Gallery & More

I was determined to get something done this weekend.  I have some projects to finish so I can get outside and enjoy the weather now that it is getting to really feel like spring.  Project #1 was to get the pile of frames hung up on the wall.  

I went back and forth between a gallery wall and some picture ledges and obviously went with the gallery wall as you can see {here}.  I am very happy with how it turned out!  Most of the frames are from Target.  I went back to get a few more to fill out the wall and all Threshold frames were on sale and there was a Cartwheel offer too!  SCORE! (couch pillows also from Target) 

Here's a top shot of my coffee table.  The box is a fancy way to hide my remotes.  I knew they needed a home but didn't want to see them.  This box was perfect and cute!  My shamrocks from St. Pats are still going strong.  I love having a natural element on the table.  And yes, that's a toe ring.  I may be last person with one but I have had it forever and think my foot looks funny without it.  

I did a {Stella & Dot} trunk show on Sunday morning.  It was a Baubles, Bubbles, Bags, Brunch & a Birthday celebration.  And let me tell you this hostess didn't miss a beat!  This may be the best brunch bar I have ever seen!  

I am loving the spring colors everywhere!!  So glad the sun is out and it's starting to warm up!

Scarf - {Stella & Dot}

Carried Away

Remember the scene in Sex and the City when Carrie is gifted the Vivienne Westwood wedding dress and later she tells Big "the dress upped the antsy"? Well I finally got a new coffee table over the weekend and I can't believe how much it has changed the room. I mean it's a real adult coffee table too, from West Elm!  I love Ikea like the rest of us but there comes a time when your furniture needs to grow up too.  So now I need to decide what to do above the couch. The tulips, ironically from Ikea, need a new home. I got some great frames this weekend from Target (baby steps) and now need to decide picture ledge or gallery?  All opinions welcome! Please see inspiration photos below. Thanks! 

My new table. Not to be confused with the inspiration photos below :)

Wonderful time of the year

This is my favorite time of year, well besides summer.  The holidays are the only thing that makes the cold worth it.  

I am starting to deck my halls and will hopefully get a tree next weekend.  I like to get a real tree, makes the house smell great.  Oh and I need to put up the outside lights but I hoping it is a little warmer one day this week.  Check back and hopefully I can get a whole house tour up!

Living Style

I am always changing thing in my house because my decisions never seem to make sense after the fact. I like something for a while and then it just doesn't work anymore.  Not with everything but with a lot of things.  I have a full vision for both my master suite and kitchen and know exactly what I want those rooms, more on that at some point.  But that will take time and money.  So that is on the back burner for now.  My shared living and dining space has been a struggle since I have moved in (3+ yrs ago).  

This is what my living room looks like now via my iPhone. The pillows are from Target and the art is a picture I took down the shore that was put on to canvas.  It was hung there as a surprise for me and I just never moved it.  It's too small for above the couch on its own.  This whole set up isn't terrible but isn't me either.  It's kinda funny since I bought this house I have been figuring out my style and I can see some sort of evolution of style if you can call it that.  I'll go back and find the pics from move in day.  And the pillows before these were country floral.  

And then I came across this image on {Pinterest} today from {the life styled} and a light bulb went off in my brain.  Why am I trying to be someone I'm not in my "house style"  Neutrals rule my wardrobe - black, white, grey, tan and then my accessories - gold and silver.  Why should my house be any different.  

While the sequins may be a little much for me, the overall look makes total sense.  So I will make a short list and look at what I already have to refresh my living room.  Here's hoping this is a look that will stick around.  

Switcheroo

I have decorating ADD, I am always looking and what can I change in my house.  This flower type mirror has lived in my bedroom for the last 5 years, both in this house and the one before.  Laying on the couch the other night I decided I wanted to try it over the mantel.  But it was after 10pm and I didn't think the neighbors would be happy with me hammering at that time.  So I waited until the morning and  hung this sucker up.  Even with the iPhone pic I am really liking this so far.  I need to play with the accessories a bit but so far so good.

PS as you can tell I started to get out some fall decorations.  This may be the silver lining of the end of summer.  It is the start of decorating season.  First fall and Halloween and then Christmas!!

Pink or not to Pink?

Now that I have that cute little {bar cart} I think I need to step up my game in the rest of my living/dining room.  That's the thing about condo living, it's really all one space.  I am thinking a punch of pink but I'm not sure.  Pillows would be the way to introduce whatever accents I go with.  I tend to change my mind...A LOT!  Decorating A.D.D. maybe....

Here is some eye candy inspiration of what I am liking right now.

If it's free it's for me!

A neighbor at my parent's house was having a yard sale.  But by the time I got up there they were packing up.  This cute little cart was on the curb.  I tired to give her some money but she was just happy to see it not go in the trash.  Sorry for the crappy before picture.  But this was the best I got. 

I gave her a good cleaning with just soap, water and windex on the glass shelves.    I grabbed casters at my local Ace Hardware for less than $10.  I added some things I already had for now but need to get this bar up to par!

Part of me wants to paint it a fun color and the other half wants to just spruce it up with glossy black!  What do you think...to paint or not to paint?

Black is the new...black?

I mentioned yesterday I have some projects on my to do list.  Eventually I will get to actually making the list.  But the list in my head starts with my bedroom.  I never quite finished it when I moved in 3 years ago.  Ok, honestly, I don't know that any room is finished.  I think I am just starting to determine what my "style" really is, but please don't ask me to describe it.

I shared the beginning of my plan for my gallery wall {here}.  I want this bedroom to be a real grown up bedroom with an actual bed, not just the bed frame that comes with the mattress.  Art on the walls that isn't held up by take or sticky goo (you know you used this in college when you couldn't put holes in the wall).  I'd like a bed with a higher back similar to the below.  Best part - no bed skirt!

The room right now is a lighter grey on 3 walls and 1 shade darker on the wall where the bed is.  You can only tell the difference if I point it out.  Not the contrast I was going for.  It actually looks much darker in this picture then in real life.  

In this next round I think I want dramatic color on the wall.  What is more dramatic then black??  Here are some inspiration pictures from my {Pinterest} page.  (All original sources can be found there)

 The question is do I paint all the walls black or just the wall where the bed will be and paint the rest white?  What do you guys think?

Wall of Inspiration

Did you even notice in locker rooms there are motivation quotes painted all over the walls?  This is mean to keep the players positive and get them excited for the challenge that lies ahead.  Seems pretty logical to me.  So I thought incorporating some of my favorite sayings and quotes into a gallery wall in my master would be similar.  I mean, that is essentially my locker room.  It's where I get ready for the day the lies before me.  

All images and original sources can be found {here}