This and That...

It's 5 o'clock but feels more like 10 P.M.

The sky turns dark so quickly now since the time change took place.

It's always difficult for me to adjust.

So, how the heck are ya?

Turkey week!  I can't wait!

Plus, my work week is short.

As much as I love my job, we all need a little R&R, right?

This weekend, the dude and I did the usual. 

We picked up a few things.  This and that...

With Christmas around the corner, the majority of our shopping

was for festive decorations.

 Nothing puts me in the holiday spirit more then decorated store fronts.

I go absolutely bonkers over fat legs like these.

We didn't take this guy home, but we sure wanted to!

We did manage to find something at this quaint little shop

that we took home with us.

This magnifying glass would look great in a bathroom or placed on a dresser!

We also picked up a few ornaments and some ribbon for the tree.

Feathery goodness!

I go crazy for ornaments.

It seems that each year ornaments continue to get better!

Or maybe I'm making excuses to buy a few more!

We found this birch ribbon that we can't wait hang on the tree.

It's something I haven't seen before.

We plan to put up the tree sometime this week!

Does anyone follow the after Thanksgiving "rule"?

I like the idea of truly enjoying Thanksgiving before jumping to the next holiday.

I do find it tough to not get a jump start though.

We'll see how long I can wait.

Refrigerator shopping hasn't been fun.

As I said in my previous post, built in refrigerators cost a pretty penny.

I was roaming the web and happened upon this picture.

Since we already have a built-in refrigerator, we'll have to make some changes

with the cabinetry if we decide to purchase a free standing fridge.

I'm kinda digging the idea of leaving some space above the refrigerator to display

cake dishes among other things.

What do you think?

Built-in vs. free standing that appears built-in?

I hope you have a short work week, too!

Or at least turkey day to share and enjoy with those you love the most!

*source unknown

Sweet Dreams: Master Bedroom Inspiration

I haven't laid a finger on our master bedroom

or any of the other bedrooms for that matter.

It's truly become a place to crash after a long day.

 Since the bedrooms are all on the second floor and are generally not seen

by our guests, I haven't felt the pressure.

Going to bed and waking up in a beautiful atmosphere is important though.

Curling up in fine linens and reading a good book is pure heaven.

Since we have been focusing on our first floor, some of my ideas are purely in the

 "dream stage."

Here are some of my master must have's.

I love the non-matchy-ness of this room. 

While the lamps are identical to one another, the bed side tables and the

wall art are uniquely different. 

I'm in love with the idea of using the nesting tables as a night stand and using both framed art and an oval mirror to decorate the empty space above the dressers.

And that bed...speechless!

Using a dresser as a nightstand is an unexpected touch.  I dig it!

I'd love to wake up with that furry rug under my feet.

Coat racks do not belong solely in entry ways.

I'm obsessed with the idea of using one as a purse hanger.

A cozy upholstered love seat is perfect for the foot of the bed.

It's ideal to cuddle up on before catching your z's!

Again, the same table lights with different side tables.

The mixture of textures and materials is lovely here.

Oh dear, there's that bed again.

I'll be spending the next hour or so searching the web for refrigerator's.

The warranty company is offering to give us chunk of change.

(nice but not nice enough)

Can you believe built-in units start at 6 grand?

That's cold.  Totally not cool.

Wish I had an oasis to search the web in.

I guess the couch will have to do!

sweet dreams, bloggers!

*photos courtesy of veranda, seredipity; life itself, mango watermelon, unknown, because it's awesome 



Weekend Wonderland

We've officially had our first snow fall.

While all of the snow has melted since then, I'm beginning to

feel the gusty wind that we Midwestern states become so accustomed to.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the world of retail, too!

Not to mention that every other commercial is reminding me that

we need to begin our holiday shopping soon! 

In keeping with our weekend routine, Rob and I hit up a few antique shops!

This one store in particular is always fun to explore.

Architectual salvage galore!

And a very knowledgeable staff.

Even they were stumped on the kitchen hardware I posted about yesterday.

We strolled around town.

Rocking my Missoni for Target ballet flats.

We then took a drive over to Arhuas Furniture.

 As much as I love their stuff, I can't always get myself past the $ tag.

This pillow was a must though...and I must say the quality is great.

If we get tired of the deer...

...we can just flip it over!

While we were perusing around Arhuas,

we got inspired by these tiny trees made from paper.

We did our best to recreate the trees from memory.

They are probably a bit different, but that makes them even

more special to us.

Here's what you'll need.

A shish kabob stick will work perfectly!

We had terra cotta plant pots lying around the cottage,

so we were ready to go!

Rob's hand not mine...Just saying!

Stack paper of diffenent lenghts and widths and have fun.

You'll eventually end up with this.

Minus the star, of course!

This little project put us in the holiday spirit.

Is Monday rolling around already?

I'm going to take off and enjoy the rest of my Sunday with

the man who keeps me smiling and deals with all of my shenanigans.

Bin There Done That...

It's hard to follow up an act like my husband.

I have to admit, he's a pretty funny guy.

On this Saturday evening,

my blog post is going to be short and sweet.

Since purchasing the cottage, Rob and I have been on the hunt for bin pulls.

While there have been plenty of pulls we've liked,

there hasn't been anything we've had to have.

Until today that is.

I happened upon a lovely kitchen in a magazine {Cottage Living}

I need to find these bin pulls.

Let me rephrase... I can't live without these pulls.

And so I ask...

Does anyone know where I can find them?

House of Antique Hardware

Rejuvenation

these are some bin pulls worth pulling for!

*photo courtesy of Cottage Living

My Husband's First Blog Post!

I'd like to officially introduce my husband, Rob.

Below is his attempt at humor.

Over the past few months I have been supporting my wife’s love for design by carting her all over the continental US.  Why you ask?  Because she is searching for inspiration, paint colors, antiques, and fabric.  This sounds like every man’s dream…

Obviously you can sense my frustration.  Let me clarify that I love my wife very much and I truly believe she is an unbelievably talented designer in the making, but I am going to put together a set of guidelines to understanding your man as it pertains to your passion for design.

I understand this is my first blog entry, and I’m not sure it is even going to get posted after my wife proof reads it, but please give me a chance because this is as much for her as it is for you.  Here it goes…

1. We do not see the importance of choosing between white dove and antique white for our trim color.  WHITE = WHITE

2. Don’t buy a pillow if I can’t put my head on it.  I don’t care how pretty it is.  It is a pillow…

3. We do not live in a pottery barn catalog.  Actually although you don’t want to believe it, nobody lives in a pottery barn catalog.  It is neither practical to have random books sitting everywhere in your house, nor is it functional.  Please see below.

4. We do not enjoy looking through piles of old books to pick which ones will be pretty sitting everywhere in our house.

5. Know  when enough is enough.  When you are hitting the 7^th craft store of the day and your man’s eyes are glazed over and he is no longer responding guess what…   We are envisioning burning the craft store down.  We may also be thinking about inflicting bodily harm.  Unfortunately burlap does not do much damage.

6.  Letting me hang a poster in the garage, does not mean we are even.

7. Don’t blog surf when we are trying to talk to you.

8. Please blog surf while we are watching the football game.

9. Why does everything get hung on walls?  Where does it stop?  You do realize when you are trying to convince us that hanging everything but the kitchen sink on the wall is a good idea, we think you are genuinely crazy.  Thanks again pottery barn.  Hanging upside down chairs from the ceiling is not a good idea.

10. Why do you get upset when the bedding is wrinkled?  We sleep in it?  Also, it is not just our fault it is wrinkled.

The list could continue and in actuality it probably will.  Just like the blog my guidelines are still developing.  It would only be fair if I posted some of my favorite designs.  So here are some of my favorite rooms, obviously not for your viewing pleasure.

What happens in the locker room, stays in the locker room.

Notice there are no pillows.

 Pumpkin ale and a warm bowl of chili.  Yes please.

My Sunday Sanctuary.

FYI - there was an argument over the blue numbers.  Not authentic enough, I guess?

Too bad, honey!

 *photos courtesy of buildingmancaves.com, qualitybaths.com, skyscrapercity.com

The Clock With No Tick Tock

I know, I know...

I've been MIA.

A lot of work and a lot of leaves.

I'll leave it at that.

how are you, friends?

After days of obsessing over our front entry, Rob and I found a clock.

It sure is beautiful.

It's a lovely shade of blue.

It has great little legs.

Glorious carvings.

It's missing one thing, though.

The guts.

Rob and I were sold at first glance.

My mom was not.

Why buy a clock without the mechanics was her gripe if I can remember correctly.

Makes perfect sense.

I wouldn't call the purchase a "steal" but it wasn't antique grandfather clock

expensive either.

Plus, we have plans.  Stay tuned.

We do have the glass piece!

My excitement had me snapping pictures prematurely.

The clock was not our only purchase this weekend.

The boys were hard at work.

Our next purchase was all Rob.

Once in awhile I get a bad case of selective hearing.

Does that ever happen to you?

If I'm in a store where I'm liking what I'm seeing, I hear absolutely nothing.

Rob must have asked me on five different occasions if I liked a particular bench.

I did.

But how much, I'm not sure?

My eyes were too busy wandering around.

He managed to get measurements and buy the bench before I could think twice.

I'm glad he did.  I think it's important for us ladies to let our men have choices in the house they too live in.

It's an old rusty park bench.  I believe it's from New York.

I love the sandstone seat.

We placed the bench in our family room near our bay window.

I think it looks great.

Good job, honey!

The houses on our drive up to this particular shop are jaw dropping.

I wish I had more houses to show you, but the quality of the pictures are lousy.

and Rob's head was in the way :]

I promise I won't abandon the blog for that long again!



Tick Tock

No worries, this post has nothing to do about Ke$ha.

{tik tok...hope you get my lame joke}

Not that I have anything against her or her music.

After placing the architectural header above our front door,

our entry has been on my mind.

I've contemplated the entry table/mirror combination, but I'm not sold.

Lately, my design tunnel vision has me seeing clocks.

Grandfather clocks, that is.

Wow, stunning! I'm loving the color.

Are grandfather clocks in the same "to paint or not to paint" category as pianos?

I'm one of those people who believe pianos should remain in their woody glory.

Clocks, on the other hand, I don't feel as strongly about.

But if I could find a clock that looked as good as this one,

I wouldn't change a thing.

Often times, grandfather clocks are a bit too shiny and glossy for my taste.

My oh my... I adore swedish clocks.

I'm looking to put a clock (?) in this space next to our front door.

While I'm chatting about our foyer...

I'm not sure if I've ever shown you our little "display nook/cubby."

Hmm... I'm not quite sure what to think of this hole.

I'm not the type of gal who likes to display and highlight a statue or

a artificial flower/branch arrangement.

So what now?

I don't think I've ever been so design stumped.

I'll get back to you on this one.

If you want to throw out ideas, I'm all ears.

On an entirely different note, are any of you watching

American Horror Story on FX?

Rob and I are fans of all things spooky!

I have no answer as to why I like to torture myself.

We decided to give it a try based on a recommendation of a friend.

It's awesome.

Especially for a TV show.

Not to mention, the house candy I get to devour for an entire hour.

Here's the exterior of the house.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the house is located in the Country Club Park

neighborhood of LA and was built in 1910.

The kitchen looks so cozy despite the eerie circumstances

 the characters are facing.

I love all the hints of pistachio and yellow!  And those pumpkins are major!

If your interested, check out FX tonight at 10 P.M.

*photos courtesy of better after blogspot, decorpad, KML designs, pinterest, LA times, LA times, NY times, FX