Outdoor Dining

For the past few weeks we've been collecting estimates from various masonry and decking contractors for our backyard summer project. It seems for the past two years that we've owned our home, we get some sort of bug each July and just have to get something major done to the house. Last year it was the hardwood floors (I'm still gushing over them) and this year, we've committed ourselves to making over our backyard. Jared and I both love being outside and since getting the dog, we find ourselves outside constantly. We sit in our plastic chairs, plopped in the middle of the grass, drinking our Coronas, watching Kasey dig holes and chase bugs... and we love it... but we need an upgrade.

Our backyard check list is as follows:

• A level place to grill, eat, and sit outside.
• Room for a few flower beds.
• Just enough grass to give Kasey a place to mark her territory.

I should be recieving plans and an estimate from one contractor today. Another is visiting tomorrow morning to check out the terrain... and I have a few estimates in my inbox already. Hopefully we can make a decision in the next few days and 4-6 weeks from now have a backyard living up to it's potential! Until then, I'll experience outdoor dining through the pages of my favorite home furniture stores:


Pottery Barn
West Elm

Another Crown Molding Update

And so I have another crown molding update! I'm excited to report that progress has been made thanks to Christian and his Dad, who spent several hours working on my little brainchild yesterday. Please excuse the quality of the pictures -- I took them with my iPhone since my camera is still out of commission. All pictures are as of this morning.

This was the "easiest" (HA!) section since it's a straight cut end-to-end, so this was done first:


To see the "before", click here.

(Btw, Can you tell I am anxious to paint these orange-crush cabinets a much more pleasing white? I couldn't wait to take all the doors off, so I did it at 7:00 this morning)

Here is my drinkware cabinet, with "wings," just waiting for its front piece:


And this is my dinnerware cabinet -- molding is cut and ready to go:


Turns out one of the long 8' sections in the mix wasn't perfectly sized width-wise, so a few more sections have to be re-cut and nailed in to the cabinets today.

Darn you Big Box hardware retailer and your so-called "Quality Control!"

Will post an update this week!

Runners & Welcome Mats

Last weekend I made a trip to Ikea to pick up a specific list of items for the house. Two things that snuck their way into the shopping kart even though they weren't on the list are below:

I guess you'd consider this black & white stripe runner more of a floor mat than a rug. My friend Alysa tried (almost successfully) to persuade me to buy the green & white or orange & white version of this mat... but I just couldn't do it! I love black & white. It's actually a problem. I know I need to embrace color, but it's scary! This mat made a home in front of my washer and dryer. The laundry room in my house is unfinished and not pretty, but this striped diddy makes it at least a little bit interesting.

Before I could exit the rug section, Alysa spotted this outdoor mat and recognized it as an "Erica pattern." She was right, I had to have this lattice-y, bristled mat for my back door. Even Kasey loves it. Now she can clean of those little paws on her way in from the yard.

I think each of these were under $15 a piece and you just can't beat that.

Artichoke Love

Those of you who have read our blog for a bit know how much we love artichokes here at girl meets home. Recently I acquired two new artichoke items and I couldn't be more excited to share them with you!

First: Anthropologie's artichoke votive, which I bought in-store just in time because it's out of stock online (apparently).

So cute! It stands about 4" tall.

Second: I love grilling kabobs during the summer and had run out of bamboo skewers, so I decided to invest in a few of the stainless steel variety this season. As soon as I saw the sweet little artichoke "finials" on the Crate and Barrel Vegetable Skewers, I had to have them. Check out the link above...Sorry I can't take a picture right now...my camera is non-operational and I couldn't find a pic big enough elsewhere online to add.

I know that in addition to artichokes, people love all kinds of themes. Bees, cows, roosters, fleur-de-lis, etc.

So tell us: What do you love and collect?

Let's Play a Game: What's Wrong with this Room?

Good morning readers! Today is interactive Wednesday. We're going to play a little game called, "What's Wrong with this Room?"

Here's how it works:

1. Look at the pictures below.
2. Leave a comment with anything you think is wrong with the room.
3. Better yet, make suggestions for how to improve the room.
   
4. Be kind.

I'll start by pointing out the obvious (save you the trouble) and by explaining some of the elements of the room that must stay:

Suggestions

• Replace chairs and ottoman with furniture that is better suited for a small room. Smaller scale chairs.
  
• Play around with furniture placement; are there any other arrangements that would work in the space?
• Put something on the walls, try hanging prints or photos on either side of the TV.

Must Stays (Elements of the room that we can't live without)

• Window treatments: We live in a townhouse and the blinds are a must! While we enjoy natural light, we have to be able to close the blinds at night so we don't feel like fish in a bowl!
• The windows on the far right of the second photo are actually french doors. Only one of them opens but we do use it constantly to let the dog outside and to grill in the backyard. This makes a huge impact on where we place the furniture.
  
• TV and console are brand spankin' new... we won't move them!

Alright that's all I've got... please, please, please... if you never comment on anything you read at Girl Meets Home, comment today! I live with this room so I need a fresh set of eyes to make suggestions on anything from colors to decor. I'd really love to hear your opinion!

Crown Molding Update

Well, let's just say the crown molding project didn't exactly go as planned this weekend...who knew a mitre saw could be so darn frustrating! I'm going to spend a good chunk of next weekend with my awesomely knowledgeable in-laws who have generously volunteered to help me complete this project. (Christian's sitting this one out because he's hard at work studying for a Cisco certification -- CCIE Lab for the fellow geeks out there. We love geeks at girl meets home!)

Since I don't want to leave you empty-handed, here's a little kitchen eye candy above and below. Enjoy!

Hotel Goodies

Now that vacation season is upon us (summer officially arrived yesterday!) I'm sure some of you will be spending at least a night or two in the comforts of a hotel or better yet, resort. I just wanted to remind you of one important thing to do before you check out: Stock up on hotel goodies!

You know those mini shampoo and conditioner bottles, tiny soap bars, and boxed shower caps? You might never use them in the hotel because you packed your toiletries in a zip lock bag... but bring them home with you. Next time you have company, set them on the bathroom counter to make your guests feel like they're on vacation.

Last week I picked up a rectangular white tray for $4 at Home Goods. Now my guests know just where to look when they realize they forgot lotion. Simple to do and looks nice on the bathroom counter top.