The Perfect Ikat

Everything about this Ikat fabric is calling my name. If I had an office to decorate, this would be my inspiration. How fun would it be to pull that green out in accessories?!

(Khandar Jewel-lsfabrics)

2011 Trends!

Did you watch the Nate Berkus Show on Friday? It was a good one! Michelle Adams from Lonnymag.com shared the top 5 interior trends for 2011, and I'm so excited to see how people are going to be using them in their homes!

I've put together some of my favorite things from the top 5 trends. Enjoy!

#5- Mirrored Accents

Mirrored accents are a great way to add a little bit of elegance. You can add this trend in a small dose by mixing a mirrored frame in with your other frame styles.

(Z-Gallerie)

Or go big! I am loving the feminine lines of this console table. Its all about incorporating the piece with what you already have. So fun!
(allcoffeetables.com)

#4- Typography

We've been seeing this trend a lot lately and I love it for a couple of reasons a) it's clean and fresh b) you can get awesome pieces on etsy for really inexpensive.

Choose one piece and pair it with your paintings and photography

This ampersand would mix well with just about anything. How cute would it be in a little square frame? And its $6.50, I mean seriously!
(PrintforLoveofWood-etsy)

Don't ask me why, because I'm not totally sure, but I am in LOVE with this deer head print. I think it would be so great in a guy's office, and it might need a spot in my living room as well. $16!!
(Aldari-etsy)

#3- Storage Art

Instead of hiding all of our jewelry and other "pretty" things, its time to display them. Check out this 'make me giddy' tray!
(tillymaison-etsy)

Doesn't it just make you happy looking at it?

#2- Mid Century Lighting

Ok, this one is all about clean, simple lines. I wasn't sure at first, but I kind of like it!(Rejuvenation)

#1-Rust Color

How fun is this one?! It doesn't mean you need to have a rust colored couch to honor this trend. I love the idea of "pops" of rust, whether it be a throw, a pillow, a lamp, or a beautiful tray.(west elm)

(Euro Style Lighting)

(Pier 1)

I feel like the great thing about these trends is that you can incorporate them into your space with what you already have. A fun, and inexpensive way to give your home a fresh look for the new year!

Gallery Wall

Am I the only one who has had cute pictures of their kids tucked away in my closet for years, because I wasn't sure what to do with all of them? Probably. You might say scrapbook them, but I don't scrapbook, darn.

So when I was contemplating what to do with the big wall in Will and Charlie's room, I knew I needed something inexpensive and meaningful. I dug out all the pictures I love of each of the boys separately and together, put them in my favorite IKEA black Ribba frames to tie them all together, and the end result makes me smile every time I look at it.

P.S They look quite crooked in the pictures but they really are straight:)

I love that some of the pictures are black and white, some are colored, and some are professionally done while others are snap shots.

It is a daily reminder of how big they are getting and that I need to just enjoy them.

Great Site for Kids' Rooms

I am loving Bernadette's blog Chic Spaces for Little Faces. I know a lot of you have little ones, and this blog is chuck full of inspiring room ideas!

Living Room Inspiration

I can't wait to get going on my living room! It is definitely where we spend most of our time and honestly it just hasn't felt like "us" for quite awhile. Although I am waiting until the boys' rooms are complete to start this project, I have for sure been BRAINSTORMING like crazy! I'll go into the details of the room down the road, but I wanted to share some of my inspirations for this space.

My favorite colors are for sure grey-green, black, white and charcoal grey (ok, that's quite a few favorites, but I love them all, and I love them all together:)). Last year I went to a boutique with my friend Mindee and spotted this old painting for $7!! The photo makes it kind of hard to get the true look of it, but I adore it! It has all the colors that I love, and I think it will tie the room together nicely.

I was looking on craigslist for a media console and as soon as I found this dresser I knew it was the one! It needs a little (or a lot) of work but I have a vision for it (if only my husband could see the diamond that I do:))

I love everything about this room, the gallery wall, the horizontal book case, the amazing rocker, the furry throw. LOVE! (Rue)

Pillows and fabric in general just make me happy:)

(Modern Marvelous Home-etsy)

(honey pie design-etsy)


A little inspiration to get going on our living room, I can't wait to get started!

Modern Parents, Messy Kids Giveaway

Steph over at Modern Parents, Messy Kids is hosting her first ever giveaway this week. MPMK is awesome!! I honestly know you are going to love it! They have so many great ideas for activities to do with your kids, as well as wonderful product and design info. She is giving away a $35 gift code to CSN stores (I can think of quite a few items I could purchase there, actually just ordered a rug from there yesterday). So go check MPMK out and get signed up for the giveaway:)

A Subtle Change

I've been trying to get little projects finished up in my boys' rooms so that I can move on to other areas of the house. This weekend I took some time and added grosgrain ribbon to the $13 Wal-mart (who knew, right?) lampshade in Will and Charlie's room. It seems like a pretty simple, little project but here are a few tips to get it looking crisp:

1) start on the lamp shade seam and end on the seam
2) if using fabric glue, brush a thin coat onto your ribbon
3) press firmly and smooth it as you go, avoid having excess glue on your hands
while you do this

Before

After

I think the end result is well worth it! Our dog lamp feels more"finished":)