Our Suburban Cottage

Twilight Living Room – And Other Rantings

noreply@blogger.com (AnNicole@Our Suburban Cottage) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 06:00:00 +0000

Did anyone see the new Twilight movie over the weekend? I thought it was pretty good! Although, I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that “movie Edward” isn’t my “book Edward”. No offense to Robert Pattinson….you were lovely in Water for Elephants…

…but you kind of creep me out in the Twilight movies…and I’m so sorry sweetie-pie, but you’re just not my Edward.

This is who I always pictured when I read the books (Chace Crawford):

Am I right?! Do you need more visual aids? I happen to have some right here…

“Hey baby, did you know that the sunlight makes me shimmer like
Carrie Underwood’s legs in that Remind Me video?”

“Tell me what you are. Say it!” “I’m a ruggedly handsome vampire. Duh!.”

“What, Edward? What do you see?!” “Dang! My marble-like chest looks really, really good in this shirt.”

Uh hum….but on to the real reason for this post. While watching the movie over the weekend, my little eyes perked up when I saw one of the rooms in the Cullen house. Here’s an impromptu (and really not very good) rendering (do you like the forest in the background?):

It kind of made my heart go pitter patter, and I immediately began taking mental notes: linen slipcovered sofa, ticking stripe pillows, cable knit throw, gray accents. I’m pretty sure I whispered a not-so-subtle “yessssss” under my breath.

Sofa: Restoration Hardware; Pillow: Pottery Barn Custom Pillow; Throw: Pottery Barn;
Pillows: Restoration Hardware

Did anyone else think the same thing when you saw this room in the movie? Are you overly concerned that I happen to have three Photoshopped photos of “MY Edward”? :-)

-xoxo

Doing It All

noreply@blogger.com (AnNicole@Our Suburban Cottage) — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 02:47:00 +0000

I may regret this post later, but what do I have to lose?

I’ve been thinking lately about us gals, and how we seem to constantly be faced with the duty? responsibility? charge? opportunity? of doing it all.

I’m not complaining here, and I only tell you this because I think many of you can relate, but from my own experience and from chatting with friends, it seems like we ladies are responsible for quite a bit: Working outside the home; Working inside the home; Paying bills; Creating budgets; Meal planning (which must be healthy, kid friendly, and budget friendly, right?); Grocery shopping (ugh); Cooking (double ugh); Cleaning/Organizing the house (triple ugh, ugh, ugh); Cleaning vomit (kid…dog…whatever…it falls on us); Home repairs?; Planning/budgeting car maintenance; Cleaning the car; Looking pretty (within said budget); Being phenomenal wives, friends, mothers, daughters; And, of course, having a beautifully decorated home that’s blog worthy/guest worthy at any moment.

And does anyone else out there feel an enormous amount of guilt if they don’t accomplish all of these things to perfection? Or at least within the ballpark of perfect (not sure which ballpark that is…maybe Lambeau Field…which is more of a football stadium than a ballpark…but whatever…Brett Favre played there and that’s good enough in my book). And does anyone else feel insanely overwhelmed and like they’re falling short all the time?

This blog started out as strictly being a decorating blog (my heartbeat…aside from the true, meaningful things in my life such as faith, family and Reeses Peanut Butter cups), but I feel strongly that I need to start talking about a few other things: The struggles and obligations we face as women (no offense to men and their own struggles); Healthy living (for my own selfish benefit); Fashion (again…selfish, selfish, selfish); and DECORATING!!!…which will of course continue my heavy emphasis on creating a beautiful home on a budget and paint, fabric, and do-it-yourself-because-you-are-WOMAN! projects.

I am planning on a 2-3 post per week schedule…more if I’m able…but that’s what’s been stirring inside me. I have to write from my heart. I have to write from my experiences and passion…and hope that those things help, inspire and resonate with some of you out there.

Cool? Cool.

With love,

Fall Faves: Let’s Get Cozy

noreply@blogger.com (AnNicole@Our Suburban Cottage) — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:59:00 +0000

See? I told you I’d be back today. You weren’t sure if you could believe me or not, huh? That’s okay. I did abandon you for a spell. It might take a little time to re-earn your trust :).

Shall we break some pumpkin bread and look at some of my Fall faves?

Now I’m a big fan of Summer and I always hate to see it end, but I’ve learned to embrace Fall….mostly by equating it with coziness – a feeling that’s hard to recreate in 100 degree weather. Here are a few of my favorite ways to get that cozy feeling.

Pumpkin or hazelnut candles from Walmart…yes, Walmart. They’re from the Mainstays brand and they’re super cheap and so incredibly delicious smelling. I normally buy the type that come in a glass jar.

And nothing beats sitting by a candle glow wrapped in a plush, soft throw. This one from JC Penney is looking pretty darn good to me. See? Doesn’t she look happy?

And I have to share my number 1 fave: Restoration Hardware’s Luxury Plush throw. It’s reasonably priced (at least at the moment), is SUPER soft, and comes in a variety of attractive colors.

Another thing to look forward to in the Fall? Pumpkin Spice Lattes at Starbucks. Ohhh soooo goooood. As is their Caramel Apple Cider. Mmmmm (oh dear, you don’t want to get me talking about food right now – I just downed a brownie and approximately 50 Cheetos)

Another Fall fave? New Fall pillows at Pottery Barn. I bought these Simone pillows last year and I still love them. You can pull so many great colors from them (smoky blue, deep red, wheatie golds), and they give a sophisticated but inviting vibe.

Finally, I look at Fall as a new opportunity to buy (or simply lust after) beautiful boots.

“Oh, hi adorable riding boots I wish I’d bought while they were still available in my size for $99.”

Perhaps I could comfort myself with these adorable $49 jobbies from Target instead….I’m sure my bank account will thank me for saving it a few bucks.

Stay tuned for more Fall faves. In the meantime, what about you? What are some things you look forward to in the Fall?

HI!!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (AnNicole@Our Suburban Cottage) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 02:00:00 +0000

Hi Kids! So a bomb kind of went of in my life the past few months, but GUESS WHO HAS A NEW JOB?! MEEEEEEE!!!!

I’m so excited. I’m doing something I enjoy and I will now finally have more time to devote to my first love…this here blog.

I have been working on a few projects around the cottage that I can’t wait to show you; including a little fancy work around my fireplace, some creative work in our powder bath, and some embracing that old man inside all of us (I’ll explain).

Stick around kiddos! I’ll be back with some Fall favorites tomorrow.

xoxo

5 Ways to Enjoy What’s Left of Summer

noreply@blogger.com (AnNicole@Our Suburban Cottage) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 20:15:00 +0000

I’m one of those rare creatures that can’t get enough of Summer – even when it’s hot as Hades. Yes, I love Summer so much that it can be 110 degrees outside and humid and I’m happy as a clam (…I’m assuming clams are down with hot and humid).

So before we start pulling out the apple wreaths and chenille throws and our latest straw/burlap creations (hee hee) let’s savor just a little more Summer, okay? Because, lest you forget, it’s going to look like this outside before we know it. Brrrrr!!!

5 WAYS TO ENJOY WHAT’S LEFT OF SUMMER

1) Can You Say BBQ?: Ohhh, this is one of my favorite things to do in the summer. It’s not so much about the food (which is of course a bonus) as it is about hanging out on the deck with friends and family. Invite some friends over for a bring-your-own-meat potluck dinner, or just make it a special night for you and the family.

2) Savor Summer Foods: Eat a popsicle on the front porch; Top vanilla ice cream with strawberries, blueberries and whipped cream; Drink lemonade; Get a real life ice cream cone from an honest to goodness ice cream shop.

Image: Martha Stewart

3) Swim: Now I’m as swimsuit averse as the next girl, but there’s nothing like a cool swim on a hot day. Sneak into your neighbor’s pool if you have to (totally kidding…no getting arrested and blaming it on me).

4) Stroll through a Farmer’s Market: Most cities have these. There’s nothing better than spending a sunny Saturday morning mingling with your community, looking at fresh produce, fresh cut flowers, and crafts.

5) Keep it Light: Don’t pack away the floral pillows, white cotton throws, and fresh accents just yet. Breathe in the moment just a smidge longer.

Image: Apartment Therapy

What special things do you look forward to in the Summer?

A Little Mental Cleaning

noreply@blogger.com (AnNicole@Our Suburban Cottage) — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 02:37:00 +0000

So over my little breakity-break from the bloggity-blog world I did a some mental cleaning. Part of the reason I stepped away (beyond stress at work) was that I knew my head wasn’t in the right place as far as the blog was concerned. I started this here blog just for the plain fun of it – just because I love decorating and love sharing my ideas and love of decor with you. But somewhere along the line my competitive nature took the wheel and I wasn’t happy anymore. I was constantly comparing myself to others and beating myself up for not being as creative, inventive, blah blah blah as others. Crazy, right?!

I only share this with you because I know if I felt this way, many of you out there have to be feeling the same thing. Let me share one of my favorite quotes with you:

There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. ... No artist is pleased. [There is] no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.

from The Life and Work of Martha Graham

In a nutshell – we all have worth; We all have value; We all have something to contribute to this world that nobody else can ever contribute. That’s true whether it’s with your family, your friends, your career…or yes, even your blog. You don’t have to be “perfect” you just have to be 100% authentically you, and share the fabulousness that God blessed you with with others.

xoxo

Chic Duvets Under $100?!

noreply@blogger.com (AnNicole@Our Suburban Cottage) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:25:00 +0000

I’m a firm believer that nothing can give you bigger bang for your decorating buck than paint and fabric. As a result I’m always on the lookout for inexpensive curtains, pillows, bedding, etc…and I’m constantly painting and re-painting rooms…but I digress.

So imagine my glee (yes, I said “glee”), when I stumbled upon several super cute duvet covers for under $100. Let’s have a look see…

Clover Duvet Cover – F/Q $59

Organic Carved Circles Duvet – F/Q $79

Organic Imperial Duvet – F/Q $79

Winter Berry Duvet – F/Q $59

See what I mean? Happy shopping!

Our Suburban Traveler

noreply@blogger.com (AnNicole@Our Suburban Cottage) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:43:00 +0000

Hi kids – I thought I’d share some pix from my recent travels with you. I went to Amsterdam for work – yes…Amsterdam…as in The Netherlands. I promise you the experience was far less glamorous than it sounds – but I was grateful to be able to go nonetheless.

I was shocked to discover that they force you to wear wooden shoes there,

but I quickly adjusted once I found out there were at least more size appropriate options (I know…I’m hilarious) :).

But seriously, Amsterdam is a seriously gorgeous city. Here are a few pix for your viewing pleasure. Isn’t the architecture amazing?!

I had a free day the last day I was there, and I was able to get out to the countryside where I saw some seriously fantastic windmills. Like…seriously.

Aww, see the ducks?

And I knew only YOU would appreciate the beautiful of this bicycle. The lettering, the basket, it’s state of casual repose….Perfection.

Vaarwel

(that’s goodbye in Dutch – although I’m not saying “goodbye” goodbye…just “until next time”)

To My Readers

noreply@blogger.com (AnNicole@Our Suburban Cottage) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 17:51:00 +0000

Hi friends,

I’m really sorry that I’ve been missing in action. A few of you have sent me emails saying “Where the heck are you?” and I really appreciate it…and apologize for my absence.

I am so grateful to each and every one of you that have taken the time to read my thoughts and follow my projects. We are indeed of like mind, and (as Anne of Green Gables would say) kindred spirits.

In a nutshell…I’ve been overwhelmed and a little fried. You see, my day job is kind of like this:

In fact, I’m pretty sure The Devil Wears Prada was written by someone who was actually in my job at one point. Although, I may have read that on Wikipedia ;-).

And at other moments I’ve felt like this lady:

But with better makeup and clothes (sorry Ms. Brockovich)…and I probably cry a little more.

I’m not complaining – I imagine many of you feel the exact same way. That’s why I’m willing to pour my heart out here. I just wanted you to know what happened, and reassure you that I am coming back.

I love writing, and sharing fun ideas and inspiration with you. With all the craziness in my life, it’s a much needed creative outlet that feeds my soul. And I’m glad that it can occasionally inspire some of you in the process.

Thanks so much for your friendship and loyalty.

With Love,

New Living Room Pillows

noreply@blogger.com (AnNicole@Our Suburban Cottage) — Tue, 25 May 2010 15:47:00 +0000

The “new” living room is coming together piece by piece – and I’m loving it so far. I had to share the fun pillows I ordered on Etsy.

These arrived yesterday and I’m in love. I didn’t realize when I ordered them that the design is actually hand stamped onto the fabric. Gorgeous! Here’s a link to the seller’s shop.

And these pillows are being custom made for me by this seller (which is a fancy way of saying I was too lazy to make them myself). I can’t wait to see them in person!!!

Also, the new rug is in it’s place in my living room and I love it. This is where I should insert a real life photo of said rug in said living room…but I’ll let you wait for that and instead post the Urban Outfitter’s stock photo. Yes…I’m truly that lazy right now…or more accurately, I truly am that busy. You should see the dishes in my sink… Sorry loves.

I’ll keep you posted on the progress!

Where’s the Fun At?

noreply@blogger.com (AnNicole@Our Suburban Cottage) — Tue, 18 May 2010 16:43:00 +0000

I wrote a post last week about my love for Anthropologie, and it kind of make me look around my living room and ask myself, “Where’s the fun? Where’s the whimsy? Where’s the personality?”. It just kind of felt a little stiff, a little serious, a little too staged. It was pretty and comfortable, but not totally representative of me. In fact, it’s the only room in the house I haven’t really loved yet. So I thought, and I thunk, and I thinked, and I decided to freshen things up a bit.

I’ll give you the “full reveal” soon, but I will tell you it involved a little of this…

And a dash of this…

And a teaspoon (or gallon) of this…

And my own homemade version of this…

Stay tuned!

Anthropologie Dreaming

noreply@blogger.com (AnNicole@Our Suburban Cottage) — Tue, 11 May 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Back when I was a single gal dreaming of owning my own home, I used to imagine what it would look like. I always thought it would look like an Anthropologie store…more or less. You know – all artsy and feminine. Now that I actually own my own home, I’m not totally sure why my house looks so…well, normal. Although, it probably has something to do with not wanting to embarrass my son when his friends come over since Anthro stores can be a bit over the top. I still can dream, though. Want to dream with me?

In my dream house I would have this bed. I love this bed. I’ve big fat loved this bed for years. Yes, it’s $1500, and yes, it’s a little over the top, but we’re dreaming here. Remember?

I’d probably add this floofy fluffy white bedding. Doesn’t it look like a cloud? All feminine and dreamy-like?

And may I tell you how much I love this Astrid Chair? I even love the name. And are you noticing that absolutely nothing in my house even remotely resembles the style of this chair? Hmmm, makes one think.

I want one of these letters that I talk myself out of every time I visit Anthropologie because they’re $28. Were they $18 each I would have done it, but that extra $10 is a deal breaker for some reason – which ironically I’ve probably spent over and over again at Starbucks or McDonalds. Go figure.

For my kitchen I want these fancy measuring spoons that would make me smile each time I used them.

Same with this adorable milkmaid butter dish. Oh c’mon. The cuteness is killing me.

And I seriously want to eat off of these dishes…or maybe even just lick them.

And after dinner I’ll retire to the study where I’ll light a few candles…

Sip some tea…

And read Sense and Sensibility…or just gaze at its darling cover.

Ahhh…isn’t it fun to dream.

What would you have in your dream house?

Demystifying Polyvore – Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (AnNicole@Our Suburban Cottage) — Mon, 10 May 2010 15:27:00 +0000

I wrote a basic tutorial last week about using Polyvore to create design boards. I wanted to do a second post to show you one other really cool thing you can do in Polyvore – you can grab items from other websites.

First, remember in my last post how I told you to follow this tutorial to download the clipper tool? You need to do this before you can grab items from other sites. Okay? Okay (you’re so compliant..love you).

Okay, so let’s say you’re browsing the Anthropologie website like you do ~~everyday~~ occasionally, and you stumble upon this rug. Your heart goes pitter pat, you let out an audible “Ohhhh”, and you instantly want to use it in a design board.

Since you already downloaded the clipper tool all you have to do is go over to your “Favorites”, and then “Links”, and then scroll down and click on “Clip to Polyvore”.

(Yes, I blacked out a couple sites I didn’t want you to know about. In my defense, they’re work related…and I like having a job. Also, I have no idea why I have so many Yahoo links! Sheesh!)

Once you’ve clicked on “Clip to Polyvore” a little box will appear in the upper right corner of your screen, telling you to click on the photo you want to save to your items in Polyvore. Once your mouse is over the photo that you want to import, a green box will appear around the picture. Once the green box appears around the picture just click on the picture.

A new box should then appear in the upper right corner of your screen asking if you’re sure you want to save the photo to your items – just click “Save”. You also have the option of including tags. This helps others in Polyvore to be able to find your item to use in their design boards. So, it’s kind of a nice thing to do to add tags.

(Note: My computer was acting up and wouldn’t let me grab the Anthro rug like it should have. So in the interest of finishing the tutorial, we are now looking at a different rug…same principle. Okay – carry on).

Once you’ve clicked “Save”, the item will appear in your saved items in Polyvore and you’ll be able to see them next time you visit.

One little caveat is that you can’t clip every photo to Polyvore. Only certain photos can be uploaded. For instance, I’ve tried to use photos from Ebay listings before, and no dice. Drats. Most “store” sites can clip to Polyvore though.

And that’s it. Happy creating!

A Few Things I Learned from My Mother

noreply@blogger.com (AnNicole@Our Suburban Cottage) — Thu, 06 May 2010 16:07:00 +0000

Just about any problem can be fixed with a good meal and a new outfit
A good color sense and some paint are the only tools you really need
Thinking inside the box is highly overrated
Eating a donut for breakfast is totally acceptable
Wisdom is earned through gracefully weathering the fierce storms of life
Patience is a virtue and a little selflessness can move mountains and touch hearts
After taking that first sip of a perfect Diet Coke you should say “Ahhhh” and then smack you lips and say “Mmm that’s a good one”
With a little strength, creativity, prayer and perseverance you can accomplish just about anything
God’s love is displayed through mothers

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the amazing mothers out there. And I’d also like to thank and celebrate the many non-mothers out there that inspire me daily.

XOXO

Demystifying Polyvore

noreply@blogger.com (AnNicole@Our Suburban Cottage) — Mon, 03 May 2010 00:37:00 +0000

As some of you may know, I have a bit of a Polyvore addiction. To me, being able to go in a program and virtually create room design boards is the equivalent of playing with Barbies as a kid (…without the whole Barbie-Ken smooching thing). I’m a really visual person, so when I’m designing a room it’s a huge help to be able to see how my ideas will actually look before I actually start working on a room. It also helps me to be able to experiment with different design elements without the commitment of going out and buying that wacky Amy Butler fabric or faux deer head. It’s basically risk free decorating. Love that. Okay – hang on for a highly technical (but hopefully informative) post.

Polyvore can be really confusing the first time you look at it. First you need register to create your own account.

You’ll then want to follow THIS tutorial to download the “clipper tool”.

Then go back to the Polyvore Homepage and click “Create”.

Now the real fun begins!!! You’ll see a screen that looks like this, which is still really confusing.

No worries. Go to the search box and type in whatever you’re looking for. This can be an item like “sofa” or a brand like “Pottery Barn”.

I typed in “Pottery Barn” in this example, and of course, I got tons of results. You can type in more specific searches too, but they don’t always yield that many results. This is unfortunately due to the way items are tagged when people upload them. Hopefully Polyvore will come up with a solution at some point.

Okay, so you’re looking through the pages of Pottery Barn items and you see something you really like and want to use in your design, like this blue Charlotte Armoire…mmm yummy.

All you need to do is click on the item and you can then select from 3 options: 1) Add to set, 2) View details, 3) Save to my items. If I really like the item I want to save it in my items to use again later. So I’ll click “Save to my items” first, and then I’ll click “add to set”.

Sometimes you’ll add an item to your board and it will look kind of fuzzy and see through, like this:

All you need to do to fix this is go up to where it says “Background: Remove”, and click “Background: Keep”.

Ahh, much better. But wait, I don’t want to see the wood floor behind that rug. So I go back up to “Background” and click “Background: Custom”. It then pulls up a screen that looks like the photo below. You just use the little squares to draw a line (or box) to crop the photo…keep want you want and eliminating what you don’t. When you’re done, click “OK”.

Now I want my rug behind the sofa, though. So I go up and click “Backwards” until the rug is behind the sofa. It usually takes a few clicks…not sure why. Also, if you want an item in front of another item, you click “Forwards”…but I’m sure you would have figured that out.

Also, if you want to duplicate an item (like I wanted the rug to be double sized), just click “Clone”. No photo of that. Sorry. You can also rotate photos by clicking “Flip” or “Flop”. You can’t rotate them 45 degrees though, which is a bummer.

Also, a note about finding items: Don’t be too worried about finding the exact item you want to use in your room. If they don’t have my exact sofa, I find one that’s similar enough to give me the right look.

Once you’ve created a “room” you like, you can either click “Save draft” to save it for later, or click “Publish”. Clicking “Publish” is the only way you’ll be able to save the photo in your own computer file.

Once you’ve published your room, just click your username (mine is obviously AnNicole).

All of your published design boards will then show up. Then if you want to save the room to your own computer file, just right click on the photo and save it the way you would save any other photo.

And that’s it. You’re Polyvoring!

My Favorite Vignettes

noreply@blogger.com (AnNicole@Our Suburban Cottage) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 01:45:00 +0000

Beth at Stories of A to Z is having a “Ready Set Vignette” party today, and I really wanted to participate. I hoard accessories, but oddly my own vignettes don’t change very often. Hmmm, maybe if I stopped painting for five minutes they would?… :). So rather than boring you with more photos of the same old vignettes in my house, I also hoard photos of accessories, and here are a few of my faves

This Martha Stewart mantel has been in my “dream home” file for a while. I love the soothing colors and interest of the vintage landscape paintings – especially combined with a simple starfish and a tiny vase that picks up with the green in the paintings. For a similar look be on the lookout for vintage paintings at thrift stores and “flea-tique” stores. I see them all the time. And you can paint unsightly or uncoordinated frames in matching colors that you draw from the paintings.

I love this BHG vignette below. I hope you haven’t already seen it too many times. Ahhh…the combo of white/black and warm wood. Lovely. This look could easily be replicated with a couple black and white drawings or photos placed in large black frames with thick white mats. Warm wood accents and rustic baskets complete the look.

This Country Living vignette is a great example of how repeating similar items can add a lot of interest and result in a a big impact. I love how the topiary kind of breaks up the look too.

Oh symmetry…I love symmetry – mostly because it’s fairly foolproof :). In the photo below they’ve created a visual triangle, though by having the birdcage in the center be slightly taller than the lamps on either side (and much taller than the vases). Triangles are good when it comes to creating vignettes. Make your arrangement create some kind of triangle and you’re probably going to be okay.

Finally, I love this photo from Ballard Designs. This vignette shows how you don’t need a lot of stuff to have a nice vignette. In a nutshell…go big. The combination of the large items, as well as the varying colors and textures, creates a really interesting vignette.

His and Hers Style: Contemporary Meets Earthy

noreply@blogger.com (AnNicole@Our Suburban Cottage) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 05:54:00 +0000

I thought I’d take a stab at something different today and look at the dilemma of combining two very different styles into one cohesive look. You married folks know what I’m talking about right? Not so easy when your spouse has a heartfelt love of all things Nascar and you prefer…well, anything but :).

Today, we’re pretending she loves contemporary style with clean lines and not too much fuss. He loves all things earthy. Give him wood grain and leather and he’s a happy man.

Meet the happy couple’s bedroom:

As you can see, Ms. Contemporary and Mr. Earthy have learned the art of compromise. She gets a bed, nightstands, and artwork with stylish and clean contemporary lines, while he gets his manly leather chair and warm earthy colors. They even managed to find a mirror that combines both simple lines and his beloved wood grain. Ahhh, a match made in heaven.

Now, don’t worry. This single gal isn’t going to attempt to give marital advice here, BUT I have a few suggestions when it comes to combining styles.

Find a Common Thread: What do you both like (I know…duh)? Even if it’s something as simple as a color, or a texture, that’s something you can build on.
What’s REALLY Important To You?: Our contemporary gal would feel completely suffocated in a a room full of intricate details, raw wood and cowhide, right? What’s really important to her is clean lines that let her feel like she has order and can breathe. And, let’s face it, a pristine white room would make our earthy man break out in hives. He really needs to feel the warmth of earth tones around him in order to relax.
What Can You Live Without?: In the example above our contemporary gal would probably prefer brighter colors or a nice tone on tone palette, but as long as she has a simple, orderly bedroom she’s content. And our earthy man would rather have a solid oak bed (and he isn’t a big fan of throw pillows), but he feels comforted in his warm hued space.

Feel free to let me know if you want me to do this again, and if so, are any particular styles you want me to try to combine?

Finally, thanks to all of you who entered the Pleated Poppy giveaway! The winner of the set of 3 posy pins is lucky number 81, Stacy from Snow Business.

How I Met My House Party!!!

noreply@blogger.com (AnNicole@Our Suburban Cottage) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 02:00:00 +0000

Alright – are you ready to party?! Today we’re sharing stories of how each of us met our house. Remember, you don’t have to own your home, it can be an apartment, and you don’t even have to particularly like the place. I just think the stories will be interesting. Okie dokie, I’ll go first…seeing as this is my blog and my party :-).

About two years ago I was going through a horrible divorce (is there any other kind?) and I was trying to focus on building a new life for my son and myself. I desperately wanted a home for us. True, we could have created a home anywhere, but I wanted a house that was near my son's friends and that truly felt like a haven to us. Without a big budget, I knew finding a home in our "desired" neighborhood was going to be a challenge - but I wasn't going to give up.

One day while looking online I saw a listing for a cute little 1700 square foot brick home in the right neighborhood for the right price. My heart almost jumped out of my chest. The house spoke to me. I know that sounds ridiculously cheesy, but it's true. It said "Hey, I'm your new home. You and your son will be very happy here." I would have made an offer right then and there, without even seeing the inside. The problem? Our old house hadn't even been listed yet, and I couldn't possibly make an offer while still being responsible for another house.

I contacted the realtor, and ended up seeing the inside (which only confirmed my love for the house...despite burgundy bathroom countertops and wallpaper borders) and I told the realtor to keep me posted on any offers. I literally called her twice a week asking if “my house” had sold yet.

Here's the magical part...our old, boring house that was in a so-so neighborhood sold within a week of being listed. My beautiful, wonderful dream cottage sat on the market for more than 2 months until I was able to put in an offer. We were being looked out for, that's for sure.

Our cottage isn't perfect, but I love it. I love the new life it represents for us; I love its warm embrace after a long day; I love that it's filled with love and laughter. I try to remember everyday how blessed we are and how grateful I am for our beautiful, imperfect little home.

Okay – Now it’s your turn. How did YOU meet your house? Link up your own story below.

Reminder – How I Met My House Party!

noreply@blogger.com (AnNicole@Our Suburban Cottage) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 16:19:00 +0000

First, remember to link up to the “How I Met My House” party I’ll be hosting tomorrow. I’ll actually publish the post at 9:00 p.m. (central) tonight, so hurry and get your story ready! Remember, you don’t have to own your house, and you can live in an apartment, mansion or mud hut. It doesn’t matter. Can’t wait!!!

Hitches are a Witch

noreply@blogger.com (AnNicole@Our Suburban Cottage) — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 13:00:00 +0000

So, I showed you my new upholstered headboard yesterday, and alluded to a “blooper reel” I’d be sharing with you. Here’s the thing, I’ve never, not even once, not just one teensy weensy time, been able to get through a project without some unexpected hitch showing its nasty little face. Some hitches are worse than others, and some just seem to multiply within a project, but I’ve come to just expect the little buggers. I now know that at some point whilst working away on a project, a hitch is going to appear.

For example, when I was working on my headboard I originally started using individual upholstery tacks. I traced a straight line in pencil so I would know exactly where to nail each tack. I focused, and squinted my eyes in deep concentration using all of my physical and mental powers to create a straight line with the upholstery tacks. And this is what I got…

Blast! Gaah!!! Flumpity bumpity!!!

I finally gave in and realized that despite my best efforts, the individual upholstery tacks just weren’t gonna happen. So I got online and ordered upholstery tacks in a strip from this Ebay store…and then summoned all of my miniscule stores of patience while I waited for the tacks to arrive.

Yes, they finally arrived and I was able to finish the project, but my point is…expect the hitch and don’t be afraid of it. Wait for it; watch for it; recognize it when its ugly little head pops up. And then be willing to adapt and change directions to finish the project. But whatever you do, don’t get overly frustrated and give up (or GHASP! never attempt a project again). I promise you it will be worth it in the end to adapt and endure.

Upholstered Headboard

noreply@blogger.com (AnNicole@Our Suburban Cottage) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 17:45:00 +0000

First, I wanted to let you know that you are formally invited to participate in a linky party I’ll be hosting this Thursday, April 22nd where we each share the story of how we met our house. You don’t have to own your house, you can live in an apartment, and you don’t even have to like your house. I thought it would be kind of fun and interesting to hear everyone’s stories, though, so get ready to participate this Thursday!

So, remember a little while back when I shared my bed woes with you? The bed frame was horribly squeaky, and my $30 Craigslist headboard banged against the wall every time I moved. Not exactly the recipe for a relaxing night’s sleep.

You all gave me some fantastic ideas, and after some thought (and a hard look at the budget) I decided to buy a new metal bed frame and make an upholstered headboard.

There are approximately a zillion tutorials out in Internet-land on how to make an upholstered headboard, but I’ll go ahead and show you what I did.

I invested $9.99 of cold hard cash in a drop cloth from Home Depot to use as the fabric. Oh yeah, I’m a BIG spender. It was the perfect color, though, and very durable (and the right price) – so I went with it.

I then had a piece of 3/4 inch plywood cut to the width of my bed and a height of 33 inches.

When I got the plywood home, I pulled out my trusty jigsaw and cut a gentle curve into the top of the plywood (This step is totally optional).

I then cut 1 inch thick foam to the shape of the plywood and then covered it with a layer of batting (which I stapled to the back with a staple gun). And then laid everything over the drop cloth fabric (which I’d already ironed smooth).

I then (um, I realize “I then” is the phrase of the day here) pulled the fabric taught (but not overly tight) and stapled it in two places on each of the 4 sides, before stapling the fabric all the way around. I made sure I checked the front side of the headboard as I went, to be sure the fabric was smooth. (Probably should have taken a picture of this part, huh?)

Once I was finished attaching the fabric, I turned the headboard over and nailed a strip of silver upholstery tacks along each side. I couldn’t find upholstery tacks in strips in silver anywhere in my fair city, so I ordered them from this shop on Ebay. I HIGHLY recommend working with the strips instead of individual tacks. I’ll explain more in my “blooper reel” tomorrow, but in a nutshell, the strips are fantastic because you only have to nail a tack in once every third “tack” (a big time saver), and since it’s a strip it’s really hard NOT to create a straight line.

Once the headboard was finished, I screwed two large D ring hanger’s to the back of the headboard and hung the headboard from two screws I had screwed directly into studs.

I can’t tell you what a relief it is to finally have a bed that is sturdy and relaxing. And the best part is that it was CHEAP! I paid $65 for the new metal bed frame, and about to make $50 the headboard. Not to shabby…

What I’m Loving Right Now

noreply@blogger.com (AnNicole@Our Suburban Cottage) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 21:29:00 +0000

This outfit from Anthropologie. Don’t ask me why, but I want it…for a tenth of the price, of course.

It may have something to do with this belt. Look at the adorable flowers!

The cherry blossoms in my back yard…even though every tree in the city is giving me outrageous hay fever…achoo!!! Whew! Excuse me.

This pillow from the Liberty of London line at Target. Of course, you may have noticed I have a slight ~~fetish~~ ~~obsession~~ love for pillows. It’s kind of different, but very cute in person.

Pretty much every room in this cottage designed by Angela at The Painted House. Check out this post, and this, and this. You won’t be sorry.

These ballet flats from the Gap. I have them in bronze and they’re soooo comfy. They’re available in other colors too.

This Anna Maria Horner fabric. I MUST make something with it – perhaps this shirt I’ve been coveting that Lindsey made (Um Hi Lindsey – we met at Blissdom? You know, we chatted for like 20 seconds? Any chance you want to make that top for me?)

This self tanning lotion by Mystic Tan. I like to think it gives me a convincing, natural glow.

Have a great day!

Fun in the Garden

noreply@blogger.com (AnNicole@Our Suburban Cottage) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 17:07:00 +0000

This isn’t what I wanted to write about today. Last Sunday I was all ready to wrap of one of my home projects that’s been dragging on forever. And then I went to breakfast with my son. While chatting over a southwest omelet and grilled cheese (who eats grilled cheese for breakfast?! it certainly wasn’t me), our conversation proceeded like this:

Coolio: I think it would be fun to start a vegetable garden.
Me: Yeah that would be fun. We’ll have to look into it.
Coolio: No, I think it would be a fun thing to do today.
Me: Today?!! But we don’t know anything about starting a garden.
Coolio: That’s okay. We’ll just give a try. If nothing grows we’ll still have fun trying.

Okay, how can you argue with that. So we spent Sunday afternoon planting a garden that will most likely not grow :).

So we headed off to Home Depot and I veered towards the miniature tomato plants…but Coolio thought it would be more fun to plant seeds. Okay then… He picked out Garden Beans, Summer Squash, Carrots, Pumpkin, and Cantaloupe…yes, cantaloupe. I drew the line when he wanted to plant corn. I just couldn’t imaging wading through corn fields in our backyard.

He also had apparently heard somewhere that manure was the perfect stuff to grow vegetables in, so we purchased 4 bags of “Premium Humus & Manure”…mmmm.

Coolio then went to work loosening up the soil in our impromptu garden bed, and then mixed in the manure.

Kingsley was enormously helpful. As was I, as I stood by with my Route 44 Diet Coke from Sonic.

I did take the time to make some lovely little garden stakes, though.

I also investigated our back deck and noticed something odd on the ceiling fan (and by “odd”, I apparently didn’t mean dirt, grime and dead bugs. In case you’re wondering, I have in fact heard of a little thing called “cleaning”).

An industrious little bird had decided to build a nest on top of one of the fan blades. Thank goodness we hadn’t turned it on, AND that there weren’t any little eggs in there. I was stunned at what a perfect little nest it was, though. Nature! Amazing!

After all “our” work was done, we had our own little vegetable garden. As I said, I’m fairly certain that it won’t produce a bountiful harvest for us, but it definitely was fun.

Easy Ways to Bring Spring into Your Home

noreply@blogger.com (AnNicole@Our Suburban Cottage) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:43:00 +0000

1) Switch out heavy fabrics, blankets and pillows for light weight cotton and linen.

2) Clip blooms from your garden and display them in your home, or splurge on some fresh tulips from the store.

3) Crack a window and let some fresh air into your house.

(imagine there’s a breeze flowing through this room…tough to get a photo of an actual breeze)

4) Add an inviting door mat and a pot of flowers by the front door.

How do you bring Spring into your home?

Image Credits: 1) Country Living, 2) Country Living, 3) Martha Stewart, 4) Country Living

New Spring Pillows

noreply@blogger.com (AnNicole@Our Suburban Cottage) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 15:01:00 +0000

Ahh, Spring – with it’s colorful blossoms, hint of warmth, and gentle breezes (well..unless you live in Tornado country…then it’s full of terrifying Tornado sirens that wake you up in the middle of the night…but back to my story). With the dawning of a new season…I decided to update the pillows in our living room. What? Were you expecting something more profound? Sorry, but don’t you know me at all? It’s mostly about fabric and paint for me.

I still love the Pottery Barn pillows I sprung for last Fall, but I wanted something fresh and Springy for the next few months (the other pillows will come out again in the Fall). I knew I couldn’t afford to buy $200 worth of new pillows (seriously…are there people that really do that?), so I decided to see what I could come up with on a budget.

About 2-1/2 years ago I bought 5 yards of Pottery Barn Medici fabric on clearance for something ridiculous like $25. As you can imagine, I’ve been hoarding it ever since. I used it for a valance in my old kitchen, but I’ve pretty much kept it pristine in its little plastic packaging since then (please tell me I’m not the only person that hoards fabric and is then afraid to {shudder} use it). Anyway, I knew it was time to pull my Medici fabric out and display it proudly in the form of 2 new pillows.

I’ve also had my eye on these pillows from Pottery Barn, but didn’t want to fork out $39 a pop.

Sooo, I bought a yard of blue linen fabric at Hobby Lobby (on sale for $12), and then scoured the city for jute trim. I finally found jute trim at a local fabric store. It was more expensive than I’d planned (I spent $20 for enough for 2 pillows)), but it was still a lot less than the Pottery Barn pillows would have been. Ultimately, I made 2 pillows for about $15 each.

Finally, I had to “spring” for (ha…oh so hilarious) this bird pillow from Pottery Barn. It was on clearance a month ago for $20-something (don’t you love my fuzzy math?) and I knew it would be the perfect little Springy something. I’m sure you can still find it on Ebay.

Ahh, Spring loveliness…

For a great tutorial on sewing your own pillows, see this post at Isabella and Max Rooms.

Have a great day!