Living Lovely Blog

Countertop Time!

2011-06-16T05:22:00.000-07:00

After months of complaining {19 to be exact}, husband-to-be finally agreed to get new counter tops for our kitchen - yay! It all actually started when we were looking for houses. One of my must-haves was a garbage disposable. Of course the house we chose didn't have one so I made HTB promise we'd install one someday. Well after living in the house a few months, I decided if we were to install a garbage disposable, we should probably replace the sink and if we were to replace the sink then we should probably also replace the counter tops {perfectly logical, right?!}.

Here's where you come in....help me choose my counter tops! Which color would you go with in our kitchen? {PS the cream cabinets are staying, but we are planning to replace the backsplash}

Here's some inspiration photos:

The safe choice - sand colored with dark brown flecks.

A creamy neutral look from Sarah's House! We couldn't afford Carrara, but maybe white is the way to go.

An afforable option - butcher block with a marble backsplash.

All photos: Decorpad

Bargain Hunting

2011-04-21T08:11:00.000-07:00

We all know Target is a gold mine for fabulously stylish home decor at bargain prices, but in addition to their normally fantastic prices, this month they are also having an online-only home sale! There are so many awesome peices it was hard to choose. Here are some items I found for my living room decorating project as well as other items that I have no place for, but maybe someone else does!

On the right (the inspiration): Horchow Kyle Chair $1,729
On the left (Target find): Canary Print Slipper Chair $224

When I found this Horchow chair, I knew I would neeever buy it. I mean, $1700 bucks for a chair?! That's just insane. This Target option is not nearly as pretty, but I think it will serve the purpose just fine.

On the right (the inspiration): Home Decorators Collection Rosa Rug (5x8) $479
On the left (Target find): Home Medallion Wool Rug (5x8) $110.50

Kind of had my heart set on this Madeline Weinrib inspired rug from Home Decorators Collections, but the Target option is much more budget friendly. Compromises, compromises.

(The inspiration) French Fancy Room Dividers
MarleyandLockyer.com

(Target find) Target Arts & Craft Room Divider $97.99

Still on the fence about this one. I think I might be able to find this cheaper elsewhere. What do you think?

Here are some other lovely finds that won't go in my living room, but maybe will fit in yours!

Dwell Studio for Target Swoop Chair - $129

Curves Hourglass Chair - $157

Faux silk curtain panel in Tan (42x84) - $10.39

These curtains are a steal at $10 a panel! Unfortunately they don't have enough left in stock for my living room. Hopefully someone else will scoop them up.

Happy shopping!

Sneak Peek: DIY Bench

2011-04-18T08:05:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd share the DIY bench project I started this weekend. This is my first attempt EVER at building furniture, so we'll see how it goes! So far, the actually work doesn't seem that difficult...the hardest part is buying all the elements. I will be making a third trip to Home Depot tonight!

Here's my inspiration.

Ballard Designs Simone Bench - $249-$400

This one is probably the most similar to the bench I'm trying to make.

Horchow Suzani Bench - $979

Love this, but too luxe for my budget!

Home Decorators Collection Hammond Bench - $199

Most affordable, but no pattern.

Home Decorators Collection Martha Stewart Lomard Benach - $229

Great design for the price, but again no pattern.

My progress so far.

I purchased four table legs from Home Depot

Primed them with some spray primer I had laying around the house. Unfortunately I picked the windiest day for this project!

Then I sprayed them with "Walnut" colored spray paint I had from when I refinished our medicine cabinet in the bathroom.

More to come, stay tuned!

A Room Divided

2011-04-08T12:59:00.000-07:00

Open floor plans: yes we all crave them, love them, need them, but they create unique design challenges. For example our living room, that I'm currently designing, is more like our 'everything' room. It serves as our main living/tv/hangout room, our dining room, our entertaining room, our office and our main entry. Phew, that's a lot for one, yes ONE room. My biggest challenges are the structural beam and the closed-in front porch area which has a lower ceiling and different flooring. I need to make this space into a welcoming entry and a office without putting up walls. Here are my ideas thus far. Send me your ideas!

HGTV.ca

The obvious choice is to use a shelving unit, such as the one pictured above. I'm just not sure if this would give enough privacy to the office area.

ThisOldHouse.com

I love this solution! It gives the office privacy while still being open, and getting extra storage is a bonus.

MarleyandLockyer.com

Here are two nice examples from Marley and Lockyer using a curtain and folding screen.

Better Homes & Garden, April 2010

My mom torn this out of last April's BHG Magazine. The room has nearly the identical layout to our living room. Right now, using a curtain in this manner is probably my first choice. I might also add a folding screen to even further divide the space. I can't seem to figure out what kind of curtain rod they used though. Anyone know?

Mood Board: Our Living Room

2011-04-07T14:20:00.000-07:00

Drum roll please....I'm finally done with the inspiration for living room! I wanted a soft palette with a few pops of colors to keep the eye moving around - it's a small space. It's also a room that we use everyday as well as for company so it needs to be comfortable and inviting, but also special enough for guests and entertaining. The Chariklia Zarris print I picked up at Homegoods this past weekend was really the piece that brought everything together for me. What do you think?

Art: Chariklia Zarris Print
Sofa: Crate and Barrel Axis Sofa
Chair: Horchow
Coffee table: Peir One
Rug: Home Decorators Collection
Curtains: JCPennys & West Elm
Pillows: Madeline Weinrib & Jayson Home and Garden

Below are the items from my previous post that I purchased already. All from Homegoods with the execption of the rug which is from JCPennys

Tiny Bathroom Renovation

2011-03-29T14:11:00.000-07:00

We are about half way through our main bathroom renovation - check out the before below, yuck! I can't wait to show off the "After" but for now here's some of my inspiration!

BEFORE

Wow, I almost forgot how ugly it was!

THE INSPIRATION

Kohler Archer Petite Vanity

This is the vanity we purchased. We had a tough time finding the right one because the bathroom is super tiny and we only had space for a 24" or smaller vanity. Most of the other 24" vanities we found at the home improvement stores were not cute and were so builder grade.

The potential of our vanity. I love this color!

Kohler.com

Elgant and clean.
Decor by Jennifer - Decorpad.com

Lovely, but all the clutter on the counter would drive me nuts! A medicine cabinet is definitely in order.

Heidi Smith & Angus McRitchie Photography - Decorpad.com

Swoon!

Jeff Lewis Designs - Decorpad.com

So simple, so chic.
Jim Howard - Decorpad.com

Accent Chair Conundrum

2011-03-28T11:34:00.000-07:00

Which do you prefer? I LOVE the ikat, but am nervous to commit to that pattern in a piece of furniture.

Skyline Furniture Settee in Athens Smoke - CSNStores.com

Skyline Furniture Blue Diamond Ikat Chair - CSNStores.com

Boot Corral

2011-03-28T08:02:00.000-07:00

It always seems no matter how neat and organized I *try* to be my tall boots ended up in a mis-matched, tangled web of leather and rubber. At one point, I thought of buying those boot hangers, but honestly they seem a bit fussy. Then I thought about building a little divided corral so each set had a cubbie of sorts that I could just toss each pair in to. Well one day while I was perusing The Container Store's website I came across the perfect solution! It's actually meant to be used for sweaters and handbags, but if you turn it on its side, it works perfectly as a boot corral. A pair of boots fits easily and neatly into each little cubbie.

3 Section Modular Accesory Organizer - The Container Store

Happy Boots!

Fits perfectly on the floor of my closet.

Mood Board: Our bedroom

2011-02-24T06:00:00.000-08:00

Here's my vision for our master bedroom. I want the room to have a relaxed, hotel feel. I selected Cedar Key as a neutral and used Philipsburg Blue as an accent wall behind the bed - both colors are from Benjamin Moore. What do you think?

Moorish-inspired Decor

2011-02-23T09:36:00.000-08:00

I can't get enough of the geometric, Moorish-inspired design style that is happening right now. It seems to be everywhere from high-end retailers like Horchow to discount department stores like Target. I especially love all the soft colors like slate blue, ivory, celedon, sliver and gold. **Beautiful**

Photo: DC Design Co-op

Photo: Home Decorators Collection

Photo: KC Interiors; Designer: Kelly Wearstler

Photo: Home Decorators Collection

Photo: Horchow

Photo: Garrnet Hill

Photo: Thomasville

Photo: Target

The inspiration: the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain

Photo: Wikipedia

Here goes nothing...

2011-02-17T13:32:00.000-08:00

My first blog post EVER - scary! The reason I'm starting this blog is to have an outlet for all my creative ideas that float around in my head and keep me up at night, but like starting that college essay I am a bit stumped as to where to begin. So I thought I'd share the current project I'm working - my very own house!

My fiance and I bought our house about a year ago. It's a cute, little 1940's bungalow that needs some work. One of our biggest challenges is the main living area. It has these awful faux wood wrapped beams and a jagged field stone fireplace that is falling apart. I have always loved the architectural detail of a coffered ceiling and since the beams are structural to the house, I thought this would be a perfect way to bring the room into modern day.

The real estate listing photo - yuck!

My inspirations:

Photo: Southern Living

Photo: Traditional Home

Photo: Country Living Magazine

Photo: Traditional Home

Photo: House Beautiful

Photo: clearcutcarpentry.com

Unfortunately coffered ceilings can be pricey (depending on labor and the type of materials used), but I found that there are Coffer Ceiling Kits that are available. Also instead of real wood, MDF or drywall can be used if it's going to be painted, which we are planning to do anyway.