Ah, the long weekend!

Hi folks, sorry I didn't post yesterday.  The Friday before a long weekend is always hectic in the ad world with last minute requests.  I love it!  Unfortunately, I wasn't feeling well yesterday so it made for a hard day.

I'm back feeling great today.  Currently relaxing in bed with a fruit and protein smoothie catching up on all that I missed this week.  Including catching you up on the progress of our home decor.

• Living room rug arrived from Mat King.
• Living room lamp shades were replaced with ones from Pottery Barn.
• An old mirror, candle stick holders and plant pot found a new home on our mantel. 

We still need to purchase or do:

• Purchase a floor lamp for behind the sofa because there really isn't enough light from behind at night.
• Art for the walls flanking the fireplace.  I was thinking of large floor mirrors but think blank and white art would also look very good.  This will take time and a lot of saving.  The less expensive version will win out. 
• Curtains!  I don't forsee this in our near future but over the next year it will get done.  
• Spray paint the ottoman tray a colour that has yet to be chosen.
• Hang the TV on the wall.
• Drill holes in the back of the console table to place the cable box, DVD player and modem inside. This is a must over the next few months. 
• Evenutally have another pillow made or bought with a little more pop of colour!  I haven't yet decided what the second accent colour should be.  

Here is the latest photo taken this morning on my iphone.  I appologize for the poor quality.  

I'm off to finish laundry, colour my hair, run a few errands, purchase the crib, cook potatoes and mash them up for dinner tonight at the in-laws.  I can't wait to have my first bite of Thanksgiving turkey tonight. 

Have a very happy Thanksgiving weekend!  xo

A Living Room I Can Relax In!

Our living room furniture finally arrived yesteray afternoon. YEAH!!! What do you think? I love them! They fit perfectly and are very comfortable.

These are the two rug samples I have to choose from at Mat King in Concord.  They offer rugs made to measure from remnant carpets at incredible prices ($180 for a 12" x 12" or less).    I think we'll go with the one on the right. 

Our living room furniture finally arrived yesteray afternoon. YEAH!!! What do you think? I love them! They fit perfectly and are very comfortable.
Living Room To Do List:


• The lamps on the console need to be spruced up. I'm going to put fabric on the shade (yet to be found).


• Spray paint/stencil the ottoman tray. I like what Janell from Isabella & Max did with her tray here.


• Have made or purchase ready make mirrors to flank the fireplace. They must be very large! I was thinking antiqued mirrors would be great in the space!


• Canvas print to be hung on wall between Kitchen entrances.


• Art for above the fireplace.


• Drapes!


• Console table for behind the sofa.


• Table lamps for the console table behind the sofa or floor lamps for behind the sofa.


• TV wall unit to hang the TV for easier viewing.

Have a great day!! xo

Living Room Update Part 2 & Bedroom Update

We (my uncle and Ryan) painted the living room last night.  It needs one more coat but I'm already very happy!!  It's exactly what I wanted - a soft white.  It goes well with the kitchen and hallway.

HomeSense has the best prices and a great selection of lamps and art!  I purchased this canvas on Saturday for the living room.  I'll put it above the fireplace. 

Here is a little update on the bedroom progress.  The dresser and side tables were delivered.  I love them.  Originally I didn't want to get a matching set but the price was right.  The side tables will provide a lot of storage for us.  I purchased the lamps from HomeSense on Saturday.  I love them as is but will most likely paint the base in a high gloss colour at some point - once I figure out the colour scheme and feel of the room. 

I usually like to concentrate on one room at a time because you can get it done a lot quicker and feel a sense of accomplishment.  There is so much to do in every room of our house!!  I bet the only room to be fully completed by Christmas will be the nursery.  I keep telling myself to take it one step at a time.  Once the living room furniture arrives it will make it feel more like a home and somewhere we can entertain. 

I have a busy day scheduled at work.  I must get a proposal out this afternoon and hopefully close the deal by next week.  I really want to hit my Q1 budget and I'm so close!  Wish me luck!

Dining Table Options

I think I have finally found the dining table for our kitchen.  It has been a long hard search for a great table at an affordable price.  I was going to order this one from Restoration Hardware but with taxes and duties it would put the cost over $1,800.  More than we really want to pay considering there are many other purchases for the house still to come (fence, nursery furniture, lighting, rugs, etc).  Another HUGE factor was their reputation is not very good right now.  My sister-in-law ordered MANY pieces from them for their new house and has had a horrible experience dealing with late delivery, delivery the wrong furniture, back orders, bad workmanship!  Seriously, for the price you pay you would think that everything would be perfect.  If someone from RH is reading I would suggest you improve on all of the above mentioned.

Back to my table...  I was recently in Domus at Vaughn Mills and saw a variety of tables that fit our style all built in Canada by a company called Color Shop.  You can choose from different table edges, finishes (antique, matte or gloss), table top (wood or other), table style (round, rectangular, square), table legs (pedestal or 4 leg options) and stains.  It's fantastic!!  This is the one I'm considering but in rectangular not square.  

  

My only concern is should I match it to the legs of my chairs.  (keep in mind the fabric will be replaced at another time so don't judge that).  Here is a reminder of what they look like. 

Here are the table leg options.  Should I go with another one? Let me know your thoughts.  I would like to order it this week. 

What to do???

Hi dear readers. Are you still there? If so, I apologize for the lack of posts due to a serious lack of inspiration. The last month has been intense for us! There is a lot going on at work and personally. I also need to confess that with the move and all the expenses of it decorating my house seems like a daunting and expensive task. I feel like there is just so much to do but I haven't had the energy to get started. And where do I get started? Which room do I focus on? At this point I'm not sure it's just one room since I need to furnish more than just one room. I also don't want to disappoint you. I feel like there is a big expectation of me. I know I can put together a beautiful room I'm just not sure it will be as fast as everyone might hope (including me).  I also need to watch how much money I spend on items.  It's adding up very quickly!  I think I might have put this pressure on myself.  I have spent the last year pouring over magazines, researching designers and reading many wonderful blogs on design.  Each of them has given me so many ideas.  Ideas that would cost a lot of money!  I have stopped looking online over the last month in order to get back in my own head and budget.  :)  Sometimes the inspiring photos on blogs and magazines cause too many high expectations.  It's the same when you look at skinny air-brushed models on magazines and actors on TV and the big screen.  Most of the time it's unobtainable.  We need to find an element that we like and make it ours.  Easier said than done. 

At the moment, I'm trying to find various pieces for the house and pick out paint. I've made progress in purchasing a dresser for our master. I opted against purchasing the matching bedside tables at this point. I think the room will look too cramped for this and I like the look of different pieces speaking to one another in a room. It adds character. No idea when I'll find the right bedside tables but it will happen in time. We have also hired a painter to coat the hallway, stairway and upstairs hallway in a beautiful BM colour that I have yet to pick out. Haha! My lunch hour will be spent at the paint store today.

Here is the dresser. It's from GH Johnson. The floor model is completely beat up. Don't judge it's scratches because I'll be getting a fresh one. :)

I rambled on... If you're still reading, bless you! xo

HomeSense

While I was in Kingston a few weekends ago I stopped by HomseSense.  I like to go there as often as possible.  They had so much to offer with garden furniture and accessories.  It's so very difficult not to purchase everything even without a garden of my own.  Soon, very soon!

I did purchase this beauty for $39!!!!  I love the Moroccan feel.  HomeSense is too good to me.  You should go check out your neighborhood store for great deals!

It will probably go in our master bedroom next to the chair I purchased a few weeks ago (after it's refinished).  Now I need bedside tables, a dresser, curtains and art.  Oh lord this will take a while... I've got quite the task ahead of me because it all needs to be done on with zero dollars a TIGHT budget!

Enjoy the beautiful summer weather we are experiencing (if you're in Southern Ontario).  xo

Furniture for the new house

Good morning! 

I'm very excited to show you my latest purchase for the house.  The chair is from The Elegant Garage Sale on Bayview.  This store is a gold mine if you have an open mind.  Most of the pieces you'll find there will have to be refurbished.  Just like my new chair.  Picture it spray painted black, charcoal or white with a down filled seat and down filled pillow for the back in a neutral linen.  I'm not sure if I want any pattern.  I'm going in search of fabric over the next few weeks.  I'm so excited for this project!  The seat cushion and pillow will be sourced out. I will strip it and spray paint it on my holidays once we move into the house.  Yeah a new project! 

Question, when you bring home an item like this does your husband/partner see the potential or it something you usually have to convince him of?  Ryan's not as excited as I am.  I hope the finished product will change his mind. 

My New Dining Chairs!

I've never been a huge Craig's list fan... until now.  Ryan has purchased and sold golf items on there from time to time.  He found our apartment and sold his Jetta on it but I still never had any desires to go in search of treasures.  To be honest, I just thought it would be like shopping at Winners.  I love the idea of getting designer clothes discounted but just can't be bothered to search through all of the clothes.  That all changed when we started saving for our wedding and then the house.  Why pay full price when you can get so many items discounted.  I'm much better at finding deals for the house then clothing.  I love HomeSense! 

Ok, I'm rambling... The point is I finally started looking on Craig's list for furniture.  To my great surprise I found out it's a GOLD MINE!  I know I'm the last to know.  I knew I just didn't want to put in the time.  Today I'm so glad I did because we landed ourselves a great deal!  Eight cane back Louis dining chairs for $900!  There were 14 of them but we had no idea what we would do with 14 so we settled for 8.  These chairs are at least worth $250 each.  I'm so happy!!

The owner had just refinished them last year (stain guard and all).  The fabric isn't my favourite but it will certainly do for the first few years or until I can refinish it myself or afford someone else to do it.  How much would each chair cost to refinish (minus the fabric)?

Now it's time to find a dining table.  We want something like a harvest table or something that will age well.  We plan on having kids one day and I want them to be able to colour, draw and do crafts at the kitchen table.  Nothing high maintenance. 

Have a great day!!!