in search of

a dining room table (+ chairs)


we need something to replace this:

as this is all i have to use for now:

they kind of look like misfits in there.

currently coveting:

rachel zoe's dining room

jonathan adler nixon table

hudson

jonathan adler

ghost chair

tulip chairs

focus: dining room

originally, i was thinking something along the lines of this:


orange/white quadrille wallpaper in some form or fashion +

quadrille wallpaper 1

quadrille wallpaper 2

quadrille wallpaper 3

white table +

lilly pulitzer table

and white breakfront of some sort +

+ a burlwood console

and a little white bar = dining room

given my budget (or lack thereof), i don't think i will be able to go in that direction anytime soon. we kind of have to work with what we have for the most part, but i am in dire need of a larger table. i will have more on my search tomorrow. 

 this week, my goal is to actually finish a project (that i started circa 2011). ridiculous, i know. 


i started painting these suckers one day last year, and they got tossed to the side as soon as i was able to peel the first strip of wallpaper off at the new house. this week i am making a vow to these two--i will finish painting you before the end of the week. that is, unless it rains every day after work. 

i bought the yellow chevron fabric (below left) to make cushions with last year, but of course never got around to that either. i would love to say that i'll get around to that this week, but who am i kidding here? i will probably still be painting the hallway.  keep your fingers crossed for the chairs. 

my secret is out

i usually write all of my posts for the blog during the weekend & schedule them to post during the week. i know, it's awful. the shame. 

i guess that became painfully obvious last week when i failed to share my news. soooo, to catch everyone up to the same page: 

this happened...

no, we didn't purchase a horse & carriage. but we did get engaged!

i need

this...

tibi tank + skirt at gena chandler

service with a smile

during one of the 19 days that it rained last week, i had the most bomb-diggity package waiting on my doorstep when i arrived at home. this is the only thing that put some pep in my step during my overly damp walk home.  not only did the seller take off the shipping cost (because i was local), she also delivered it the very next day--not even 24 hours--and discounted the 2nd item for buying more than one item from her store. now, that is some stellar service if i don't say so myself.

introducing the most bad ass vase ever: (not to mention the fact that i have been eyeing it from jonathan adler, except for the fact that i don't have (and will probably never have) $550 for a peculiar little vase. 

via jonathan adler @ $550

and say hello to the cutest little group of elephants you have ever seen:

score

one day last week, i wasn't having the best day, until this happened:

oh, the potential...

i found a chandelier i have been coveting for the past several years--for less than $100.(well not exactly the one i have been dreaming that i mentioned here, but good enough for now!)  unfreakingheardof. what a day changer. i scooped up my new friend and we went on our merry little way. in the plethora of spare time i have this week, i am planning to give it a shiny new coat of paint. thoughts? i haven't quite decided whether to settle him in the guest bedroom or the kitchen. If in the guest bedroom (which now has white walls + white floors), I am thinking a deep kelly green, bright orange, or red. If in the kitchen, i will probably just go with a high gloss white. decisions, decisions. 

via pieces

sleepy baby wednesday

that little sailor is out like a grandpa. look at those little leg rolls. i die!

who says you can't buy anything for a dollar?

99 cents at salvation army:

wham, bam, thank you mam. 

although i was a little embarrassed when i couldn't come up with the full $1.06 after tax and basically had to dump my purse out in front of the line that formed behind me. salvation army=1; my dignity=0. 

shopping spreee

last week i may have gone a little overboard. i was not having a good week in general, and we need SO much stuff for this house--i think it was just the perfect storm. i am sure it was going to happen sooner or later. oh well.


so i decided to treat the house to some new goods. nothing major, and all in all, some super good deals, but i can definitely say i am counting the hours, minutes & seconds until pay day. so i will be dropping some tidbits this week of some of the new loot i took home. 


first up, two new bedside tables:

white lacquer with greek key handles

detail of greek key hardware

and here they are in their new home:

well, i tried to get a picture of both of them, but alfred couldn't bare that i photograph something other than him, so he military-style crawled underneath the bed to block my shot.  what a psycho. 

also, while i was in the shop though, i scored another little piece for $50. it needs a lot of loving to get back in to shape, but is on the right path after an aggressive scrub down with trusty old brasso. i think i let out a little stress on this poor, unsuspecting new friend. 

hello lover

so guess what is finished? the bathrooms. not one, not one & a half, but two. yes, the two are finito.


and here is some proof to feast your little eyes on, that yes in fact, the shower finally has doors. (no more strategically placing 8 towels around the bathroom floor to absorb all the h20.)and no, there is no more carpet in the bathroom. and yes, mom, we finally put up a blind. this whole time change thing has really affected the wee-bit of privacy i thought we had without a blind. dark outside + bright lights inside during your shower + no window coverings do not a smart idea make. let's just say i have been a wee bit paranoid walking to work the past few weeks. enough blabbering, here is the cold, hard proof:


a few before's: 

then, there was the semi-scary phase:

and, i'd have to say it was all well worth it:

and, of course, i feel the same way about the hall bath. a few before's:

scary times:

and happy times:

mary allison took real, legit photos (ie, not from a phone) so i may update with a link to her page once they're up, or i'll try to find an actual camera somewhere around this house & stop being so reliant on my phone.

unfortunately though, i was not the recipient of the first shower in my shiny & clean new bathroom. the two disasters below were so dirty they just had to hop in first. not fair.