Time for a Dinner Party

 First, let me apologize for my 3 month long absence.  I've been out of pocket since our September trip to Jamaica, but I'm back and in full swing, baby!  That said, getting ready for the holidays has been about all I've done recently....including planning my first "real" dinner party!  It looks as though we're hosting some folks for a New Year's Eve dinner this year so I, of course, used it as an excuse to become obsessed with decorating the table!  Here's a look that should be similar to mine.  Farmhouse table- check, white table runner-check, now on to adding the finishing touches.

The elements below will make up a majority of the table.  I'm going with a combination of formal and informal.  My every day Juliska Berry and Thread china, gold plate chargers, lettuce-edged linen dinner napkins with my new silver napking rings and a few hydrangea arrangements.

 

Throw in a few candles and the right guests and I'll think we'll have a great time!  It will also be the perfect time to take show you the "after" photos of the dining room I've been promising for so long!  Hope you have a Happy New Year and check in the first week of January for details from the dinner party!



House Tour: Our Living Room

As you may be able to tell by reading this blog,  I constantly have projects going on in our house.  Currently, all of which are not at post-worthy status (yet).  And as these projects continue to grow, each room of our house gets a million tiny makeovers.  While other rooms are in progress, I thought this would be a great opportunity to catch you up on our living room in it's current state.  Here are a few photos.

The wall with the sofa, the fireplace opposite of it, and the extra seating nook by the window are the main areas of our living room.  My goal with this room was to keep it neutral but interesting, polished and neat but lived in and cozy.  And so far, I think we're getting there.  One of the easiest ways to make a room feel cozy is with fabric.  These Kravet ikat throw pillows are my favorite!

Vintage pieces like these super old and naturally patina-ed iron candlesticks I snagged at a yardsale for next to nothing keep the room feeling used and lived in.

And probably my favorite part of our living room is the seagrass tray on top of our cocktail ottoman that holds some of our favorite tabletop books (Greek Islands, Esquire's The Meaning of Life, and a vintage Chanel Look Book is found at a THRIFT STORE!).  On top of the books is one of my many McCoy pieces and our brass elephant bookends to show off our college pride.

So that gives you the gist of our living room!  It honestly is the room where we LIVE...we use it the most out of all the room in our house and that's why it was important for me that we love being in it.  I'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions (because it's always evolving).

Thanks,

I've linked my thrift living room to:

www.southernhospitalityblog.com

Bedroom Choices: Chinoiserie or Cottage? Help Me Decide!

So my Waverly Olana drapes have officially been hung and now the decisions start rolling in! Once hung, I began to realize that drapes are definitely going to be game changers in our bedroom.  And after staring at the pattern for what seems like hours (I'm a little obsessed), I've decided the room can go one of two ways:  Chinoiserie inspired by my new favorite blog Chinoiserie Chic or Cottage style (which is kind of my safe place).  

Here's an idea of what's going on in the room currently:

Tufted headboard, sunburst mirror over vintage bamboo dresser, and a jute rug, a few lamps, etc etc...  I don't hate it by any means, but compared to my dramatic drapes, it's a little...well, bland.

Let's take a look at Option 1:

Add in a coordinating fabric with a bamboo/chinoiserie vibe to it, a bamboo mirror (but preferably one without the $600 Horchow price tag), my favorite painting by my all-time favorite artist, Patrice Brunet (I wish!  But, hey, a girl can dream), and a ceramic stool for a little bit of seating.  Overall, it's got a Chinoiserie feel to it, but it's not too over the top or "theme-y."

Here's Option 2:

Add in a traditional striped fabric for possibly a bedskirt and some throw pillows, some monograms (of course), a few chippy pots/vases from Anthropologie, and a random antique chair that I'm sure I can find a Urban Suburban.

My first instinct play it safe with cottage style, but part of me wants to do something a little more bold and dramatic.  That's where you come in faithful readers...I need you comments, questions, and suggestions! Help me decide and leave a comment below!

Thanks!

Bedroom Fabric Sneak Peak

Ladies and Gentleman, the pheasants have made their way to the bedroom!!!  I'll have a full post up soon but for now here's a sneak peak! 

Please excuse the awful photo...all I had was my phone camera!

Once I get the finishing touches complete, I'll continue the house tour into our master bedroom. 

YAY! 

Shop Birmingham: Urban Suburban

This is the first of a new series of posts I'm starting about where I love to shop for furniture and items for our home or just browse for inspiration.  For my first post in this series, I'm starting super close to home.  In fact, one of my new favorite shops is Urban Suburban in the heart of our neighborhood, Crestwood.  It just opened on August 3rd and has already found a special place in my heart.  It's full of great furniture pieces...

(I adore that rug under the antique French chair!!)

Urban Suburban is not your run of the mill antique market.  They've got a truly unique atmosphere and besides all the great antique and vintage finds like these amazing vintage suitcases that clearly have a story to tell...

or this entire booth of awesome vintage signs...

Check out those AMAZING light fixtures!

They also rent booths to local artists to display their work...

And it also doesn't hurt that it's right next door to Crestwood Coffee Company where I've become a regular.  Nothing puts me in an antiquing mood like an iced coffee and a homemade peach muffin.

So, if you're in the Birmingham area and looking for a new place to treasure hunt, I highly recommend you take a Saturday afternoon to browse Urban Suburban!  You'll probably see me there!

All images via www.urbansuburbanantiques.com

Things I'm Loving Thursday

Things I'm loving today...

These sleek initial throw pillows from the beautiful living room of

Emily A. Clark

and this georgous House of Harlow Peacock Cuff I've been eyeing for over a year now...

Available here if anyone feels the need buy me a gift in the near future.

Two totally unrelated things, but who cares?  That's what I'm loving this Thursday!

Fashion for Your Home: Trina Turk

I like to think of decorating my house as the domestic version of getting myself ready every morning. In the same way I use my clothes as an avenue to express my individuality and taste, I use rugs, fabric, pillows, acessories, paint, etc to style my home.  Curtains in my living room are like a chic scarf on my purse...throw pillows are like earrings for my sofa...you get the idea.  

So it only makes sense that we are seeing a recent trend of fashion designers moving in to the world of interior design.  One of my favorite designers, Trina Turk, has started designing accessories for the home in the past year.  Check out these georgous pillows and how they mesh with her fashion aesthetic.

(images via www.trinaturk.com)

 Meet Trina here and learn more about what has inspired her fashion and home lines!

As we continue to see more and more fashion lines transition into the interior design arena, it's certain we'll see loads of beautiful pieces popping up all over the place! I think it's time i splurge on a Trina Turk pillow...what do you think?

Fabric Makeover for the Bedroom

I posted a while back about attempting to find fabric for to update our master bedroom. As it is, there is very little pattern in the room and it's verging on the side of boring. At first, I was picturing some type of toile but then I happened upon a BEAUTIFUL Waverly fabric called Olana in a scrap bin.

I found just enough to make three euro shams, which is what we need to cover all the way across our California king bed, which looks similar to this:

I then began a restless online search for the same fabric by the yard so I could have a bedskirt made to match the shams.  I was having a hard time finding anything so I'm assuming this pattern is in the wind-down phase. And then suddenly... I hit the jackpot, people.  Randomly searching Etsy for my beloved Olana pattern, hoping someone would be selling their scraps, I found FOUR CUSTOM MADE FRENCH PLEATED CURTAIN PANELS in my exact pattern and color scheme.  Bedskirt?  Pppssshh.  I'm going full on pheasant curtains!  I ordered them immediately, the pleats are being sewn and they should be in our bedroom in t-minus ONE WEEK!  I am so pumped about the purchase!  Now I just have to get my euro shams made and I will have completely transformed the look of our bedroom with nothing but fabric.  I still need a coordinating fabric for bolster pillows, but that's the last thing on my list!

Today's Lesson:  Fabric is a powerful thing, readers.  I never knew it could make me feel like this. :)

Inspired by Corn? Decorating with Yellow

Yes, you read correctly...corn! That's my decor inspiration this week. I just returned from a business trip to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Never heard of it? Really? That's odd.

Anyway, I'm mid-presentation feeling confident about my expertise in the area of all things advertising and I glance out the window and see....horses. It's not every day you're hosting a meeting to tell your client how to spend millions of dollars in advertising adjacent to a horse pasture. And corn. Lots and lots of corn. So in honor of furry friends in Iowa and the crop that has fueled that state for decades, let's talk about decorating with YELLOW!

If you love what can be a somewhat bold color like yellow, but aren't comfortable going all-out

image via www.stylebind.com

Then let's take it in baby steps. How about adding in a chair with a great pattern? This one could work it's way into many different style rooms...

via www.crateandbarrel.com

Or what about a neutral sofa in a nice shade of yellow...nothing too crazy....
via www.crateandbarrel.com

Let's say even those two things are a little to bold for you (I'm assuming you are more scared of color than I am, as most people are). Then, let's work in some fun & cheery throw pillows like the one below.

Purchase at

http://www.etsy.com/shop/swoonstudio

Or have some custom pillows or maybe even curtains done in a great fabric...

If that's too traditional or "country" for you, spice things up with a funky print like the one below.

Both fabrics from www.calicocorners.com

The bottom line is, no matter what the inspiration, don't be afraid to put something you love, like a color, in your home. It's your home! Why not? Break away from the beige, people! Sometimes it's easier to take it little by little. Personally I love a pretty yellow toile duvet or shower curtain in an otherwise neutral room. It brightens things up, but isn't over the top. On the other hand, a living room like the photo in this post is georgous. To take a color like that and throw it on the walls is courageous, but it definitely paid off.

Decorating & design are all about expressing yourself through your space. Do what you want! And do it in color!

Dining Room Update, As Promised

Hello All! Well, even without a real camera, the guilt of not following up on a promise is weighing me down. So I snagged the hubby's Iphone to get a few photos to share with you! My dining room before was just a little lack luster, click HERE to refresh your memory. So I began looking for inspiration.

Our dining room is seperate from the kitchen, but has an open concept, and isn't exactly what you call formal. So, I felt that a casual farmhouse table look would be the best way to go. I came across a great, heavy farmhouse table on Craiglist for a minimal investment, sanded and stained it, and somehow managed to get it up to the dining room from the basement (it took the hubby and I quite a while). And here it is!

(looking left into the dining room from where the living room meets the kitchen)

I found some parsons chairs to go along with it. The fabric was UGLY and in poor shape so I purchased some white slipcovers to give them a more custom look (still need to get them monogrammed). Our Juliska Berry & Thread every day china has a French country look to it that I think blends perfectly with this style.

The wall to your left walking into the dining room houses a small buffet given to us by my mother-in-law that holds our Pottery Barn monogrammed cake stands, white porcelain accents, and a topiary. The chair prints on the wall are one of my favorite things in the house and are from Ballard Designs. The just scream dining room!

Below is the closest to a full-room view as I could get. It's taken from the far corner looking toward the kitchen walkway into the living room. The wine bar on the left side of this photo holds a Barbara Cosgrove Lamp, Vietri tray and decanter.

The room has really started to come together. As with the rest of our house, it's definitely an eclectic mix of furniture and accessories. In this one photo above you can see farmhouse, traditional, & oriental all in one shot.

And now one more detail shot of the every day china I'm still as obsessed with today as the day I registered for it. And check out the georgous antique linens I snagged at a yard sale yesterday. $5 for 4 placemats and 4 napkins, and they are practically a perfect match for my china and the room as a whole!

Now, I've got just a few more updates to make. The wall with the old window hanging on it is SCREAMING for a china cabinet, but i just haven't found the perfect one yet. And if I've learned anything decorating this house, it's that you shouldn't buy something just because there's a space in your house that needs it. Wait until you find something you truly LOVE. Placeholders until that moment are just a waste of time and money! Same story with the light fixture. I just haven't found exactly what I want in here. To be honest, I'm not sure exactly what I want, but it will hit me when I see it!

Hope you've enjoyed the dining room tour. As always, please leave comments and suggestions!

Bedroom Fabric Inspiration!

Well, I have another excuse for no dining room update...no camera. That's right, we forgot and left it last time I went to visit my parents, so that gets me off the hook for a little while longer on the dining room. That said, I really do apologize for the sporadic posting. So many of the blogs I follow post so often I find myself reading more inspiration than giving it...which is fine by me, but no point in having a blog if I don't post, right?

I feel like I've finally gotten our living room to a place I'm happy with (for now...until I decide to rearrange and redorate...again). And now my obsession has moved into the bedroom. (DECORATING the bedroom, people! Get your mind out of gutter!). Right now, we've got a great khaki tufted velvet headboard mostly because it takes up less space than a full-on bed and, being in an older home, we've got a small bedroom. We've got a Pottery Barn-esque rug with deep reds, olive greens, and a very pretty light blue color in it that I love with the color of our walls. The curtains are Pottery Barn linen, which I love, but I'm guessing you can sense an overwhelmingly neutral tone in here. Khaki headboard, khaki curtains, brown duvet.....yeah, it's

With the rug being the only colorful part of the room, I decided to use is as inspiration to find fabrics to customize our bedding. Here's what I'm thinking...Three euro shams & a matching bedskirt in this toile...

Then some bolster pillows in a great stripe like this one...

And finally a few extra throw pillows and upholstered vanity stool in something similar to this...

Oooh, and one more thing! Some trim like below and a little of the striped or dotted fabric and the bottom of my curtains...

What do you think? It's a little more "mature" than my usual choices, but I want something classic that I'll keep for a long time- especially if I'm going to make the investment in nice fabric and custom made shams. And honestly, I prefer a solid duvet cover that can blend in with whatever decorating phase I'm going through at the time. This way I'm really just accessorizing.

Once I've made final decisions on the master bedroom, I'll move on to the guest room, which I plan to do a in a little more fun and playful style.

I'm planning to go fabric shopping soon! (Which I will document because you have GOT to see this great little fabric outlet I found...crazy deals, I tell ya).

Opinions, please!

~Katie

I'm Digging So Haute!

Ok, guys...so maybe the "it's coming" post I threw up there a bajillion years ago was a bit of a fib. We hosted a get together a little while back and moved some extra tables in the dining room for food and drink and let's just say...they are still there...because lugging them back down the steep staircase to the basement just hasn't been a priority for us lately. But I PROMISE I will post dining room photos very soon! I still have one blank wall that I'm trying to collect some art pieces for but other than that, I'm pretty happy with its current state!

That being said, I wanted to post today to share a blog I've recently discovered. It's by no means "new", but it's new to me and I'm officially obsessed. I just read an entire year's worth of posts on it last night and just had to share with you.

Meet decorating and lifestyle expert Nicole Gibbons.

She's a savvy, stylish New Yorker with mid-west roots and a whole lot of good taste! Her blog covers all things decorating, design, style, entertainment, and travel. She's also a publicist for a well-known fashion brand. (I haven't figured out which one yet). Bottom line- she's got great taste, an adorable apartment, and I want every outfit I've seen her wear in a photo.

Enjoy her blog and take a look at her awesome apartment. I hope you love as much as I do! I'll be adding her link to the blog list on the right side of my blog!

Coming Soon: A finally finished dining room, custom fabric bedding & discount fabric shopping, how to create an inviting guest room, and a few bits of inspiration!

~Katie

It's Coming....

That's right, loyal readers, tonight is the night....the night I finally reveal my newly decorated dining room. It's been a long time coming and isn't even necessarily complete, but it's as complete as it's going to get for a while. I'll have it tidied up and photos taken and posted by tonight! Hope you enjoy!

Dining Room Sneak Peak

Sorry for the lengthy time between posts but I've been taking care of sick husband and planning a huge fundraiser event that you'll be happy to know went off without a hitch! Over $100K raised for our local autism center!

That being said, it's time for a new post. Not only have I not had time to post, but I haven't had much time to work on pending projects either! So, today, you'll just see the inspiration for my current project! I've been dreaming about a new dining room set up since my first Want It Wednesday post and the day of dining room redecorating is looming near! I found an antique dining table that needs a little refinishing (working on it people!) and slipcovered parson chairs that are awaiting their monogram. See my inspiration photo below.

via www.countryliving.com

The entire room is a little traditional for my taste. But this is literally my exact table. My parson chairs will have full length skirts instead of these slipcovered chairs, but the overall aesthetic is very similar. With a more contemporary drum shade pendant chandy, my vintage eclectic dining room will be complete. (Oh, and with the new sideboard that I will...fingers crossed...purchase this weekend!)

via www.paloma81.blogspot.com

via www.thethriftynester.blogspot.com

via www.decorpad.com

via www.decorpad.com

Hope you enjoyed these lovely images! Can't wait to reveal my new dining room to you soon!

~Katie