Have You Ever.........

Have you ever decided on a rooms color and style of decor based on the find of one simple, yet lovely object?

Well I have. After nearly three years of living in my house with an undecorated and very drab little room, I knew it was time to get off my lazy duff and give this space a little make over and make it a bit more "Me" if you know what I mean.

The inspiration for the makeover of this dingy little room came after a trip to Target, back in the day when the Rachel Ashwell Simply Shabby Chic line was still fairly new and when the line sometimes included home decor items and not just the bedding and bath items we see in the stores now days.

Upon entering the aisle which displayed the Simply Shabby Chic home decor items, my eyes instantly feel upon this fabulously gorgeous glass dome covering a bouquet of flowers inside a very pale, robins egg blue vase. Instantly I knew that this same color of blue would turn my drab little room into something more shabby and chic.

Along with that dome was found a beautiful wall clock..........

And a bulletin board.......

Those initial three pieces are what started the transformation of that dingy little room into what is now my home office. A place I love to spend time in and which is now a much more cheerful, pretty and inviting little room.

And just in case you're wondering, YES, my desk usually does look that cluttered most of the times.

Over time, I've added a few more Simply Shabby chic items including a small bookcase that fits perfectly under my window which is now covered in some pretty white curtains instead of those ugly browns one that were hanging on the window when I moved into my house.....

And another Simply Shabby Chic bouquet of roses in a gorgeous pale blue vase along with some of my favorite pink and pale blue antique store finds ....

No matter how gloomy the weather may be outside, here in my pretty little Shabby Chic office, it's always cheerful and pretty. Just the way I like it !!

Hope you are all having a fabulous Halloween weekend. Thanks for stopping by..

See you soon !!

Your Weekend...(via Made By Girl)





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My Foyer.....(Via Made By Girl)

Ok, so here's a look at my foyer. When I thought about DECORATING this area, I knew I wanted something simple, yet GLAMOROUS looking!! 

WHAT'S MISSING?!?!? Flowers! 

Trust me, I realize I NEED a pop of color, so I'll be buying fresh flowers every week to place on the console. I REALLY think flowers will brighten things up!


The cool black & silver studded lamp is from Home Goods & the 2 drawer console table is from Target. The Atoll mirror is even more pretty in person....from Ballard Designs

PIGGY is by designer Harry Allen via Areaware.


Above: Yes, I did say I had high ceilings throughout my house, especially in my entryway. That's my front door....it's such a cool and tall arched door, I love it.




Originally, I thought of buying a WHITE console, but I think that would've been overkill! I absolutely love the ZEBRA hide rug, it makes the entryway look even more dramatic and it helps protect my floors when my DOGS run down to the foyer! Let me know what you think...I'll be reading!!



images by jen ramos

My NEW Bedroom in Progress.....

Here's a peek at my bedroom, we bought the two side tables (slash nightstands) at West Elm. These were the tallest I found that would be just as high as my bed is! I love them! The headboard & the faux fur throw are also from West Elm. I have lots more to decorate and am thinking of a piece of ART over the bed...hmmmm.  

ALSO, I SERIOUSLY need new king size bedsheets and duvet, can you tell?!?!?

What do you have HANGING over your bed?


(click on pic for larger image)

 image by jen ramos


Design Refuge Giving Away Prizes....(Via Made by Girl)

Almost forgot to mention, if you're in the mood to win some BIG prizes (including two of my prints you see here) head on over to Design Refuge & enter this Special Giveaway! 


The IDEA behind this CONTEST is for YOU to choose one picture of a room that describes YOU and your style. Go here, it's super easy to enter. Contest ends tonight midnight! Below are just some of the entries you'll see....Good Luck! :)

 

Brocade Home Foil Wallpaper... (Via Made By Girl)

In my quest for wallpaper, I came across some interesting looking ones from Brocade Home. They're like FOIL paper and you can slightly see your reflection in them. 

IS IT JUST ME..... or do they also remind you of the 70's!?!? Looks like trends do come back.... Either way, I like them!   

What do you think of these? tell tell......




















images via brocade home



A 10 Year Old's Room by Giannetti Designs...(Via Made by Girl)

Brooke Giannetti over at Velvet & Linen blog has agreed to share her daughter, Leila's room with all of us. She designed this lovely girl's room with her daughter's growing tastes.  

She NO LONGER craves PINK, but more "mature" colors. (A true sign that your little girl is not growing up).  Brooke's daughter is now 10 years old and for Leila's B-day, mom told her she could re-decorate her room! 

WOW....I remember being 10 years old....I was STILL sharing a room with my little sister!! Leila is a lucky girl!



The design starts with a trip to Anthropologie where Leila chose a beautiful and colorful flowery rug!  I love the vintage feel of the room as well as the architectural details on the ceiling. 





Below: beginning the process



And...how about all that FRAMED artwork hanging on her wall??! How cool is that? I've always thought creative-type spaces (like this one) really open up a KIDS creative energy!


Great job Brooke!
To read more about this amazing room re-do, visit velvet and linen

Handmade Holiday Decor at West Elm....(Via Made By Girl)

I'm SOOO excited the Holidays are right around the corner! First comes Halloween, Thanksgiving (it will be the first in this new place) & then OF COURSE, Christmas! I love Christmas, all the gorgeous decor in the store windows, the SALES, the giving of gifts and donations to those in need, holiday decorations, visiting family & more!  

HOWEVER, I do MISS THE SNOW from back East .....


SPEAKING OF of decorations, West Elm has a TON of new HANDMADE tree ornaments made out of felt!  The ornaments are actually made in Nepal and are some of the CUTEST I've seen yet! Check them out!




I HAVEN'T DECIDED on what kind of tree we'll get this year, tall, short, just branches, colorful, all white??? Have you decided on a tree yet??  

THIS was our tree LAST YEAR, we just cut a few branches from our yard & ta da, our very own, hand-made tree!  Enjoy! 




 images via west elm





Visit Nordisk Eksotisk...Book Review (Via Made By Girl)

Authors, Iben & Niels Ahlberg sent this gorgeous & inspiring book to me from Denmark! I knew you all would LOVE it... so I'd like to share some images with you! 


VISIT Nordisk Eksotisk is the first title in the Visit Series about Scandinavian Interiors. There will be another title published at the end of November as well (can't wait!) The 'Visit' book is in Danish but it ALSO includes an insert with English text, which is convenient since I DON'T speak Danish!! I've already started reading mine....it explains all the pages and what you're seeing in detail!

The book showcases their own home as well as a few others. I'm already feeling INSPIRED flipping through all the pages. I love the touches of solid black furniture & lighting you see throughout, especially up against the stark white walls.

I'm so ENAMORED with this book & is now one of my favorites. It has 163 pages of cull-color and definitely worth a look! For more on this book, you can also read my previous post here.



If you're interested in PURCHASING a copy of the book click here.








              images via visit


Eden Photography Studio Space.... (Via Made By Girl)

Thought you might get a kick out of this super neat farm house where Bethy of Eden Photography houses her work studio! It used to be a CHICKEN coop back in the 1900's and then her family playhouse. And NOW ta da!! ....a photographer's paradise! 

I L-O-V-E the creativity behind this cute little place, I was hoping you would too! Bethy resides in Fargo, North Dakota for those of you looking for an amazing shooter in that part of town.....she travels as well! Let Bethy know what you think about her space....enjoy! 

(click on images for larger pics)