Drop Cloth Sectional-- going bye bye

Exhibit A:

This sectional has seen it's day.
Hate to say it, but it's got to go.

Was generously given to us
when we moved into our new empty house
11 years ago!

The burgundy chenille was not cutting it.
I knew I had to "re-invent" our new FREE furniture.

So I rolled up my sleeves and attempted
my first go at a slip cover, piping and all!

After one phone-call-tutorial from my trusty sis-in-law
I went to town.

Wasn't bad for my first attempt.


Now, after several slip covers later,
a new attitude and a small budget...
Mamma lookin' for a new sectional.

Here are a few I've got my eye on.

Tell me what you think.

Mastad Sectional Sofa Bed & Storage
Ikea
$699
Ektorp Loveseat and Chaise Lounge
$699

Blake Sectional
West Elm
$999-$1989

So what do you think?

Knock, Knock...Who's There? Spring, Is That You?

Temperature is on the rise.

Giddy up!
You know what that tells me?

Time for some color.
Time for pop,
(and I'm not talking soda, here, ladies).

Talking about two things:
wardrobe and living space.

So here was my idea...

Remember this post?

My latest inspiration?
My latest obsession, delight and craze?

Oh yeah.
Stripes.

Been itching to add a new mix to the living room.
Hello interiors A.D.D.

Enter sewing machine and
extra fabric laying around.
Give me a day with nothing on the schedule
and hello new pillows.


Hello, spring.
Welcome, welcome.
Make yourself at home!

This was the "winter" look.
Don't worry.
Only stashed the pillows in
another room for now.

So the living room went from this...

See more here

To this...

It's true.
Not a ton of color.
But just enough for me.


Oh, do tell me
what you think?

Furniture on Wheels

Chic

Modern
Edgy

That's
furniture on wheels

Remodelista


Wisteria

Don't think I'm not loving the painted white flooring, either.
I'll be posting more on that later.

Remodelista

Who would have thought
investing in a few pairs of
casters would be so design forward?

Are you in?
Let me know your thoughts.

Dressing up your Sofas

Just like we wouldn't
use the same accessories in our wardrobe
year after year,
we shouldn't leave the same pillows on our sofa's
year after year.

Think about it.
We can be trendy, colorful or
seasonal just by what is dressing up our sofas.

My most recent purchase were three
textured pillows and one new tasseled throw.

Here is the before below:
Goodbye Spring...


The After:
Hello Winter Wonderland...

As you will notice, I tend to keep the larger pieces
of furniture in my home neutral.
I do this deliberately.

Now I can decide what I want to highlight in the room,
through pillows and throws.

Yes, that is the Christmas tree poking into the photo.
More on that later...

I wanted to layer on the white.
The pillows are actually a silk cream,
while the furnishings are
bright white cotton twill.
The throws are off-white knits.

This is the living room.

White on white:
Neatly folded cream throw with a contemporary shag pillow

Espresso brown leather sofa

How do you dress up your sofa?

As always, thanks for visiting...

Solid to See Through Re-do

It was time.
It had been painted, white washed, written on, scratched up, broken and nailed back together.
The 13 year old "country" pine coffee table had seen it's day.

It was time for a new look.

I had kept my eye out for just the right coffee table and had initially wanted an acrylic one.
Hard to find and pricey.

I had to go plan B.

I didn't want to spend a ton of money
( I'm sure you are getting to know my theme by now).
I wanted simple and see through.

I was even open to getting TWO end tables side by side for more versatility.

I found it! A great table, for a great price at a store just around the corner from me.
Crate and Barrel $79
The Mimic Cube
comes in three great colors.

I got two on the spot, came home and found myself with table parts, screws and determination.

lots and lots of screws

I'm getting there...

Yes!

The glass-top open tables give the illusion of more open space
(it is a very very small family room to begin with).

I can use the bottom shelf for knickknacks, books or cool stuff.
I chose my favorite books of Hampton Homes with Sea Life accents.

Hope you like the mini transformation. Tell me which YOU prefer?
Solid or See Through?

The Age of Technology

Kathryn's Loft Life

Apartment Therapy

Apartment Therapy

Palm Springs Zaitz House

I'm not sure if my family is the only one out there behind on the times when it comes to updating their home entertainment. Maybe because I have no teenage boys wanting the latest and greatest to play the most recent game with. Maybe because I like the "retro" look that only that big, old, heavy TV can offer. Maybe because I am too cheap to replace a TV that works perfectly fine and buying another just to update goes against my "use what you have" nature.

Regardless to say, our family is breaking into the new era and getting not one but two flat screen TVs. Okay, to be honest, our new pad actually has two flat screen TV mounts waiting for the appropriate flat screen to hang from. Our old TV's have no place next to a flat screen mount.

It is time.

So a new challenge arises. Where to put the cable box and other electronics underneath the TV? Because we NOW have wall mounts we are now left to purchase some type of console, cabinet or shelf for under the TV for other electronics.

My idea is to get wall shelves: neat, clean and sleek. Not going to work in my space...there is a big hole with wires coming out...now I need to hide that. I need a piece of furniture.

Would love ideas or thoughts on the new dilemma on our plate. I am leaning toward the Apartment Therapy looks...

Paint it Black

Who couldn't use a can of flat black paint? Need a piece of furniture spruced up? A room a little face lift? Why not paint that faded shelf, that dated chest? You would be amazed what a piece of black furniture will do to a stall room. Go on...I dare you.