Home Sweet Home

I am finally back from moving my sweet sister to Dallas. I miss her already!
She has a GREAT place right in the middle of downtown. I am beyond disappointed with the numerous times I forgot to take my camera/actually use it. I aimed to take tons of cool night shots...well that also didn't happen. I'll try to share a shot later if I took one from my cell.

Amazing view from the rooftop decks!

Sister and one of her BFF's that went with to TX.

Stella

While in Dallas I got a chance to go to Ikea (our closest is in ATL) and I found these amazing drapes! Pack of 2 on sale for $24! I also picked up this rod which I love!

Here is a peek at the table I had on the teaser (photo 2). The base is primed and will be white, I havent sealed the top yet, but I like the color.

I can't decide if the taxidermy is too wimpy to be on their own, they may need to be in a cluster of frames.....I just painted that candelabra, want to find some fun blue tapers for it.

From another post you have seen my den/sofa as drab and very olive, well my sister was living in the lower loft like space of our old house-turned-duplex, so now that will become our movie space/entertaining/play room for our time staying in this home {post about this soon to follow]. So all the big bulky and green will be moving downstairs! As many others I am in love with the Alvine Ruta rug from Ikea and am anxiously awaiting my next trip to Atlanta!! This will go in my den, along with the table and drapes above and THREE other projects I'm slowly working on....sheesh! We may be sitting on pillows for a while :)

Hope to post in a day or so with what might be the replacement for the daybed project, early 60's wooden framed sofa, I haven't seen it yet, but my Nana says it's all mine if I want it.....Is that even a question?? Of course I want it!


xxSarah

Oy vey!

I am so lost, I worked all through naptime, wasting valuable moments to use a paint brush and my macbook has yet to allow me to connect to the internet no matter what I do. So now, with no other choice, I have taken desperate measures and hijacked hubby's craptastic desktop to post a little blog action.

I have been so busy spending time with my sister {who moves to Dallas in 6 stinkin days} and starting some projects that I have been so neglectful of my posts. But here I am in Hubby's man-nook {have I shared how we live in an old house so his man room is a butler's pantry?? well it is.} and finally sharing my glossy white taxidermy!

I really like the outcome! Now they are flanking my french doors that lead to the back deck, I'm not sure if this will be their forever home but I'm glad they are up. {Isn't that wall color dreadful?! I cannot wait to paint but that intails so much hubby help that I'm going to have to be patient, I've dealt with it this long.}

In other news, I wooted! I love woot.com and a few days ago there was a woot off and I snagged a fabo deal on a stroller that retails for over $200 on amazon and I couldn't be more geeked out over it. I just got word from the woot tracking bot that it is being shipped and I'm stoked! It's purple. I don't know what more there is to say, doesn't that just scream baby glam?!

I will try not to stay away for so long this time. :)

xxSarah

Taxidermy {faux or no}

I've been admiring the amazing works of faux taxidermy lately. Whether cardboard, stainless steel, resin or papier mache, taxidermy has been taken to a chic new level! 

Etsy seller Bornanoldsoul

Antrhopologie

Cardboard Safari

welldressedhome.com

Today while CL stalking for a dresser that my sister and I plan to revamp, I found these pretties, the real deal, and a lightbulb lit above my head (and this lightbulb was the big cool vintage kind, not the swirly energy efficient one). Why don't I paint these, top to bottom, glossy white??

The seller informed me these are European and the mounts are hand carved...so I started to have reservations on painting them....but I really am wanting a more modern and sleek look rather than rustic, cabin feel. I also need to find out what paint will take to all the different textures...I just don't know :(


What would you do?

Tootin' My Horn

I just had to do a quick blog to share what I scored...I found two pretty great rugs today for $12.50 each!!!
{pardon the dull blackberry images, they are a mid-range gray}

4x6

2x7'7"

The rugs were redlined at Garden Ridge. Please tell me you see what I saw?? Don't they scream West Elm?!

I'm on a retail high from that purchase!
I am still working on a daybed-as-sofa plan, I cannot wait to get that going, but "measure twice, cut once" = "plan twice as hard before you go buying random lumber and screwing it all up" so I am patiently working with engineer dad to make sure I get it right the first time :)

xxSarah

Drab to Fab

I didn't think I'd go this long without blogging but had a busy weekend! Sadly not super productive. I must admit I've been adicted to reading...the Sookie Stackhouse, Charlaine Harris's The Southern Vampire Mysteries....and though I bet this speaks volumes about my reading habits....I.AM.HOOKED. I won't delve into the amount of time I spend huddled on the couch with my nook, but I will say it is dreadfully embarassing how into these books I am. I have left several subtle hints to the hubs that it would make a happy wife if he would come home with the TrueBlood series on DVD, sooner than later. Thanks.

Also my sister accepted a job in Dallas on Friday so I've been helping her in her virtual apartment search. She is selling a lot of her oversized furniture that is housed in her current rustic, brick exposed flat and I am having a ball brainstorming ideas for a new modern/contemporary place in downtown Dallas. I'm terribly sad to see her move away but this is such an amazing experience and I'm looking forward to visits!

So far I have two project ideas we aim to do in the next 3.5 weeks.

How glam is this!

 

http://marcusdesigninc.blogspot.com

 It started out as this plain little thing found at Ikea.

We are going all black and gold in her bedroom and I am so excited to try out a similar project. We are setting out to thrift and find a great dresser to mimic this lovely transformation from drab to fab! (In more detail here: http://marcusdesigninc.blogspot.com/2011/02/my-ikea-diy-dorothy-draper-style.html)

Will blog about the other one tomorrow, pulling myself away from my reading and going out with the hubs and friends. :)

xxSarah

(i also am too rushed to proof right now, excuse any and all errors :) enjoy your evening!!!)

Daybed-as-Sofa {opinions please}

Ever since I saw the images from the estate sale and had my daybed-as-sofa epiphany, I simply cannot get enough! I think this idea epitomizes southern hospitality and the desire to have guests feel comfortable and at ease. I have been trudging through images of daybeds of all sizes and materials.
I found this image of Zsa Zsa Gabor's home {currently listed for $28mil for those in the market :) } and this feminine oasis of chartreuse curtains and plush pastel pillows makes me swoon! However, I live with a manly man and 9 foot ceilings...

diylife.com

Oh my! THIS is marvelous. However my piece cannot anchor a corner in this room and this feels a little bedroom seating area to me.

decorati.com

This version is a little more my style and certainly more my price range. Made of vintage twin headboards that have been painted and upholstered, it's quite the transformation and paired with the toile wallpaper it would be absolutely perfect....for a young girls room. I don't see this in our living space.

countryliving.com

This wooden piece from Bali is spot on, I can definitely picture a plush seat with bolster surround and a mix of vintage grain sack pillows and some new embroidered pretties. 

So as wonderful as this looks, when I see "imported from Bali" instead of words my mind translates "$$$$$$$" so I turned to the beyond talented Ana White. She has a plan she calls the "Lydia Daybed", a farmhouse style that would look lovely used for seating and lounging.

Below is PB's Priscilla daybed which Ana's plan was based on.....LOVE what's going on with netting, sconces, and metal wall art. And the color....I'm quite fond of that color, I can't seem to find anything wrong with this photo.

apartmenttherapy.com

 My only concern is the amount of sitting space the scallops take away for times when you want your toesies on the floor. It turns a 3 seater into a 2 seater and those who prefer corner sitting are out of luck. The below image shows a similar front with a lower height for those decorative pieces, which seems to make it a 2.5 seater....maybe? I also prefer to have a piece across the back to hold a bolster and throw pillows instead of relying on the wall as you would with Ana's daybed. I'm not certain if I want such an ornate back as below or just a simple framed beadboard panel. And lastly I may desire a beefier frame such as the beut from Bali. Suggestions?

roomelegance.com

So my question for you lovely readers of my humble blog, is what do you think would work best for this daybed-as-sofa situation and also what colors should I use for my revamped living space? I was thinking of doing a deep gray for the walls.  I have my favorite piece, the blue distressed lawyers cabinet shown at the end of this post, that is already in this room.  Also, some other white/light gray pieces will be moving into the space...

Have a fabulous Tuesday! I'm working my part time job on m-w-f now, so will enjoy this beautiful weather with my miniature bff today!

xxSarah

Estate Sale Saturday!

Hubs, the babe and I met my parents and headed out to do some estate sale hopping today. Our main stop was an estate sale at the home of an architect (which we found out used to work at the same engineering firm as my dad, small world). This place had rich style. He toured the world and his house was a showcase of his travels! I REALLY wanted this galvenized daybed (see below) to use as a couch in our living room....but when we got there an hour after it started the sweet thing was sold! :(

Here are some photos I took off their website (Bryant Estate Sales . com).

 Lots of amazing treasures and a beautiful hand tied rug

 this screen was fabulous and probably 8 feet tall!

Though not my style, I love the retro style of a leather Eames chair

This bulbous tasseled vase was gone before we got there, so was that amazing 7 paneled screen!

hand carved carousel horse

 

 I'm so upset I missed this bed, I am now on a mission to find one!

 Hubs has wanted to geek it up with a metal detector for some time now, sadly this fine piece of technology was also gone by our arrival....

The only purchase of the day, mom and dad bought all 15 of these panels, which are 5 1/2 foot primitive screens. They were asking $100 a piece! But nobody bargains like the big cheese bargains! (Should explain the nickname, dad A. is from Wisconsin and B. does a lot of work with a big time food company that specializes in cheese.) They are planning to use these in their formal living room to study remodel. 

The other stops were a bust, how I do hate coming home empty handed. ::sigh::

xxSarah