dream house (with a dose of reality)

You've seen those blog posts, where the writer posts photos of their Dream House room-by-room.

We'll here's my version.  It's not quite a Dream House post, but rather how I most desire my current (under construction) house to look.  I've limited myself to one photo per room, just for the challenge!

Through the front door, you'll find this entry.  Panelling, stair treads, wall color...perfection.

 The powder room on the first floor.  I'm planning to stencil a more geometric pattern.

 John's study.  The least "concrete" room in my mind.  I just can't wrap my mind around it.  Although, I HAVE purchased a light fixture!

 Kitchen.  Our cabinets will be creamy white, dark brown island, and a HUGE lantern.

 Dining.

 Living.  Hope to have my red chairs recovered to look like these.

 Laundry.  We'll have to add some cabinets.

Moving upstairs, we have Grayson's Flag themed room.  He'll have 2 twin beds, which is more fun to plan for than you can imagine.

 Caroline's room.  Will be based from Joel Dewberry's Dogwood Bloom fabric in pink.

 Guest Room.  Where can I get my hands on a blanket like that??!

 Master bedroom.  Killer Colleen McGill curtains.

 Master Bath.  Dark Cabinets, but our floors will be white.

The kids bathroom is the only room I have NOTHING for.  But seeing as they just use ours, maybe I can keep putting that off for a bit longer.

And, obviously, I desire NO color in this house.  Wonder how that will turn out?

After we move in, and slowly make some changes I'll photograph the actual spaces, and see how well I did.  Or didn't!

glitter baby

I'm considering an update for Caroline's white dresser and nightstand.

Right now, the plain white dresser, is adorned with simple painted wooden knobs.

The dresser looks a lot like this:

I'm hoping to add some glittery, sparkly, crystal knobs.  Won't it make for a more personalized, girly dresser?

 I've found these examples from Anthropologie.  They are all pretty reasonably priced at $6-$8 a piece. 

Or these pale pink numbers.

But still, for 16 knobs + tax and shipping, that can get really expensive.  So I think I'll have to do some more searching.  I did see the top Anthropologie knobs on ebay for about half the price.  It would still be an $80 project, so we'll see.

Any tips for scoring some great glass/crystal/plastic knobs on the cheap?

bedroom chair

Many years ago, my husband gave me this blue chair as a birthday gift.

We had seen it at Storehouse Furniture in New Orleans, and I must have commented about it.

And, of course, I was thrilled to receive it as a gift.  It was certainly a gift I wouldn't have talked myself into.

Anyway, it's kind of been the inspiration for our master bedroom for the past 6 years or more.  I mean, it's not the kind of chair you just stick in any room and hope it fits!

But now, the light blue decor is being moved to the guest room, in order to have a more glamorous master bedroom.  {I posted some ideas here.}

And the blue chair might not make the move.  Although the new guest room hasn't even begun construction, I can tell that it might just be too small for a chair in the corner.

 So here is my idea for keeping the blue chair in the master bedroom....a slipcover.

 Not typically my style, but I think it might work.

 Now, only to decide to attempt it myself, or get an expert involved?

Colette, nay, Lauren

Could this be my jumping off point for our master bedroom?

I know my inspiration room for our master has that beautiful tufted headboard, but I'm afraid I would tire of the tufts before long.

This bed, Lauren from Urban Home is a nice consolation, though.  It has a feminine shape with the masculine nailhead trim.  At $699 for a California King, the price is certainly better than most beds.  It's a almost perfect match for the more expensive Crate and Barrel Colette bed ($1899+).  And I'm always up for saving a little dough with a knock off!

Thanks to Reichel at Copy Cat Chic for the "chic find"!

Master Bedroom

I have this bedroom photo saved 3 different times on my computer. 

I guess it's safe to say I like it. 

I guess it's also safe to say lots of others love it too, given the number of times I've found it on the internet.

I've saved the picture for the large mirror.

I've saved the picture for the wall color.

I've saved the picture for the curtains.  Fabric.  Style.  Rod.  Pleat

For the solid color bedding.

For the upholstered headboard.  And that it's tufted.

For the chandelier.

Here's another bedroom by Colleen McGill that I also like.

In fact...I seem to LOVE a lot of Ms. McGill's work.  Here are several more.

I see a definite color trend, creamy white walls, minimal dark accents, large mirrors, round convex mirrors...love it all.

my little boy's not a baby, anymore!

My little boy is 3 and 1/2 (or closer to 3 and 3/4!).

We've decided, that in our next home, he deserves a real, big boy room.

So we'll ditch the crib and changing table/dresser, and start from scratch.

Except

I have NO IDEA what I want it to look like.  And if you ask HIM, he'll probably say "spiderman" or "batman" or "ironman" or something else he knows equally little about. 

So here are the images I've found looking around the internet.   Looks like I'm leaning towards navy, red, light blue and black.

Or maybe light brown or off white walls with the navy, red, blue accents?

But no boat bed...I draw the line at that!

Caroline's Room

I'm not an interior designer.

Whew...glad we got that out of the way!

I've been working (in my mind) on some ideas for Caroline's room re-design, and I've gotten carried away with Joel Dewberry's fabric Dogwood Bloom in pink, maple and grass.

Here's my (amateur) version of a design board as a jumping off place.

She already has the bed, brown comforter, and lamp in her current room design, as well as a matching white night stand and dresser.  I think it will be an easy upgrade. 

But do you think a 5 year old would like it?

fit for a king

Right now, my husband and I share a queen size bed.  It's SO comfy and a beautiful sleigh bed, but I'm ready for an upgrade!  Whenever we stay in hotels that have a king size bed, that extra space is very nice!

So, I think we may spring for a king size bed of our own (for a new house).  It may end up being a late anniversary present, although I don't think the gift for 8 years of marriage is "beds"!

{ok...I checked.  The anniversary gift for 8 years is bronze.  Or pottery, appliances, or linen}

So, here are just some design ideas to get me started.

First up: a bronze bed!  I probably wouldn't buy it, but since it's the 8 year gift and all...

 ...and from JC Penny...

 overstock.com...

 pottery barn....

 restoration hardware...

 and urban home...

I think I'm leaning towards something wooden.  I admit I'm drawn to a lot of upholstered headboards, but I just don't think they would last long with little kids around.  Grimy finger and all...  Wood is just easier to keep up.  But I did throw in that leather one as a compromise!  I also seem to be going for beds with low footboards. 

Here's hoping we find something WONDERFUL and at a great PRICE when the time comes.