Simple Eye

:: shutterfly makes things merry and bright ::

2010-12-08T13:44:00.000-08:00

With the Christmas season upon us we have started thinking about our Christmas card and really want it to be special this year. As some of you know we had twin girls this past February so this is their first Christmas! I've been looking and looking for the perfect Christmas card and can definitely say without a doubt that shutterfly has the best designs out their that are very affordable! I love how many choices and how simple and classy their designs are! Now I just have to pick one! These are some of my favorites below. I'll be sure to post the final decision once we have it printed :)

Click here to see all their great Christmas Cards!

Another reason we want our Christmas card to be special is that we never got around to making birth announcements for the girls. Shutterfly has awesome birth announcements too! Some of my favs.

Another great gift would be these cute notepads.

I always have a pad on our counter to write down the girls feedings, grocery needs, dinner options, etc. One of the sweetest things I have is a journal I kept on a simple notepad on the counter. When the girls were born I would write little things they did that day in the margin beside their feeding schedule each day. Now I can go back and read the little things that I'll always want to remember. Their first smile, some cute face they made that day. This would be perfect for that new moms!

You should totally check out Shutterfly!

And if you are a blogger and want to blog about shutterfly too and recieve 50 free holiday cards check it out here!

:: All I want for Christmas ::

2010-11-20T13:17:00.000-08:00

love these earrings and the simplicity! I feel like they would go with anything. Great store on Etsy called Upper Metal Class. Cute name!

Thought I'd share my wish list this Christmas with you guys!

a. Nikon CoolPix S3000 so I can have something small to have when I can't carry our big camera!
b. Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts-Martha Stewart
c. White Ribbon Cake Stand. This is just an image to get the idea. I saw one at HomeGoods the other day for $15.00! Any color ribbon, it doesn't matter because I can change it out.
d. C9 by Champion Fitted Roll-Waist Capri-Black
e. Martha Stewart Circle Cutter
f. High Noon Freshface Glow -a bronzer that is supposed to complement all skin tones :)
g. Tiny Initial Coins necklace- I've been wanting a necklace with the girls first initials on it. I love this one on Etsy in gold with just two coins, a "E" and "A" Hubby just said ignore this one :)
h. Love all three bracelets. All are in the store. First, Second, Third
i. Blue Hoody
j. Essie Nail Polish- color "chubby cheeks"- they sell this at jcrew
k. Essie Nail Polish- color "steel-ing the scene" this color is only online so might be too much trouble. not a big deal.

serene

2010-10-15T06:05:00.000-07:00

love the simplicity!

LA LA LILY- my new etsy store!

2010-10-01T10:58:00.000-07:00

Hey you guys! I know it's been forever and you probably think I've disappeared but I've just been busy busy being a new mom and trying to make some extra money on the side! I've been into making these fun felt flower headbands which are oh so cute and would be so fun for fall! You can check them out on my new Etsy store LaLaLily! Also for sale are some really fun iPad cases! check them out below.

Are you a iPad owner! Own a unique case made by hand with sturdy felt and lined with soft felt for your iPad's ultimate protection! Each one is unique and features a hadmade flower. See more options at my Etsy store, LaLaLily!

Bold Wednesdays: Decorating with Rugs

2010-06-23T07:55:00.000-07:00

I'll be sharing some design tips on rugs and how they can be used when decorating living spaces. There are so many styles and materials it can be quite overwhelming but I find that breaking things down to material and figuring out what feel you are going for can help when picking out a rug. I'm a huge lover of rugs and feel that they really help in grounding a room and defining a space. Below I've gone through the different materials to show the different ways rugs can be used in your living space. All images are Pottery Barn and I'd also strongly advice going to pottery barn's design tips where they give great advice on measuring for a rug.

Wool Rugs
Wool Rugs tend to add a more luxurious feel to a room and with good reason. They tend to be the most expensive option but can also be found for fairly reasonable prices like on overstock.com. Wool rugs tend to have the most variety of colors and patterns ranging from Persian styles to a modern floral. When looking to bring a big splash of color or a variety of colors into a room a wool rug is a great options. Above you can see all the different colors and how each rug really grounds the room. If you are planning on making a statement with a wool rug I would make it one of the first choices next to the furniture when designing a room. Once you have the rug you can add accents by pulling colors out of the rug for the pillows, vases, and artwork!

Natural Fiber Rugs

Natural Fiber rugs are really fun and a less expensive way to decorate a living room. Becoming especially popular in the past five years natural fiber rugs are a very green way to decorate and also can add a lot of texture to a room! Natural fiber rugs are also great for living rooms where you get a lot of traffic because they are more durable than your wool or cotton rug.

Cotton/Chenille Rugs
Cotton and Chenille rugs are a really great option especially when you are not wanting to spend a lot but still achieve a cozy classic or country look. Like the above photo a cotton rug is great for less formal living rooms or bedrooms. They are very soft underfoot and can be found for way under $150.

Thrifty Tuesdays: awesome finds

2010-06-21T19:55:00.000-07:00

These are some really cute shoes a friend of mine has and she bought them for $19.99 at Payless shoes! I love them and think they are so cute. She says it's like sunshine on her feet!

Mommy Mondays: things moms love

2010-06-21T08:41:00.000-07:00

a few of my favorite baby things

love the baby jogger city mini! It's such an amazing stroller that is so light and easy to fold up and put in your car! It comes in so many different styles and colors! We stuck with plain classic black. I know..we are boring!
So this is something I totally didn't think we needed...it's such a luxury but a totally affordable one. It's under $30 and warms the wipes for your sweet babies bottom. Our girls were born end of winter so it was cold and with new babies you don't want a cold wipe so we got this warmer and love it!
So this isn't the exact sun and bug cover that we have but similar. My in laws bought us the coolest bug covers from walmart for like $10! We have used them so much and they are so great at keeping bugs, sun and people out! When you have a new baby the last thing you want is the sun burning them or bugs biting them or sick people you don't know touching them! I would definitely recommend some form of sun and bug cover!
We have been through several slings, wraps and baby carries trying to find which one we like best and I can definitely say the baby bjorn is my favorite! I'm pretty sure its actually the best for your baby as it makes sure they are in a safe position that won't hurt their backs or put too much pressure on their little bottoms. It's also really comfortable for the parent and so easy to unhook so if your baby does fall asleep it's easy to make the transition from carrier to crib!

Bold Wednesdays: daring design

2010-06-16T09:23:00.000-07:00

wallpaper design

house beautiful

lonny

Today we will take a look at some bold aspect of design. Wallpaper is totally in right now and you can make some pretty bold statements with wallpaper! The first two images are from house beautiful and are great examples of this. I love the light blue damask wall paper and especially how it is mimicked in the chair! The tan stripes in the bedroom make ceilings feel taller creating the illusion of more space! If you aren't familiar with Michelle Adams new magazine Lonny you should definitely check it out. It's a virtual magazine you can view on their website and its jam packed with amazing interior design eye candy! The third image above is of her apartment and it was featured in last months issue. She has the cutest wall paper in her living room and dining room of ostrages! In the most recent issue the home of their editorial assistant Ellie Somerville is featured and I love it! She rents an apartment in NY and I'm always so amazed at what people do with their NY apartments. She totally transformed a normal so so apartment into a unique haven full of character! I might do a post fully on her space! The last image above is of wallpaper she applied using painters tape and double sided tape so she is able to remove it without loosing her deposit and also save it to use again! Brilliant!

Tiny Tuesdays: small space living

2010-06-15T06:23:00.000-07:00

small kitchens
Thank you all for your loyalty to me even though I hardly ever post anymore! I'm so sorry, with this new season of life things have been kind of crazy and it's hard to pull away. Now that we are getting on a kind of routine I plan on blogging here at simple eye much more. I thought that maybe if I had themes for each day it would make it a little more fun as well as a little easier for me to keep up with things:) I thought we would start today with Tiny Tuesdays! Tiny Tuesdays will be a look at some aspect of small spaces and how best to deal with the problems they present. My husband and I have lived in a small house and apartments for the last 2 years and have had to be pretty creative when it comes to decorating. It's a kind of challenge that I actually enjoy! We have had a small kitchen the past 2 years with minimal storage and get this...no pantry! We have used a book shelf for our pantry and baskets stored above which look like decor but really are storing many kitchen supplies we never use ( but hope to use one day!) These were just a few images that I thought had great ideas as far as small kitchen spaces. The image above is a great example of something I wish we could do but can't because we are renters :( Taking out cabinets and putting in shelves gets rid of the cave feeling and adds so much more space! You can add hooks, stack things, add decor, the options are endless! You'll feel like you have twice the counter space. Another thing that is quick and easy is just take off a few of your cabinet doors and expose the shelves inside! This might terrify some of you as you like to hide your mess, but just take off a few doors and show off your pretty dishes and tea cups!

house beautiful

This image shows a great way to hang pots and pans which we have done as well. We went to crate and barrel and bought a very affordable pot hanger which hangs from the ceiling. This one that hangs directly against the wall is a great option as well! Pots take up so much space in cabinets, can you imagine freeing up all that room!

stephanie stokes, Ny designer

I love love love this kitchen above by New York designer Stephanie Stokes. She was featured in House Beautiful and won Kitchen of the month! You are probably thinking...this kitchen doesn't look that small..you can see through to the next room! Look again! She used a mirror as a back splash which creates the illusion of space! I love this and if we weren't renting we would totally do it! Not only using a mirrored back splash but painting your cabinets white and using light colors creates the illusion of space as well! Check back for tomorrow's theme!

riverside cottage

2010-05-26T12:34:00.000-07:00

all images martha

I love the home tours on Martha Stewart's website! This one is a cute cottage in Savannah Ga! Not a bad view! I love the front porch and how bright the inside of the home is! I also love the grouping of photos over the bed! Photo grouping is a great way to create a focal point without having to spend a lot of money on art or decor.

cute right? Cute summer items under $20!

2010-05-21T06:58:00.000-07:00

Can you guess where these cute summer items are from?? I didn't believe it myself. Walmart! They are all under $20 and are pretty cute if you ask me. The shoes are like $6 and the dresses $10-$12. I'm going to have to make me a little trip to Walmart!

Finished Nursery

2010-05-13T08:33:00.000-07:00

Before our girls were born I posted about the nursery. The girls names were a surprise so we didn't have the letters above their beds yet but now that they are born we added the final accessory...well the final and most important accessories are laying there in the beds :)

callie lane etsy shop

2010-05-13T08:18:00.000-07:00

check it out! here

Flower Ribbon Belts

2010-05-06T06:26:00.000-07:00

I finally did it! I created an Etsy store a little over a year ago and have been meaning to create and sell some items and finally did it! As I said before I just recently had twin girls and now that things have settled down a little bit I've had some time to create these fun flower ribbon belts! They look great with a casual outfit or with a fun dress. They would add a fun splash to some bridesmaids dresses or be stunning on a wedding dress! They are handmade and some have bead detail. If you are interested check out my Etsy store! I'm willing to take custom orders if it's a wedding or an event you are buying for!

Upholstered Headboards

2010-04-21T08:32:00.000-07:00

pottery barn

Upholstered headboards are so fun and easy to create! We have one in our bedroom and love it! I get really excited when I think about decorating a house one day and making a headboard like the one above for the master bedroom!

babies are here!

2010-04-07T08:51:00.000-07:00

babygap

So sorry I've been MIA...but some exciting things have been going on around our house! We had two amazingly beautiful little girls! We have had the most amazing 2 months with them and every day it gets even better! They are so wonderful and take up all my time! So forgive the lack of blogs but I hope to get caught up soon. We are starting to get into a routine so hopefully soon I'll get back into sewing and creating! I can't wait to make them some fun summer dresses like this one from baby gap which by the way has the cutest baby clothes ever!

casual charm

2010-01-22T09:58:00.000-08:00

jcrew images

Just a few cute collared tees from jcrew's sale room. I love the simplicity and detail! Check our their final sale online for some great deals.

diy hamper

2010-01-19T07:39:00.000-08:00

This is a horrible picture because of the darkness of the hallway but it was a quick project I took on yesterday:) I made a hamper for the girls and used a tip I saw on Martha's website. Use a embroidery hoop to keep the top open so you can simply throw dirty clothes in! I hung in on the door behind the changing table so I can put their clothes in it once I'm done changing them:)

Changing Station

2010-01-14T08:31:00.000-08:00

all images pottery barn

Pottery Barn does such a great job with their changing stations. I love gaining inspiration from them! Though we don't have a piece of furniture like the ones above we have a great built in desk area in the hallway leading into the babies room. I talked about it a little bit ago and have been working on getting the changing station ready. It's coming along really nicely and I hope to have pictures up soon!

Setting up your babies changing station:

-changing pad
-diapers
-wipes
-receiving blankets
-burping cloths
-cotton balls
-diaper rash cream, lotion, baby oil
-a change of clothes for your baby
-tape for repairing disposable diapers
-a diaper pail with a secure/air tight lid
-hamper for dirty clothes

too cute

2010-01-08T09:03:00.000-08:00

Cute shoes on marthastewart.com. Love the pink and orange. Little cute things like this get me so excited to have little girls and so excited to love on them and dress them in summer attire:)

DIY Coasters

2010-01-07T08:23:00.000-08:00

Just a little peak at a fun project I discovered on the web on how to make handmade coasters out of bath tile and craft paper. It's a really fun project that's so easy and incredibly affordable. You simply go to your local hardware store and buy bath tiles and then to a craft store, pick out a fun paper you like, cut to size and I used modge podge to paste the paper down. After they have dried completely spray with an acrylic sealer to make them water resistance. Wrap with a cute ribbon and gift or use in your own home! These are a few of the designs I made before Christmas for gifts! I'm hoping after the babies come and things settle down I can do more and maybe start and Etsy store! Stay tuned for updates!

awaiting spring...

2010-01-06T07:19:00.001-08:00

So with the babies coming and spring following closely behind them I've decided to take this down time and redecorate our living room for spring. Maybe redecorate isn't the right word...basically I'm getting rid of the orange and brown that was in our living room for fall and replacing it with blues, tans and browns. This smokey blue is so popular right now and looks amazing with a taupe color! I love the blue against a tan couch but for now our dark dark green (almost brown) couch will do :) My inspiration is above and I actually went to PB yesterday and purchased the Jute Braid Pillow Cover in french blue for our couch. I have a vision for curtains that I'll be working on over the next couple of days. It involves a Liz Claiborne striped fabric paired with our already cream curtains...which the other day replaced our Ember Payton drape curtains. Too early for spring decorating??? It's very subtle and relaxing and I think that's something I'll appreciate once I'm pretty much home bound after the girls are born:)

Changing station in progress...

2010-01-04T07:59:00.000-08:00

We have this great hall way leading into the nursery with a built in desk that would be perfect for a changing station. My mom was so clever and came up with the idea and I can't wait to clear it out and create a cute, accessible space that caters to all diaper changing needs:) PB kids had a really cute hanging organizer that is no longer on their website but was similar to the diy one above found on Martha Stewart's website. I was thinking of finding a towel in a cute pattern and creating one to hang on the back wall of the desk area to store lotion, diaper cream, wipes, etc. I'm off to Target, Michael's and Joann's today to get some supplies and will let you know how it all turns out!

and a little more...

2009-12-27T09:01:00.000-08:00

Here are a few pictures of the nursery. It's not completely finished yet...I still need to get matching ribbon for the curtains and finish some of the art projects for the walls. As you can see the art above the daybed isn't hung yet because I'm not finished pasting the flowers and there are going to be some words on it as well. Also, above the girls beds we are going to have their letters pasted on the canvas with the flowers...but that won't happen till they are born since their names are a surprise:) The pictures aren't great since I'm shooting into the light and it makes the walls look light pink which is kinda fun and actually is true because the pink from the curtains reflects on the cream walls giving the room a pinkish look:) Every time I walk in the room I get so excited that we are having two girls! We can't wait! More picture to come when we have the finished project!

more sneak peak...

2009-12-25T18:37:00.000-08:00

some pretty fabric I found for the girls room. Pictures coming soon!

nursery project sneak peak

2009-12-21T11:15:00.000-08:00

PB kids

So I'm working on a little something for the walls in the girls room. Cutting up colorful paper and making flowers to paste on a canvas. I got the idea in PB kids. We'll see how it turns out!

Cupcake Pops

2009-12-02T10:04:00.000-08:00

How cute are these little cupcake pops by the blogger Bakerella. They are so cute and look so easy to do. There's a how to video that was featured on Martha Stewart. I love these little guys. They would be perfect for a birthday or shower!

Beautiful Bedrooms

2009-11-20T07:45:00.000-08:00

all images house beautiful

Just browsing the house beautiful website and came across some beautiful bedrooms that caught by eye. The last I liked because we have something similar in our bedroom. In college I found some vintage old suitcases I bought for $10 and they now serve as a bedside table. Such an easy idea with some character :)

Holiday Decor on a Budget

2009-11-09T19:22:00.000-08:00

all items target.com Smith and Hawken Mistletoe Garland-$19.99, Smith and Hawken Welcome Matt- $19.99, Star wall decor-$9.99, Reindeer figures $9.99,

With the holidays coming up everyone is starting to think about decorating their homes for the holidays. Every store I go in is full of Christmas decorations even though its over a month away. I'm so excited and love that there is Christmas music playing in the mall! I was in Pottery Barn wishing I could buy everything and getting ideas for the holiday decor. I then went to Target and was pleased to see that they have so many really affordable classy Christmas decor that is totally within my budget! Here are just a few items that would be great if you are looking to decorate your home this holiday season.

Patti Johnston Designs

2009-10-27T14:14:00.000-07:00

I thought I would post about my very talented Aunt Patti who lives in Long Island, NY and has her own interior design business. She is so very talented and recently created a new website with images of her amazing work! A lot of the images in her portfolio are her own home which is absolutely gorgeous! I'm so very proud to have such a talented aunt! Check her out at www.pattijohnstondesigns.com.

all girl...

2009-10-23T07:22:00.000-07:00

images target.com

So from the pictures you can probably tell that I'm leaning a little more to the pink with a little green and then I might throw some splashes of yellow in there. I came across the first image on Target.com and love the damask pattern with the polka dot sheet. The reviews say the pink is a little darker, more of a raspberry pink which I think I like better. Since we are not painting the room I think having bright splashes of color opposed to the pale pink and yellow will be nice and not so boring. I love the green wall pattern on the second image. So fun!

Lonny Premiere

2009-10-02T07:34:00.000-07:00

Deborah Needleman's garden as photographed by Patrick Cline for Lonny magazine

So yesterday with high hopes I headed over to M.A. Belle to find the premiere of the new online magazine Lonny! In June Michelle Adams of Rubie Green fabric and photographer Patrick Cline came up with the idea to create an online magazine full of amazing design paired with gorgeous photography. After coming together with a team of fellow Domino buddies their dream has become a reality! I opened it and was floored! The design tips are amazing and the real home tours are beautiful! Please check out the new Lonny magazine and M.A. Belle's blog for more updates on the magazine!

tickled pink!

2009-10-01T06:44:00.000-07:00

Once again I apologize for the lack of posts......I'm totally going to blame it on the two little ones in my belly who have been keeping me busy busy with eating and sleeping :) Speaking of the little ones I wanted to announce that we found out we are having 2 beautiful little girls! So it looks like maybe pink and yellow for the nursery??? I'm still deciding on colors...but for now I can start looking for real and begin decorating! I was looking through inspiration boards on the amazing style me pretty blog and these two caught my eye! I'm in the process of working up my own "baby" room inspiration board so check back.

Baby Decor!

2009-09-11T21:00:00.001-07:00

both images potterybarnkids

So sorry I've been totally MIA for the past month but we have some exciting news that has been keeping me a little preoccupied. We are having twins! We are so so excited and can't wait to meet the two little ones! As far as decorating goes, we now have a two bedroom apartment which is just in time because we will definitely be needing the space! A whole new world of decorating is now to be explored as I look for ways to decorate the nursery. We will be needing two cribs so I'll have to get creative with the space because I would also love to put a guest day bed in the room for me and guests when they come. These are a few images that I love but am waiting to make any decisions until we find out the sex of them both which will be in about 3 weeks. So now that I'm in the 2nd trimester please stay tuned for more baby info as well as design eye candy as I'm starting to get my energy back!

blank canvas!

2009-07-28T06:58:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow we are moving into a new apartment! Not far, just half a building over but it's a two bedroom instead of a one so we will have a lot more space! We had a great time a couple of weekends ago traveling to Ikea in Charlotte, NC with my husbands parents! We purchased some of the Billy bookshelves as well as some little things here and there. Sadly, the daybed we mainly went to get has been discontinued :(! I was so sad but have found a great alternative that I am going to spray paint white. I'll post pictures of the finished product! Goodbye old apartment, hello blank canvas!

new design magazine!

2009-07-05T17:39:00.000-07:00

Michelle Adams of M.A. Belle announced some exciting news the other day on her blog. Michelle and business partner photographer Patrick Cline are releasing a new online decorating and lifestyle magazine. I am very excited considering so many great magazines have been going under lately. I'm not sure when it will be released so be sure to check back here or her amazing blog and store Rubie Green for more details!

chris and marie living ideas

2009-06-27T21:49:00.000-07:00

please click image to enlarge

The other night our sweet friends Chris and Marie had us over to their beautiful home for a wonderful dinner and really fun night! Marie has been pulling together ideas for decorating their home and it was so fun looking through photos with her and coming up with ideas. They have an awesome living room that is a neutral color similar to above which is next to the dining room which they've painted an awesome cherry red! It was so perfect because Marie has had 3 yards of this fabric that she loves which has splashes of red, green, blue and yellow with the neutral tan in the background. It's similar to the pottery barn fabric above just a little more saturated. So we talked about adding color and thought that with the bright dining room in view it's probably a good idea to leave the neutral wall color and add color into the window treatments, rug and pillows. I suggested we pull in the blue because ikea has some awesome curtains right now that are a grayish blue that would look awesome with the floral fabric. I then went on a rug search and was so surprised to find so many blue, red and tan combinations at PB, so I picked one from each price category. Depending on how much they want to spend and also how formal they want the area...I think all would work great! Some accent pillows to tie it all together on the amazing PB pierce couch which they just purchased on craigslist for an amazing price! It's so comfortable and fits the space so well. She had the great idea to put a console table against the wall in the entry and do a photo montage with different sized frames on the wall above and have a table lamp to one side of the table. I also thought a similar floor lamp would look great on one side of the couch or beside a chair near the fireplace. PB lamps can be pretty pricey so I would go somewhere like Target or Home Goods where you can find some awesome lamps for half the price! They already have some great brown wood frames above the couch with white mats that would look great with some type of artwork. Chris loves history so we thought maybe something like architectural prints from Washington DC or something similar. James and I love the idea of framing some old hymns and thought that would look great as well..and pair the three frames over the couch. They already have a great tv table Marie's dad built them and a great mirror over the mantle as well as a cool vintage looking coffee table. Now all that's left is to accessorize a few things like some books on the coffee table and some flowers next to the lamp on the console.

handmade lampshades

2009-06-25T20:10:00.000-07:00

So I was browsing through the amazing handmade market that is Etsy and came across so many talented artists one of which is Jeanne Mcgee who hand prints lampshades from her very own hand carved designs! I love these and the idea of having a fun lampshade in a room. In our guestroom I'm wanting to have all yellow and white and throw in a fun yellow patterned lampshade like the first image. Check out her Etsy store here.

a splash of color

2009-06-24T20:44:00.000-07:00

Indigo Stripe Dhurrie Rug

So for those of you who have never been to our apartment we have an amazingly comfortable couch that we are so very grateful to my parents for! I grew up with this couch and it is still in wonderful shape and we are so thankful for it. The only thing is I've been having a hard time bringing color into our living room because of the color of the couch which is a dark forest green. So I'm flipping through a new "Summer Sale" Pottery Barn catalog yesterday and I come across a beautiful rug with blues, tans and low and behold the exact green of our couch! This never happens....and it's on sale! So I call and have the last one put on hold at the mall and when my sweet husband got home we went and got it! It was one of the quickest purchases I've ever made and I'm so happy we did. Thankfully I was able to use some PB gift cards I've been saving (thank you aunt jane) so it wasn't much at all:) We are very happy with the new addition to our living room!

ikea wish list

2009-06-22T12:00:00.000-07:00

So if you can't tell by now I've been thinking quite a bit about what to get when we take our trip to ikea. The closest one to us is Charlotte and then Atlanta, so when we go I want to be sure our purchases are smart! As you know from months ago I love the daybed above which reminds me of the pottery barn one several posts back. The blue curtains I'm thinking for the living room to add a splash of color. I love the iron white side table for beside the daybed in our guest room and the sweet reading light to go on either side of the master bed. I'm not sure where we would put a floating shelf but I figure we are bound to find a place for them! I'm also wanting to get a hold on our closet by organizing with some hanging shelves like the one above. I really want a metal shoe rack for the back of our door like M.A. Belle uses. And last, the wood folding chair I thought would be nice for our porch area. We have some rocking chairs out there right now I either want to paint or get rid of. The weather has really worn them out so I thought something you could fold up and put away would last longer and remain clean for entertaining! So hopefully we will be heading to ikea one of the coming weekends! We'll be sure to take pictures and let you know how amazing is!

entryway rugs!

2009-06-17T21:06:00.000-07:00

Just a few more entryways! In looking for these I was mainly focusing on the positioning of the rugs and whether or not runners are used. It seems like in most entryways where they are able to be used they are. I love the stripes and patterns in all the rugs! Rugs are such a fun way to play with space and create depth and a sense of space. Horizontal stripes definitely make a hallway look larger while vertical strips draw you in. Patterns add such an element of interest to the home as well!

the sweet smell of leather

2009-06-16T07:50:00.000-07:00

I was in restoration hardware the other day and decided to plop down on one of their oh so comfortable leather sectional couches! I've never envisioned myself having a leather couch but I'm beginning to warm up to the idea a little bit. I love the idea that they just get softer with time and if I'm going to have a dark couch it might as well be leather. If I'm going the upholstered route I love the light whites and creams which lets face it, are going to eventually get dirty! This one above is the Austin Leather Sofa by Pottery Barn which I absolutely love!

rain rain go away

2009-06-16T07:26:00.000-07:00

Oh how I wish I were at the beach right now using my umbrella to shield the sun rather than the rain. All last night the rain poured outside my window and continues to pour! It's actually rather soothing but not so fun when you have to go out and drive in it :( Anyway, hope it's sunny and warm wherever you might be!

dining ideas

2009-06-14T12:36:00.000-07:00

A few ideas for their dining room! They have an awesome dark wood dining table that would look so amazing and classy paired with neutrals and some splashes of yellow/golds like in some artwork and flowers centered on the table. I love this chandelier which you could go with or without the shades to hang over the dining room table which I found on overstock.com an awesome source for home decor! This beautiful jute rug is also from overstock with an amazing border that would frame the table. I love the pottery barn curtains above which were pretty much my inspiration for this room. Hopefully they will go on sale or I can find some similar!

more ideas...

2009-06-12T20:51:00.000-07:00

So the idea for a guest room is yellow and white with a feminine touch. We were thinking a fabric covered headboard and although the one above is crazy expensive you can get fabric, batting and plywood and create something so similar! James and I found an awesome fabric shower curtain and did this to our headboard and we love it. I was in macy's the other day and saw the martha stewart shower curtain in the bottom right corner above. I think it's perfect and has just the right amount of yellow with some greens and blues mixed in! Instead of a dresser, which guest don't really need, we thought a linen covered table with flowers and glass jars full of useful things guests might need, like cotton balls, qtipps etc... With the floral headboard paired with white bedding and accent pillows a calming and soothing retreat is created!

design idea night!

2009-06-11T17:23:00.000-07:00

click to enlarge photo

Last night I got to go over to James' parents house and hang out with my sweet mother-in-law to help come up with some design ideas for their house. We had such a great time flipping though magazines and books dreaming up ideas. I came home and searched for some less expensive alternatives for what we discussed and found some amazing finds. With Ikea curtains, Crate and Barrels rug runner and white accessories I think we can achieve this look in no time! I'm going to keep coming up with some ideas for the rest of the house...so stay tuned!

eco-friendly living!

2009-06-09T14:02:00.000-07:00

Michelle Adams of the blog M.A. Belle and the organic fabric line Rubie Green just recently posted on her newly decorated apartment featured in Australia's Real Living magazine. She took on the project of creating "a low budget home makeover featuring eco-friendly paints, vintage finds and sustainable materials!" I think she did a beautiful job! Check out more photos on her blog here.

mediterranean beauty

2009-06-08T10:13:00.000-07:00

click images to enlarge

So this past weekend I had the opportunity to go to Florida and photograph my parents house. My dad designed and built this Mediterranean beauty on the intra coastal waterway in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. I'm amazed at the detail and authenticity. Beautiful architecture and lines paired with lush landscaping creates the feel of an authentic Mediterranean home. From the electric screens on the river terrace which over look the waterway to the Italian iron door bell it's truly a gem! I am also enthralled with the beautiful decorating done by my Aunt and Grandmother, both of which are interior designers. The details are truly amazing so click on the images to see them larger.

reading light

2009-05-28T11:37:00.000-07:00

What a pretty wall lamp, perfect for night reading! Would you believe that these are available at ikea for only $16.99 a piece! That's amazing! I also had an amazing find a while back! I found this lamp at a thrift store with the exact lines of the pb lamps below. It's been painted brown and seems to be made of wood...so it has a matte finish. I put a new shade on it and it looks great! For a while now I've been wanting to paint it a fun color like the ones below but can't decide what to paint it. I'm thinking maybe a yellow or blue or perhaps just white paired with a fun shade! Whatever color I do I want to do a glossy paint and maybe even spray it with a gloss to give it the porcelain look.

pure white and butter yellow

2009-05-27T08:51:00.000-07:00

When I think of a guest room I think of yellow! The wonderful feeling of sunlight and warmth balanced with cool white gives a crisp, clean happy feeling! Below are two images of a rug and a glass door armour both of which we have in this butter yellow color. I was hoping to build the guest room around those two pieces. I love the bench above with its detail and color! The room below is the perfect balance I'm going for! Perhaps the yellow rug and armour with white bedding and desk, mixed in with a patterned yellow pillows matching an upholstered desk chair.

Few more dinette inspirations!

2009-05-27T08:44:00.000-07:00

This isn't a dinette but kind of the idea. Two bookshelves on either side of a bench....then with a table in front...of course in white with a pretty fabric on the bench!

improv dinette

2009-05-24T06:56:00.000-07:00

So we've officially decided to move into a 2 bedroom apartment and out of our one! I'm most excited about having a guest room/office where we can have guests come and stay. So now my beloved post on daybeds can be put to use! We are heading through Charlotte mid July so we'll stop by the ikea. But for now I'm trying to think of creative ways to spruce up our dining room. Its small but has potential. I'm thinking about having matching tall white bookshelves on either side of an upholstered bench in attempt to recreate the beautiful image above. We have a wood round table similar to above as well. I'm thinking it could work!

(sigh)...white house

2009-05-23T18:03:00.001-07:00

books books

2009-05-13T17:56:00.000-07:00

Books are so fun to use in your decor because it's something most of us have a ton of and being able to display them on bookshelves is such a great way to add depth and warmth to a room! I'm trying to think about where we could put some bookshelves in our apartment....ikea has some great units for $99 as well as target.

entryways

2009-05-03T17:05:00.000-07:00

There is something so welcoming about a well thought out entryway! My husband and I found an old piano bench that we just moved into our entry way. With some pillows to add comfort and baskets underneath designated for shoes, it now welcomes our guests drawing them into the rest of our apartment. These are just a few great entryways which I can't wait to steal ideas from one day when we have a "foyer" type area!

guest room dreams

2009-04-20T09:23:00.000-07:00

potterybarn.com

ikea.com

I'm back! Sorry I've been MIA for the past couple of months but a lot has been going on including some exciting design things I hope to share with you soon! But for right now I can't stop looking forward to the day when we will have a guest bedroom and I've decided that when we do I would love to have a daybed! Daybeds are a great space saver and can double as a couch during the day and a place for guests to sleep at night. A trundle bed fits perfectly under most day beds, or if you are only in need of room for one it can double as storage space! I love these from pottery barn and especially love the way they've set them up with coffee tables in front so they really look like a space where one could lounge during the day and enjoy a good book or cup of tea. Of course when I was looking at the pottery barn beds my smile was followed by a frown when I saw the price..but then I was so happy to see that IKEA has one that looks very similar and is about 1/6th the price! At $179 the Tromsnes white day bed frame is totally in my budget!

handmade

2009-02-24T09:43:00.000-08:00

So I know it's not great but it's a start. I can't say I've actually worn this dress...I think it's one of those that looks better displayed...but man I can't wait to learn the right way to sew so I can start creating fun things to wear and hopefully one day sell! I think this fabric was like 1$/yd as well which made it not as pretty on. Still, it's great to practice on cheap fabric so when you can one day afford nice fabric you won't waste a ton of it:)

storage beds

2009-01-27T09:59:00.000-08:00

pottery barn's stratton bed with drawers

west elm's storage bed frame

With a small apartment one tries really hard to come up with creative ways to store stuff. I'll admit that our closet is stuffed to the brim and that these storage beds would come in very helpful. It seems that if you were handy this would be a fairly simple bed to create. There are so many great ways to hide things like with beautiful baskets stored under your bed or on shelves in your closet. I keep wanting to go out and buy pretty baskets to put all our linens in so when you open our linen closet you see neat baskets labeled, "fitted sheets", "flat sheets", etc.. That way whether your sheets are actually folded perfectly or not, everyone will think they are because they are hidden in very organized looking baskets! I need to just do it! You can find some really cute bins and baskets out there, not to mention old suitcases or ottomans that open up for storage. The options are endless!

Growing desire..

2009-01-21T11:56:00.000-08:00

So I can't help but notice all the super cute upholstery pieces throughout Pottery Barn and anthropologie. I have this growing desire to learn how to reupholster things from ottomans to couches. I've covered a few chair seats in my time, but that was nothing compared to all the tools and time you need for reupholstering a wing back chair. What an amazing thing to be able to create new pieces from old not so cute chairs or couches. So I bought a few books and it doesn't seem impossible to learn. If anyone has some tips or encouragement, perhaps you too have tried reupholstering something of your own, I'd love to hear about it!

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...

2008-12-17T11:33:00.000-08:00

OK so I guess I can say I'm officially the worst blogger ever. It's been over a month and I have no excuse other than laziness. So Christmas is almost a week away and I'm sure everyone has been busy busy decorating their homes. This one home I came across on one of the many blogs I keep up with is absolutely gorgeous in my opinion! I love the simplicity in which she decorated with the garland on the curtains and keeping a simply monochromatic color scheme throughout! I always come back to pictures with all creams and whites which I think means that one day...I'm doing it..I'm decorating in creams and whites!

Our Apartment Details

2008-11-09T14:20:00.000-08:00

just a few details from our apartment

whites and creams

2008-11-05T13:49:00.000-08:00

Part of me would love to decorate with all whites and creams. there's something so magical and calming. Especially when different metallic and textures are added.

"mixing today's trends, with yesterday's treasures"

2008-11-03T19:34:00.001-08:00

So for those of you who know me well, you know that I would love to one day open my own store. What all that entails is still in the making but I think I've found the store I wish I owned. It's in the heart of historic downtown Wake Forest and is called Old Magnolia Trading Company. Every time I go in I can't help but spend way too much time exploring through the endless treasures! From old antique dressers and vintage signs to new accessories that mirror pottery barn's style, there's an endless amount of amazing finds! And the best part is it's not ridiculously priced. I bought the cutest little side table for $50 that's totally a vintage piece with a new coat of paint. I love it! They have a great website that looks like they hope to have online shopping available soon. So definitely check them out!

My Dream Home!

2008-10-29T11:13:00.000-07:00

So I believe I've found my dream home. Once again I give you a peek inside the beautiful Woodstock, GA townhouse featured on Kohlers' website. My Westbrook Interiors journey began with Design-59s' entry on the beautiful home featured on Kohlers' website. Here you can view pictures and watch a video tour of Barbara Westbrook herself and hear firsthand how the home was brought together.

once again the beautiful kitchen and below you can see the wood table

i love the tall ceilings in the living room and the lantern, which is a piece carried throughout the first floor

i love this dining room. I was surpirsed by the dark color but love the contrast with the bright white. It's so interesting how each room that has a different color has a different trim as well. Here it seems trim the trim is a darker shade.

beautiful serene master bedroom. I love the graish blue walls with the dark door.

Oooo i'm in love with this bathroom. A similar tile as in the kitchen graces the floors of this elegantly simple room.

What an adorable little girls room. It's girly enough for a young girl while remaining mature enough for her teens.

This young boys room is so cute! I love the map theme and the daybed that doubles as a couch by day.

This playroom is so fun! I love the chalkboard paint and stripped rug. It offers a space for endless creativity!

Little more Westbrook...

2008-10-29T11:07:00.000-07:00

So I love this kitchen with the gray cabinet color which ties in with the gray bookshelves below. I love love this open floor plan and the way you could be in the kitchen and still feel apart of the living and dining area. Such a great house for a family. Once again the use of neutrals is throughout accented with the consistent gray giving a modern vintage feel with the old lanterns and displayed china. So breathtakingly gorgeous!

New from Rubie Green!

2008-10-29T10:36:00.002-07:00

Check out Rubie Green's new fall line of fabrics. I'm so excited to see the new designs as well as all the new awesome photography on her website. On her blog she wrote that this beautiful model is one of her best friends. I love that she has her friends model her product. I think it's so fun. Check out the beautiful fabrics and be looking forward to a book she's featured in called Matthew Haly's Book of Upholstery. It's available Nov. 25th. I can't wait! My design book wish list keeps growing and growing...if you're wondering
what I want for Christmas...hint hint:)

Westbrook Interiors

2008-10-29T10:18:00.000-07:00

So through a long line of blogs and links I came upon the amazing Westbrook Interiors started by designer Barbara Westbrook, based out of Atlanta, GA. I'm blown away by her ability to tie the old with the new and make a house look so clean and crisp while feeling inviting and elegant. "Her styles range from casual American to formal English and French Moderne," as quoted on her website. Please look at this beautiful kitchen I think I could live in. I love the neutrals opposite the bright white. The glass front cabinets are beautiful and what's even better is the way she painted the insides a dark chocolate color so the bright white china stands out. If you could zoom in on this picture you would see that the tile is a beautiful print, almost damask looking. It's so beautiful and gives it that European feel. I love it. And if you go to the website you can see that to the left is an old rustic long wood table that completely sets the whole feel off with the old and new, along with the cool iron candled chandelier shown here. You must check her out along with the beautiful images of her work. I have a feeling I will be posting more images very soon as I can't seem to stop looking at them.

Winter Bangs

2008-10-28T14:18:00.000-07:00

So I'm thinking about cutting the short swoop bangs. I have swoop bangs now that are long and go behind my ear but love this look where they are cut just above the eyebrow. When I think of fall and winter I think of a long coat with a scarf and long hair with bangs. It's definitely getting cold here...so I'm feeling the need for little change :)

jewelry by jcrew

2008-10-21T11:30:00.000-07:00

beautiful jcrew garden and jeweled flower braclets

Spoonflower

2008-10-07T08:13:00.000-07:00

So a while back I discovered something amazing! Spoonflower, a small group based out of Chapel Hill has provided a way for people like you and me to send in a design and have your ideas printed onto fabric. I'm so excited and can't wait to give it a try. Check them out as well as their blog where they show some designs they've printed.

Sneak Preview

2008-10-05T19:46:00.001-07:00

Small little preview from the amazing Domino: The Book of Decorating. I knew it came out in October and went to but it today but sadly they said it won't get in till October 14th. I can't wait!

Velvet Pouf Pillow

2008-09-11T14:15:00.000-07:00

What a cute little pillow. Urban Outfitters is a fun store to explore. I feel like you can always find something you didn't see before!

inside avenue

2008-09-02T17:04:00.000-07:00

all images inside avenue

Goodbye Summer

2008-08-29T17:22:00.000-07:00

"Labor Day is a United States Federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September. The holiday originated in 1882 as the Central Labor Union (of New York City) sought to create "a day off for the working citizens". Congress made Labor Day a federal holiday in 1894. All fifty states have made Labor Day a state holiday. Traditionally, Labor Day is celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer."

I hope everyone has a great Labor Day weekend!

J.Crew Stunning

2008-08-28T17:47:00.000-07:00

the new domino decorating book!

2008-08-19T19:25:00.000-07:00

As I was checking in on my daily reads I ran across this amazing news on decor8! Domino is coming out with a book this fall. I'm sure all you domino readers out there are just as excited as I am!

Romo on Habitually Chic

2008-08-19T18:50:00.000-07:00

Beautiful images from designer Romo. I saw the beautiful designs on the amazing blog Habitually Chic. I love the curvy Victorian lines of the furniture and the fabric is so bright and fun!

Crazy Affordable

2008-08-19T17:39:00.000-07:00

So I've never been one to keep up with Sarah Jessica Parker, but came across her website the other day and her new clothing line, Bitten. I was very impressed with the style of the clothes and even more floored by the crazy cheap prices. There are several video's on her website about her purpose behind the clothing line. She's so excited about making stylish affordable clothes so that no matter what your financial state all girls can have a cute style. There isn't a store in this area but I hope I'm able to check her line out at Steve and Barry's someday soon!

September domino!

2008-08-16T19:25:00.000-07:00

So I was reading on M.A. Belle's blog and saw that the new domino magazine is out! I can't wait to read it as it's always full of fun and fresh ideas. If you haven't heard or seen domino magazine in stores you should really check it out or check out their website for amazing design inspiration!

Platform Beds

2008-08-13T13:38:00.000-07:00

We just recently took the bed risers off our bed, so now our bed is lower than we are used to. I think it makes the room look bigger and our main reason was so our bed skirt would be the right length. We have a metal bed frame that I hate to show so the bed skirt was really the only option. Most standard bed skirts are 15'' in length which can be frustrating if your bed is higher like ours was. PB has it's classic bed skirt that comes in 18'' which we thought about but didn't want to spend the $ right now. If you're looking for a longer bed skirt don't waste your time going to Target, Bed Bath, etc. Places like PB or having one custom made are great options. I also love the platform beds which can be really easy to make if you're looking to save money. Check out these romantic looks below. I'm in love with the dark hardwoods in the second picture.

all images from Elle Decor

Oh and I was just loving this dress.

Ember

2008-08-12T06:09:00.000-07:00

After a long break away, I'm back with a post on all the orange in decor today. I'm seeing it everywhere and am loving the new ember Peyton and Velvet drapes of Pottery Barn. I also can't help but mention the cutest love seat I think I've ever seen. The Brooks chair in Gabrielle Jacquard fabric above.

Favorite PB Pillows

2008-07-14T14:02:00.000-07:00

Pottery Barn's Fall Collection

2008-07-13T14:09:00.001-07:00

Not much needs to be said about Pottery Barn's new fall collection. I think the pictures speak for themselves. I love their new graphic print pillows and upholstered furniture! I will say I was surprised to see them take a slight modern spin this past spring but I'm really liking their mix of old and new PB style. I can't believe fall is almost here...this summer has flown. If you haven't already, check out Pottery Barn's new fall collection.

Rubie Green

2008-07-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had an amazing Fourth of July weekend! I thought we would start this week off with some amazing fabric lines. After coming across Rubie Green's fabric in the March issue of Domino Magazine I haven't been able to stop dreaming of using her fabrics somewhere in our home! They are so beautiful and what's even more amazing is the woman behind the chic, Eco-friendly, 100% organic cotton fabrics. Michelle Adams shares her success story on Habitually Chic. Click here to see her entire fabric line and browse her stunning website!

Film Inspired

2008-07-02T13:09:00.000-07:00

After recently watching what is probably my favorite movie, the newest Pride and Prejudice, I couldn't help but wonder if it were possible to have a room that's inspired by a film. After putting together some shots from the film I would have to say that this Anthropologie room captures the 18th century, romantic feel of the movie quite well. Just add some bright rays of sunlight streaming in through the windows and it's complete!

Door Headboard

2008-06-30T06:08:00.000-07:00

I had mentioned that we had made a door into our headboard and said I would share with you how it was done. There is a very simple how-to on Martha Stewart's website along with many other wonderful ideas and sources of inspiration! We simply went to an old warehouse where they salvage old doors, mantels and windows from old houses and sell them. There were some amazing things there including our old white four paneled door, similar to the picture. We sanded it and painted it white while letting the wood shine through on the corners and edges for an older antique look. You can see that this one is mounted to the wall which is great if you know exactly where you want your bed. We weren't really sure and ended up moving our bed about three times, so we went to the hardware store and bought decorative table legs and mounted them making it look like an actual standing headboard. It's such a simple idea for what can be such an expensive purchase. So if you're sleeping with your head against the wall check out Martha's site and her many other ideas for how to create a headboard.

Amazing Find!

2008-06-29T19:01:00.000-07:00

So I've found this amazing chair frame just like the one to the right on Craigslist for $20 that I can't wait to reupholster! Now the only trick is figuring out what fabric to use. I want to go with something fun like perhaps something from Rubie Green's new site. If you haven't seen her amazing fabric line you have to check her out. She is a total inspiration!

So Romantic

2008-06-29T17:31:00.000-07:00

Inspired by my last post, I got to looking at beds and ran across the lovely Anthropologie and their amazing home decor. Everything is so vintage and elegant, I just can't get enough! I'm very torn between a beautiful wooden bed or a romantic iron and brass frame. There's so much character hidden within a vintage iron bed. My dad actually found a wrought iron frame at a dump when he was in college. He fixed it up, painted it and it's now a beautiful piece much like this one from Anthropologie. It really makes me want to go searching for such a treasure! If anyone has a fun story about a piece you found and fixed up please share it with us!

The Hudson Love Affair

2008-06-29T15:41:00.000-07:00

So I just thought I would post about what I think is the most beautiful bed ever, the Hudson at Pottery Barn. I will confess I go to their store sometimes to just gaze at it. A friend just told me about the Pottery Barn outlet she went to and said it was amazing! I want to go to one so bad. Thankfully this past fall I was able to salvage the quilt and duvet cover in the picture above for our bedroom. I called about 5 outlets and the one in New York was able to ship it. That was an exciting day! Unfortunately the bed isn't something we can afford right now, but we are quite happy with our headboard we made from an antique door. It's so easy, I'll have to post about that some other time!

DIY: mason jar candle holders

2008-06-17T12:43:00.000-07:00

Here we have a very simple project inspired by Pottery Barn's mason jar tea lights. Simply go to your local flea market or garage sales and buy some old mason jars. Then take some wire and wrap it around the opening, twisting to make a handle. Drop a tea light by itself or with some sand inside and there you have it!

DIY: ribbon curtain rod

2008-04-30T11:58:00.000-07:00

Here's a fun, easy, inexpensive way to hang curtains. By using a ribbon and linking it through the drapes you can hang your curtains and then use the slack ribbon to tie them back on a sunny day! What could be more easy and cost efficient while remaining simply stunning.

Welcome!

2008-04-30T11:48:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Like many of you I absolutely love all the wonderful design blogs out there so thought I too would start my own. So here it is! I hope you all enjoy it!