Fireplace in the Bedroom

I've been seriously considering adding a fireplace to our master bedroom. I'm not sure I can make it work logistically and/or financially as part of this project but I believe it's good to open one's mind to all the possibilities and then scale back from there. What's funny is that we barely ever use the fireplace in our living room so it's not like I'm the sort of person who always makes a fire on a chilly day. And yet I keep find myself drawn to the idea of having one in the bedroom. Something like this:

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Spray Paint Signs

There has been a lot of spray paint around here lately. And I'm not talking about DIY furniture projects. Can you guess what's up?

My long-awaited home addition is actually going to happen. I am so excited! Excuse the lame photos of utility company markings. It's all I've got to show at the moment. That and the middle photo above which is what our contractor sprayed on our lawn to mark where the new construction will be. I actually went out there after he was gone and used my own spray paint to mark out where some of the interior walls will be so I could get a true sense of the space. Here's the plan:

We are taking the bedroom at the back of the house and adding 21 feet to create a master suite. This has been my vision since we bought the house 5 1/2 years ago. I can't wait to see it all come together! I've got my work cut out for me - tile and bath fixtures and lighting and textiles and on and on. I'll be posting about it all here. Hopefully soon I will have more to show than spray paint. 

Nate Berkus In Matchbook Mag

The new Matchbook is out and they have a great feature on Nate Berkus. Love him. In addition to the interview and photos of his NYC home we get a peak at his new fabric line for Calico Corners:

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And even more exciting, a glimpse of his new collection for Target. Mark your calendars for February 24th!

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I also like what Nate had to say about design:

"I've always thought our homes should tell the story of who we are and who we aspire to be. So when you meet somebody and you see their personality shine through, those are all the cues you need to do a good job in design."

I completely agree. Thanks, Nate.

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Plans For 2013

Happy New Year! I am not a big resolution maker but it is hard to ignore the opportunity for reflection and planning that is offered when the calendar changes from one year to another. I definitely have found myself thinking about all the wonderful things that happened in 2012 and setting some goals for the new year ahead. We have big plans for our house in 2013 - a much thought about home addition should finally happen (yippee!) - and I am hoping to grow my business more as my son graduates from preschool and heads off to kindergarten in the fall. These are my plans for the house in 2013:

*Make this home addition happen (To Matt, our good friend and talented contractor, let's do this!)

*Zhush up our stairwell. I'm thinking of adding moulding like this:

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*Create a gallery wall with artwork from my husband and daughter. Jason was an art major in college and we have many pieces from his art shows stacked against a wall in our bedroom. And my daughter clearly inherited his talent and has already started creating a portfolio of her own. I need to hang this art so we can all enjoy it.

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*Get a new runner for the hallway. (I'm sort of cheating here because we already ordered this one.)

*Refresh the living room. (Again, we have already put some of this in motion. Details to come!)

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*Replace our entry hall light. We're not going to go quite as dramatic as these homes but aren't they gorgeous?

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(Miles Redd via here)

*Host more dinner parties and invite more friends into our home.

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I think that about covers it. Wish me luck!

Cardboard Frames

I was in my local Anthropologie recently and, as always, found myself ogling part of their display. Here's what caught my eye:

Those frames are made out of cardboard! It's such a creative idea. I may have to attempt this as a way to frame some of my kids' artwork.

Modern Toile

Flipping through Elle Decor I saw a small blurb about modern toile that caught my eye. Turns out a number of designers have updated the uber-traditional toile, giving it an urban edge. This newer version has replaced the images of old-fashioned upper class enjoying the out of doors with skateboarders, cell phone users, and the homeless. How fun and unexpected. This would be perfect in a powder room. Give your guests something to laugh about while using the facilities and the perfect conversation starter.

Here's a New York Toile:

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A closer look at some of the scenes...

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And a close-up of this London Toile

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But this one is my favorite. It was created by Mike D from the Beastie Boys (with Help from Revolver New York and Flavor Paper)

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Fantastic, no?

Thanksgiving 2012

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I love that the kids get the whole week off now. It really lets us enjoy time together as a family which is what I am always most thankful for when it comes down to it. We hosted at our house this year but outsourced most of the cooking so I got to focus  my (minimal) efforts on making things pretty.

Our hydrangea turned this deep red color just in time for Thanksgiving. Perfect!

My daughter made the painting for the mantel. (It reads "Happy Thanksgiving Everyone" and that's a turkey painted in the middle.)

We also set up a craft table in the kitchen to keep the kids - and grandpa - occupied during cocktail hour. I used branches I found in the park to create our "Thankfulness Tree" and the kids added tags throughout the week noting things that they are thankful for.

And yet another idea I stole from the Internet, we made apple turkeys using toothpicks and candy. Unfortunately I forgot to snap photos of our finished products. You'll have to use your imagination for that.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Litographs

I just discovered a very cool art source. Litographs makes prints using the text of classic books and reverses out an image representing that book. Take a look-see:

Moby Dick

Peter Pan

Wizard of Oz

Alice in Wonderland

Aren't they cool? I think they would make an amazing gallery wall in a child's room.

Litographs also has more adult fare that could work alone or as an addition to a mixed media gallery wall.

Walden

And they also come in black and white.

Ulysses

AND, for every print purchased a book is donated to a community in need. So you get to do a good deed while decorating your walls. All images from the Litographs site. Go check it out.

Rustic Table, Modern Chairs

I have long loved the look of a rustic dining table with modern chairs. The juxtaposition is just right - the rustic table keeps the chairs from seeming too cold and hard while the chairs freshen the space and keep the table from feeling too heavy and farmhouse. My good friend Laura just purchased a rustic table and is in the market for chairs. She and her husband moved from a loft to a craftsman-style house so this mix seems perfect for them. Let's see if all these photos I've pinned can convince her to go this route, shall we?

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