Favorite New Design Blog

I just discovered This Young House and I'm addicted. The blog is by a young couple who have renovated a 1300 square foot 1950's house on a budget.

Sherry and John have impeccable taste and an eye for inexpensive, well-designed furnishings. They answer design dilemmas and offer mood boards at a really great price. I love their before and after photos.

And, although I don't have lots of time for blogging these days, I check their blog daily. Check it out. It's so inspiring!

Kitchen Seating

So, we're about to remodel our kitchen. It's going to have white, shaker style cabinets with long, modern pulls, dark grey counters, and a subway tile backsplash. I love the mix of modern and classic so the subway tile will probably be like the convex tile in the photo below.

We'll be replacing our current barstools and, hopefully, our dining room chairs as well. Here are a few of my ideas so far...

So I don't love backless barstools because the kids can fall off easily, but these Spin Barstools from Crate and Barrel have the right look (classic, a bit modern, easy to clean) and just may fit well in the possibly tight space. The price is great at $99.


I love these Delta Barstools from Crate and Barrel, but if the space is a little tight, would people be more likely to trip over the back legs as they walk past? $139.

If we go with the backless, here's a classic beauty that would pick on up on the dark table and white chairs nearby. Delano Barstool from Crate and Barrel. A bit steep at $179.
I love these Scoop-Back Barstools from West Elm but Jeremy doesn't like the thin backs. He thinks they don't look sturdy enough. $134.
He's probably right but I'll at least purchase one of these chair versions for the office or a few for our craft room.

I'd love to refinish our classic oval table and it's 4(!!) leaves. Currently, it's honey colored but I'd go dark and probably purchase white chairs to go with it ala these two photos.

From West Elm.

From my cousin Kellie's blog, Little Green Couch.

These are probably my first choice at this point. These Oval Back Dining Chairs from Crate and Barrel would be perfect because they would echo the oval table but take a modern spin on a classic. $144.

Confetti Crafting

Max and Belle would love this project. It's just a large sheet of paper with Elmer's glue in the shape of a letter. Then, drop confetti on the glue and let it dry.

So fun for kids! We'll have to try it.

Found on Cookie's Nesting blog.

My Favorite Bathroom

I know not everyone loves modern design but I just can't get enough of this amazing bathroom from Rock House Remodel. It has enough whimsy in the penny round tiles, intrigue in the gorgeous mirror, and aesthetically pleasing modern details to it.

I keep coming back to my computer just to look at it. I wonder if I could recreate some of that magic in one of our bathrooms. Beautiful...

A Girl Who Loves Pink

Belle choose this pink polka dot bedding from Pottery Barn Kids for her new room in our to-be-refinished basement. Since it was on sale, I bought it right away.

It's pretty bright so I suggested a light green on the wall to go with the light green blanket for the end of the bed. She insisted that it be pink. I think we'll use a very light shade of pink.

I love a girl who loves pink.

Fun Grandfather Clock

We must find a fun space in our house for this Grandfather clock.
I wonder what color we should choose...

Check it out at blik.

found on Oprah.com

Personalized Word Art

I first saw these cool photos of letters at our local farmer's market. Maybe I can find a place for one after our remodel. I'm thinking maybe our last name or the entire alphabet for our playroom.

They are $7 per small letter or $9 per large letter. More options can be viewed at CelesteWhitney.com.

Six-Word Memoirs

I'm fascinated by the idea of this book. I need to get my hands on it.

Check out this description from SMITHMag.net:

Legend has it that Hemingway was once challenged to write a story in only six words. His response? “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” Last year, SMITH Magazine re-ignited the recountre by asking our readers for their own six-word memoirs. They sent in short life stories in droves, from the bittersweet (“Cursed with cancer, blessed with friends”) and poignant (“I still make coffee for two”) to the inspirational (“Business school? Bah! Pop music? Hurrah”) and hilarious (“I like big butts, can’t lie”).

Hmmmmm.... I wonder what my Six-Word Memoir would be...

A True Woman's Heart

“There is in every true woman's heart, a spark of heavenly fire, which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity, but which kindles up and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity.” -Washington Irving

(found on c jane)

Toys for my Boys

Max and Simon love anything with wheels. Simon's favorite vehicles include anything that pulls something else. And, Jeremy and I love the look and feel of wooden toys.

These toys from Craftbury Kids would be perfect.Car Carrier $34

Woodsy Pick-up Truck and Car $22

We're moving!

As if our lives weren't crazy enough with twins due to arrive in about 10 weeks, we've decided to move! This week, we closed on our new house and put our current house on the market. If you know of anyone looking for homes in our area, please forward this link to them:

www.obeo.com/495432

So, here are the details:
2464 square feet
4 (or 5) bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
.19 acre
2 car garage
remodeled kitchen with custom cabinets and granite countertops

We love our home and have mixed emotions about leaving it. We love the neighborhood so much!

Fun Posters

We must have a few new decor items for our new house. I love these three posters.

Maybe a Christmas gift for JJ?
Can be purchased here for $100.

The story behind this makes it even cooler. You can read about it here and purchase it here for about $20. After the twins are born, I should really wear it on one of their t-shirts (about $40). I'll need the reminder. :)

Love this poster by Made By Girl. Comes in a variety of fun colors. $25

Bathrooms

Oh Martha! I can always count on her to inspire me with beautiful rooms. I just received an email about space-saving ideas for bathrooms and loved all three bathrooms they had designed.

Love the pedestal sink, beautiful cabinet and three towel bars on the back of the door. Brilliant!

This tile is cool and I love this sink as well.

I'd probably use a wider mirror but love it with those sconces.

I'm not a tub person but this gorgeous tub and bathroom makes me feel relaxed just by looking at it. (I think this image is from Desire To Inspire).

Stunning. Love the rock wall and concrete flooring. (desire to inspire)

I love simple modern spaces. And without anything touching the floor, mopping would be a breeze. :) (desire to inspire)

This rug from Pottery Barn Kids is fine but the circle tiles in stripes underneath it is so fun!

Love the tile and beadboard from this home at last year's home show.

Love the tile again.

Love the beadboard tub enclosure, subway tile, and the fun green color on the wall.

This is from Hyrum Bates' home at the home show last year. (Sorry for the pathetically crooked photo). It's from Restoration Hardware.

This sink would be really fun but hard for the kids to reach.

White Kitchens

I know I've posted about them in the past but I just love, love, love white kitchens right now. Here are a few images that inspire me.
I fell in love with the designs throughout this home when I toured it during the Parade of Homes last summer. It is the home of Hyrum Bates, who is an amazing designer. My photos don't do it justice so visit his website to see the kitchen in full view.

Love this door off of Hyrum's kitchen to the backyard.
This is one of my favorites too. Feels like a little bit traditional but a little bit modern too.
Love the bold color, the monogrammed chair covers, and the whimsical details. So inviting and fun. via DesignMom.
Gorgeous. And, it has a mobile from my old high school friend, Matt Richards.

I love little nooks and this toile patterned one from last year's home show was beautiful.
Love the combo of chairs and benches along the gorgeous windows. I'd want to eat breakfast here every day.
Love the laboratory feeling of this kitchen.

Love the light blue color paired with the white and gray.
via A Room Somewhere.

Horribly, I can't source all of these photos and ideas. Some I've had for months. I'll try to source the ones I remember.

Projects on my list

When will I make the time to create these cute, useful things?Belle has the perfect pair of jeans that are too worn out in the knees but would be perfect in a skirt.
I'm hoping to make a few of these nursing covers for me and a few moms-to-be.

Two-Story Houses

Maybe it's my East Coast and Midwest upbringing, but I have a love for two-story houses. My dream home definitely has a second floor.

Here are a few beauties I saw recently while in the Harvard-Yale area of SLC.