Attic dreams...

It is my dream to renovate our attic space into something like this. Storage shelves and cabinets built into the side spaces, and white floors, ceilings and walls, to bring in all the sunlight. I would make it into an extra guestroom/tv room/office/studio.

Our attic has a generously-sized staircase leading up to it, and dormer windows on three sides. I know it would be such a sweet room, so much more than a storage space!

Photo courtesy of Country Home via House of Turquoise.

Painting the Roses Bed...

I painted our old headboard white recently. This is the bed that's intended for the guest room:

(excuse the flourescent walls, this is the reason the third bedroom is being used as a dumping grounds/painting room/furniture staging area)

It's a metal headboard from Pottery Barn circa 5 years or so ago. I just dry-brushed primer on, and followed it up with a few coats of semi-gloss white).

Played hooky yesterday and spent the day with my parents and Jeni, shopping for loads of goodies at Home Goods and Lowes. We intended to acquire a rug for the living room, and curtains and a curtain rod for the dining room. Of course we came home with neither, but we did score a pretty awesome mirror for the guest room, as well as the supplies needed (hooks, nails, wire) to start hanging things on the walls.

I also got some paint, sandpaper, and drop cloths for our guest-room dresser renovation. Maybe I will be motivated this weekend to start and finish a project? Or maybe next week, or next weekend, or...

Lawn Envy

Photo courtesy of someone... somewhere... (definitely not me!)

Our front yard is quickly deteriorating into a burnt up mess that's been half dug-up by squirrels and birds and half invaded by alien crabgrass. Ironically, the gravel/dirt driveway, which is covered with weeds, is the greenest part of our property. Oh cruel, cruel world - the driveway is mocking our lawn!

I realize now we should have planted a bunch of boxwoods in our flower bed earlier this spring, but I was just too lazy at the time and now our garden consists of mostly old wood chips, and a wilted, leggy hydrangea plant.

I find myself envying my neighbors lawn/driveway/edging job the way I used to envy some cool girl's shoes or haircut on the subway. I fantasize about laying down asphalt, or re-graveling the driveway, I dream about re-seeding the lawn and spraying it with Miracle-Gro. When did I turn into this person?

Dark and Moody

I've re-considered the direction of the navy guest bedroom. I originally thought nautical was the way to go.

I do want to keep the navy walls. But I want to make it darker, moodier, and dreamier. I've been contemplating this photo for literally months now:

Elle Decor, March 2010

This was the photo that first made me think of painting the walls navy. And now I come back to it. How great is this room??? If you take away the pink flowers (which are pretty, but realistically I will not be having fresh peonies in the room at all times) we are left with lots of framed black and white images, touches of gold, and white furniture. The tiny touches of lavender - love love love! Also I can't resist that dark lamp shade.

Then I saw this photo yesterday on Bryn's website:
Ahhh! This is what I'm talking about - creamy cushioning, antiqued metals on the walls, white trim. Cozy and dark.

This morning I remembered my stash of magazine tears. Look at this page from Domino circa Nov 2005:

Sorry, this image is so gnarly, but I think the point comes across nicely.

More creamy and white fabrics, the dark black lampshade, the dark black glossy mantle (which could be the finish for the dresser), the iron frame head board, another black/white framed image, and another tiny touch of lavender!

I think I know what I'm doing. Let the shopping begin!

Good Houses: LA style

My sister, Jeni, recently moved into an awesome apartment in Los Angeles. It's kind of Melrose Place style - Early 20th Century stucco building with a courtyard. A pomegranate tree right outside her front door. Yeah, it was pretty hard to leave LA.

Anyway, some followers of the blog (hi Mom!) have been requesting photos of the place and Jeni gave me permission to show her space, so here goes...

Living Room
Only in LA can an aqua couch look totally at home. Sweet


Living room
Jeni took an old pink cabinet, painted it ivory and added legs. Such a cute sideboard!


Reading nook
That's John getting down and dirty with the iPad


Kitchen looking into Reading Nook


Kitchen
Vintage Wedgewood stove. So incredible.


Bedroom
Comfy


Bedroom
Vintage dresser


Bathroom
All the old fixtures still remain in place.

This home is so charming! All the original architectural details remain in place - the floor to ceiling windows, the arched doorways - all are so sweet! And what's even better Jeni was able to decorate it all on a crazy budget. Most pieces - the mirrors, the dressers and tables and furniture were all incredible bargains from thrift and vintage shops, or hand-me-downs from friends. A lot of the accessories came from places like Ikea, Home Goods, etc. It all came together to make such a cute home. Congrats!

When am I invited back?

Back, Back to Cali, Cali

So, we recently spent a week in and around Los Angeles. It was such a great vacation! We didn't have too much of a schedule. But we did get to explore a lot of Southern California. Here are a few highlights from our trip...

Matador Beach - Malibu
This might be my favorite beach. Ever. John's too.
Also have to add, if you ever take the drive up, you must visit Neptune's Net


Point Dume, Malibu
A hike along the cliffside


View of Zuma Beach from Point Dume


Point Dume, Malibu


Standard Hotel, Downtown LA
Awesome rooftop bar, complete with pool


Standard Hotel, Downtown LA
They have cabanas with water beds!


Elliott Smith Wall, Sunset Blvd
The wall is a memorial to Elliott, covered with lyrics and tagged with graffiti


Drive to Yucca Valley
We were told by everyone that it was a cool day for the desert


Yucca Valley


Yucca Valley - Desert House


Desert House - Rusted Chair


Joshua Tree


The Integratron
If you actually make it out to the desert, it is a must-have experience. Make reservations in advance.
UFOs and crystal bowls.
That's all I'm saying.



Huntington Beach


Huntington Beach, view from our hotel


Huntington Beach
It wouldn't be a proper set of photos without a California sunset

Living Room Sort-of Progress

So we made a trip to Marshalls, TJMaxx, and Home Goods yesterday. Our goal was to find a bathroom mirror and a full-length mirror for our bedroom. No luck with that!

However, we did score a few other goodies for the living room...

These sweet crewel-work pillows - the longer rectangle shaped ones came from Home Goods, the square shaped pillows we found at Marshalls - I guess it really pays to check all the stores:

And these things - I'm not even sure what they are! I think you're supposed to put candles in them. But I like things that are ceramic and I like any kind of cut-out designs. Note the quatrefoil design on the charcoal piece:


So I put everything in place in the living room:




In the process I've learned a few things:

Lesson # 1 - if I find something awesome for our home, I should get two of them. Especially at such an affordable price. Symmetry, baby.

Lesson # 2 - I'm glad I'm sticking to a pretty neutral color palette throughout our home. I realized in this process that many of the other accessories shown in the photos were taken from other rooms. I actually intended for all this stuff to go in the bedroom, but when I got home I realized that the living room was in such a sorry state. These items were just the things needed to brighten this room up. Next time I go shopping, I'll look for a whole set of accessories in a different color palette and then I'll rotate everything again.

p.s. I'm still considering painting the bookshelves and doors white. I'm also thinking about getting a slip-cover for the chestnut-colored couch in a more neutral linen color. I usually don't care for slip-covers but the color of this couch is killing me!