Fabulous Feature Friday {Life on Virginia Street}

I am very excited to share today's Friday Feature. Sarah writes the blog Life on Virginia Street. I had the pleasure of meeting her at the Haven Conference last week and she is seriously the sweetest person ever. Not to mention quite talented at decorating her home. Wait till you see her office! Definitely one of my favorites. Oh and the laundry room...don't get me started. I wish I had a laundry "room"!

Enjoy the tour.....

Thank you Sarah for sharing your lovely home with all of us!  I can't wait to see what you have up your sleeve next!

To see more photos go HERE. To see her previous homes: Home Tour 1, Home Tour 2

What did you love most about Sarah's home?

Have a wonderful weekend friends!

Dining room {Before} & A New Plan

Do you ever sit in one room of your home and then gaze over to the other side of the house and realize it needs a little something? The Hubs always knows when my mind is whirling with ideas because he says my eyeballs move from place to place! I am sure he is thinking "uh oh, there goes more money"! HA!

Well a few weeks ago I was sipping some coffee in the living room and looking into our dining room. I absolutely love our coffered ceiling, the gallery wall and vintage settee, but I knew it needed a little punch and a definite update.

View from entryway

My mother-in law helped me make the red silk drapes when we first moved in 6 years ago. I have really loved the punch of color, but I feel that my design for this space is going a little more on the relaxed side. Besides, the intense NC sun has also created little tears in the fabric. It is time for a change!

View from living room

The walls in this room have never been painted. They are still the original builder beige/yellow that I detest. It has worked for now, but it is time for something without yellow undertones. 

The dining room table was built by my grandfather. I love the history behind it. It has three more leaves that create quite a large table for entertaining. It will stay for now, but I want to add two wing-backed chairs to the ends. The side chairs are from target long ago and still serve their purpose. So they will stay as well. 

Oh how I wish I could recover the settee with an updated fabric, but for now I am just going to add a fun pillow that will give it a pop. The color of the settee fabric blends into the wall color, so want to lighten the walls and really show off her curves.

Here is a little plan that will incorporate items I already have and add just a few touches that won't break the bank!

I want to add these West Elm curtains for more of a relaxed playful feel to the space. The settee will get a fun pillow in this fabric. My fiddle leaf fig will get a new decorative basket. And if you read about my Home Decor Wish List last week, you know that I am crushing on these affordable winged-back chairs from World Market. I want to also give them a playful twist by adding a fabric to the back. I am thinking this fabric would be fun.
I am still debating on the rug. I may just leave the hardwoods without a rug for now. The floor is much easier to clean without a rug underneath the table. But I do love this one.
I am also thinking about changing out some of the Paris pictures with photographs I have taken when traveling to Italy & Greece. It would give a bit more color to the walls.

So..that is the plan people! The curtains came in the mail this past week and I just need to raise the curtain rod so I can hang them. I have painted two walls in Shoji White by Sherwin Williams. The paint isn't really white white. It has a bit of a gray undertone to it. It really has a cozy feel when paired with the dark coffered ceiling.

I hope to be able to share a little progress with you all very soon!

What projects are you all working on at home? Do share!

Haven Conference {Recap}

Hi All! I am finally rested and rejuvenated from my amazing weekend away. If you are a blogger and have never stepped out of your comfort zone to attend a blogging conference, I highly recommend it. This is my 3rd conference and my second Haven Conference. Conferences are a great way to meet so many talented individuals from around the country while learning new tips and tricks as bloggers and DIYers. If you aren't a blogger, think about different classes in your area that would be fun for you to get involved with. You never know where stepping out of your comfort zone might take you.

The conference was held at the beautiful Crown Plaza just north of downtown Atlanta. It was decorated top to bottom for our arrival. Classes were held throughout the day and cocktail events were held late into the evenings.

There might have been some dancing involved, but some things are best kept secret! hehe

During breaks throughout the day we were able to visit so many wonderful sponsors. They had some adorable booths set up where we had a chance to win a product or just connect with a representative. 

Of course I loved the Online Fabric Store booth...full of patterns and pillows! 

I even received some fabric and can't wait to get started on a project. 

{Photo with Jen & Angie}

There was also a lot of shenanigans that went on including this photo above where we are trying to take a shower together just to win a free shower head. So glad I did it because the shower head is quite fabulous and I can't wait to get it installed. 

{Me posing with Home Depot's Sign}

A bad picture, but I was trying to show some Midwest girls how to pose with the right amount of southern hip! These ladies thought it was hilarious. They kept wanting to take pictures so they could try the "southern" way of posing. Too funny! Sometimes you just have to roll with it. Did you know there was a certain way to pose in the south? Me either! HA!

These fabulous sponsors also spoiled us this year with a dynamite swag bag full of goodies:

The absolute best part of this conference was connecting with friends new and old. There are so many wonderful bloggers out there that are new to me and I so enjoyed meeting each and every one. I remember feeling a bit overwhelmed last year at Haven. I thought the "big time" bloggers were stars and I was so nervous to approach them. But let me tell you...they are just like everyone else! Who knew that some of these online bloggers would become some of my closest friends in real life.

{Lauren, Danielle & me}- Raleigh Bloggers

{me & my favorite blondes Megan, Cassie & Jen}

Some new friends that I had the pleasure eating lunch with one day. They are just the sweetest and I can't wait to keep in touch with each one of them!

{Wendy, Kim, me & Claire}

{me & Sarah} So happy I got to meet this talented girl! 

{Jen & I saying our final good-bye until next year!}

I absolutely love this blogging community. It amazes me that every time I step out of my comfort zone I am the one who is blessed with new friendships to last a lifetime. Whether you are a blogger, stay at home mom or career women...make sure you take the chance to step out of your inner-circle. I promise you won't regret it! 

A HUGE thank you to the Haven Team for all of their hard work. I am so excited for next year! 

Fabulous Feature Friday {Anne Maxwell's Dumbo Loft}

Happy Friday All! I hope you have something fun planned this weekend. Or maybe you are just chillaxing at home with the family. I am still in Atlanta attending the Haven Conference and absolutely having a blast! I can't wait to tell you all about the amazing speakers I have heard, friends I have met and show you the decor displays by Ballard Designs.

But for today you will have to "Settle" for this eclectic and gorgeous loft in Dumbo designed by Anne Maxwell and her business partner Suysel Cunningham. I really love the unique feel of this space and how they have brought in so many patterns and colors. It has a bit of a industrial feel to it with a twist. My favorite room is definitely her bedroom and you will see why! Enjoy!!

**Remember to Please Pin from Original Source! Link below pictures. Thanks!***

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Is she adorable or what!? If you want to check out more of their designs, visit their interior design page Tilton Fenwick. 

Ikea Hack- Two Toned Rast Dresser

Last year I picked up this little dresser at the Ikea in Atlanta. I had plans to paint it and put it between two single beds in one of our guest rooms. When life decisions changed and we decided to make that room into a nursery in preparation for adopting, this plain dresser in the garage for a year. 

Once I started organizing my closet, I quickly knew that I needed a bit more storage space for undies, socks, sports bras, etc. I actually totally forgot about this dresser until I was uncovering another item in the garage. I decided to put the little guy together and make him shine.

I painted the drawers Urbane Bronze to match the back of my DIY shoe shelves. I spray painted the outside Rustoleum White Gloss. I found some gold and white chevron paper at Target and lined the drawers using double sided tape to hold the paper in place. AND...those pulls! Love the little nautical look. These gold pulls are from Anthropologie. Where else would you get such fabulousness?!

DIY Tufted Ottoman

I am happy with how it turned out. I am ALMOST done with this closet. I have really tried to make the best use of this space and I can't wait to show you how we have made this small master closet work for us. Hope to have the whole closet up on the blog next week.

I am leaving on a Jet plane for my Haven Conference today! If you want to follow along with all the Shenanigans that go on, you can follow me on Instagram.

Have a wonderful day my friends!

My Current {Home Decor} Wish List

Hi All! I hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend. We had a fabulous weekend filled with family, friends, fireworks, flags, laughing and relaxing. It was the first 4th of July that we have been around home in a long time. It was perfection.

Of course I was planning on posting yesterday and the day before, but work got in the way. Darn you work! I have a lot going on this week that I am excited about! We are finally closing on our flip home on Thursday. I have also been helping a few clients with paint consultations, staging and whole room redesigns. So it has been busy. AND I am attending the Haven Conference in Atlanta again this year and I couldn't be more excited! You might remember me posting about my experience last August. Haven is a DIY/Design blogging conference where you are introduced to new products and companies as well as attend classes on blogging, DIY, photography and decorating. It is seriously like camp for grown ups. I usually don't want to leave!

More than anything, I am excited that I get to see my blogging friends in person! There really isn't anything better. Every person I met last year was so nice and came across just as if you were reading their blog. You know what I mean? Their personalities were just like you would expect. If you want to follow along with the craziness starting on Thursday night check out my Instagram feed @eatsleepdecor.

On to today's inspiration. I am getting ready to change up a few rooms in the house and decided to share some of my current wish list items for my home with you all. These are not big ticket items, but things that will make a statement in each room of our home. I have started budgeting for them and have even hinted to the Hubs for a couple of these items for my birthday coming up this fall.

#1: West Elm Bedding
Last month I was in West Elm and saw this beautiful linen duvet cover with Slate trim. I fell in love. We have had the same bedding for years. I am ready for something neutral and soothing. Both this duvet and this blanket/coverlet are organic and feel wonderful to the touch. I am thinking this would be my birthday wish! Gotta love slipping into new bedding for a great nights sleep.

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Don't you just want to dive on in!?

#2: World Market Wingback chairs
So I will have a post coming up next week about my dining room refresh, but I am really wishing for these gray wingback chairs for either end of the dining table. I think they would look fabulous and give that room a little pop. I might also have a little something up my sleeves to change them up a bit and make them shine. Stay tuned.

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#3: Office Desk & Chair
I was recently inspired by this office space designed by Shea McGee. I have been falling for this campaign desk from World Market for a while and I think it is time I make a move. I am currently working from the dining room table because my office desk just isn't big enough. I am hoping to sell my current desk/shelves and step on up in the world of desks.  Will keep you posted on the changes! I have already picked out paint and fabric. Can't wait to dive into this project after the dining room is complete.

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#4: Entryway Mirror
I have this mirror in my head for our entryway. Remember I recently changed out the hall tree for a simple antique dresser? Well I think this mirror would add a modern touch to the vintage piece. I am seriously kicking myself that I didn't pick up a "look alike" at HomeGoods a few weeks ago. What was I thinking? It was a bit larger than the Ballard Design one too. Such a bummer. Maybe it will magically appear at another store. I Wish! (note to self...grab the items next time, you can always take them back)

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#5: Bar stools
I am currently trying to stream line my furniture and decor items. I want to simplify life with items that I love and that can be timeless. I want to accumulate furniture that can adapt to any space we live in. I know there will always be a few exceptions, but overall I want pieces that will last the test of time. I found similar barstools at Marshalls the other day, but they only had one and I need three for our bar area. I like the look of the natural wood grains against the harsh metal base. I also like the fact that these stools can be pushed under the bar and out of the way. Our current stools have a back to them and seem to take up a bit of space in our eat-in area. So it is time for a change!

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So those are the items I am crushing on and wishing for. Whether they all come my way or not will be determined and hashed out with the Hubs! (Love you Dear!)

Do you keep a wish list of items you might like for your home? I love having goals and dreams whether they come true or not. I mean what would life be like without goals and dreams?

Tell me...what is currently on your wish list!

Have a marvelous Hump Day All! 

Tuesday Treats #19 {Fourth of July Entertaining}

You all are seriously the best! Thank you so much for all of your kind words on yesterday's post. I love being able to share new artists with you, but also feel comfortable sharing bits of my home as well.

Those of you who live in the U.S....are you all ready for a long weekend? I am excited to spend some serious time with friends and family over our long weekend. We have wonderful friends coming in from out of town as well as a whole Saturday planned with family. I love entertaining, but to be honest I am glad I am the guest this year. So even though I am not entertaining, I have found some fabulous ideas for all of you that are!


#1: Napkin Banner
I really love this quick and easy banner made by my friend Courtney. Grab some red, white & blue napkins and give it a go! It would make any party festive.

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#2: Fruit Ice Cubes

I have a bit of an obsession when it comes to making flavored water during the summer months. Many of you probably saw my strawberry and basil water on Instagram yesterday. That is just the start people! How cute would these ice cubes look at your 4th of July party? You could use these in Water, Sangria, Lemonade or punch. Someone please use this idea so I can live vicariously through you! 

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#3: Pledge Allegiance Free Printable

This subway art is just adorable and a perfect printable for your home. You literally just download and print! It would add a little color to your bar cart, kitchen or outdoor space. Too cute. Download HERE.

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#4: Red, White & Blueberries Platter

So fun and easy to recreate. I have also seen this platter with cheese cubes instead of yogurt covered pretzels. Both sound fabulous to me!

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#5: Flag Mason Jar Centerpiece

These would make an adorable centerpiece with flowers or a place to put utensils. I am sure most of us have some kind of jars or vases lying around the house.

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So that's my quick round up of patriotic entertaining ideas! Are you entertaining this weekend? What's on the menu?...I might just pop on over! :)