What is that, VELVET?!!

Hello TSS lovelies!

Okay...so its been sooo long since my last post. I have come to the realization that I a a working Mamma and blogging has to be a hobby until I can make it my priority. So enough of that downer stuff!

Let's talk about this "Mean Green" I came across after finally sitting down and looking at my Ikea catalog. Yes, I am late, but my gosh this is too stylishly cute! It goes right along with the the emerald Pantone color of the year...I posted here!

Okay so back to the sofa. What is that, velvet?!! YES. LOVE to the umpteenth power, and it comes in a variety of colors. Thank you Ikea for giving me a reason to come see you again! Oh but wait, that cabinet though. Two-toned with cabinet drawers and drawers below. There are several ways to use this, but i think it will work great as a bar.

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My impression of Ikea furniture is that it is doll furniture to me because I am am such a stallion of a woman. But that sofa can find its way into my home any day. Classy and clean its right up my ally!

Craigslist - A Design Tool

I am in luv with the new look of Craigslist. Its now officially an easy to use design tool. I do not know how long its been this way, but it was a pleasant shock for me.

The Grid View saves me time because I can look at multiple pictures at one time. I usually only choose the items with images, so this is great.  This view is my fave, mst def the way to go!

Another useful view is the Pic View. I did used to appreciate reading the description, even though some made sense where others just made me curse cuz it made NO SENSE ATALL!

I am also loving the Map View! When I want something I always refer to the google map to see how far it is away. Even though this does not give you real distance or time you can get a good gage on how far you are willing to travel.

Here is how I sue craigslist when I know exactly what I am looking for:

1. In this instance I was looking for a computer armoire. I typed in "armoire," to keep it broad, but kept my eyes open for a computer armiore.
2. I know my max budget was $100, but I put $150 because there is always room to talk someone down.
3. Be patient, only contact someone if you really want it. I always just ask a simple question, "Is this armoire still available?" The seller usually gets back with you.
4. This one just happend to be $50 and it was oak! Well worth it since it was well within my budget.
5. I never commit to anything until I inspect it in person, so I kindly ask the seller if I can come by and take a look at it.
6. I took my husband with me to pick it up because I knew it was going to be big and heavy.
7. I pay with cash only! Takes away the ease on both parties behalf.

Right now this Craigslist armoire serves as my bar, which it will forever be, but I have a DIY in mind for it to make it official!

What do you think of the new look and navigation tools on Craigslist?

Fancy Flea...Indeed!

My supervisor knows me too well! She said mark your calendar and so I did!

I sooo... enjoyed myself with her and my sister today at the "Fancy Flea" here in our local area of Downtown Lakeland, FL. It was my first experience and now my sister and I are hooked. So this will be a yearly event for us!

I saw such beautiful and crafty inspos that I filed away in my idea book. So it was the perfect kick in the you know what to jump start some much needed projects around here.

Yes, its been awhile since my last post but, BOYEE am I inspired!!! Can't wait... Anybody else went to any markets like this lately?

Outdoor Communal Dining

Spring is lingering around the corner and I am ready! Are you? I would loooove to host a lovely dinner with close family and friends under the stars of those Spring weekend nights.

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I do have a VERY NEGLECTED large lanai that is in need of some real deal TLC. I do plan to have a extra long table for 12 dining rustic table built for it.

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 I also love the idea of dining under a mix of white paper lanterns and industrial bulbs like these!

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In addition to that  a key element to setting the mood under the starry sky would be a table full of candlelit mason jars. Uggh, I am longing for this right na!

Great Lamp...Great Price!

Have you seen this lamp at JCP? I was in there a couple weeks ago and loved the lamp and could no believe the price...So its on order!

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Weekend Chic

Hope everyone had a great weekend. We spent ours  at  basketball games, of course. I must say it was a wonderfully cool weekend though.

But I can not help but think about easy chic weekend looks.  I love a nice simple "white" blouse or tee paired with denim.  I want to wear this weekend chic look all week long....

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I need a simple yet functional toe to throw all the game schedules, extra pair of clothing for my toddler and a pair of flats to throw on when I get tired of wearing these babies:

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Leopard and Studs...

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I wouldn't even mind dressing it up with a black simple blazer.

Yeah.. this is pretty much my frame of mind right now. I guess you could say I am ready for the weekend!

Happy (Paper) Valentines

Happy Valentines Day!

Lovers are making plans for their sweetest hearts. For me an mines, its going to be a day like any other. But of course making those last minute cards and candies for school.

My husband always buys the girls a rose and a bear with a box of chocolates and takes it to them at school. We make separate plans on the weekend. But as he would say "everyday is valentines day"

I personally like the simplest of sweet things. How about how beauty can come out of something so utilitarian as paper.

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Paint Love

Benjamin Moore Northern Cliffs 1536

Possibly taking a new direction!

I already forewarned the hubs that I reserve the right to change my mind, constantly! Well, we painted the main rooms of the house about three years ago, and now I have changed my mind. I alwasy wanted taupe, but now that i have lived with it...I don't really want itt anymore.

Northern Cliffs in a Dining Room:

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I WANT GRAY! So I have been sifting through paint chips over the last few weeks, becasue of my laundry room project and we are getting ready to paint the boys rooms and the master bedrooma nd bath!

Benjamin Moore Seattle Mist 1535

Seattle Mist in a Dining Room:

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I am so feelin these colors. This is more my style.  I can make this work. Once again I am starting another project without completing the first. I have got to stop this!

 

Around the house...

Some things have been happening around the house lately, so I thought I would share.

I have a huge wall in my entry when you first come in to the left. I knew I wanted to have a long console.  I never really saw anything that I had to have.

So with that comes my latest furniture piece that I had made by the same person that did my fireplace:

Rustic-modern glam is what I am striving to achieve in my home. This console would definitely be defined as industrial, but it falls under the "rustic-modern" category for me.

I knew that I needed something simple, but not too modern to where its cold in feeling. So I decided on the reclaimed wood look.

The overall piece is 84" long by 30" high by 16" deep.  The top is knotty pine where he runded the edges and used a shoe polish technique to achieve the finished stain. The base is square shaped 1" piping painted black. Pieces like this...can cost as much as $699 retail, but I paid $225 for labor and materials.

I am really satisfied withe finished product! And it has given life to my once empty entry. Now the art is not new, but its new to my home. A good friend  knew how much I loved it and gave it too me. Thank you Tiffany! It is a 60" square abstract canvas painting.

  

The floating expidit storage shelf has actually been up for a few weeks now, and sadly before it went up it had been sitting in the original box on my floor for a few months before that. But I am happy its finally in its place.

Now as you can see these surfaces are still very empty. I will be adding baskets in here for storage and hanging my black and white family portraits above, once we take them.

Also I finally got the baseboards completed around the fireplace, looks so much better.The next step will be the black chalkboard paint and battery candles for the firebox.

White, Black & NATURAL

There is nothing better in my book than the striking ans classic combination of Black and White. But when you add a natural element like wood...something special happens.

Let me just say that every image n this post has a special place in my heart because I am in love with everything int each one.

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Where can I get these bent wood chairs? Pieces like these is what makes me fall in love with design. Functional art at its finest! The B&W chevron rug makes this pic. Great use of space though, below a window.

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Check out the eclectic mix in this space. We have this ultra modern desk and chair with casual burlap curtains...you gotta love and appreciate that!

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 I find myself  gravitating more and more towards white rooms lately  like these livign rooms above. But what I love most is that even the main seating is bravely done in white. With little pops of  black and natural!

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 Above is my most favoritist (I know that aint no word, but it really best describes it) room ever. Eclectic & Classic...Rustic & Modern this is my style yawl! Do you see the mix of black and white drapes with that beautiful wood block table?

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Love these wood floors, and beautiful B&W bear claw tub sitting on top of it! Really enjoying the black painted trim against the black painted walls...hmm, getting an idea!

Really trying to convince my husband that white is a color too. Anyone else having this struggle?!! I want to go white in my bedroom and black in the master bathroom.

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I love B&W photos. I love this chunky wood bench sitting under this B&W photo gallery! Can you see how special this is?

When Pillows...Pop

A pillow!   Pillow what...pillow whoo!   Love pillows!

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I can not stress how details as simple as a pillow in a room can do all the talking and totally define and add personality to a room.

If I could I would have a different pillow story to tell every month in every room, so that would add up to about 120 PLUS pillows a year!  And they are out there. You have hundreds of  thousands to choose from.

I personally like it when all it takes is just ONE!

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All you need is a good basic foundation to pull it out. Try doing a DIY monogrammed pillow!

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They also come in many different shapes and sizes. A good bolster pillow is always fun! But it only take just ONE...I don't know aobut doing more than one bolster! Send me a pic if you have.

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Love bold statement pieces. This is what a you call a good base foundation...with solid charcoal slipper chairs topped with a bold black and white pattern!

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And there is nothing wrong with settling for a  solid on solid. This pic above is one of my favorites!

I can lose hours in a day that feel like minutes when searching for a pillow. Sometimes I come across a fabric that I know I want o make a pillow out of, but do not have a room to put it in!

So where do you start?  

A good base:

 a white down bed linens

OR

a neutral color chair

Then just pic what your heart desires:

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But rember to consider the size. Average is about 18x18,but I like a good 20x20!

Creative Jewelry Displays

Someone asked me a couple of days ago about some ways to store jewelry. I suggested pretty tiny dishes or bowls at the time, but I just went to my nifty little resource called Pinterest, your heard of it (hee-hee)?!!! There are tons of ways to turn your jewelry into art! Her were my favorites:

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Necklaces dangling on antlers!

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Refurbished white painted antique frame!

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Burlap wrapped clipboards