Bedroom in Progress

There is a closed door in the WarLock house that hides a shameful secret. Adam's insane pyromaniac first wife? Far worse, I'm afraid. A bland, undecorated bedroom. Ahhhhh, the horror!

Not for much longer. Over the last few months, our embarrassing bedroom has undergone a slow transformation. First we swapped mismatched dressers for a pair with gorgeous Regency styling. Then I painted the dingy walls with Behr's soothing "Misty Morn" (a big step for a girl who's a bit color-shy).

I removed clunky shuttered closet doors and bent-up old window blinds and upgraded to simple bronze curtain rods. Menswear-patterned drapery panels accessorized with gold clip rings will add texture and give our low-ceilinged hovel the impression of height. I'm considering a coat of blue paint on the ceiling to add to this illusion.

There isn't much wall space to work with, but I'd like to frame and hang our print of a vintage skull illustration. My vanity will get a chic new mirror as soon as budget allows.

But first, we can't ignore the biggest thing in our tiny room: the bed. And this is where I need your input. Is this fabulous, or is Adam's first wife actually crazy?

We'll be using a gift card to purchase the stripe sheet set in feather gray from West Elm, which is both affordable and practical. I'd originally thought that I'd want to top the bed with a plain gray duvet, but then... I fell in love with the Heirloom Rose comforter cover and shams from Garnet Hill. I'm mad about the combination of stripes and oversized floral. The gender-neutral color palette prevents the roses and ruffles from getting overly romantic, and the mix of pattern and scale is so bold. 

Am I this bold? Can I commit to this look without being committed? I'm 99% sure that I can, but I want your opinions!

Good Clean Design

In the process of redecorating my bathroom I pored over my image files for inspiration- and I was amazed at the consistency of my taste! What do these images have in common?

Solid furniture and patinated metals...

Pristine white fixtures and bit of whimsy...

(Image by Domino Magazine)

Soft neutrals and a vintage apothecary vibe.

(Image by House Beautiful)

Yes, I'd have to win the lottery to make any of this happen (you know, to buy a house with a bathroom bigger than broom closet). But if I do, and I'm simply drowning in money... I'm still turning to Craig's List for the goods!

I'd combine a rusty relic...

Victorian wrought iron fencing (Craig's List, Full Set for $225.00)

With an elegant chest...

Distressed black French Country dresser (Craig's List, $350.00)

To create a totally original bathroom vanity!

The fencing would be perfect for hanging a simple beveled mirror, hand towel, decor, & jewelry.

The dresser can be modified to accommodate for plumbing- without sacrificing the six outer drawers.

It's easy to find accessories...

I'd take a quirky Santa Barbara lavatory faucet (California Faucets), a floor of classic white hex tile (Craig's List, $7.00 per square foot) with dark grout, and the sleek hanging fixture I've been sighing over at Harold's.

I highly recommend Pottery Barn's organic hand towels ($9.99, shown in "Soft Lilac"), I love the old-school pharmacy look of their classic glass bath accessories (Pottery Barn, $7.99 - $19.00), and I wouldn't mind saving some cash on a Hollviken vessel sink (Ikea, $90.00).

The result? Old-fashioned aesthetic with the convenience of modern plumbing- a timeless combination. Timeless, as in: when I'm filthy rich, I can bubble-bath in here for hours.

Suffering from a Touch of Recession Depression

I'm thrifty. I live for the thrill of bargain hunting. I cackle gleefully as my pennies accumulate. And when I do splurge on something, I generally make up for it by trimming back on other expenses (usually the unimportant stuff, like, say... "food").  

However, as much as I pride myself on maintaining a strict budget and planning for the future, responsibility can be a pain in the ass. For example: gritting my teeth and using my tax return to supplement student loan payments instead of "stimulating the economy." Let me tell you- if I had this kind of willpower at the gym, I would be a much thinner Lizzie. *grumble*

So, in today's "doomed to wishful thinking" spirit, here's a Room Design that's also a Dare to Dream. If I decided not to pay the bills and redecorated my living room instead, it would look something like this:

Educated Decisions

Put a Vintage Twist on Storage

 

Antique Library Card File ($850.00, Craig's List) + Well-Traveled Steamer Trunk ($50.00, Craig's List)

Sink into Something Soft

 

Lovely Tufted Velvet Sofa ($400.00, Craig's List) + Sophisticated Black Velvet Pillow ($32.95, Crate & Barrel)

Help Yourself to Some Refreshments

 

Black Balloon Wine Glasses (6 for $29.99, Target) +  Pedestal Serving Bowl ($23.99, Target) 

Keep Things Polished with Chrome

 

MCM Eames "Laurel" Floor Lamp ($175.00, Craig's List) + Shining Serving Tray ($39.99, Target)

Take Notes

 

Salvaged "Hardware" Frame with chalkboard paint ($15.00, Craig's List) + Industrial Chic Wrought Iron Easel ($17.95, Crate & Barrel)

Achieve Studied Style

Pom Pom Chestnut Branches ($16.95 each, Crate & Barrel) + Test Tube Vase ($29.99, Target) + Black Globe ($39.95, Crate & Barrel)

Anyone want to give my living room a $2,000 bail-out?

Dining Finely

*Sigh*  This was supposed to have been a weekend post, but last night I succumbed to exhaustion... after an emotionally draining installment of Little Dorrit.  Oh, Mr. Clennam!

AT recently delved into the topic of coffee table dining , and I was intrigued to find that most who responded had embraced this habit.  I admit that I occasionally forgo my table for the comfort of my sofa and the company of the television, but I can't imagine making this a daily custom.  Dining at a real table can make a civilized meal out of anything- even ramen noodles or left-over pizza.  Don't we all crave a little luxury in our day?

Why not make eating in feel more like dining out?

Love the ambiance... What's on the menu?

This Antique Claw-Foot Table took my breath away.  I love the fiery woodgrain and Medieval creature feet!  And it's solid.  Like, pass it on to your grandkids solid.  Don't cringe at the $500 price tag, this is an investment.  Plus, it will grow with you- it comes with several leaves.  I'd also recup some of the expense by selling the four chairs that come with it, because dining sets don't ever thrill me.  Replace them with...

Nontraditional Green Slipper Chairs.  These are an unusual choice, but I think their high curving backs complement the round table.  Plus, we've already established that I cannot resist mossy green velvet, even at $250 each. Imagine sinking into that plush seat with a glass of wine.  Just try to tell me that doesn't beat the floor in front of your coffee table.

This Leafy Metallic Chandelier ($150) reminds me of the romantic lighting one of my favorite eateries, Madeleine's Patisserie in Spokane. It's equal parts delicate and tough with curling tendrils and patinated bronze.  

Accessories are like daily specials.  The glimmer of gold on this $18 White China Bud Vase caught my eye- it's a perfect match for the chandelier.  I'd also like to keep things interesting with these Whimsical Pheasant Salt & Pepper Shakers.  They're $30, but they're silver plated!

This is definitely my favorite post yet- if I had a grand at my disposal, I would be sorely tempted to redesign my apartment around these items!  I want my patron's opinions though- 5 stars, or is this in bad taste?

Secret Garden

As amusing as it is to watch a bunch of bedraggled children hunt for Easter eggs in the pouring rain and muck, I wish the sun would come back.  We were teased with shorts weather for three days, but we've been shivering in sweaters since.  Utterly unfair.

It's even more unfair that when Spring finally comes to stay, I won't have a yard of my own to enjoy it in.  Ah, the woes of a renter.  "Might I have a bit of earth?"  Only in my dreams.

1  I saw the ideal garden trellis on Craig's List... and I missed it.  So it goes!  Keep searching, or splurge on this gorgeous specimen from Smith & Hawken ($319).  It's traditional without being stuffy, and it would be beautiful wound in ivy.  

2  I've been yearning after these yellow & gray outdoor pillows ($24.95) from Crate & Barrel for a while now... and of course, I still don't have any outdoor place to put them!  They're both floral and geometric, with a diamond pattern that mimics the trellis.

3  This handsome free-standing lamp post would cast a romantic glow over a dinner al fresco.  The antique bronze finish makes this fixture look expensive, but you could bring it home for $90 or best offer.

4 & 10  These and other vibrant dahlia tubers are being offered up at only $1 a piece!  Planting them now will give you something bright to look forward to in summers to come.  

5  There's nothing better than a French bistro table and chairs.  For only $100, it's like a vacation in your own backyard.  (Just don't expect your boyfriend to adopt an accent and answer to "waiter," you'll still have to brew your own cafe au lait.)

6  A regal pair of potted shrubs for $100 will give an element of formality to a young garden.  Over eight feet tall, they're almost architectural.

7  This acrylic pitcher from C&B ($14.95) has a great shape, and it's practical for outdoor use.  It's perfect for pouring yourself a glass of cool lemonade on a warm afternoon.  If you'd rather serve up spiked punch for 20 friends on a Saturday evening, check out this lot of unbreakable tumblers for $85.

8  How could anyone not fall in love with a luscious white peony?  These are the flowers of elegant garden parties- very Portrait of a Lady or Room With a View.  Swishing petticoats, tilted parasols, coy comments to admiring gentlemen.  *Sigh*  Anyway.  Pick up a bunch for $3.

9  I've already acknowledged that I adore rabbits.  I'm not looking to start some crazy collection (seriously, collections breed like... well, you know), but this rabbit lantern ($34) from Smith & Hawken... oh, he's just irresistible! He'd certainly add a little flicker of magic to your patio or cobblestone path.

A lot of greenery for a little green- under $800!

Office Space

This weekend I'm getting down to business.  There's organizing to be done, bills to pay, tax forms to prepare and mail (blegh).  I've also been working hard on this week's room design.

1  I've been ogling this quirky $15 insect paperweight from See Jane Work for ages now.  I used it as the inspiration for this imaginary office- everything is useful but not utilitarian.  If your home office feels like a dreary cubicle, it's time for a merger with the rest of your house!

Love the beetles, I'll pass on the spider.

2 + 10  Even though it would mean a major furniture reorganization, I'm always taking applications for the perfect secretary desk.  This $195 Georgian secretary is prim and polished, with a place for everything.  The desktop flips down to create a larger workspace, the drawer is perfect for stashing your laptop when not in use, and there's plenty of shelf space to showcase your goods.  Because the doors have wire mesh instead of glass, it would be neat to use these gold binder clips ($3.99 at OfficeMax) to post memos and notes-to-self.  I would love to see this desk dressed for success- in warm gray paint with distressed edges, like so.

3  Typical office supplies bore me to death- it's hard to get excited about anything "manilla."  OfficeMax seems to have finally gotten a clue.  They recently introduced lines of revamped products that can help your home office feel a little more like home.  These moc-croc binders are only $8.99, and they definitely get you more bang for your buck.

4  This classic banker's lamp is totally money.  For only $20, it's a sound investment.

5  I love this stationery by Pink Loves Brown.  Love it.  Personalized cards are a luxury, but worth the expense ($20 - $51).  Better hurry though: Nicole Balch is closing up shop soon for her maternity leave (congrats Nicole!).

6  This $5 green marble napkin holder deserves a promotion- it would be great for holding your incoming mail.

7  A striped side chair for $125 redefines business casual.  So comfy it would be tempting to take a sick day.

8  When I found this gold plated wastepaper basket on Craig's List I totally cracked up.  It brings a totally new meaning to "one person's trash is another person's treasure!"  For $30, what the heck- you're the boss.

The butterflies... bahaha!

9  I like to have everything in its right place, but plastic storage is against my office policy. Vintage finds like this green planter ($18) are great for holding pens and pencils- they get the job done and look lovely.

For those of you crunching the numbers, our total expenses are... $471.98.  Questions?  Comments?

Read on!

An ardent bibliophile, I support local libraries- especially the one in my own home!  My uh... "generous donations" have nearly doubled its size in the last year.

Those of us with a large collection and a small floor plan still need a place to showcase our masterpieces.  Blown your budget on books?  Never fear (it happens to the best of us).  Turn to Craig's List for these best-sellers:

1 + 10  Curved shelving instantly makes a room feel cozier- it makes a nook out of a sharp, empty corner.  Place a chair in the center of the arch and you will be literally surrounded by books.  The current faux birch wood look is about as cheap as the price ($200)- enriching with satin black will allow your tomes to set the tone.

2  You need a reading lamp, but don't be too literal.  A huge pearlized ceiling fixture ($50 for 2) provides plenty of ambient light and makes for an intimate space.

3  Low maintenance jade plants are quite prolific.  This seller was overrun with jade- I myself picked up dozens of little starts for a $4 "donation."

4  Bookshelves aren't just for books.  This $20 pitcher has an unusual shape, and the white ceramic will pop against black shelves and rows of reads.  

5 & 8 + 10  Perch a dramatic antique birdcage ($35) on the top of your bookcase, and place a smaller, matching birdcage ($20) amongst your books to create a Victorian theme. Chipped paint is giving this pair a seedy appearance- paint them in semi-gloss jewel tones to coordinate with your swanky new upholstery...

6  Crate & Barrel makes the best velvet pillows in the most gorgeous colors.  Paradise gained for only $32.95.

7 + 10  Ahh, the perfect reading chair.  Almost absurdly plush velvet, with a reclined back and a seat plenty wide for curling up in with a novel.  Heck, it's so comfortable, make it an epic.  it's in good shape for $125, but the orange-y wood legs are a little bit dull- modernize with black or white paint.

9 + 10  With curved shelving, bookends are definitely in order.  At $20 (or best offer), this pair will hold up your books and uphold your budget.  What a great scrolling shape- imagine them in bright, glossy white to match the other accessories.

10  Weren't we all taught not to judge a book by its cover?  Paint is the easiest (and cheapest) way to revise a lack-luster find, and a concise color scheme binds all genres of decor.  For a real deal, try mis-mixed buckets from your local paint retailer, or peruse left-overs on CL.