Pardon My Absence.......

I've been busy staring at this little monkey:

Meet Rodney Knowles V 

aka "Quinn" the Great

Born July 20, 2010 

at 6:49pm

9 pounds 6 ounces 20.5 inches

Deal of the Week

I am out of the office today, but didn't want to leave you all hanging with this new, riveting, series.

Have you met Reichel at Copy Cat Chic yet?  No?  Well, she'll give you the deals on an almost daily basis!  Enjoy.

xo

A $25 coaster.....

On Friday, I was very excited about a certain delivery......nope, not that one - I finally received a tile sample from Edgewater Studio.  I hurriedly opened the package, expecting to be greeted with a small series of interlocking beauties.  What did I get?  ONE measly tile!  ONE! WTF?  The tiles run at $40 a square foot and I  paid $25 for a sample.  So, one would assume a sample would consist of at least 1/3-1/2 of a sq foot plus shipping costs, right? Wrong.  All the other samples I've sent out for were quite large.

So, dear readers, would you take this as a lesson learned (always ask what the sample consists of) or voice your disappointment?

For now, we own a very nice $25 coaster.....

In the Weeds

Happy Friday!

I am hoping that I'll be busy next week with a little bambino.  I'll let you know of the details as soon as possible.

For now, I leave you with a little funny.  A perfect example of some of the kooky-ness abundant in downtown everyday living.  

This is a house on the corner of our street:

Images courtesy of Charleston Daily Photo

Joan from Charleston Daily Photo claims "By the end the summer the house will be completely covered with the vines. At some point the owner will trim around the windows to let a little light in. By winter he'll trim it back to the ground. I can't resist watching the progress each year. "

More Beach-y and Less Straight Jacket......

We're trying to decide colors before the baby arrives and I am otherwise occupied.....

I'm going for a calm, serene beach-y look.  However, all that white may look like a psych ward instead of the seaside.  I'd love any suggestions.......

The kitchen cabinets are shaker style painted white:

With horizontal shiplap or paneling for the walls:

Image from Beauty And The Bulldog

A fun little tidbit for you from Beauty And The Bulldog:

"For anyone that isn't familiar with the term "shiplap", it refers to wood planks that were typically used as interior walls of old homes and buildings by placing them horizontally from floor to ceiling over the 2 X 4 studs. When pine went into short supply, and all of the high quality Long Leaf Pine was gone, sheet rock was invented, and thus this method of constructing interior walls ended...(sadly)" - 

Image from House of Turquoise

Image from House of Turquoise

I am loving the painted ceiling on these last 2 images.  Maybe that is how I throw some color in there?  How do you spice up your home?

Deal of the Week

Olivia Mirrored Side Table - $139

Wisteria's Venetian Cigarette Table - $199

These side tables have been around for years, yet they are still pop up in a lot of interiors I see.  Want one for yourself?

From, who else, but Urban Outfitters - $60

Update on Home Renovations

Lots has been happening with our house, but nothing too tangible to show in photos until now.  In the last 2 weeks.....

HVAC went in:

The framing went up:

Bathroom in Office/Guest Room

Nursery bathroom

New window above kitchen sink

Insulation went in:

Kitchen

And the drywall went up:

But, the pièce de résistance, is the living room ceiling:

I l-u-v it!

Next up: paint colors and final decision on tile..........

Keep Calm, Etc

How did it get to be Monday afternoon already??  I have some pics of the house but still have to get them on my computer.

For now, please enjoy some online shopping.  Urban Outfitters has really stepped it up lately.  I wish I still lived in Boston and could find these items in their basement sale section in a few weeks for a fraction of the price.

$8.00!!  Would make a great gift to cheer up a friend's day

Cute little Owl Pill Box - $8.00. 

Add this to a baby shower gift so the mom-to-be has a chic way of storing her prenatal vitamins by the bed

Bar Carts seem to be all the rage these days.  I love the industrial look of this one.

Deal of the Week

This deal lasts all month......

Get 15% your order at Ballard Designs 

with coupon code SL10JULY

Tell Me I Do Not Need This

On sale at Pottery Barn for $399

or this 

Urban Outfitters - $68

More Tile Help, Please

The never ending tile list just keeps getting bigger and bigger.......

Ever since I saw Julie's kitchen, I have coveted white glossy Moroccan tile for the kitchen backsplash.

So - on my search, I've narrowed it down to these:

 At Overstock: 10+ sq ft for $64.99

(bottom tile) Edgewater Studios for $40/sq ft

I like Edgewater Studio's use of tile for the hearth (is that the correct term for it?).  We were just going to get a slab of marble at a remnant store.  Do you think it would be overkill to use the same tile for the backsplash (only a small 3x3 ft space above the stove) and the living room hearth (just the floor portion)? 

Since we aren't getting too fancy with any of the work, we figure we should splurge on high impact items to increase the resale value.  Would this "wow" you during an open house?

Before Repointing - We'll keep the white mantle for now

After Repointing - Tile would go on the floor in front

Unfortunately, the fireplaces will not be operating.  They will be outfitted to, but the complete process is out of the budget.  When we win the lottery, we'll make the living room one functioning.  For now, I like this idea

Image from Belle Maison

Deal of the Week

Morocco is tops on my travel list.....if only to buy lots of rugs and poufs.  Moroccan decor may be a fading fad, but it will always be tops in my book.  I just love the bohemian vibe it gives off.

Wouldn't you love to go to a summer dinner party like this?:

Photo courtesy of Kiss Events

I especially am in love with the Moroccan pouf or pouffe.

Photo courtesy of Kiss Events

One can easily incorporate this little gem into everyday decor:

Photo courtesy of Belle Maison

Here is a pouf  in a nursery, courtesy of my very talented friend Ashley Hope.  She is a photographer and new mom in Atlanta for those of you looking for a jack-of-all-trades artist.  She has shot babies, weddings, interiors, fashion shows, you name it, and manages to perfectly capture the moment in any setting.  I think she should add interior designer to her skills because her ability to layer old and new pieces always blows me away.

So, how much do poufs cost?

You could find them at John Derian for $285 (metallic $325)

You could find them at Tazi Design for $225 (free shipping)

or , may I present: Proof That You Can Afford Pouf......

You can find them at Rocket St. George for $186 (including international shipping) - Go to the bottom right corner of the page to change the currency to your country.

Where would you put your pouf?