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3 December 2012 I’m mad for plaid!

I’m mad for plaid!

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I love decorating with plaid at Christmas!  Plaid is a traditional print, but can be used with other accessories to create the decorating style you love!



 I love these plaid stockings hung at the fireplace!  And I’m really loving that gray mantle!!

horchow

And my favorite of all!  This is one hip Christmas tablescape!!

 

sweetsomethingdesign

I believe a wool, fleece or flannel blanket was used for that tablecloth!

Tip: a tartan plaid wool scarf could be used as a runner or if you have 2 matching scarves, you can place them across the table.  Plaid wrapping paper could also be used!

The plaid pillow and throw just make this room look so “stately”!

3.bp.blogspot.com

Of course beautifully wrapped plaid gifts add just the right touch under your Christmas tree!

You know how I’m digging rustic this Christmas!  This Christmas wreath with fresh greenery, berries, and tartan plaid bow is perfect for my rustic taste!

vignettedesign

Countryliving

Potterybarn has these adorable plaid candles!  You know I’m all about that rustic sled decor!!

What about you, are you mad for plaid!?

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13 November 2012 Super duper sectional!

Super duper sectional!

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The family room is the heart of my home!  This is where we hang out with our girls and entertain friends as well.  When my girls have friends over, this is where they hang!!


They love the large comfortable sectional, and I have to say, it is perfect for all of those sleepovers!

The one must have in your family room is comfortable seating, and have plenty of it!  That’s four 7th graders sleeping on there!

We knew that we wanted a sectional to replace our sofa.  We just didn’t know that we needed one so BIG!  David has always complained about the size of our last sofa.  Even though it fit my size perfectly, it is rather small for him!  I think his feet actually hung off the end!   When he saw this one, he knew it was the one!


   I had googled reviews for 5 star sectionals, and a particular one came up so I decided to go look at it, Macy’s had a big sale, plus an additional military discount.  Woo hoo!!   I love to patronize companies that support our troops!  They are usually the first place I shop.

Since I was searching for my family room, I wanted my furniture to be a transitional style of decor.  I also had to have a sectional that would hold up but I did not want to spend too much $$( in the event  it got ripped, stained, or whatever else my girls could manage to do to it.   Lord have mercy, I didn’t want to  loose my mind and go Kingsport Cable!  JK, I would never go Kingsport Cable again, but I might lose my mind a tiny bit if it got damaged, and I had paid a lot of money for it!  That high end sofa will come one day when my girls are responsible enough to not mess it up!  Maybe?

When we got to Macy’s,  the particular sectional we went to see, was not on the floor , so we walked around, being harassed by every single salesperson that worked that day, trying out all the floor samples they had.  We were getting ready to leave and I was very disappointed because NONE of them were comfortable.  Sofas are like shoes to me, they can be cute and all, but if they are uncomfortable, I refuse to buy them!  I had just said to David, “let’s go”, when we looked up and in the middle of all the bedroom furniture was this humongous sectional!  I think we all 4 noticed it at the same time and took off towards it.  By the time I got over to it, the girls and David were all laying on it saying,  ”this is the one”!  I sat on it and immediately knew, it could be the chosen one!  We left so we could “google” it to see what kind of reviews it had received.  At the time it only had 2 reviews and they both were 5 stars.

A few days later, after shopping other furniture stores with no such luck, we went back and bought the sectional.  I had never bought furniture from Macy’s, I really was taking a big risk.

The style of this sectional is Devon.  I bought the tawny color.  It is a neutral color.   I decided to take Nate Berkus’ advice, he says to always by neutral sofas, that way you will have them much longer and they match any decor that you may want to change in the future.

I am somewhat happy with it, it is a mid grade sectional, the fabric is durable,  however the only complaint would be the back cushions are not sewn directly to the back of the sectional, so they droop too much for me!

I am always having to fluff them out!  I just wish it was more tailored,

but it’s ok, after all it is the family room, and comfort must come before style!

 Note: make sure you measure your room and space before choosing a sectional, this is a very large sectional!

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8 October 2012 Cha cha cha changes

Cha cha cha changes

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As you know, I have been giving my dining room/living room a complete makeover!  Remember how I first shared my feelings about my dining room here, then after being gone for the summer and returning home, I just couldn’t get the living room quite right.   I made some decisions and thought I had made progress, which quickly resulted in my gray and yellow love affair being over  because gray is just to0 difficult to get along with, leaving me in a state of undecisiveness for a few weeks now, but I am so happy to bring you up to date with the final decisions I have made!

Remember, my dining room started out looking like this.

 

And my living room looked like this.

After coming home from being gone all summer, I rearranged the furniture to this.

After weeks of not being happy, I decided to swap the furniture.  Today the furniture placement looks like this!

 

I flipped the two rooms.   The dining room is the focal point when you walk in the front door now.

The smaller area ended up being the perfect little cozy space for my chair and chaise.

I ended up deciding on these 2 fabrics for my curtains and ottoman.  Thank you JoAnne’s  for your Columbus Day Sale, a great 50% off sale!  I chose a more traditional fabric and adding a more contemporary fabric to the ottoman, these fabrics used together will help create a transitional decorating styled room.

Eventhough I LOVE this fabric,  I just just couldn’t get past the raccoon tails!   Thanks Hayley!

 

I am pleased to announce my handyman will be home in about 50 days now!  Can’t wait, he has some work to do to totally finish up this room!  The chandelier has to be swapped, pictures need to be hung, curtain rods need to be rehung to 108 inches, and 6 beautiful tufted, linen chairs need to be put together!  I returned the other dining room chair, it was the wrong color gray!  imagine that!

Along with a never ending honey do list!  I think I deserve a pat on my back, as anxious as I am to update and decorate this house, I have been very patient as my husband focuses on this deployment.  Patience is not one of my strengths, especially if it has to do with recreating and decorating my house!!

 

You know I love your feedback!  So what do you think about the changes?  I love the dining room table and linen chairs as the focal point, what about you?

Linking to Debbie Doo’s

 

 

 

 


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3 October 2012 When the Army gives you lemons, just make lemonade!

When the Army gives you lemons, just make lemonade!

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A few months back, I posted  these pictures on facebook and asked what would you do if this was your furniture.

Some of you said you would cry, some said you would actually burn it, some said buy slip covers immediately, and only a few gave suggestions on what they would actually do to make it work!

While I was visiting England with my husband, we stayed in the Military Lodge in Alconbury.  Not a five star by no means but very comfortable, clean, and very affordable!  This furniture was in the lodge where we stayed.  However, it  was also the furniture issued to us when we were living in Korea.   Being stationed in Korea is not like Europe, we could only ship 4000 lbs of our household goods.  That is NOT a lot at all!  Furniture was issued so you got what the Army gave you!  (Well I didn’t, I took a couch and recliner to be reupholstered (affordable too) because I knew better!)  Anyway many families are issued this sofa and 2 chairs.  This set came in 3 colors, navy blue, burgundy, and hunter green!  Talk about a blast from the past!!  Yep those were the 1990′s color scheme that the dotted print came in, there were other prints issued, but trust me, you got the “pretty” furniture if you were issued this beauty!   Even though it looks like you are living in a cheap hotel, there are ways to make it work.   Maybe not exactly what you had in mind, but for 2 or 3 years, it can work.

So to those of you who think OMGoodness, how in the world can I have a pretty, stylish,warm, and cozy home with this ugly furniture, I am going to give you some ideas on how to use what you got and when used with the right decor ideas, you can take lemons and make lemonade!

 As I searched the internet for  coordinating color scheme, I kept thinking what would I use with that furniture, because regardless of how short or long of time you live somewhere, it is still your home , you still have to live in it, with it, and it still needs to make you happy when you walk in the door!

I started with throw pillows.   I found several pillows that I thought would work with the hunter green color.  The pictures are hunter green, even though they look navy blue.    I immediately thought about the new gold color that is so very popular right now.  However I would not use a lot of it!  You could use navy blue with the gold, but I found some accents with red that I decided to use.  

Target

  I know many of you are thinking, why would you even use such furniture.  Because sometimes in life, it is what it is.   This is one of those times, moving overseas limits you in many ways and having a beautiful home is not on the top of the Army’s priority list.    But you always have options to make it work!  Korea style anyway! HA!

I definitely would use a print that was on a light background to contrast with the darkness of the furniture.  I’m a light and bright kind of person.

Potterybarn

Here are a couple of  rugs (Potterybarn) that could be used to add color, texture, and interest.

 

I think a neutral rug like this one from Target would be fine as well.

Hang a neutral or gold pair of grommet curtains like these linen curtains.

A colorful pattern print would bring out more colors and really add some pizzazz to your room!

  Both pair of curtains can be found at Target too!

Use additional contemporary home decor accessories like these mirrors that I blogged about here.

Kirklands

Everyone owns family pictures.   Gallery walls are trending right now so why not add something current and trendy to the room?  It would give the room a contemporary feel.  I love this whole display from Pottery Barn.

 Potterybarn

A gallery above the sofa would look great!

home happy home

You can check out  gardenberger  for great tutorials on arranging pictures!

Here’s a look at the whole collection that I put together.

 

Here are examples how to put them together.

Add a comfy, cozy throw blanket over the couch.  Light a few candles.  TaDa we just made lemonade out of lemons!

What accessories would you suggest to make the furniture not so “hotelish”?

We all have had and still have furniture that really is not our style, how do you make yours work?

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29 June 2012 Dear Dining Room…

Dear Dining Room…

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Dear Dining Room,

You know how special each piece of furniture is to me, some of you came all the way from your homes in South East Asia to live with me.  I handpicked each of you with a particular look in mind!  You are an important piece of our story, you represent an area and many memories of where we have lived!

Dining Room table, you are one of my favorite pieces of all of my home decor furniture.  I love how you are made of solid teak and come from Bali.  I love how diverse you are!  Your color is beautiful and you show off your wood grain perfectly!  I can use you forever and mix you with all types of decorating styles.  Right now, you are being used in a transitional decor style, but as I get older, I can continue to use you if I decide to be more traditional, and my daughters will be able to use you one day if they choose a Contemporary style.

When we moved into this house, you and your dear friend, Living Room,  were combined into one very large room and I needed to get you out of the boxes and your home decor items displayed because you are the first room our guests see when they walk in the front door!  However, I was so overwhelmed with the amount of updating the house needed, I just decorated you with my existing home decor items to recreate you once again!  You were pretty enough for me to move on and focus more time and money into rooms that had to be totally madeover!.  Please forgive me for not giving you the detailed attention that you truly needed and deserved!  What I have planned to do is give you a new dining room makeover!  I plan to replace the dark rug that you are sitting on with one not as dark, a rug that is more contemporary and stylish.  Maybe something like these from Overstock.com

I also plan to replace the ugly white and peach slippery ceramic tile floor that makes you look so outdated and sterile, with beautiful  dark Hardwood floors.  This will make a huge difference in how you look and feel, and I am sure that we both will be very happy with the outcome!  You will be looking very hip and current when I am done!

Centsationalgirl

Dining Room chairs, you are probably the most upset with me for seperating you and the other four chairs. I decided to use them in our bright and airy kitchen area! You may even be a little jealouse that they get used so much more than you do.  I am very sorry, and I am looking for you a very good home that can give you the attention that you need!  You deserve a better life!  You were great for our home in Hawaii, but now you are just not right for the dining room and a bit smaller than what I need.  Your contemporary style is perfect for a dining room that is not as dark as mine!  I hope you are used in a bright and cheerful space so that your dark color can help the room feel anchored!  You were just too dark for the new house because you had to be used with more dark furniture than before!  I am sorry!  I really like these from Restoration Hardware, they are more formal, elegant, and of course much ligher in color.  And I love the tufted backs!

Teak bookcase, I really love you!  I just wish you were larger so I could use you for a real china cabinet!  I have always found the perfect spot for you and displayed items inside that complemented your look and style!  You too are very well made and solid teak.  You came from Thailand, my favorite country EVER!  I plan to get you fixed, the moving company broke a drawer and we are still waiting for it to get settled!  I know it has been almost a year, but Covan moving company just don’t want to take responsibility for breaking you.  I promise you will be fixed and no one will ever know that you were damaged.  You have had some serious moves, one from Korea to Hawaii and the other from Hawaii to Florida.  I am very happy that is the only damage you have received!  You will continue to be a part of the dining room, I am just not sure where you will be placed!

This chandelier is a new addition.  I love the chrome and white shades!  It is very modern and will help bring the entire room together!  I have a white monogrammed table runner from Pottery Barn that I just realized was not being used!  I will have to find it and use it.  The white is a great contrast with the dark wood.    I will replace the mirror with a much larger round mirror and pair it with a sideboard.  Something similar to this dining room photo by A Well Dressed Home.

I think you will be a beautiful room when I am done.  I think you will be a stunning first impression to our guests.  We plan to add crown molding as well.   When I am done, you will be a perfect blend of traditional and contemporary decorating styles!

I am still trying to decide on which rug to use!  I would love to know which is your pick!  What are your ideas for this room?

 

 

 

Linking to a Blog Hop, Miss Mustard Seed, debbiedoos

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31 May 2012 Master bedroom, My Suite Escape!

Master bedroom, My Suite Escape!

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I am so excited to show you our master bedroom!  It was one of those rooms that I really did not have a clear vision for, therefore its a bedroom that I thought, I will just get to later!  I  kinda added home decor accessories here and there, no rhyme or reason to anything,  I figured I would make sense of my master bedroom later.  I really was just adding things to keep it from being an empty room!  I think that it turned out beautiful and it is one of my favorite rooms ever!  I think it is a true example of transitional decorating style.  Hopefully you will get some decorating tips from this master bedroom.

master bedroom

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