Wing Back Chairs

I just decided I need a pair of wing back chairs for the sitting area in my bedroom.  'Wing back' often screams 'old lady' but I am honoring that little old grandma would resides in my soul and going with it, of course adding modern and whimsical fabrics.  I excitedly boughta pair of chairs on craigslist for $12 each and am now scoping out fabric to have them recovered in.  Yes, they are totally vintage, claw foot and all and I am already obsessed with them...just not in their current, garish state!

Here is what I am thinking of having the chairs recovered in:

I always think of a set of chairs or a couch as a man in a nice suit.  

So, I am all about classic, solid, wearable fabric.  I am not 

too much into flash on a set of chairs or couch...that's where the pillows

come in!

Side note: on a single chair I would throw caution to the wind 

and go funky!  Especially on an old vintage chair that is screaming

for some funk!

 I just can't decide if I wan to go dark or light???

and pillows in these (I like to think of pillows as the 

neck tie accompanying a classic suit...be bold) :

 I just love this, and think it will play off our bedding nicely.

Thinking a nice medium sized square pillow

click here to see our bedding blog

I am totally gaga over this fabric!  I think it will pair

nicely with the pattern above.  Thinking a lumbar 

pillow to sit in front of the square gold/cream fabric.

I literally want to glaze my walls in this pattern!!! 

I am also liking this, but not as much as the birds!

So, I would love your feedback.  Call me, text me, leave me a comment...give me your thoughts.  Then, come spring, come read books and gossip with me in what will be the coziest little nook.  I cannot wait!

A Sitting Room

This little area, as you enter our home, was until recently

empty, except for an oversized canvas and wood tent that my in-laws

made for the kiddos when we moved in almost 4 years ago.

Then...I inherited the two chairs shown (see blog post) in the top

 of this photo and that started a snowball effect of:

a. moving tent to the playroom

b. searching for a couch           

        c. oh hell, pulling together this room 

I told the friends who handed down the chairs that the chairs

had become a character in a rewrite of the children's book,

If You Give A Mouse A Cookie, because these chairs 

demanded a couch, then a rug, then a table and on and on!

I hope you enjoy the eclectic little pull together, in my new

favorite room to sit and read.

Foreground: chair, small camp seat

that I picked up for 10 cents at 

a yard sale in Minneapolis.  My

MIL recovered it with a scrap of

awning canvas.  

Background: Coffee table that 

I grew up with, once in a 90s green, 

repainted with a chalk gray.  The wood is old

and rugged and I LOVE IT! This

couch, that I found on craigslist for $10.

When I picked up the craigslist couch, I was nervous it was garbage, 

but it was worth a go, as I would only be out $10. 

I called the company that reupholstered

the chairs, and had them pop out to see

my cheapo couch.  They said the construction

was very strong and sturdy and could be reworked

BACK IT UP...

I had originally purchased a couch for

this room from West Elm.  See link.

When the couch arrived the cushions were

an ill fit and one of the tapered legs was too

short.  I was beyond disappointed with the

craftsmanship, but in love with the fabric.  After

the run around from West Elm, I decided to

return the janky couch and order bulk fabric

from them.  The results...AMAZING!

All this, pulled into one with an oversized

tumbled jute rug that is as soft as can be

and a small rug, under the coffee table that

my sweet friend asked me to love.

One of the chairs responsible for this

madness and a darling foot pouf!

When the upholstery company

came to fetch the couch and fabric

to fix it up, I also sent with an old blanket,

that I also grew up with.  It was always

tucked away as a kid, but I loved it

and was excited when it became mine.

Thick wool, this traditional 'Hudson Bay'

style blanket is super iconic, but upon

close inspection, it had a tear in it and 

a big stain that I could not remove.

So...it sat in a cabinet in my home for the last

few years, which felt a shame, so I sent it

to be reworked, with a small drawing of

how I wanted the blanket oriented on a 

foot pouf.  I had this created with firm

foam, so it could double as a seat, if needed. 

Isn't it absolutely darling! 

I am so happy I did this.

It's a good reminder that stuff

serves zero purpose if it is tucked away,

and it you love it, by golly find a way to use it!

I found this sideboard the week we moved into the house, on 

craigslist.  It stores linens for the dining room on one side, and
my kid's craft stuff on the other.  

I can't recall how far back this chair

goes back in my family, but at least as far 

back as my maternal great grandma. 

It is a treasured piece.  

It along with the hand embroidered 

pillow (also dating back to my great grandma),

a coffee sack pillow and a throw blanket that

I bought at Marshalls (I bought the throw for a 

concert, because on the way to the venue we 

realized we had forgotten a blanket...so it 

makes me happy to look at every single day!)

Oh, did I mention that it took West

Elm nearly 4 months to pick up the

defunct couch?  So annoying!

Here's a nice side by side to see the

West Elm Couch (upper) and the

rework (lower).  You will note

that we decided against buttons

on the seats, as we they are 

dirt collectors and can

get caught on pant

pockets and can tear.

Gaaaaw, this couch!  

Bonus: the rework came in at over $400

less than the West Elm purchase!!!

Worth EVERY (saved) PENNY!

xo.

Dining Room, A Rug Update, part 2

So...early this year, yes like 2 months ago, I excitedly
replaced out dining room rug with a navy and white
herringbone rug (see post). Sadly, a week in I realized
the quality was cheap and it would not hold up to the traffic of the 

dining room. I quickly rolled that bad boy up and sold it to a local lady for 

what I paid (score) and began the search...again.

I settled on this gorgeous,  handmade rug out of Pakistan.  

It cost a lot more than I originally budgeted, but sometimes you have to 

pull the design trigger, when a one of a kind piece screams your name.

I'm in love!

Deck the Halls...

Hodge Podge cuteness, if you ask me! 

It all started with some bulbs...I bought loads of shatter proof bulbs

at Target after last Christmas.  Great deals and I just knew I would

find a tree-free purpose for them, this holiday.  New (deeply discounted) 

bulbs, a few old bulbs, fish line...and I was off.

This old dresser (a fantastic mid-century Craigslist find) usually is

the base for family photos, some family art and the candles (as seen).

I pulled the photos and art and moved in some holiday cheer.

My mom gave me the Twinkle sign years ago and it is still a holiday favorite 

and looks cutie with the (once again,a cheapy find at Target) felted trees.  

I pulled out my trifle dish, filled it with bulbs and balanced it with a holiday postcard 

that I plopped in a frame (the postcard looks vintage, which I totally love).

Simply plopping the glitter bulbs on top of the well used 

candles adds quick and instant holiday pizazz.  To add a bit 

 more dimension, I threw the remaining bulbs (that were housed in 

a tube, 8 bulbs total, in the $1 section at Target...which I 

 proudly paid 50 cents for) in a vintage mason jar.  

The BE MERRY sign was also sourced from the 

$1 section at Target (again, a 50 cent score!)

I just picked the table runner up at Home Goods (because, as they 

say, Home Goods makes you happy) and pulled out a rad enamel bowl

that I picked up years ago at a garage sale (for $1...for reals) and filled it

with several of my favorite, oversize bulbs.  I filled a vintage mason jar with the

 garland beads I usually string from a cut tree.  I topped my favorite little cake

stand with a glass dome (filled with bulbs).  Major props to that cute little

dome.  I picked it up at Goodwill (it was the topper of a wooden cheese board).

I just bought the topper, for $1.  Keep watch for them, as they seem to be plentiful 

on the shelves of thrift stores, and make a wonderful statement for a birthday cupcake,

stack of cookies or...a pile of Christmas bulbs. 

I want to live in this potpourri of colorful holiday cheer!

Seriously, how fab is this bowl?  I am mildly obsessed with it's beat up beauty!

I went fish line crazy with the table lighting.  Super random, yet balanced.

Logi has stood on the table no less than 10 times and asked me,

 is it snowing? while she bangs these around.  Lawdy!

Super simple, quick and wicked cheap holiday creation!!!

I purchased a few packages of faux greenery 

garland (last winter, after season sale, of course)

knowing that I wanted to doll up the stairs.

Using fish line I bundled random bulbs and 

tied to the posts.

Bundle of bulbs!

I tucked this gorgeous winter picture of my nieces

on my metro rack of crazy.  It looks perfect.

In other news...

Logi is ready to take on winter!

Staircase Remodel

In the process of deciding how we wanted to remodel our home, my husband (who is super easy going, and doesn't really care about this kind of stuff) was adamant that if we were going to have to patch in hardwood floors and have the entire first floor sanded and stained (due to the rearrangement of the kitchen), he would like to reroute the staircase, as it really drove him nuts.  I was way on board (my remodel list was a bit out of control, so I was super excited that this was his idea!!!)

Here are a few pictures of the staircase in their original form:

I am sure some will think we are super
 nit picky, but that's a whole lot of railing!

 Our biggest complaint was the large, jutting out platform
at the base of the stairs.  It pulled the flow of traffic
one direction, when desending the stairs.

 The removal of platform stairs.  The posts of the railing, removed and
resting at the top of the picture were reused for the new set up.

 What was once a cumbersome twisting platform was simplified
into an addition 4 steps.  What a space saver!!!

 Baby Benny inspecting the work.


And now, THE AFTER!

Added gloss white to the yellow oak rails and
fresh carpet to the rearranged stairs.  Love!

The carpet is called Stitches by Milliken.

Yay!  Project complete!!! 

The Hunt for the Elusive Countertops...

Who the hellz would have known that a simple search for slabs of stone, that some dude would fashion into counter tops, would turn into the biggest game of cloak and daggar on this side of the pond.

I am barely being dramatic!  For reals, I feel like I know all the stoners (a fun play on words when you live in a place where marajuana is legal) know me and probably are considering blocking my calls.

The simple search for a natural stone that looks like a gorgeous carrara marble, but doesn't wear like said marble (have you researched that stone...holy toledo...you can't make much, other than a reservation, on that stone...it will stain, etch, probably crack if you look at it wrong!).  I digress.  My point (yes, I have a point) is that I have been searching for 4 months for stone and am nearing tears.  I know, I shouldn't get my undies in a bundle over something as inconsequential as stone counters...but please, this is important!!! 

I covet my friend Maggie's counters.  They are lovely, natural stone...totally fooled me into thinking they were marble, but they are quartzite.  Super White Quartzite, to be exact.  I love love love them...just cannot find this stone anywhere!  This stone is one hot potato.  Here's a looksy at Maggie's glorious counters (I stole these images off of instagram, so use your imagination to really see what the whole counter would look like, or just trust me and start drooling right away):



Or...start drooling because Mag's is amazeballs in the kitchen,

 I dream of the things she whips up.  I aspire to be just like her,  when I grow up

(wait, she is younger than me by a few...dammit.)

Well, I have all my fingers and toes crossed that finally the stone of my dreams is coming into Denver next week.  I have had these slabs on hold for over a month, with just the little email picture to go off of.  I really didn't think when I put the hold on them in April I would still be stone-less 5 weeks later, but I am so thankful for my forward thinking of a back up plan.  As the back up plan is officially THE PLAN!

I mean...



Here's a little tidbit I learned in this stone slab search, that I wasn't otherwise aware of:  find a fabricator (the company/individual who will turn the slabs into the work surface) and then start making calls to local stone yards (some have other locations, and will sometimes ship between locations without additional charges).  The reason you want to have a fabricator on hand is that the stone yards do not deal with the public directly on pricing.  Slab prices will be give to the fabricator (annoying yes, but that is how it works).  If, for example, you are searching for a 'super white quartzite' (which I am sure you will, after reading this blog), look at the websites of all the local stone yards and view their inventory online.  If they have some slabs posted, call straight away and ask to put a hold on them (if you have my stone-search-luck the posted slabs will already be on hold for others...over and over and over), but just get as many holds as you can before going out to look at them. This might be more pertinent for people like me, who will be dragging little kids around. 

I will keep you posted as this unfolds.  Ahhhhh, so excited!

Today

Today was perfect.  A perfect Sunday of this holiday weekend, spent with most of my family, in Minnesota.

I flew home to Minnesota a couple weeks ago, and am so thankful we still have a full week left to soak up every bit of home.  Why yes, I have lived away from home (my mom's home, on the river, in central Minnesota) for nearly 10 years (14 if I count my college years in Northern Minnesota) but I still call it 'home'. 

This trip home is such a mixed bag of emotions as my mom is preparing to sell the house I grew up in (the house she built, on a year sabbatical from the college she taught at, at that time, when I was little) and move the house she planned on 'snow birding' to in Arizona.  This makes me sad, as home continues to be my favorite place.  The backyard, more than anything.  Through the years whenever I have been asked about the place I go to in my mind (whether it be for the visualization of peace, safety or happiness) it is usually the plush grass of the backyard that I have played in, danced in, slept in, ran in and even got married in.  Wow.  I am sad.  It isn't tragic, but at times the realization that 'coming home' will never be the same is just to much to think about. 

Today there was a chill in the air all day (which I am always game for) and we spent the greater chunk of it running around outside.  chasing, kicking the soccer ball (until my niece, Avree, accidentally drop kicked it into the river), grilling out and picking lilacs, which are blooming late this season (I personally like to think they waited for my arrival).  I will miss this place so.  I am going to soak up every minute of all my favorite nooks throughout the house and spend as much time as possible out back listening to the river and taking it all in.

I will do a proper 'home' blog, when I return to Colorado and can put together some pics...but for now I will just enjoy every bit of my favorite place, and squeeze in some new memories with my littles.