Ikea Shopping List

I'm heading to Ikea on Saturday afternoon and since it's easy to get lost in that big blue box, I've come up with a shopping list so I can stay on track. (Or at least in the right "neighborhood.")

Ikea List by coffee22 on Polyvore.com

As you can see I'm looking for shelves, window coverings, picture frames, and pots. And it just so happens that everything on my list is white.

LACK Wall Mount Shelves: I'd like to pick up two of these to mount on the walls in our home office that doubles as a guest room. We've taken to stashing books under the day bed in this room and it's about time we gave them a proper home.

MERETE, OFELIA, and AINA Window Panels: I'm looking for a set of off-white curtains for our sun room and I'd like to compare each of these and walk out with one lucky winner.

LUMMIG & DAMPA Curtain Rods: Along with the curtains I'm looking for rods to hang them on, duh.

RIBBA Frames: I have a ton of empty walls and I want to create a gallery to display black & white photos from our wedding and such. I'm going to stock up on 8-12 of these frames in white.

KARDEMUMMA Pots: Last weekend we picked up 5 indoor plants to bring some green living into our home. I'd like to transfer them into something other than the plastic containers they're in now. Can't go wrong with white!

I'm also going to look for a small runner to put in front of the washer and dryer in the basement. I didn't see exactly what I was looking for online, so I'll have to scope something out in the store. Another thing on my mental list is pillar and votive candles. And possibly an outdoor citronella candle to keep bugs at bay. Hopefully I'll have a car full of loot come Saturday afternoon!

Backyard Bliss

Now that the weather is warming up... I am craving an outdoor space where we can eat, drink, and relax. Living in a townhouse shouldn't limit your outdoor experience but it can be tough to bring the indoors out when space is tight. We have a small deck that leads down to our small yard... but I'm determined to make our little plot of land an oasis for the summer. Here's the vision:

Backyard Bliss by coffee22 on Polyvore.com

It all starts with a new patio... stone pavers in alternating sizes will set the perfect platform for a dining, grilling, and drinking area. I've been trying (not so successfully) to convince Jared that we can tackle a patio ourselves... but the trouble is our sloping yard. It's definitely our biggest challenge.

But I won't let it kill the dream... a dining table for four, two Adirondack-like chairs that we already own (they sit right in the grass as of now, and it's good enough but looks a little trailer park if you ask me), a few new planters, lanterns, and a big ol' bucket-o-beer (with ice). I'd be perfectly happy sweating out the summer months in my own backyard.

My parents promised us their old wrought iron dining table (they just upgraded to a larger one) and I found chairs that would match perfectly for only $22 at Costco. Have any of you done a patio project? Is it something you'd leave for the pro's or would you fearlessly commit to building it on your own?

A Little Reinvention Goes a Long Way

So, here's the deal. Remember the tall chest I bought for my bedroom? Unfortunately, we ended up having to return it. I was so sad to see it go, but apparently it wasn't meant to be.

Because it took me 4+ years to find the tall chest that didn't work out, and I refuse to spend money on anything that I "like but don't love," I've decided to save our money and reinvent what we have with a fresh coat of paint and new hardware until I find "the one[s]." ("The one[s]" being the perfect tall chest and night stands or side tables.)

We already have two matching oak night stands and one oak bureau that dates back to the 1870s. If we just paint these pieces a creamy white and add new hardware, they will feel brand new. And, when I find "the one[s]" we can easily move them to the guest room.

I think I already know which white to use -- Benjamin Moore's Simply White. It's so pretty with just a hint of cream, without being too ivory (in person).

But that's not all I have up my sleeve -- I want to make fabric drawer liners for the bureau!

I've done a little research and I *think* it will only take mat board or cardboard cut to fit each drawer, a hot glue gun or other adhesive, and some pretty fabric.

These are the fabrics I like right now:

Drawer Liners by girlmeetshome on Polyvore.com

Our bedroom color palette is silver sage, beige, white and espresso. We have RH's Hotel duvet cover and shams in silver sage and chocolate, and PB Matine Toile in espresso.

Clockwise from top left:

• Artissimo Stripe Robin's Egg
• Jangle Silver Sage
• Alsbrook Spa
  
• Pindot Robin's Egg
• Zebra Print** Right now, this is my front runner. I looooove animal print in fashion and decor and wouldn't a Zebra print drawer liner be a fun surprise every time a drawer is opened?
• Garden Toile Aqua

So, that's the plan for now. I'll keep you posted on progress, but this project may not be completed until the end of June. I am DYING to paint the kitchen cabinets and the kitchen walls are scheduled to be de-texturized, skimmed, and painted after Memorial Day, so that's the immediate priority.

Do you guys have any big painting projects or furniture makeovers in the works? Do tell!

Some Like it White Hot

It's probably pretty obvious that Erica and I are partial to a particular color scheme in home decor: Black and White.

While looking around my living room, dining room and kitchen this morning, I noticed just how prominent the black accessories are in the black and white/cream decor. While I don't think it's too much, it would probably be a good idea to incorporate a little more white/ivory for added contrast.

So this afternoon I checked out a few of my favorite retailers to see what's out there in white/cream, and put together a mood board with some finds. This is my favorite mood board yet, check it out!

White Hot by girlmeetshome featuring J Crew day dresses

Clockwise, from top left:

1. Diagonal Selvedge Pillow Cover, West Elm: I love pleats and these incorporate one of my favorite elements in a light summery pillow cover.

2. Great White Heirloom Serving Bowl, Pottery Barn: This bowl will add a little panache to your table while used for its original purpose, but I also like the idea of incorporating it into a spring and summer centerpiece. For instance, imagine it filled with bright yellow lemons.

3. Cordoba Mirrors, Ballard Designs: Wouldn't a large group of these hung above a bed be interesting? I really like the pattern and texture of these whitewashed mirrors.

4. Ceramic Artichoke Sculptures, Bassett Furniture: {sigh} I can't get enough of these ceramic artichokes. For proof, click here and here.

5. Emma Pitcher, Pottery Barn: I love the vintage appeal of this pitcher, particularly the beading. What a pretty way to serve an ice-cold beverage on a hot summer day. And when not entertaining, I would fill it with hydrangea, peonies, or tulips and use it as a centerpiece.

6. Stella Vase, Crate and Barrel: The texture of this vase really makes it pop. A friend gave this to me as a shower gift last year -- I love it!

7. French Chair with Slipcover, Wisteria: I just want to curl up in this chair with a latte and a Marie Antoinette biography. With the ruffle slipcover, it looks like it belongs in a quaint apartment in Paris...or my home in the U.S. Maybe it will go on sale some time this year and I can think about making it mine!

8. Balustrade Lamp, Circa Lighting: When Erica and I toured a local ($1.2M) model home a few months ago, a pair of alabaster lamps just like this sat atop the nightstands on either side of the bed in the master bedroom. Love the shape and contemporary/traditional feel.

9. Cutwave Dress, J.Crew: And finally, I'm throwing in this white dress just because...it's so pretty! Imagine it with pale gold heels, and large blue gemstone earrings. Love it! Will definitely keep my eye on it in case it hits the sale pages at J.Crew this season.

DwellStudio - Pillows from Target

I just picked up two of the Lattice decorative throw pillow by Dwell Studio for Target and I am loving them! The calming blue offset by the chocolate brown embroidery really sold me on these.
Or was it the crisp white and the chocolate brown? I can't decide because this baby is double sided!

As of today, these throw pillows have no where to be thrown, so I'll just keep them safe until I'm able to a) reupholster my plaid armchairs, or b) upgrade to the Arlington armchair from Pottery Barn. But since I can't help but picture what these gems are going to look like on my soon-to-be-new or re-newed, chairs, I polyvore'd my way to a mock up:

Chair + Pillow by coffee22 on Polyvore.com'

And I like what I see... the pillows will anchor the chairs on my dark brown area rug and tie my whole color scheme together. I have been staring at my room design for months now, so hopefully a few new purchases will find their way to our humble abode so my "room off of the kitchen" can finally be made over!

Here's the "to do" list:

• Donate the "monster"/armoire
• Replace said monster with console table (which is just begging to be moved out of it's temporary resting place in the kitchen)
• Update or replace armchairs
• Buy new overhead light to replace ceiling fan
• Buy new flat panel TV to replace the also monstrous TV residing in the "monster"
• AND FINALE!

So as you can see, we have a lot to spend...uhhh I mean... do. I have tasked the husband with finding a deal on a TV of his choice. He has been faithfully stalking his favorites on Amazon and other retailers in the hopes of finding a bargain. As for my job... well the rest is up to me.

Room off of the Kitchen: Update

Back in January I began planning what to do with the "room off of our kitchen" and put together this moodboard. From there I started shopping for items in the plan or like-items that would work for the space. While it's great to have a plan when shopping for your rooms, it's just as important to keep an open mind. For example:

Originally I planned to save up for the Ryhs Console table from Pottery Barn. Then one day I stopped by Target during my lunch break and saw this Tobias Console table on the floor during their Home Design Event. I snapped a picture with my phone and left the store but for the next few days I kept thinking about how perfect the table would be for our room. The long legs create an open feeling that won't eat up space in our small room and it has just enough room for storage in the drawer space. After a few days of thinking about it I went online to target.com and found an offer for free shipping on furniture plus 30% off of everything in their Home Design event. So, for $154 we were able to find a great peice of hardwood furniture that will really open up our room. We essentially saved ourselves over $500 by having a plan and keeping an open mind.

An Armoire or Hidden Office?

We've been trying, unsuccessfully, to get rid of a huge armoire for the past month. At first we thought we could get a couple hundred dollars for it by selling it on Craigslist. The only offers we received were people trying to scam us with some kind of money wiring scheme. Next, I tried calling a few donation services only to discover that they no longer pickup furniture. The armoire was a hand-me-down from my parents and has lived in four homes in its life.

Other than it's massive size, there is nothing really wrong with the piece. It just has such a large footprint that our small sun room is constantly in it's shadow, so to speak. So we downsized to this console table and are planning to upgrade to a flat screen TV which we'll mount on the wall above.

Last weekend, Jared's mom suggested converting the armoire from a TV stand into a workspace. Brilliant! My thoughts are to move it into our basement and place it in a corner behind our sofa in an area that has been completely neglected. I could give the entire piece a fresh coat of paint and make some minor tweaks to the inside to turn it from a huge waste of space, to a fabulous workspace! Clearly we aren't the first to have dreamed up this concept...

Here are some similar work spaces:

The Verona Office Armoire from Ballard Designs:

The Eastman Secretary, also at Ballard.

I've even come up with a design plan for this re-purposing project. It includes new hardware, a fabric covered bulletin board to cover the hole from the TV, and lots of fun storage bins and boxes. I would be able to use this space to store scrap booking materials, fabric swatches, magazines, catalogues, you name it. And the best part is that when I'm not working on anything, I can close it up and no one will know about the clutter behind the scenes! WAHOO I can't wait to make the move and get started!

Hidden Office - by coffee22 on Polyvore.com

Moodboard: The Man Cave

Family Room (Basement) by girlmeetshome

While many things in my townhouse may be small, the fully-finished basement surely isn't one of them. This was one of the rooms we loved about the house -- a large, open space that can accommodate an array of activities, from watching movies and entertaining, to doing laundry and working out.

But aside from the sofa, coffee table, treadmill and TV, this room has largely been ignored in favor the main level. So I thought it was high time to figure out what the heck to do with this room with a mighty helpful moodboard.

My husband is a huuuuuuuuge movie buff and because he is usually the one in the basement, I thought I would make this room a movie-inspired "man cave" just for him. With masculine neutrals, more modern pieces, and a pop of color, thanks to a favorite Hitchcock movie poster and apothecary jars, I think this will serve him well.

Sofa: Thankfully we already own this C&B sofa, so really I'm building the room around it.

Black Rumba lamp: One of a pair. You may notice its companion is upstairs in our living room. Again, love its size. Great versatile lamp.

Black end table and glass coffee table: Two five-year-old Ikea finds. We originally bought the end table unfinished, and stained it black. I think we paid about $15. The coffee table is an Ikea side table and still available as well. In this economy, if something works then why replace it?

Hitchcock 'Vertigo' movie poster: It's even already framed! My hubby's favorite director and one of his favorite movies. Not only does it have sentimental value but the color is absolutely stunning against all these neutrals.

Vintage movie camera: Being the movie buff that he is, Christian already has an authentic vintage movie camera like this (but much larger). Luckily I can bring it downstairs and let it contribute to the movie theme.

Now for the fun part...stuff I need to buy to complete the room!

Armless chairs: I love love love the idea of two armless upholstered chairs, like these from Williams Sonoma Home, facing each other across the coffee table. The price tag -- about $995 a piece -- is too steep for me, especially for a basement, but I am confident that I'll find something in this style and color for less.

Photography floor lamp: Because we split the pair of Rumba lamps, I need a floor lamp to anchor the other side of the sofa. This Photography floor lamp from CB2 is just the ticket and the price is right! But shhhh...don't tell..."someone" is getting this as a surprise for a recent promotion... :-)

Film reel plaques: Gotta love Ballard. They just unveiled this set of three film reel plaques that will contribute to the theme in a non-cheesy way. As soon as they go on sale I'm picking them up!

Apothecary jars: Following the old adage that one must have something red in every room, I selected these bright apothecary jars after finding while doing research for our last post. I really like their shape and bold hue.

And finally, I'll need at least one or two more framed movie posters, depending on their size. I selected the posters above because not only are they Hitchcock (C's favorite) and classic, but they are both so neutral that they let the piece de resistance shine as it should.

Moodboard: Room off the Kitchen

Kitchen TV Space by coffee22

I call it the room off of the kitchen for lack of a better name, but this is a small space that is just big enough for two arm chairs and a TV and is in plain view of the stove and kitchen table. (Who doesn't love to watch Food Network while making dinner for two?) For months I've been wanting to give this room some TLC but have been waiting for inspiration... and now I have it.

Media Table/TV: As of today this room is home to the biggest TV armoire known to man... it must vacate the premises. (We plan to sell this badboy on Craigslist ASAP!) I'd love to replace it with something like this Rhys console table from Pottery Barn. It would be great to store extra kitchen items in the hidden drawers and maybe our cookbooks in the display windows.

Seating: I have two identical armchairs which are oh-so-comfy for watching my Sunday night shows (I can't get enough of Wisteria Lane this year). The only problem with my chairs, is the pink and green plaid they are currently sporting. This leads me to what I hope is future topic of discussion, "How to find a reliable upholsterer." A fresh and natural linen would really give this room a soothing vibe.

Area Rug: In the days following the holidays I stalked all of my favorite home decor stores looking for sales. That's where I found this espresso wool rug for $150, what a deal! The walls are already a soft creamy shade of white so I think the starkness of this rug will help balance things out.

Nesting Tables: Remember the sale I stumbled upon for the red nesting tables? Well, they look perfect in between my two armchairs (even next to pink & green plaid.)

Lighting: I found this red table lamp from Ikea and think it would look fun above a few stacked books on the nesting tables. I also like the porcelain blue ceramic table lamp so it might take a few test runs to settle on the right lamp.

I am going to replace the existing ceiling fan/light with a fun pendant light. I think an alternative source of lighting from the ceiling would give the room an edge-y and young twist. And, if after a few months I decide on changing the look, I won't feel entirely guilty that I spent $25 on this Ikea KNAPPA pendant.

Curtains: Red, brown... and soft blue! As a contrast to the colors I've already included in the room, I think a porcelain blue curtain, hung just higher than the windows would add some depth to the space. And since the room has an angled ceiling sloping downwards at the windows, hanging the curtains higher would make that wall seem taller.

Accessories: We plan to mount a flat screen TV onto the wall which will allow a surface for some accessories on the console table. I have some great ideas for filling apothecary jars so they are a must in this room.

I found these white, flower tealights at ZGallerie and I love how they mimic the shape of the pendant lamp from Ikea. Perfect for the nesting tables, or on top of the console table.

As you can see from a previous post, I have a thing for pillows! That's where I'll bring back more of the porcelain blue from the curtains in each of the armchairs.

And because I like some form of life in a room... I am on the hunt for some type of branches that I can use to fill an empty corner.

So, there you have it. My moodboard for creating a "TV room off of the kitchen" that is comfy, well lit, and full of items I'll snag on sale!!!

Moodboard: Living Room, Revised

Living Room by girlmeetshome

Ahhhh. I feel relaxed looking at this moodboard already.

My current living room is in the process of redecoration. Long story short, we made some strong color choices a couple of years ago and I am now in search of a more serene, peaceful space. Thankfully, I already have several of the pieces above -- coffee table, end table, caramel couch, lamp, mantel, chair (soon to be reupholstered), and mirror (soon to be painted) -- so with just a little paint, fabric, and budget, I hope to have a revised living room in the next couple of months.

Cherry coffee table and end table: Antique reproductions by Tom Seely. I absolutely love the cherry. I know these pieces will stand the test of time so I'm going to hold on to them.

Warm caramel couch: One of my husband's favorite things on earth is this couch. It is e-nor-mous but very comfortable and he loves it. Sometimes you have to compromise/sacrifice for the ones you love, so that's what I'm doing. :-)

Black rumba lamp: Luckily, we already own two of these and are using one in the living room and one in our basement family room. I love their size and color, of course.

Ivory wingback chair: In order to cool off/neutralize the warmth of the caramel couch, I plan to reupholster a wingback chair we currently own (a hand-me-down), and refinish the legs with an ebony stain. This will be my first reupholstery project so I am very excited about posting the before and after.

Gold mirror: I currently have a mirror with a dark brown frame above the mantel (another Home Goods mirror score), but with the new color scheme, I really want to paint the frame gold using a metallic paint like Modern Masters' Metallic Paint Collection.

Ivory curtains: Because the living room is tiny, ivory curtains will be a great way to open up the space. Pottery Barn has their dupioni silk curtains on sale right now, so I will probably grab them.

Zebra rug: I just couldn't help myself. I have a minor weakness for accessorizing with animal print. The rest of my main level incorporates a lot of black and cream, so I think a zebra print rug could work to tie the living room into the rest of the level. And let's not forget Rule #10 in House Beautiful's 101 Easy Makeovers: Every room needs a little [animal] skin!

Apothecary jars: Is it just me or are these everywhere? And unlike a vase, the apothecary jars feel "finished" to me because of their lids, even when empty. I really like the idea of using them as mantel decor so I will definitely pick some up to complete our new traditionally contemporary living room.

Will keep you posted on progress!

Moodboard: Kitchen Dining Area

Moodboard: Kitchen Table by coffee22

Before we started our bright new finish project, I mapped out how I wanted the new kitchen dining space to look. So I created this moodboard to share some of my inspiration and ideas.

Area Rug: Now that the black dining chairs are sittin' pretty with the refinished white table, I realize the rest of the room needs some work. I think a natural fiber sisal rug with a solid black border will really make this area pop. These rugs are all over the place but I found what I hope is a quality rug from Home Decorators Collection and ordered it on a sale day.

Lighting: The existing light fixture above our table actually looked really good so we kept it (it's similar to this pendant from Pottery Barn). But, it too got a facelift. We gave it a spray with black matte spray paint and I think it looks much better than it did with the original greenish tint.

Dinnerware: I've been on the look out for a set of fun black & white plates, something like these would work, but they aren't quite what I'm looking for. (Note: I am open to suggestions!)

Centerpieces: While the items used in the center of the table are subject to change, constant change, for holidays and occasions, I thought I'd try my new Victoriana Globe Vase first. I could also use a few tea lights like these one's that I picked up at the Crate & Barrel outlet this past summer. The possibilities are endless!

Stay tuned, a before & after photo will follow... (the room is still coming together but it won't be long!)

Moodboard: Floral to Coral Throw Pillows

Pillows - Floral to Coral by coffee22


I am in the process of shopping for accessories and decor for our "sun room" off of our kitchen. We have two slipcovered arm chairs in a natural stone and they are in serious need of a set of throw pillows. So I spent some time "shopping" around for pillows online and thought I'd share some of my favs with you.

Moodboard: Bedroom Revisited

Remember when I created a mock bedroom moodboard the other day? Well, Erica told me about a site -- polyvore.com -- that lets you clip images online and create a REAL moodboard that is much more professional-looking :-) So without further ado, here is a revised version of my master bedroom moodboard.


Bedroom Moodboard by girlmeetshome

Not bad for a first attempt!

Moodboard: Bedroom

Bedroom Moodboard: An American in Paris (or Virginia)

When we moved into our house a couple of years ago, I focused most of my efforts on reviving and furnishing the main level because I figured it was the level everyone who came into our home would see, so I wanted to get it just right. We're still working on it, but are beginning the wrap up the efforts (thankfully). So I've started to think a lot more about our bedroom.

We live in a townhome and have just about the tiniest master bedroom you will ever see. And I've had a lot of trouble finding furniture that could not only fit our small space but also have whatever style I was looking for.

Piece by piece my ideal bedroom was coming together in my brain. Last year I fell hard for dark brown toile bedding. In early 2008 I discovered a tufted upholstered headboard. And a couple of months ago I found the most amazing dresser... So today I put together a moodboard to help sort out my ideas for the room.

I think I'm going to call it Parisian Art Deco Boudoir with an American Tradition twist :-)

Paint: Benjamin Moore Cedar Key (#982) is s-t-u-n-n-i-n-g in person. We painted our master bath this color last spring and I have been itching to paint the bedroom ever since. It's gorgeous with white, porcelain blue, and espresso.

Headboard: I found this Camden Tufted Headboard at Ballard Designs and just ordered fabric swatches yesterday. Because it will be a custom piece, I'm hoping they'll have a sale on all custom furniture in the next few months. I really try hard not to pay full price for anything. I can wait, it will be worth it!

Bedding: The ONE time I've broken my full-price rule. But as any Pottery Barn followers will know, their staple bedding collections (like the classic toile colors) never go on sale. So, I bit the bullet and bought the Matine Toile in Espresso quilt and matching euro shams full price last year (2007).

Then last week I noticed Restoration Hardware had some great bedding on sale. I've always loved the Hotel duvet look (solid white with a satin stitch border) and noticed they had their Italian Contrast Stitch Bedding seriously discounted (half price!!) in chocolate and silver sage, which works perfectly in my bedroom. Half price sale minus another 20% off (thanks to a 10% off coupon code and another 10% off error courtesy of customer service), and I managed to buy over $400 worth of bedding for $170!

Tall chest: Grayson 10 Drawer Tall Chest by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. They have a store downtown (DC) that I hope to visit soon but I love the lines and mild Deco look of this dresser. And, the dimensions are perfect and actually fit the small space I need to fill in the bedroom! They're having a sale now until 2/1 on upholstery and floor samples. Because this piece is a bit pricey and new (unfortunately) I'm willing to wait (even a year) and see if I can get it on sale or as a floor sample.

Side table: Misha Tables also by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. Love the pewter iron and glass and also love how it strongly contrasts with the super feminine headboard. I thought I'd cut the hubby a break and give him something more masculine. Wondering if I can find a knock-off of this elsewhere...or maybe get the original on sale...

Curtains and rod: We have a double window in the bedroom, and in lieu of a shade, I like the more feminine look of Ivory Silk Curtains in this room; and the panels are currently on sale at Pottery Barn. Country Curtains will be a great option for the curtain rod, too -- the rods pictured are from Restoration, but Country Curtains Bold Pole in pewter will work just fine...and is only $38.

Accessories: I found the Audrey Mirror while browsing my new Ballard Designs catalogue last night. I love the feminine curves of this mirror, and love how it compliments Crate and Barrel's Lorna vase, a bargain at under $50. Knowing Ballard, the Audrey mirror will either be on sale by summer, or they will offer 15-20% off all $200+ purchases (plus free shipping) in the next couple of months, so I can pick up the mirror then.

And the Paris Print -- gorgeous! I originally found it at Crate and Barrel but it was over $200. Once I saw the photographer's name, I looked for the print at art.com, and will probably buy the print solo and have it framed at Michael's when they offer 50% off framing (which is just about every week). This print may work above the headboard...we'll see...

Finally, this classic clock came from Pottery Barn's Sale pages at half price! This will definitely look better than my 1990s college alarm clock radio... :-)

So there you have it! I'll be sure to post pictures as progress is made.

Have you used a moodboard to rein in your design inspirations?