Sneak Peek

I've got a small new project to share. Unfortunately my camera is in the shop. I dropped my camera on the garage floor last weekend and therefore I'm showing you a sneak peek into the project (above) via my IPhone, until I can get decent photos. The doorway leads into the new project, Luke's bathroom.

The bathroom used to be the small master bath of our house ,until we added our new one here:



Remember Luke's room? See that interior window on the back left?

Well for a few months after we completed his room remodel,
Luke had , let's just say, a "conversation piece" in his room. He had a 2 step stool that we placed in front of that window. Luke would step onto the stool to get into the window to use his bathroom! (wish I had taken a photo of this)
But you can see that the window is a high window. Even adults could stand on the window sill and be fully standing.
We needed to take a break from dishing out $ to our carpenter though, so we knew we had to wait a few months until we could go through the rest of the remodel. So, months later we finally began the process of ripping out the antique window, replacing it with a door, gutting out the old tub and creating a new subway tile shower for Luke & redoing the floors.
I'll give you some pics of the reveal when the camera comes back!

Another sneak peek is this absolutely amazing vacation home from Mykonos, Greece:
Head over to House of Turquoise where Erin features this charming villa & more pictures. Truly looks like heaven on Earth to me.

Have a beautiful day,
xoxo

A Little Hollywood Glam Mood Board

Here's a little mood board I whipped up for a friend, she likes a little Glam in her decor but it has to be on a budget.  So I turned to two of my favorite sources, Overstock and Ebay.

I'm attaching the links to the items below if you like anything you see.

1. Overstock Monaco Rustic End Table - $204.99

2. Overstock Tiffanie Gull Grey Patterned Faux Silk - $114.99

3. Ebay Reproduction Ghost Chair - $158.99

4. Overstock Chrome Crystal 4-light Round Ceiling Chandelier  - $169.99

5. Overstock Genesis Steel and Tinted Glass Modern Coffee Table - $515.59 

6. Overstock Carl 'Forever' 7-panel Abstract Metal Wall Art - $359.99

7. Ebay Cowhide Rug - $247

8. Overstock Modern Champagne Satin Sofa - $991.79

BLANCO

You know you've gone "blogger crazy" when you're in the bathroom of a restaurant and you're shooting photos of the bathroom decor.The restroom is located within the Uptown Blanco restaurant complex. The complex was originally built in the 1900's on the town square of Blanco, Texas and is currently being revamped into a multi-use center.

Here's the front facade back in the 1900's, the new restaurant is located within the tallest building:

The complex used to be part of the original theater , where they would show silent movies. In 1938 the theater was converted to a conventional silver screen theater complete with a marquee.
Inside the revitalized complex, you'll find the new restaurant, theater, bar, textile studio and beautiful courtyards for private parties. Blanco is located in the beautiful Texas hill country, about a 45 minute drive from San Antonio or Austin. Originally built on the banks of the Blanco River, it was named "Blanco" because of the white limestone riverbed bottom. Blanco means white in Spanish.

The food within the Uptown Blanco grill is delicious and upscale. Recently they hired a fabulous chef named Nathan and he's creating unique dishes. However, one of the best dishes they make is the good ole chicken fried steak.

The restroom though truly caught my attention because of it's fun, classic black and white decor.
(remember it's always best to click on photos to enlarge each one...you'll see better detail)

Once you look up, you'll love the details:They mounted movie reels as a border all around the trim of the ceiling with a mirror background. I wanted you to see these, because I think someone could make a very cool residential media room with this detail!

Check out the lighting above the stalls:

Great industrial lights that would be great again , in a media room. If your media room has a bathroom off to the side, then white not use tile with this retro black and white classic look?
Above the bathroom stalls, they decorated with this iron work and lighting behind it:
Recently the cast and crew from TRUE GRIT hung out at the Uptown Blanco and I'm sure they loved the bathrooms. ( the mens room is decorated the same)
TRUE GRIT was filmed across the street at the old Blanco Courthouse:

Ok, if you decide to decorate in this black and white scheme, remember I've got some great pillows in my store:

Click HERE to purchase our pillows!


Have a great weekend....
xoxo

Images via jvw home, Historic Blanco, Blanco Texas

Luxe for Less - Food

Do you use coupons?  While I'm not an extreme couponer like those people on the TLC show, for the past couple of months I've been using coupons.  I've literally cut my food budget by over 60% which is great since I have a teenage son and we all know they eat like crazy.  I'm still waiting for the day when I will only pay $5.00 for a cart of stuff, but until then I'm dancing the jig when I leave the checkout..

Here's a recent Publix receipt, I skipped out of the store after saving $176.81.  

The Publix BOGO sales is great way to save money when you combine the coupons with the sale.

 Here's a Kroger receipt where I did even better and saved 76%.  

I have learned a couple of  tips the past few months.

1. Not all Sunday newspapers are created equal, normally on Holidays coupons are not included in the paper. Use this site to find out if coupons will be in your upcoming Sunday paper.  

2. The More the Merrier, in order to make a dent in your grocery bill you need to buy at least two Sunday newspapers or more.  You can also just buy the coupons for a small handling fee from a coupon clipping service like this one.

3. Combinations are the best, you can combine a store coupon and manufacturer coupon. You can also combine two coupons with a BOGO sale.

4. If your store doubles a coupon (normally Publix will double a 50 cents coupon) then a 50 cents coupon is worth more than  75 cents coupon.

The site I've found most helpful is Coupon Mom. She has a video on her site that gives a great tutorial. 

Do you have any more tips to offer regarding the use of coupons?

Luxe for Less - Wassily chair

If you're a fan of modern furniture, I have a deal for you.  The Wassily chair also called the Model B3 chair is an iconic Euro-modern piece which have graced the homes of the upper class and has a price to match.

The chair retails for $2,025.00 for here.  Okay if I was making Oprah money $2,000 wouldn't seem like a lot of money but I'm not so, $2000 seems like a crazy amount to drop on one chair. 

I was browsing through Overstock and found out a reproduction of this chair for only $228. 

Isn't that a incredible value for the price?  If you're looking a chair like this, head over now to Overstock to pick one up.

I HEART YOU

Wishing you a HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY with loads of love & gratitude.

(Luke in 2009, Port Aransas Beach)

Wishing you a few of my favorite things & some girly girl pink for Vday:

.....more roses & of course candies:
......scrumdillyumptious cupcakes:
.......new Spring pillows from "jvw home", you can purchase HERE:
(remember, honeysuckle pink is THE hot design color of 2011, according to Pantone.)


....definitely some rockin' chocolates:
No one can diet on Valentine's Day....just not right, ok? Seize the moment!
My "boys" all love getting Roscar truffles from me every Vday....it's become a tradition in our family the last few years. You just can't beat their amazing decadent flavors.
You can buy Roscar truffles at Breed & Co., or at the Roscar factory in Bastrop, Texas. IMO, Roscar rocks the truffle world! I love any of their flavors, but the most unusual flavors such as "jalapeno" are truly the best. If it has an unusual ingredient, then it will be amazing....such as "tequila"!



....romantic & heartfelt Valentine's:

Cristin of Simplified Bee shared the very chic FREE Valentine's E-cards from the multi-talented Kate Spade team. Click HERE to look at all their unique Valentine E-cards. You can still share today & there are so many fun choices!!!


....gotta run cuz :

xoxoxo,

Images via: Kate Spade, Graphics Fairy, jvw home

URGENT - USE YOUR BORDERS GIFT CARD NOW!

According to CNN, apparently Borders/Waldenbooks is getting ready to file for bankruptcy next week.

Normally when a company files for bankruptcy they don't honor previously purchased gift cards after they have filed, so if you have a gift card go spend it this weekend.  I'm heading out to pick up a couple of books and some shelter magazines. 

Happy Shopping!

WOOD IS GOOD

I love homes that mix antique wood pieces within a modern setting. Whether it's a set of antique doors , antique furniture , antique beams,

(Traditional Home Magazine)

old reclaimed wood floors in a modern home, or the antique timber frame set within some part of a house. Old wood pieces just give a home warmth, character & a visual texture.

Our very good friends are putting their fabulous home ,from the hills of Austin,
on the market.
The 4.17 acre property consists of a new modern main house, built using an antique barn as part of the framing:

.. an original homestead rock guesthouse:

....and a pool within a serene setting:
(if you click on the photo, you'll see a ridge of houses across the way... those houses are on my street..when we walk our dog down our street, we can see way over the canyon to their home..it's a beautiful view)
The beautiful crystal clear Barton Creek rests in the canyons between our streets.

There's also an extra large barn/workshop not pictured on their property.

The main modern house was constructed using the timber frame of an antique barn from the 1840's. The frame, originally from a barn in Pennsylvania, was brought to our friends' land, and reconstructed by Heritage Restorations.

Heritage Restorations buys old barns from all over , sells them, then they assist you with the reconstructing of the frame. Our friends' home builder finished out the modernization of the home, after Heritage did the initial "barn raising". The only antique feature of the home is the framing, the rest of the home is very modern.

Heritage Restorations has an amazing portfolio of homes that have been built, using their frames. Also, if you're ever interested in their frames or wood pieces, they will ship and construct anywhere in the world!

Below are a few of my fave "reconstructed barns" from Heritage's website:


If you're interested in more pics or details about our friends' Austin home, you can click HERE .

And if you'd love to peruse the Heritage Restorations site & photo gallery, click HERE.


Hope you're having a beautiful weekend!

All the best,
xoxo,