Marimekko - FUN!!!!!!!!!!!

New Pillows, bags, and much more by Marimekko now at Crate and Barrel!!

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/the-marimekko-shop/marimekko-pillows/1#

images via Crate & Barrell

Garden

Iris, Salvia, Rosemary, Cone flowers, Black-Eyed Susans (last two not in bloom yet)



Pyracantha espalier, Spearmint, Rose Bush



Vegetable Garden.... We have strawberries (not the best), black leaf lettuce, romain , and broccoli



I always wondered how broccoli grew... Now I know.  A few more weeks and we'll be able to open a Vegetable stand... HA!  We'll also be gearing up for our summer garden.  Using a raised bed helps control weeds and we wrapped the perimeter with chicken wire to keep the rabbits out.  Vegetable Gardens are great for saving some $$$$.  Have you seen the cost of a bell pepper lately?? $2.69 for one!

Thrifty Finds

 

Vintage Chair - Local CLT Shop - $50

I found this chair at my local consignment shop that I check out constantly. 

I like the two tone green paint but this fabric has GOT to GO! Currently the chair resides in our guest room/office awaiting the day it meets the upholsterer.

Vintage Turquoise Lamp - $22 EBay

Bought this lamp in a major bidding war on EBay.  I had a few bidding wars and have to give EBay a rest, but this lamp was a good deal.  I bought a new shade and harp locally and now have the perfect lamp for my desk.

Solid Brass Fighting Cocks - Church Yard Sale - $6

My momma (AB) found these at a Church Yard Sale.  Aren't they FABULOUS?!? Definitely wish I had found these for myself.  Anything sculpture is a great addition to a bookshelf - statement piece!

Local CLT Shop - Remnant Fabric - $15 for 3 yards

I wish I could afford all the amazing fabric I come in contact with on a day to day basis... but let's face it, the majority is way out of my price range.  When I saw this fabric I was immediately drawn to the color.  I definitely don't wear a lot of pink.  And purple is not my favorite color but recently I have been totally drawn to it.  I'm wanting pops of magenta everywhere!! 

(Maybe recover the green chair with this fabric...... Now there's an idea)

Before and After Kitchen

I jumped the gun a few days ago and showed you a picture of our kitchen and the Lucite Pendants.  So, I thought it would be a good time to show you how the kitchen looked when we bought the house before any updates...

Please notice the lovely soap dispenser to the right of the window that was GLUED to the Formica.  And the shelves above the counter leading into the Dining Room.

How many of you have your washer and dryer combo unit conveniently located in your kitchen?? And check out that fluorescent light.  U-G-L-Y...

Gotta love all the red Formica and the nice exhaust vent covered with cardboard.  However, the vintage oven is killer!

View from the Dinning Room... check out the knotty pine bookshelf and the linoleum floor in the kitchen

First we stripped the knotty pine cabinets in the kitchen... This was tough.  If you have never used  paint stripper be prepared, it burns your skin.  We went through two boxes of latex gloves because the stripper would eat through them.  Not a fun job.  After stripping the cabinets we used a whitewash stain and switched out the hardware.  Both made huge improvements. 

Penn, my husband, installed the dishwasher (there was not one when we moved in) and also installed a garbage disposal.  Getting ready for the counter tops.  Also, please notice the pocket door in the right picture.  Can you see what's in that little room?? Our washer dryer!! (But more on that later)  A broom closet is now where the washer dryer used to be.

 

Finished!!  The back splash is a mosaic tile using glass and stone.  This is probably my most favorite thing in the house.  Funky yet neutral so it doesn't draw too much attention.  Subtle.  We splurged on a deep Kohler sink with a shallow medium divide.  The counter tops are 2" thick solid oak.

This shot shows the track lighting and the microwave above the stove that we also use for an exhaust fan.  We had room to the right of the microwave so we built a bookshelf to house our cookbooks.  It's nice to have them where you can see them - inspires new recipes!  The cork floors we installed before we moved in and I will recommend these to anyone out there looking to redo the kitchen.  It's soft so if you drop something heavy you don't have to worry about cracking a tile and it's incredibly comfortable on your feet.

NEW ADDITIONS

Check out these new and amazing additions that we installed in our house yesterday!

Vintage Lucite Pendants

My bosses found these on a buying trip and thought that I would love them.  And I did!! Just the right amount of funky... we had them rewired and my Hubby installed them yesterday.  They are on a dimmer switch - a MUST.  Lighting can set the mood - it can give you ambiance for a dinner party or bright light if you are cooking. 

Close up shot

Ocean Print in the Master

Corner shot of the master bedroom.  I know yesterday I posted the fabric I was going to use for a bed skirt and euros - but that fabric will have to go into another room. This print is PERFECT!!  It ties everything together and the orange and turquoise are a great color combo. 

Don't you Just LOVE IT!?!?

Change is one of the things I love about design. You can find something that will totally change what you think you want to do.  And that's OK... Design is constantly evolving and as long as you buy pieces you love they will always have a place in your home.  (Even if it has to sit in a closet for a little while... like my Fabric!)

Fabric & Flowers

Good News! The skies finally cleared and I headed to High Point on Wednesday.  Saw lots of great new things. Dransfield & Ross has amazing new pillows!! Hand Painted on Leather ~ Gorgeous.  From what I hear a lot of showrooms had the best market they've had in recent years so I'm praying that's a sign that times are changin'...

I stopped by Charlotte's somewhat new IKEA on the way back home on Wednesday and found this amazing fabric.  I'm thinking Bed Skirt and Euros for my master bedroom...

Any ideas on a paint color?? Currently the walls are orange and I'm afraid that's going to have to go... It'll look too much like Halloween.   

 Besides I have an awful habit of getting sick and tired of room colors.  This will be the fourth time I have painted the master bedroom and we have almost lived here two years.  YIKES!

Homemade Flower arrangement from my Husband's 30th birthday

 Bought the sunflowers at Mayesh, our wholesale florist, and had the vase from flower's I had done for an engagement party last year.  (I gave the bride the other large vase and the votives but I had to keep one for myself!  She is a good friend so every time I use it I think of her and the party ~ It was a good one!)  The fun part about the arrangement are the green tendrils cascading out of the vase.  I had a lot of questions as to what this is...  Drum Roll Please ..............  Curly willow from my neighbor's tree!! Technically it's not stealing if it's on your side of the fence, right?? 

Rain or Shine... Make up your mind!

There was a storm a' brewing last night!!  I awoke at 2:30 am to the sound of our air purifier turning off and wind howling while the rain beat against our windows.  Still no power this morning and unfortunately my trip to High Point Furniture Market was called off.   Now, only a few hours later, this is what it looks like outside.

Wishing I was in High Point checking out all the New Introductions!!!