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Sophisticated interior styling for the modern decorator.
Hello, friends! :-)
How are you all doing? It has been about a week since I've written on the blog. A lot has been going on, and lots of changes have been happening in my life. On top of that, we spent a long weekend in New Jersey with my husband's family for his grandmother's 85th birthday. It was a great trip and I'm so glad I was there with everyone to celebrate; we had a fantastic time. :-) So now, I'm back to this blog, and I'm also maneuvering my way around the variations that have come into our lives. I'll keep you posted!
Today we'll lightly discuss the importance of a cozy armchair (or two) in a living room, family room, you get the idea... ;-) I am in lorrve with armchairs (of any kind)! Considering I adore reading, a room with a delightful armchair or two is wonderful -- I will immediately find my way over to it and sink into its luxuriousness for a couple of hours or more! This is why I search for the "right" coffee shop on my weekends -- the shop with an available cozy armchair is suitable for me. ;-)
There is something about upholstered furniture that I love. Whether it's tufted or smooth, I am a huge fan -- I'm not really all too picky! Colorful designs and patterns, I love; but I also find calming hues equally as inviting. As Deborah Needleman says, "Every home needs a few chairs that just beg to be sat in." Isn't that the truth?
There are so many possibilities in the nature of an armchair. Curvy, square, ruffled, tufted, overstuffed... It's positively endless! :-) There are some interior decorators who consider the armchair the essential backbone of an entire room. I would have to agree!
Love, Maria
Hi, everyone! :-)
How are you all doing? I'm doing okay... My grandmother ended up in the hospital this weekend so I'm feeling kind of quiet and sad tonight; but I'm just keeping she and my mom in my thoughts and prayers, and I just know that everything will turn out the way it is supposed to. I'm just in a weird state tonight, and feel like keeping to myself.
However, I got some awesome things finished around the apartment this weekend, so I wanted to show you all what my hubby and I accomplished. :-) On Saturday, we set out to find the perfect chandelier to go above our dining room table. I had found one on Lowes.com for $49.99 and had fallen in love with it, so we drove over there to pick it up. Imagine my surprise when we found it on the shelf, but the price was $98. Um, whut? I pulled up the page on my phone where the chandelier was listed and was even more surprised to see that the price on the website was also listed at $98. What happened? I panicked a little bit, and Grey went and found a sales associate. We explained to him the situation, and then he said he would go get a manager. The manager was very rude to us and insinuated that I wasn't telling the truth about the price of the chandelier online. I was shocked, because I've never had a bad experience at Lowe's before, but this woman just must have been having a really bad day. Needless to say, we left without the light.
I was disappointed, so Grey asked if I wanted to go to Ikea to check out furniture and see what we could find for overhead lighting. At first I didn't know if I wanted to make the drive all the way there just to take a look around, but we ended up doing so, and boy, am I glad we did!
The funny thing about this chandelier is that it was the first thing we saw when we walked into the building. Not even the showroom -- just the room that escalates you up into the showroom. This light was hanging in a beautifully-designed bedroom, but I knew that it would be perfect in our dining area.
Keep in mind these colors are going to change, but doesn't it look so cute? I'm proud of it. :-) And the price? $40 *Squee!*
While poking around Ikea, we fell in love with a sofa. I know, I know -- we said we weren't going to be purchasing one, but we are positive now that we are going to take this lovely home with us within the next month or two.
There are some really awesome things about this sofa. One -- the legs are removable and we can replace them with aluminum ones to give it a more modern feel.
Also, the arms are removable, should we ever want to add a chaise, or a whole other section! And the cushion/couch covers are removable so they can be dry-cleaned, and replaced with another color choice anytime we re-do our living room! Not like that will be a lot, but you get what I mean. This sofa is incredibly versatile, and we are so excited about purchasing this in the coming weeks. :-)
Of course, changing the sofa also changes the color palette in this room. We are going with dark grey -- like the couch, and also the entertainment center and coffee table, which more closely resemble black -- a very light-but-rich silver tone, pops of soft lavender, and neutrals of a marshmallow white and an incredibly-pale mossy green. I've gotta be honest -- I'm in loooorve.
After Ikea, Grey and I went over to his parents' house to pick up a ladder to hang the chandelier. He had told me about a bench that was in the garage (it used to belong in his bedroom years and years ago) and his mom said we could take it home with us!
I knew that we couldn't keep this bench in red. With that color, it didn't belong anywhere in our home! But this was an incredibly easy re-upholstery job. The legs simply unscrewed at the bottom, and I stapled the fabric around the holes, then popped the legs back on!
I bought 1 1/2 yards of a linen fabric, which ended up being $16.
The pillows were a find from Marshall's Home Goods (*note* the color of the pillows in the back is definitely not that bright in person) -- $5.99 for the two in the back and $12.99 for the one in the front. Can't beat that! ;-)
Anyway, that was my weekend! I hope you all had a lovely one, and please enjoy the rest of your Sunday evening! I'll catch ya back here tomorrow.
Love, Maria
Hello, hello! Happy Friday! It is super early here -- I went to bed at around six o'clock yesterday evening, and then woke up at about midnight. I think I am going to head to bed for a bit after I post this, but we'll see if I can even fall asleep! *Sigh*
Yesterday I came across an awesome website called My Colortopia, and I am so excited to say that I have chosen a color palette for each room of our little apartment! My husband has this Saturday off of work, so we are going to start the redecorating process this weekend, and I will continue to work on this in the coming months. :-) I am so happy! We can't change wall colors, but we can change light fixtures, so one thing that I am really looking forward to doing is updating some of the unattractive overhead lights and really making this place look as lovely as it can. I want to share my color choices with you all this morning!
Living Room
In our living room, we have a large garnet couch -- we call it the Perfect Nap Couch because, well, it is! We have been debating for the past couple of weeks about whether or not to splurge and buy a new couch, but after creating my living room color palette yesterday morning, I told my hubby that I think I have come up with a way that we can keep the couch and use that as a color focal point, working everything else in the room around it. This will save us money so that we can use it elsewhere in this redecorating process, and we're all about saving money. At this point, our plan is to think about buying a new couch when we start thinking about buying a home together, and since we just signed another year-lease, we really don't need to think about it right now!
Something we do plan to buy, though, is an armchair and an ottoman. Our living room is seriously lacking in the comfortable seating department. We have one very structured, very faded, very cheap chair that I bought when we first moved in together, and while it isn't horrible and honestly has a very cool retro feel to it, the color is all wrong, and it's just not comfortable! No one ever sits on it! So, I will be on the lookout for an olive green armchair, preferably patterned, and I am so excited about it!
Accessories will need to be a silvery-birch color, as well as a soft white and a wheat hue. We have an end table that needs to be painted, and other decor in the living room that I can update -- we probably won't have to buy too terribly much. Most of the things we already own can be covered with a can of spray paint and they will be good to go! However, the artwork definitely needs fixing, we have a mirror hanging above our couch that needs a good painting, and I definitely need to make some curtains for our windows.
Dining Area
I have a confession to make: The "dining room table" in our dining area is actually a desk. But -- it doesn't look like it! It's from Crate and Barrel, it's black, and we love it. The truth is, a dining room table is definitely something that I would love to purchase. I think we are ready for it, and I think it is something that would get used enough that it is worth spending money on. But I love having a black table -- if we bought a dining room table, I'd want another black one! I want to paint our chairs that we have a clay color, and I would love to buy two more chairs (possibly Lucite, if I could talk my husband into it!) and then have one of each on either side of the table -- sort of mismatched, but in a chic way. We also need new cushion covers for our seats, but I can cover those myself! I would love a cabinet of some sort next to the table, and I actually have one that we are going to use -- my parents are giving me my dresser from my old room, which we are going to use for our serveware and table linens in our dining area. I would like another bar-like piece on the other side of the table -- both in a burnt orange-ish hue. Like spiced gingerbread. ;-) Adding a large bookshelf or two above the dining room table would be lovely -- gray would be a nice color to use for that. And our accents will be in an antique white color.
Kitchen
Our kitchen is really pretty, but the decor is kind of a hodge-podge of stuff right now, and I don't like that. We also have room above the cabinets where we could add a little bit of fun! :-) I'm thinking a rich brown color for the utensil crocks and the like, and also some white mixed in there, too. Accessories up top will be in those colors, too, as well as a green-ish khaki; and a splash of rose-inspired pink. This should be a fairly easy project!
Bedroom
We recently bought a new duvet and duvet cover, and we love them both so much! We also purchased a cool lamp and lampshade, and I kind of worked the room colors around the duvet cover and that lampshade. Gray-ish black and a golden yellow -- the duvet cover is a white-and-grayish-black paisley print and then lampshade is, well, not the right color, but we'll see if I can get away with it, and if not, lampshades are inexpensive. I want to add in some lavender accents -- pillows, throws... The room also needs a too-much-cream-in-your-coffee hue and an almost-there jade color. I am so excited to see how this room comes together in the next months. We need curtains for this room too, by the way! ;-)
Bathroom
The bathroom will be a similar color palette as the bedroom in order to keep a good flow going, but we won't be using any of the golden-yellow. This room will be fairly simple -- we just need some good adjustments to our decor in there (or lackthereof!) and we will be good to go. We will keep that almost-there jade color going in the bathroom, and also add in a sort-of-green, sort-of-dark-gray color. We will also add some stone-inspired white and slate green!
And finally -- Outside!
We have a small patio outside, and I am looking forward to updating this a bit. Right now we have no furniture. Can I just say -- we have lived here for a year and we still have nothing out there! Crazy. Especially with the amazing weather that Arizona has for most of the year. There's not a ton we can do out here, but one of my goals is to take the bench that we have in our dining area right now and move that outside -- maybe give it a nice spray of olive green spray paint, then cover the seat cushion with a happy green chevron striped fabric! I want to paint our table that we have out there a pretty white color and maybe add another chair in khaki. Plant some things in pots that are painted a pretty sandy white, add some candles, and you've got yourself quite the little afternoon spot!
So there you have it -- my ideas. I am so looking forward to getting started on this! I just can't wait! :-) That's why I'll be starting this evening, lol. I hope you all have a wonderful day!
Love, Maria
Hey, there! :-)
How are you all doing? I have been super busy with work, which makes me super tired when I get home, which, in turn, makes me super lazy when it comes to blogging. I will definitely try to be better about that! Tonight I had plans but they changed, so now I'm here at home, writing away and making fun styleboards! My hubby is out supporting one of our friends, and by the time he got home and was going to head out, I was showered, in my pajamas, and ready for bed. But at least he is there (and my in-laws are there, too!).
Tonight we're going to dip our toe in the topic of 'places for chatting.' Don't you just love a nicely laid-out room where chatting comfortably is easily achieved?
"A comfortable chair is the most hospitable piece of furniture one can own." -Charlotte Moss
Very true, yes? ;-)
A successful area for chatting has a nice flow to it -- enough cozy seating; chairs that can be pulled up to join in on a conversation; accommodations that allow for both laid-back and formal discussion. You want structure, but you don't want people to be standing around, feeling like they can't muss up the furniture for fear of the room being too prim for such an act. As the homemaker, you want your guests to feel welcome to pull up a bench, grasp a pillow to their chest, or toss a throw blanket over their legs if it makes them more comfortable. Remember -- we are going for stylish beauty, not rigid decor. Flexibility is key.
Love, Maria
*Check out the blog I am sponsoring for the month of February!
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Hi, lovies!
Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you all have been enjoying your holiday! I'm waiting for my hubby to get home -- he works late tonight -- so that we can exchange cards. We are going out for dinner tomorrow night, so I won't be blogging, but I'll catch you back here on Thursday! :-)
We have been focusing on the entryway for a while now, and tonight is the final roundup! There are a few essentials that you should have in your entry, and these are thoughts that I have taken and will be elaborating on from Deborah Needleman's book The Perfectly Imperfect Home (that is the book we are working through currently!). Here we go!
A Place to Sit
A place to sit while you tie your shoes, make a quick phone call on your way out the door, or place your handbag is fantastic for an entryway. It can make the space seem so luxurious and really creates a chance for you to add such character with the textiles.
Bins, Bowls, and Baskets
Bins, bowls, and baskets are a great way to store things in your entryway! Keys, sunglasses, umbrellas, shoes -- anything goes, really! Just keep it organized and your space will be a happy one. :-)
Hooks, Hangers, and Hampers
These are great storage areas for coats, hats, handbags -- basically anything that can hang! Hockey sticks, tennis rackets inside of hampers -- these create a homey feel. Place personal items here -- things that tell a story about you and your family. It'll all look great because it will be neat and organized, yet still appear cozy and lived-in. Remember, we are going for functionally beautiful spaces -- not museums!
I hope you all have a wonderful rest of your Valentine's Day!
Love, Maria
*Check out the blog I am sponsoring for the month of February!
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A thought, from Deborah Needleman -- author of The Perfectly Imperfect Home:
"In the eighteenth century, an entry was designed to be as tranquil and restful as possible in order to soothe arriving guests after what was almost always a long and difficult journey. This sense of calm came from the austerity of the architecture, that paucity of furnishings, and the bare floors. The effect may have been a little cold, but that must have made it especially wonderful to then be ushered into a cozy sitting room with a nice fire going, given a warm drink, and doted on for news of the world. The entry should still be thought of as a transitional space. While we don't what it to seem cold, neither do we want to bombard our visitors with the details and detritus of our lives."
Love, Maria
**Check out this month's sponsored blog! :-)
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Good mornin'! :-)
How are you all doing this AM? Did you sleep well? I was up late doing laundry -- fun, fun. ;-) Today I am planning on getting some cleaning and organizing done, going grocery shopping, and heading over to my in-law's house this evening for dinner with my hubby. Looking forward to it!
For today's Style Sunday, we are going to take a look at Nicole Miller's What to Wear: Valentine's Day selections! Here are my favorite looks...
Also, don't miss these sales today:
Rue La La: Bottega Veneta, Kenneth Cole Men's, and more.
ideeli: Jones New York, Nicole Miller, Chanel, Nicole Miller Luggage, Tommy Hilfiger, Tommy Hilfiger Bedding, and more.
Gilt Groupe: D&G Watches and more.
Happy shopping!
Love, Maria
Hey, there!
I hope you all had a wonderful day! I'm looking forward to the week winding down a bit -- I am exhausted so far. It probably doesn't help that I am both a night owl and an early bird (can someone explain how that happened to me?!), but I love both times of the day so much, I just can't help myself. Usually my weekends are spent both crafting and sleeping, sleeping and crafting. And that's about it! This weekend, there may be a tad more sleeping goin' on.
I was inspired by a craft that I found on Craftgawker.com (this one here), and I decided to make baby barrettes for my second-cousin, Libby. She is an adorable, beautiful brunette baby with the cutest little face on the planet. I text-messaged my cousin (her mom), Ellen, last night and asked her if Libby is wearing barrettes yet! Her response -- she finally has enough hair! ;-)
Libby is the ultimate girly-girl. In fact, on the day of my wedding, she kept touching the beading on my dress and in her almost-one-year-old-little-peanut-voice said, "Oooh." Touch. "Ooooh." Touch. "Ooooh!" She's a gal after my own heart.
This project was very inexpensive. Your only materials needed are:
-Fabric trim of your choice
-Hair clips (found in the jewelry-making section of your favorite craft store)
-Glue gun (I only needed about half of one stick!)
I think my total cost was $33, but that's because I went Barrette Crazy -- sort of like that time I went Coaster Crazy (remember?). You wouldn't need to spend that much if you were using only a couple types of trim -- but I didn't have any. Plus, every little girl needs an abundance of hair accessories, yes?
I rest my case.
Yes, I bought a lot of trim. But I'm thinking of it as sort of a "trim investment." No, I'll capitalize that so it looks/sounds more official: Trim Investment. That's what I'll tell my husband.
Just cut off some of the trim and neatly snip the edges, then hot glue to your barrette!
Easy as pie. ;-)
Glitter is a must, of course.
Xoxo, Maria
*Check out the awesome blog I am sponsoring for the month of February! Go on, take a look! ;-)
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*Also, I'm linking up!
Hey, friends!
How are you all doing today? I hope you've been having a great Tuesday! :-)
I thought I'd share with you something personal for today's blog post. I have been trying to lose weight now for a really long time, and it has definitely been a struggle. I have tried so many different diets, but up until now I have not truly understood that there is nothing better than a healthy diet and good exercise!
I took a good, hard look at the things in my life that I was eating too much of, and I did this by jotting down all of the different food groups that I ate from throughout the day. Come to find out -- almost every single thing I was eating was a carb. Hmmm...
I decided to go with my mom's advice and stick to meat, vegetables, and nonfat dairy products. I am loving how light and fit this is new way of eating is making my body feel, and I am proud to say that I have not had any bread-y or sugar-y foods for almost two weeks. I am not being restrictive, and I am not feeling deprived -- my body is actually craving the veggies and the meat! No fruit for me at this point, either.
My husband and I go for nightly power-walks -- a two-mile circuit that we have planned out nearby our apartment. I love that time I get to spend with him, and especially now when the air is so cool and crisp at night, it's divine.
I have lost ten pounds and six inches so far, and I am so excited! At every ten-pound marker, I will share it with you and this can become a place where I check in every once in a while and post about this topic. I appreciate all of the love and support I have been getting from my family and friends, and I am just so, so happy!
Thanks for cheering me on, loves!
Xoxo, Maria
*Check out the awesome blog I am sponsoring for the month of February!
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