Wednesday Wrap-Up

Per usual, I have just. so. much I want to share with you all! But where to begin??

There is this beautiful sale; I literally want one of everything. The white walls and blonde flooring remind me of my house, but the bright repeating accents, stacked art and layered accessories, as well as the cozy textures (fur! velvet!) are inspiring me to change things up for the holidays. And how great are those wreaths above the beds?!

River City Mrkt

Speaking of wreaths, one of my favorite flower vendors from the East Lansing Farmers' Market will be selling wreaths at the River City Mrkt, a pop-up holiday shop in REO Town that starts tomorrow. You can see her gorgeous dahlias here -- and I changed my profile name on IG, which has had a cascade-effect and now I'm going to have update links all over the place... #oy

Fast Company

The weather in Michigan has been over the top amazing lately (sunshine and sweaters instead of snowsuits). However, I am beside myself with excitement for Christmas and all things alpine!! I think it has a lot to do with this article's message of embracing the cold and snow. Whatever the reason, I have been counting down the days until the local radio station switches over to Christmas carols and I think we may get our tree earlier than ever this year!

Makerista

Of course, I am also still looking forward to Thanksgiving. This year we are hosting my parents at our house so I get to dream up the menu. I may not love making dinner every other night of the year, but I do love planning a Thanksgiving feast. Isn't the way Gwen mixed the traditional dishes above with the magenta candles so fun?!

Finally there is this stool, which I reluctantly passed up in my local Freecycle group. I love its square steadiness and the aged brown leather and the 1970s shape. Truly, it was love at first sight. But there is only one and I really don't have a place for it and I really need to avoid even thinking about it. 


That's what's new in my world. What's new with YOU?! {Linking up with Jessi and Jenn for What's Hap"pinning" Wednesday}

One Room Challenge Reveal Day!

This is it! One Room Challenge Reveal Day. 

First, a huge thank you to Linda of Calling It Home who dreamed up this semi-annual kick-in-the-pants to make our world more beautiful, one room at a time, and then for opening it up to anyone who wants to blog along in fall of 2013. 

I have met so many great design lovers who I now call friends through these challenges; I have been inspired beyond words; and I have had the chance to hone my decorating skills and learn new things. The bonus is that I have a few more "finished" spaces in my home now, too! 

For this go-round, my project was our family of four's main bathroom.

And the project nearly died last week. There was no week five update because I knew I couldn't get the drywall fixed or the floors done in time. 

Just painting this vanity in a glossy black did a lot to transform the space, although you can see the blingy original floor and absence of baseboards. 

Switching out the old roller shade with this new top-down-bottom-up shade has made a world of difference, too. It's great to have light streaming in all day without losing privacy. I also like how the honeycombs of the shade mimic the louvres of the cabinet doors.



The citron stripes were a last minute addition because I wanted some more color and interest. I pulled together some pretty soaps, a cup for cotton swabs, and perfume on a tray with some funky art. Voila! Bathroom styling.

I did the same for this shelf, using succulents in glass pots, a candle, and a trio of cosmetics in dark bottles. The oversized faux orchid on the counter is the icing on the cake for me in making this space feel slightly tropical and yet still glamorous. 

The thing that messes us up the most is the picture in our head of how it's supposed to be. 

That was nearly the case with my #backtobasics bathroom. In the end, the philosophy of "use what you have" saved the day. 

My humble tips for bathroom styling:

1. Add some art

I used black frames to pick up on the black vanity. The art over the towel bar was a wedding gift but also reminds me of the hotel where we got engaged, honeymooned, and celebrated our first anniversary. The photos above the etagere are of where we had our first kiss (although I shot them years before we even met). And the last minute addition across from the window is actually a page from a calendar that I matted and framed with this tip.

2. Nature

You can't have too many flowers or plants in my opinion. I mixed the faux orchid with the succulents and an aloe (on top of the etagere).

3. Don't limit color

I could have stuck to one or two colors but I thought it was more fun to have a mix.

4. Clean, clean, clean

To make it even easier to keep the space sparkling, I left the Mrs. Meyers spray on the counter. Not only is the bottle attractive but it also smells amazing!

5. Don't give up!

Do what you can, with what you have. Even if your house is a hole in the side of a mountain, a little styling can still make it feel beautiful!

Now, in the same way Ferris Bueller asks at the end of his eponymous movie, "What are you still doing here? It's over. Go on!" -- head over to Calling It Home to check out the other participants here and here.

Marble on Monday

I've been thinking a lot about marble. Both faux marble as I wrote about here, and the real deal as in these two easy pieces I've recently found.

CB2

First there is this shelf, which I've recommended for a client, but is back-ordered until next month.

lovehowwelive

I think it could actually be kind of fun mounted with the brackets up like book-ends as in this photo.

Money Can Buy Lipstick

And then there is this kitchen island, which I first spotted here.

It's from Target. Can you even believe that?!

Marble Tabletops

My first Stitch Fix shipment comes today and I could not be more excited! Have you used them before? I am extremely curious to see what my stylist has chosen for me.

This beautiful dining room is one of my most popular pins on Pinterest this week. I absolutely LOVE the marble top with all of the wood and white. 

Design Mom

I've been re-imagining our house again, and this is just the sort of table top I'm picturing. 

Coincidentally, today I found two references to using marble contact paper (Design Manifest and The Inspired Room). In fact, Shannon from Burlap & Lace did this to her table last spring and encouraged people to give it a try here. So what do I have to lose??

We had a great Halloween! My daughter was Rainbow Dash from My Little Pony. It was a fun choice because her roller derby name is Rainbow Crash. Look how much she has grown! The photo on the left is from about 2008 and the one on the right is from a bout she skated in a few weekends ago. #skatergirl

Telegraph UK

My middle-school son wore the mask from V for Vendetta. This is kinda extra cool because of Guy Fawkes, the British insurgent who tried to blow up the House of Parliament in 1605 (read more here) AND a story my grandma told me long ago about one of our British ancestors who was hanged for trying to blow up the House of Parliament. Same person??? I don't know, but they will burn his likeness in effigy tomorrow, across the pond, for Bonfire Night. #teamCatholic 

My parents will also be returning from a two-week stay in Ireland tomorrow. I can only imagine that my ancestors moved there after the hanging...  I should really get on one of those ancestry websites and learn more about our family history (and I wonder if anyone else in my family remembers this story??)

Linking up with Jenn & Jessi for What's Hap-"Pinning" Wednesday.  :)