Decorating Mania

Kitchen Wish List

2010-09-22T09:02:00.003-06:00

I was looking at kitchen cabinets online and found some things that I wish I had.

Isn't this rack neat? The bottom rack adjusts to different pot sizes. This is a good idea because I try to keep my lids on my pots when they're put away but I never use the lids so they always end up a mess until I clean them all up again.

Kitchen aids are so heavy. Seems a shame to waste a whole cupboard though.

Who wants to look at their garbage can? Again, wasted cupboard space unless you have a huge kitchen.

I love this one. I would put it in the space between the garage door and the refrigerator. I have a plethora of cleaning supplies. Don't believe the Swiffer commercials. I own a broom, mop, regular Swiffer, and Swiffer Wetjet and I use them ALL! I'm sorry but a Swiffer Wetjet doesn't get all the grime off the floor, and those little swiffer cloths can only pick up so much debris. They're good for little clean ups. Right now all of these are located in the spare bedroom. The pantry and the coat closet aren't the best places. I just bought some hooks to hang them all up in the garage when I get around to it.

I have all my spices in a cupboard and have to rummage through them to see what's hiding in back. Plus those pesky oil bottles and Pam cans are so tall they don't fit in the cupboard and end up in the pantry.

I loved this idea because I don't like to leave my toaster out on the counter and it's regular home is in the cupboard over the refrigerator. Not a very convenient place. There was also one I saw called a "wall appliance garage". I couldn't steal the image for it. It's basically the same thing but the door opens upward like a garage.

Another brilliant pot storage solution. My cupboard for my pots are super deep and sometimes I have to get down and reach in the back. It would be so much easier if they just pulled out. Laziness at it's finest!

I wish I had drawers for all my containers. When I had to clean my cupboard out today I found containers I forgot I had because they're clear in the back. Also it would be easier to stack and store the lids close by.

I love the idea of having my pots next to my stovetop. One of these days. *sigh*

Halloween

2010-09-14T23:55:00.003-06:00

This is totally making me want to throw a halloween party! All photos are from marthastewart.com

Clothes pin bats

Candy wreath

Inspiring ideas.

2010-09-14T21:46:00.002-06:00

Amy Butler wall art.

An old globe cut in half.

A lined drawer.

Scrapbook paper with molding glued to picture frames.

Wall paper.

More Amy Butler art.

Scrapbook paper and die cuts. I like these colors together. Yellow, green, blue and brown.

More Amy Butler. I checked to see how much these prints cost and they were over $200. Are you kidding me?!! I'll just frame the fabric!

Hardwood Floors!

2010-05-16T21:05:00.001-06:00

The hardwood floors are done! Yeah! It was quite the process. It took them 2 days to complete. I'm really happy with how it turned out and the color. They didn't have to remove any baseboards, which makes me really happy. It was quite the process getting all the dust cleaned up from the installation. I had to wipe down everything in the house. I only had enough time yesterday to put everything back in place and clean the living room up. I left the kitchen for Chris to do and he wiped the counter and table off but didn't sweep and mop the tile so all of us have been tracking more dust onto the hardwood. Sheesh! I had to work today so it won't get cleaned up until tomorrow. We had a scare with the piano when we were moving it back into the living room. That thing is so old and the wheels don't cooperate most of the time so we had it half way moved before we realized that it was starting to scuff the floor because the wheel wasn't turned. Luckily it didn't gouge or scratch it, and the scuff just needed to be buffed out.

Ignore the dust and the messy kitchen. The point of this picture is to show the transition from the dark wood to the light wood in the kitchen. I was really having a hard time choosing a color and was originally going to do a lighter wood floor since the kitchen is but I loved the dark wood colors. I finally went with the dark wood thinking that the tile would be enough to break up the living room and kitchen so that it wouldn't look weird. I think it ended up working out okay and my framed tapa cloth kind of helps since it has both colors. What do you think? Did the gamble pay off? I think it did but what do I know? I just live here. I think if I went with a lighter wood, it might have been overwhelming.
Don't believe those Swiffer commercials. Just because I own a Swiffer, doesn't mean I don't use my broom too.
I love Mockie's face in this picture. Silly girl!
What do you think of this rug? I think it serves it's purpose.
The beast of a piano!
Those are my temporary curtains. I had them just sitting in the linen closet and just put them up so that I can have something until I get around to making curtains. Those blasted couches! It really limits what you can do colorwise. We're debating on getting new couches this year but I think it might end up being next year since we've spent so much on the floor and we still have the yard projects to do this summer. You can't tell in the pictures but the wood is hand scraped, which means that it's distressed. This will help hide any scratches that might turn up in the future. We also went with this one because it had a lifetime warranty on the finish.

So what's everyone's verdict?

Lemon and Lime Centerpieces

2010-05-14T10:34:00.002-06:00

Floor Sample

2010-04-08T16:57:00.002-06:00

Here's some comparison photos so that you can have an idea of how dark the floor is against the other wood in the room.

It's reflecting a little light but you get the idea.
This one is a little blurry but I was too lazy to take another photo. The shade of the coffee table doesn't matter too much since it will be sitting on an area rug and not directly on the wood floor.

Collage take 2

2010-04-07T12:48:00.001-06:00

Here are two floor samples that I liked. The one on the left is my favorite but only has a 10 year warranty on the finish. The one on the right is my second favorite but has a lifetime wear warranty. You can't really see the differences in the picture but the one on the left is a little more cherry and rustic than the one on the right. In the collage below, I had to use the image of the one on the left since I couldn't find one for the other and the pictures I took don't do it justice.

I'm also going with this rug from Ikea that'll make the floor not so dark. I hate trying to find just the right print and colors on a rug, so why bother?

2010-04-06T22:59:00.000-06:00

Here's what I have so far. Not much. ha ha

More ideas

2010-04-05T14:44:00.003-06:00

Here are a few ideas for throw pillows. I'm trying to find something that will incorporate other colors in the room. Green and red are the main colors since I have my green couches and red candles.

The fabric above is from Pottery Barn and is a little pricey.

I found these others that are similar and a lot cheaper.

I'm thinking about doing yellow drapes and might either go with a solid or print. If I go with a solid in the living room then I'll probably go with a print in the kitchen.

Living Room Take Two

2010-03-28T21:37:00.002-06:00

I'm revisiting my living room refresh since we're getting hardwood floors put in. Ideally, I would like to get new everything but that's not going to happen anytime soon. For now, I'm getting new curtains, a rug and possibly throw pillows. I took down my evil blinds and put up a double curtain rod and it's my new best friend. Blinds should be taken down and rolled over with a truck, in my opinion! Here are some ideas for curtains I'm looking at:

Here's an idea: I can do this fabric as throw pillows and then use the red and blue as accent colors.

Center Pieces

2010-02-26T12:48:00.000-07:00

We can take branches, glue flowers on them, spray paint them (or not) and add these little birds from Michael's that come in all colors:)

If it were me.....

2010-02-25T18:24:00.007-07:00

Here are a few details that are my favorites going along the line of what Rachel says she likes and some ideas that I like. I decided to put them in one place. In some cases I'll put my top two choices.

Rachel:

This dress:

With a navy sash and broach, except with sash longer and tied different.

Green and white bouquet or yellow bouquet.

Bridesmaids:

Green and white or yellow bouquets.

Other Decorations:

If this were possible. It would be cool! Maybe just string clear lights across the ceiling.

Guest book table: Bird cage for cards with lanterns and framed bridal photos.

Tables:

Blue tablecloths, runner or square in middle

Main centerpiece of willow branches and yellow tulips with a few small vases of green hydrangeas.

A combination of these two bouquets. Yellow tulips, white tulips or roses, and green hydrangeas.

Seashells and coral surrounding the vases. Why not? Poly pride. ;)

Wedding Cake:

Either a 3 tiered round or square cake with navy ribbon and yellow and green flowers.

Food:

I wouldn't do food since there will be a separate luau.

Assorted candies and mini takeout containers for people to fill. Cute?

Dessert buffet. Yummy!

You could always do cupcakes or sheet cake.

Color Palette

2010-02-24T17:57:00.002-07:00

Rachel. You should consider changing your blue from cobalt to navy. It'll be easier to find things in that shade. Also, I like the idea of navy bridesmaids dresses with a yellow sash and yellow heels. This is just my opinion of course. ;)

Bridesmaids Dresses

2010-02-23T17:07:00.006-07:00

These photos are mainly to try and get an idea of what yellow and blue would look like together.

Dessert Table

2010-02-23T16:50:00.003-07:00

Center Piece Ideas Yet Again!

2010-02-23T16:41:00.002-07:00

Willow branches

Pine cones

Peacock Hair Accessories on Etsy

2010-02-23T07:58:00.001-07:00

Silk Fabric Swatches

2010-02-23T07:50:00.001-07:00

Bridesmaid Dress

2010-02-23T07:42:00.001-07:00

$148 at Totally Modest.

Dessert Table

2010-02-22T21:35:00.003-07:00

Dessert Table. Yummy!

Decorations

2010-02-22T21:20:00.006-07:00

Chinese Lanterns

Lanterns and Frames

Chinese Takeout Boxes. Don't know why but really cute.

Bridesmaids Dress Ideas

2010-02-22T21:18:00.003-07:00

Yellow flowers, Navy Dress

Bi Color Dress.

center Piece Ideas

2010-02-22T21:05:00.007-07:00

Fish bowl vases.

Flowers and fruit (lemons or limes , not oranges)

Seashells in a trifle bowl.

White coral

Cupcake center pieces.

Apothecary jars.

Shoes

2010-02-22T20:59:00.003-07:00

With the exception of #2 all of these were found on Zappos.com

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The Perfect Palette Blog

2010-02-22T20:04:00.003-07:00

I found this blog and got the following pictures off it. Cute!

1. I love the following: Yellow shoes, blue table cloths, blue dress with yellow sash.

2. Yellow bouquet, and color of dress.

3. Green bouquet, green table cloth.

4. Yellow bouquet on top right, yellow flowers on left, yellow shoes, candles.

5. Green bouquet, blue bouquet, green lanterns.

6. Flowers in hanging bucket.

7. Blue buckets, blue table runner.

8. Flower arrangements on top right and middle.

9. Shade of green.

10. Blue shoes.

11. Blue shoes, navy dresses.

12. Navy dresses.

13. Yellow dress bottom right.

14. Shamrock green.

15. Green shoes, sage dresses.

16. Yellow dresses, yellow shoes.

17. Peacock inspiration: blue, teal, brown.

18. Green dresses on top right and bottom left.

19. Sage green.

20. Teal and gold.

21. Wedding dress with green sash,

22. Blue dress, blue shoes.