home decor: hallway

Back in December we painted our hallway. We being my mother and I. Its become our December ritual. She comes for my birthday and during her week long stay I find something to paint and thus slowly all the walls in my home are getting beautified. You may recall that I posted about it briefly here when I was looking at paint swatches. I wanted a really milky chocolate but everyone kept steering me towards a lighter pallet. Fortunately I’ve realized I prefer richer colors and went with my gut feeling. I’m so happy with how it turned out and the color really pairs well with our wallpaper.

Please ignore the $3 light fixture. I’ve been searching for the last year and still nothing makes me swoon. Some day…

our hallway

Wondering, should I paint the doors? Perhaps a gloss black.

wishful shopping

I promised myself that we’d spend the year paying down our debt. Not that I have a ton of debt but when you’re tying to save for bigger things and also pay to send your child to private preschool in New York City you are bound to feel broke. I even wrote myself a feel good email about the bigger picture. About how we are working towards bigger things, prettier life events, that make all the small little purchases seem worthless. I really feel everything I wrote but I’ll be damn – there are a lot of little things I still *really* *really* want. Like these goodies from Anthropologie. I’m just saying… the old school swivel clock that looks like it belongs in a locker room would be so pretty on the half wall between my kitchen and living room. A little something to break up all the sweetness going on in that space. And I’ve wanted to start a key collection for a while. No idea why, I’m just saying. So yes, I need the key. And how phh-urty are the soap and lotion bottles with the bronzed nozzles and the equally phh-urty wire holder.

clock via Anthropologies

key via Anthropologies

soap & lotion with wire rack via Anthropologies

Hmm, just noticed the swivel clock is only 6.25″ in diameter. I officially have no use for it. Bummer.

oh glorious weekend

vintage j crew ad

Can Friday just get here already? I’ve had a repeat of hellish weeks. The only highlight being my weekends. Can I tell you how I celebrate? Friday nights I have a 10pm date with my couch, a double margarita and an hour of Project Runway. Heaven! Unless of course my husband interupts me with a question or an attempt at a conversation. Though I think after my dramatic freak out last weekend he won’t be making that mistake again.

Enjoy your weekend ladies and gents. It’s almost here.

four legged friends

Somehow I never realized how much I could love a chair. I’ve been drooling over lucite for a while now. If we ever get a new dinning room table I want something just like these.

But then, for my bedroom, I’ve been imagining something girly and fresh for my desk.

Oh, to have an endless stream of money and space to fill with my four legged friends.

via southern accents by amanda nisbet

found on chameleon-interiors.blogspot.com

come again

source of image unknown

Don’t call it a comeback
I been here for years
Rockin my peers and puttin suckas in fear
Makin the tears rain down like a MON-soon
Listen to the bass go BOOM

“Mama Said Knock You Out” by LL Cool J

I love this room. Lots of glamour without being over styled. And I’m really feeling gold right now. It’s as if it’s making a come back and slowly winning over my heart. This space has a perfect balance. A hint of girly-girl, a drop of gold and just enough “ohh.”

If anyone can help me out with the source of this image I’d like to give credit where credit is due.

here’s a quote for you

John Mayer quote

found on flickr

patricia gray via flickr

So much cuteness in one image. The box pleats, the pom-poms, the framed wallpaper. Simple, clean and lovely.

shopping from my bathroom

On the weekends I take over the duty of bathing our son (a task my ever helpful husband does during the week). So last Sunday I got my son all squared away in the tub and then I pulled up my little stool and about 6 catalogues that had been calling my name. I’m not a huge fan of West Elm. Their pieces tend to look lovely but in person the price never seems to match the quality. Anyone else ever feel that way, like the actual craftsmanship is questionable?

I digress. Perhaps the craftsmanship is horrible but I will admit that a few pieces caught my eye. Shall we do a bit of imaginary shopping?

Yes, I am still obsessed with birdcages. Two of these would look lovely in my home.

bird cages via west elm

I’m loving the upholstery on this chair. The chunky weave would add great texture to a room. I even like the lavender and the texture on the rug

armchair via west elm

This tufted leather headboard is fab. It’s like the companion piece to our couch. Sigh!

tufted leather headboard via west elm

crafts: what to do with the tea tin

cute tea tin

Back in April I wrote this post. You remember, right? The one about tea tins and my inability to part ways with a little tin I had picked up in London years ago. Well I have a desk now which means I have a true space for crafting. And because I know you’re are dying to hear all about what my first project was I’m back with my report.

Feel free to let out that sigh of relief.

Granted, I think it’s all pretty self explanatory. I covered one of the tins with fabulous paper, along with another tin I had gotten with a watch (again, something I picked-up many years ago). They are small enough that those random strips of scrapped wrapping paper now have a purpose. Which I love because I tend to adore the wrapping paper I purchase and now I get to keep a little bit for myself and have it on display in a useful way.

So there you have it, my dilemma of what to do with my tea tins has been solved. Something else that might be clever would be covering the tin in gorgeous paper and then using it as a flower vase. Sorta combining the two ideas I presented in my original post.

Tah-dah.. what do you think?

tea tin craft project

list maker

Amongst the seven note pads I purchased was this fabulous find and I have to say that I LOVE it!

the long list note pad via kate spade

This punchy yellow and white number is what I’ve been using as my gratitude note pad. I tend to be long winded and with past gratitude journals I found myself going on and on and then feeling like I was writing a novel about why I was blessed for the random guy who held the door open (or something like that). This jazzy sucker with numbered lines keeps me on track with writing things that are clear and to the point.

 The  pretty kelly green note pad in my previous post is also from the Kate Spade collection. All pieces are available at Kates Paperie.