Emily Ann Interiors

Curtain Decisions

2013-04-24T07:24:00.000-06:00

Hello!

I'm finally getting some time to blog on this rainy Wednesday morning. For those of you unfamiliar we have lived in our house for a bit over 2 years and for the most part it is finished. Something that I am slowly accomplishing is curtains for each room. I have been on the hunt for curtains for our formal living and dining room (I will do the same in both rooms as they are side by side and open to each other).

I ran across these Threshold panels at Target last week and for the first time actually liked what I saw for these rooms! I would need to order online because I need 95" but I decided to bring the 84" home to see what they looked like in person. I tacked up the gray and cream because I feel like either could work. Keep in mind it is very dark outside as it's pouring rain.

Thoughts? I would hang them a bit higher than pictured and they would reach the floor. I got reports that people thought they were too busy to go with the rug.

Here are a few pics of the room on a sunshiney day

Too busy? Keep looking? I will reserve my thoughts until I hopefully hear from you! ;)

Thanks!!

Instagram Update

2013-04-11T05:39:00.000-06:00

Hello!

Spring has finally sprung so I have a multitude of projects underway. I can't wait for our deck to be finished so I can show you before and after pictures. With all the trips to the park, a vacation to South Florida, and overseeing the deck project we have been busy.

Here is a glimpse into our lives the last few months via Instagram:

1. Easter Sunday it was warm enough to lay in the hammock for a bit. It was so peaceful! 2. I loved dying Easter eggs with my girl this year and can't wait until next year when she is really old enough to enjoy it 3. An IG update to our deck progress 4. I have been living in my new Sperry's and I LOVE them 5. Granny sent M a stuffed chicken and he is adorable! 6. Loving the sunshine through the dining room windows one morning 7. Life is good....a frozen margarita on while feeling the sea breeze through my hair 8. M loves coloring "collie? collie?" these days 9. Our Oliver...a 5 year old Papillon 10. A cappuccino after a night away with Jacob in February 11. Rocking Essie's Devil's Advocate a few last times in Feb and March before I pull out the pinks for spring

Follow me on IG: emilyanninteriors

Have a great day!!

Deck Makeover

2013-03-23T05:22:00.003-06:00

Hello!

Is it spring in your neck of the woods yet? You see here in Kentucky it is spring one day and then winter the next. Luckily today will be springy (!!) with snow expected tomorrow. I know you are over it too!

You see it needs to warm up soon so we can get outside and enjoy our soon to be completed deck! For the last week a crew has been tearing up and replacing our deck. The existing structure was only 7 years old but it was creaky, stained poorly, with boards popping everywhere. Not only are we getting a new deck with a gate for M but we are making over under the deck so we will have a shady space to hang out this summer.

This was taken a week ago:

I'll be back with more pictures as we near completion!

Follow me on Instagram at: emilyanninteriors

Easy Chandelier Update

2013-03-14T11:52:00.000-06:00

Hello!

The sickness bomb went off in our house towards the end of January and it was nearly a month before we were on the mend. Ugh. I'm happy to say we are healthy and I'm praying spring is right around the corner because it certainly seems like it. If it would quit snowing once a week after a 60 degree day I would be happy. ;)

In an effort to complete an easy project and get some quick satisfaction I decided to tackle our brass chandelier. When we moved in our home there were a lot of upgrades, which we LOVE. However, there were a lot of things the previous owners went builder basic on and fixtures was one of them. Throughout the house we have cheap brass fixtures and door handles mixed with cheap silver faucets. Awesomeness. And because there is ALWAYS something more important it will be a long time before these things get changed out.

Here is the lovely traditional (can I say 80's?) chandelier in our formal dining room. Want to see the evolution of this room click here:

Armed with some Rub n Buff and my step ladder I went to work. It took 2 coats and 2 days, which I didn't love as I was hoping for a quick project but all in all it was worth it.

Here is the after, which cost around $12 and was fairly easy to create:

Here a side by side Before and After:

I have to say that this wasn't the smartest project to learn about Rub n Buff on. I really want to love it but it wasn't easy to work with like everyone says....I am ok with the chandelier and it is a whole lot better but it I don't think I will be doing any other light fixtures like I thought I might.

Am I the only one that doesn't love Rub n Buff or am I the only blogger alone in this thought?

Have a great weekend!

Valentine's Mantel

2013-01-31T01:00:00.000-07:00

Hello!

I finally have something to post about so I'm back. We have been battling the flu here first M and then Jacob. Ugh, I'm sure hoping that I don't get it! I got cabin fever this weekend and decided to redo the mantel. I did something after Christmas and I never really loved it. I haven't decorated for Valentine's Day since I was in elementary school but I thought it would be fun and bonus....I didn't spend a dime. See, that craft closet does pay off! ;)

I made the burlap bunting and tissue paper tassels, the baby food jar candles were leftovers from M's first birthday, the Love print I won from a blog giveaway and never found a place for, the birdie I had and the large frame I bought for $6 at a thrift store a few weeks ago and the intended project fell through.

The bunting is just burlap with tissue paper hearts modge-podged on. I made the tassels following these instructions and both only took around 30 minutes.

The heart chain is a pinterest find, which is so basic it's silly. So there you have it! My free festive Valentine's Day mantel.

Do you decorate for small holidays?

Grandma's Recipes

2013-01-10T01:00:00.000-07:00

Hello!

I hope you all are well because it has been awhile! We have been busy as usual but are happy to be getting back into our normal routine. M and I have been hitting the gym in the mornings and I have been trying to squeeze in at least one item from my (never-ending) to do list each afternoon while she naps. This past weekend Jacob and I purged our closet and master bedroom, which felt great!

I'm here to share one item that has been on my list for forever and I'm so happy I took 10 minutes to do it and mark it off the list! I saw the idea on Pinterest originally to frame your Grandma's recipe cards and since both of my Grandmas have passed I definitely knew this is something I wanted to do. I'm still working on Jacob's Grandmas who are still living but not in the best of health. I hope to one day have all 4 hanging but for now it is just 2.

Here is where they are located in the kitchen.....near the coffee pot....a gathering place in our kitchen!

Grandma Snyder's recipe for Beef Stroganoff

Grandma Richardson's recipe for French Chocolate Pie

This one is very special, you can see my name on it because I made this pie years and years ago (I found it in a magazine) and I have been dying to make it the last 5 or more years but didn't have the recipe and then I found this while cleaning out her house. I love it. I'll make it and share it if it is as delicious as I remember!

I used this website to download canvas images on paper to matte the recipe cards. There are several to choose from and it's free!

I love looking at their handwriting.....the recipes don't really matter :)

Why hello there plate wall! Here is another one of my favorite spots in the kitchen

I think I have FINALLY settled on curtains for the master bedroom. I'll be back soon with pictures!

Quick Mantel Update

2013-01-02T12:41:00.000-07:00

Hi all!

Happy New Year! I took an unintentional few weeks off when the Holidays arrived but I'm back! We had a great Christmas with family and friends and a wonderful New Year celebration with friends from out of town. Like several blogs I read today I feel refreshed in the new year and can't wait to get to work on several home projects.

Jacob helped me take down all the Christmas decor yesterday and while the house always feels bare after it's all put away I also love the clutter free feel! I need to work on our mantel and the first step was adding some height. In typical fashion I shopped the house and back yard and this is what I came up with. I'm still tweaking it and I need to figure out what I want to do to anchor it a bit.

I needed something to hold the sticks in place and found a toilet paper roll was perfect! Winning!

Once I add to it and get it the way I want I'll be back with pictures!

Have a great day!

Before and After Feature

2012-12-17T01:00:00.000-07:00

After a long sad weekend with the news of Sandy Hook I wanted to feature a great before and after. Are you like me that you love a great before and after? I love looking at the before pics and trying to imagine what they do for the afters before I look at them!

Design Indulgence did a great makeover of a master bedroom and when I ran across it on Pinterest I had to share:

Before:

And the amazing After:

If you have been around long you know I'm a sucker for neutrals, especially in bedroom spaces so this is right up my alley. The things I love are that they painted the nightstands and reused things like the mirror, as well as covering up the holes above the fireplace.

Click here for more photos!

My prayers go out to those in Newtown, CT. May God comfort you in your time of need.

Our Christmas Tree

2012-12-12T01:00:00.000-07:00

Hi all!

We got our tree this last weekend and Jacob and I both agree it is the best tree we have ever had. It is tall and thin and the perfect shape for the corner we put it in! Unlike most bloggers we decorate our tree the same each year: white and multi-color lights, beaded garland, and all of our sentimental ornaments.

We put the unbreakable ornaments at the bottom and M has been doing great with it!

Have a great day!

Christmas Decor

2012-11-30T18:11:00.000-07:00

Hi all!

I'm just settling in for the evening and I finally got around to taking a few Christmas decor pictures. I decided it best to take some in the daylight and some at night and post a bit of both. So far this year I haven't bought anything for inside as far as Christmas decorations go so I'm pretty proud of that! I do think a wreath on the mirror above the mantel would look pretty!

A lot of our decor this year is easy and not fussy since we have a 1.5 year old running around and because the thought of putting away a lot of decor come January exhausts me. :)

Here are a few snapshots from around the house:

I plan to sew a runner for this table and make a box like I talked about here but this will do for now:

This centerpiece used to be Jacob's grandparents so I enjoy putting it out each year

You may recognize the vase from our usual decor. I was planning to simply put up our usual small tree but it didn't seem tall enough now that I'm used to the height of the white vase and hydrangeas. I decided to improvise and take the tree out of the stand and stick it in the white vase. It's not quite proportionate but I don't hate it so I think it will do!

A few sprigs of greenery and vintage ornaments I found while thrifting years ago add just a touch of Christmas to this small vignette!

Our mantel is the same as last years. I'm thinking a wreath would look beautiful over the mirror:

Not too bad for not spending a dime!

Toddler Friendly Christmas Tree

2012-11-30T13:37:00.001-07:00

Happy Friday!

I wanted to share a quick project I just whipped up while M is napping. I had a bunch of felt lying around and when I saw a felt tree for toddlers to decorate on Pinterest I had to give it a try. I'm a bit worried about M and the tree this year so I am hoping I can direct her to this tree as one she can play with.

I took this pile of felt:

And turned it into this in just about an hour:

Oliver had to be in the shot! The best part is that the ornaments all come off and because felt sticks to felt M can move them around and hopefully have fun decorating her tree.

I glued the tree to the wall with a bit of hot glue and the presents are attached as well!

Not too bad for an hour of time and completely free especially if it keeps M busy and out of the real tree! Here's hoping!

Have a great weekend!

Instagram

2012-11-27T01:00:00.000-07:00

Hi all!

I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving! It was so nice to have family here and have a yummy yet low key meal. I got my Christmas shopping started on Friday and have the house decorated for Christmas with the exception of the tree. Since I'm new to Instagram and still trying to get people to follow I thought I would post a bit of what I've been up to here:

1. M's Christmas present from Granny and Papa will be this adorable Hape kitchen

2. My early Christmas present from Jacob is this HRM and I love it

3. I love a sleeping baby

4. Polishing the silver my mom gave me to use for our Thanksgiving meal

5. Everyone enjoyed Thanksgiving!

6. After the meal we enjoyed a fire, some wine, and football!

7. Jacob helping me straighten and organize the garland

8. Starting to look a lot like Christmas

9. I love these baby slippers from Hanna Andersson

Follow me so I can follow you back! emilyanninteriors

Instagram

2012-11-19T06:34:00.001-07:00

Hi all!

Just wanted to let you know I'm finally getting on the Instagram wagon! Follow me at emilyanninteriors

I would love to follow you too so leave your info in the comments! :)

Have a great day!

Recipe: Vegetable Pot Pie

2012-11-15T01:00:00.000-07:00

Good morning!

It's almost Friday, which is a very good thing in my book. Jacob was out of town last weekend so I'm pumped to have him here and for the 3 of us to be able to relax and have some fun.

One goal that Jacob and I have been working on is budgeting. Well, see really we're pretty good at it....we've had a budget since we got married and for the most part we stick to it. However, with M eating more and more and me getting lax on the food portion things have gotten out of control. See I meal plan, always have...my mom did so I always plan ahead and make a list. I think what was killing us was quick trips for this and that a few times a week.

This is getting longer than I planned so I'll wrap it up. The reason I'm telling you this is because I have found taking the amount we budget for food out in cash at the beginning of the month is really helping. Also, because I have been on the hunt for inexpensive recipes that are healthy too. Bonus if they're easy because I usually have a toddler hanging on my leg....This pot pie recipe is one I have been making for years. The original recipe calls for chicken but I made it vegetarian years ago and recently I made it vegan because of M's dairy allergy.

Add 1 bag of mixed vegetables and mushrooms to an oven safe dish. I used canned because I had it for some reason but usually I use fresh. Salt and pepper to taste and add 1 cup of vegetable broth (add cooked chicken if you want)

In a separate bowl mix together 2 cups of Bisquick and 1 cup of milk (I used soy but regular is fine)

Spread the Bisquick mixture over the veggies and pour melted butter over the top. Bake!

YUM!

You end up with a fluffy biscuit top and a yummy vegetabley center! I love this meal on a cold night and we always have plenty of leftovers. I bet you could make it the night before and just pop it in the oven when you get home.

Vegetable Pot Pie Recipe (Vegan)
1 bag mixed vegetables
mushrooms, chopped
1 cup vegetable broth
Salt and pepper to taste
2 cups Bisquick
1 cup milk (soy or regular)
The recipe calls for 1 stick of butter, melted but usually use 3/4 a stick

Bake at 375 for 35-50 min or until the top is golden brown!

Thanksgiving Table

2012-11-14T01:00:00.000-07:00

Hello!

I'm happy to have my Thanksgiving table together over a week early and the bonus is that I only spent $3 on it! I have been dying to make a box as the centerpiece for our formal dining room table for months now and I finally got the wood to do it. However, I just don't think it's going to get finished before Thanksgiving.....maybe Christmas! While visiting family last month I got a few boards from my late grandpa's barn dating back to the 1930's. I love that they have a story and that they mean so much!

Rather than a box I went with a single board in the center of the table. I combined candles I already had with $3 worth of pumpkins I bought last weekend and I think I have a simple yet elegant fall table.

The leaf plates are a few years old from West Elm, the table runner is actually a curtain (gasp) ;), and everything else I had around the house. I love it when I shop the house and it pays off!

Have a great week!

Restroom Before and After

2012-11-12T01:00:00.000-07:00

Hi all!

I hope you had a nice weekend! I got a few things done around the house and even got in a bit of relaxing! M is 17 months now and is going non-stop so relaxing and accomplishing something is a big deal around here. ;)

A local shopping center asked for my help in redecorating their family restroom and this new mama was happy to help. I love it when public places offer places for nursing because it really does make getting out with a little one so much easier.....it's one less thing to worry about (where am I going to nurse??). The budget wasn't huge but I love finding a good deal so I jumped at the chance!

Here are the before pictures. It wasn't pretty. We not only wanted to improve the look but we also wanted it to be a bit more functional (i.e. chairs you could comfortably nurse in). We partnered with Z Gallerie and Pottery Barn Kids to get all of the furniture and art, which helped with the budget quite a bit!

And here are the afters: I didn't change the actual bathroom portion as it wasn't in the budget and it functions just fine as it is.

I love this tile made to look like hardwoods. In hindsight I wish I would have gone with the black grout instead of the dark brown as it looks a bit light for my taste.

Still needed: a pillow or two, a changing pad cover and maybe a plant to make it a bit more homey.

Paint is SW Blue Horizon, the same as in M's nursery.

The chairs are so comfy and the space is so much easier to keep clean, which is a win win in this mama's eyes!

Powder Room

2012-11-09T01:00:00.000-07:00

Hi all!

I realized while updating the blog that I never shared our powder room.....not because I'm not proud of it but because it's very hard to photograph. Like most small rooms it's impossible to get good light and I end up pulling a spider man in the corners to get different angles. Well, since I have learned a bit more about my camera I finally have some decent pics. I striped the bathroom last fall and I love it! I used this method.

I love the bird/nature prints. I find that what I'm drawn to most in wall decor is along these same lines:

The boat painting we bought in Cape May, NJ on our first wedding anniversary. As you can see we have some updates that we need to do as far as the lighting is concerned.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

New Buttons

2012-11-02T01:00:00.000-06:00

Hi all!

It's Friday! Is it just me or are the weeks flying by?! I mean, it's November already! I finally got around to adding new buttons to the blog to feature some of my favorite projects and tutorials.

Check it out!

Banana Bread Recipe

2012-10-30T01:00:00.000-06:00

Hi all!

2 posts in 2 days.....WHA? I know, I know it's craziness! ;) Lots of prayers for those in the eye of Sandy. While we are only getting cold weather and lots of wind we stayed inside yesterday and I decided to make banana bread as a yummy snack for M.

I love this recipe because I most always have the ingredients on hand and it is simpler than others I have come across. The bad thing is that I have no idea where I got this recipe because I have been making it for over 10 years. Oops!

Banana Bread Recipe

Ingredients:
1 3/4 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup shortening
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup bananas (I use 2-3 medium over ripe)

Directions:
Stir together and pour into a well-greased 4x8x2 1/2 inch pan. Bake at 350 for 40-50 min or until browned. Cool on a rack.

I love to eat it with a cup of coffee in the morning or with tea in the afternoon. I usually microwave a slice for 20 seconds or so in the microwave because it's so delicious warm!

Enjoy!

Fall Update

2012-10-29T09:54:00.000-06:00

Hi all!

We have been so busy traveling and hosting company that I have been MIA. My mother-in-law bought me a great fall runner for our dining room table and I finally got it ironed and on the table. I also added a few cream hydrangeas to the white ones and I think it helps add in a bit of fall. I love when a few small changes can make a big difference!

I just got the supplies to work on a centerpiece for the table. I'll be back with that when I'm finished!

Guest Post: Fall Decor in New York and Brooklyn on a Budget

2012-10-15T01:00:00.000-06:00

Autumn in New York and Brooklyn is a season to celebrate in your home. Do not merely resign yourself to the long shadows of chilly days. Instead, bring some of fall’s warm, rich light indoors to enjoy in your interior decorating plans.

The best thing about the season is the plentiful array of colors already available outside that you can bring in and highlight for color accents. Gather up some of the colorful leaves from your front stoop and line them inside a clear, square vase. Use an acrylic sealer to coat them for sticking, then use a battery-powered tea light inside to illuminate. Kick up the DIY project a notch by adding lighted twigs you can buy at a neighborhood crafts store or might come across at a New York street fair. Tuck your display into a corner for an instant mood light to cast shadows that play off your houseplants.

Living in Brooklyn you realize quickly that trendy chic ideas are found everyone from doorstep interior, residents put their own flair that allows New York City it’s own classy flair, separate from this chic art district. For example, the multiple flea markets in Brooklyn can really be the start of a craft project weekend to transform your interior. Stroll around and look for maybe some candlesticks with round, flat tops, and then spend the afternoon spray-painting them in warm, autumn colors. Glue the candlesticks to the bottom of small, flat-bottomed crystal glasses that you could find in any antique shop in New York, and put them at varying heights on your mantel or on a sideboard. You can fill the glasses with tea lights or alternate with tea lights and candy corn for a Halloween party effect. You might luck into finding a deal on cranberries at a farmers market in Hell’s Kitchen and use a handful as decorative filling, alternating in layers with almonds or other light-colored nuts.

Easy changes that also are budget-friendly include introducing a warm, snuggly throw on your couch along with pillows in autumn shades of brown and gold. Cinnamon candles can help give a homey scent, particularly after a long evening commute on the subway. Simmer some cinnamon sticks in water on the stove for instant fall potpourri ambiance.

Remember that the secret to economical seasonal makeovers can focus on sights and smells in your home. New candles and updated accessories that reflect the season can be a quick way to transform your interior from summer to fall. Secondhand stores, flea markets, antique shops and even the corner grocer can inspire new ideas and create a quick spark of radiance to embrace the changing season.

Source

Alexandra is a travel enthusiast who loves to write about fashion, beaches, food, and the wonderful things in the world. She provides her own insights on vacationing to the blogosphere. If you would like to learn more about her, follow her @alexsjourneys or visit her blog alexsjourneys.wordpress.com

Few Small Bathroom Additions

2012-10-11T01:00:00.000-06:00

Hello!

I wanted to share a few updates to the guest bathroom upstairs. Our home is a 4BR 2.5BA house so that means we have a master bathroom, a powder room downstairs and a guest/kid bathroom in the hall upstairs. Since M is still little and doesn't really need a bathroom of her own yet (we bathe her in our big jacuzzi tub) the hall bath is basically only used for guests. However, when I painted it Behr's version of Silver Sage (same as the master bath) I wanted it to feel a bit feminine for when she does use it. All you have ever seen of it was a DIY roman shade. It's horrible to photograph because the toilet and shower/bath are in one room and then 2 sinks are in a separate room.

I got some Rifle Paper Co note cards for Christmas with the intention of framing them in this bathroom. However, I couldn't find a frame I liked until recently when I ran across these:

I also added a metal tray I had lying around and a few soaps in a jar, a candle, and of course some cotton and q-tips.

I have been eyeing the zinc letters from Anthropologie forever and since we now have an Anthro (yay!) I finally got one and hung it today!

Here is the art near the other sink, which is behind the door as you walk in. Once we have another kid my plan is to get the letter of their initial and put it above this sink to delegate who's sink belongs to whom.

Nothing earth shattering but it feels nice to have a few things on the wall!

Side bar: I hung the M by myself which is kinda a big deal because I refuse to hang things that need more than one nail b/c I'm horrible at measuring and such. I decided to give the whole painters tape measuring thing a try and it really worked! Let me know if you don't know what I'm talking about and I'll do a tutorial. It literally took 5 min and I got it right on the first try. Seriously.....this is amazing news (#can'thanganythingwithout25holesinthewall).

Have a good day!

Monster Eyes

2012-10-05T01:00:00.000-06:00

I tried out an idea I found on Pinterest this last weekend I thought it was pretty cute. You take paper towel rolls and cut out eyes and then put glow sticks in them. That's it! We have a large bush in front out our house, so it was perfect.

We plan to do it again on Halloween!

Caramel Apple Bar

2012-10-02T01:00:00.000-06:00

Jacob and I had a group of friends over this weekend and I thought it was the perfect opportunity to try out an idea I saw on Pinterest. I had fun making a caramel apple bar and I used this recipe to keep my apples from browning and it really worked!

We had caramel, chocolate chips, nuts, and 2 kinds of sprinkles

I also made a caramel cheesecake dip with crushed graham crackers and it was delicious

Delicious!

Project Sneak Peek!

2012-09-28T01:00:00.000-06:00

Hello!

Thank you for all the kind words and emails. I appreciate knowing that someone is out there I guess. :) I definitely am going to focus on more original content!

I want to show you a before picture of a space I'm working on. Only a few more pieces to be delivered and then I can share the afters!

You can only go up....right?! :)

Have a nice weekend!