Happenings...

 Things have been happening around my house. Coffee tables got painted black, new lamps added to the room, a fun neckroll pillow on the couch, and the chalkboard paint table is almost done!

 Some pretty flowers...

And the epic smoothie spill of 2011. All over the counter.  It happened.

Let's Pretend.

That we are here. I'm going to the beach next week and I can't wait... 4 more days... I can do it!

image coco + kelly

Ikea Inspiration

One of my friends Anna is heading up to Ikea today and I'm totally jealous. I think everyone has a hate/love relationship with Ikea. We love it for its accessibility and $, and hate the crowds that are ALWAYS there. I have a lot of Ikea pieces in my house- for my $ point, they are a great option to get a lot of basics, bookshelves, end tables and I especially love their drapes and pillows. Want to see what's possible with Ikea pieces? Meet Ikea Family Live. Its a website that features what real consumers have done with Ikea pieces in their homes. Its full of fun ideas and inspiration, some of  my favorites are below.

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Lamp Happy...

A couple of months ago, Nan found these amazing lamps for a client that I drooled over. I thought about stealing them and telling her I broke them by accident but decided against it and unwillingly let the beauties travel to our clients house. A few weeks later we decided to go in a different direction for our client and you better believe I snatched them up so fast. So Happy Birthday to me- I'm never letting them go.

Don't you love the lucite base?!

Its a Giveaway...

at The Life of Riley- head over to check it out! She is giving away the BEAUTIFUL book "The Home Within Us" that I totally want. (to be honest, I didn't really want to tell you guys about it so I have a better chance of winning. But I do love you all so I did.)

For the organizational challenged...

I need this. Like seriously need this. I have a habit to lose and/or forget everything. I mean, everything. I've walked out of the house without shoes, left my keys in my jacket pocket for days, and left my office to deliver something without the object I was delivering more times than I can count.

 Urban Outfitters

DIY Dining Table: Summer Project 1

Do ya'll remember this chalkboard table from Design Sponge? Well, its happening in my house. At our old apartment, we had an amazing table that L made for me, (see here) but our dining room at our new place is a lot smaller and i knew when we moved we would have to find something else. I looked on craigslist and thrift stores and couldn't find anything until my mom called me one day and had found one which had good lines. Sold. It is in pretty bad shape and I have just covered it up with an old throw knowing I would have to do something about it but was too lazy. Then it hit me, "Chalkboard paint can make anything cool. I should do that to my table. Done." So i'm whipping out the sander and getting to work. (keep your fingers crossed for me, the top of our table is laminate (of course) and i've never painted laminate so we will see how it goes!)

Design Sponge Table Before:

After:

 Love how they wrote the menu on the table- and if you have a dinner party- you don't need place cards...

Our table Before:

I think this will make my table livable for now- and when we move- we can transfer this table into a study or office and use it for workspace. (Next project, redo console.)

Its my birthday!

Hey lovelies, its my birthday today and I am taking time to do some of my favorite things. I worked on a few paintings this morning and had lunch with a dear friend and we are going out with some friends tonight. L surprised me and took me to the beach last saturday and we had so much fun just relaxing and laying out. And then he came home with this gorgeous thing.

I know, he's a keeper right? I'll be back tomorrow with some fun projects I am working on so stay tuned!!

Sweet Tooth

Yummmm. Caramel of the Month Club from Have it Sweet. What a great gift or just a sweet treat for yourself. I totally want to sign myself up as a birthday present (my b-day is next week) to me.

Enjoy your weekend everyone, its looking to be a scorcher here and we are going to spend time on the river to cool off, i'm pretty excited. What are ya'lls weekend plans?!

Be right back...

 pic from here

 Heading to Atlanta for the day to go to Scotts Antique Market and ADAC to look at antiques and fun fabrics, I love my job!

Can we just talk about...

how amazing this chair is?! Perfect. Love that she (Caitlin Creer Interiors) takes such a traditional chair and makes it interesting and modern with a burlap seat and leaving the back open. I think she manages to update the chair while still concentrating on the traditional shape. This might have to happen in my dining room.

If I were rich, I would live here

Did you all see this home in Traditional Home? I saw it first over at 6th street design school,and I'm obsessed with everything about it. Its so comfortable and easy, with a nod to cape cod style but its not overpowering. Love it!

Can I say amazing chairs? and those lights over the island? i die.

Riley- the top two pics remind me of the lake.

I have wanted a painted wood floor for forever.

wow. just wow.

Recap: Adventures of a Nomad

The past week and a half, Luke has been doing this...

 While I was doing this...

Praia Piquinia by Christian Chaize, avail here

We started off things last week with my little sister's high school graduation, (so excited she is going to my alma mater!!) Then I packed Luke off for a "man week adventure 2011", aka backpacking and hiking in the french alps with one of his best friends, they also threw in the Champions League Final in London as well (soccer, people.) I spent time at my parents house working on redoing their living room and dining room (pics to come soon) and then headed to Hilton Head to be with my cousins, where we spent all day on the beach and crabbing. For those of you who dont' know, I'm the happiest when I'm on the beach, it comes from being able to swim before I could walk and growing up for most of my childhood at the coast, so I was super happy. After I managed to pick up a pretty good tan I headed to the airport late last night to pick up Luke, and we spent the first night at home in a while! So happy to have him home! I hope everyone is having a great weekend, and I have some fun stuff lined up for this week so make sure you tune in!