love a library

I have ALWAYS wanted a home that had a library.  Every time I see a room with walls lined in books, I swoon.

Moving to the "country house," as I like to call this suburban abode, has given me just that.  It's a small in-between room that previous owners have added a floor-to-ceiling book case.  The wood finish was not exactly my favorite.  Before pic:

Immediately when I entered, I knew I wanted to paint out all the walls, trim detail and bookcases the same color.  I toyed with a few historic colors and settled on Farrow & Ball Card Room Green.  I wanted it to feel like an old English library or sitting room.
Here is what it looked like before:

And now... how cozy and fun! 

A few things to note.  I plan to install inexpensive roller bamboo shades.  I am also waiting on the carpet installer to put in wall-to-wall sisal.  I thought it would be done by now, but you know how that goes.

Last and (most important) is changing out the hideous sconces.  I want a great looking brass library sconce.  This, however, has fallen into the "not immediately necessary!" category.  I'll wait to find a great deal or wait until the coffers have been replenished.

*I do realize that the pictures in this post are particularly bad.  The room looks best in the evening, but my iPhone refuses to capture the magic.  For you readers and potential clients: This room rocks in person.  I have not given it justice in these pictures.  It will be better when complete.)

home for holidays

While my house is almost "complete,"  ok - will never be complete, it is, starting to look a lot like the holidays in there.  That makes me happy.  The following are updates on the den where we spend most of our time lounging and watching TV.  It's connected to the kitchen and next to the dining room, so it was also a hang out during Thanksgiving weekend which I was so pleased to host this year!
First timer!

 We reupholstered our vintage Knoll sofa and I'm so pleased with it's new life.  We also now have our window treatments up, but not before I snapped these.

Before the original orange Knoll fabric was ripped and stained and in general tired.  Plus too much orange for me:

I threw this pic in because when I replaced the kitchen counters I added an overhang to the peninsula.  This is now a great place for friends and family to perch and help prep! 

Thanksgiving table.

I went shopping for some napkin rings, but my favorites were pricey vintage pieces and I just can't spend any more money right now.  Some floral twine made festive work & doubled as sculpting material for my creative family.

 I also ran some black construction paper as a runner with chalk in silver julep cups to encourage more creativity.  (I'm from a long line of doodlers and sketch artists.  Yes, very sketchy)  

Family made use of the den to put their feet up after feasting.  Who's in charge of getting that fire going?

Next Up: Christmas decorations.  Wreaths are hung, mantles are swathed in evergreens and I'm dying to put up a tree.  I'll report back with home for the holidays part II.

DIY weekend

Regardless of this and the previous post I am not, I repeat, am NOT a DIYer.  I am a quitter.  Better yet, I'm an ideas gal.  I come up with the concept, but my execution lacks finesse and often lacks actual finishing.  This is why I am a great purchaser and hire-er.

Any-who.

I purchased a Moroccan Wedding blanket on my honeymoon in Marrakesch and since then I've wished that I snapped up a few more or at least a more flamboyant and sparkly one.  I can buy them any day of the week online, but it's nice to know I actually picked mine out in a souk.  While out yard sale-ing earlier this month, I spotted a huge and very shimmery wedding blanket and snagged it for $20.

See?  Shimmery!

I did my best to spot clean it and got it in my head I wanted to use it to make a large ottoman for my dressing room.

Not a new idea, people.  Have your very own from Calypso Home.

However, I like it and thought I could do it cheap.

So, I purchased a hideous looking ottoman of the right size from Home Goods.

I even talked them down on price because there were two tiny tears in the bonded "leather," which I learned after lugging it home & flipping over is cancer causing.  Really. A tag on the bottom said that this darn thing causes cancer.  Decoration before health though, right? *

I wrapped the wedding blanket around it like a present,

And then nailed the fabric to the bottom frame with small picture nails.  I also had a staple gun, but because I was not ready to cut the blanket up, using fewer nails on the corners worked well for now.

Voila!


*This author does not condone bringing cancer causing agents into a home.  Prospective clients, please fear not.


Also - harmful carcinogens result if the ottoman were to burn.

Ikea light transformed

I can't take credit for this DIY Ikea light transformation.  I've seen it on many design blogs.  What can I say?  It's a goodie.

Like all Ikea items, the fixture comes in a box full of parts; assembly required.  I suggested we paint the white paper lantern gold or two-tone.  It was settled that the interior would be gold (in hopes it would glow) and the exterior would be navy blue.

We painted the interior of the paper starbursts first.

Then the outside.  The blue did not come out as navy as advertised, but I think spray paint on paper comes out a little different than the color on the can implies.

We clipped on each paper piece to the "antenna."

And then the "antenna" onto the globe frame.

Halfway there.

And Viola!  Looks cool at night.  The gold glows warmly and the shadows on the ceiling and walls are great!