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House & Bounty

Push and Pull of Design Aesthetics

January 23, 2020

I have a small problem that I’m trying to solve. I simultaneously want two things that are polar opposites of each other. Has this ever happened to you?

Top | Bottom

I love calming, neutral rooms like the work of Studio McGee or Amber Interiors. Their rooms are not cluttered, anchored in neutral colors, sleek and calming. The rooms tend to have light walls, minimalist styling and patterns on accessories (pillows, throws, rugs). Color is incorporated into the spaces, sometimes a bright color, but usually more muted colors that have a good amount of gray. I love this aesthetic- it’s sophisticated, grown up and calming. These rooms feel like they will stand the test of time and could easily be update by switching out some accessories.

However, the other part of me wants all the color and patterns layered on top of each other. These rooms tend to feel vibrant and give a glimpse into the personality of the residents. I think these rooms can equally feel sophisticated but in a very different way. It’s about the combination of patterns and colors that end up making a visually pleasing room. I also believe these rooms feel harder to pull off because it does bring in so much personality and is so personal to the resident. In addition, a patterned piece of furniture, all over wall paper or bright carpet can start to feel outdated and are not always easy or cost effective to change out. But despite the risk of it all, it feels magical when all the elements come together in these rooms.

The simple compromise, and what I am leaning towards is keeping the main parts of my house neutral and then having bold rooms in the laundry room, closets and bedrooms. I think part of the internal conflict is that I am afraid of doing the bold room wrong. Spending money on things that could not end up adding up to what I want or in 5 years no longer liking expensive elements (furniture, wall paper etc) is just plain scary to me. But I’m trying to rally the courage to do it.

I’ve started to put together a mood board for my master closet and I’m learning toward doing a bold patterned floor, although the rest of the room is pretty neutral. It’s a baby step.

Filed in: Uncategorized • by Jenny • Leave a Comment

2020 Interior Design Trends

January 13, 2020

Over the last five years or so I’ve narrowed down the aesthetics that I like and have a clear vision of my “design style.” However, I’ve recently been gravitating towards a few fun, new things which I think we’ll be seeing more of in the design world in 2020. If nothing else, I’ll definitely be embracing these 4 trends.

Source 1 | Source 2

Skirted Furniture: For more than a decade, I’ve found myself drawn to “leggy furniture” and more mid-century modern design styles. The lack of a skirt around my chairs or couches felt modern, updated and stylish. Although I still love this look, I find myself searching for skirted furniture. Perhaps this is partly due to the up rise of the “granny chic” style that has been gaining steam over the last few years or because I’m embracing more traditional styles. Either way, I think the tides are turning and skirted furniture will make it’s come back in a big way. The skirt adds a feminine and softer touch to a room. I also think that it adds visual interest and some movement, depending on the skirt (pleated, ruffled etc).

Source 1 | Source 2

I am particularly drawn toward simpler skirts as I think they transition well among many different styles and would fit well with my existing home. I’m not a pleat expert but there are several different styles to choose from.

Box Pleat | Kick Pleat | Knife Pleat | Ruffle Pleat

For example, I tend to be drawn toward the simple kick or flat pleats while the shirred/ruffle pleats may be fun for a little girl’s room. I have found this website helpful when identifying the different types of pleats. Below are some of my favorite skirted furniture– with a variety of different pleat styles!

1. Pink skirted ottoman | 2. Skirted Club Chair | 3. Skirted Vanity Chair | 4. Skirted Sofa | 5. Skirted Armchair
Source 1 | Source 2

Bold Patterns: Okay–I know bold patterns have been around forever and have been used in interior design throughout history (including the last 10 years), but I think the trend (can we call it a trend?) is that we are using bold patterns in bigger ways and are combining/mixing bold patterns. With the resurgence of wallpaper, people are introducing pattern at a bigger scale and now required to mix the wallpaper pattern with the other elements of the room. In addition, I think bold patterns are also coming back on upholstery–so the combination of a patterned wallpaper, patterned upholstery and even more patterns in accessories (rugs, throw pillows, decor items) can create a really elegant and upscale room. However, this is a hard trend to execute well as mixing pattern is a skill that is acquired with practice (well, at least I need practice). A room can easily go from well designed to crazy circus room if the I’m not careful. This can be a scary trend to embrace because of the financial investment involved in purchasing a patterned chair or bold wallpaper.

Source 1 | Source 2

But, I mean come on -just look at these inspiration rooms. They make me want to combine more patterns and live in those types of houses for some time. Not only am I drawn toward the mixing of patterns but I also find myself more open to crazier patterns than in the past. For example, I can’t stop thinking about the lion printed ottoman linked below.

1. Bold Pattern Chair | 2. Patterned Vase | 3. Spotted Chair | 4. Colorful Couch | 5. Lion Print Ottoman
Source 1 | Source 2

Fringe Details: I’m not sure when this happened but I started to get excited to see fringe on things. Fringe on curtains, furniture, pillows, clothes–really anything. It’s a little detail that can surprise you and make a room feel fun. I find it particularly fun on chairs and ottomans.

Source 1 | Source 2

I’m definitely worried about trying this trend out on an expensive piece of furniture but bringing in the right accessories with fringe would be a great way to start. I’m also thinking it could be DIYed and doesn’t seem that difficult. Those could be famous last words. 🙂 I am truly obsessed with the pink fringe lamp linked below from Home Depot. I also used that lamp in my mood board with the crazy flamingo wallpaper. It just feels like it would make a little girl’s room feel special and the right amount of girly.

1. Fringe Curtains | 2. White Fringe Chair | 3. Pink Fringe Lamp | 4. Pink Fringe Chair | 5. Black Crane Fringe Ottoman
Source 1 | Source 2

Natural Wood Tones: I love all wood tones and don’t mind painted, stained or glazed wood and I don’t think the other wood treatments are going anywhere — but I am drawn to the more “natural” looking tones right now. I think woods with a simple poly-coat will be be big and continue to grow in 2020. I can’t stop looking at the Amber Interiors kitchen linked above. It feels like the most perfect color wood that can go with any style: modern, traditional or transitional styles.

Source 1 | Source 2

I think what I love about the natural tone is that it feels neutral. I find that it’s hard to find the lighter, natural tones on websites like Overstock or Wayfair (although I definitely found some). I hope that over the next year I start seeing more on their websites.

1. 6 Drawer Dresser | 2. Side Table | 3. Mirror | 4. Accent Table | 5. Side Table | 6. Bookcase

Well that completes the 4 trends that I think will continue to grow in 2020. I’m curious to see what other design trends this new decade will bring.

Filed in: Uncategorized • by Jenny • Leave a Comment

The Next Decade

January 6, 2020

Well 2020 is here and I couldn’t be more excited. I love the mental clean slate of a new year and, in this case, a new decade! So much potential! So much to look forward to! So much to think about! That is a lot of exclamation marks. 🙂 Anyways, I wanted to share a few things that caught my attention.

  1. Bobbi Brown Master Class. I devoured this entire class in a day or two. I love how Bobbi Brown explained how to match make up to your skin, how to determine your undertone and her general career advice. She was so down to earth. Now I also feel that I have a better understanding of how to put on my own make up.
  2. Little Free Library: In our old neighborhood, someone had a cute little bird house looking box filled with books outside their house. On one of our many walks, we read the sign and it explained the concept behind the Free Little Library. Basically, anyone can put up this free little library and anyone can come and use it. I loved the concept and I’ve been thinking about it lately. I’m considering asking the city where we live if we can build one and put it at a park that is close to our house. What a great way to encourage community and spread the love of reading.
  3. Blurb Photo Books: Over the last couple of years, I’ve made yearly photo books to capture our memories and preserve them. Each year the book gets a little longer and I spend more time putting everything together. I just ordered our 2019 book and it immediately brought me joy writing down all the things we did that year. I hope that my son, B, will see that love whenever he looks at it.

Filed in: Uncategorized • by Jenny • Leave a Comment

Wallpaper Play

December 13, 2019

My son and I were “writing” books together one night. My story was about an interior designer who had a demanding client, a 6-year-old girl, with an attitude but fun style. The premise of the story isn’t really important, but while I was illustrating the pictures I doodled some crazy wallpapers that inspired me to try to create some on the computer, you know just for fun. 

I created 4 wallpapers that have the same theme: animals in hats. They all have colors with a similar saturation, so it kind of feels like a collection. I didn’t take designing them too seriously, although I did want to make sure that they actually worked as patterns (you can easily use a pattern function in any program and it would look like a seamless image). I’m not sure if I could see myself using all of the “wallpapers” in real life but it was a fun exercise.

Of course, just designing the patterns were not enough. I then played around with how I would design a room around each of them and made mood boards. For each of the mood boards,I pulled out three colors from the wallpapers and used that as inspiration for bedding, pillows and accessories. Each room has it’s own feeling and style. The rooms are wacky but I think that’s why I enjoy dreaming up kids rooms so much – there is so much room for whimsy and fun.

Crown Pillow | Rainbow Pillow | Rug | Lamp | Night Stand | Bed | Dresser | Ruched Comforter | Heart Sheets | Gold Bowl

The flamingo room I imagined is designed for a little girl who loves pink and girly things. I always dreamed of having a canopy bed as a young girl and this one fits perfectly into the crowned flamingo room. The nightstand and dresser are light in color which allows the pinks and accent yellows in the design to shine.The pink ruched bedding, colorful sheets and whimsical pillows make this room feel like it’s for a princess.

Green Sheets | Orange Quilt | Orange Pillow | Teal Pillow | Rug | Dresser | Bed | Lamp | Night Stand

The chameleon room is one of my favorites. I love the color green, especially the greens with more gray (like the rug or sheets used in this design). The room has a southwestern vibe. Both the bed and dresser have a rich wood tone that goes well with the greens and orange in the wallpaper. The night stand has a rustic appearance which goes well with the rustic metal table lamp. The orange quilt and green sheets continue with the color scheme and the throw pillows add new texture and interest to the room.

Green Fringe Pillow | Purple Pillow | Bed | Night Stand | Lamp | Rug | Dresser | Quilt | Sheets

I struggled to design a room around the hedgehog wallpaper. I love the furniture and the bedding and I think the wallpaper print would have to be small scale to look good. Green and purple is a hard combination to put together. In this room, I found that letting one color take the lead, purple, and using the other, green, as an accent worked best. I think the beige/mushroom color of the hedgehog helps to really ground the space. Ultimately, I think that I brought it all together but there’s always room for improvement.

Bed | Lamp | Night Stand | Rug | Dresser | Pillow | Camel Stuffed Animal | Reversible Quilt Bedding

The last room is the camel room. This wallpaper is polarizing. My husband immediately stated he hated it and suggested I delete it. It’s quirky and I think that for the right kid it would be a lot of fun. The black Jenny Lind-like bed feels classic and goes well with the gray wood tones of the dresser and night stand. The room has multiple black accents (the lamp and furniture pulls) and the fun camel stuffed animal completes the look.

I had so much fun playing around with these crazy designs.

Filed in: Uncategorized • by Jenny • Leave a Comment

Hello Winter!

December 3, 2019

I just wanted to share a few things that caught my attention recently. I hope you’ll find them enjoyable!

  1. Chasing Happiness: This is a documentary about the Jonas Brothers. Prior to this documentary, I knew very little about them. I knew one married Prinyaka Copra and that they were tween heart throbs back in the day. The documentary talked about their rise and their fall. The most compelling parts are when the brothers talk honestly about how their relationship with each other was impacted and the slow road back together.
  2. I.M: A memoir : I loved the audio version of this book as it’s read by the author, Isaac Mizrahi. This books tells the fascinating story of Isaac’s early passion and aptitude for style/fashion, his love for performing and his time in the fashion world. He speaks so eloquently about the shifts we all have in life when one thing is finished and we move onward to the next. I can’t recommend it enough.
  3. Is There Anything We Can All Agree On? Yes: Dolly Parton. Last year, I rediscovered Dolly Parton and became a huge fan. I read two of her books: Dream More and Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business. She sucked me in with her authenticity, positivity, generosity and work ethic. Both of her books were so uplifting and I can’t recommend them enough. However, the featured article here is talking about two new projects where Dolly is at the center: a podcast (Dolly Parton’s America) and new Netflix series (Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings). I haven’t consumed either yet, but the linked article highlights them both and explores why Dolly may have such lasting celebrity. I don’t know if I necessarily agree with the conclusion but I hope that Dolly continue to capture the hearts of the younger generations. There’s a lot to learn from her.

This post contains affiliated links.

Filed in: Uncategorized • by Jenny • Leave a Comment

2019 – Easy & Affordable Stocking Stuffers

November 22, 2019

Every year I frantically run out a few days before Christmas to pick up stocking stuffers. Somehow, I always forget them and never know what to buy when I do go to the store. This year is different. I made a plan and I’m ordering those gifts early. No last minute Target run where I’m just throwing anything willy-nilly into my cart that looks compact enough to fit into a stocking.

  1. Partstock Business Card Holder $8.99: This adorable card holder is perfect for the established executive or a young lady just starting her first job. It will make her look and feel professional. It comes in 8 colors, so her personality can shine.
  2. Winter Headbands- 4 pack $9.99: I love a good knit headband and this four pack can be split up among four people if desired.
  3. Marshmallow Earbuds $12.96: These are my favorite headphones. The foam ear tips are comfortable and stay put even when running or working out. In addition, they have a pretty good microphone, so you could use them to talk on the phone if needed.
  4. Fashionable Luggage Tags $9.99: These green luggage tags look sophisticated and can up the style of any luggage. They also comes in 9 colors.
  5. Watercolor Pan Set $7.38: This is the easiest pan set for either the beginning artist or a great travel set for an established one. I’ve had this set for years. I love the colors and quality.
  6. Portable, Fast Charging Power Bank $21.99: I own this charger and am very impressed. It does exactly what it says and last for several days after one charge.
  7. Small Crossbody Bag $23.99-29.99-: I’ve been craving a simple bag to use on the go. These days all I need is room for a few of my credit cards, cell phone and chap stick. This small leather number feels like it would do the trick. It comes in multiple colors but this camel brown has my heart.
  8. Travel Pores Be Pure Mud Mask $2.99: I adore a good face mask and for the price you can’t beat it!
  9. 4pk Bangle Circle Key Chain $16.98: I’ve been seeing these key chains everywhere…so I bought one and love it! I’m confident it’ll make searching for my keys in my purse a lot easier.
  10. Fitbit Charge 3 Leather Band $10.99: This band makes the Fitbit Charge 3 look like a regular watch. I’ve owned it for several months, wear it everyday and it still looks brand new. I can’t recommend it enough.
  11. 9 Pack Genuine Leather Earrings $10.99: 9 gorgeous earrings for around 10 bucks – Sold!
  1. Men’s Business Card Holder $6.49: Every guy will feel confident keeping their business cards in this case. No more pulling out bent cards.
  2. Halo bolt Charger and Car Jump Starter $119.99: I purchased this for my husband last year and I.am.impressed. The charge is very long lasting, it has a regular electrical plug, can jump start a car and more!
  3. Fitbit Charge 3 Metal Band $16.99: This black metal band is masculine and professional enough to wear to business meetings.
  4. Ron Swanson Dishwasher Magnet $9.99: It’s funny, it’s functional and it has Ron Swanson. Enough said.
  5. Fun Shark Tie $24.95: This tie is fun but not in-your-face kinda fun where everyone thinks you’re a jokester. It can easily be worn in any setting.
  6. Novelty Saw Tie Clip ~$7.00: A simple and inexpensive way to add a little personality to your man’s business attire. The saw would be great for a contractor, carpenter or DIYer. Check out the link for other options including an airplane, nail, car and lightening bolt (for all those Harry Potter fans).
  7. Funny Boxers $15.99: My son and husband are always joking about farts. It’s gross, but I know they’ll both laugh when unwrapping these boxers.
  8. Unstable Unicorn Card Game $19.97: A fun card game is always a win.
  9. Digital Meat Thermometer $14.99: I love this thermometer because it has a meat temperature guide printed directly on it. I cannot tell you how times I have to google “temperature of cooked chicken.” It’s just plain smart.
  10. Super slim wallet with D-Link $8.99: This easy wallet can be attached to a key chain or lanyard for easy access.
  1. 3 Pack Silly Putty $5.97: My son has been asking for silly putty. I don’t understand the hype but we’ll see what he does with it.
  2. Plus-Plus Triceratops $7.99: I think Plus-Plus is so fun and simple. They have tons of different kits and they inspire imagination, creativity and problem solving.
  3. 3 Pack Pokemon Cards $10.72: My son is obsessed with Pokeman cards and has said it’s all he really wants for Christmas. For $5/pack, I think that’s an easy way to make a big impact.
  4. Beyblades $9.97: We have our own Beyblades battles at home. It surprisingly keeps my son occupied for hours. In addition, when you have more than one you can start mixing and matching the different components to create the best Beyblade possible.
  5. Mini Crystal Dig $4.99: For any boy who loves rocks and to break things apart.
  6. Bakugon $5.86: These little figurines are a lesson in origami. Each of the “animals” fold up into a ball and will open when they encounter a magnet.
  7. Mini portable key chain game system $10.48: A compact and portable little game system with over 150 retro-style games. My husband and son are both going to love this.
  8. Pin Art Board $14.98: I loved these pin boards as a kid and now the next generation can see what the contours of their face looks like on it.
  9. Stickers $6.99: Stickers make everything a little funner.
  10. Magnetic travel Game $7.99: This tangram game is both educational and portable. I believe it’s a great, screen-free travel option.
  11. SkipBo Junior $6.99: A simple and fun family card game.

This post contains affiliated links.

Filed in: Uncategorized • by Jenny • 1 Comment

An Old Hobby

November 16, 2019

I love to dream up new designs for houses but redecorating my house wasn’t enough for me, so I got into the habit of putting my spin on real estate listings.

Every Saturday morning, I would wake up and noodle around with different ideas until my family woke up. I would occasionally request that my husband look at the real estate ad, my re-imagined design and try to convince him that we should purchasing it. He never bit but I found a hobby that was fun, rewarding and functioned as a stress relief. Anyway, life got busier and I stopped doing it. While cleaning up my old computer files, I came across some of these little nuggets and was pleasantly surprised by how much I still love them. I thought it would be fun to share them on here.

I only found two files but you can see that I have a very specific aesthetic– I love brick, flower boxes, black roofs and big windows. You can also tell that I am into small houses. I looooove small homes and wished that we, as a society, could give them more attention and love. Let me be clear- I’m not talking about tiny houses, although those are fun too. I am talking about houses that range from 800-1500 square feet.

The first house, as you see above, looks like the quintessential house that every kid draws. It is basically exactly what I draw when I am trying to communicate “house” to anyone. I think the outside of this house is plain but has so much potential to be adorable.

I would add grills to the existing windows and change out the white louvered shutters for new raised panel black ones which I think gives the house a more refined look and plays well with the new portico that has a metal roof and round columns. The front stoop area was expanded and brick was added to the stair risers. Add a few black window boxes to the house and some landscaping complete with hydrangeas and black mulch to give this exterior a fresh new look.

This next house is one of my favorites not only because it reminds of me of a classic doll house but because it’s a great size for a small family. In my redesign of the house, I would replace the siding with a white shaker hardie board and put on a new roof with black dimensional shingles. The house would get new windows with black frames and grills which I think gives it both a modern but classic look.

I would open up the porch by removing that half wall (is there another name for this?) that surrounds it and just have the porch be completely open. All the columns would be replaced with simple square ones and the floor would get a new finish. It could be painted or some type of wood composite material could be laid on top to warm up the entry way and also tie into my omnipresent flower boxes. The front door would be replaced with a large, wood, 2-panel door with sidelights. Lastly, the foundation of the house would be covered in a brick facade. I ended with a simple landscape of black mulch and several boxwood shrubs around the front of the house.

Okay, this last one is the house I imagine living in when I am a grandmother. It’s a white, single story, adorable house that just needs some love and attention. I would replace the roof with a black, dimension shingle which creates a nice contrast to the white exterior of the house. To really add some interest, I would add a single faux dormer. I am usually a big proponent of symmetry but because the door is not centered and the tree is on the left side, it feels like this house could get away with one dormer.

I would add new windows that were larger and had bulkier trim around them. I would eliminate the shutters to make the house feel updated and more modern. I, of course, need wood window boxes to give the house some life. I would use the same wood, 2 panel front door to tie into the wood window boxes. I would complete the look of the house by replacing the front cement walkway with a new brick one and plant some creeping phlox in that stone flower bed.

I have a few more to share but I’ll do that in another post. Maybe I’ll revive this hobby?

Filed in: Uncategorized • by Jenny • 1 Comment

The First Project: The Half Bath

November 7, 2019

I have big plans for our current house but big plans often move very slow when you’re fitting them in between full-time jobs and a kid. Over the last 2.5 years, my husband and I decorated and renovated a few different spaces but the house is definitely still a work in progress. The first project that we tackled was the powder room. It’s located on the first floor, gets a lot of use and is very small, so it seemed like the perfect starting place. 

The great thing about this room (and the rest of the house, really) is it was just fine. It functioned great and it looked okay, so I could take my time to decide what to do with it. When I started to evaluate the room I found that I didn’t really want to change out the toilet or the pedestal sink. I liked both of those things. The mirror is a standard octagon builder-grade mirror that is glued to the wall. I wasn’t too thrilled about the mirror at first. Although I liked the Octagon shape, I hated that it didn’t have a frame. I contemplated removing the mirror but was terrified that in the process of removing it I would create a huge hole in the wall. So I put the mirror on the back burner and put off deciding on what to do with it. 

The flooring was a sheet vinyl and I knew I wanted to change it*. Initially, I thought we could put hardwoods (or some variant) in the bathroom. But I wanted the hardwoods to match the rest of the house and we just were not in a position to do the entire first floor at that time. So, we moved onto tile options. I played with several different ideas but I knew I wanted something that would be classic and stand the test of time. I ultimately landed on a white honeycomb mosaic tile. It feels versatile and traditional. 

The room was painted a neutral beige. Now, I am actually a fan of beige as you’ll probably see in other parts of the house. I enjoy having light, neutral colors in the main living spaces. But I see small spaces, like the powder room, as an opportunity to do something fun. For me, that means dark walls. I debated between two main wall colors: Sherwin Williams Domino and Sherwin Williams Caviar. Either color would have been fine and I can’t even remember why I decided on Domino, but I did. No regrets on the color. 

Final Mood Board

The light fixture, faucet, and accessories (towel bar, toilet paper holder) all felt dated. The original towel bar perplexed me. Why in the world would I need such a large towel bar in this little bathroom? Perhaps I would one day try to bath myself in the pedestal sink when all the other bathrooms were occupied? Maybe it was so large to allow each family member to have their own hand towel displayed on the bar. I don’t know but I quickly told my husband we were getting rid of it and putting in a small hand towel ring near the sink. Now, after living with it for a while I can’t even imagine walking into the bathroom and having it any other way.

A crappy phone photo before we painted. This gives you a good view of that 90’s light and basic faucet. As you can see in the picture, the humongous towel bar was removed and the towel ring was installed.

The light fixture was a 2-light brass number that reminded me of the ’90s. It looked like every light we had in the house I grew up in, so you know that meant I needed to change it**. I always loved schoolhouse light fixtures, so I found a bathroom version that would fit in the space. I considered several options – three-light versions (too big), some with slightly different globe shapes, some frosted and some clear. I ultimately chose a classic frosted 2-light version. Again, since I’m writing this so long after I bought the thing I can’t remember exactly why I choose this exact fixture. 

The faucet was a spur of the moment purchase. At that time, I had already put together some rudimentary mood boards and had a general idea of what type I wanted. My husband and I were strolling around Lowe’s looking for something to buy, as one does, and he suggested a new faucet for the bathroom. I quickly agreed and pursued all their options. I landed on a one-handle, single hole brushed nickel faucet. It was pretty and it would do the job. Honestly, it was a great upgrade. It feels sturdy, heavy and works like perfection. It was exactly what the sink needed. 

The one bogey in the room was the cabinet above the toilet. I liked the function but wasn’t sure about the aesthetic. Wouldn’t a pretty picture be better? I huffed and puffed a little bit about the cabinet but ultimately I couldn’t get rid of it especially after living with glorious storage for several months. I played with the idea of getting a newer, prettier version of the cabinet. I looked around but nothing really caught my eye. I decided to just update the hardware. I’m open to replacing it one day but I have to say I’ve grown to appreciate that little cabinet. 

1.Tile: American Olean Sausalito White White Ceramic Honeycomb Mosaic Floor and Wall Tile | Source 2. Wall Color: Sherwin Williams Domino, Color Matched Behr Paint | Source 3. Trim: Behr Ultra Pure White  4. Mirror (inspiration): Octagon Mirror | Source  5. Door Handle: Schlage F40 V Lat 622 Latitude, Privacy lock Lever, Matte Black | Source 6. Light Fixture: Schoolhouse Bathroom Light Satin Nickle 2 Light | Source  7. Woven Box: Small Water Hyacinth Storage Box with Hinged Lid | Source 8. Woven Trashcan: Seagrass Waste Basket (similar) | Source  9. Cabinet Pulls: Black Square T Bar Cabinet Pull | Source 10. Faucet:  Moen Boardwalk Bathroom Faucet | Source 11. Frame: Wood Gallery Single Opening Frame | Source  12. Print: Whale Print | Source  13. Hand Towels: Herringbone Turkish Hand Towels, Gray | Source  14. Cabinet (similar): Over the toilet bathroom storage wall cabinet | Source 15. Pedestal Sink (Similar): Retrospect Pedestal Combo Bathroom Sink | Source  16. Toilet (Similar): Reliant 2-Piece Flush Round Toilet | Source  17. Soap Dispenser: Oil Can Soap Dispenser | Source

After slowly making all the changes described above, I realized that the bathroom felt a little stark. It needed some warmth and I am a huge fan of natural textures and elements.  If I could, I would put wicker, rattan or sea-grass in every room (it will probably happen). Anyway, I decided a little wicker box on the toilet would give the room some warmth and matched a woven trash can to it. I thought a nice wood frame would also help tie the natural elements together. This is also about the time that I decided that the bathroom mirror, the one I had put on the back burner, would need a wood frame. I found a walnut trimmed octagon mirror on Houzz.com and love it, but I was/am still scared of creating huge holes in the walls, so I’ve told my husband we will frame the mirror out to make it resemble my inspiration mirror. We have yet to do this but we’ve purchased the materials and plan on doing it soon. I’m excited to see how it turns out.  

Hopefully, in the next week, I’ll write up and take pictures of the final bathroom (and complete the mirror). I’ll then tell you the riveting story of the toilet and how a two-day project turned into a two-week nightmare. It’s a little sensationalized but the broad strokes are correct. 

* I like vinyl sheets and have lots of thoughts on them. I have a proposal for the vinyl sheet designers/manufacturers–One day I’ll write that up.

**I have a theory that the decor/styles that we grew up with as children influence our design choices as adults.  It’s probably a very-self reflective theory but may hold true for others.

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Filed in: Uncategorized • by Jenny • 1 Comment

Welcome to November

November 4, 2019

Just like any good Midwesterner, my favorite season is fall and I relish in the beautiful foliage and perfect hiking weather. I get my pumpkin candles out and burn them all day. But it’s all going by too damn fast this year and Christmas feels like it’s just a few moments away. I always viewed November as the “Welcoming to the Holidays” month. It’s like the opening act before the big show. When I was younger, I tried to rush it away and fast forward to the good stuff. Now I’m the opposite– I just want to make it last as long as possible.

Enough of the sentimentality. All I wanted to do is share some interesting things that have caught my attention this past week.

The China Connection: How One DEA Agent Cracked a Global Fentanyl Ring: As a mom, the opening story scares the shit out of me. As you continue to read, you’ll learn how easy the internet has made drug trafficking, the rampant/crazy business of shell companies in China and why Fentanyl is such a dangerous drug.

Why Teachers Are So Excited About the Power of SketchNoting: I didn’t even know SketchNoting was a thing but I instantly connected with the idea. It makes perfect sense to me and my visual brain. I can’t wait to read more about it. This article is a good introduction. Don’t skip the embedded video.

Life Will Be the Death of Me, By Chelsea Handler: I’ve read her other books but this is by far my favorite. If you want to read about someone coming to terms with their “shit”, opening up to new possibilities and laughing a little than this would be great book for you. Her other books were always funny but this makes her more human, likable and soft. I also started following her Instagram because of this book. I highly recommend her family meeting videos.

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Real Emotions

October 25, 2019

How I Feel

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It's finished! My MIL's laundry is all done and sh It's finished! My MIL's laundry is all done and she is very happy with how it turned out.
We had to put our problem-solving hats on this wee We had to put our problem-solving hats on this week. As we fitted the first piece of beadboard, we realized that the floor was sloped and the baseboards were uneven. So when we rested the beadboard on the baseboard, it was unlevel. We actually called it a day without finishing any work and went home to think about how we could tackle this problem. We came up with three possible solutions. Swipe to see what we considered doing (spoiler alert - we went with option number three!). 

#orcfall2021 #orc #laundryroommakeover #diytips #beadboard
The wallpaper is installed! It came out wonderfull The wallpaper is installed! It came out wonderfully and is holding up great so far (many loads of laundry have been washed and dried and the wallpaper looks exactly the same as the day it was installed). Of course,  I made a cartoon because that's what I do when I wallpaper. 

#OneRoomChallenge #OneRoomChallenge2021 #laundryroommakeover #wallpaperlaundryroom #cartoon
The design plan is up on the blog! This time arou The design plan is up on the blog!  This time around I'm using one of my favorite wallpapers and I can't wait to see how the room comes together.  Right now,  the room looks worse than when we started (swipe for the pictures). 😬 But that's part of the process,  right?? 

#OneRoomChallenge #OneRoomChallenge2021 #orcfall2021 #orc #laundryroommakeover #diywallpaper #diyhomeimprovement
I'm back again for another one room challenge! Thi I'm back again for another one room challenge! This time we're renovating a laundry room for a client (really just my mother-in-law!). On the blog,  I take you through the design process that I've used for myself the last couple of years and how it played out with this project.

#OneRoomChallenge #OneRoomChallenge2021 #laundryroommakeover #smalllaundryroom #interiordesignprocess 
#orcfall2021
The Halloween season is upon us! That means pumpki The Halloween season is upon us! That means pumpkins as decorations and Halloween costumes! Every year I come up with 4 super easy costumes that I would totally wear. One is always a famous interior designer. It's super niche, but hey, that is part of the fun! Check out the blog for 2021 costume ideas.   

#halloweendecorations #halloweencostume #falldecor #falldecorations #pumpkin
The dining room renovation is all done! It was a s The dining room renovation is all done! It was a slow process as Jeremy and I wanted to make sure the board and batten was just right. In the end, the room feels completely transformed, and we are enjoying our "new" dining room. Don't forget to check out the before picture to see how far it's come. Lots more information and pictures on the blog. 

#beforeandafter #beforeandafterinteriors #diningroom #diningroom #diningroomdecor #diningroomdesign #diningroominspo #homerenovation
It's funny what little things in life make me happ It's funny what little things in life make me happy. Recently, it has been wallpaper samples. I spent the last couple of weeks searching for affordable green geometric wallpapers for an upcoming project. I quickly added 15+ samples to my shopping cart but eventually narrowed it down to the top 7. While you can peek at some of the samples I ordered above; I wrote a post on my blog with all my favorite ones. Bonus – All the wallpapers are non-woven and unpasted. I have found this type of wallpaper to be really DIY-friendly.  More project details to come soon! 

#wallpaperdecor
#modernwallpaper
#diywallpaper
#wallpaper
#wallpapers

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