10 Minute Change

I have this fantastic shelf in my kitchen that I have yet to be able to decorate to my liking. I have a tiny kitchen and so really, this shelf is my only place to play with. Seasonal decor has been fun to do, but I haven't really found my everyday look yet. Since I was already working on a project in here (can you guess those who I have not told already), why not add another project?


Once I took down my Valentine's decorations, I went to work on the shelf. I started with shopping the house and finding all that I thought would go together well: fantastic vintage platters from the boutique I did (love!), mercury glass candlestick with green ball thingy, blue vase and I liked green wreath but was too small. Nothing worked.


Enter Nester with fabulous tutorial from "The Home Book" on how to make a table landscape. I really want this book! It's going on my birthday list. (Hint, hint honey.) Sphere, check. Tall vase, check. Framed artwork, missing. Once I knew what I was missing, it was easy to find something that would work. I love the new look. It's simple and clean and can be added to if I want.




Nester is having a "I did it in 10 minutes" linky party today. Go and visit because there are tons of great inspiration out there. Enjoy!

Aww shucks.

Lucky me got some love from Young House today for my new front room. Aww shucks. They are so nice. *blush*

Go check them out and leave them some love.

An evolution of a room

For months, I have been tweaking my front room trying to get it close to something that I like. I think it's lookin' pretty spiffy and even though I am not done with it, I am starting to really like it.

First of all, the room is really centered around this print that I love. My Mom bought this print several years ago on a trip to Italy with my sister Sharmyn. It's an architectural rendering of the cathedral in Florance. Mom framed her several years ago and found that she had an extra print that she gave to me. I stored it for years while we moved around hoping to frame it someday. Finally several months ago, I took the plunge and got 'er all fixed up. I found an amazing vintage frame for a mere $3 (or was it $5?) that was perfect for it. I drug my Mom with me to the frame shop and had her pick out the mats for it. I am thrilled with the results! I love it! (It's hard to photograph - lesson learned - always request non-glare glass.) Of course, I emailed Sharmyn with the finished results where I learned that it was actually her print! They both had bought the exact same print but Sharmyn never got hers. Mom wonder why she had an extra but never thought to ask Sharm. Thankfully, she let me have it so I could forgive myself for being a thief.

Of course I bought this fantastic rug last February. It's perfect for impromptu dancing parties for a ballerina, a princess and a break dancer. I slapped some brown curtains up and added few brown pillows and called it good for a long time. It just needed something though. It was too brown.

I scored these vintage tables a few weeks ago. I had seen them at the D.I. before and loved their lines, but thought they were too short for side tables. The next week they were still there (and marked down!) when I realized that they would make a very cool, original coffee table. They work perfectly and I love them! They are sturdy and large making a perfect make-shift homework/art spot and support the weight of the wild child who thinks that they are jumping off onto the sofa tables. I may paint them someday, but for now, I am liking their original look. Now if I could just figure out how to decorate them?

While browsing last August, I am came upon these fantastic blue silk curtains that perfectly pulled the blue out of the print and rug and added the much needed brightness to the room. LOVE them!

One of my favorite blogs is This Young House . They are a super fab, home decorating on a budget duo and if you don't read them, you should. Anyway, they hung bamboo shades on their big picture window in their front room and I thought it look super-de-dooper and set out to copy them. Love the texture and it does make the windows feel taller just like they said. Fantastic idea Young House!! I even hung them myself because I am awesome like that.

The sofa got a makeover too. I would really, really love a new sofa, but that's not in the picture right now (doesn't stop me from looking however). I retired the old hardworking slipcover for this chocolate linen one, added a few warm gold throw pillows and the cute striped one from Target and ta-da! New and much improved room!

I have lots left that needs to be done and I can't wait to pull up the not so white anymore carpets to refinish the hardwood. And there is the minor detail of not having a front room closet to store all of my coats and junk. Lots of inspiration from Young House and Sharmyn was the best at helping me with this room. What's that you say? She doesn't live in Utah? Why would that stop her from helping. She was sweet and patient with me as I sent her weekly e-mails about my ideas, my finds and what do you think about this? And of course the fantastic print. So thanks Sharm! But that aside, what do you think?? Is it fab and swanky or just not your taste? (Yes, I just stole Young House terminology.)

I gave in.

With so many great Fall decorating ideas going on in blog land, I finally succumbed and pulled out my Fall decor. I don't have much, but I still had a good time decorating my shelf in the kitchen. Still, those hooks elude me. How do I put them to good use?? Everything I hang on them looks silly.