Rustic & Woven

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The Other Nightstand and Stripes

After I painted the first nightstand for my room (see it here), I had plans to paint another little stand I already had to use for the other side of the bed.

But every time I went to paint it, I couldn’t bring myself to do it.  I have always had plans to use that particular stand for the guest room and I really like it in its current color – so I grabbed another little table I have had for just about ever and gave it a try instead.  It was already white and the same general height as my other stand, so why not? This is not to say you can’t have two different color/height night stands (you totally can!), it’s just not the look I’m after.

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Salvaged Candleholder

Hi there!

I think it’s safe to say the only thing that has been consistent with this blog all year is its inconsistency. *sigh*

After getting through the divorce (those of you who have been there know what a bummer that can be), I rewarded myself with a little getaway to Mexico with one of my besties. She lives in D.C., so we met up in Cancun and spent the next few days soaking up the sun and laughing until we cried from morning until night. It was a perfect trip, exactly what I needed,  and I came home relaxed, rejuvenated, and truly looking forward to all that lies ahead in this “new” life.

Until about one week later.

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Cozy Christmas Living Room

When one of your best friends flies in for the weekend from D.C. and you find yourselves on the couch, in your pjs, gabbing away by eight o’clock every night it can only mean one of two things:

A) You’re getting old

or

B) You’re living room is feeling too cozy this Christmas to be bothered to leave.

I’m guessing it’s option “A”, but I’d much rather like to think a little bit of “B” played a factor too.

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Fall Dining Room and a Not so New Rug

I really love my jute rugs.

Love the texture, love the color, love the simplicity – what’s not to love about a jute rug?  They’re very loveable.

Buuut….

I’ve been feeling the pull for something with more pattern lately.

I know, right?  Who would have thought.

The dining room seemed like a good place to start, so I decided to give a wool rug I had in the basement a test drive to see how I like it.  That way – even though this particular rug isn’t exactly what I had in mind – I can see if something with more color and/or pattern is something I may want to keep around for the long term.

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Bookshelves and a Little Wine

“Fill your house with stacks of books, in all the crannies and all the nooks.” – Dr. Seuss

I have never met a bookshelf I didn’t like.

Never ever.

You neither?

There’s a reason we’re all friends. 🙂

So big is my love of bookshelves, that I’ve always dreamed of having my own little library somewhere in my house, but our house is pretty small, so shortly after we moved in Jordan gave me the next best thing and built those amazing wall to wall bookshelves in the living room you always see.

We drew a concept out on paper and then made some adjustments.

And then we taped it all out with blue painters tape on the wall to get a feel for how it would look in the room.

And then we made a few more adjustments.

And then he started building it in sections out in the garage.

And we primed and painted…and painted some more.

And we muscled each section into the house and installed them against the wall.

And then we painted some more.

And then finally I got to fill those shelves!  It was a pretty great day. 😀

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Casual Summer Living Room

“Be faithful to your own taste because nothing you really like is ever out of style.” – Billy Baldwin

What comes to mind when you think of summer?

My mind usually goes straight to the lake first – I am a Michigan girl after all. Sandy beaches, dark blue water, lush green grass, beautiful sunsets.  But even more than that it’s the feeling of long slow days, dinners cooked on the grill, backyard conversations around a bonfire, and not taking anything in life too seriously.

That’s how I wanted my house to feel too.  Casual, not overdone, slightly unpolished.

And neutral, neutral, neutral.

Shocking.  I know.

I just can’t help myself.

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Simply Vintage Summer Mantel

You know how the New Year rolls around and everyone picks a word to describe or represent or inspire what they want to focus on/improve on for the upcoming year?

I didn’t do that.

I’ve never done that.

For the record, I think it’s a great idea – it’s just that I’m too lazy/too much of an over-thinker to make that kind of commitment 😉

But…

If I had picked a word – I think maybe my word would have been simplify.

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New Curtains for the Dining Room

I really hate shopping for curtains.

There is just simply nothing about it I enjoy.

They’re expensive.

If I find a pattern or color I like, I hate the material.

If I find a material I like, I hate the pattern or color.

They’re expensive.

No matter where I’m shopping, they always seem to be one panel short of however many I need.

Oh, and did I mention they’re expensive?

So yeah.  Not my favorite part of outfitting a home.

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Cozy, Neutral Spring Living Room

Cozy.

Neutral.

Simple.

How many times have you heard (or read) me describe a room using one or all of those words?

A lot, right?

I can’t help it – those three little words just to seem to sum up what we have going on around here so well.  I apologize for the repetition. 🙂

And so it goes without saying that, regardless of the season, my decorating choices are going to reflect those three little words – and this spring is no different.  I simply wanted things around the house to feel fresh, open, and airy – which to me meant lots of white, soft and subtle neutrals, and pops of green.

I shared a little look at a few things last week…

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