random (tired) yumminess

kelly green swan chair 

home office from a home tour in this month's Southern Living Magazine

(I need one now!)

great quote from quote blog--I will dig up her blog and link it!

picture of the kind and laid-back Daryl Carter from the other week

at Urban Electric Co. in Atlanta (yours truly is cropped out)

He had patches on the elbows of his jacket--I have a thing for professory blazers.

perfect creamy front door

soft contrasts

(both images via Farrow & Ball)

LOVE this monochromatic first look with the strong lip color

(J Crew)

chambray shirt & sequin skirt--too good

J Crew

(both via The Neo-Traditionalist

and a perfect sunny fall day

enjoy your Wednesday.....Julie

housekeeping, etc.

So I have mentioned before that my friend, Jillian, told me that it takes a year to actually move into a house.  I didn't believe it....but now I think it is true.  

In December, we will have been here for a year.  I have been on a decorating rampage since then, but am just now getting around to really setting up "systems".  Does your home have order and places for all the tons and tons of paperwork and crap that comes your way...or are you still struggling like myself?

These little folders from Target are helping.  I love the natural fabric and the little bit of teal in the label.  They help getting all the piles off the counter--you know--bills that must be paid tomorrow, grocery lists, preschool permission slips and mail.

I had a great chalkboard organizer here (from IKEA), but it broke.

I'm pleased with this new system!

(sweet Kate, pictured here, did the labels for me.  BH & G wouldn't be coming to shoot here without her!  She worked her hiney off helping me get this house ready.  Chris was in Virginia about the entire month prior to them coming.  I have never worked so hard in my life!)

She helped me move all the papers and fabric samples and such downstairs.

As much as I would love to actually "work" in our pretty office upstairs, this isn't possible with two little ones who see everything as a toy.  We had to store stuff in a area that can be baby-gated off.

Chris (and Kate) thought I was silly to use our old dining table as a desk--but it works and is free!

It may be silly again to show you all of the little details, but I love this ceramic key hook from Anthropologie with brass hooks.  God's in the details, right?

And I finally have a working system in the laundry room now that the paisley stencil is done.  Being organized really frees up your mind for creativity, don't you think?

We added hooks that are cute & functional.

And I love our sink skirt made from a TJ Maxx toile shower curtain & velcro.

Hides a multitude of sins!

And another housekeeping note:  I'm sharing some news about a art show & giveaway from Whitehaven Interiors:

Helen Durant and Corrina Sephora Mensoff are having a show Oct 16 and 17 at  

Murray Mill (the Goat Farm). Whitehaven is also having a giveaway to promote the art show - the giveaway include a small goat painting from Helen and 
earrings from Corrina (who is a sculpter and metal smith). 


links here:
http://whitehaveninteriors.blogspot.com/2010/10/giveaway.html

http://whitehaveninteriors.blogspot.com/2010/10/helen-durantcorrina-sephora-mensoff-art.html 

all types of slipcovers

So Jen, this is for you an anyone else looking to slipcover some chairs.  Image:  Atlanta Bartlett

To update my client's dining room, we are planning to slipcover the two dining chairs and the ends of the table.  This will change the look of the room by lightening it with the white fabric and adding more texture to the room.

I love the "slipcover" above because it is loose and informal...I think even sexy.  I write "slipcover" because I think she just draped & tied a sheet around the chair.

Here is another loose cover.

I really like these because they are sleek and straight, with only one pleat on the bottom.

this image Martha Stewart

I think the straight cover will work best in their dining room, as opposed to ruffled covers (like Windsor Smith's design here)

these are sweet and very French

like these English Cottage ones...just not for them (via Cabbages & Roses)

We are planning to monogram the backs of the slipcovers...their initial with a crown above it.

(this image Country Living)

I think this will be our best option--a long, simple and mostly straight slipcover...either in white cotton duck, linen blend or denim (bleach!!)   I would like to see the skirt just kissing the floor.

I am a big fan of slipcovers.  They are cost-effective because you can repurpose a good, old piece of furniture and they last a while because you can pull it off, unzip them and throw them in the wash!

I'll leave you with this today--Julie

your home is your portfolio....

...or at least it is for me.

We have spent time (and money) this week getting the house like we wanted it before they came to look at it.  These were plans we had in the works for the next six months or so---but with an opportunity like this, why not do them now?  

Here is one new purchase:  this brown linen settee (from Ballard)  It is so perfect for this room.  It is a great place to sit and type or read and put your feet up with the sun hitting your back (this room, and our home, faces south)

And on the other side, sweet Kate painted this for me this week (there is no way you can paint furniture with two little boys at home.  If you know of a way, please fill me in!)

my old antique dresser (deep sea green...oil-based semi-gloss Ben Moore)

So today was really great.  Seriously one of the best days of my life.  Whether or not they do choose our home or not, I was so happy with our work and my design and how the home was.  All you can do is give it your all....and we all did.  I think I can feel good about surrendering the outcome if I know I did all I wanted to do.

Here are a few more shots of the house (clean (!) and with roses from our yard)

By the way, that candle right there (as well as those candlesticks you can see on the island) were from a recent shopping trip to Anthropolgie.  I find that a lot of candles make my head hurt.  I don't know the name--but this cream & black one is so subtle.

Our inspiration board got a coat of white dove to lighten it up a bit.

The nightstands finally got dressed up with the new knobs I've had in the drawer for about a year.

(shot from yesterday--not clean--but the setting sunlight was so unreal.  I am a book hoarder.  And pillow and lamp hoarder.)

and Kate's new stitch art for this room....

How beautiful are these?  And stitches!!!  And she is a fine artist, not a seamstress.  I cannot tell you how much I love these.

I still owe you a proper post on her art.  It's coming...along with the mantel post :)

One reason we justify spending this money (like on new sconces for Liam's room) is that we believe it is cheaper than interior design school.

And this is no knock at school...or being ASID for sure.  Just for us, and our lives now, it wouldn't work.  I have a master's degree in English (not that my grammar and spelling always display this), and I just think I am learning so much by living as a decorator and using my home as an example.  People will like it or not like it, but our home is the one place where I have (kinda) free reign to do what my heart desires.

Wyatt got new (old) mirrors, a new pillow, some silver satin Dutch Boy paint on his changing table, and more of Kate's finery above it.

new antique chair, PB rustic frames and photos

And for me, it works out best that I read and learn by reading design books while they nap.  Perhaps I'll go back one day, perhaps I won't...but for now I don't feel I need it.  I do need to learn, for sure, but in a more organic way.

Anyway, I do hope I have good news to share with y'all soon.  And if not, the good news is I am proud of what we've done...and it feels nice to sit back and enjoy a little accomplishment.  "Life for me ain't been no crystal stair", for sure, so you gotta appreciate the high notes.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, friends!  I'm off to see babies tomorrow.  Both my friends I threw baby showers for this summer both delivered a week early....babies Ruby and Daisy.

Julie