My Crush {Steel Windows & Doors}

I have been drooling all over these pictures I have found on pinterest and the web. I am totally in love with steel windows and doors. They somehow feel magical like you are living in a green house of sorts. I love how they bring nature and lots of natural light right through each of these homes.

Just thought you might need a little inspiration on a fine Wednesday morning! Enjoy!

Contemporary Kitchen design by Birmingham Architect Dungan Nequette Architects

Traditional Kitchen design by Los Angeles Architect Studio William Hefner

Contemporary Dining Room design by San Francisco General Contractor Moroso Construction

Contemporary Living Room design by San Francisco General Contractor Moroso Construction

Traditional Kitchen design by Atlanta Interior Designer Carter Kay Interiors

Kitchen design (unknown)

Mediterranean Dining Room design by San Diego Architect Tony Crisafi / Drex Patterson

Contemporary Entry design by Amsterdam Media And Blogs Holly Marder


What do you think? Aren't they dreamy?
I just might have to put these on my bucket list for our dream home! I am in love for sure!

{Master Bedroom} Update

A couple of weeks ago I received an email asking if I had posted any pictures of my master bedroom progress. Some of you who are veterans to my blog remember the mood board that I created as inspiration for my master bedroom makeover.

I have really made some great progress in our master bedroom over the past few months. I still need a rug for under the bed area and would love to add some small X-benches at the end of the bed, but for now I am pretty happy with it. 

Here is the BEFORE in case you missed it:

AFTER:

The space is much more calming with this color palette. I actually walk into my room and get that "Ahhh" feeling. As you can see I like to mix woods, textures and colors. Items in a room don't have to feel so matchy matchy. A space should feel unique to you and feel collected, like you have been all over the world just to collect pieces for your room. 

Sources: Paint- Simply Gray by Valspar; Side Tables-Antique finds; Sleigh Bed- High point years ago; Dresser-Husbands childhood dresser; Grommet Curtains-World Market; Bedding- TJMaxx & HomeGoods; Lamps- HomeGoods; Sillouette picture- Ikea; Moroccan pillows- Willa Skye Home; Painting above bed- Artist Friend; Euro Pillows & Small yellow pillow- Made by me. 

My Master Bedroom to do list:

• Paint Walls & Tray Ceiling
• Create Gallery Wall  See DIY Wall Gallery here.
• Recover seat cushion on chair & add edging  See DIY upholstery here.
• New Grommet Drapes
• New Bedside Lamps
• New Bedding Throw pillows from here. 
• Make Euro Pillows with dove fabric
• Spray paint bedside tables white See DIY bedside tables here. 
• Change out knobs on large dresser
• New Artwork above bed
• New Rug 
• Bench for end of bed
• New Dressers eventually
• Change out Fan for light fixture (sorry…hubs said the fan must stay!)

I feel very pleased with my progress! What do you think!?

Do you have any room makeovers going on now?

Linked at: HomeStoriesAtoZ & Creative Blog& Thrifty Decor Chick: Show us your bedrooms & Cottage & Vine

Fabric Scheme for a Fall Living room

Can you believe that we have our windows open in North Carolina today? It is just beautiful and I now have a little Fall Fever. How about you?

Speaking of Fall....I have started putting together some of the Fabrics I would like to use for our living room during the Fall season.

Last week I told you about my little lumbar inspiration for the sectional couch. That is what started my obsession of finding some patterns and colors that would work in our space.

I love the Mustard color that we see in wheat fields and on colorful leaves in the Fall. Some people really don't like that mus-tardy-yellow...Not me! As you all have figured out, I pretty much love every color in the rainbow if it is paired with the right accessories and Fabrics!!


So here is the plan:

1. The Yellow stripe is going to be made into a floor pillow so it will add a little punch below the sofa.

2. This Moroccan inspired Yellow Fabric that I found at Jo-Ann's will help me recover the rocking chair seat that is currently sitting in the corner of the living room. Also, if I have enough fabric leftover I would love to add a small tab to the side of my floor to ceiling white grommet curtains.

3. Not sure if I will use this pillow or not, but I made it from some napkins I found in Kiawah last year.

4. I am in love with this Ikat fabric that I also found at JoAnn Fabrics. I will make the Lumbar Pillows out of this fabric and might also use what is leftover to spread this color in the kitchen area.


I am anxious to find some time this week to finish some living room projects!

What colors inspire you and get you in that Fall mood?

An Organized {Pantry}

I am sure all of you have seen those absolutely amazing pantries that are organized with labels and pretty organizational items. Well, I must say that mine doesn't look pristine like those, but it does look organized and works for our little family. 

I have been dreading the act of cleaning out the pantry for quite sometime now. You have all seen me organize various closets around the house here and here as well as my DVDs and entryway. My greatest task (besides the garage) was the pantry. Now that it is finished I can take a little breath!

Before we get to all of the pretty pictures, lets start from the beginning shall we?!

I promise I didn't trash the space before showing this to you. This is how we have been living the past couple of years. It is quite embarrassing to show you all this closet. But now you know I am at least human! HA!

There was really no rhyme or reason to this pantry. Can you believe we actually knew where everything was? Even my husband could find things in there. I guess we trained ourselves to see through the madness.

I started taking everything out of the pantry and filled the kitchen full of our stuff.

Isn't it amazing what you find way in the back!? I forgot that I actually had a waffle maker! Woohoo!

Once everything was out, I started throwing away items that were expired and made a giveaway box to take to goodwill. You would be surprised how much we either gave away or threw away just from our pantry!

I had found a few baskets from HomeGoods, some containers from Ikea and reused some orange boxes that were previously in our old downtown office. 

Once I sorted through everything, I made a plan of what went in each basket or box. Everything has a space now and I am pumped! 

Well here ya go!......

Found this little guy at Home Depot to hold my seasoning packets. Love!

These two tiered stack-able metal baskets also came from Home Depot. Our booze on top and paper bags on the bottom. I might even have room for one more tier in the future!

Did you see how many boxes of cereal I had in the before pictures?!

Well now they are all organized into these pretty little plastic containers from Ikea!

Not bad for $2.99 and $3.99 a piece!

I also picked up another one of these hanging baskets to fit some of my cookbooks and cooking magazines that I use on a regular basis. I also used these in my linen closet makeover.

To say the absolute least....I am pretty darn pleased with the outcome!

Doesn't it just make you smile to be organized!?

Here is a source list of the organizational items:

*Flour & Sugar containers-Target

*Cream & Black Baskets-HomeGoods

*Orange Boxes- The Container Store

*Paper towel basket-HomeGoods

*Wire hanging baskets (large & small)-Home Depot

*Colorful Napkin Bowl-Mexico

*Large Stack-able Baskets-Home Depot

Happy Friday All!

Linked up at: Fox Hollow, Liz Marie Blog, Tatertots & Jello, Serenity Now, Thrifty Decor Chick,Cottage & Vine

Less Pillows....More Drama

Most of you know that I am kind of a pillow snob. Not in the way that I spend hundreds of dollars on one pillow, I am more like a pillow hoarder. It isn't rare for me to have around 8 pillows on our bed or the guest room bed. I also change out the pillows on our couch with the different seasons. Right now I have 7 pillows on our couch and two pillows on each chair in the living room.

I need a change for Fall. I mean...isn't that what fall is all about. Simplicity and change.

How about Less pillows, but add a little more drama?

Here is what I am crushing these days......Long Lumbar pillows.

Source Unknown

Greenwich Hotel

Southern Living

via Caitlin Creer

via

Here are the pillows on the couch as of this morning:

(Sorry for the bad pics taken by my phone)

I am hoping to have some lumbar pillows made for fall to give this couch a 

simple more relaxed feel like the one below:

Can't you just breath in this space! 

via Rachel Bishop Designs

What do you think about less pillows, but larger with more drama!?

Now I need to pick the fabric. That is the hard part! 

Linked: Liz Marie Blog

A Reader's {DIY Headboard}

Well it is finally Friday all! Hope you have some exciting plans for the long weekend. I am hoping to accomplish some organization of the pantry. Wish me luck! It is very scary in there! hehe


Last week I received an email from a reader showing me her finished headboard that her and her husband tackled. So I wanted to share with you all! 


Hey Amy! Here are a few photos of my headboard and master bedroom. The rest of the room needs some love, but I'm working towards eventually improving it. :)

I adapted the plans from one I found here: http://ana-white.com/2012/04/plans/chestwick-upholstered-headboard-queen

Luckily I have a husband who is an excellent woodworker, so it came together in just a weekend. The total cost was about $150 - a little more than I had wanted to spend, but we splurged and went with oak because I thought since it didn't need a lot of wood, we could go with something nicer. The fabric is just a canvas drop cloth from Lowes.

Hope you're doing well! I enjoy reading your blog and seeing what's inspiring you!
-Sarah Lynn


I am excited for you to see how Sarah Lynn's headboard turned out.....

What do you think? I have always wanted to try and make my own headboard, but have been a little intimidated. This sure motivates me!

I love that Sarah Lynn created this on a budget. This headboard is gorgeous for only $150. Drop cloth for the fabric portion is genius! It is a great neutral that can be used in any room or can stay with the room as she changes out bedding and accessories.

Fabulous job Sarah Lynn! Thanks for sending me pictures!

Have a great weekend all!

Espresso in the bathroom

I know some of you like to sip your espresso while soaking in the tub or sitting on the pot!! But I am trying not to visualize that! hehe Today I am here to talk about some choices of bathroom vanities for our flip house.

I always thought I wanted a calming and serene all white bathroom.

That was until I found some fabulous inspirational pictures on the web for espresso cabinets and vanities.
I love the dark wood against a light tiled floor, paint color and/or seamless glass shower. It is still classy, but has a modern edge to it.

all images via Decor Pad

I think we are sold on the espresso for both full bathrooms. Now we just need to decide on the size of the vanities and whether or not we have room for double vanities in both bathrooms.

What do you think about dark espresso cabinets? Any preference?