New Pillows

Finally.

Used some fabric that I've had for a while to make some new covers for the pillows on the couch (pillow covers with zippers!). I'm really liking the more neutral colors, and the hint of green in the stripe ties into the big green leather chair (that's not pictured). I also swapped out the sage-y green throw that's usually on the couch for this orange one that I've had (from Ikea) because I thought it all needed a little jolt of color.

I think the little guys approve.

Ty Pennington and Good Design?

Extreme Home Makeover has really been doing some good design work on some of their shows. Last week's episode had several rooms that I loved, like this bathroom:


And this kitchen:

This is a desk area in a girl's bedroom where they lined the walls in a fabric that mimics hay because she loves horses.

The design team has really been using some fantastic pieces, like this chandelier from Bobo Intriguing Objects:

Also in the Master Bedroom (which I couldn't find a picture of!!) was a row of these picture stands from Mothology, holding the love notes the mother and father had written together (*sigh* so sweet):

It was a beautiful backdrop to the bed and headboard.

I found myself seeing lots of great design ideas incorporated into the house, like a deep drawer that pulls out from under the sink, instead of a regular cabinet with a door, which makes organization so much easier.

Do you watch this show??
(Does it make you tear up too??)

Monday!

After a busy weekend, staying up waaaaaaayyyy too late to watch LOST and Jimmy Kimmel last night, and then waking up at 5:00 in the AM to take my husband to the airport, I'd just like to crawl into this bed and sleep.

Thank you pretty bedroom.

And thank you LOST for an ending so emotional that I even woke up this morning with the same feeling in the pit of my stomach.

It's the Weekend! Almost...

Wouldn't it be nice to have Sunday brunch here???

(And another example of a table with a weathered paint base and natural wooden top.)

Have a great weekend!!!

Picture of West Elm's VP Alex Bates' beach cottage from this month's Country Living

Check This Table Out

Go over to This Full Life and take a look at this project. She refinished this table herself (it was painted all black)!



I think it turned out so well. And her blog deserves more visits.

How My Garden Grows: An Update

This was my garden a little over a month ago...

And this is it now...

Things are finally starting to grow and get fuller.

My calla lillies have come up and are blooming!

My blue pin-cushion flowers were kind of small...

And now they are big!

The paprika yarrow has just exploded and is huge!

The peach tree is coming along, although we only have 1 peach on it for this year. My daisies, purple coneflowers, and the chinese orchids are still left to bloom, so there's still more to come!

Happy Tuesday!

Hot

Our air-conditioner at work is broken. So I'm keeping this image in my mind, and a tiny fan on at my desk. Here's hoping the guys who "fixed" it yesterday will be back very soon to really fix it this time.

I think that I would much rather be in the picture above than just about anywhere. You?

Have a great weekend!

One of My Favorite Things

When we moved into our house a few years ago, my husband surprised me with this mirror we had seen at a local thrift store while searching for Halloween costumes. At the time, it was a weird fake bamboo color, but I knew it would look great painted red!

It only cost $10, and my husband knew that I had really liked it... It is one of my favorite things in the house, and it's been hanging in our entry ever since.

What are some of your favorite things in your home?

Dreamy...

Like a cocoon of off-white....

I stumbled across this image by Phoebe Howard and fell in love. Which led me to do a little more investigating of her work.

This isn't the only dreamy off-white space she's created.

Maybe I'm late in discovering her work? But I thought it too gorgeous not to share.

Have a great Wednesday!

A Dose of Sunshine

It's been kind of overcast here the last couple of days, so I thought a little dose of yellow sunshine would be nice...

I think in the right shades, and in the right doses, yellow can be so uplifting! How about you? Do you like yellow?

Have a great Tuesday!


Pictures from: Decorpad, Martha, Cococozy, Absolutely Beautiful Things, Martha, Thad Hayes via Urban Sardines, Nskwood.net, Southern Accents, the Paris Apartment, Decorpad

And the winner is...

True Random Number Generator

Min: 1
Max: 17
Result:
10
Powered by RANDOM.ORG



and the winner is KRISTA!!

Congratulations!!

Email me and let me know which color you want, and your address (so I can come over for margaritas!!)

Stark at One Kings Lane

Stark is having some major sale events over at One Kings Lane today! Everything from rugs and sisal, to their brand new paint collection...


As well as fabrics and wallcoverings....

The savings are big, people. Even for designers.

The sales run through Sunday May 9th, until 10 AM Central Time.

**********************************************************************************

And don't forget - this is your last day to enter the giveaway!! The winner will be announced tomorrow morning! Good luck!!

Color-Combo: Blue and White

Blue and White is such a classic color combination, and it seems like lately I've been seeing it more and more.

It looks gorgeous outside! I love using blue out in the garden, and it looks great here on the outdoor rug.

And there's classic blue and white pottery. Goes with anything!

It makes a serene and beautiful bedroom.

It can be an easy and inexpensive way to decorate a wall.

Still beautiful and serene in a bedroom...

It's interesting over cabinets in the kitchen.

And it adds some color to a foyer.

I'm using blue and white as accents in our guest bedroom to go with a painting that Chris' grandmother did - as a pillow on the bed, and in some pottery around the room.

How about you? Do you like the blue and white color combination??

And in case you haven't already - don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY!

*Pictures from: PVE, Cathy Kincaid Interiors, Wisteria, Little Green Notebook, Canadian House & Home, Domino, Habitually Chic, House Beautiful

Roman Shades Made Out of Mini-Blinds?

It IS possible! And you can see how I did it over at Elizabeth Anne Designs today.

Thanks to Jenny from Little Green Notebook. :-)

GIVEAWAY!!

Get out those blenders, and pull up those bar stools....

In honor of my 300 posts AND Cinco de Mayo, CSN Stores is partnering with me to host my very first GIVEAWAY!!!

Should you win, you'll have your choice in colors of this 1-quart ceramic bakeware pitcher. This super-durable pitcher won't scratch, and is dishwasher safe. Because of how its made, it will keep its contents either warmer or cooler longer than any other pitchers - which makes it great for my favorite drink, margaritas!! This is such a cute pitcher, it would be great for display even when you're not using it.

The rules are simple:

Leave a comment for one entry

Post about this on your blog, leave me another comment for a second entry

This contest will be open until midnight on Thursday, May 6th, and the winner will be posted on Friday!

Good luck!