My Precious has Arrived!

8 Jun

Guess who showed up to surprise me last Friday, my Precious (a little “Lord of the Rings” throw back there). What I mean is my sofa is here! Finally after a month of waiting (which isn’t that bad for a custom-made sofa) my sofa finally arrived last week and I couldn’t be more pleased!

I ordered my sofa from a fabulous North Carolina furniture builder. I chose this sofa because it is extra deep (great for lounging in) but at the same time the two rows of pillows support your back if you want to sit up straight (for entertaining purposes because you can’t slouch in a LBD). I also loved the long bench cushion and elegantly rolled arms that are not too over-stuffed but not too modern.

I hand select the fabric, of which I chose two. The back, sides, and back pillows are in an intricate trellis pattern of dark taupe and cream. Complimenting the trellis pattern is a casual, yet sophisticated stripe in taupe and cream. I love how the trellis pattern is feminine and French, while the stripe has a masculine “menswear” appeal. The combination is stunning and inviting!

So here is a review of the progress so far: We went from this…

To this…

To this…

Not too shabby! Stay tuned for the budget breakdown and be amazed by just how little it took to create this look.

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Glass Bottle Collections

1 Jun

Inspiration of the day, Lovely Glass Bottle Collections. Reusing pretty bottles is good for the earth and makes utilitarian necessities prettier. No more plastic, use glass instead of make your home pretty while keeping our earth pretty.

 Or just display a pretty collection of glass bottle together as a lovely vignette. The blue hue of most vintage bottles add great subtle color to any space.

Leave the dirt in the bottles :) It gives them authenticity. Pick a few sprigs from your garden to bring nature inside. Set your collection in front of a window or under a lamp to see the glass sparkle.

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Progress #2, My Row House in the Southside!

1 Jun

I am happy to announce some big progress is being made and what I like to refer to as my “Row House in the Southside” is starting to feel like home. Here is my humble abode from the outside. Cute and fitting for Nate and I. We like it!

I recently paid a visit to a fabulous local “scratch and dent” store and landed some incredible deals including my new dining table and bistro chairs. Scored the table for $100 and the chairs for $25 each. I am in love with the grayed wood color of the table as well as the carved details! I am going to do a white wash on the bistro chairs to make them blend more with the table. It is starting to actually look like my kitchen now!

I also scored two of these solid wood Pembrooke tables for $75 each. The rustic wood and dark walnut finish matches the floors and adds a masculine touch to the space. I love that they look like antique tables, caster feet and all!

I have started carefully editing my decor selections for my Pembrooke tables and this is what I have come up with so far. A pretty tulip arrangement which I made myself with my favorite silver bowl purchased at an antique store along with a silver candle snuffer, a few decor books, some pretty aqua candles for color, and a picture of my sweetie and I make the first table very “me”. The second table has more of the aqua candles, a few books I picked up at the antique store (I ripped off the covers to give them a vintage look) and two Fleur De Lis bookends finish it off.

Then finally last but not least, I have a corner of my living room 99% finished! I love to sit on the other side of the living room and just look at this spot to imagine the whole place finished :) My two white linen chairs flank my Shaker style nesting tables (a handmade gift from my dad!). I bought a new burlap shade for a $5 goodwill lamp to give it a new life here in this space. An orchid in a mercury glass vase and a silver plated clock, a silver bowl, and two candles finish the table top. My favorite gray and white damask pillows pull in the wall color and “VOILA”, my pretty corner.

That’s all the progress I have to share for now. Until next time!

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Some Great Advice for Design Bloggers

27 May

I stumbled upon this great design blog yesterday called “Nesting Place” and was very encouraged by a great post, “Process: Slow Decorating”. As I have said before, I have been taking my time and trying to enjoy the process of decorating my new home as well as letting the progression happen organically instead of trying to make everything perfect all at once. Yet, I have been reluctant to post anything from my house because nothing looks perfect yet, nothing is complete and not the way I plan to leave it. So I find myself wanting to put a disclaimer on everything to explain that I have bigger plans, that it will get better than this, etc. Are you resonating with any of this?? Read this post (click here) from “Nesting Place” and you too will be encouraged to share your progress and love your home even when it is not perfect.

Thanks “Nesting Place” for the encouragement and great insight. Keep up the good work and by the way I love your home!

My Shadow Box Project

27 May

I wanted to make a bigger impact with my vintage door plates and key instead of just hanging them on the wall from a hook like I did in my old place. I decided to try creating a shadow box with them. It turned out to be pretty fun. I picked out a craft paper from my local craft store as well as three shadow box frames and some brads to hold my door plates in place. I cut the paper to fit, punch the brad through the back of the paper and pinched it around the door plate like a hook to hold. I decided to sand the finish on the glossy black frames I purchased because they simply did not go with my shabby decor. It turned the frame to a charcoal like matte finish which I like. So here is my new shadow box art. A simple yet pleasing project.

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Storage Please!

14 May

Well here we are. Tons of boxes hide my beautiful floors as I struggle to still see the potential beautiful space underneath all the mess. While there is lots of work to be done, I had to decide what was the first and most important thing to start. It is hard for me to resist diving into hanging art and putting out pretty things and to start with the proper organizing and storing of things. This time though I am forcing myself to do it right and I started with organizing.

I fell in love with Ikea’s new finish on their Ekby shelves. It is a high gloss white. It is so glossy it is covered with that protective blue film to protect the finish.

Then to add even more shine I bought these polished nickel finished brackets from Ikea as well.

I decided I would put these shelves in the bathroom for some much-needed storage.

Here is the bathroom before and after:

Not bad huh?!? I love making storage and function beautiful. Remember function doesn’t have to be boring. Find cute boxes, shelves, etc to store your items. You will create a beautiful space you will want to keep clean and pretty.

Ok so here is what the shelves really look like when all my stuff is out.

Still not so bad though huh?!?

Another unique and creative organization idea I came up with was inspired by a salvage yard purchase of this “cool old gate”. The ticket even said “cool old gate”! I agreed.

I got the gate for 40% off! What a deal!

Here is the first use of it. As a jewelry holder in my bathroom.

It does a fantastic job as my jewelry organizer. This will probably be the first new life of many for this “cool old gate.” I am sure I will being moving this thing around the house to use for the next inspired space but for now I was in need of storage and organization which it is both! I love it.

So there you go. My first 2 projects of many. Can’t wait to show you the rest!

Until then, Katrina

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All moved in!

8 May

Well we are all moved in thanks to tons of help from our faithful friends and family. THANKS GUYS! I will be without internet for a few days but I will be posting our progress asap so stay tuned.

A beautiful banquette to inspire me (and perhaps you) to get the project going so I can sit pretty too!

Via (click above)

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Lonny’s Trad Home!

6 May

I haven’t seen this many amazing spaces in a magazine ever! The best part it was free and links directly to products you like with one click. There is even a fun video featuring Jonathan Adler and Charlotte Moss as they discuss their takes on traditional design. I am so excited that the magazine world is staying current with the times as our world becomes more creative through connected online resources.

Enjoy just a sampling of all the amazing pictures featured in the magazine and click on the pictures to view the entire magazine yourself.

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Summer Fashion Inspiration

26 Apr

Easy Breezy style that is easy and classic is what summer fashion is all about. Here is a little summer fashion inspiration as the temperature rises.

via J Crew

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Walls Painted!

24 Apr

The Entry Before…

The Entry in Progress (A Deep Taupy Gray wall color). At this point I was still working on the trim, which is now an Ultra High Gloss white. Pretty! As you can see the current flooring totally clashes with the walls but that will be gone soon.

I know what you may be thinking, “She has lost her mind!” The walls are dark but there are plans in the works for plenty of lighting to create a moody look. Lots of artwork and pictures will be added to the walls and in the end it will look amazing. I had my doubts for a second too but I have to follow my own advise and not FREAK OUT until the whole room comes together. I feel pretty good that I won’t be FREAKING then.

The hallway before…

and the hallway in progress. See the carpet is gone and the walls painted a Deep Taupy Gray. The banister is also painted white and no longer an ugly oak color. See the pretty cobalt blue and white office peeking out. I couldn’t get a good picture of it that day because the sun what shining directly in the windows. I’ll get pics later.

The living room before…

And the living room after. Again the sun was my enemy that day while trying to take pictures of the wall colors. The same Deep Taupy Gray is upstairs as well and the trim is Ultra High Gloss white. Carpet is gone and waiting on the wood floors to be put in. Lots of painters tape on that floor!

Didn’t have before pictures of the upstairs for some reason. Here is the Tiffany Blue hallway during the day, while peeking into the bright and fun Apricot bedroom.

The Master bedroom is now a soft Gray/Blue. Soothing and relaxing the way a bedroom should be!

And finally the floors!! The thing that will bring all this hard work together. They are a wide plank “click” walnut floor. Sam’s Club was our friend for this project. They had the best pricing by far!

We are working on the floors now and will have pictures to share in a couple of weeks.

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