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Monday, April 26, 2010

Ikea - Love



I used to shop at Ikea in my twenties, wow I feel old just saying that  but  for various reasons (see below) I stopped shopping at Ikea.
1. The GW bridge was a pain in the butt to cross. (my Ikea was in NJ but I lived in NY).
2. New Jersey turnpike traffic could be teeth grinding and stressful.
3. Mostly importantly, let's face it, some the furnishings 15 years ago were not well made.

But I've rediscovered Ikea again and it's so much better than I remembered.
If you're not ready to buy any of their furniture... check out the other stuff that they carry and get ready to fall in love with Ikea.
Here are a couple of things that I'm crushing on.






Saturday, April 24, 2010

Luxe for Less - Candle Lantern

Lanterns are great accessories to any room, they can also be very expensive.
Take a look at three different price points below for similar lanterns.




Secondly, JCPenny's Linden Street Old Fashion Lantern - $19.99


Thirdly, Ikea's Borrby's Lantern - $6.99

Aren't the price differences vast from one retailer to the other?  Got to love Ikea!!!


Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Destin Digs

My camera is on the blink this week & won't download my photos onto my computer. I was feeling frustrated because I couldn't write a new post this week without downloading my current photos to go along with my text! I've got new pics of the remodel I've been working on (Luke's room and our master bath) and I can't wait to share them with you. Plus I went to Emily's nursery (on previous blogpost) yesterday to visit the new baby Julia! She is absolutely beautiful and I can't wait to share photos of our day....I think she's enjoying her "posh princess pad". I promise to post photos as soon as the camera starts cooperating with me.

What a MESS I went through last week....getting most of the house in order, after most of the remodel was finished. During remodels, it's amazing how far dust can fly in your house! But just moving Luke into his new room....kids accumulate alot of stuff and the closet was alot of work.

Anyways, having my download problem, I was thrilled when a friend sent me the photos I'm sharing today, cuz I'm able to share some decorating photos with you after all!
I decorated a Destin, Florida condo a couple of years ago for a client and never took photos once it was finished. I didn't have my blog then, and many times before blogging, I would simply forget to photograph projects!
Anyways, this friend stayed in my client's condo recently , and graciously took photos for me. I only decorated a couple of the rooms within the condo because the client had alot of furniture from a previous home that went into the other rooms.
My client and I are both huge fans of Bella Notte linens and used them in the 2 guest rooms of her coastal condo.
The first guest room has two queen beds and we used a sweet floral by Bella Notte.
I ordered more yardage and had the coverlets made from the same floral, embellished with covered linen buttons and piping, with a lightweight loft. The stripe fabric and the periwinkle solid blue fabric is from Kravet. The soft periwinkle shams are from Bella Notte.
We scoured the Round Top antique market for most of the antique shabby style furniture & I adore this sweet green nightstand from there! You can't see the lamp on the stand, but it's a whimsical periwinkle blue fish.
I love the Bella Notte floral we chose because of the colors. The pics don't do the fabric justice....but it's a great mix of periwinkle blues, lilacs, greens and raspberry reds.
The tailored bed skirt is a periwinkle blue stripe from Kravet. The coordinating green Kravet stripe is on the coverlet.We covered a comfy reading chair in the Kravet periwinkle linen solid fabric and piped it with the Bella Notte floral.
In the other guest room, my client wanted to use another soft shade of lilac, again from Bella Notte. Bella Notte silks are so scrumptiously soft & they're machine washable! I've used them for several years in different styles in our own master bedroom and love the quality , the yummy feel & they're very romantico! Also, Bella Notte comes in many different colorways & all their fabrics & linens mix and match so beautifully. You can locate them in fine linen stores in the U.S. , but locally or online you can buy them at Feather Your Nest. Pictures online don't do their fabrics justice. You have to see the colors and feel their textures in person, to truly appreciate their quality. (and to understand their price point) However, I can testify that I've washed their silks over and over for years and they wear so well.

The silk bed skirt fabric is from Kravet and custom made.
Look closely and you can see the pretty lace trim around the smaller pillows and the silk solid flanged edge of the larger shams. The Bella Notte neckroll pillow is made of silk and velvet.

I'm hoping my camera problem will be resolved soon & I can share more photos of other projects soon.
I hope you're having a great day!
All the best,




p.s. Christin, thanks again for taking the photos for me!
xoxox

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Bedroom Makeover Part IV - Dresser Makeover

So I'm still in the process of working on my bedroom makeover.  I'm sure I should be finished by now, but I've decided not to rush it and take my time, plus I have design ADD so what I like today, I might not like it tomorrow.

I was going to buy a new furniture but I've inspired by Dayka from Life and Style and Kate from Centsational Girl  to revamp old furniture.  These women do amazing things with pieces that most people would pass up or throw away.


I found this dresser at my local Goodwill.  (Please forgive my son's junk in the photo.)  I think it will fit perfectly in my room, the only thing holding me back is my design ADD.  Should I paint it a glossy white or refinish and stain.  What do you think?

Since this is my first time refinishing a piece of furniture, do you have any tips to make the job easier?

Friday, April 9, 2010

Seriously What The Hell?

Hi, I'm back!  Well I was never really gone but I took some time off blogging to hang out with my twin sister (she was visiting from NY), my nephew and of course my two babies during the spring break.  The weather was fabulous and we really had a good a time hanging out. I miss her already! sniff.

 I also had some time to clean up my email and one of my friends sent me this website... www.spokeo.com.

Seriously, what the hell is wrong with folks, not only does it show your address, it also shows financial info etc.
I like the internet but can I have some privacy?  Nobody needs psychos stalking them.  I'm in the process of trying to get my info and most importantly my teenage daughter off the dang site.

Check out the site and tell me what you think?  Shouldn't it be named spooky.com?

Monday, April 5, 2010

and the winner is......

And the winner of the cool Austin T-shirt is.............:
RED DOOR HOME!
We only had three entries in our contest!: Clayton Gray Home, Red Door Home & Paige B.. We put the three names on paper and stuffed into three pink eggs.
We twirled them around in the basket, and then Luke chose the winning egg.
Congrats to Red Door Home and please email me your address and the size of the t-shirt you'd like us to send to: jvw@jvwdesign.com
Enjoy your week and hope everyone had a great Easter!
All the best,

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Happy Easter!!

Wishing yall a very Happy Easter weekend!

Also, a reminder that if you want a chance at the "Keep Austin Weird T-Shirt" giveaway, then enter your comment today (or by Easter Sunday evening) on that older post. We'll pick the winner tomorrow and right now, only one person has left a comment! Therefore, your chances are very incredibly good at winning!
If you read that post, you'll know that we're looking for the right lighting in our new master bath addition. One pendant or chandelier to hang over a tub, and a single sconce to flank each side of a large wide mirror, over the vanity. Here's another sneak peek at the master bath evolving:

The mosaic tiles have been installed around the fireplace and as a border around the tub tiles. The vanity is sitting out in the room at the moment, while the painter is painting the left walls, where it will rest....the double vanity will have the raised white vessel sinks. Here's the left side view of the tub border (below) with the window seat on the left....we had to notch the tile floor border just a bit, because the vanity will rest evenly on the wood floors. The little detail will probably make much more sense when you see the vanity sitting on that spot!



Here's a view into the shower area :We'll enclose the shower with clear frameless glass & all the horizontal wood walls and ceiling will be painted white....and here's my fave part of the room:
The stone shower floor! From Island Stone, the stones feel soooo good under your feet....like getting a massage when you're standing! Our friends have a cool weekend cabin in Wimberley, Texas. We first discovered the "feel" of the stones in their walk-in shower. We were sold after feeling that floor! Their floor is more neutral in colors, like Texas stone and also a very cool look. We chose the seafoam colors because we love the colors & it coordinates with our room, but also because the stones remind us of the rocks in the rivers of Montana.
In the "t-shirt giveaway" older post, you know I mentioned that we'd hunt in Round Top , Texas for lighting ideas. We did go to Round Top yesterday and they had loads of great finds, but not the lighting we were hunting for...
However, I had recently looked at another designer's portfolio and noticed lighting she had used in a bathroom. The designer, Jean Marie McLaughlin of JMac & Kennedy , was very kind to write me this morning and let me know the resource for sconces she used, pictured here:

with this drum shade:


The modern sconce came from the Maura Daniel collection. I think this sconce is a nice updated version to the more traditional type crystal bead sconce. I love their coordinating, modern crystal pendant for over the tub here:

(I can't download a photo of the shade actually attached to the base!)


I'm really loving the lights on the Maura Daniel site and now thinking we'll choose one of these. On the Maura Daniel site, you can create your own base and add your own choice of shade. My husband likes the modern choice , but is thinking this look (from same site) is better:

with this mini drum shade:

I know it looks very traditional, but the white drum shade makes it a bit more modern & updated.

But, if we order the more traditional sconce, then we'd order this pendant:
(using the same white drum pendant shade).

The bathroom will be finished around next week or so. I'll post pics once all lighting is chosen, room is finished and "photo ready".Would LOVE your comments on the 2 separate light choices in this post....AND if you want that cute T-shirt, in YOUR size, then put your lighting comments also on the older "T-shirt giveaway" post & you'll have your name entered into the giveway contest! (I'm bending the rules a tad..you do NOT have to mention my giveaway, unless you want, in your blog. JUST make a comment on which lighting you like at the bottom of this post! I realized that I too get alot of bloggers inviting me to try and enter a giveaway. But we ask too many things of readers, just to enter. I read SO many blogs, that even though I'd like a chance at some drawings, I just don't enter cuz they always ask that you have to also mention their giveaway in your blog. I just don't have time to always paste/copy/remember everyone else's contest and the rules, etc.......but it's EZ to just make a comment when you're on someone's blog! So, make a comment & we'll pick a winner manana!

Enjoy your Easter weekend and I hope the Easter bunny brings you loads of yummy chocolates, beautiful flowers & many blessings,

All the best,

Overstock Chairs

I really LOVE Overstock, I usually browse the site at least once a week since, you never know what you're going to find.  Check out these chairs that they're currently selling, love them.

This chair is a little pricey, ok a lot pricey, but isn't it fabulous with it's imperial pattern?

This funky chair would great in a library or a living room.  Love the nail heads.


This chair would look great in a contemporary or a traditional room.  With nail heads and tufting, it's a hit.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

An Unexpected Gift




Normally during last month of the quarter my work load at my job is crazy and I work at least 13 hours a day for my day job and being a single parent there is also my 24 hours a day parenting job.  By the end of the quarter I just want to crawl into the bed and sleep for a couple of days.  


On Tuesday evening when I was settling in for another long night, my friend called to asked if I wanted to go the Alicia Keys concert that night.  Even though I was tired, and still had work on my desk (at the time she called it was 6:00 pm and the concert started at 7:30 pm), I jumped at the chance and went with her to concert.


It was a great concert and I really enjoyed it plus we had really good seats. Thanks Audrey, you're the best.


Of course the next day I was back on the grind but my steps were lighter and I was way more relaxed.   It just reminded me that sometimes I must take a break in order to refresh my spirit and mind.  Do you take a break from your daily grind on a regular basis or do you keep going?