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22
Mar

It only took 3+ years

posted by , March 22, 2012

Yippee! I’m so excited to show you the new light fixture we picked up in Dallas last weekend!

I almost entitled this post “Weeping Tears of Joy” but figured that might be a wee bit dramatic.  But maybe not considering the fact that we have been a one-car family for 4 days now (and it doesn’t look to be ending anytime soon). I don’t know about you, but I tend to go a teeny tiny bit stir crazy when I become a shut-in. It’s like Groundhog Day every.single. day. starring Jude as Bill Murray.  So when Simon came home in the middle of the day yesterday to see me in a frazzled state (I blame it on my need for Espresso That Comes From Starbucks, i.e., nothing at my house), muttering about cleaning out closets and “I just want new sconces!!!”, he placed a call to our handyman Carl and 15 minutes later, the old fixture was coming down. God bless that man; he knew it was going to be U-G-L-Y if something didn’t change soon.

Also? The ice maker on the fridge has broken and therefore I can’t even make (my greatly-needed caffeine cohort) iced tea. Seriously? I need someone to bring me a bag of Sonic ice. Stat.

So, in retrospect, not much about my situation has really changed: Jude and I are still shut-ins for untold days, but now I have something New! And! Sparkly! To look at! Like a bird in a cage with a new bell!  I keep standing in the kitchen, staring up at the gloriousness that is my new drum pendant. No more wrought iron chandelier! No more glaring light bulbs! No more Ye Olde Worlde!

Aesthetically our house fits us in so many ways. But it’s the tiny details like light fixtures that have consistently bugged me. For three years. That’s just ridiculous. Why do we wait so long to switch stuff up that we adamantly dislike? Life’s too short!

Here’s the kitchen before:

All sizes | New House - Family Room & Kitchen | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Definitely not our style. I even tried to make it work, decorating it for various holidays and parties (such as Jude’s Peter Pan birthday). Also? There is some serious silk flower action happening in that photo above.  I needed something more crisp & simple.

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And now for the big reveal! Drum (pendant) roll please …

All sizes | IMG_7433 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams Ferris Pendant – not currently available online, but it is still available in their catalog.  

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I give big props to the nice folks at Mitchell Gold in Dallas; there should be one of those opaque diffusers on the bottom of the shade but somehow ours did not make it to us. A quick call to the friendly  designer who helped us out in the store rectified the situation and a new diffuser is on the way to us as we speak.  Definitely check them out — I was super impressed with the quality of their items and the selection.

Let's Chit-Chat { 14 }
20
Mar

Pillow Crush: C. Wonder’s Wave Pillow Cover

posted by , March 20, 2012

The perfect way to spruce up your home for spring: C. Wonder’s Wave pillow covers. Perfect price point, too, at $34.

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Let's Chit-Chat { 0 }
14
Mar

House Tour: Mesta Prairie Before & After

posted by , March 14, 2012

I am so excited to share this stunning house tour with you today. When we were newlyweds, we were sitting in Sunday school one morning when the cutest, most stylish couple walked in the door. I knew immediately that we were going to be friends. It’s rare to find another couple that you have so much in common with, but Keri & Reagan fit the bill. Now several years later, we’re still bumping into each other at Elemental Coffee &  having playdates with our kiddos.

Last year they sold their darling little house to begin a new journey in the downtown OKC neighborhood of Mesta Park. And a journey it was – let’s just say the poor old house had seen many better days. K&R moved in with his parents for the several months of demolition & renovation that had to happen; it definitely wasn’t livable.  Simon and I ran into them a couple of weeks ago and they invited us over for the big reveal. Our jaws dropped at the complete 180 that this house made. I immediately asked if I could shoot some photos to show the before & after here.

All before photos , as well as the exterior “after” via The Mesta Prairie, Reagan & Keri’s blog about the renovation.

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Want to see more? Check out my Flickr stream here for more images & larger views of what you see above.  Also check out Keri & Reagan’s blog The Mesta Prairie for FAQs and more details on the renovation.

Big thanks to Keri & Reagan for letting me shoot these photos! xoxoxo

Let's Chit-Chat { 23 }
12
Mar

Getting Framed

posted by , March 12, 2012

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If last week’s Follow Friday feature was any indication, I love abstract paintings. There’s something about the mishmash of paint and color on paper or canvas that makes me so happy.  A few weeks ago while I was attending Alt Summit, Simon took Jude to the OKC Museum of Art for a drop-in kids’ class. When they picked me up at the airport the next day, the first thing they showed me were the three colorful paintings that Jude had done.  Aside from being a proud mom, the designer in me was instantly attracted to the splatters and play of color across the textured paper. They’ve been living happily on our fridge, but I wanted to make them to something more.

I picked up some cheapo frames at Target complete with mattes, et voila! Instant art. Yes, it’s art by my kid. But framed, they’re instantly elevated into something interesting. Plus, hung as a set of 3 increases their drama.

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Speaking of arranging, I’ve been in spring cleaning mode. I spent the weekend cleaning out cabinets, getting rid of stuff we didn’t need, and rearranging the furniture. It just feels so good to get a fresh point of view sometimes.

I swapped the pair of chairs from the family room with the comfiest sofa ever from the formal living room, and I am loving the change.
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Are you in spring cleaning mode? What’s your biggest project to tackle?  Up next for me is cleaning out the closets!

Let's Chit-Chat { 18 }
7
Feb

How to Mix & Match Patterns

posted by , February 7, 2012

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Around New Year’s I started feeling inspired to perk up our home with some new accessories. One thing I was noticing from pinning lots of home decor inspiration to Pinterest was that patterns and pillows make the difference in a room. And one area we could really use a perk was in our family room.

Our room has some serious green accents, such as our Madeline Weinrib rug and my grandmother’s green buffet, but I really wanted to pull in some other colors such as red and blue to make the room that much more interesting. I think people are scared to use red and green together as it comes across as Christmassy, but it really is a fantastic color combination if you get the shades of the respective colors right.

That’s why these Schumacher Chiang-Mai dragon pillows fit the bill perfectly. They include the colors we already had going on in the rest of the downstairs (the pale blue, greens, and browns) but they also added interest in the reds an oranges. It’s the perfect jumping-off point for accents & accessories.

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Then I stumbled on the Safavieh chevron throw pillows at a sale on Fab, and I thought, Perfect! Yes, it’s bold, but they work because they are contrasting types of patterns and the color schemes are harmonious. The strong geometry of the chevron is a great contrast to the flowy, hand-drawn feel of the Chiang-Mai dragon pattern.

Now say “dragon pattern” ten times straight. It’ll make you giggle.

And again, we’re pairing bold geometrics of the chevron against the Moroccan pattern of the rug.

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I went ahead & put together some pattern formulas for you to check out. These are the perfect way to perk up your decor without spending a ridiculous amount of money.

Pillows-Reds.png (4 documents, 4 total pages)

Reds: chevron  +  chiang-mai dragon (schumacher)
Pinks: hable construction + trina turk
Purples:   ikat + chevron

Pillows-Yellows.jpg (4 documents, 4 total pages)

yellow 1: chevron + seahorses
yellow 2: squares + trellis
yellow 3: lemon  + bamboo

Pillows-Greens.png (4 documents, 4 total pages)

green 1: squares + scribbles
green 2: houndstooth + borders
green 3: floral + mod links

Pillows-BlacknBlue.png (4 documents, 4 total pages)

navy: silhouette + greek key
blue: small chevron + large chevron
black: ampersand + interlocking circles 

 

Tips:
  • Hunt around on Etsy, eBay, and sites like Fab.com or Joss & Main to get great deals on designer items. I like Etsy for pillows in fabrics from Schumacher, Trina Turk, etc.
  • Mix & match similar patterns, such as the blue chevrons shown above. BUT the key to making this work is choosing them in radically different scales. The reason this pair work is because of (1) the color schemes and (2) the small scale of the first and the oversized scale of the second.

 

Let's Chit-Chat { 13 }