butler's new Love fabric line... I especially like the pattern on the wall, it would be perfect to use in a nursery!

'Green' art

2010-03-28T20:39:00.000-07:00

How fun are these DIY moss art panels?

I think these panels would be a unique and interesting way to add a little bit of Spring to your decor. You can keep your art alive & green by misting it with water daily.

directions here

*via readymade

Aqua + Yellow

2010-03-25T04:00:00.000-07:00

My love of aqua is certainly no secret, and I especially love it when it's paired with sunny yellow. These rooms have a fresh, happy feeling that I'm all over right now...

*via decorpad, house beautiful, lonny

DIY Art

2010-03-22T22:37:00.000-07:00

I love this Spring-like room with its soothing blue walls, pops of pink, and the perfect placement of a little green fern on the chic white cocktail table. When I saw this image, I was immediately drawn to the piece of art in the background and thought this would be an easy DIY project. All you would need is a large canvas, piece of wood or even a piece of drywall, paint it black with chalkboard paint and write out some of your favorite quotes or song lyrics (in your best cursive) with chalk. Voila- you've got an easy, one of a kind work of art that's simple and stunning!

*via canadian house & home

New things

2010-03-18T04:00:00.000-07:00

Remember my major score a couple months back of vintage jewelry and rhinestones? Well, I've been putting my treasures to good use and have made a few pretty things for my shop...

necklaces

hair accessories

*all available here

Green Day

2010-03-17T04:00:00.000-07:00

In honor of St. Patty's Day, here are some green-inspired rooms to get you in the spirit of this lucky day...

*via canadian house & home

Spring Fever

2010-03-16T07:53:00.000-07:00

This time of year, my thoughts start turning from interiors to exteriors. Thanks to all of the rain we've had the last few months, my yard (and everyone else's in Phoenix) turned into a sea of weeds pretty much overnight. I spent the weekend cleaning up the yard and now I'm ready to pretty it up with some flowers. The bright & cheery colors of these Ranunculus I spotted at Lowe's yesterday have me all a flutter...

I'll be back tomorrow with more design-related posts, I hope it's starting to look like Spring wherever you are!

Black and White Friday

2010-03-12T04:00:00.000-08:00

Black + white + aqua + lime = all of my favorite colors rolled up into one chic little reading nook.

Have a great weekend!

*via lonny

Nesting Newbies

2010-03-11T05:55:00.000-08:00

I'm really liking the online magazine trend that has begun, though I'm not sure they can ever replace the printed shelter publications that that we all know and love. There's nothing like flipping through a new magazine, feeling each crisp page in your hand, marking the pages you like, or tearing them out to save in you idea file. However, the online magazines are a great source of inspiration and an easy way to get your design fix in an instant gratification (and did I mention free?) way. Lonny seems to be a hit so far and now I've just discovered another one, Nesting Newbies. As the title hints, this online magazine covers topics that help you to feather your nest with decorating, cooking and entertaining ideas.

Here are a few highlights from the current Winter issue, notice all of the black & white rugs:

There's also an easy tutorial for this funky do-it-yourself lampshade:

Have you checked out Nesting Newbies yet? What is your opinion on online magazines?

Kitchen Redo

2010-03-09T04:00:00.000-08:00

I've been meaning to post some photos of my kitchen since we re-did the lighting a few months ago but had been waiting until I found a photo of what it looked like when we first moved in so it would be a bit more dramatic. Well I finally found a 'before' shot this weekend, so here it is with the gorgeous (gag) oak cabinets, fluorescent light fixture (not shown, but it was centered on the ceiling), and totally mismatched window treatment:

And here it is now:

We spruced the kitchen up on a pretty tight budget because we don't plan on staying in this house for too long and didn't want to make a big investment, but clearly some things needed to change to make this more livable. We painted the walls a neutral shade, painted the cabinets white, added some cabinet hardware, took down all window treatments (we have block walls in the backyard), got a new faucet, and most importantly, took down the the fluorescent fixture and added some recessed lights and a pendant over the dining table.

Of course there are things I would love to change (like the appliances & formica) but overall I am very happy with how it turned out!

Black and White Friday

2010-03-05T07:34:00.000-08:00

I opened up my e-mail box this morning and saw this super cute dress and had to share. I love the graphic zig zag pattern and classic silhouette, it would be perfect for spring with a colorful cardi and some cute flats. Over the last few years I have become much more of a "dress" girl, mostly because of our extremely hot summer temps here in the desert, but also because of the ease of getting dressed and looking put together. Many times you can find a pretty dress for the same price as shirt, so why not go for the dress and have your whole outfit complete!

What is your favorite spring outfit?

*dress here

Ready for Spring

2010-03-04T04:00:00.000-08:00

This room is really doing it for me today, folks. I don't know if it's all of the natural light, the bright turquoise pillows, or the black & white fireplace details, but it's working for me. We've had beautiful weather here lately (in the mid-70's) and it's getting me in the mood to spruce things up around the house for spring. This photo makes me want to sew some new pillows for my sofas (and move to a house with really high ceilings)...

*via decorpad

Rainy Days

2010-03-02T22:00:00.000-08:00

I had a great weekend shopping with the girls, although it was a little rainy. Perhaps we should have been wearing these tights...

*via ffffound

Black and White Friday

2010-02-26T09:58:00.000-08:00

I'm off to so some wedding dress shopping with my bff's today. Have a great weekend!

*via country living

Organization

2010-02-23T04:00:00.000-08:00

Over Christmas I did some organizing in my studio/workspace. I have tons of fabric, craft items, and books and I needed to get it all organized so that I could actually get some work done in there. I wanted to be frugal about it, so I bought all of my plastic storage at Target while everything was on sale over the holidays. I decided to go with clear boxes because it was important that I be able to see everything and know which box I need to grab for my various projects. I wish I had some 'before' shots to share, but I can't seem to find any, but trust me...it was bad.

My husband built this desk for me a few years ago, it definitely helps to keep me organized...

Lots of fabric & shipping supplies...

Misc. crafty goodness...

I decided to put this paper tablecloth (from Ikea) underneath the plexiglass top which adds a nice dose of pattern to the room...

I'm very happy with the end result, it's so much easier to find things now and the room is much more functional. Do you have any organizing projects going on right now?

Black and White Friday

2010-02-19T04:00:00.000-08:00

Just a little goes a long way...

*via style at home

A few happy things...

2010-02-17T04:00:00.000-08:00

1. lucite (and the 3rd issue of Lonny)...

2. kelly green & coral color combo...and the gorgeous handmade flowers by Emerson Made...

3. this cookbook that my hubby gave me for Valentines Day. I can't wait to try out the vanilla cupcake recipe...

I've heard that the babycakes bakery in NYC (and now LA) is amazing, has anyone tried out any of the recipes from the book?

*via lonny, emerson made, babycakes

Black and White...Tuesday

2010-02-16T04:00:00.000-08:00

I love, love, love Ellen Rakieten's Chicago apartment featured in this month's Elle Decor. But of course I do, Nate Berkus was one of her designers and it has the perfect mix of girly-glam style & masculine sophistication. I love that she said she was going for "part Hollywood Regency, flea market, mid century French, modern, granny chic, beachy, and English club" style. Sounds like another girl with design ADD, I can definitely relate! I think the end result is quite lovely...

I especially love the almost-black library walls and the office/closet combo. I could SO live here.

Bummer!

2010-02-10T04:00:00.000-08:00

Looks like I missed out on these super cute message-in-a-cookie cutters from Williams Sonoma. Their site is showing that they're no longer available, but hopefully they'll get some more soon. They would be perfect for any occasion and would add a nice personal touch to baked gifts or parties. Love them!

Sorry for the slow posting this week, we've got more family in town so we've been out doing lots of touristy stuff and spending good quality time together. Hope you're having a great week, I'll check in when I can!

Black and White (and Red) Friday

2010-02-05T04:00:00.000-08:00

Black & white...

I'm totally dying over the gorgeousness of Anna Kohler's apartment that are floating around blogland this week. Her dining room is divine...

And a touch of red...

I'm also dying over the fact that I get to see REBA tonight in concert, I'm beyond excited! In case you didn't know, I'm slightly obsessed with her (in a non-creepy way). I love her music, love her show, and love her spunk!

Hope you have something great planned for your weekend, see you Monday!

*via elements of style, country weekly

Red

2010-02-04T04:00:00.000-08:00

Last week my mom and I ventured to downtown Phoenix and discovered a few unique vintage & locally owned shops. One of them was Red Modern Furniture, which specializes in limited production fine furniture from the turn of the century to today. Their inventory is constantly changing and they have a pretty nice website that showcases many of their items.

I loved these bamboo chairs...

How fun would this seating arrangement be for your next party?

Some cool things from their website...

Not your average rocking chair...
Bold night stands...

Love this chandelier...

As you can see, Red has a lot of really unique pieces and their website is definitely worth checking out if you're into mid-century style.

Major Score

2010-02-02T04:00:00.000-08:00

I scored an amazing bag full of vintage earrings, rhinestones, and pearls for $8 at Goodwill over the weekend...

I've been in the mood to make some fun necklaces and accessories thanks to these fab pieces from J. Crew & Anthropologie...

I want this. Bad.

{anthropologie}

{j. crew}

I've never really made jewelry before but I'm excited to get started because it's something that I've wanted to do for a while. I'll be sure to share with you what I make with all of my new goodies!

Happy Monday

2010-02-01T08:22:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday everyone! I had a fantastic time with my mom last week during her visit. We got to do some shopping, some exploring around town, ate at some cute restaurants, more shopping, and just hung out at home chatting & baking. I'm a little sad that she had to go back home yesterday so I found a cheerful photo for today's post to lift my spirits a little. I'm loving the mirrored chest against the graphic floral wallpaper...

You pretty much can't go wrong with mirrored furniture in my opinion, it's very neutral but also adds sparkle and light to a room (which you know I love!)

*via elle decor

Black and White Monday

2010-01-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

So I missed black & white Friday last week, so you get it today! My mom is visiting from Iowa this week so I'll try to check in here a few times but for the most part I'll be spending some quality time with her and staying off of the computer. In honor of her visit, I'll leave you a few images from one of mom's favorite designers, Kelly Hoppen. Now you know where I got my love of black and white from:)

*via Metropolitan Home

Mirrors in Low Places

2010-01-20T07:39:00.001-08:00

I always love the touch of sparkle and light that a mirror adds to a room, but I especially like when they are used as a backdrop, or a layering piece to add more depth to a space as in the photos below:

This headboard mirror is brilliant:

This vertical mirror almost looks like another window (love the mirrored table too!):

I love how this mirror blends in with the rest of the art on this gallery wall:

I really like when mirrors are used like this above the nightstands:

I love the bold simplicity of this last photo, the mirrors add a great sense of drama. Do you use a lot of mirrors in your decor? Do you use them in any unusual places?

*via lonny, ruthie sommers, cote de texas, & unknowns

Craft for Hope

2010-01-19T07:08:00.000-08:00

I'm having a hard time coming up with blog posts this week that don't seem completely trivial in lieu of what's happening right now in Haiti. My heart breaks for people of Haiti, and even the rescuers and doctors that are there because they are seeing things that no one should ever have to see and that will stay with them the rest of their lives. It's overwhelming to think about, but there are things we can do to help, no matter how small they seem.

I'm excited about participating in Craft Hope for Haiti and donating something to their etsy shop. They are accepting handmade goods (whether you have an etsy shop or not) and ALL proceeds will benefit Doctors Without Borders in Haiti. I think this is a great way to get involved, either by donating or shopping from their site.

Sorry for the heavy post today, I promise I'll be back to my usual pretty things soon. I read a comment over on Darby's blog about the situation that read "we are not to blame for what happened in Haiti, but we are to be held accountable for what happens AFTER." Well said.

Pretty Butterflies

2010-01-18T06:00:00.000-08:00

I discovered a few little treasures over the weekend, one of them being this brilliant blue butterfly specimen:

I plan to re-mount it on plain white mat board and place it in a larger shadow box frame. I've always liked how the grouping below is displayed, the blue & white contrast of this room is divine:

This single display is simple & pretty:

I must say that I wrestled with this purchase because I'm not big on using living creatures as home decor, but I rationalized by thinking that maybe this little butterfly had a long happy life and died of natural causes. It's possible, right?

* via desire to inspire, decor8

Black and White Friday

2010-01-15T06:00:00.000-08:00

Chandeliers & mirrors in the kitchen? I'm liking it...

We're getting our new West Elm pendant installed tomorrow over our kitchen table and I cannot wait...adios, hideous fluorescent lighting! I'll be sure to share some pics on Monday, have a great weekend!

*via Canadian House & Home

Stripes!

2010-01-13T06:00:00.000-08:00

I'm loving the subtle metallic & ivory stripes on these walls...

The smoky blue-gray accents are the perfect addition to this rich neutral palette. I'd love to hang out on that chaise all day with a good book and a cup of tea!

*via decorpad

For the Birds

2010-01-12T06:00:00.000-08:00

I'm on the hunt for some new black & white art to update my gallery wall to a more sophisticated look. My current arrangement is nice, but it's starting to feel a little cutesy, so it's time for a makeover. I'm liking the modern vintage feel of these bird prints from Kari Herer Photography...

Her illustration/floral photos are interesting too:

Estate Tales

2010-01-11T00:01:00.000-08:00

I hit a few estate sales over the weekend without much luck but I did manage to score this bar cart for a SMOKIN' deal:

Let's just say that it cost less than a trip to Starbucks so I simply could not pass it by, even though I have no place to put it at the moment. For now, it's going in my walk-in closet and I'm going to style it up with jewelry, purses, picture frames, etc, but I can always pull it out if I need to for entertaining. Bar carts seem to be quite the hot ticket these days....

I forgot to mention that I actually already have a bar cart that I use in my living room as an end table (in a silver finish) otherwise I would try to use it in there in some way.

I also found this bell jar at Goodwill, I may look for some sort cake stand to use as a base:

(my post-Christmas entry vignette)

btw- does anyone know what the best way is to shine up brass?

*via domino

Black and White Friday

2010-01-08T00:01:00.000-08:00

Lee Kleinhelter's new condo...I think the photos speak for themselves. The woman has an amazing eye and her home is perfection.

Love, love, love.

*you can view rest of photos here

Life in the fun lane

2010-01-06T00:01:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share a new-to-me blog I discovered yesterday over at Cote de Texas called Life in the Fun Lane. First of all, how cool is that for a name, love it! Holly, the author, runs a business called Whiteberry Reinvented where she spruces up vintage furniture pieces with a fresh coat of paint (usually white) to give them new life with a funky, shabby chic sort of vibe. She also documents her progress as she decorates her home (which she changes quite frequently, I'm sure we all can relate). I knew when I saw these two versions (of many) of her dining room that I would enjoy her blog, and I was right:

I had to post both photos because I couldn't decide which one I liked better...the above one is most current although I think I read that she just sold the large buffet piece in the background.

And I adore the nursery she did for her darling little girl:

LOVE the hand painted armoire, and she got a screaming deal on it. So jealous!

The pom poms over the crib are such a great alternative to a mobile and they add a perfect punch of happy color! (I'm totally stealing this idea someday)

I love the idea of fixing up vintage furniture pieces to make something new and unique. They just don't make furniture like they used to and as much as I love stores like ikea, most pieces have a 3 year life expectancy, if that. I refinish a lot of smaller items like chairs & lamps but I get nervous when I think about tackling large furniture pieces such as dressers & armoires. I'm definitely feeling more inspired to try something more substantial after seeing the great results of Holly's work (plus my ikea dressers are falling apart and I'd really like something new). If you haven't seen it already, cruise on over to Life in the Fun Lane. (cheesy pun intended)

A few things...

2010-01-05T00:01:00.000-08:00

I wanted to mention that my friend Jethany Lee (who I went to design school with) got one of her kitchen designs published on the front cover of a little publication you may have heard of called Better Homes & Gardens. It's a spacious and bright kitchen located on Burt Lake, MI with lots of room for cooking & entertaining. If you get a chance, check out this issue, she did a great job!

I also wanted to give a big thank you to Desire to Inspire for featuring me as part of their holiday reading guide for 2010. I'm beyond flattered to have been included with such an amazing group of bloggers, thanks for the blog love!

And lastly, I'm not big on reality tv shows, but I cannot resist watching The Bachelor. I'm so excited the new season started last night, and this could be why:

Gotta love a man in uniform! It looks like there will be a lot of drama this season and I can't wait!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-04T00:01:00.000-08:00

Happy 2010 everyone! I'm back to blogging after a nice little holiday break and now I'm easing back into my normal daily routine. Like many of you, I've been on a major cleaning/organizing kick lately, going through closets, cupboards, drawers, and my sewing/craft studio, which is the biggest project of them all. I still have a lot to do (like putting my Christmas decorations away), so for today I'll just leave you with a few photos of my favorite house from this month's House Beautiful. It's a lovely converted ranch that mixes industrial and provincial styles with a little bit of girly flair thrown in the mix.

Doesn't the master bedroom look dreamy?

I love the overall light & airy feel of the house. It looks clean, cozy, and inviting...a perfect way to start out the new year!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-22T09:54:00.001-08:00

I'm signing off until the new year to enjoy the rest of this wonderful holiday season, hope your Christmas is merry & bright (and maybe a little glam)!

See you next year!

*via southern living

Pink & Pretty

2009-12-17T22:19:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share some photos from a lovely bridal shop in historic downtown Chandler, AZ called Uptown Bridal. My bff recently got engaged so we went on our first dress shopping adventure a few weeks back and started out here. This decadent tree greeted us as we entered the shop:

Here's a view of the rest of the bridal boutique, we loved the pink & gray color scheme...

I made her try on this gorgeous belt...if I was getting married I would SO wear this...

Don't you just love weddings? It seems like there are so many more options as far as dresses/decorations/themes/etc than there were when I got married only 6 years ago. Don't get me wrong, I loved my wedding (& my dress!) but I would do so many things differently if I were to do it again today. I know styles come and go and there's always going to be something new that comes out later that you wish you could have done and at the end of the day it's the marriage part that's important, not the wedding. But still, I'm not ruling out renewing our vows someday and throwing a nice little shindig to go along with it:)

Seriously Considering

2009-12-17T00:01:00.000-08:00

...this pendant for above my dining table:

It reminds me of the light fixture in this beautiful eat-in white kitchen...

I'm going to West Elm later today to check it out, I'm crossing my fingers that it looks as good in person!

*via west elm & skona hem

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

2009-12-14T00:01:00.000-08:00

Here's a glimpse at some of my holiday decor...

My version of the Eddie Ross wreath

I love my white tree...

I have a little thing for these mirror trees it seems...

I bought these at Target a few years ago:

And I found the one below at the Dollar Tree this year! I couldn't believe it, it's definitely not the same quality as my Target ones, but you can hardly tell the difference looks wise. RUN, do not walk to your local store to get a few for yourself. (Just don't go to mine because I cleared them out, I think I bought 7 total!)

Black and White Friday

2009-12-11T06:48:00.000-08:00

I guess I'm sticking with my yellow theme from yesterday. There's so much I love about this room it's hard to single anything out, but for sure I'm loving the perfect warm gray wall color, the chandeliers, the console in the dining area, and lets not forget all of the zebra print. You just can't go wrong with that! This space sort of reminds me of Jenna Lyons house, no?

I hope you have something fun planned for the weekend, I'm sure we all have a lot that we have to do, but hopefully you have time to do something for yourself, too. I'll be hitting up some estate sales today, wrapping up my Christmas shopping, hopefully getting my Christmas cards out, and checking out the winter edition of Lonny. It looks like another great issue and I can't wait to see all of the gorgeousness inside! See you Monday!

*via desire to inspire (photos by Michael Partenio) & lonny

Color Coordinated

2009-12-10T08:21:00.000-08:00

I'm a big believer that your Christmas tree & decor should match the rest of your house, and yes, that includes wrapping paper too! So, if your house looks like this:

Your tree should look something like this:

This tree in Lee Kleinhelter's living room is probably my favorite non-traditional Christmas tree ever. It may seem odd to have a yellow and white tree, but it goes seamlessly with her decor and anything else would have stuck out like a sore thumb. And because I love her style so much, here's some other pics from her house (from Cottage Living mag):

*via martha stewart, i suwannee, cottage living

Happy Monday

2009-12-07T00:01:00.000-08:00

Here's a clever & stylish way to display those Christmas cards that will soon be streaming in...

*via Canadian House & Home