{ The Mom Gods }

okay, you've spoken...

2 out of 3 Mom's prefer

a Gray {Mom Cave}

do you think I'll listen?

will you still hang with me in the {Mom Cave}

if I don't?

Here's the problem...

my mind & me, 

well, we just can't sit still.

I just couldn't get this out of my mind

it's bright, cheery, & fun.

I kept picturing it in my space. 

Then I search 

Fabrics.com

for some go-with fabs.

Can you say no to these beauties?

 and I can still use 2 of these

and I have a set of these I wanted to use in the room,

you'll have to wait and see what I use them for.

So, can you forgive me?

Can you see that the lack of color the gray room offered was getting to me?

As much as I love mono-chromatic rooms, 

I just can't seem to pull it off in every room of my home.

So, we're sticking with a little zip in the 

{Mom Cave}

(at least for today, that is)

{ G i v e a w a y * W i n n e r }

February's Winner is

Kathy

from

Kathy, shot me your info and I'll get the goodies out to you.

d e n i s e  

{ Painted Entrance Floor }

I love this floor

So, I'm thinking of working it into my entrance way.

again, ignore the owl in the door.

what do you think?

Bargain Buys

[$7.50]

[$195.30]

[$90.30]

[$119.60]

[$89.40]

[$4.80]

[$399.60]

[$135.50]

All of these items are on sale at Wisteria right now.  They are such great buys! 

I want all of them.  Click on each image to go to the site.

Happy Buying!

LiveJournal Tags: wisteria

{ Sharing }

I wish I took more pictures...

but, I wanted to share with you this beautiful Dining Room

these photos are from a clients house.

I painted the black & white checkerboard floor in this room.

I took these photos before I started my blog, so the pictures aren't that great

{Yet the room is still FABULOUS, right?}

Yes, I wish I took more pics.

I could do a whole months worth of blogs posts on this house.

It is per-fec-tion!

DIY HEADBOARD

I just saw this DIY upholstered headboard idea on the blog Organized Design.  It was too awesome not to share with you.  The shape is perfect and what’s even better is that Jen only spent $85 making it.  Check out the rest of the story here.

LiveJournal Tags: DIY,Upholstered Headboard

hello Suzani

World Market has been a long-time favorite of mine as far as home decor stores go.  Lately I feel like they have really stepped up their game too.  One thing that I’m really loving right now is this Suzani Flat Woven Wool Rug.

The colors are really vibrant and fun but sophisticated at the same time.  I could totally see a room designed around this very rug.

LiveJournal Tags: world market,suzani flat woven wool rug

{ Large Prints }

I'm lovin'

this map print from IKEA.

It's 75" wide.

Not sure where to put it, but, 

I'm thinking it could be pretty cool in the 

{ M o m   C a v  e }

Now, if only IKEA would sent out 20% off coupons like

BBBeyond does.

I'll be checking the local thrift stores and Ebay for a cheaper versions I could mount on something.

{ Copycat }

A little while ago

Layla, from the Lettered Cottage

used some rope to create a pull on her side table.

It was adorable, and I thought - 

ding, ding, ding, 

Jonas's room!

I think it's about time we get rid of the mermaid handles, right?

So, I got to work on my 8 minute project.

simple roll of sisal from Lowes will do the trick.
{Although, I was looking for clothes line this'll do for now }

I drilled larger holes than normal, and slid the rope threw, 

making a knot in the inside of the drawer.

simple, and a little more Jonas, than the mermaids were.

I'm linking up to Donna's SNS.

Show and tell

I finally got a chance to take a photo of my family room.  There are still so many things that I want to do in here but at least it is presentable. 

One of the hardest parts about being a designer is knowing what you would love to do to your own home but not having the means or the time to actually do them.  Some things that I’m hoping to do in the near future…

1.  Replace the floor lamp in the far corner with a task lamp like this one.

2.  I purposely didn’t show the end table on the other side of the sofa.  You can only see the tip of the corner in the pic.  It needs to be replaced, along with the light fixture that is sitting on it.  I want to replace it with something like this table from Wisteria.And this lamp from Ballard Designs.3.  I also need to fluff up the bookshelves with new accessories.

The list of “things to do” goes on and on.  I’m hopeful that I can get everything done sooner than later.  We’ll see how that goes.  I’ve got a lot on my plate right now and an even tighter budget due to the little one that’s on the way.   

I hope you all will have a lovely, sunshiny weekend!  This weekend Billy and I will be spending some time in Huntsville with my Mom.  I can’t wait to see her and my brother.  See you all next week.

LiveJournal Tags: our house,pottery barn,wisteria,ballard designs

What's in my Bag???

Hi everyone, Today I'm guest blogging over at 1551 Transformed.  Head on over to Kelly's fun blog to see what a carry with me on a daily basis.  Click Here to see the post.  xo, Cristi

{ Photos vs. Real Life }

The camera doesn't lie.

Recently The Nester did a post on using your camera as a decorating tool.

Sometimes, it's not until you see something in a photograph to help you notice what's wrong.

Weather it's an outfit or a room, the camera can be a great tool when it comes to tweeking things.

I hung some photos in our stairway recently.

I wanted to divert your attention away from the horrible wallpaper.

So , I thought I could cover it up with a series of black frames.

 and, boy, are you all a nice group of friends.

You gave me such great comments.

I guess it's all relative, what was there "before" was a mess.

So anythings better right?  I guess.

But after looking at the photo, I honestly wasn't in love with my work.

I knew I could do better.

So, I tweek & I collected...

still hate the walls, but better.

And I guess the lighting is a little better today too, 

'cause the room 's not looking as yellow as it did in the first post.

So, besides the camera being your friend, I found out that you guys are too.

You told me how great it looked, even though it really wasn't all that hot.

Thanks for that.

'Cause , sometimes it's better to just be nice.

Tweet Tweet

I’ve been struggling to figure out what to put over my fireplace that is in the new nursery.  I wanted something very cool and unique because the wall that the fireplace is on is really small and not very interesting. 

While shopping in West Elm I found the absolute perfect cluster of items.  First I found these precious ceramic bird houses.

Then I found these adorable little paper birds.

I’m planning to attach the birdhouses to the wall with simple hooks like these.

 And on top of each hook I’m going to put house numbers like the one below.  Proabably 1, 2 & 3.

The cute birdie will be perched on top of an upside down square toothbrush holder from this white laquer West Elm collection.

I was hoping to be able to get this collage up on the wall over the weekend, but I spent too much time shopping for the nursery.  Whoopsie!  I plan to have it up soon though. 

LiveJournal Tags: my nursery,west elm,birds

{ Entrance }

it's not really a "Foyer", that sounds way to fancy for us hillbillys.

And, if you know us, you know that's true!

But here's what you'll see if you come to the front door of our home

{which I hope you do, otherwise you'll wind up in the Man Cave}

the burlap walled entrance, which was a big hit, and I love the look and texture of it.

And, the burlap really does hold up.

corbels, that I found at a yard sale in Chestnut Hill about 15 years ago.

They have traveled with me everywhere!

a window sign I made about a year ago.

It's the initial of our last name & the year we were married.

It's the most fabulous window trash pick ever.

They glass is a little smokey/foggy, and the paint is just perfectly chipped.

There are no grids & the handles on the bottom are authentic.

these little button cuties are easy peasy to make.

they are dollar store frames, spray painted with scrap book paper and buttons.

Simple, cute, & I love them.

A leaf plate that I just can't give up on.

I'm sure it was a Marshall's purchase from the early '90's but the look will never die for me.

{there are 2 more going up the stairs}

1950's group portraits of strangers.

But, I tell everyone it's my mother-in-law's class photo,

and my father-in-law's men's club photo.

{There's one in the powder room too

- but it's really a relative, my Pop Pop World War 1 group photo, really cool}

And this, silly, I know, but it's a light switch cover that I love more than any covers I've seen at giant retail stores. I found it at my local mom and pop hardware store, which needs to have it's own post entirely!

And that's it, welcome!

Linking up to

Funky Junk's Saturday Night Special