midweek eye candy

via via Belle Maison

Is it apparent yet that I love wallpaper? I’ve been obsessed with it for about 10 years and was hanging it in my home long before decor blogs were drooling over the stuff. I think the way they hung this wallpaper in two different directions is pretty clever. I of course adore the chair for all the color and pop it brings to the space. Love it even more for having a fringe trim.

The other thing I really really like – the convex mirrors. Now I keep hearing people say “I purchased some cheap convex mirrors.” Which leads me to this question, where do you purchase cheap convex mirrors? Cause I would really love a set and I can’t find them “cheap.”

home decor: paint

Back to our mini makeover. I have to admit that I’m really lost on paint ideas. On one hand I see this as an opportunity to go in a new direction. I like our blue walls but I have this chance to change it up. It’s exciting to think we might be able to transform the space through paint.

via Martha Stewart, Deputy Decorating Editor Rebecca Robertson

I have never ever painted a room white BUT I’ve been giving it serious consideration. With the right art I think the white will actually make a great statement. Now I don’t actually own any amazing art, and I don’t think our penny budget is going to allow for any great art purchases.

my favorite oil painting, me and my brother

On the upside, I did manage to snag two of my favorite oil painting when I was at my mother’s house (above). My current dilemma (now that they are in our home) is that I’ve realize they aren’t as large as I imagined them. And I’m whishy washy over the frames but they are the original frames and I see these paintings as family heirlooms so I don’t know if I want to change them.

If I did go with color paint it would probably be blue (again). Maybe darker this time? Or much much lighter? If you hadn’t noticed, I puffy heart love-love-love blue.

Are there any colors you’ve always wanted to see in your home? Or better yet, what color is your space? And do you love it?

midweek eye candy

interiors by kimberly ayres

I love just about everything in this snipit of a room. The gorgeous curtains and that shade of blue, the wallpaper, the glittering frame and the lamp.

home decor: mini makeover

water damaged wall

I never mentioned it but back in April we got a leak. That nasty little leak sprung in six areas causing minor damages to four walls. Repairs have left patches of white plaster in both the living room and entry way. Initially, the most upsetting thing was that I’d need to repaint our entire space. I hate painting.. it’s always an exciting project at first but towards the end it just seems tedious. Clean-up is the worst!!

Worst!!

Mentally, the leak was draining. Our space was finally at a place where I was happy. I felt like the biggest purchases were behind us. I was more then happy with the results and all that was left to do was some accessorizing. The thought of having to repaint made me feel like I was back at step one. Then something happened and I have no idea what it was but after a few weeks of sulking – I started to get excited about the prospect of painting. I mean, it’s like an opportunity for a “do over.” There isn’t much I want to do over (or so I thought) and well, now I had my excuse to tell the husband we were making some changes to our décor. In some funny cosmic crazy way my husband was like “ok.”

In my world that’s like the sky parting and angles singing.

more water damage in the corner of the wall

The first time I decorated I went about it all the wrong way. I’ve discussed those issues before both here and here. The dinning room table that I hate. The couch that was too large so I ended up returning it two years later. I always wish I would have planned the space out before decorating and I wish I had given more thought to art work. I’ve learned A LOT from all my fumbles and I’m going to try and use those mistakes as a foundation for being a better designer this second time around.

I’m giving myself nine to twelve months to complete this mini-makeover. One of the many things I’ve learned is that the best things come to you over time. I also need to put lighting at the top of my list. It’s always been on my list but in four years it’s managed to simply stay on my list, never getting crossed off. I’ve finally added some lights to our bedroom and I’ve realized the impact good lighting can have on a space. I also think I’m going to finally change out our dinning room table. I have some new ideas that I’m excited about.. just need to find a table that makes my heart skip a beat.

I have lots of ideas and I need to narrow down those ideas. I need this to be well thought out and I need to be budget conscious. And for once I’m excited about the challenge of attempting to make an amazing space with just a few pennies.

Anyone else in the throws of a makeover? Or still getting their space “just right”?

home decor: going green

nesting boxes

More then once I’ve heard a designer say that you should introduce color in sets of three. So when I decided to go with green, after a lot of hemming and hawing, the challenge become finding three things that I liked well enough to bring into my home. After about six months of keeping my eyes wide open I found some lacquered nesting boxes at Crate & Barrel. I was instantly taken in. That become my starting point, or shall we say – my color wheel. I’m not the biggest advocate of safe design. I’m far from being wild or outrageous but I’m neither safe or boring. But even for me, deciding to paint a my dresser what could be considered neon green felt a bit risky. The first paint swatch I selected didn’t work and after a quick mental breakdown I went back to the store and worked with my fabulous paint guy on a more customized color.

That dresser is now my favorite piece.

I think its been about a year since I had my big moment of realizing I wanted to go with an unexpected shade of green as my accent color and only now am I adding that third piece to the room. I stumbled upon these great 60s inspired shag pillows and suddenly I couldn’t get them out of my mind. So I purchased them, which is a lot because I’m not a fan of pillows in my home. I’ve had several flings with pillows and after about six months I always end up ditching them. I hope these are different, that I can keep them around for the long haul. I do love them and I love the movement they bring into the space.

I don’t know if it’s the size of the room or the placement of my accent pieces but I’m not sold that three is the magic number. I can see how three is enough but I’m not getting that vibe in my space yet. The color still looks a bit out of place and too mechanical. So, I’m keeping my eyes open for piece number four. Nothing as bold or texturized as the pillows since I think then I’d be entering into contrived and overload. Instead I’m thinking something transparent, maybe glass. Think Heineken beerbottle for inspiration. Ideas?

shag pillows

storage in green

home decor: dreaming of tables and chairs

When we moved into our home three years ago we didn’t own much furniture. We had to get a lot of stuff with not that much money. In a moment of bad judgment I saw a sale on a table and I snatched it up. 

Now I’m not a fan of circular dinning room tables. I like them in other people’s homes but not mine. And there isn’t a good reason for this.. it’s just some quirky dislike I have. So in that moment of bad judgment we got a circular table. We have an open living plan so the kitchen, dinning room and living room are connected. For the sake of good flow I thought it was our only option – a circular table. And it did provide for good flow BUT three years later and I’m still not a fan. Those three years have also given me a new perspective and I realize that we can still have that good flow with a rectangular table so someday I hope that happens. I know it won’t be anytime soon but I’m already giddy over the thought that one day that damn circular table will be gone.

I’m not certain what our new dinning room table will look. Maybe something a bit more rustic in a wood grain that isn’t espresso. It would be nice to break up some of the repetition of dark wood we have in the space. And I would like a bench on one side with fancier chairs on the other side. Though I like the look of more industrial chairs in metal as well. Acrylic chairs, I love those as well. Whatever we pick I will certainly be mixing it up while keeping the look light and spacious. 

via Living Etc.

via Living Etc.