The Pemberwick Pages

Not-So-Easy-Upgrade: The Fireplace, Part Deux

2010-06-15T18:05:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I posted Part One of our horrendous, blooper-filled fireplace renovation, in which common sense and reason (usually P's strong suits) seemed to go out the window. As I was re-reading the story (and cringing from the memory of it), I realized that I left out a HUGE blooper... in which P primes and paints the inside of the fireplace with latex paint! All I can say is "Thank God for the Internet!" According to the multiple websites I consulted, latex paint + flames = BIG NO-NO. Stripping and scraping it all off tacked a couple extra hours onto our project time, but I think we saved ourselves from a much bigger (toxic-fume-related) headache in the future!

And now, back to where we left off...

After many hours, several different tools, and a dust-filled home, P was finally able to remove those nasty terra-cotta tiles, leaving a one-inch crater in the fireplace hearth.

The stone slab we chose for the space was a big old hunk of limestone we found while shopping for our kitchen countertops. That was, perhaps, the one thing we did right in this whole crazy scheme. Buying for two different jobs from the same stone-yard was a great way to get a deal. Since we were already purchasing a much larger piece of stone for our countertops, the owner was happy to throw in the limestone for next to nothing!

As brilliant as we felt about that decision, we were about to be seriously cut down to size...

Because the hearth was an inch deep and our limestone slab was only 3/4 of an inch thick, we figured we had about 1/4 of an inch to fill with Thinset mortar. P mixed up a couple buckets of the stuff and poured it into the crater, trying to keep it as even as possible.

Unfortunately, mortar dries EXTREMELY quickly, and we had a hard time creating a perfect 1/4" crater all around. We just had to pray that, if we dropped the limestone in before the mortar was 100% dry, the weight of the slab (and us stamping on it) would make it all level and even with the floor. And maybe that plan would have worked... if the limestone wasn't too big for the hearth!!

You know that (very wise) saying, "Measure twice, cut once?" Well, someone should come up with a version that applies to dropping heavy limestone slabs into quick-drying mortar. Words can't even describe the madness that ensued when we realized the slab was slightly wide for the hole. There was cursing, shouting, and yes, I even welled up a little bit (he looked so distraught!) And so, with the piece of stone sticking an inch out of the hearth and only minutes before it would dry that way, P did the only thing he could think of – he grabbed a mallet and pounded that thing into place!!

We were overjoyed when the slab finally snapped into the crater (albeit not exactly flush to the floor); so overjoyed in fact that, at first, we didn't notice the giant crack in the limestone! Luckily, because of the pattern of the stone, the crack is hardly noticeable at all – especially after applying an adhesive to the area and then a sealant to the entire slab. Actually, I think the crack gives the limestone some character and rustic charm (that's my story and I'm sticking to it)!

Some grout, a few accessories, and twelve hours of much-needed sleep later and we were enjoying our brand new, contemporary yet cottage-y fireplace...

This may have been our toughest home improvement project yet, but I'm hoping that, come winter, it will also be the most rewarding! What do you all think?

Not-So-Easy-Upgrade: The Fireplace

2010-06-14T08:32:00.000-04:00

This post is long overdue; we actually completed our DIY fireplace makeover a few weeks before the bridal shower, but I swear it's taken us until now to recover from the experience fully enough to be able to talk about it. Yes, it was that terrible...

To be honest, the fireplace wasn't all that bad when we moved in. The brick facade and terra cotta tiles were definitely not our style, but we slapped some semi-gloss white paint on the mantle and lived with it for a few months until we figured out what we wanted to do.

We knew for sure that we wanted to replace the hearth tiles with some sort of stone slab (more on that later), but we were torn over whether or not to keep the brick facade. On the one hand, the brick is a great throwback to the time period and style of our house, and it creates some visual interest in an otherwise neutral room. On the other hand, we like neutral. And what's the point of owning a home if you're not going to make it yours?

In the end, though, the decision was pretty much made for us. When the stonemason's estimate for brick removal reached $1,000.00, the existing design started looking more and more attractive. We decided to take a cue from John and Sherry at YoungHouseLove and paint the brick... which leads us to Blooper #1, in which J paints the fireplace the wrong color.

Have any of you ever painted brick? It's not fun. Extremely porous material = an excessive number of coats. Even after applying masonry primer (which takes FOREVER to dry!), we spent several hours going over and over the brick, dabbing at cracks and crevices to fully cover the surface. P noticed right away how glossy and yellow the brick was looking. I believe he used the term "cake-batter," but of course, not wanting to admit that we'd spent three hours on an ugly color, I insisted that we press on. "It's cottage-y!" I assured him.

I wish I had a picture of our cake-batter fireplace to show you, but, truthfully, the thing was far too hideous to deserve photo documentation. And after discovering that I had, in fact, grabbed the wrong can of paint from the basement, thus wasting our entire afternoon, I was far too embarrassed (and pissed off) to play photographer. Luckily, P was about to embark on his own trial and error session...

No, this isn't P playing "Fort." This is the (very amateur, extremely unsafe, poorly ventilated) tent that P erected in an effort to contain the dust created during the removal of the terra cotta tiles. Of course, those tiles, encased in three inches of mortar, were pretty reluctant to come out. P got friendly with the Tool Rental guys at Home Depot, making repeated visits to pick up...

a Hammerdrill,

(which did little to chip away at the tiles)

a Grinder,

and, finally, a Jack Hammer.

(No, that's not P in the pictures, but yes, I did let my fiance use a Jackhammer in our living room!)

Despite P's clever little tent-trick, the dust from the tiles managed to seep out and cover everything in our house. And I mean EVERYTHING! Somehow, the dust made it all the way up the stairs, around the corner, down the hallway, and through the closed door of our bedroom to settle on our comforter and pillows! Needless to say, it was not a happy night in our house.

At least the Jackhammer got through the stubborn tiles, and in the morning we were able to install our awesome (and super-cheap!) stone slab, but of course, not without a few more bloopers....

Ah, the joys of home renovation. Stay tuned for Part Two tomorrow!

Oh. My. God.

2010-06-04T17:11:00.000-04:00

My jaw literally dropped when I saw these photos of designer Suzanne Kasler's studio on La Dolce Vita this morning. Of course, I don't have a huge private office (yet), but Kasler's incredible design concept – open and airy, contemporary yet cozy – is exactly what I'm going for on the first floor of our house. We knocked down walls and used neutral color schemes to make the living room, dining room and kitchen all feel as if they're one big space (maybe not as cool as Kasler's loft-style room, but as close as it's gonna get)!

Hey look, we even have a similar oversized drum shade!

We've been totally balking on buying a few (much-needed) key pieces of furniture for the living and dining rooms, too indecisive (and lazy) to make decisions. But Kasler's studio has pulled me out of my design doldrums. Cream-colored upholstery, linen slip-covers, jute rugs, and nickel accents all the way!

Don't you just love a good inspiration room?

How Divine!

2010-05-28T00:32:00.001-04:00

For months I've had the Divine Twine website bookmarked on my computer while I've been brainstorming ways to incorporate the adorable string into some of our DIY wedding projects. Well, when I flipped open the latest issue of Martha Stewart Living and saw a half-page feature on it, I figured I'd better scoop some up now before they sold out!

Five days later and I'm the proud owner of two rolls of Divine Twine (which came with a sweet little thank-you card and two sheets of stickers)! I'm still not sure exactly how we'll use it, but there are some great ideas on their blog...

So cute! I think it's safe to say that I am in

Photos courtesy of Whisker Graphics

Love Her, Love Her Home: Meg Ryan

2010-05-19T11:01:00.000-04:00

I don't care how much bad plastic surgery she gets; I will always love Meg Ryan. When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, When a Man Loves a Woman, French Kiss, and now a sneak peak on Elle Decor's website of her gorgeous Martha's Vineyard home; in my mind, the woman can do no wrong.

Images courtesy of Elle Decor

Just beautiful. The full spread will be out in the next issue, and I will definitely be picking up a copy to put in the old inspiration folder.

Easy Upgrade: The Breakfast Bar

2010-05-18T08:36:00.001-04:00

T minus 5 days until my at-home bridal shower! Of course, I'm not hosting the party (I'm actually being kicked out of my house that morning so my mother and aunt can set up), but I'm still feeling the pressure of having thirty of my friends and relatives over to inspect my unfinished home. P and I have been working overtime to complete our last-minute projects and spruce up the areas of the house that are still in their pre-renovation stages.

Number 1 on our list was tackling the ugly, unfinished breakfast bar. When ordering our cabinets, we thought to purchase matching panels for the exposed sides of the uppers and lowers, but, for some reason, we didn't think about the half-wall under the breakfast bar.

Ugly, huh? And because we elected to knock down the wall between the kitchen and dining room to create an open-concept layout, this unfinished little half-wall is one of the first things our visitors see when they walk in the front door.

We had two options: 1) Spend $500 and 3 months waiting for the cabinet company to send us custom panels or 2) Build them ourselves.

Which do you think we chose?

A trip to Home Depot for some lumber, a few cuts on the miter saw, some nailing, some painting, and VOILA – custom breakfast bar panels. We topped them off with two of these vintage-style pendants...

and added some matching counter stools to our Crate and Barrel registry...

Breakfast Bar Update... Check! On to the next item.

Oh, and by the way...

P and I couldn't resist tearing open one of the shower gifts that arrived early. (Don't worry, we got permission!) I take back anything I've ever said about pots and pans being boring. These All-Clad babies are incredible. (And so shiny too!)

I may just have to learn to cook... and then serve a meal at my fancy new breakfast bar!

One Step At a Time

2010-05-04T08:38:00.000-04:00

Image courtesy of BlissInImages

Image courtesy of Design Sponge

Image courtesy of ReStyled Home

With the first wedding-related event being hosted at our house in less than three weeks, I should probably be focusing on more crucial projects, but I can't stop thinking about these numbered stairs! I'm contemplating grabbing a vintage-style number stencil and trying my hand at it tonight.

Just a reminder; here's what the bottom of our staircase looked like pre-renovation...

And here's what it looks like now...

Definitely better, but I still think it could use a little something. I wonder if P will mind...

The Elf Chair

2010-04-28T14:43:00.001-04:00

First of all, I believe an apology is in order for my lack of posts recently. And to all of my friends and family members reading this, a big SORRY for the unreturned phone calls, emails, and dinner invititations. We've been a wee bit overwhelmed here, but it's all finally starting to come together (we hope)!

Now that that's out of the way, on to The Elf Chair.
What's an Elf Chair, you're wondering? Well, an Elf Chair is what happens when you give an overzealous DIYer...

4 Ikea dining chairs...

a gallon of Martha Stewart "Beach Grass" paint...

and a few yards of green patterned fabric she's been itching to use.

This, my friends, is what P and I have {not so affectionately} dubbed "The Elf Chair"...

It's not exactly what we had in mind for our homemade farmhouse dining table...

but it's kinda, sorta, maybe starting to grow on us...

Since my opinion is biased by the hours I spent sanding, priming, painting and reupholstering, I'll leave the decision up to you. We're going to stick with the green paint, which adds a nice pop of color to an otherwise neutral room, but, in the name of fine dining, we're willing to shell out the money for a beige textured linen to use in lieu of the patterned fabric...

So, what'll it be, folks... bland beige or garish green? Or maybe a third option to throw in the mix?

What Would Martha Do?

2010-04-21T10:27:00.000-04:00

P laughs at me, but my favorite part of Martha Stewart Living magazine is "Martha's Calendar," the page where she outlines the ridiculously quaint activities she has planned for that month {but probably never actually does herself}. Come on, the woman is a media mogul, I hardly think she has time to "organize her cookbook library" or "apply salt hay as mulch along the side paths in the vegetable garden."

Still, I do get a kick out of picturing Martha waking up in her multi-million dollar country estate, making her way down to her gourmet kitchen, saying to herself "Oh, that's right, it's May 27th. Time to reinstall fans in the chicken coops!"

Images courtesy of Martha Stewart Living

Getting Schooled

2010-04-14T11:27:00.000-04:00

Just when I thought our lives couldn't possibly get any more hectic, I went and brought on a whole new level of crazy. Now, in addition to continuing the renovation, planning the wedding, chasing after the puppy, keeping up with the housework, updating the blog, and holding down our regular day jobs... I'll be taking on a full-time graduate school course load!! Yup, I found out yesterday that I was accepted into the unbelievably amazing creative writing program at a nearby private college and, assuming our bank accounts don't collapse under the pressure, I'll be registering for four classes this coming fall. And - get this - our wedding is the very weekend after school begins!

Okay, I'm ready for my straight jacket now.

Seriously, though, I could not be more thrilled or more grateful for this incredible opportunity. And, in true J fashion, long before I need to select my first semester classes, I've already selected my dream grad-school accoutrement!

I'd love to tote my laptop around campus in this WantOrganic bag from J.Crew...

Images courtesy of J.Crew

These Kate Spade glasses scream grad-school smart...

Image courtesy of OutBlush

Who needs boring black and white composition notebooks when you can jot down ideas in Archie Grand's hilarious and colorful creations...

Image courtesy of OhJoy

And, of course, for the house...

The perfect desk chair in which to pen my first best-seller...

Image courtesy of Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams

The pottery barn "Daily System" to help keep my assignments (and life) organized...

Images courtesy of Pottery Barn

And, oh yeah, this entire bathroom and pedestal tub to ~~collapse~~ soak in after a long day of trying to do it all...

Image courtesy of Coastal Living

A Wedding Woe

2010-04-12T16:49:00.001-04:00

Although P and I may qualify as certifiably insane for deciding to renovate a house while planning our wedding, in some ways it actually works out in our favor...
1) My bridal shower and the rehearsal dinner (both being held at our home) are the perfect opportunities to show our friends and family the work we've done so far.
2) Wedding dress shopping was the ultimate excuse to indulge in some much-needed retail therapy after months of saving for the renovation.
3) We get to scour our favorite stores and register for all the things we, otherwise, would have had to buy for the house ourselves.

Really, setting up home and having a wedding seem to go hand in hand. HEAR THAT, WEST ELM??!!

As much fun as I had running around Crate & Barrel and Bloomingdales with those nifty little scanner guns, I can't help but be kinda disappointed that my favorite housewares store, West Elm, still doesn't offer a bridal registry. Okay, I know this isn't exactly a crisis, but I'm not the first (or tenth or hundredth) bride to have this same complaint. Seriously, West Elm, what gives??

I heart your classic yet contemporary armchairs...

and I covet your eco-friendly recycled glass vases...

I'm crazy about your ultra-sleek hammered metal serving pieces...

and I dream about your sophisticated, organic pin-tuck bedding...

But your wedding registry policy, West Elm... it sucks.

To work around this problem, I added West Elm to the list of registries on our wedding website, along with a little note explaining to our guests that we appreciate gift cards to help us furnish our new home. I'm sure our friends and family will understand, but I still feel a little weird about requesting gift cards in lieu of specific items on a registry. Some people don't even like to give them at birthdays and Christmas, let alone as wedding presents! Then again, it is a sure fire way for the recipients to get the things they really want.

I'd love to know... what's your stance on gift cards at a wedding (or any special occasion for that matter)?

Images courtesy of West Elm

Team Aidan!!

2010-04-09T08:53:00.001-04:00

A wedding table after my own heart.

2010-04-08T08:18:00.001-04:00

Unfortunately, it's not within our budget to rent patterned china for the wedding, but a girl can dream, right?

Images courtesy of StyleMePretty

California Dreaming

2010-04-07T12:58:00.000-04:00

As a kid, I spent quite a bit of time in Los Angeles. My parents are both huge fans of La-La Land, and it wasn't unusual for us to pop out to the West Coast for a long weekend or sunny Christmas. This beautiful weather has me reminiscing about walking on the Santa Monica Pier, shopping on Melrose, and hiding out for a week in the Chateau Marmont.

Unfortunately, P is not as keen on L.A. as I am, so I don't see a move out there in our future, but we are both absolutely crazy for Showtime's "Californication." I think, for P, it's a way to live out his wild bachelor fantasies through Hank Moody, while, for me, it's a chance to pretend for a half hour that I live in my favorite city. As much as I adore our little bungalow, I could be easily persuaded to trade it in for any of the modern, Hollywood Hills mansions used in the show...

Season 4 doesn't start until the fall, so there's still plenty of time to catch up on the first three. A word of warning, though: this show is extremely addictive and will, not only monopolize your Sunday nights, but also make you strongly consider abandoning your current life to set up a new one in L.A. ;)

Take a Seat

2010-04-06T08:47:00.003-04:00

Like anything else, a beautiful wedding is all in the details. Of course, we had virtually no problem making the big decisions, (venue, photographer, band, etc.) but, when it comes to the little, seemingly insignificant selections, I'm completely overwhelmed by the possibilities.

Our wedding theme (if I haven't already revealed it) is a simple, organic, garden brunch. I want everything clean, bright and beautiful – big blooming flowers, vibrant green tones, flaxen textured linens, natural rustic elements. Are you visualizing it? Great... now tell me, WHAT THE HELL KIND OF CHAIRS DO I RENT?!!

Originally I selected these Lime green ballroom chairs. I thought they'd be playful and fun.

But then we thought that White might be a little more classic and unobtrusive.

Then again, Fruitwood will tie in the whole rustic, natural element I'm going for.

At first, P didn't understand why we needed to rent chairs at all. "Why don't we just use the ones they have at the venue?" he asked. To explain it to him, I showed him pictures of two incredible wedding table setups whose chair selections were an integral part of their themes.

Images courtesy of 100LayerCake

Then I asked him to picture these amazingly beautiful weddings using the chairs and linens offered at our venue.

Enough said. Now that P's on board with the chair rentals, help us decide which color to use for our organic, garden brunch – Lime, White or Fruitwood??

Welcome to Miami...

2010-04-01T23:30:00.000-04:00

I spent my last full day in Florida exploring the Miami Design District, an area made up of about seven blocks of the most amazing galleries, showrooms, restaurants, and shops. It was four hours of pure inspiration (combated by extreme frustration over the fact that I couldn't take all of the furniture home with me!)

The other day I posted about mini Louis Ghost Chairs. Today I got to visit Kartell's showroom and drool over the full-sized models.

One of my favorite shops was called "One of a Kind," where I fell head over Kate-Spade-flats for these cream-colored chairs with nailhead trim.

I also spent a half hour swooning over the $3,000 silk and wool rugs in The Rug Company's showroom.

Hibiscus Island Home offered some more affordable eye candy. I purchased a few yards of this adorable fabric for – well, to be perfectly honest, I'm not sure what I'll use it for – but, at $25 a yard, I just couldn't pass it up!

Even the restaurants were chic. Sra Martinez is an old post office that was converted into a beautiful cafe.

This outdoor bar had the most incredible mosaic walls. If we had a pool, I'd have the bottom tiled in the same abstract floral pattern.

If we lived in Miami, I'd have an intimate, nighttime wedding at the Enea Garden Lounge. It's located smack in the middle of the Design District but feels like a private island oasis.

What a day, what a vacation! I'm headed home tomorrow, but not without a suitcase of small purchases and a truckload of design inspiration!

A Different Kind of Maternal Instinct

2010-03-30T22:11:00.000-04:00

Maybe it's because I'm about to get married, but lately my maternal instincts have really started to kick in. It's actually kind of alarming because, unlike most of my friends, those I-need-to-have-a-baby urges don't pop up when I'm in the presence of actual babies. No, my mommy moments are more likely to occur when I'm surrounded by great baby furniture! How weird am I?!

Today, while walking in Mizner Park, a beautiful shopping area in Boca Raton, Florida, I came across a store that really jump-started those ol' maternal instincts. Genius Jones has the most unreal collection of designer baby furniture I've ever seen assembled in one place. My favorites were definitely the child-sized Eames rocker and mini Kartell Louis Ghost Chairs, which they call "Lou Lou Ghost Chairs"...

Can't you just picture tea parties at a tiny table with four multi-colored, mini Kartell chairs?

Poor P...if our future children are anywhere near as design-obsessed as I am, he's in for a world of trouble!

Leaving on a Jet Plane

2010-03-26T22:05:00.000-04:00

Well, everyone, I'm off to sunny Florida for a week of rest & relaxation! With all the work we've been doing on the house (and in our offices), a getaway is definitely long overdue. I just wish P could tear himself away from his desk to come with me! As always, I'll be on the look-out for inspiring design and sharing my findings with you.

This is a photo of the amazing Boca Raton Resort, where my family and I used to vacation twice a year. I've heard that they recently completed a fabulous renovation, which I'll definitely be stopping by to check out and snap some pictures of!

Taming the Artistic Temperament

2010-03-25T08:25:00.001-04:00

Meet our puppy, Cooper.

Cooper is an artist. He's created masterpieces all over our new home.

Work of Art #1

We call it "Mangled Leather Chair"

Work of Art #2

Affectionately referred to as "Dead Toy"

I'll spare you the photos of his more dramatic works. Let's just say that, despite our overall success with outdoor training, Cooper periodically gets creative with his "business."

Considering our dog's artistic gift, you can imagine how hesitant we've been to invest in area rugs. We know we need 'em, it's just hard to justify spending that kind of money when Cooper is bound to use them as his latest canvas.

Luckily, we've found a solution... Dash & Albert. We came across a HUGE display of their beautiful rugs while exploring a nearby town this weekend. We were immediately drawn to them because of their bright, colorful designs, which would really add a dash (hehe) of excitement to our otherwise neutral rooms.

Best of all, their Indoor/Outdoor rugs were designed to be as durable as they are adorable. They're made of polypropylene (although they look and feel much like regular indoor rugs) and they are "hoseable, scrubbable, and bleachable"... in other words, doggy-proof! In fact, their website even showcases the rugs with pictures of the owner's pups.

But wait, it gets even better... the prices!! A 4x6" rug is only $110, a 6x9" only $288! We're definitely scooping up a 3x5" for our kitchen for only $84.

Chew on, devil dog. We've got your number.

An Imperial Find

2010-03-23T09:08:00.010-04:00

I'm usually not very trendy. I tend to gravitate more towards simple, classic items: a glass cylinder vase, an Hermes serving tray, clean white linens. But, every once in awhile, I come across a trend so fabulously frivolous that I can't help but jump on the bandwagon. Kelly Wearstler's "Imperial Trellis" is not one of them. Don't get me wrong, I am beyond obsessed with this beautiful pattern; I just firmly believe that it has now surpassed trend status and is well on its way to iconic territory.

Look at what an incredible wallpaper pattern it makes, especially when paired with a rustic wood floor. This is actress Chloe Sevigny's front hallway, and, though I've never been a huge fan of hers, our mutual love of Imperial Trellis might be enough to win me over.

For those who prefer pattern in smaller doses, the Imperial Trellis looks equally as incredible when used to upholster furniture. I would L-O-V-E a high-back arm chair in this pattern for the corner of our master bedroom.

Image courtesy of Elements of Style

Unfortunately, both the wallpaper and fabric are incredibly expensive. I looked into using it for bedroom curtains, and the 12 yards we needed would have cost over $1,000! But, as with any other classic design, there's always a way to knock it off!

Check out the DIY Imperial Trellis stencil job this blogger did on her bedroom wall...

Image courtesy of Hello Gorgeous

This weekend P and I decided to enjoy the sunshine and explore a nearby town we've yet to shop. I was perusing in an adorable little craft store, about to make my way towards the door, when suddenly I spied a little Imperial Trellis peeking out from behind a stack of pillows. I reached for it (okay, I lunged at it like a frantic lunatic) and saw that the price tag said $35!!! Thirty-five dollars!! That's like Target and Home Goods prices!!

Turns out, the shop owner bought a roll of Imperial Trellis awhile back and, unaware of its value, was selling it for only $12 a yard! By the time a designer popped into the store and informed her that the stuff usually goes for about 10 times as much, she only had enough of it left for one pillow. It was fate I tell you; this pillow was meant to be mine! And now it is...

I haven't decided where to put her yet. She looks great on the couch, great on the bed... who am I kidding, she'd look great on the freakin tool bench in the basement! I know she's just a pillow, but thinking about her lounging on my sofa in all her beautiful glory brings a huge smile to my face. Does that make me materialistic? Or just easily amused?

"Reclaiming" Our Front Entrance

2010-03-22T08:17:00.003-04:00

We have an odd-shaped living room. There, I said it. As much as I adore my home, I can not, for the life of me, find a living room layout that makes sense. If the couch faces the fireplace, then we can't see the TV; if it faces the TV, then the room is cut in half. I think I just have to accept that this will be a life-long battle and move on. But, no matter how we swing things (pun intended), we just can't get around the fact that there is no formal entryway. Hell, there's not even room for a front table! Until now...

I saw this photo in "100 Room Ideas" Magazine awhile back and fell in love.

What a perfect solution to a narrow (or non-existent) foyer. And, of course, I drool over the effortless mix of rustic, contemporary and pretty. (If we could find a non-dorky way to mash those three words together it would describe my style perfectly.) So, naturally, I had to make one for myself!

Here's what I used:

2x10 piece of Douglas Fir, cut @ 30"

(3) Convex Shelf Brackets from Lee Valley

Palm sander

Minwax "English Chestnut" Wood Finish

Polyurethane

Weapons (I'll explain later)

This project was beyond simple! First, I sanded the 2x10 until it was nice and smooth.

Then, I applied one coat of the Wood Finish, wiping most of the stain off with a rag as I went. When that was dry, I topped it off with a coat of polyurethane. (Normally I'd use two coats, but I wanted this to look kind of rustic.)

Next came the fun part...

The wood in the magazine picture came from Elmwood Reclaimed Timber, which sells pieces of reclaimed wood for $70 and up. I'm all for reusing salvaged items and doing things the eco-friendly way, but I'm also all for saving a quick buck. $65 bucks to be exact. Instead of ordering away for a piece of beat-up lumber, we used some household tools to beat the crap out of the $5 piece we had :)

I thought that the sock full of screws and nails would make the most interesting marks on the wood, but it was actually the hammer that did the best job, leaving subtle gauges when I swung it at a 45 degree angle.

Then it was as easy as mounting the brackets to the wall and securing the shelf on top, (I enlisted P's help for this- I'm just no good with a drill!) and now we have a brand-new "Reclaimed Wood" entry shelf to drop our keys on and display a little piece of our home's history for our guests!

Planting the Seed...

2010-03-18T10:43:00.002-04:00

When P and I first moved in together a few years ago, I begged and begged to get a puppy. Instead, my irritatingly clever boyfriend got me a houseplant. Needless to say, I was more than a little disappointed. But P promised that, if I could keep that ugly little plant alive for 6 months, then we could get a dog. Sounds like an afterschool special, I know, but ours didn't have such a happy ending, at least not for the plant. That stupid thing died in two weeks!

Of course, eventually we did get a puppy and, in a cruel twist of fate, a house whose previous owner was a horticulturalist. Our neighbors constantly gush about the beautiful flowers and greenery he skillfully planted all around our yard and the hours he spent weeding and pruning and caring for his gardens. "We looked forward to seeing his flowers every Spring!" they say, while I smile nervously and attempt to hide my black thumb behind my back. Talk about pressure! Let's just say that I feel a lot more comfortable with plants of the, ahem, plastic variety...

With Spring fast approaching, P has already spent some time in our garden, getting his hands dirty and learning his way around a flower bed. I, on the other hand, have been inside testing my luck with some tulip bulbs I planted a few months back. They started off slow, but I'm proud to report that they're actually starting to blossom!

Things are beginning to bloom around the yard too...

This rosebush may look dark, ominous and thorny now, but in the spring it's filled with HUGE bright-pink roses that climb up the side of the house and sit in the living room windows.

Can it be?! Am I actually starting to get excited about having a garden?! Who knows, maybe, years from now, the neighbors will tell our house's new owners about our beautiful spring flowers and how much time and energy and skillful care we put into maintaining them...

Okay, not likely. But maybe they'll at least talk about the awesome, hand-made ceramic pots we scored for 25 bucks a piece on our last trip to Maine!

Bridezilla On The Loose!

2010-03-17T11:05:00.001-04:00

Last night, my mother, sister, wedding planner and I paid a second visit to Kleinfelds, where I said yes to another dress! Looks like I'm not as low-key, go-with-the-flow a bride as I thought. I just couldn't stop second-guessing the dress I bought last week, so I cancelled it and went with one of my original, short selections instead. (I won't tell you which one, though!)

While I may be the typical, picky bride when it comes to my dress, the rest of the wedding-related decisions have been pretty much a snap to make. This is mostly due to my unbelievably amazing wedding planner (if you're getting married in the Northeast, you MUST check her out @ http://www.luxeeventsny.com/) and the oodles of wedding blogs and websites out there that offer endless inspiration. (Seriously, how did people even have weddings before Martha Stewart!?)

Image courtesy of MarthaStewartWeddings

Since I've officially made the transformation from normal woman to wedding-obsessed bridezilla, I thought I'd add to the blog some of the websites that satisfy my ravenous daily appetite for all things matrimonial. Even if you're not currently a bride, it's always fun to browse and daydream. And any of the designs and DIY projects can be used for non-wedding events; some are even great for decorating your home! Check out the new "Wedding Fever" blog list on the right-hand side of the page and some of my favorite pictures from these sites below...

Image courtesy of StyleMePretty

Image courtesy of 100LayerCake

(I sent this one to my wedding planner last week-
love those pom poms!)

As always, any favorite websites or ideas you can share with us are greatly appreciated!

Tick Tock, Tick Tock (No, that's not my biological clock!)

2010-03-15T11:02:00.000-04:00

A few months ago, I shared with you this post about our teeny-tiny downstairs half-bathroom and the striped paint job I gave it. At the time, the best I could do in the way of a Before picture was a shot I snapped after I'd already stripped the room of its clutter and primed the walls. But thanks to the stash of pictures we recently uncovered, taken during our first trip through the house with our realtor, I can now properly chronicle the room's transformation, starting at the very beginning.

Please excuse the blurriness in this first picture.

I think I was probably in a state of shock when I took it.

After priming...

and 3 grueling hours of taping...

The finished product!

While it's definitely a lot of fun looking back and seeing how far we've already come, P and I really need to kick the renovation into overdrive. I've just been informed that my upcoming bridal shower will held at at our house! In 2 months!

We have a To-Do list a mile long, which I'll be posting on the blog soon so you can help track our progress. As usual, we'll be scouring the Internet for ideas and inspiration. Any favorite blogs, design websites, or fun ideas you can recommend to get us started? How about an at-home remedy for stress?!

Want It. Need It. Gotta Have It.

2010-03-10T16:10:00.001-05:00

Today's wishlist item is another fantastic Etsy find. HollyAnnRolfe takes a picture of your home and carves it into a rubber stamp that you can use again and again. And look at how intricate and detailed her designs are...

What an incredible way to capture your home and create personalized stationary, letterhead, greeting cards, etc! Each custom stamp costs $102, but if you compare that to the cost of the thousands of monogrammed notecards and envelopes one might go through in a few years time, it's well worth it.

Images courtesy of HollyAnneRolfe's Etsy shop

I'd love to use a stamped image of our little Craftsman on white cardstock as Thank-You notes to our wedding guests!

Update: 5 minutes after publishing this post, I received a text message from my mother, saying simply, "I will get you the stamp." Ah, the power of blogging. Thanks Mom!

Channeling Julie Andrews

2010-03-09T09:06:00.000-05:00

Forget raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens. Here are a few of my favorite things...

Antique Bamboo Desk

Purchased at: a flea market in Paris by my parents

Value: about $2,500

On loan to us by my very generous mother,

who I'm hoping will eventually let us keep it!

Glass Jar Lamp

Purchased at: Target (fillers sold separately)

Price: $30

Pottery Barn sells these for $150-$200!

I can't wait to fill it with seashells in the summer.

Pine Cone Candlesticks

Purchased at: Folly 101 in Portland, Maine

Price: $5 each

I get more compliments on these candlesticks than any

other accessory that I decorate the table with!

Original Derek & The Dominos "Layla"Album Color Separation

Purchased at: a Rock and Roll memorabilia dealer by my dad

Value: Unknown

Effortlessly cool. Kind of like my dad.

Metal Tray Table

Purchased at: Target

Price: $39.99

Not a great picture, but, in person, this table looks

much more expensive. Gotta love Tar-jay.

Mercury Glass Acorn

Purchased at: Blanche & Mimi in Portland, Maine

Price: $70

Kind of frivolous, but everyone should have a little mercury glass

on their mantle.

*Blanche & Mimi is a must-shop whenever we're in Maine.

I love that these particular items are such a mix of styles and price points. I grew up in a house furnished with antiques from my parents' travels, and, while P and I can't yet afford to do the same, we can place our older, more valuable items with inexpensive ones and create a great mix of high & low. We hung the "Layla" over an Ikea dresser in our bedroom, and the original, one-of-a-kind artwork instantly elevates the look of an otherwise generic piece of furniture.

What are some of your favorite items from your own home?

Closet Clutter... Cured.

2010-03-08T12:02:00.000-05:00

Well, I did it. I bought a wedding dress. It was only the 3rd one I tried on, and it's nothing like the inspiration photos I picked out beforehand! But I'm so crazy in love with it that I'm not sure I can wait the four months until it comes in. I guess that's how it goes!

While I was "Say[ing] Yes To The Dress" at Kleinfelds, P was home working on our front hall closet. One of my New Year's Reno-lutions was to stop using it as a dumping ground for our random stuff and make it an organized, useable space... and P certainly rose to the challenge. I wish I had some Before pictures to show you, but we forgot to snap any! So you'll just have to take my word on it that, before P's hard work, this closet was a disaster!

A few months ago I accidentally bought a few gallons of the wrong paint. I walked out of the store with Benjamin Moore's "Rustic Taupe" instead of "Smokey Taupe." We were pretty upset at the time, (paint ain't cheap!) but this project gave us an opportunity to use one of the reject gallons.

Before the update, the closet had big brass hooks screwed directly into the wall, which weren't cutting it in terms of holding all of our coats, scarves. etc.. Instead, P installed a long shelf and used the supports to hold new hooks and a rod for hanging jackets.

We also wanted the closet to contain our wireless routers and network equipment, so P built a set of three smaller shelves along the left wall. He painted the supports the same color as the walls so they blend in and make the shelves appear as if they're floating.

Before nailing the shelves in, he drilled a large hole in each one and attached a plastic grommet...

... so we can easily run the wires from the floor of the closet to the top shelf.

(We still need to untangle them a bit.)

Now all of our electrical equipment has a home, and there's still plenty of space left over for storage

bins.

Job well done, P...

you've given me the perfect excuse to bring home a few new Spring jackets.

The Time Has Come...

2010-03-05T19:46:00.000-05:00

...for wedding dress shopping! I've been a little hesitant about sharing wedding details on the blog, mostly because so many of my friends and family members read it, and I want to leave some surprises for the big day. But I'm so pumped about all of my bridal salon appointments tomorrow that I had to share a few of my favorite dresses. Yes, I'm one of those annoying brides who picks out what she wants ahead of time and shows up with pictures and sketches. All I can say is, "Good luck Mom & Sister, tomorrow is gonna be one hell of a day!"

Because P and I are having a Sunday brunch wedding, (have I mentioned that on the blog yet?) I've decided to go with a short dress instead of a gown. Here are my current front runners, both by Vineyard...

Aren't they gorgeous?! Of course, I may fall in love with something completely different while shopping tomorrow. Either way, I know for sure what'll be going on my feet...

I'd better start practicing my dance moves in 4" heels now! Only 6 months to go...

Daydream Believer...

2010-03-03T13:18:00.000-05:00

I am absolutely swamped with work this week (hence the lack of posts). I'm sure I could plow through this enormous stack of papers in a few hours, if only I could stop my mind from daydreaming of cushy comforters and upholstered headboards. Yep, you guessed it, I'm scheming my next weekend project. And using some pictures from the late, great Domino Magazine as inspiration...

I can't wait to get home and break out the sketch pad and tape measure. Until then, I'll be here at the office, drowning in assignments. *Sigh* I don't think I'd mind work quite so much if I could do it in an office like this...

Chalk It Up To Inspiration

2010-03-01T11:24:00.001-05:00

Now that we're in the final stages of the kitchen renovation, P and I are starting to tackle the bare walls that keep our house feeling more like a college dorm than a grown-up home.

Case in point:

In addition to finding some adorable (and affordable!) art on Etsy, we're taking on simple DIY projects that will beautify our walls and be useful to us every day. This weekend we created a HUGE custom chalkboard for grocery lists, love notes and, of course, gentle reminders to P to take out the garbage.

Most chalkboards of this size would sell for over $75. Ours cost roughly $30 and was a snap to make! Here's what we used...

48" x 30" piece of MDF (medium density fiberboard)

Roughly 14 ft. of chair rail moulding

All-purpose primer

Black chalkboard paint

White semi-gloss all-purpose paint

Nails & Wood Glue

A medium grain sandpaper block

Our handy-dandy miter saw

*Let's take a quick time-out to talk about our miter saw (she's that special). Of all the tools we've purchased for the house, this one has been the most useful by far. We use her to cut moulding, trim, table legs, etc. The lower-end models (like ours) cost around $100, and they're well-worth it. Plus, even I'm not afraid to use it!

Back to the plan...

After cutting the moulding at 45 degree angles, I laid out all the pieces and primed them.

The moulding got two coats of semi-gloss paint, while I gave the MDF 3-4 coats of the chalkboard paint.

When they were dry, I used the sandpaper block to rough up the moulding a bit and give it a vintage feel.

Then it was as simple as gluing and nailing the pieces together, and attaching the whole thing to the wall! (We used a little bit of wood filler in the cracks and nail holes too.)

The entire project took about an hour and a half (not counting drying time), and I now have a beautiful and efficient way to nag P about his dirty dishes in the sink. (I'm sure he'll have a few choice words to leave for me up there too... if he can find where I hid the chalk!)

Our First Giveaway Winner!

2010-02-26T18:25:00.001-05:00

Thank you to everyone who entered our first giveaway! You all gave us such great ideas for filling in our Crate & Barrel wedding registry. We're so excited to start receiving those black & white boxes in the mail... and soon one of you will be too!

We used random.org to select our winner...

Congratulations to ~Cee~ who said she'd use her gift card towards satisfying her grilled food cravings with a Mario Batali Reversible Grill-Sear Pan.

Cee, you know how I feel about pots and pans, but that thing looks awesome! Even I might attempt cooking a meal if I had a fancy pan like that. Look out for an email from us soon!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Art on the Cheap

2010-02-26T14:19:00.003-05:00

Have I mentioned how much I love snow days?!

P took the SUV to work, which leaves me happily stranded at home. With a massive pile of laundry to fold and sink full of dishes calling my name, naturally, I'm doing some online shopping. On today's agenda (aside from the dreaded household chores) is finding some cheap, but beautiful artwork to grace the bare kitchen/dining room walls.

Thanks to Etsy, mission accomplished...

P studied French in college and is constantly having to correct my terrible accent, so I love the idea of hanging artwork with French words to keep me encouraged. Plus, wouldn't it be adorable if our future children could speak it too? Okay, I'm getting a little ahead of myself now. But, seriously, check out these beautiful and affordable prints found in Eva Juliet's shop. They're perfect for a kitchen or home office (or little girl's bedroom).

Photos courtesy of Eva Juliet

Who says art has to be purchased in a gallery? I can't wait to get my ($18) "Les Cuilleres" print in the mail!

Still, I'd trade a whole day of online shopping for one hour at the Paris flea markets. Et vous?

Color Theory

2010-02-25T10:52:00.001-05:00

When we first started renovating our house, I had this grand notion that we were going to do EVERYTHING green (as in eco-friendly, not the color). Well, maybe that's a possibility for those with an unlimited budget, but we realized pretty quickly that we were going to have to pick and choose which green elements to include. One thing I refused to compromise on was the use of low-VOC or no-VOC paint. We went with Benjamin Moore's AURA line because you get the full range of his colors (which are endless), and the price is not totally obscene.

In response to your questions about our wall/trim colors, here's a room-by-room breakdown of the paint we chose. (Some of these rooms have not yet been shown on the blog because they are nowhere near ready- so please excuse any boxes or general messiness that may have crept into the pictures!)

Livingroom/All Hallways

Walls - Benjamin Moore "Smokey Taupe" in matte finish

Trim/Fireplace Mantle(shown) - Benjamin Moore "White" in semi-gloss

Diningroom/Kitchen

Walls - Benjamin Moore "Balboa Mist" in matte finish