spring is here. officially.

Gabe and I spent all day Saturday 'Spring cleaning,' and oh man what a difference it made!  We're not completely finished, but already our home feels lighter, happier, refreshed, and it begged to be redecorated.  Seeking inspiration yesterday, I grabbed my bible and started absorbing.  I can always count on domino to pull through for me. Always!

One piece in particular I was hoping to learn how to liven up was my IKEA Docksta table {ya know, the Eero Saarinen tulip table lookalike}, because where I had it placed was not working.  While reading the chapter on entry rooms, it hit me.  I decided to swap my beloved vintage heavy green chest {an old craigslist find from Iceland!} that was next to my front door with the Docksta table I had in the dining room.

Voila!  The chest--which stores all of our games, wine corks, and candles--works fabulously as a buffet, and looks pretty sophisticated with the extra dining chairs flanking it.  And the green next to the red hutch is so gorgeous. 

The Docksta in the front room works beautifully.  Although it is wider than the chest, it feels like it takes up less space.  Most of the pieces in this room are rectangular and boxy--including our new chaise from IKEA {a major score last weekend in the As-is section!!}--and the round table breaks up and lightens the overall room.  I just love it.  Now all I need is a few bulbs of fragrant paperwhites in the tall cylinder vase on the green chest, and a short and full bouquet of fresh spring blooms in the entry way.  Hubby, are you reading this? ;)  Oh, and I can't wait to find better lampshades for both the lamp on the chest and on the entry table because I don't love the current ones. 

I have been coveting this bed since its debut, so yesterday I finally sprung for it.  After brunch, Gabe + I braved the weekend crowds at IKEA and picked it up, along with an adorable outdoor patio set {but that's another post}.  To my surprise and excitement, the bed only cost $99!  For some reason I had thought it was twice that, but no.  Only a bill.  Sweet! 

We didn't buy the slats that support the mattress, so we used the boxspring from our guest bedroom, which made our bed super tall and hotel-like.  I am not sure I love it being so high, although I always said I wanted a high bed, so I am living with it for a week before I decide whether or not to go back, get the slats, and ditch the boxspring.  And one of these days I will have matching, or at least coordinating, bed linens like a grown-up.  lol

Still haven't unveiled our master bath renovation, because the decorating is taking longer than expected...soon, I'll post some before + afterish photos. In other big reno-news, we ordered all new dual pane energy efficient windows and sliders for our whole house!  This is our next big project that will definitely produce major results.

What's the last thing you did to make your home happy?

RUE: clever. all encompassing. not at all amateurish.

RUE mag is up and running as of today, and it does not disappoint.  I am only roughly half-way through the issue, but I am too impatient to wait 'til I am finished reading it to share with all of you!  Sometimes the procrastinator-Virgo takes on the extreme other end of the spectrum persona and introduces impatient-Virgo.

Some of my faves so far:

  p. 85  Victoria Smith's place.  Victoria, you took the words right out of my mouth and your home is breathtaking.  In her own words, Victoria admits:
"I fake it 'til I make it;"
"I'm pretty much a homebody with a social side;" and
"I think I missed my era, so I like surrounding myself with bits of the past."

I can relate to all of the above.  For example, I fake it with an IKEA Docksta table in my formal living room, until I can afford the coveted Eero Saarinen tulip table.  And like Victoria, Gabe & I agree we missed our era, which was late 50s - mid 70s, so we dot our home and wardrobes with retro vintage pieces reminiscent of the bygone era, which, mixed in with true antique pieces makes for a very pleasing and interesting aesthetic in our home.  If I do say so myself. 

  p. 138  It's Emily!  As in Emily Henderson of The Brass Petal and HGTV's 2010 Design Star.  Yeah, that Emily.  In this story, Emily got to live out her dream party with the help of the Rue team and some close personal friends.  Here's a behind-the-scenes look at the party. So cute.

Check out the premiere issue for yourself & discuss.  :)  Much love goes out to this very talented team!  I'm really looking forward to future issues, and, well, finishing this issue.

What's a BEFORE without an AFTER

Do you recall me asking you to give me a week or so to provide decent 'after' photos of our guest-room-turned-master-bedroom?  Well, I meant six weeks.  Procrastinator Virgo, remember?  And although I can't honestly call these 'after' photos, as I change things so frequently, I shall call them 'afterish'--how's that?
First, here's one {or three} before photos: 

  
:::drumroll:::  And here are the afterish photos:

A few notes about the room:

• We painted the walls a peachy hue which is very complementary to our skin tones, we've noticed ;)
• We replaced the outdated fan/light fixture with the same one we put in the old master bedroom
• I majorly paired down the wardrobe in order to fit everything in the {much smaller} closet
• I swapped out the drapery, replacing the IKEA curtains with scarves that I got from Target and H&M
• Other than the wall paint, we didn't spend a dime on this room; everything in it was taken from other rooms in our home. I love free!
• The wooden box in the last photo was already being used as a doorstop, and just so happened to fit all of my flip flops perfectly in it. Score! The rest of my shoes are hiding behind the bedroom door.

Things still to be done:

• Hang the dressing mirror on the wall
• Patch the hole in the wall where the previous owners had {I'm guessing} intentions of installing an outlet
• Hang art on the walls!  I mean, the headboard looks nice and all, but it's the only thing on any of the walls.  That just won't do.
• Get curtain for closing off closet, even though my stuff looks so pretty and organized... ;)
• Someday get bed linens that actually match.  Maybe.

That headboard and I have a love-hate relationship.  I made it out of plywood, muslin, and batting when I moved in to my first place 5+ years ago--back when I was on a staple-gun-craft-rampage--and have considered chucking it many-a-time.  I think, 'I would rather have a nice sturdy modern graphic headboard from like West Elm or somewhere,' but when it comes down to it, I can't part with my labor of love.  So, to give it new life, I drape a piece of fabric over it to make it work with the space.  Thank you, domino.

Hubby loves the new room.  Dogs seem content there.  All is well.  Don't be surprised to see more {completely different} afterish photos of this room in the future, though.  It's just what I do.

IKEA 2011 catalog: favorites

Just picked up a copy of the IKEA 2011 catalog yesterday, and do you wanna know my favorite part(s)?
No, it wasn't the new lower prices, inspiring rooms, or the new designers.

My favorites were the spreads featuring the cute dads and their kids!  Goooood eye candy.  Thank you IKEA for your excellent taste in...style.

Unfortunately, I cannot share photos from the catalog on my blog, but I can share with you the pages on which you will see for yourself these adorable spreads.

Pages:
...89
...107
...109
...149

Have a stylish weekend everyone!

a mini weekend diy project

Last week I picked up a free issue of Edible Sacramento, and found it packed with local fare.  Recipes.  Restaurant reviews.  Farmers market locations and... ads.  Beautiful ads!  I made a mental note to save one of the ads for my inspiration book, but instead ended up framing and hanging it. 

I love the muted color palette and the retro vibe.  And the fact that it was an actual place in a neighboring town made it special. 

The frame is a Ribba from IKEA, and the whole project cost $10!  And it only took me about twenty minutes from start to finish, including very carefully cleaning the glass in the frame--only to notice a husky hair in between the glass and the matting once it was all hung and pretty.  Oh well.  I've learned to just let. some. things. go.

Here's a closeup. 

Yesterday I read a post on AT about how a family had given up buying art for their home for a significant period of time, because they had to budget their money elsewhere, so their walls were sad and blank.  I understand, really, I do.  But, c'mon, anything can be ART.  As long as something speaks to you, it's art! Display it!  I've had a page ripped from a domino magazine in a tweed herringbone frame for years, and people comment on it all the time.  It's a cute camping scene with a cute guy and a cute gal, a tent, a truck, some dhurries, and camping gear, and I absolutely love it.  It is my little escape whenever I glance at it, because my fav pass-time is camping with my hubs. 

So, I encourage everyone to rethink ART.  For example, the next time you pull a fortune out of a cookie at Panda Express, if it speaks to you, frame it.  [mental note: next mini project]  And, please share your art projects.  I love to read about them.  Big or small, cheap or pricey, whichever.  Maybe we can inspire one another. 

Happy hump day!

Check these out

I just picked these up at IKEA yesterday, on a shopping spree with MILly (Mother-In-Law nickname), and I'm still totally psyched about them!  The picture does not do them any justice, as with most pictures on the IKEA website, but in person they are vibrant and very MCM.  I dare say they are quite Mondrian-esque.  Bonus! The set of three was only $2.99.  I don't know exactly what to use them for, but I have a couple of ideas, which is also where you come in.  I thought of using one for loose leaf teas, another for gift wrapping, and no idea what else as of now... Got any suggestions for use?