Note to self for if I ever reupholster a couch like this- mix up some fabrics. 

I plan on copying this.  Dave has this great old tallboy dresser and this color of felt would look beautiful on top.  And I could put manly pretty things on it- like a little tray to hold those weird plastic things that go in his collared shirts or a bowl for change he always seems to have. 

Here's some more black and white stripes.  I think with design we tend to make a lot of work for ourselves when we don't actually need to.   Case in point- instead of redoing these chairs so they would be cushioned instead of caned, it's much easier to simply put a cushion on top of it.  And easier to clean.  And easier to change.  And they're pretty.

I'm really liking very bold details lately.  Granted, this is assuming I have good enough to taste to be able to pare them down with the rest of the details.  We have a family room with horrible plastic blinds that don't look or work nicely and I think they could make a nice focal point.  If, of course, there was something pretty to look at out of the window...

I found this image from a nursery and I love it- a little photo wall of the people they come from, the people who love them.  I love the idea of my child sleeping under a little montage of where they come from.

Living Room

Dave's Priorities:
-A place for friends to gather, comfortable seating
-Not ramshackled- complimentary pieces

April's Priority-
-Arranged for a pleasant flow
-Stylish, but homey
-Not expensive.

For the future notice- we used Behr's Sterling paint at a -50, in Flat Enamel. 

 The paint we chose- Behr's "Full Moon"

The runner's up:

"Twilight" and "Sterling"

And yes, I am somewhat mortified that two of the three paint names had to do with those vampire books.

I'm getting fairly obsessed with light grey walls with white molding/ceilings/accents.  My idea:

 

Dave has reminded me that I didn't like grey so much when we actually lived in a relatively grey state.  He might have a point.  And if not grey like this picture on the right, then maybe an icy blue like on the left...

I tend to go a bit overboard when it comes to my love of stripes, but in a mostly solids room these drapes could look great.  They're surprising.

I'm a sucker for roman shades.  I really like that these aren't really white, but more of an oatmeal color which adds a nice balance to a really white room.  I like that little flap in front and the black stripe.  It's traditional, but a little jaunty.

These curtains are interesting- bold and graphic without being obnoxious.  The ricarac bring a bit of 50s charm that I like.  This could be great in a certain 50s kitchen.

I'm too lazy to crop this- let's talk about the image on the left.  I'm really liking the bold print on the curtain, how they drape, and how the sheerness doesn't really block out any of the light.  This would be perfect for when the view outside the window isn't amazing but you still have a window- that way the curtains themselves could be the focal point.  

I like the idea of that giant contrast band of the bottom of the drapes.  I wonder if a chair-rail level band would make the room seem less tall...  It's a nice way to bring in color without having a giant swatch of it.

Nautical

Now that we are again moving to a sea town we are excited to brush off the idea of a more industrial nautical theme. Here's how I see it:

A very light gray on the walls, with white ceilings, doors, and accents.

Brass bed frame, lovingly weathered. At the foot is a wooden trunk, filled with blankets...

...and with the HelleDickson nautical flags to hang above the bed.

Something like this:

I am in love with this dresser- the brass pulls and kick at the bottom especially.  I think Dave can make this.

I think if we keep the rest of the room simple and homey it's going to balance out the room and make sure it doesn't look like we live in Disneyland.

 

I tend to not like back splashes in general, but I really like the brick back splash and the archway above going on in this kitchen.  It has kind of a pizzeria thing going.   It's stylish and practical and homey.  And I love a good indoor brick...

This is more of a place marker for an idea more suited for us- the giant, weathered cribbage board.  It would fit really well in a long space like this or over our crazy long couch.

Cheaper alternative to a giant butcher's block:  this cedar island with a slate top.  Technically it's cedar 2x4s reclaimed from a pickles and peppers factory, topped with an antique school chalkboard (which is pretty much nostalgic/green porn).  The little shelf on the bottom, though absolutely wonderful, may pose a problem with children.  I like the idea of a slate top.  It seems only second to white marble for me.  Third actually, because a butcher's block would come first.

This is a place holder for a good idea- instead of dominos I want to make a giant cribbage board to go above our couch.  Would it look good or weird to have a long skinny wall hanging above a long and skinny couch?  Or do we need something tall to balance it out? 

I love these sheets.  I love that right now you can go crazy with sheets and bedspreads- big bold stripes or vibrant colors.  Our sheets and quilt are muted and kind of blah- I want to go wild. 

We've been watching a lot of International House Hunters lately and I keep seeing painted tiles in the kitchens, either on the floor or as a backsplash or in a little nook.  I think they are incredibly charming.  The real trick is balancing out a unique touch like that without getting one of those spaces that makes other people think "Wow... that's unique..."

Amazing kitchen remodel.  I love the colors and the globes and the hand-me-down charm of it.

 

 

 

 

Instructions on installing a yardstick backsplash click here.

Such a beautiful little house.  Love the clapboard, the symmetry, the tiny circle window in the front gable, the white walls and the slate grey roof, the little gabled porch...  It's hard to tell which is the front door, which will bother Dave to no end.  I'm even loving the little railing in front of the yellow door- looks like a church.

Just a simple, charming little house.

Imagine how nice and cool this place will be in the summer.  It's absolutely gorgeous.  Who needs a flat roof for a rooftop garden? 

Long draping curtains of eye popping color in an otherwise neutral room.  A little long for my taste, but beautiful.