New House! We're Moving!!

I've been wanting to tell you guys this FOREVER, but didn't want to jinx anything so I decided to wait until after we closed today!  We are moving in just a few weeks to our new home!  

Before Pic!

Please excuse the poor photo, but it's all I had on my phone!  The house is in a charming neighborhood just 10 minutes away from our last neighborhood and within walking distance to several of our friends' homes!  I'm just ecstatic about all of it's original features:  great moulding, built ins, hardwood floors, a sweet little sunroom, and a screened in balcony off the master!

  In just a few short days, the blue vinyl siding will be coming down and the original 1925 exterior will be getting a fresh coat of chalky white paint, the hedges will be getting a good trim, and I'll be going into manic decorating mode! Our goal is to get it restored to it's historically accurate state so we can get that historic marker back up!  (I'm assuming the historical society had a fit when someone decided cotton-candy blue vinyl siding would be a good idea)  Lots of before & after photos to come your way soon!

Anyway...if you're looking for me in the next few weeks, try the local fabric store! Toodles!

~Katie 

Big Announcement Coming!

Tune in tomorrow afternoon for a big announcement from This Little Nest!  (And, no, I'm not pregnant. Geez.)  

And here's a pretty picture of Kristin Cavallari because I love her.

Guest Post: Colorful Shabby Chic Bedrooms

Hi everyone!  Arcadian Home offered to do a guest post on the dear old blog about colorful shabby chic bedrooms and I thought you guys would enjoy it!  Let me know how you liked it!


Shabby chic interior design has been popular for many years now. It’s aesthetic is one marked by aged, distressed or vintage home accessories and decor. With colors ranging from whites and pastels to the worn-out colors of woods and metals, shabby chic interior design is also ultra feminine.

With an emphasis on texture and layering, it makes for a lovely look in the bedroom. So if you’re in need of a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing, take a look at these beautiful and shabby chic bedrooms.

Sarah Klassen via Elle Décor UK

Who wouldn’t want to spend all day in this fluffy, gorgeous, shabby chic bedroom? The color palette of robin’s egg blue and dusty rose are soft, pretty accents to the frilly white bed and white bedside table.

Down & Out Chic via House to Home

Admittedly, the bed is lovely, but this wonderfully creative wall art steals the show. Acting as a headboard, the designer created an arrangement consisting of salvaged shutters, vintage frames and an old window. So pretty!

Interior Design via

This lavender and purple bedroom is perfect for any little girl with a sense of style. Texture is the star here -- with different textures layered upon one another, from the woolly knit throws to the area rug and the heavy, printed curtains.

Country Living via

When you hear or see, "brick accent wall," you may not immediately think of something feminine, let alone, shabby chic, but that's exactly what this lovely room is. The brick accent wall is softened by vintage nightstands and lamps, as well as a pretty chandelier and a soft pink throw.

House Beautiful via

Shabby chic bedding is the star here, while soft pink roman shades and a flower vase full of pink roses add surprising bits of color.

When done well, there's something incredibly feminine and well-worn about the shabby-chic look. Though all different, these bedrooms are such dreamy havens, with plush white linens, antique furnitures and décor.

Content provided by Arcadian Home Decor, a site that specializes in top quality home accessories at extremely affordable prices. Come visit us today!

My New Hobby: Wedding Flowers?

In the last few years, I've developed a hobby of flower arranging and have been asked to use my "talents" (and I use that term loosely) for wedding of friends.  I absolutely LOVE doing it and thought I'd share my latest wedding with you all:  Siobhan & Alex

 Siobhan and Alex have been friends of mine for years when I began working with Siobhan right out of college.  They're an awesome, laid back couple that I adore being around.  Their wedding was unique, modern, gorgeous, and most of all FUN!

I created bouquets for Siobhan and her bridesmaids.... as well as centerpieces for the ceremony and reception (which were funky and modern).

  

 This was a spring wedding with dark, moody (and gorgeous) flowers.....

which isn't exactly an easy combination.....

....but with help from my friends at David Wholesale Florist , I was able to find what I needed.  They're a great wholesale florist in Birmingham that is open to the public.  So whether you need enough for one arrangement or an entire wedding, they're a great local resource.

Hope you enjoyed the photos!  Email me if you'd like me to create something for your next event (shameless self-promotion, I know)!

Beauty Must-Haves

I've been a huge fan of Ole Henricksen products for a while, but I recently splurged on some of his "new-to-me" products.  I've been using the Aloe Vera Deep Cleanser and Grease Release Face Tonic for some time and they've been very good to my oily-proned skin.

But I went into Sephora to get my next bottle of cleanser and couldn't help but be intriqued by all of his other options, especially the Three Little Wonders set.                              

I've recently noticed a few minor wrinkles here and there around my eyes and forehead (I'm sure it's a result of lifeguarding with little to no SPF in high school) and I've yet to begin taking any precautionary steps to prevent aging so I thought now was the time to start.  This set has a Collagen Booster serum to be used at night to fight off current and furture wrinkles, an Invorgorating Night Gel (oil free which works much better for me than your typical night cream) and Sheer Transformation, an oil free moisturizer to be used at night and before makeup application. 

My skin is a catch 22.  I've been hesistant to use creams and moisturizers because I tend to be so oily, only to find out that my skin is oily because I don't use them.  When skin is dehydrated like mine, it over produces oil leaving your face super shiny.  I've been using the Sheer Transformation moisturizer for only a week and I can tell a huge difference at then of the day when it comes to shine control.

So, I get this is a blog about home design but the truth is, I feel like sharing a little more about my life and interests than just decorating.  So here you go, hope you don't mind!

Overstock Me! Living Room Edition

I don't know about you guys, but I do WAY too much online browsing when it comes to home interiors.  I love so many different styles and tastes that I'm constantly picking out so many items, I could decorate hundreds of living rooms.  And the one place that I always see something I like, no matter what style I'm into that day, is Overstock.  So I attempted to style an entire room (graphically) in nothing but Overstock inventory.  It turned out a little masculine, but I'm actually totally digging  it....and with the idea of a possible new house and new living room to furnish, I could definitely go with this look.  Let me know what you think!  I'll come back and source it all tomorrow!  Enjoy!

I'm Baaaccckk!!!

First off, my deepest apologies for absolutely no posts in months.  The truth is, I'm usually apt to post when I've got projects going on in my own home, but lately there haven't been many.  We're casually thinking of moving and in the process have looked at a few houses on the market.  Seeing all these gorgeous homes have got me mentally decorating like a mad woman.  Today I put together a mood board for what I'm hoping will be my next living room (whenever that happens).  I've included some sources if you're interested.....

It's a mixture of what I have in my current living room (the pillows, a brown sofa, pops of burnt orange and light blue) with some additional elements like the chair and Michelle Armas painting (she does commission pieces...check her out!).  I like that it has some modern elements to it, but is still pretty traditional.  Our living room walls right now are a light smoky blue and I love the color but it makes decorating hard when your walls aren't neutral.  I think using main pieces of furniture like wing back chairs is a great incorporate way to incorporate fun colors into an otherwise neutral room.  Hope you like it!

~Katie