tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86957524131257086072024-03-17T22:18:21.408-04:00Meet Me in PhiladelphiaAshleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345558627679373156noreply@blogger.comBlogger698125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695752413125708607.post-81264070429497587482016-04-04T08:00:00.000-04:002016-04-04T08:00:05.021-04:00Our Daughter's Nursery<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Where did the last month go? Hopefully you were spared the late winter cold that ravaged our house and prevented me from doing almost anything except laundry and the occasional spring project planning--that is when my hands weren't cuddling a sick little baby!</div>
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Speaking of baby, the time has come to finally reveal Astrid's nursery. It's a room that makes me happy and I hope that, when she's able to articulate it, it does the same for our daughter.</div>
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When we discovered we were expecting, I got to work brainstorming a nursery that combined new purchases and existing furniture for our little one. I've long been a fan of purchasing pieces that could serve several purposes, moving from room to room and proving to be worthy investments. This room was no exception to that principle: the antique pine dresser, a bamboo etagere, a delicate footstool and a mid-century modern Saarinen tulip side table all found their way into Astrid's room from other spaces elsewhere in our home.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi8NZS2drBs80KRXM69VrVRx0fxpOsTe2qmxUnKfG0R6FTUV07CbgGalKCa2RSkdXk6Rsm92Qj1upsOJnVU1Xu6wHS3pwEZJufEf1Pu5ktVh6pF1kegTLYj0LGwPo_rVhymiL4hVmq1Ow/s1600/wall+plaque+and+stuffed+animals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Our Daughter's Nursery_Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi8NZS2drBs80KRXM69VrVRx0fxpOsTe2qmxUnKfG0R6FTUV07CbgGalKCa2RSkdXk6Rsm92Qj1upsOJnVU1Xu6wHS3pwEZJufEf1Pu5ktVh6pF1kegTLYj0LGwPo_rVhymiL4hVmq1Ow/s640/wall+plaque+and+stuffed+animals.jpg" title="Our Daughter's Nursery_Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(don't worry: all stuffed animals are taken out of the crib when our girl is sleeping!)</td></tr>
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Astrid's room itself has a naturally cozy feel thanks to its dormer window and slanted walls. I wanted the walls to envelop her during sleep and play, so I opted for <a href="http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/levingstongreen"><span style="color: blue;">Benjamin Moore's "Levingston Green"</span></a> (Adam loved this choice as well). It played off my choice fabric for the window shades, Parlor Textiles' "Confetti Floral Stripe" in red. After splurging a bit on the fabric, I saved money by sewing the roman shades with my mom during an early-fall visit. The red and spring green color combo felt fresh and clean.</div>
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A simple crib skirt, made from Robert Allen's "Plaid Ikat," paired nicely with the Parlor Textiles print as well as a beautiful handmade gingham-print knit blanket that my mom made for the baby (pattern from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Quick-Baby-Blankets-Superwash%C2%AE-Collection/dp/1936096463?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s02"><span style="color: blue;">this book</span></a>, if you want to make one yourself!).</div>
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Books have always been an important part of my life as well as my husband's life, so we were sure to carve out a corner of the room for reading as well as nursing.<br />
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Children's books are so vibrant and interesting like little pieces of artwork and, because of this, I didn't want to hide them in a bookcase. Instead, I transformed a vintage carved wooden pelmet (originally used for a window) into a book ledge that prominently displays each.<br />
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Opposite the book ledge is a matte green metal leaf mobile from a talented artist on Etsy, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/219680138/the-jungalow-mobile-in-green?ref=shop_home_active_11"><span style="color: blue;">Comometalworks</span></a>. Astrid's just started noticing the mobile and I love how it captures her ever-fleeting attention.<br />
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Finally, in the dormer window niche, Adam precisely and carefully hung 26 vintage-inspired animal alphabet cards from Martha Stewart's craft line with easy-to-find bulldog clips. Funny story about these cards: I bought these way back in 2008 while Mom and I were awaiting the news that my niece had been born. I squirreled them away ever since!<br />
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(all photos via Meet Me in Philadelphia)</div>
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I'd love to hear your thoughts! Astrid's room is a blend of new and old, pattern and solids, present and future.<br />
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If you're curious, some sources for items in Astrid's nursery are:<br />
Wall color: <a href="http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/levingstongreen"><span style="color: blue;">"Levington Green" by Benjamin Moore</span></a><br />
Trim color: <a href="http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/oc-17"><span style="color: blue;">"White Dove" by Benjamin Moore</span></a><br />
Rug: <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6px; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.wayfair.com/Acura-Rugs-Jute-Natural-Area-Rug-GR-602-VYZ1078.html"><span style="color: blue;">Jute Natural Area Rug from Wayfair</span></a></span><br />
Shade fabric: <a href="http://www.parlortextiles.com/cfs_red"><span style="color: blue;">"Confetti Floral Stripe" in red from Parlor Textiles</span></a><br />
Crib skirt fabric:<br />
Crib: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Union-Convertible-Crib-White-Finish/dp/B00JL6LOLI?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00"><span style="color: blue;">Union 3-to-1 convertible crib in white</span></a><br />
Antique pine dresser: <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2013/11/my-latest-craiglist-finds.html"><span style="color: blue;">Craigslist</span></a><br />
Linen slipcovered glider: <a href="http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Franklin-Ben-Crescent-Glider-Linen/9608321/product.html?TID=MyAcct:MO:OR:ProdName"><span style="color: blue;">Crescent glider in linen from Overstock</span></a><br />
Metal floral mobile: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/219680138/the-jungalow-mobile-in-green?ref=shop_home_active_11"><span style="color: blue;">Jungalow mobile in green from Comometalworks on Etsy</span></a><br />
White Saarinen tulip side table: <a href="http://www.dwr.com/product/saarinen-side-table-coated-marble-1.do?sortby=ourPicks"><span style="color: blue;">Design within Reach</span></a><br />
Tote bags (used to hold blankets and as a diaper bag): <a href="http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/33381?feat=boat%20and%20tote-SR0&page=boat-and-tote-bag-open-top"><span style="color: blue;">Boat and Tote bag from LL Bean</span></a><br />
Coat rack: vintage French hat rack from Etsy<br />
Wall plaque (above crib): <a href="https://www.bestmadeco.com/products/what-good-enamel-steel-sign?taxon_id=972"><span style="color: blue;">Bestmade Co.</span></a><br />
Bunny lamp (on pine dresser): <a href="http://fawnshoppe.com/heico-rabbit/"><span style="color: blue;">Heico rabbit lamp from Fawn Shoppe</span></a><br />
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345558627679373156noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695752413125708607.post-59561379501864063782016-03-04T08:00:00.000-05:002016-03-04T08:00:05.986-05:00Our Master Bedroom in Progress<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hello again, friends. In the last week, our little family of three trekked to Maine with my mom to celebrate the impending arrival of my cousin's baby girl while spending time with my extended family there. That said, I lost track of the time and simultaneously lost momentum on my house tour update here!</div>
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Today, though, I'm back to offer a glimpse into our "in-progress" master bedroom. As incomplete as it is, I'm happy with the direction it has taken since <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2013/03/ideas-for-master-bedroom.html"><span style="color: blue;">this post</span></a> from 2013.</div>
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We are fortunate in many ways with our bedroom, as it is large, bathed in light and includes substantial closet space and an attached bathroom. The master bedroom, to me at least, is the one room I didn't want to rush to decorate; not because it's not important, but because it's incredibly important. I wanted a space that invoke romance and relaxation and, for me, that's taken time to materialize.</div>
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When Adam and I discovered we were expecting, one of our 'to-do's' was to upgrade our bed. You see, we were living with a full-size bed during our eight years together and I anticipated (rightly, I might add) that a growing baby belly warranted a little more space. Our room was large enough, so we opted for a king. The bed is the lone piece of furniture in the room that has any kind of footprint in the room--we are still hunting for just the right nightstands and dresser--so we certainly had room to play with in here.</div>
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The bed frame, the <a href="https://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod2650005&categoryId=search"><span style="color: blue;">Vienne Caned Bed in distressed white oak</span></a>, was purchased from Restoration Hardware last summer on sale. It sort of set the mood for the whole room.</div>
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Other elements in the room came my way by fate, as the best things in life do.<br />
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In late October, I was eager to get out one day and went to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/zp0AudzEIq/?taken-by=meetmeinphilly"><span style="color: blue;">an auction house that has been very good to me in the past</span></a>. I was drawn to several garden ornaments (more on that in a few weeks) so when I was successful in bidding for those, I planned to take my goods and go; however, just as I was about to leave, this enormous aged Persian rug came on the block. I couldn't resist.<br />
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Its colors--salmon, navy, periwinkle and cafe au lait--lay the foundation for the shades I'll introduce elsewhere.<br />
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Did you notice the bedding? It's another miraculous find, you know...the kind you happen upon when you least expect it.<br />
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The story behind the white quilt and matching shams is a funny one. I was approximately 40 weeks and 5 days pregnant and, having exhausted everything that would distract me from my overdue baby, I stopped by a local thrift store. I needed absolutely nothing but, slung across a weak wire hanger in an overstuffed rack was a yellowed 4-piece bedding set.<br />
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Yellowed doesn't even begin to describe it. The tag was marked "as-is"; is that telling you something? Perhaps it was the hormones in action but I was determined I could bring life back to the quilt. As soon as I arrived home, I showed off my find to my mother (my parents were both patiently awaiting baby with us), declaring that a long soak in a hot bath of OxyClean would do the trick. When a pregnant women, overdue with her first child, comes you to with crazy eyes and a makeover to do, you just go with it.<br />
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As you can see, the OxyClean did the trick. It's worth noting that the shams and quilt were $25. Never underestimate the power of a good soak in the bathtub or the motivation of a pregnant woman at full-term.<br />
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The bedside lamps were another bargain find; they came from a Habitat for Humanity Restore deep in the heart of Chester County. They had a shape that drew me in immediately despite being hidden under a dated and brittle raffia shade. They, like the bedding, were $25.<br />
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Lastly is the slipper chair in the corner of the room. Another auction find, this chair was actually won by my father last spring. Yes, that's right, I had my father do my bidding for me...<br />
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The slipper chair was part of a lot from an interior designer and, after sitting on it after my dad won it, it was clear it was a quality piece though I knew nothing about its origins or the pattern on the chair.<br />
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Fast forward a few months. I'm on Instagram, scrolling <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/3msv_fPu22/"><span style="color: blue;">through a picture of Christopher Spitzmiller's NY country home</span></a>, when I spy wallpaper identical to the pattern on my slipper chair attributed to Albert Hadley. </div>
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What a surprise!<br />
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As undone as it is, our bedroom is taking shape with pieces I love and--clearly--can write a novel about. The idea underscoring everything I'm adding to my house is this: I have to love it, it has to be interesting and it has to beautiful. To me, that's was slow decorating is all about.<br />
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Thanks for reading, and have a wonderful weekend everyone.</div>
Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345558627679373156noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695752413125708607.post-83487664618055767522016-02-22T08:00:00.000-05:002016-02-22T08:00:17.295-05:00Our Dining Room Revealed<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Today is one I've looked forward to: showing off our dining room! In the midst of nesting, this room received a tremendous amount of attention, energy and effort, and I couldn't be happier with it.</div>
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Let's begin from the beginning: here's the dining room when <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2013/01/we-bought-house.html"><span style="color: blue;">we toured the house</span></a>. It's adjacent to the living room (see the second photo) and features one paneled wall and a large bow window that affords the room abundant light through the majority of the day. Until mid-summer last year, this is basically how the room still looked.</div>
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We took an important step forward in August when our trusty carpenter Rich returned to add the same double crown moulding that he installed earlier in the living room. We then replaced all of the yellow/bisque electrical outlets with <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2014/04/replacing-ugly-outlets-for-highly.html"><span style="color: blue;">my favorite all white outlet covers</span></a> (they make such a different, trust me). </div>
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Then, the most dramatic change: removing a series of awkwardly placed can lights in the ceiling and installing a single chandelier. With these steps done, the ceiling, walls and trim received a coat of paint. Now, on to the fun stuff: decor.</div>
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The dining room's color palette stemmed from the abstract floral painting, <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2014/03/my-new-aubrey-levinthal-painting-30th.html"><span style="color: blue;">Aubrey Levinthal's "Violets in November" that Adam gave me for my thirtieth birthday</span></a>. It's mostly neutral with a few accents in grey-blue and aubergine. I'm still planning to invoke these colors with more accessories soon.</div>
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The furniture plan took shape when I discovered the antique oval table with shapely legs and casters, a serendipitous Craigslist find (the same seller sold me <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2016/02/our-living-room-revisited.html#more"><span style="color: blue;">the living room hutch</span></a>!) with extra leaves for larger dinners. The shopping gods must have been shining down upon me because, about a week later, I found <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/zI0-1TTEFT/?taken-by=meetmeinphilly"><span style="color: blue;">the four-drawer chest</span></a> from a nearby charity shop. It holds countless hostess necessities, like napkins, platters, napkin rings, etc., and has the most charming wooden scallop shell pulls!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdYRdcKNkZ1yRvc-_cuMlbAweNmzamapmL_I7VF-j5cHstOPh9aBT38FSZXoqHJafcGOJe2kvSwY2FFSr8_l32b0ZG1EVwu_vPUkiZ6BrkjYn9t8BWz6lU1F1yotofO-qBFGn1GlIm10/s1600/dining+room_meet+me+in+philadelphia_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdYRdcKNkZ1yRvc-_cuMlbAweNmzamapmL_I7VF-j5cHstOPh9aBT38FSZXoqHJafcGOJe2kvSwY2FFSr8_l32b0ZG1EVwu_vPUkiZ6BrkjYn9t8BWz6lU1F1yotofO-qBFGn1GlIm10/s640/dining+room_meet+me+in+philadelphia_7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Do the chairs look vaguely familiar? I found these <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2013/10/faux-bois-dining-chairs.html"><span style="color: blue;">6 faux bois chairs</span></a> at one of my favorite thrift shops back in October 2013, though they were all oaky and teal and not my style at the time. Since then, I applied a washed white paint finish before <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/8nxJbKTEJS/?taken-by=meetmeinphilly"><span style="color: blue;">sending them to the upholsterer</span></a> where they were covered with stain- and fade-resistant Sunbrella fabric. </div>
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They got a whole new lease on life, didn't they?</div>
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On the wall opposite the windows, I kept it simple with a few white trinkets and the "Urns" print from Wayne Pate that Adam gave me for our first Christmas in Philadelphia.</div>
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The windows received a lot of attention in the form of new curtains. I sprung for a fabric I've admired for a long time, Sister Parish's "Clara B" pattern in beige that arrived just a few days after Astrid and I came home from the hospital; thankfully I was feeling well enough to work with Mom to sew the panels, which immediately made a huge statement in the room.</div>
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If you look closely, you'll see that we turned our bow window into a window seat. I had a 4" thick cushion made and upholstered in the same Sunbrella solid as the dining chairs. It will be such a fun place for Astrid to sit and read a book in few years while still being stain-resistant.</div>
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As you can see, the room is basically tone-on-tone. We opted for a budget-friendly jute rug that we're content with, but I'd love to introduce a bit more color when the perfect antique Persian rug comes along. The ideal rug would mimic the colors in the painting for an integrated look.</div>
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Likewise, I have antique botanical plates that I'll be adding to the wall and plan to sew an assortment of throw pillows for the window seat...but, you know, I've been a little busy lately. ;)</div>
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(all via Meet Me in Philadelphia)</div>
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The room came together in a relatively short period and it's already gotten a lot of use. Having a formal dining room makes me want to entertain even more, which is a lovely feeling. It will be the perfect backdrop for holidays and birthdays for years to come.</div>
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Hope you like it as much as we do!</div>
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In case you're interested, I've included some sources:</div>
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Wall and trim paint: <a href="http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/oc-17"><span style="color: blue;">Benjamin Moore's "White Dove"</span></a></div>
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Dining chairs: vintage via thrifting</div>
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Dining chair & window seat fabric: <a href="http://patiolane.com/8353-0000-linen-canvas-sunbrella.html"><span style="color: blue;">Sunbrella linen canvas from Patio Lane</span></a></div>
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Dining table: antique via Craigslist</div>
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Curtain fabric: <a href="http://www.sisterparishdesign.com/fabrics/clara-b/"><span style="color: blue;">Sister Parish's "Clara B" in beige</span></a> </div>
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Bamboo shades: <a href="http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Petite-Rustique-Bamboo-74-inch-Long-Roman-Shade/3711440/product.html?TID=MyAcct:MO:OR:ProdName"><span style="color: blue;">Petite Rustique bamboo shade from Overstock</span></a></div>
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Chandelier: auction find; very similar to the <a href="http://www.ballarddesigns.com/coral-chandeliers/lighting/chandeliers-pendants/313161"><span style="color: blue;">5-light Coral Chandelier from Ballard Designs</span></a></div>
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Rug: <a href="http://www.wayfair.com/Acura-Rugs-Jute-Natural-Area-Rug-GR-602-VYZ1078.html"><span style="color: blue;">Jute Natural Area Rug from Wayfair</span></a></div>
"Urns" print: <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://waynepate.com/collections/prints/products/urns">Wayne Pate</a></span><br />
Sconces: antique via Etsy</div>
Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345558627679373156noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695752413125708607.post-30773661829458646062016-02-17T08:00:00.000-05:002016-02-17T08:00:11.342-05:00Our Living Room, Revisited<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GhjyeqgwcCDDPTdl2z5w_Qq9fdYD1lN8pYGbekRovk7jsAb0xawwiJFYRSFU_xMS84vzWrajPuQIE8RMJbPizYdfK0yEjbXwldSb23wY3eR1Y-Umdoh3mEVmfq9Y4GAwivwJbkbuzPg/s1600/living+room_meetmeinphiladelphia_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GhjyeqgwcCDDPTdl2z5w_Qq9fdYD1lN8pYGbekRovk7jsAb0xawwiJFYRSFU_xMS84vzWrajPuQIE8RMJbPizYdfK0yEjbXwldSb23wY3eR1Y-Umdoh3mEVmfq9Y4GAwivwJbkbuzPg/s640/living+room_meetmeinphiladelphia_3.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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The last post before my blogging hiatus focused exclusively on our living room and, in the ten months since that write-up, the primary pieces remained while I've continued to refine the room with a few final additions. Let me show you around.</div>
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Before I highlight the latest details, I have to remind myself (and you) of where we started just three short years ago <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2013/01/we-bought-house.html"><span style="color: blue;">when we purchased our house</span></a>. Here are shots of the living room from the MLS listing sans all decor:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8299o8UeU448h3ZmUeX9DkrJyxy2gwZT24appidtJDQBFcrpeTa0KmjqR5SJ3X3c1TtXZSB3lXrZa5V9x1e5GCX7Sz9InVQWfCfGzvi0LbhdoSjpfp7aeQminTE4z2X9eu541kCCd-nU/s1600/living+room_MLS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8299o8UeU448h3ZmUeX9DkrJyxy2gwZT24appidtJDQBFcrpeTa0KmjqR5SJ3X3c1TtXZSB3lXrZa5V9x1e5GCX7Sz9InVQWfCfGzvi0LbhdoSjpfp7aeQminTE4z2X9eu541kCCd-nU/s640/living+room_MLS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7uhZUda_sQYObMWb5Qchy7uYLx8dA3J4DGX_5_1YC0lFXy6krwv4243dKpiImr5CJ3qVdaB9P3qfM2vfLH138L7jYYerIXGwIpetf6BEKyE4exhgCwd1ac8OaZGyKpPi1stXoMiz7Wg/s1600/living+room_2_MLS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7uhZUda_sQYObMWb5Qchy7uYLx8dA3J4DGX_5_1YC0lFXy6krwv4243dKpiImr5CJ3qVdaB9P3qfM2vfLH138L7jYYerIXGwIpetf6BEKyE4exhgCwd1ac8OaZGyKpPi1stXoMiz7Wg/s640/living+room_2_MLS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWy_yh48GPZWGfJ9U_4vGVwIaOKJlQ7BhyphenhyphenVNTlkhZT0T0GYZvSlQnI8MZOMC2qMZJo_OPkGlTf6GVqv2Q2Rxt6lM6Sbc0dzmP_tslu0capKO1dBjm2oCVaoyqmPMLqSUHkh-wt6mEAgVY/s1600/living+room_3_MLS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWy_yh48GPZWGfJ9U_4vGVwIaOKJlQ7BhyphenhyphenVNTlkhZT0T0GYZvSlQnI8MZOMC2qMZJo_OPkGlTf6GVqv2Q2Rxt6lM6Sbc0dzmP_tslu0capKO1dBjm2oCVaoyqmPMLqSUHkh-wt6mEAgVY/s640/living+room_3_MLS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We stripped out the elements that didn't work like <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2013/04/recently-round-here.html"><span style="color: blue;">the infamous "window to nowhere"</span></a>, the old fireplace screen and <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2014/04/in-progress-living-room-carpentry.html"><span style="color: blue;">dimensionless mantel</span></a>, and <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2013/02/new-hardware-on-living-room-built-ins.html"><span style="color: blue;">built-in hardware</span></a>. </div>
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Now the same space today. In this first photo, the double crown moulding and built-out mantel we added is on display, as well as my <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2013/03/pair-of-vintage-open-arm-chairs.html"><span style="color: blue;">auction-find open arm chairs</span></a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/xuUi3pzEJy/?taken-by=meetmeinphilly"><span style="color: blue;">myrtle topiaries from Terrain</span></a>. This room really reflects the evolution of my interior decor style, which has been greatly influenced by Brits like Ben Pentreath and Rita Konig. I'm all about layers, patina, prints and plants these days.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIk2IYAc2001Xpb9jKQfWnkFw7xEPSlf_ICtCFWyFrtA03NMpVFRTeAYHCXaO9xNV5x0R0zQARkrwOnLizlrjwEV0TNJmsgt88KLG58TR2D07pL88v2dhA7c3OoLcIbtd-bliqQg5uIY/s1600/living+room_meetmeinphiladelphia_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIk2IYAc2001Xpb9jKQfWnkFw7xEPSlf_ICtCFWyFrtA03NMpVFRTeAYHCXaO9xNV5x0R0zQARkrwOnLizlrjwEV0TNJmsgt88KLG58TR2D07pL88v2dhA7c3OoLcIbtd-bliqQg5uIY/s640/living+room_meetmeinphiladelphia_2.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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One place where we splurged in the room was the custom-sized 'Zira' rug from Fibreworks that grounds the room and is extremely soft underfoot. When we began to price out a rug, Adam and I were very discouraged to receive quotes nearing $6,000 due to the size of the room; yikes! We're willing to invest in quality pieces but that felt like a enormous expense that would literally be walked on daily!</div>
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And just like that, a guardian angel came to our rescue; Heather (whose fabulous blog you probably already read, <a href="http://www.heatherpetersondesign.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Love Your Space</span></a>) emailed me with an offer to order the rug at cost for me, which was such a generous thing to do and yet another example of how wonderful blog friends really are. Thank you again, Heather!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYYuIzIpAdOcEnHiXiZ7MzuKhCm5wcI08Wmp1HPbJn8gykTVriY0qrdFEL4tthPQNcygDokiFOyn-a0gMqZtevU1M0hx0QaWxFJdIcM14UsTBZdcSPCkV9Qm2Q1QTcwt50wAzliogM1s/s1600/living+room_meetmeinphiladelphia_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYYuIzIpAdOcEnHiXiZ7MzuKhCm5wcI08Wmp1HPbJn8gykTVriY0qrdFEL4tthPQNcygDokiFOyn-a0gMqZtevU1M0hx0QaWxFJdIcM14UsTBZdcSPCkV9Qm2Q1QTcwt50wAzliogM1s/s640/living+room_meetmeinphiladelphia_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The living room features many antiques, including the hutch (found on Craigslist) and my latest acquisition: the antique French zinc-topped farmhouse table, which serves as my indoor garden table, behind the sofa.</div>
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I decided to hang a vintage floral still life painting on the front of the hutch to break up the redness of the wood and introduce a little more green and blue to the room. If and when I tire of that painting, I'll swap it out with something else because I really like this look.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZkrMSll9z20p130DRbHR9bOQY6yuVf9nIktxNPYaKlm3f0CyDHsk-TTdoff07oz_WmoTH0Xy3ADD2eT0bHSEXdlnr7GSduVL_AN7CQIWSfwtmxE30akhwQeESCXb7eP-dkRmHmI2NAE/s1600/zinc+top+table.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZkrMSll9z20p130DRbHR9bOQY6yuVf9nIktxNPYaKlm3f0CyDHsk-TTdoff07oz_WmoTH0Xy3ADD2eT0bHSEXdlnr7GSduVL_AN7CQIWSfwtmxE30akhwQeESCXb7eP-dkRmHmI2NAE/s640/zinc+top+table.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We've continued to love our tufted sofa, upholstered in woven white Sunbrella fabric. Playing off of the white sofa, I opted for a simple, white pinch pleat curtains from Country Curtains for the oversized bay window. I deliberated over fabrics for custom curtains but nothing felt right except for white, which allowed other elements in the room to take the forefront.</div>
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The top of the hutch provides a platform for a very large, branch-like piece of coral that I picked up at one of my favorite thrift stores here on the Main Line.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgrNNEYGpsbrwZkx_0nvIkNadlQDHlkreav4-xHbng8EnjU0Zv2LHTjy_Ct9OGep2yJr2Y9y-GHK3ntcfSApSj_MgY3Ps1e7p0f9u7XqThtH8NFEr4a5wAhmuYc19OkbqQRmYDA0ZS6c/s1600/living+room_meetmeinphiladelphia_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgrNNEYGpsbrwZkx_0nvIkNadlQDHlkreav4-xHbng8EnjU0Zv2LHTjy_Ct9OGep2yJr2Y9y-GHK3ntcfSApSj_MgY3Ps1e7p0f9u7XqThtH8NFEr4a5wAhmuYc19OkbqQRmYDA0ZS6c/s640/living+room_meetmeinphiladelphia_4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwzom9UFrqPZcpYZ3ie43aSVNuzJMUn8lLSGG97CvBAfEmUkfi_usk3YPCpn0dSYM_djoXomNTsCu11agOPe2SSds-DWPsJfIgncxp-L1hGknf6Cfeny0juC6wmhGVXSyu9lSll0xJhY/s1600/living+room_meetmeinphiladelphia_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwzom9UFrqPZcpYZ3ie43aSVNuzJMUn8lLSGG97CvBAfEmUkfi_usk3YPCpn0dSYM_djoXomNTsCu11agOPe2SSds-DWPsJfIgncxp-L1hGknf6Cfeny0juC6wmhGVXSyu9lSll0xJhY/s640/living+room_meetmeinphiladelphia_5.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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(all via Meet Me in Philadelphia)</div>
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Nothing in the room has a particularly fancy provenance. Most pieces were accumulated over time from thrift stores, auctions, estate sales, antique shops and I love everything individually and, now, collectively.</div>
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I think that's what I want this room (and all the rooms I'll be sharing in my next several posts) to convey: buy what you love over time and what results is a space that feels uniquely you.</div>
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Up next: our dining room. I'm simply crazy about it and can't wait to dive into the details with you all. In the meantime, if there's anything in the living room that you have questions about, let me know!</div>
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345558627679373156noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695752413125708607.post-21654245508887849082016-02-15T08:00:00.000-05:002016-02-15T08:46:16.303-05:00Evolution<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-YLWg9O7uzM_YlaJV8qwVtZd2NzbXmUpwxiehVONF6WL6J1Bhyphenhyphen4NGa_08kktXq19sYQ54_g1vYNHx4bALhNi201Xo8XrCmP4JO3Py3a_kbCKKERyzn6mBGdmxoIVlcBfJBCtr2KzHvw/s1600/living+room_meetmeinphiladelphia_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Living Room via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-YLWg9O7uzM_YlaJV8qwVtZd2NzbXmUpwxiehVONF6WL6J1Bhyphenhyphen4NGa_08kktXq19sYQ54_g1vYNHx4bALhNi201Xo8XrCmP4JO3Py3a_kbCKKERyzn6mBGdmxoIVlcBfJBCtr2KzHvw/s640/living+room_meetmeinphiladelphia_1.jpg" title="Living Room via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="640" /></a></div>
Wow, it's been a long time, hasn't it?<br />
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Since I last posted, life has changed substantially around here and, amazingly, all for the best. I've learned a lot about myself through the crucible of significant life experiences that happened last year, namely career upheaval and--most importantly--<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/5xoHmUTEBP/?taken-by=meetmeinphilly"><span style="color: blue;">pregnancy</span></a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/_nIW6IzEAJ/?taken-by=meetmeinphilly"><span style="color: blue;">the arrival of our new baby girl</span></a>.<br />
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I felt like I lived an entire lifetime last year. Just as our circumstances changed, so did our home.<br />
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In April, we were overjoyed to find out that we were expecting our first child; almost instantly, despite my pregnancy nausea and job-related stress, Adam and I dove headfirst into a long list of to-do's to prepare ourselves for our baby who was due in December. Our ambitious preparations bordered on mania, with us keeping both a room-by-room Google doc project list and chalkboard task list to keep ourselves accountable...</div>
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We took on a lot of work in several spaces, including our half bathroom, master bedroom, dining room and, of course, the nursery. I plan to share each room here in the coming weeks, but I couldn't wait to share a sneak peek.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJS27Qc0hgnLGWtok9ob6zNaGN3i9uc2zjXsuVUzwVJwl0wEaaBSrxlmbSOpmGq71DjHWd6Y4NxvnjbQp-hQNGeeGrpJGufq5eMgiXxh7eXbbNoipDk_chvCr-iuLva95wpRIAsLJzso/s1600/dining+room_meetmeinphiladelphia_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dining Room via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJS27Qc0hgnLGWtok9ob6zNaGN3i9uc2zjXsuVUzwVJwl0wEaaBSrxlmbSOpmGq71DjHWd6Y4NxvnjbQp-hQNGeeGrpJGufq5eMgiXxh7eXbbNoipDk_chvCr-iuLva95wpRIAsLJzso/s640/dining+room_meetmeinphiladelphia_1.jpg" title="Dining Room via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGoEsPUxsy5l4qiDSDPEQCNiKUFh1wm4MRnfHnZMyTVTKeS23r2cazHDY3BrIlCndcCS1oGKSOQ9bomfZxk4lX9TMXYep38OvzWvkuzrFjQ_b-0XK88-Zyb_8FXQ_gh9gRGSLn6uOLQdI/s1600/master+bedroom_meetmeinphiladelphia_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Master Bedroom via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGoEsPUxsy5l4qiDSDPEQCNiKUFh1wm4MRnfHnZMyTVTKeS23r2cazHDY3BrIlCndcCS1oGKSOQ9bomfZxk4lX9TMXYep38OvzWvkuzrFjQ_b-0XK88-Zyb_8FXQ_gh9gRGSLn6uOLQdI/s640/master+bedroom_meetmeinphiladelphia_1.jpg" title="Master Bedroom via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3746b3onJykawclOQFub4UwUelzpDA1Uf6_wUcVps082eC84qPTKT0AW65wOh6tO32VwiMMtt1cntRm21WntoVOICzLE7e0oNhT9IwXygRAni7LRvYKg9tKaTZf0QnYu_g_pQ6WrYmkM/s1600/den_meetmeinphiladelphia_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Den via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3746b3onJykawclOQFub4UwUelzpDA1Uf6_wUcVps082eC84qPTKT0AW65wOh6tO32VwiMMtt1cntRm21WntoVOICzLE7e0oNhT9IwXygRAni7LRvYKg9tKaTZf0QnYu_g_pQ6WrYmkM/s640/den_meetmeinphiladelphia_4.jpg" title="Den via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="640" /></a></div>
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(all via Meet Me in Philadelphia)</div>
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But, I'd be remiss to finish this post without addressing my absence, the title of this post and how I'd like to continue with this blog. I took time off because, like many, I became very exasperated with blogging. The pace seemed too much. The pressure seemed too much. I was sad far too often when I felt no one was reading.</div>
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Now, though, I'm not so interested in chasing the popularity and sponsorship of other bloggers (good for them, though! honestly!). I'm not concerned with everyone and their uncle reading this blog. I'm not all that frustrated when I take photos of my home and the white balance is off or the pillows aren't fluffed. </div>
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Here's the reason for my evolution and the evolution of this blog: Astrid Delphine, our daughter.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv22ZSVXXcTGWurU0h3t_qVf7kdzOI_UNm60jd9LAKyJOrBO_ZMTCB_R1ktJZ-qOsgk45mivLZ40BjroUEKeI06yhSKVc-wi-ldB2H5Li0HSyLe6LhXzvb1koSqFBJlo6laue5-LdIhG4/s1600/Astrid+and+Daddy.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv22ZSVXXcTGWurU0h3t_qVf7kdzOI_UNm60jd9LAKyJOrBO_ZMTCB_R1ktJZ-qOsgk45mivLZ40BjroUEKeI06yhSKVc-wi-ldB2H5Li0HSyLe6LhXzvb1koSqFBJlo6laue5-LdIhG4/s640/Astrid+and+Daddy.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
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She arrived three days before Christmas and redirected and recentered our lives as soon as we laid eyes on her. I want nothing more than to give her the best, to give her all of my attention and love. Her coos make us melt and her smiles make us grin ear-to-ear. Because of her, I feel more open to share more of my interests here so expect more posts on gardening, style and the occasional mommy/baby post.</div>
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So, with that said, hello again. For those who have read for some time: thank you for allowing me to grow, expand and evolve this blog; for those who are new: welcome. I look forward to getting to know you.</div>
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345558627679373156noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695752413125708607.post-69256761836259479472015-04-07T08:00:00.000-04:002015-04-07T08:00:06.991-04:00Our Living Room...Mostly Complete<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6PHYU7u4PNSg-mIyUkaTsD8PyXx7A_W0AJyr8oYX57dABHman1kbS7kl9J7LegCqfR2RQvobK6kkNLwa1uB98w5r_kYskFvVcEQxx9VrIUVYgXNjVmkHvuebJUNoBw0tH1HnTZikHzpI/s1600/living+room+fireplace+and+chair+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6PHYU7u4PNSg-mIyUkaTsD8PyXx7A_W0AJyr8oYX57dABHman1kbS7kl9J7LegCqfR2RQvobK6kkNLwa1uB98w5r_kYskFvVcEQxx9VrIUVYgXNjVmkHvuebJUNoBw0tH1HnTZikHzpI/s1600/living+room+fireplace+and+chair+view.jpg" /></a></div>
Hello! It has been so long since I last opened blogger to start a post. I contemplated packing it up and riding quietly into the blogging sunset; but just like a magnet, something about blogging has pulled me back in and won't let me go, at least not yet.<br />
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Frankly, I missed our interactions! I really, truly did. If I could invite each and everyone of you over to my house, we'd probably sit in the living room and spend the day gabbing away about our favorite fabrics, what auctions we've been to lately and our best thrifting discovery of all time. The best rooms are the ones that spark these kinds of engrossing conversations, and that's just what I set out to do in our living room<br />
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In the past year (yes, year...<a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2014/04/in-progress-living-room-carpentry.html."><span style="color: blue;">we've been working on it for the past 12 months</span></a>), I've tried to cultivate a warm, cozy, curated room that welcomes to any visitor and demonstrates a little bit about Adam and I. I'm happy to report that we're 99% of the way towards that goal, save for finalized curtains in the room's large bay window.<br />
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This space has undergone lots of changes--both big and small. Carpentry, painting, upholstery, new furniture...you get the idea. I love this room. I always feel a little uneasy sharing such personal rooms but I hope it's the kind of room that seems inviting to you, even across the computer screen.<br />
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Without further ado...here's our "mostly complete" living room!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2DRGB9spFFn5Qslg9gKj_b8uzjK5O09hPzxDB-VGDQbItfIypy8Jw6naiZWQGcCMa75Gt9uxBWaiRu3VOoKAtAQYNyn9ZiYaCHzHDXP-Cv2Tmn8N34oKgT891_qIjRn6dm_AGii93Xw/s1600/hutch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2DRGB9spFFn5Qslg9gKj_b8uzjK5O09hPzxDB-VGDQbItfIypy8Jw6naiZWQGcCMa75Gt9uxBWaiRu3VOoKAtAQYNyn9ZiYaCHzHDXP-Cv2Tmn8N34oKgT891_qIjRn6dm_AGii93Xw/s1600/hutch.jpg" height="454" width="640" /></a></div>
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(all images via Meet Me in Philadelphia)</div>
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In case you wanted to walk down memory lane, here are some of the projects that brought this living room to life:</div>
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<a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2014/04/in-progress-living-room-carpentry.html"><span style="color: blue;">Living Room Carpentry</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2013/02/our-tufted-sofa.html"><span style="color: blue;">The Tufted Sofa Before</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2014/06/our-newly-reupholstered-living-room.html"><span style="color: blue;">Reupholstered Chairs and Sofa</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2013/03/new-round-coffee-table-for-living-room.html"><span style="color: blue;">Coffee Table Before and After</span></a></div>
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Thank you all for sticking with me during my frequent blogging breaks (and <a href="https://instagram.com/meetmeinphilly/"><span style="color: blue;">following me on Instagram</span></a> in the interim)--I hope we can pick up where we've left off. I've saved up so many projects to share here on the blog, and I'm looking forward to catching up with each of you!</div>
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345558627679373156noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695752413125708607.post-80077683921076338122014-11-24T08:00:00.000-05:002014-11-24T08:00:05.319-05:00Pre-holiday Spruce-Up: The Vintage Blue Tile Bathroom<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_dde0Dtj7euLl4jgLOaFlznKmjr1nAmOnxaJqj3dSY4Bzbq-avd6r76iDSVHyQJMVfcNm2sMb-bKZeiPK7PRNx0rztVmN_A5vREpqoF22VpZM6-UzjLuZ2yEd_gYP0hPW7nymGXnB0w/s1600/blue+tile+bathroom+via+instagram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Vintage blue tile bathroom via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_dde0Dtj7euLl4jgLOaFlznKmjr1nAmOnxaJqj3dSY4Bzbq-avd6r76iDSVHyQJMVfcNm2sMb-bKZeiPK7PRNx0rztVmN_A5vREpqoF22VpZM6-UzjLuZ2yEd_gYP0hPW7nymGXnB0w/s1600/blue+tile+bathroom+via+instagram.jpg" height="400" title="Vintage blue tile bathroom via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="400" /></a></div>
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This week marks the official start of the holiday season (though, according to malls and big box stores, it's perfectly appropriate to start celebrating and shopping in September!). As such, I had the itch to get a jumpstart prepping for holiday guests; the first place I wanted to start: our vintage blue bathroom. </div>
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I shared the photo above on <a href="http://instagram.com/meetmeinphilly"><span style="color: blue;">Instagram</span></a> one morning last week, as I could hardly wait to show off this work-with-what-you've-got spruce-up, which required little more than incorporating items I already had into an otherwise-ignored space. In the spirit of Thanksgiving gratitude and contentment, I challenged myself to work within the limits of what I had rather than undertaking a full (and completely unnecessary) renovation and, in doing so, I proved to myself that the smallest changes could turn one of my least favorite spaces into one of my favorites.</div>
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<a name='more'></a>This vintage bathroom is one of two upstairs in our home and is used most often when we have overnight guests. Though small in footprint, the bathroom accommodates a corner shower, original porcelain and chrome sink and large window that streams sunlight. The bones were good, but it was missing pieces to pull it together.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLlVV_Lpy51DuXDMIAAu_1g1vs7h30DRJMhpL2sQrfm0KEF6_UiNG7cydzFG_iFkeH_gR6n66hDC02DiG-zynEViHpMe-QhZz0FJ9sy0qpeVXZLX0EKiCgjEiwhAm3rgqkr_67bqKULc/s1600/blue+bathroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Vintage blue tile bathroom via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLlVV_Lpy51DuXDMIAAu_1g1vs7h30DRJMhpL2sQrfm0KEF6_UiNG7cydzFG_iFkeH_gR6n66hDC02DiG-zynEViHpMe-QhZz0FJ9sy0qpeVXZLX0EKiCgjEiwhAm3rgqkr_67bqKULc/s1600/blue+bathroom.jpg" height="640" title="Vintage blue tile bathroom via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXVHrnLe2iYGEPOMTPgz8rlMUqfbK8zidYYelXUq-zOwWak_U3zHSh3Ja0BMRydyzRnZeznjZDd6noyBvuPPGbO9jKycACBa5FBG7U0adAdNLCLzG4BcG3DGcajAJR-aUFsEIkbjFx4eE/s1600/blue+bathroom_door+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Vintage blue tile bathroom via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXVHrnLe2iYGEPOMTPgz8rlMUqfbK8zidYYelXUq-zOwWak_U3zHSh3Ja0BMRydyzRnZeznjZDd6noyBvuPPGbO9jKycACBa5FBG7U0adAdNLCLzG4BcG3DGcajAJR-aUFsEIkbjFx4eE/s1600/blue+bathroom_door+view.jpg" height="640" title="Vintage blue tile bathroom via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="426" /></a></div>
...it's a wonder what a good scrubbing, crisp white towels and a little attention can do for a 60-year old bathroom. A few carefully-chosen accents also help!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-eQC09k7wqRZqJ4XPM99rlvOZI3le50o7ecEh5iQatvAEpu8XEG56p1hLu8HmsG1jXxngO1KGSJYUVyTywzm7bG5Pg2SG0_6BE7YSdmmdr8CW8onSiZzUosv9fxVOOGeSpX3t_-yuZXo/s1600/blue+bathroom_view+of+floor+tile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Vintage blue tile bathroom via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-eQC09k7wqRZqJ4XPM99rlvOZI3le50o7ecEh5iQatvAEpu8XEG56p1hLu8HmsG1jXxngO1KGSJYUVyTywzm7bG5Pg2SG0_6BE7YSdmmdr8CW8onSiZzUosv9fxVOOGeSpX3t_-yuZXo/s1600/blue+bathroom_view+of+floor+tile.jpg" height="640" title="Vintage blue tile bathroom via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="426" /></a></div>
I lucked upon the Victorian stick and ball side table at <a href="http://www.etflea.com/_/Home.html">t<span style="color: blue;">he Elephant's Trunk Flea Market</span></a> this past summer for $30; but, though I loved it, I hadn't found the perfect spot for it before realizing it was the ideal size to hold a basket of bath supplies for guests.<br />
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The table's deep hue complemented the new black toilet seat as well as the framed black and white cherry blossom photograph that I found for $10 at a thrift store a few years back. Speaking of black toilet seats: they really have become an obsession of mine.<br />
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This is not the first bathroom in our house enhanced with one of these things and it certainly won't be the last I'll show off on the blog. In case you're new or have forgotten, our <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2014/02/our-vintage-jadeite-bathroom-reveal.html"><span style="color: blue;">vintage jadeite tile bathroom</span></a> (just down the hall from this vintage blue bathroom) also features a black toilet seat as a nod to the age and character of our home.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihVGSxzvy30QKkvrgVEVDUli72BIH7BRwHyJZS8BZzdOTN9eRQ3x9c_T4APsIezejkaIKGP1yP6FEIJoPcsSpC9Wj6kcGNW8gkk2vlm7dR3wXs7D-tycIn64y1YsfV1-ZunNCNdpGhIug/s1600/blue+bathroom_sink2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Vintage blue tile bathroom via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihVGSxzvy30QKkvrgVEVDUli72BIH7BRwHyJZS8BZzdOTN9eRQ3x9c_T4APsIezejkaIKGP1yP6FEIJoPcsSpC9Wj6kcGNW8gkk2vlm7dR3wXs7D-tycIn64y1YsfV1-ZunNCNdpGhIug/s1600/blue+bathroom_sink2.jpg" height="640" title="Vintage blue tile bathroom via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="426" /></a></div>
Do you remember <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2014/10/cafe-curtains-are-having-moment.html"><span style="color: blue;">chatting about cafe curtains</span></a> a month or so ago here? To strike the right balance between privacy and exposure, I converted inexpensive-but-charming <a href="http://www.jcpenney.com/windows/jcpenney-home-ascension-rod-pocket-swiss-dot-cotton-sheer-panel/prod.jump?ppId=pp5003590825&searchTerm=swiss+dot&catId=SearchResults&_dyncharset=UTF-8"><span style="color: blue;">swiss dot panels from JC Penney</span></a> into a pair of cafe curtains. The yardage produced enough fabric for multiple cafe curtains, too!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHX69SEW9ukch7MmA_myKUSm9oecvhk90EuBrhoJkF5ZuqKY5bk3xJcqI4BuBi-TlxcSbXY_STiGfnWoBa1Vu97oa4LufZ2WfhZC2HYpo5rWACS3of_2H04qltp1VEJT7YZADElH0UT5A/s1600/blue+bathroom_window+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Vintage blue tile bathroom_sink detail via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHX69SEW9ukch7MmA_myKUSm9oecvhk90EuBrhoJkF5ZuqKY5bk3xJcqI4BuBi-TlxcSbXY_STiGfnWoBa1Vu97oa4LufZ2WfhZC2HYpo5rWACS3of_2H04qltp1VEJT7YZADElH0UT5A/s1600/blue+bathroom_window+view.jpg" height="640" title="Vintage blue tile bathroom_sink detail via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="426" /></a></div>
Above all else, I wanted this bathroom to feel welcoming for holiday guests, and the best way I could think to do that was to stock the room with affordable, gleaming white towels, fresh soaps and a few decorative touches.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4a_e4ui45rkAAX088PT2ZYPkLN9pJ8vHSossnxobTzczDIkaa1MSZm433orA2KEcnSGGZBMl_Qzh_0vCBpNZOQq97y63flQ7HoMgo9g58yY_umRaiAeZJGte9yczsT2lUz2zTnxEWM64/s1600/blue+bathroom_sink+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Vintage blue tile bathroom_sink detail via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4a_e4ui45rkAAX088PT2ZYPkLN9pJ8vHSossnxobTzczDIkaa1MSZm433orA2KEcnSGGZBMl_Qzh_0vCBpNZOQq97y63flQ7HoMgo9g58yY_umRaiAeZJGte9yczsT2lUz2zTnxEWM64/s1600/blue+bathroom_sink+detail.jpg" height="640" title="Vintage blue tile bathroom_sink detail via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1a85YWBDGf_XFkqlQJdf7ikjv-NssSM8l0hOn6ayMHizMUhdjDd8-RH2GoFImW7ddmytNX8M1CbwuqcX-oUdpQ2aMH9uIHpMfokQ8nWVqiPMRsxzkAk1dEaDXXwitPlW8vGSlW8LM8P8/s1600/blue+bathroom_blue+tile+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Vintage blue wall tile via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1a85YWBDGf_XFkqlQJdf7ikjv-NssSM8l0hOn6ayMHizMUhdjDd8-RH2GoFImW7ddmytNX8M1CbwuqcX-oUdpQ2aMH9uIHpMfokQ8nWVqiPMRsxzkAk1dEaDXXwitPlW8vGSlW8LM8P8/s1600/blue+bathroom_blue+tile+wall.jpg" height="426" title="Vintage blue wall tile via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7gUWizdwzSlPmCzD_jd4uRx8XaRmP16f9VjEEKENpkVQLD8Q1bSNRRQaolnwQVm67Vd8LjFAkXiCiJin7fGLAmtvWi-8DxifyRuLbUUno7AKdzxpt4_xLQoA53TsQ2d1cGmWSLneEyg/s1600/stick+and+ball+table_detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Detail of stick and ball side table via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7gUWizdwzSlPmCzD_jd4uRx8XaRmP16f9VjEEKENpkVQLD8Q1bSNRRQaolnwQVm67Vd8LjFAkXiCiJin7fGLAmtvWi-8DxifyRuLbUUno7AKdzxpt4_xLQoA53TsQ2d1cGmWSLneEyg/s1600/stick+and+ball+table_detail.jpg" height="640" title="Detail of stick and ball side table via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="426" /></a></div>
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(all via Meet Me in Philadelphia)</div>
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Dare I say it? I'm actually excited to share this room and the nearly free spruce-up with our holiday guests!<br />
How are you prepping your home for visitors from near and far this holiday season? </div>
Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345558627679373156noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695752413125708607.post-10627054230509165082014-11-10T08:00:00.000-05:002014-11-23T16:34:24.131-05:00Antoinette Poisson Printed Pillow + Vintage Bamboo Armchairs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkJ-c8TlZtWlO2xmwpFiLCxaUhUvjiU65eodjNBf9w_Atr2uEJ2QfPP86xdvUAtexcev90vQgF8ZbRxrQ07Sg-qfriUebAFQOrZ3H0Lyp0yzCRKsPqJVz2_jEs1wbs9A-xiLn0u6aho8/s1600/Antoinette+Poisson+pillow3_Meet+Me+in+Philadelphia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Antoinette Poisson printed pillow via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkJ-c8TlZtWlO2xmwpFiLCxaUhUvjiU65eodjNBf9w_Atr2uEJ2QfPP86xdvUAtexcev90vQgF8ZbRxrQ07Sg-qfriUebAFQOrZ3H0Lyp0yzCRKsPqJVz2_jEs1wbs9A-xiLn0u6aho8/s1600/Antoinette+Poisson+pillow3_Meet+Me+in+Philadelphia.jpg" height="640" title="Antoinette Poisson printed pillow via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="426" /></a></div>
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There's been a flurry of activity around these parts since I last posted. I could spend the next week or so recounting all of the activity that's been stealing my attention from this blog, but instead of wasting too much time looking backward I figured I'd choose the most "blogworthy" happenings to share...like this pillow.</div>
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Back in early October, Adam and I spent a whirlwind weekend in Brooklyn with two of our dearest friends. Though the real purpose of the trip was to celebrate our friend's thirtieth birthday, I certainly couldn't miss the opportunity to do a little shopping. Adam was a great sport, and hardly seemed bothered when I dragged him into <a href="http://www.johnderian.com/"><span style="color: blue;">John Derian's trio of stores is in the East Village</span></a>.</div>
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I was on a mission, and one of my objectives was to check out the printed pillows from Antoinette Poisson, a Paris-based design firm specializing in textiles and hand-painted papers based on 19th century French patterns. The company had recently been written up in <a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/shop/2014-06/antoinette-poisson-studio-handpainted-papers"><span style="color: blue;">Architectural Digest,</span></a> and its offerings are not widely available in the U.S. except for Derian's shop so I had to take advantage of being in the city to look at them up close.</div>
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Aren't the prints lovely?</div>
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<a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/shop/2014-06/antoinette-poisson-studio-handpainted-papers/_jcr_content/par/cn_contentwell/par-main/cn_pagination_container/cn_image_0.size.antoinette-poisson-02-printed-pillows-handpainted-papers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Antoinette Poisson printed papers via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/shop/2014-06/antoinette-poisson-studio-handpainted-papers/_jcr_content/par/cn_contentwell/par-main/cn_pagination_container/cn_image_0.size.antoinette-poisson-02-printed-pillows-handpainted-papers.jpg" title="Antoinette Poisson printed papers via Meet Me in Philadelphia" /></a></div>
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(via <a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/shop/2014-06/antoinette-poisson-studio-handpainted-papers"><span style="color: blue;">Architectural Digest</span></a>)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg97JzlD_SaQyjrcNfP0NoiXlgZbtU2AsMnM_YtHlLP8oZAJpTETWsFPMaymBCZSFU6uR3EK7seR-M-cxuRQBhyrDPVDmwYqKn-D4KC6NmrTaqOe1RJB26b-MJhoFaoRP_PMa7wMmD-RDk/s1600/Antoinette-Poisson-Wallpaper-Paris-3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Antoinette Poisson printed papers via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg97JzlD_SaQyjrcNfP0NoiXlgZbtU2AsMnM_YtHlLP8oZAJpTETWsFPMaymBCZSFU6uR3EK7seR-M-cxuRQBhyrDPVDmwYqKn-D4KC6NmrTaqOe1RJB26b-MJhoFaoRP_PMa7wMmD-RDk/s1600/Antoinette-Poisson-Wallpaper-Paris-3.png" height="344" title="Antoinette Poisson printed papers via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqRjbTw-mYjT6TuRtq-P918pWowlU5Skf3hnE_DGMJ6tn3-vPolZhR231cOgBOq0TnLx_p_eaSfJ4AF_o3Tu_xUfmlrfi55pmURwkVRaKjRJE-oVqAGMRKbgi6oJdshSjylL-krqVykw/s1600/Antoinette-Poisson-Wallpaper-Paris+swatches.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Antoinette Poisson printed papers via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqRjbTw-mYjT6TuRtq-P918pWowlU5Skf3hnE_DGMJ6tn3-vPolZhR231cOgBOq0TnLx_p_eaSfJ4AF_o3Tu_xUfmlrfi55pmURwkVRaKjRJE-oVqAGMRKbgi6oJdshSjylL-krqVykw/s1600/Antoinette-Poisson-Wallpaper-Paris+swatches.jpeg" height="428" title="Antoinette Poisson printed papers via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DsB5Nh2KROnV5jDoXsUwyuL7oZRKxXGuIlWEBR_spK4Cv3hYA7dB6OXkR1fH5_dFP-NaCreOKm5q09ECPhY7O0GP4uijQPCGtuE74d_JQu4uyc4kTPuDXSfWDp8rq8LuaH9RnLFoE7k/s1600/Antoinette-Poisson+printed+fabrics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Antoinette Poisson printed fabrics via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DsB5Nh2KROnV5jDoXsUwyuL7oZRKxXGuIlWEBR_spK4Cv3hYA7dB6OXkR1fH5_dFP-NaCreOKm5q09ECPhY7O0GP4uijQPCGtuE74d_JQu4uyc4kTPuDXSfWDp8rq8LuaH9RnLFoE7k/s1600/Antoinette-Poisson+printed+fabrics.jpg" height="426" title="Antoinette Poisson printed fabrics via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="640" /></a></div>
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(all via <a href="http://antoinettepoisson.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Antoinette Poisson</span></a>)</div>
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Back to the pillow. I couldn't resist when I spotted it at one of Derian's East Second Street shops--the only trouble was selecting only one pattern. I hardly settled, though, as the pattern I picked suits the existing colors of our den nicely, don't you think?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwdQ1M3Ns3oGApbGJMX7wcw1lDnGOwx_fYVP81Ezy4gYV2N8W41AkivE1HJeM11VrHd4cK3BmEe1sywd_4pwyXUJIlDD1gZHfnXyPnq5zHLApOcxukq42VFx447Jf_gPgYz1n8Ug-VZ0/s1600/Antoinette+Poisson+pillow1_Meet+Me+in+Philadelphia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Antoinette Poisson printed pillow via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwdQ1M3Ns3oGApbGJMX7wcw1lDnGOwx_fYVP81Ezy4gYV2N8W41AkivE1HJeM11VrHd4cK3BmEe1sywd_4pwyXUJIlDD1gZHfnXyPnq5zHLApOcxukq42VFx447Jf_gPgYz1n8Ug-VZ0/s1600/Antoinette+Poisson+pillow1_Meet+Me+in+Philadelphia.jpg" height="426" title="Antoinette Poisson printed pillow via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVC9uxbL7GkTp6VoK7hvRy_Xv42dTvMrrLTGjRskqEy9r5gBE1L5G_Mb35Ww-Vu7l6RXJlC1psHP1EmDjrTtpcBd2Tuy0o-es0pl0_NcqMJpQEXOBvP3YA1DRNUcyEXlTQIDZsD9L7opA/s1600/Antoinette+Poisson+pillow2_Meet+Me+in+Philadelphia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Antoinette Poisson printed pillow via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVC9uxbL7GkTp6VoK7hvRy_Xv42dTvMrrLTGjRskqEy9r5gBE1L5G_Mb35Ww-Vu7l6RXJlC1psHP1EmDjrTtpcBd2Tuy0o-es0pl0_NcqMJpQEXOBvP3YA1DRNUcyEXlTQIDZsD9L7opA/s1600/Antoinette+Poisson+pillow2_Meet+Me+in+Philadelphia.jpg" height="640" title="Antoinette Poisson printed pillow via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="426" /></a></div>
In other acquisition news, this set of 4 vintage bamboo arm chairs came home with us from an estate sale this weekend. They're sturdy, they're navy and I couldn't bear to leave the sale without them. I just have to find the perfect spot for them...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy055UuNlpIHocLvch-0_0R1T-o49yZ6AfSQQBpb-RavvIW6oSYTXPSF9nM7eqn28KUmj2VuOhMtVNokRDnAkfS8jTTdqShfIcvD5W65Hs6WlXlWUOmeQnK9cTrqoOFqYXn_c-g6Sc0O0/s1600/bamboo+chairs1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Vintage blue bamboo arm chairs via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy055UuNlpIHocLvch-0_0R1T-o49yZ6AfSQQBpb-RavvIW6oSYTXPSF9nM7eqn28KUmj2VuOhMtVNokRDnAkfS8jTTdqShfIcvD5W65Hs6WlXlWUOmeQnK9cTrqoOFqYXn_c-g6Sc0O0/s1600/bamboo+chairs1.jpg" height="640" title="Vintage blue bamboo arm chairs via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEU_INhCBJ4-O5t7kAH8UWIHEXvB34bTsWwz1e7Y_PKFU1_Ije8zHwS-D26wzpQtsmfipLRxlMyHYQXjDrO2WNhdsGhA8ydmygp9SZFca6Pz1UIDkR4JaoJkaIVEn0Xl4uAFyFp_M2TjU/s1600/bamboo+chairs2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Vintage blue bamboo arm chairs via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEU_INhCBJ4-O5t7kAH8UWIHEXvB34bTsWwz1e7Y_PKFU1_Ije8zHwS-D26wzpQtsmfipLRxlMyHYQXjDrO2WNhdsGhA8ydmygp9SZFca6Pz1UIDkR4JaoJkaIVEn0Xl4uAFyFp_M2TjU/s1600/bamboo+chairs2.jpg" height="640" title="Vintage blue bamboo arm chairs via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjTsziC68NHV2xJ2R5VcxtMMmc4m3Qi2uzdH4vMInbo0bTTHwpDnk89rRLYqjHs_qmvbbqX3vl36KyJ9eUDZkRIz_Q9JxDvleICpuYCFAiV-c_2y9iJjo_rQee6Le2TBRz3xDgC1d_DVI/s1600/bamboo+chairs3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Vintage blue bamboo arm chairs via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjTsziC68NHV2xJ2R5VcxtMMmc4m3Qi2uzdH4vMInbo0bTTHwpDnk89rRLYqjHs_qmvbbqX3vl36KyJ9eUDZkRIz_Q9JxDvleICpuYCFAiV-c_2y9iJjo_rQee6Le2TBRz3xDgC1d_DVI/s1600/bamboo+chairs3.jpg" height="412" title="Vintage blue bamboo arm chairs via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="640" /></a></div>
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(all via Meet Me in Philadelphia unless otherwise noted)</div>
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Have the shopping gods shined down on you lately the way they have for me?</div>
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345558627679373156noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695752413125708607.post-23889128355719302282014-10-20T08:00:00.000-04:002014-10-20T08:00:03.958-04:00Cafe Curtains are Having a Moment<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I decided to pull myself from my sort of impromptu blogging hiatus (again) to tell you all that I think cafe curtains are having a moment. For those of you who shudder at the phrase 'cafe curtain' and swear that I've jumped the shark, let me show you what I mean when I think of 'cafe curtains'.<br />
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Easy, breezy...the perfect balance of privacy and exposure. A nod to days gone by.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3KwJBwKBuh870_QJosESl5dY3iZxwQ4oUp-JxIMk0M6QL0GHdKqWQdQspmKVtyNgdj5uTVX0804cUEHKGfLK-6mK-gtc1gRJnhWagmz1C4AeOM17bUVaOyzd7u9eUQyx5lprIxRfjOs/s1600/HB+9-13+All-American+Spirit+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3KwJBwKBuh870_QJosESl5dY3iZxwQ4oUp-JxIMk0M6QL0GHdKqWQdQspmKVtyNgdj5uTVX0804cUEHKGfLK-6mK-gtc1gRJnhWagmz1C4AeOM17bUVaOyzd7u9eUQyx5lprIxRfjOs/s1600/HB+9-13+All-American+Spirit+6.jpg" height="640" width="446" /></a></div>
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(via <a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/house-pictures/all-american-design-0913#slide-9"><span style="color: blue;">House Beautiful</span></a>)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4lu9F3xZ3JjBwaTUnKxmrUp5rW6dqtIHlxtsgabhxloy0hjNE8s7Y963VV6llXR4FfXmQVtNXAwsP_koGHpFL9d1_uBarqSvhkpNaZ0dHoyRfh3KMLkTTaPJ4N3Nhte9Jpm4aQnhx5qE/s1600/jeffrey+bilhuber+bedroom_cafe+curtain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4lu9F3xZ3JjBwaTUnKxmrUp5rW6dqtIHlxtsgabhxloy0hjNE8s7Y963VV6llXR4FfXmQVtNXAwsP_koGHpFL9d1_uBarqSvhkpNaZ0dHoyRfh3KMLkTTaPJ4N3Nhte9Jpm4aQnhx5qE/s1600/jeffrey+bilhuber+bedroom_cafe+curtain.jpg" height="400" width="325" /></a></div>
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(via <a href="http://bilhuber.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Jeffrey Bilhuber</span></a>)</div>
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<a href="http://twoellie.com/storage/kjp%204%20of%205.JPG?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1412373289652" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://twoellie.com/storage/kjp%204%20of%205.JPG?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1412373289652" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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(via <a href="http://twoellie.com/two-ellie/2014/10/6/cafe-curtains.html"><span style="color: blue;">Two Ellie</span></a>)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQSq5N41790wP16BAep2mYnH-rh5c2BP4kSH87ZxlDMV0_xugWhfcBL3HhOaGx-RtqzMddmHUeYNPygRGKUykN2_ys_uI77tnrNr9ZdsUP06ZBumwG2UADQzEt6t8tY8eAPlRuTCoUMd8/s1600/markham+roberts+bathroom_cafe+curtains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQSq5N41790wP16BAep2mYnH-rh5c2BP4kSH87ZxlDMV0_xugWhfcBL3HhOaGx-RtqzMddmHUeYNPygRGKUykN2_ys_uI77tnrNr9ZdsUP06ZBumwG2UADQzEt6t8tY8eAPlRuTCoUMd8/s1600/markham+roberts+bathroom_cafe+curtains.jpg" height="640" width="430" /></a></div>
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(via <a href="http://markhamroberts.com/portfolio/"><span style="color: blue;">Markham Roberts</span></a>)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7y2Lm2IOIsXCDbmVjiz1Lxl_lw9IivgkiCYWyE89PPjCNw3udUYlfKfyjytyyoOm0oEZAsQVoYe8LX2h3wVXYWlmf03RQPCv_1ttUOQYlMn9styUEbZLKeu_xe-lFTXWlshdAV9xqU9U/s1600/09-hbx-clarence-house-linen-stripe-chairs-0914-lgn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7y2Lm2IOIsXCDbmVjiz1Lxl_lw9IivgkiCYWyE89PPjCNw3udUYlfKfyjytyyoOm0oEZAsQVoYe8LX2h3wVXYWlmf03RQPCv_1ttUOQYlMn9styUEbZLKeu_xe-lFTXWlshdAV9xqU9U/s1600/09-hbx-clarence-house-linen-stripe-chairs-0914-lgn.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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(via <a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/house-pictures/clarence-house-linen-stripe-chairs#slide-9"><span style="color: blue;">House Beautiful</span></a>)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_l2quPueOqXBlTmndWl3CGRB6LiX5g_7l6ELNVQKuQ4iwfxWRhGt0fzU0otrcnlASnasmJbSXDokQQTjZUuuP2cOzebNqIjYW0apndifJSd7EgdOSAQYPSZm52bX84QNVhpfBQiSYbE/s1600/Jeffrey-Bilhuber-Elle-Decor-Pieter-Estersohn-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_l2quPueOqXBlTmndWl3CGRB6LiX5g_7l6ELNVQKuQ4iwfxWRhGt0fzU0otrcnlASnasmJbSXDokQQTjZUuuP2cOzebNqIjYW0apndifJSd7EgdOSAQYPSZm52bX84QNVhpfBQiSYbE/s1600/Jeffrey-Bilhuber-Elle-Decor-Pieter-Estersohn-2.jpg" height="320" width="400" /></a></div>
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(via <a href="http://bilhuber.com/portfolio"><span style="color: blue;">Jeffrey Bilhuber</span></a>)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnIoiLN1R57cDDW4CsDq5s_WXV2XcVbO8Mr5GCFwlM1vi1DMb0yF4RBhSRqzj2brQk1Hr41-awu3x0Alje8tzB7tVNbXU6LWlRDpJGRAEow1l9dbf-_hoo3JcRM4vSXcSIeG4W6CqP1B8/s1600/08-hbx-maya-romanoff-weathered-walls-0914-lgn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnIoiLN1R57cDDW4CsDq5s_WXV2XcVbO8Mr5GCFwlM1vi1DMb0yF4RBhSRqzj2brQk1Hr41-awu3x0Alje8tzB7tVNbXU6LWlRDpJGRAEow1l9dbf-_hoo3JcRM4vSXcSIeG4W6CqP1B8/s1600/08-hbx-maya-romanoff-weathered-walls-0914-lgn.jpg" height="640" width="484" /></a></div>
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(via <a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/house-pictures/blue-and-white-house?click=pp#slide-1"><span style="color: blue;">House Beautiful</span></a>)</div>
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Whether printed or sheer, in a bathroom, kitchen or living room, a modern application of the cafe curtain is unfussy, relaxed and affordable. I have cafe curtains, sheer gauzy white cotton options, in a few of our bathrooms and love how they filter light while also providing privacy. </div>
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I recently made a few pairs for my home (more on that soon), but they're also incredibly easy to make by <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/273348/cafe-curtain"><span style="color: blue;">repurposing antique dishtowels or other linens</span></a>. No sewing involved, either!</div>
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Do you have any cafe curtains in your home? Would you consider it?</div>
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345558627679373156noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695752413125708607.post-5503612569349537542014-09-15T08:00:00.000-04:002014-09-15T08:00:02.042-04:00J.Crew Indigo Top becomes Footstool Upholstery<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFtObQ1BVfS6iwiS8yxn1fX9ZgL6bonifwkwJYYIlS72gYVI9NeKYC3Wn3iwc8hUEEpLpcth2euGMkoN-Of4SN_ynJio0SshV80OcS9CLu3DZjIsK9u6DhP9ziHIiGch07GbVorJbupo/s1600/footstool+upholstered+with+jcrew+shirt_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Footstool upholstered with JCrew top via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFtObQ1BVfS6iwiS8yxn1fX9ZgL6bonifwkwJYYIlS72gYVI9NeKYC3Wn3iwc8hUEEpLpcth2euGMkoN-Of4SN_ynJio0SshV80OcS9CLu3DZjIsK9u6DhP9ziHIiGch07GbVorJbupo/s1600/footstool+upholstered+with+jcrew+shirt_2.png" height="640" title="Footstool upholstered with JCrew top via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="426" /></a></div>
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Maybe it was the sudden early-fall chill in the air this weekend, but it was the perfect few days to take on a few projects around our house. Aside from today's project, we got busy <a href="http://instagram.com/p/s5gO32TENm/?modal=true"><span style="color: blue;">tackling bathroom tile demolition</span></a> that I'll share more about soon!</div>
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Today, I wanted to share my first DIY in a very long time--an antique footstool brought back to life with, of all things, a J.Crew cotton top.</div>
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A weekend or two ago, my mom and I spent a few days in Maine to celebrate my cousin's baby shower (hi, Faith!). While there, Mom and I stopped into a few antique shops and, among my finds, was this intricately-carved small footstool for $12. Its size and shape was perfect, though the wood frame and cushion needed some TLC. Almost as soon as I saw the footstool I knew how I'd reupholster the seat: with a much-loved, well-worn favorite J.Crew top.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh67Xk2oM2aMtpjtUikn9zAfv3O59UXXrVB4k93TUMHuMdDF5C-uERWWbFQ_-LLDnMQBxkjnzm6AA3seI1CWqzOc8HwgkR4Q_TQJBuVO7z0bZYk7CBVEC45Wx7kBPcYtjcrWhGbOOztSU/s1600/supplies+for+footstool+makeover.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Supplies to reupholster footstool via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh67Xk2oM2aMtpjtUikn9zAfv3O59UXXrVB4k93TUMHuMdDF5C-uERWWbFQ_-LLDnMQBxkjnzm6AA3seI1CWqzOc8HwgkR4Q_TQJBuVO7z0bZYk7CBVEC45Wx7kBPcYtjcrWhGbOOztSU/s1600/supplies+for+footstool+makeover.png" height="426" title="Supplies to reupholster footstool via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="640" /></a></div>
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My first step was to clean up the battered frame of the footstool. It clearly had been loved, but a few swipes of Restor-a-finish brought it back to life.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTv_9JbSCCJ26sv1w5Jic4CGZoKdMwQeXYXbF6EhtMzvcvyjzTyyw5s3MLO-ixR2UIgTSSygAAOYh2uBDfzykAyC02aE8gbS-tMDzS7xaRj4HUCL8K28_zdRZkp4YPtR_41kRHjnK1JA/s1600/footstool+before+restore-a-finish.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Footstool leg before Restor-a-finish via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTv_9JbSCCJ26sv1w5Jic4CGZoKdMwQeXYXbF6EhtMzvcvyjzTyyw5s3MLO-ixR2UIgTSSygAAOYh2uBDfzykAyC02aE8gbS-tMDzS7xaRj4HUCL8K28_zdRZkp4YPtR_41kRHjnK1JA/s1600/footstool+before+restore-a-finish.png" height="640" title="Footstool leg before Restor-a-finish via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="414" /></a></div>
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Then, the fun part began: the upholstery. This may sound silly, but I knew I wanted to use an old <a href="https://www.jcrew.com/womens_special_sizes/size/shirts/PRDOVR~91332/91332.jsp"><span style="color: blue;">J.Crew floral indigo top</span></a> to recover the footstool cushion. I lovingly wore out this top last year, resulting in a few holes that relegated it to the rag pile...but it was too cute to toss out.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8u3q1t_WDmcW1HnhpJqzhGu8lIvU0h5bWfH5JD-7xhlL_gwwhoYFC7z2IjLaaNY3M6L8PosXU50qrPQDoshFnMN3N5twCJHEiS9jhor2PL1kRDk_ZGJ-j2yF4HQJbAcyr3oUt3cw_72o/s1600/jcrew+floral+indigo+popover+top.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8u3q1t_WDmcW1HnhpJqzhGu8lIvU0h5bWfH5JD-7xhlL_gwwhoYFC7z2IjLaaNY3M6L8PosXU50qrPQDoshFnMN3N5twCJHEiS9jhor2PL1kRDk_ZGJ-j2yF4HQJbAcyr3oUt3cw_72o/s1600/jcrew+floral+indigo+popover+top.jpeg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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The pattern and color of the top also reminded me of <a href="http://www.kateforman.co.uk/patterned-linens/190-agnes-blue.html"><span style="color: blue;">Kate Forman's "Agnes" print in blue</span></a>. See the resemblance?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNTScKo6RXAaParv9IXhejM3tURue6_Yul2dovUQ1OZ7Qqdo63nSOsG9Wp4D2d6TKj3A7I0hEG36I9xqE3Iclz8yn2bij799aeyzfQZn21xG4wN5qxPMjbLacKlIcZmoeCJ1iMKlkZFI/s1600/agnes-blue+fabric+by+Kate+Forman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNTScKo6RXAaParv9IXhejM3tURue6_Yul2dovUQ1OZ7Qqdo63nSOsG9Wp4D2d6TKj3A7I0hEG36I9xqE3Iclz8yn2bij799aeyzfQZn21xG4wN5qxPMjbLacKlIcZmoeCJ1iMKlkZFI/s1600/agnes-blue+fabric+by+Kate+Forman.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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(via <a href="http://www.kateforman.co.uk/patterned-linens/190-agnes-blue.html"><span style="color: blue;">Kate Forman</span></a>)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1iRTXJ5Fp2sORseSoeeFpZUwUFASWMBlwTs8j1M_fpIvqRqwGW6WnC_x1nlY3LmdxVf8oh9aVKQnvHX4-nUYag6oebSB44sJylNaSFnEu-Ja3qN6WdDeZo8EhvK4YkPiNh44zMxY2JI/s1600/jcrew+shirt+for+footstool.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="J Crew indigo top for upholstery via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1iRTXJ5Fp2sORseSoeeFpZUwUFASWMBlwTs8j1M_fpIvqRqwGW6WnC_x1nlY3LmdxVf8oh9aVKQnvHX4-nUYag6oebSB44sJylNaSFnEu-Ja3qN6WdDeZo8EhvK4YkPiNh44zMxY2JI/s1600/jcrew+shirt+for+footstool.png" height="640" title="J Crew indigo top for upholstery via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="426" /></a></div>
I laid out the shirt to be the sure that the back of the top would provide enough coverage for the small cushion. It did, so I quickly ran the iron across the top, cut the portion of fabric I needed and got to work stapling the new upholstery right over the original fabric.<br />
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It's worth noting that the reason this top works is because of its weight. This approach might not work for every top in your closet, but this shirt had heft that's necessary for light-use upholstery.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdt6-X_acMlLeDJ1Sn2rLVlrw8_D26UMKMcNkJHKQ8iT60iqJOhrdbfGOA1YtX_4XDalVXvgNAyIBSKwcvsQnTsnaLLOTL3UbJz3edLf4a1udsdLp8DDDGUeHFC8fKVEH7FYjCaDlwIiw/s1600/measuring+fabric+for+footstool.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="J Crew indigo top for upholstery via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdt6-X_acMlLeDJ1Sn2rLVlrw8_D26UMKMcNkJHKQ8iT60iqJOhrdbfGOA1YtX_4XDalVXvgNAyIBSKwcvsQnTsnaLLOTL3UbJz3edLf4a1udsdLp8DDDGUeHFC8fKVEH7FYjCaDlwIiw/s1600/measuring+fabric+for+footstool.png" height="426" title="J Crew indigo top for upholstery via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOacukmRs3EVmKwoWH5rRnjspc4Qh8z_Phj26_kDIY5B3fnj-PxTafc9hPau2upLknrlLUtXqFpO-2jMBHyc7rnkS00DXr3NU_wlUm3ZKfgAQjV68XmCKxJ1DRUDgksCUJY6GqZ1TFObQ/s1600/stapling+fabric+to+cushion.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="J Crew indigo top for upholstery via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOacukmRs3EVmKwoWH5rRnjspc4Qh8z_Phj26_kDIY5B3fnj-PxTafc9hPau2upLknrlLUtXqFpO-2jMBHyc7rnkS00DXr3NU_wlUm3ZKfgAQjV68XmCKxJ1DRUDgksCUJY6GqZ1TFObQ/s1600/stapling+fabric+to+cushion.png" height="426" title="J Crew indigo top for upholstery via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="640" /></a></div>
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And like that, in no more than 20 minutes from start to finish, the footstool had a whole new lease on life.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vYZu5bDTiY_95aEDahRQAb3xnuHsHGj4FcTFxPs2dCVkMIGHAbLEsdlkHvkGfABwKZddp-Vh_sqa59B25jKn30GNLfrfa0Rge2zkj9wf1GLnio9wNl2L4T2RBwF54YU1Gwciq92_2WY/s1600/footstool+upholstered+with+jcrew+shirt_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Footstool upholstered with JCrew top via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vYZu5bDTiY_95aEDahRQAb3xnuHsHGj4FcTFxPs2dCVkMIGHAbLEsdlkHvkGfABwKZddp-Vh_sqa59B25jKn30GNLfrfa0Rge2zkj9wf1GLnio9wNl2L4T2RBwF54YU1Gwciq92_2WY/s1600/footstool+upholstered+with+jcrew+shirt_1.png" height="426" title="Footstool upholstered with JCrew top via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPvMHu_fPFcl9mQ77msXMn3YHp9QzGm9y-0T3rHPSb86lPs1dzLd8ntVH46B20IgW2pBOxV6KuKikz-J4bzpb3Mi7zF2Bby0LAB1d_uIHsFXs8-KeOE2exSm30efugd_H6eJl19W2Uqw/s1600/footstool+upholstered+with+jcrew+shirt_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Footstool upholstered with JCrew top via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPvMHu_fPFcl9mQ77msXMn3YHp9QzGm9y-0T3rHPSb86lPs1dzLd8ntVH46B20IgW2pBOxV6KuKikz-J4bzpb3Mi7zF2Bby0LAB1d_uIHsFXs8-KeOE2exSm30efugd_H6eJl19W2Uqw/s1600/footstool+upholstered+with+jcrew+shirt_2.png" height="640" title="Footstool upholstered with JCrew top via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="426" /></a></div>
Footstools and small ottomans are really versatile little pieces. They can travel from room to room and, to prove that, I snapped a few pictures of the various places this stool would work in our home like the living room...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOPrvrJ5GfoEk90-TyLe24DtLdERz38nf6Htm0YD3VL13cu8FR4XyCHyH4E6-3OTOAtayWjm2OkOJkNwsRULJPZe4-NX5sBFc4kCmzcxvnB92GN5A8p8sOgR5hcPAhOPKT4LcXnsj8w0/s1600/finished+jcrew+upholstered+footstool+in+living+room_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Footstool upholstered with JCrew top via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOPrvrJ5GfoEk90-TyLe24DtLdERz38nf6Htm0YD3VL13cu8FR4XyCHyH4E6-3OTOAtayWjm2OkOJkNwsRULJPZe4-NX5sBFc4kCmzcxvnB92GN5A8p8sOgR5hcPAhOPKT4LcXnsj8w0/s1600/finished+jcrew+upholstered+footstool+in+living+room_1.png" height="640" title="Footstool upholstered with JCrew top via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhen9ZAo_2vCP73PQ0Bs2rPlJdpJ1c2tL5if4ve-DOZzLFY0XeKxRA7xSnrbUuCdz6w-KoMnTM1Sye1TiPRwzAGvPfAuWxksPedM4qMHbGLew80e8jIK_HjYoJcgiLW6WqqI5CAgqGuhf8/s1600/finished+jcrew+upholstered+footstool+in+living+room_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Footstool upholstered with JCrew top via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhen9ZAo_2vCP73PQ0Bs2rPlJdpJ1c2tL5if4ve-DOZzLFY0XeKxRA7xSnrbUuCdz6w-KoMnTM1Sye1TiPRwzAGvPfAuWxksPedM4qMHbGLew80e8jIK_HjYoJcgiLW6WqqI5CAgqGuhf8/s1600/finished+jcrew+upholstered+footstool+in+living+room_2.png" height="640" title="Footstool upholstered with JCrew top via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="426" /></a></div>
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...and certainly our dark blue den, which is where the footstool will ultimately live.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWIus_oGqDvt3POfoDS6vAuhrvbE-wwsc7Az_6AsW_NWd7ZHoLmx5RQ9PSmXfQdkzCRsdbKR6lRz9IB0S7LP35_6PWhmuPUi4-nlGqvRPXEMj6-W2xdxLeHIvL48itEOwY2FkGphIbew/s1600/footstool+in+den1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Footstool upholstered with JCrew top via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWIus_oGqDvt3POfoDS6vAuhrvbE-wwsc7Az_6AsW_NWd7ZHoLmx5RQ9PSmXfQdkzCRsdbKR6lRz9IB0S7LP35_6PWhmuPUi4-nlGqvRPXEMj6-W2xdxLeHIvL48itEOwY2FkGphIbew/s1600/footstool+in+den1.png" height="640" title="Footstool upholstered with JCrew top via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5xN3zd1YxEgurC6EkvQCngYqDcMFzVWHjPw_Drm3KK1Pd8PCgFT0tW1fKMIpnM2EE7IbEgaasvW_vhRN4Ncy5lVryJgASULKyUYqV5XyS5e1mfUK55q39TQPRjnYXPSf7Dr1Kh8sPKg/s1600/footstool+in+den2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Footstool upholstered with JCrew top via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5xN3zd1YxEgurC6EkvQCngYqDcMFzVWHjPw_Drm3KK1Pd8PCgFT0tW1fKMIpnM2EE7IbEgaasvW_vhRN4Ncy5lVryJgASULKyUYqV5XyS5e1mfUK55q39TQPRjnYXPSf7Dr1Kh8sPKg/s1600/footstool+in+den2.png" height="640" title="Footstool upholstered with JCrew top via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="426" /></a></div>
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(all images via Meet Me in Philadelphia)</div>
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So now, we've got another way to kick our feet up in style and a favorite top can live on.</div>
Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345558627679373156noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695752413125708607.post-26222133333029605052014-09-10T08:00:00.000-04:002014-09-10T08:00:04.881-04:00Spotlight: Designer Lee Ann Thornton<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXFcmON1CR6xlXHNffWhs5ClMazoTtv752RjCbw2bDlGH2jgY4XeRzHCY2szg3G2C3VDHc3S88PCccHRqiE_-zg12YjQzwnQJooFxHWRAVI3FDw9VLUJUQbZgZPEG0-Thk-vkWvyqFVe0/s1600/lee+ann+thornton+bamboo+chest+foyer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXFcmON1CR6xlXHNffWhs5ClMazoTtv752RjCbw2bDlGH2jgY4XeRzHCY2szg3G2C3VDHc3S88PCccHRqiE_-zg12YjQzwnQJooFxHWRAVI3FDw9VLUJUQbZgZPEG0-Thk-vkWvyqFVe0/s1600/lee+ann+thornton+bamboo+chest+foyer.jpg" /></a></div>
Do you ever encounter an interior designer that, somehow, just sort of speaks to your present style and captures the lifestyle you wish you had? For me, that designer is <a href="http://www.leeannthornton.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Lee Ann Thornton</span></a>.<br />
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Recently, I was perusing the latest issue of House Beautiful. Focusing first on the captivating images, I spent more time that usual studying each aspect, every fabric choice and furniture arrangement. Something about the designer's aesthetic felt homey and cozy. Frankly, just perfect.<br />
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Thornton's signature style seems effortless, collected and considered over time in a world where every homeowner wants their space decorated yesterday. Her portfolio is filled with pattern-filled rooms with color, antiques and classical architecture that draw you in, just like the houses themselves I'm sure.<br />
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The designer's East Coast-meets-West Coast style feels especially fresh to me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGb1JhsXSKcY_uELrfzidBSkSzu82dGrtKbtD5Fe4JlgN2rhd6JZ1iKgypRFqtTcOZK2nObmV9PDnXh_cykRFcj37v0chjYqLYcNm3Jg-hdKMShAmBlFlDZnXvgVzmbyB6YBGMJuG-wEA/s1600/lee+ann+thornton+bench+foyer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGb1JhsXSKcY_uELrfzidBSkSzu82dGrtKbtD5Fe4JlgN2rhd6JZ1iKgypRFqtTcOZK2nObmV9PDnXh_cykRFcj37v0chjYqLYcNm3Jg-hdKMShAmBlFlDZnXvgVzmbyB6YBGMJuG-wEA/s1600/lee+ann+thornton+bench+foyer.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEindkmiR_gFhbTL1fzggJm24sGaN6_zsx4DlW5gwaZPn1e0vvcwNGzC8RTZmr4-euPLNpY0uKa08IrAuFUbezC4a0NUeRpnVcbBp7rNcO2Tx5bGjuc-t5Ojbsh2aZSqQe4BtqOvdrDlsFw/s1600/lee+ann+thornton+banquette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEindkmiR_gFhbTL1fzggJm24sGaN6_zsx4DlW5gwaZPn1e0vvcwNGzC8RTZmr4-euPLNpY0uKa08IrAuFUbezC4a0NUeRpnVcbBp7rNcO2Tx5bGjuc-t5Ojbsh2aZSqQe4BtqOvdrDlsFw/s1600/lee+ann+thornton+banquette.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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(via <a href="http://www.leeannthornton.com/press/"><span style="color: blue;">Lee Ann Thornton</span></a>)</div>
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In the September issue of <a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/house-pictures/blue-and-white-house?click=pp#slide-1"><span style="color: blue;">House Beautiful</span></a>, one of Thornton's Connecticut projects is featured. The nearby Long Island Sound provided a perfect inspiration for the color scheme and general feel of the home itself. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMhedBbqh6f4C3VWrOztUyt4SD67d48VNfTn_ogKIxFEEy6jP1JiEmW2ToG1YQzIzWzOoLNKoO9Tk5azTyuJZZ_XBnvlnCRioLhFoDaMnnSAWfWrOBpDVCFD4aRHlLiPnQLzdiWzX5ekU/s1600/01-hbx-paul-ferrante-angelo-chandelier-0914-xln.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMhedBbqh6f4C3VWrOztUyt4SD67d48VNfTn_ogKIxFEEy6jP1JiEmW2ToG1YQzIzWzOoLNKoO9Tk5azTyuJZZ_XBnvlnCRioLhFoDaMnnSAWfWrOBpDVCFD4aRHlLiPnQLzdiWzX5ekU/s1600/01-hbx-paul-ferrante-angelo-chandelier-0914-xln.jpg" height="406" width="640" /></a></div>
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(via <a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/house-pictures/blue-and-white-house?click=pp#slide-1"><span style="color: blue;">House Beautiful</span></a>)</div>
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See what I mean? Now, I'll admit something funny. I've met Lee Ann many times.</div>
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Nearly a decade ago, when I was just out of college and working as an assistant buyer for a very high-scale boutique in Greenwich, I had an opportunity to meet Lee Ann. In a place where nearly everyone puts on airs, Lee Ann was a breath of fresh air. Kind, easy going, always friendly, and with personal style to boot. I was also lucky enough to work with her daughter for awhile and she was equally charming!</div>
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It's funny how small the world is, isn't it? </div>
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345558627679373156noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695752413125708607.post-88315161893290479512014-09-02T08:00:00.000-04:002014-09-02T08:00:07.689-04:00Hello, It's Me (and a Bit More of Our Living Room)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hello, it's me. It's been an awfully long time, hasn't it? <i>A whole summer,</i> in fact, which was never my intention.<br />
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In the three months since my last blog post, I've vacillated a lot between recommitting myself to regular posting and quietly receding into the blogging sunset. Life's been hectic a<span style="background-color: white;">t best and, in particular, the job that I started in the spring turned into an intellectually-challenging role that often zapped me of my energy and creativity. I wondered often if I should just pack it up and close this chapter of my life as a blogger. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">In recent weeks, though, something changed. On my way to and from work, I started making lists of the next project I wanted to undertake around the house. My mind started configuring new plans and considering the details of things outside of my job, which hadn't happened for months. </span><span style="background-color: white;">I would come home and, instead of nodding off halfway through dinner, I would walk around the house and scan each space for inspiration with what felt like a new set of eyes. That new perspective--and perhaps also a new appreciation--makes me feel fresh and new and ready to return to writing here.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2014/04/good-things-happen-to-those-who-wait.html"><span style="color: blue;">When I was unemployed</span></a>, I felt a constant joy and resentment for our home. I loved it and was tremendously grateful for it, but I also felt physically and mentally trapped by its walls and what it represented financially. Overwhelmed by the burden to "do this and do that" around the house while Adam worked, I needed to legitimize every hour, every minute.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">Well, now that I don't have nearly as many hours or minutes, I think I love my house even more. It's true--absence does make the heart grow fonder, which is why I wanted to invite you all to see the changes that have been made to our living room in the last few months. </span><br />
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You may remember that <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2014/05/decisions-decisions.html"><span style="color: blue;">I wrote about my quest to find the perfect slate for our fireplace surround</span></a> back in May. When that search stalled, I opted to paint the brick.<br />
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I didn't expect to like it nearly as much as I do, but I do.<br />
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I found the antique bench, now placed in front of the hearth, sometime last winter for $30 and had it reupholstered recently in <a href="https://www.duralee.com/Duralee/Duralee-Fabric/Product/15635-223.htm"><span style="color: blue;">Tilton Fenwick's charming "Gideon" stripe in mint/red</span></a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXMnLSdesTjDmKhyphenhyphenTW2aKqxqUWwec_GhGVx3Jz1n9KGCXj2El-0gP7hVfYWrSkyRQRfgBbaFeoi8VQiSxeX1hdhRJgyw-mpJ4Cd6D3dMHfcXC4d8zeoNTcUrgmKJcAoYug_UcqoXyYlg/s1600/reupholstered+bench_tilton+fenwick+stripe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXMnLSdesTjDmKhyphenhyphenTW2aKqxqUWwec_GhGVx3Jz1n9KGCXj2El-0gP7hVfYWrSkyRQRfgBbaFeoi8VQiSxeX1hdhRJgyw-mpJ4Cd6D3dMHfcXC4d8zeoNTcUrgmKJcAoYug_UcqoXyYlg/s1600/reupholstered+bench_tilton+fenwick+stripe.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
It took me awhile to decide how to approach our living room built-ins. I slowly relocated books from elsewhere in the house to the shelves here, now giving the space purpose, color and literary clout.<br />
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The seat of my favorite antique side chair, an auction find from Connecticut, has been reupholstered in sumptuous coral velvet too, accenting the color elsewhere in the room. </div>
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Now, you're probably wondering where the sofa shot is...</div>
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The sofa is in process, as a matter of fact. It took me months and months (far too long, really) to decide which directly I wanted to go in, but I opted for a stain- and fade-resistant Sunbrella solid that I'm excited to see soon. </div>
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I'm still working out the rug situation. We perused the natural rug options at a local carpet store but were mortified at the prices for the custom-sized and bound pattern we liked. Back to the drawing board, I suppose!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxpf4wFfvxr-iXM3N51vKsmE5UdrqVJJRUdQgDDegArQ-BWUHS615e_G2a2EDaHUDQaPEmwVP2RSXwj9XCWS7-y_xv-rlJNd_WHdwKB7VIrAKD5_emuC4MK8LzQx2Ulv1XxRSPtF9x9o/s1600/living+room+from+foyer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxpf4wFfvxr-iXM3N51vKsmE5UdrqVJJRUdQgDDegArQ-BWUHS615e_G2a2EDaHUDQaPEmwVP2RSXwj9XCWS7-y_xv-rlJNd_WHdwKB7VIrAKD5_emuC4MK8LzQx2Ulv1XxRSPtF9x9o/s1600/living+room+from+foyer.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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(all via Meet Me in Philadelphia)</div>
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Bit by bit, inch by inch, the living room (and life in general) is coming together.</div>
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P.S. An extra-special thank you to those who emailed and checked in after me in the last few months. </div>
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I sure have missed you all. </div>
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345558627679373156noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695752413125708607.post-50684313935222508992014-06-02T08:00:00.000-04:002014-06-02T08:00:01.523-04:00Our Newly-Reupholstered Living Room Chairs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7pxUoxxMuJKDqpQxEoCEQnlKTxQdyyyH5fd2tfqTZLEghpl-zEThGcjHmdHeUjPW1P5XJlIiXJxdjcJtoyLl2Mv-7BH48cFugu_jSnfj6-8nMaoYq2qS6tr2mHxs0u_fnPAp-_qa0Ik/s1600/reupholstered+living+room+chairs_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7pxUoxxMuJKDqpQxEoCEQnlKTxQdyyyH5fd2tfqTZLEghpl-zEThGcjHmdHeUjPW1P5XJlIiXJxdjcJtoyLl2Mv-7BH48cFugu_jSnfj6-8nMaoYq2qS6tr2mHxs0u_fnPAp-_qa0Ik/s1600/reupholstered+living+room+chairs_1.png" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Despite the unintended radio silence, life has continued to move along even if I fail to chronicle much of it here on the blog. The past weekend, though, I finally had a development worthy of writing about: the vintage open-arm chairs that I found for a song at an auction last year came back from the upholsterer's!</div>
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To fully appreciate the transformation, let's take a look at what they looked like up until very recently:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGvZNMh4n0FgeAYSquo_wKz7WwKckLLLKLgoPmxZNjkoTgc9zf1ZSsVmLPgNhyphenhyphen-6pW0892cK7jT1SIikg8IiHMYLUVZAkyLoEvFs51gWaQANvmaiKuI8-vD5FrYdag15ZAThjihcnS3g8/s1600/open+arm+chairs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGvZNMh4n0FgeAYSquo_wKz7WwKckLLLKLgoPmxZNjkoTgc9zf1ZSsVmLPgNhyphenhyphen-6pW0892cK7jT1SIikg8IiHMYLUVZAkyLoEvFs51gWaQANvmaiKuI8-vD5FrYdag15ZAThjihcnS3g8/s1600/open+arm+chairs.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Not very stylish, huh? <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2013/03/pair-of-vintage-open-arm-chairs.html"><span style="color: blue;">The pair of open-armed tub chairs were a bargain that I found at an auction</span></a> back in March 2013. The pair only set me back $130 and, though the fabric desperately needed help, the unique shape intrigued me. </div>
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We lived with them for about a year before I settled on a soft fawn-colored cotton velvet to recover them in. Cotton velvets are affordable and are available in a wide range of hues--two attributes that sold me on the idea. With fabric in hand, <a href="http://instagram.com/p/m7u-x2TEN0/"><span style="color: blue;">we drove the chairs (and our tufted sofa...which is still in process) to the upholsterer's</span></a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqCZMMcMD-upSzm5Zsw9kBCxwAe7F6o54It3WaM1uHg4xT0oI8WpNAKMXhEICJP-xvv3Rr1KA-rKjDAU8jb6KqR4zzSda0afhNAJWybqHqWpy96iBX0X3pr1x2BpUB1h-cWH7FDWoT88/s1600/IMG_20140418_094450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqCZMMcMD-upSzm5Zsw9kBCxwAe7F6o54It3WaM1uHg4xT0oI8WpNAKMXhEICJP-xvv3Rr1KA-rKjDAU8jb6KqR4zzSda0afhNAJWybqHqWpy96iBX0X3pr1x2BpUB1h-cWH7FDWoT88/s1600/IMG_20140418_094450.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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I couldn't have been more thrilled to receive the email on Friday notifying me that the chairs were ready...but I was even more thrilled to see how beautifully they turned out.</div>
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We removed the back cushion entirely, and instead opted for a fitted back with only two buttons. The worn-out seat foam was replaced, guaranteeing a few more decades of comfort.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdxx68gPFM_Yhiwm3p_Ei-RYczMiZFAc1CXAz5msGE_B8kkB6VFL76ZYvdtA5a-qHawBPU2DmE9WJQKMzBwKT8pDijn-FNbtz-wJtuUYXABmkk3PAwiZFJ7xoiBkamITbWCXjkEhDSRjM/s1600/reupholstered+living+room+chairs_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdxx68gPFM_Yhiwm3p_Ei-RYczMiZFAc1CXAz5msGE_B8kkB6VFL76ZYvdtA5a-qHawBPU2DmE9WJQKMzBwKT8pDijn-FNbtz-wJtuUYXABmkk3PAwiZFJ7xoiBkamITbWCXjkEhDSRjM/s1600/reupholstered+living+room+chairs_2.png" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
The end result is a sophisticated and comfortable pair of chairs that get me excited for the direction in our living room.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUsqif4zSpTSCyF85xI6sf3y66NmXRAa8zGqdGv8o8sNFj9zLCHO3daXC77MMnDvwLoYC3nuSsJrHwQ_joLJJSK26Xg07CFWaPFdFdp8wlhLnvwzsNpILxe7hFk27Mwg4CLXlCeTg9eg/s1600/reupholstered+living+room+chairs_3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUsqif4zSpTSCyF85xI6sf3y66NmXRAa8zGqdGv8o8sNFj9zLCHO3daXC77MMnDvwLoYC3nuSsJrHwQ_joLJJSK26Xg07CFWaPFdFdp8wlhLnvwzsNpILxe7hFk27Mwg4CLXlCeTg9eg/s1600/reupholstered+living+room+chairs_3.png" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhlgWIM3imnXKOwpDDN3a6iNcmaGRyRE9fkaeYp_lDfdua8fX_46dR4QhOkODzMXfXMFAv3Kfm0pFRXRtSYzhDXcHkLK1OVjqkLNUH3wUTIOaNW_0ZFBiuLXP1rbCOsU7Cp82sZIY7WM/s1600/reupholstered+living+room+chairs_4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhlgWIM3imnXKOwpDDN3a6iNcmaGRyRE9fkaeYp_lDfdua8fX_46dR4QhOkODzMXfXMFAv3Kfm0pFRXRtSYzhDXcHkLK1OVjqkLNUH3wUTIOaNW_0ZFBiuLXP1rbCOsU7Cp82sZIY7WM/s1600/reupholstered+living+room+chairs_4.png" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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(all via Meet Me in Philadelphia)</div>
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While there's still so much to do, I'm happy in the incremental progress we continue to make in this important room in our home. There's few things that make me more pleased than a well-done upholstery project!</div>
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Happy Monday, everyone. How have you all been? I've missed you terribly!</div>
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345558627679373156noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695752413125708607.post-56999313543325818992014-05-19T08:00:00.000-04:002014-05-19T08:00:04.633-04:00Winner of the $150 UncommonGoods Giftcard<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4PaO62THyCvMEExWCmZjRIR5BR4j2SQhwWw7qotDikhNeXTrRvdsKpEr-W7NrazQsd47S39COegAQkZ-AgCPaVmk3mlhpRlM0OryOJr_RgPzrIYm49QB-CMKsokAA2RDkQj45Uv3Uw1Q/s1600/uncommon+goods+winner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4PaO62THyCvMEExWCmZjRIR5BR4j2SQhwWw7qotDikhNeXTrRvdsKpEr-W7NrazQsd47S39COegAQkZ-AgCPaVmk3mlhpRlM0OryOJr_RgPzrIYm49QB-CMKsokAA2RDkQj45Uv3Uw1Q/s1600/uncommon+goods+winner.png" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Congratulations, RayRay Cartucci! I'll email you!</div>
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Thank you to all who entered! I wish I had a giftcard to give out to everyone.</div>
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Happy Monday!</div>
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345558627679373156noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695752413125708607.post-34628833806468884082014-05-14T08:00:00.000-04:002014-05-14T10:28:54.924-04:00Win $150 to UncommonGoods! {A Giveaway}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbC1FOgdpGZqwbLPiNxQxoK3FJI2Bn8PaaK8iD_hgcASw2DKBfmaV0-RnAuO1L-zThEm7zyZT-AWYzlQYxJudCfkVtdxa4R3tYk3J-Y-KazjRub5wMsFBCToPxFW2K1K1dmNukxgOULg/s1600/uncommon+goods+giveaway_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbC1FOgdpGZqwbLPiNxQxoK3FJI2Bn8PaaK8iD_hgcASw2DKBfmaV0-RnAuO1L-zThEm7zyZT-AWYzlQYxJudCfkVtdxa4R3tYk3J-Y-KazjRub5wMsFBCToPxFW2K1K1dmNukxgOULg/s1600/uncommon+goods+giveaway_1.png" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">(<a href="http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/cube-planter"><span style="color: blue;">cube planter</span></a> / <a href="http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/kantha-blanket"><span style="color: blue;">kantha blanket</span></a> / <a href="http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/hand-embroidered-region-pillows"><span style="color: blue;">embroidered region pillow</span></a>)</span></div>
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What could be a better way to overcome a mid-week slump than with the chance to win $150 to a fabulous online retailer like <a href="http://uncommongoods.com/"><span style="color: blue;">UncommonGoods.com</span></a>? I was thrilled when the team from <a href="http://www.uncommongoods.com/"><span style="color: blue;">UncommonGoods</span></a> reached out to me, because the company features unique designs and handcrafted goods that make perfect gifts for anyone, any home, any occasion.<br />
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I'm always reluctant to endorse companies here on my blog unless I completely agree with their mission, their vision and their products. <a href="http://www.uncommongoods.com/"><span style="color: blue;">UncommonGoods</span></a> stands apart in a world of big box stores and ubiquitous inventory--they provide a platform for artists and designers to reach customers who are looking for just the right piece while also supporting non-profit organizations like RAINN, Women for Women and City Harvest. It's shopping with social conscience.<br />
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Today, I'm highlighting some of my favorite products from <a href="http://www.uncommongoods.com/"><span style="color: blue;">UncommonGoods</span></a>, but I'd be silly not to draw your attention to a fabulous selection of gifts for women <a href="http://www.uncommongoods.com/gifts/by-recipient/gifts-for-women"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a>, a number of unique personalized gifts <a href="http://www.uncommongoods.com/gifts/collections/personalized-gifts"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a> and a collection of jewelry that anyone would be happy to wear <a href="http://www.uncommongoods.com/jewelry-accessories/personalized-jewelry/personalized-jewelry"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a>.<br />
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Here are just a few of my favorites pieces currently available at <a href="http://www.uncommongoods.com/"><span style="color: blue;">UncommonGoods</span></a>:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjll00fPzayUzJVPhnsCFgn69SG7zN3POATzDZ65IPWK9l7pyZXrBQjkeLuMkd8pq495EEaet_iIfccILxmGP34w_JBsgnqGGdTr7BtY79AcprPn2wTvK8ZVoP7xLG_-uDMYi9_rUDvlYo/s1600/uncommon+goods+giveaway_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjll00fPzayUzJVPhnsCFgn69SG7zN3POATzDZ65IPWK9l7pyZXrBQjkeLuMkd8pq495EEaet_iIfccILxmGP34w_JBsgnqGGdTr7BtY79AcprPn2wTvK8ZVoP7xLG_-uDMYi9_rUDvlYo/s1600/uncommon+goods+giveaway_2.png" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">(<a href="http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/personalized-family-art"><span style="color: blue;">one - personalized family art</span></a> / <a href="http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/mini-coastal-lamp"><span style="color: blue;">two - mini coastal lamp</span></a> / <a href="http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/hands-bowl"><span style="color: blue;">three - hands bowl</span></a> / <a href="http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/ladybug-castle"><span style="color: blue;">four - ladybug castle</span></a>)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnODxJIhwLNU1c_HqzBJJcNO7sdUuWXnQtjkEhjPWYShBOmk0TjYmdD1jdKB_Oi_OQBVccHi6va5MMYUYTv40PZ-PbMrPzj7xsInedI2S2xhf3mZyxGg1FpzWEmi0oTE2sPISHWkIfqA/s1600/uncommon+goods+giveaway_3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnODxJIhwLNU1c_HqzBJJcNO7sdUuWXnQtjkEhjPWYShBOmk0TjYmdD1jdKB_Oi_OQBVccHi6va5MMYUYTv40PZ-PbMrPzj7xsInedI2S2xhf3mZyxGg1FpzWEmi0oTE2sPISHWkIfqA/s1600/uncommon+goods+giveaway_3.png" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">(<a href="http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/mosaic-necklace"><span style="color: blue;">five - mosaic necklace</span></a> / <a href="http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/pearl-wine-set-of-4"><span style="color: blue;">six - pearl wine glasses</span></a> / <a href="http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/lowercase-alphabet-blocks"><span style="color: blue;">seven - lowercase alphabet blocks</span></a>)</span></div>
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Like what you see? Want to win a $150 gift card to <a href="http://www.uncommongoods.com/"><span style="color: blue;">UncommonGoods</span></a>? To win:</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">-Comment below and let me know what you'd spend the $150 gift card on!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">-For </span><u style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">extra entries</u><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">, follow me on </span><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/ashleyhannan/"><span style="color: blue;">Pinterest</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/meetmeinphilly"><span style="color: blue;">Twitter</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;"> and/or </span><a href="http://instagram.com/meetmeinphilly"><span style="color: blue;">Instagram</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;"> and </span><u style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">comment below confirming you're a follower for up to 3 more chances to win (comment separately for each way you follow)</u><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">Contest ends </span><u style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">Sunday, May 18th at 11:59 PM</u><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">. And I'm sorry, but this giveaway is </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">open to U.S. residents only</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">. A winner will be selected using random.com and will be announced in Monday's post.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">Thank you <a href="http://www.uncommongoods.com/"><span style="color: blue;">UncommonGoods</span></a> for this giveaway! Good luck, friends.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;" />
<i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">This giveaway was sponsored by UncommonGoods, though all opinions are my own.</i></div>
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345558627679373156noreply@blogger.com66tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695752413125708607.post-51803314515423700222014-05-12T08:00:00.001-04:002014-05-12T08:00:09.784-04:00Decisions, Decisions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xIU-2_dczUZNrpUQvyX3BJcnejeoo0QhjMkbaVJ-sjo3NR0KIFa_i9QAhY169gFmrr7dronOsXNFWy1wkhgUCz-C-Q5H8jRpmhyrb8tghwYWMz-GI0jtKUQQq_hwoNQEQpqcPcfeZ14/s1600/living+room+fireplace_before+surround_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xIU-2_dczUZNrpUQvyX3BJcnejeoo0QhjMkbaVJ-sjo3NR0KIFa_i9QAhY169gFmrr7dronOsXNFWy1wkhgUCz-C-Q5H8jRpmhyrb8tghwYWMz-GI0jtKUQQq_hwoNQEQpqcPcfeZ14/s1600/living+room+fireplace_before+surround_2.png" height="640" width="327" /></a></div>
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Before I was a homeowner, I never realized how many decisions person could possibly make during a lifetime of homeownership. From paint colors to hardware styles to fabrics, there are so many potential choices, so many directions, so many design crossroads a homeowner must cross in an attempt to make a house feel like home.</div>
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Lately, our living room fireplace has been the subject of intense deliberation around these parts.</div>
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We recently turned a corner in our living room overhaul: we finished repainting the room (and <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2014/04/in-progress-living-room-carpentry.html"><span style="color: blue;">its new crown moulding, built-in shelving and mantel</span></a>) in <a href="http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/oc-17"><span style="color: blue;">Benjamin Moore's "White Dove"</span></a>. If you've ever shopped for white paint, you will understand how complicated it is to find just the right white.<br />
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Is the white warm enough? But it is too yellow? How will white pair with white fabrics in the room?<br />
Then, what finish? Satin? Gloss? Semi-gloss?<br />
The mind reels at the seemingly-endless possibilities.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIhyphenhyphenAxzxvdhxN-dTH48R9L1YWw2OCbOIpz1hZAELCT0ad8Bngk1s8heZWi0b_IBREgc4RUBHTvT-HmOIW1YDaroXcoBXVf3F52irs87rEL_XcfQai5nX-I2ytCOwu5AWTwOepblMaBHHw/s1600/living+room+fireplace_before+surround_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIhyphenhyphenAxzxvdhxN-dTH48R9L1YWw2OCbOIpz1hZAELCT0ad8Bngk1s8heZWi0b_IBREgc4RUBHTvT-HmOIW1YDaroXcoBXVf3F52irs87rEL_XcfQai5nX-I2ytCOwu5AWTwOepblMaBHHw/s1600/living+room+fireplace_before+surround_1.png" height="418" width="640" /></a></div>
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It only took 2 swatches of white to conclude that "White Dove" was, in fact, the perfect choice. But, the ideal paint reminded us that had yet to decide how to beautify our soot-tarnished fireplace surround.</div>
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As far as I am concerned there is only one choice: refacing the brick with 3 large slabs of slate to match the existing slate hearth. No tile, no granite, no painted brick (not that there's anything wrong with any of those choices)...they just didn't feel right here. Instead, I'd like something like this:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Au_8LMQncXUh_Zoq1v05lfUN8-GVTFdahEixAZ8pwoCrtNG3bfFhVXPUea6I4kuJfgj4kZIfftWDm937_k6tzsLxT5kNP75WiYjjkBljSiy5HFq0y6wdiU10nBzLKD-gM5OcuH7w0zE/s1600/slate_fireplace-surround.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Au_8LMQncXUh_Zoq1v05lfUN8-GVTFdahEixAZ8pwoCrtNG3bfFhVXPUea6I4kuJfgj4kZIfftWDm937_k6tzsLxT5kNP75WiYjjkBljSiy5HFq0y6wdiU10nBzLKD-gM5OcuH7w0zE/s1600/slate_fireplace-surround.JPG" height="640" width="408" /></a></div>
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(via <a href="http://www.virginiaslate.com/virginia-slate-inventory/historic-black-structural-slate/"><span style="color: blue;">Virginia Slate</span></a>)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTxMWVuf-ZlMIRrX5mCUupUIzTA-gZ8IEHTk2Ex5-aQ0S4zh6zrgmmihXd9A18Zgslc4hYEL6yr9FXDbVPZIBdY3MAmcfiLREnM9LEZif8XfG-TQxXQmhjRnQphSMoyCMq8Oiiaopb_e0/s1600/100670695.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTxMWVuf-ZlMIRrX5mCUupUIzTA-gZ8IEHTk2Ex5-aQ0S4zh6zrgmmihXd9A18Zgslc4hYEL6yr9FXDbVPZIBdY3MAmcfiLREnM9LEZif8XfG-TQxXQmhjRnQphSMoyCMq8Oiiaopb_e0/s1600/100670695.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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(via <a href="http://www.bhg.com/decorating/fireplace/styles/before-and-after-fireplaces/?psrc=sstag:hi:fireplace_R1111BHomeImprovTag#page=5"><span style="color: blue;">Better Homes & Gardens</span></a>)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCsouboPwTQ15oeiCXQIuuGWULgdU39s7e-SwjwIeucb5GV6TKS_JBCuBxmsqiCreKxyC5A7TDs8415pFcIIlx_rmih9xiocHYGPlMYdxmpcYG5am1HMxlbNAisCRoQTcuwmrZK8Tmtc/s1600/fireplace+surround.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCsouboPwTQ15oeiCXQIuuGWULgdU39s7e-SwjwIeucb5GV6TKS_JBCuBxmsqiCreKxyC5A7TDs8415pFcIIlx_rmih9xiocHYGPlMYdxmpcYG5am1HMxlbNAisCRoQTcuwmrZK8Tmtc/s1600/fireplace+surround.jpg" height="640" width="448" /></a></div>
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(via <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/395824254722197917/"><span style="color: blue;">Pinterest</span></a>)</div>
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(via <a href="http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/intro/0,,400252,00.html"><span style="color: blue;">This Old House</span></a>)</div>
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But the work doesn't stop with decision-making. The next stop is figuring out how to realize the vision. </div>
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I'm still trying to track down the perfect slate slabs, which are anything but easy to find, apparently. Evidently, making a decisions is only half of the battle.</div>
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In the meantime, until I discover my ideal pieces of slate, I'll just bask in the decisions we've made so far as homeowners, like the choice to plant a bevy of black parrot tulips in our yard last fall which sit on our recently-revamped mantel. </div>
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(via Meet Me in Philadelphia, unless otherwise noted)</div>
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So many decisions have been made with still so many more to go.</div>
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345558627679373156noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695752413125708607.post-72962375313049404442014-05-05T08:00:00.000-04:002014-05-05T08:00:00.253-04:00Our Guest Bedroom {A Long-Overdue Reveal}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hello, friends! How have you been? The past few weeks have felt like a blur as I settle into my new job during the weekdays and work on our living room during the weekends. That said, I finally have an exciting reveal worth sharing here on the blog: our guest bedroom!</div>
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I made it my mission--<a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2014/01/changes-to-guest-bedroom-preview.html"><span style="color: blue;">just as the year started</span></a>--to rework the space so it more accurately reflects my evolving style.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>In January, on one of those impossibly snowy days, I covered the walls of the room in a new coat of paint: Benjamin Moore's "Palladian Blue". The color reminds me of sea glass, the perfect soothing color for a guest bedroom, and the inspiration for it came from the Parlor Textiles print on the throw pillow and chair seat.<br />
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Elsewhere in the room, elements of gold, white and a touch of oxblood combine for a palette I really love.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7r9iFSbJXv3L137Ve70uWTVS21Db678AW5kVzJZWhk4gaGbsa0JJkjepTC3Hxvuuu8zo9F8_GFcaBh9CLGlnHUt6CzSsT7ubgiU6UUAfIe0jl0HuH3lA84yRREwWBe8A36qcGEcCFh8/s1600/guest+bedroom_meet+me+in+philadelphia.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="guest bedroom via Meet Me in Philadelphia meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7r9iFSbJXv3L137Ve70uWTVS21Db678AW5kVzJZWhk4gaGbsa0JJkjepTC3Hxvuuu8zo9F8_GFcaBh9CLGlnHUt6CzSsT7ubgiU6UUAfIe0jl0HuH3lA84yRREwWBe8A36qcGEcCFh8/s1600/guest+bedroom_meet+me+in+philadelphia.png" height="640" title="guest bedroom via Meet Me in Philadelphia meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com" width="426" /></a></div>
The bed, an antique found for a mere $60 on Craigslist, replaced a utilitarian metal frame. Its frame grounds the light walls and even lighter trim. While picking up the bed, the seller also had a beautiful bamboo etagere for sale and, when I heard the price, I couldn't resist adding it to our haul. It was $10!<br />
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The bedside tables, which were purchased as an unfinished pair from Ebay, took forever to settle on. I searched high and low for an option that complemented, rather than competed, with the other furnishings. I painted the tables with a coat of BM's "White Dove" (the same color we're using in our living room) and a finish coat of liming wax.<br />
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Atop the tables sit a pair of turned lamps that I discovered in a Greenwich, CT consignment store for $40 for the pair.<br />
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One of the primary reasons I didn't share this space before now: the seagrass rug from Ballard was on backorder for nearly 2 months. I'm glad we waited because I absolutely love it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEike0ilnbmKyONrgS9oLFNsV_Rv0Qd6d_zThizBBjh-cqG6lhMzL5brbxQd-i7CIscCsYFGlnwTdnM1QwGo4XAnS4hC2L59tuBHXRMgjnCGgFhUoIaPa2iDTeshiqX1zJZtvaPwqu7XDuw/s1600/front+view+of+guest+bed_meet+me+in+philadelphia.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="guest bedroom via Meet Me in Philadelphia meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEike0ilnbmKyONrgS9oLFNsV_Rv0Qd6d_zThizBBjh-cqG6lhMzL5brbxQd-i7CIscCsYFGlnwTdnM1QwGo4XAnS4hC2L59tuBHXRMgjnCGgFhUoIaPa2iDTeshiqX1zJZtvaPwqu7XDuw/s1600/front+view+of+guest+bed_meet+me+in+philadelphia.png" height="640" title="guest bedroom via Meet Me in Philadelphia meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjot79S9tbrAXSmC_amAHcs-Dt7GEDQoAPDJfnJYi2gYQStptu_-r26Z7tvq7DioRwj-xltoTUbz7msxKIufGb4OHCfPleujm61qzYs3m1ESabd-GpVIy1SmLef2FRUMlhN82kAo6CMOP4/s1600/guest+bedroom_2_meet+me+in+philadelphia.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="guest bedroom via Meet Me in Philadelphia meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjot79S9tbrAXSmC_amAHcs-Dt7GEDQoAPDJfnJYi2gYQStptu_-r26Z7tvq7DioRwj-xltoTUbz7msxKIufGb4OHCfPleujm61qzYs3m1ESabd-GpVIy1SmLef2FRUMlhN82kAo6CMOP4/s1600/guest+bedroom_2_meet+me+in+philadelphia.png" height="426" title="guest bedroom via Meet Me in Philadelphia meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2010/11/mushroom-prints-on-display.html"><span style="color: blue;">The series of vintage mushroom prints</span></a> that hang over the bed may look familiar--they've hung in our guest bedroom since our previous apartment.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwMdZ511UQ2kVUcgTzBUR3gARCObpSPii4njgSQ06gQzBw9XANRR3BMyYKUc2pIzvP_TITWEUXTbp9JhbKLwt0QPs58QxJ0kZz66MsTkrjywhwSkxrWdE4phYIVH3Ku_RMDludNknswM/s1600/vintage+mushroom+prints_meet+me+in+philadelphia.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="guest bedroom via Meet Me in Philadelphia meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwMdZ511UQ2kVUcgTzBUR3gARCObpSPii4njgSQ06gQzBw9XANRR3BMyYKUc2pIzvP_TITWEUXTbp9JhbKLwt0QPs58QxJ0kZz66MsTkrjywhwSkxrWdE4phYIVH3Ku_RMDludNknswM/s1600/vintage+mushroom+prints_meet+me+in+philadelphia.png" height="426" title="guest bedroom via Meet Me in Philadelphia meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here's the bamboo etagere, which sits between the room's two windows. I love its mottled finish.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGlQZjecTdZBPd7WoQgLKro6GXOqOtwbNph_uf4ZVktm9CFuvmUvzc_jXlij8_-4s3Ea8pvsMKtVFHxoduSIHLQm6rV2If8a3KUoUae3hpuvWL122idvJbE7TAFR9F5JAfCrFyuEF7CO4/s1600/vintage+bamboo+etagere_meet+me+in+philadelphia.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="guest bedroom via Meet Me in Philadelphia meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGlQZjecTdZBPd7WoQgLKro6GXOqOtwbNph_uf4ZVktm9CFuvmUvzc_jXlij8_-4s3Ea8pvsMKtVFHxoduSIHLQm6rV2If8a3KUoUae3hpuvWL122idvJbE7TAFR9F5JAfCrFyuEF7CO4/s1600/vintage+bamboo+etagere_meet+me+in+philadelphia.png" height="640" title="guest bedroom via Meet Me in Philadelphia meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com" width="426" /></a></div>
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Opposite the bed sits <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2012/09/newly-revamped-ticking-stripe-skirted.html"><span style="color: blue;">the ticking stripe skirted table</span></a> that Mom and I worked on a few years ago. It still looks fresh and I don't see myself discarding it anytime soon. On top, the thrifted oxblood lamp works well against the blue-green walls.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSSMSzNVnwCIEdNw8Jwr9FnL1ZeItzRI_f4xOHd6sbr79pDO2qx-iaKcWk8UNL9PmsDFNbi5j9zw61qAoAHxurQGq0vqYfu7_7CoE9sJjz5cla51Qt7OQf7HLZjXV43oeQrQqOojsB2k/s1600/skirted+table_meet+me+in+philadelphia.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="guest bedroom via Meet Me in Philadelphia meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSSMSzNVnwCIEdNw8Jwr9FnL1ZeItzRI_f4xOHd6sbr79pDO2qx-iaKcWk8UNL9PmsDFNbi5j9zw61qAoAHxurQGq0vqYfu7_7CoE9sJjz5cla51Qt7OQf7HLZjXV43oeQrQqOojsB2k/s1600/skirted+table_meet+me+in+philadelphia.png" height="640" title="guest bedroom via Meet Me in Philadelphia meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com" width="426" /></a></div>
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(all via Meet Me in Philadelphia)</div>
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This coming weekend, my parents will be visiting and will be the first guests in our officially-complete guest bedroom. I'm glad to have a dedicated space for our special visitors that I'm also proud to show off.</div>
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<u>Sources</u>:<br />
Paint: <a href="http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/palladianblue"><span style="color: blue;">"Palladian Blue" by Benjamin Moore</span></a><br />
Antique bed: from Craigslist<br />
Bamboo etagere: from Craigslist<br />
Rug: <a href="http://www.ballarddesigns.com/seagrass-rug/rugs-windows/category/rugs/material/natural-fiber/10081"><span style="color: blue;">Seagrass rug with "bark" border from Ballard Designs</span></a><br />
Curtains: <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10218089/"><span style="color: blue;">Aina linen shades in white from Ikea</span></a><br />
Shades: <a href="http://www.overstock.com/search?keywords=petite+rustique+bamboo+&SearchType=Header"><span style="color: blue;">Petite rustique bamboo shades from Overstock</span></a><br />
Shaker-style nightstands: <a href="http://stores.ebay.com/sawdustbarn?_trksid=p2047675.l2563"><span style="color: blue;">unfinished, from Ebay</span></a><br />
Accent pillow/fabric on side chair: <a href="http://parlortextiles.com/winterfloral"><span style="color: blue;">"Winter Floral" by Parlor Textiles</span></a><br />
Bedding: <a href="http://www.target.com/p/threshold-organic-blanket/-/A-14218467#prodSlot=medium_1_9"><span style="color: blue;">Organic cotton blanket from Target</span></a>, <a href="http://www.jcpenney.com/shops/back-to-school/jcp-home/jcpenney-home-cotton-classics-duvet-cover/prod.jump?ppId=1649d44&searchTerm=white+duvet+cover&catId=SearchResults&colorizedImg=0900631B8139F3E1M.tif"><span style="color: blue;">white duvet cover from JC Penney</span></a><br />
All other items were thrifted/found while antiquing<br />
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Finally, I just want to say how much I've missed my blogging friends and the inspiration you all provide on a daily basis! Glad to be back (to a semi-regular routine here)!</div>
Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345558627679373156noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695752413125708607.post-85343775107687110472014-04-21T08:00:00.000-04:002014-04-21T08:00:01.387-04:00Quince, Of Course {+ Other Garden Developments}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yF1RrlzJiW748ygf0wl8pAl2DQaSq3kdlxXIAVctcnFlasgWVhQhveLmh9aUhdbpIeAkQvjOEzT64W1Aq9pSCAU7OTvM_7GnMJpwH2O6WOdLLix_LsEerY05gfy7uFF5-kI8w3OWYb8/s1600/quince+sprigs+on+bamboo+shelf_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="quince sprigs on bamboo etagere via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yF1RrlzJiW748ygf0wl8pAl2DQaSq3kdlxXIAVctcnFlasgWVhQhveLmh9aUhdbpIeAkQvjOEzT64W1Aq9pSCAU7OTvM_7GnMJpwH2O6WOdLLix_LsEerY05gfy7uFF5-kI8w3OWYb8/s1600/quince+sprigs+on+bamboo+shelf_2.png" height="640" title="quince sprigs on bamboo etagere via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="481" /></a></div>
In the last week, our garden has erupted in color as flowering bulbs, shrubs and trees awaken to the spring. I wish we could take credit for each one, but we are the lucky beneficiaries of a previous owner's choices, which include a mature pink magnolia, a star magnolia and two coral quince.<br />
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This weekend the quince buds opened and, despite their thorns, invited me to snip some for display around the house.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk93GYg_wdbUVjMUlyi7SZhzfke6cwk0J0_jNsYp70sgNKTc8kxmF1KCneCTaeplPQ8Ujt4o9GmbFHkBG6XhOt8jx1FSuTUxKO2LC6Cvh9qu7ODA6XsYm7baKv9Aw5fNk-PP37PwrZn6g/s1600/quince+shrub_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="blooming quince via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk93GYg_wdbUVjMUlyi7SZhzfke6cwk0J0_jNsYp70sgNKTc8kxmF1KCneCTaeplPQ8Ujt4o9GmbFHkBG6XhOt8jx1FSuTUxKO2LC6Cvh9qu7ODA6XsYm7baKv9Aw5fNk-PP37PwrZn6g/s1600/quince+shrub_2.png" height="640" title="blooming quince via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="426" /></a></div>
I especially love the contrast between the delicate petals of the quince and the hard stone exterior of our house. The sprigs I cut look right at home in the antique urn vase and <a href="http://instagram.com/p/jUej1TTEPc/"><span style="color: blue;">equally-aged bamboo etagere</span></a> in <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2014/01/changes-to-guest-bedroom-preview.html"><span style="color: blue;">the guest bedroom</span></a> (which I'll be showing off in the coming weeks!).<br />
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Elsewhere in the garden, <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2013/10/our-first-experience-planting-bulbs.html"><span style="color: blue;">the bulbs we planted last fall</span></a> have sprouted. It's been fun discovering the occasional muscari bulb--relocated by squirrels last fall--emerging from the roots of a large tree in the front yard.<br />
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<a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2013/10/our-first-experience-planting-bulbs.html"><span style="color: blue;">The poet daffodils and black parrot tulips</span></a> are almost ready to bloom and I can't wait for them to make their appearance.</div>
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(all via Meet Me in Philadelphia)</div>
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I'm happy to say--after a particularly harsh winter--that spring has sprung in Philadelphia.</div>
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What is blooming in your garden?</div>
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345558627679373156noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695752413125708607.post-72870409227638072612014-04-15T08:00:00.000-04:002014-04-15T08:00:10.228-04:00In Progress: The Living Room Carpentry Projects<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hi, friends. This post--appearing promptly on Tuesday morning--was intended to be a Monday morning post...can you tell I'm a little out-of-sorts? After a week at my new job, I'm slowly settling into a work routine and trying my best to balance all of the things I have to do with all of the things I want to do; perhaps you know how that goes, too?Acknowledging my late start, I'm happy to share the progress that was made on <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2014/03/plans-for-living-room-carpentry-work.html"><span style="color: blue;">our living room carpentry projects</span></a> last weekend.<br />
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Let's get to it!<br />
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<a name='more'></a>On Saturday, the sun was shining and it was the perfect day for some renovations! Rich, the trusty, talented carpenter got right to work installing a double-layer of crown moulding to the space (a sneak peek of that at the end of this post). The double crown adds some much-needed formality to the room.<br />
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Next, he tackled our fireplace, which was <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2014/03/plans-for-living-room-carpentry-work.html"><span style="color: blue;">previously a dimensionless-but-attractive surround</span></a> that was begging for some body. Rich carefully pried the facade from the wall so that the whole surround came off as one piece.<br />
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He then got busy fashioning a box that would sit behind the original facade and provide depth and shape to the finished mantel. I snapped a few "process" pictures to demonstrate how this fireplace mantel box was constructed.</div>
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A top view of the mantel box:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWB1YQKiQI6Cgk81OGYaD8m1QpgaybO_SWoPtZLPzrRHx_MwtJ0IMsWffHJ6q0SZSARIA-tFVbm7fpN_OaDwnwnkJL2HjJgqLbDAXAxuYXcwkiCxgTxYTiMx4zmHydmIANbQj6lNnvRBA/s1600/fireplace+build-out_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="carpentry project progress via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWB1YQKiQI6Cgk81OGYaD8m1QpgaybO_SWoPtZLPzrRHx_MwtJ0IMsWffHJ6q0SZSARIA-tFVbm7fpN_OaDwnwnkJL2HjJgqLbDAXAxuYXcwkiCxgTxYTiMx4zmHydmIANbQj6lNnvRBA/s1600/fireplace+build-out_2.jpg" height="426" title="carpentry project progress via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="640" /></a></div>
With the box complete (yes, a mantel top was installed but not shown here), Rich re-attached the original fireplace facade to this box. All the joints were caulked, and when he returns this coming weekend, he'll caulk and sand for a seamless finish.<br />
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We're also going to be adding trim to connect the "feet" at the front of the facade back towards the wall for a fully-finished, custom look.<br />
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Though still unpainted, the added dimension makes a world of difference, doesn't it?<br />
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If you're curious, our fireplace makeover doesn't stop with the mantel. The sooty brick will be covered in slate to match the hearth and the existing screen will be replaced with <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2013/10/all-den-details.html"><span style="color: blue;">a spark guard like this</span></a>.<br />
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And as if the fireplace and crown moulding wasn't enough work for one weekend, Rich also started deconstructing <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2014/03/plans-for-living-room-carpentry-work.html"><span style="color: blue;">the build-in shelving</span></a> to the right of the fireplace, which was previously afflicted by a series of adjustable shelving tracks.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWDGxCFQ5G1A-dSmFYyZ8HcZLrnykjA04fcCiFhB9dRn6BKZcXXrygFRovMDNTouIRcbCOMAGzTY4tybMSdrVoorVvcMbzBEn6f8eZ9BYtnmj6E32hXF_s423CTabWmj4PeimPzHlpyA/s1600/shelf+tracks+removed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="carpentry project progress via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWDGxCFQ5G1A-dSmFYyZ8HcZLrnykjA04fcCiFhB9dRn6BKZcXXrygFRovMDNTouIRcbCOMAGzTY4tybMSdrVoorVvcMbzBEn6f8eZ9BYtnmj6E32hXF_s423CTabWmj4PeimPzHlpyA/s1600/shelf+tracks+removed.jpg" height="426" title="carpentry project progress via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="640" /></a></div>
But they're all gone now, so we can rest easy.<br />
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Rich will be back on Saturday to finish the built-in shelves (they'll be permanent this time!) and I just can't wait. That means paint is next!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVir-hG4K7Z7Jwh7PnevE3pPhQXwQBCQd70IoAPst-JRD_nKVM8MDItGoh8nyEcNjqAmCBjFM3mlzcizZ5qWT9iERS1cGxqTZ0wMrTGk8OeYr79EG9eaNWGqMACco22PzhY93WsTQonQ/s1600/carpentry+progress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="carpentry project progress via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVir-hG4K7Z7Jwh7PnevE3pPhQXwQBCQd70IoAPst-JRD_nKVM8MDItGoh8nyEcNjqAmCBjFM3mlzcizZ5qWT9iERS1cGxqTZ0wMrTGk8OeYr79EG9eaNWGqMACco22PzhY93WsTQonQ/s1600/carpentry+progress.jpg" height="640" title="carpentry project progress via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="426" /></a></div>
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(all via Meet Me in Philadelphia)</div>
All in all, this past weekend felt like a major success after being back to work for the first time in a long time. I am glad that progress like this is happening because it makes the transition back to work a little easier. During the past two-plus years, I know I was spearheading so many projects and tasks around here that I worried that, when I started working again, the changes would come to a grinding halt. I'm glad that's not the case.<br />
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Here's to progress, and a great week to come!</div>
Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345558627679373156noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695752413125708607.post-56028390126167143562014-04-11T08:00:00.000-04:002014-04-11T08:00:10.844-04:00Karl Blossfeldt Botanicals<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIDhsoXvra5pS1BzaeWf9yYADCogQTuhbBhiyZ09XuUio8Q4v8JSqnqvtguHoxaGQoX-Wzei6bKfyX-2VHDhq7ZnCS-h5P09wxTwZk6nujIG062ZiSZOyYfrkGK3e3MkK0WCSIA1XL1c/s1600/karl+blossfeldt+botanticals.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Karl Blossfeldt Botanicals via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIDhsoXvra5pS1BzaeWf9yYADCogQTuhbBhiyZ09XuUio8Q4v8JSqnqvtguHoxaGQoX-Wzei6bKfyX-2VHDhq7ZnCS-h5P09wxTwZk6nujIG062ZiSZOyYfrkGK3e3MkK0WCSIA1XL1c/s1600/karl+blossfeldt+botanticals.png" title="Karl Blossfeldt Botanicals via Meet Me in Philadelphia" /></a></div>
In honor of the early spring weather I've enjoyed this week, it seems completely appropriate to dedicate a post to today's topic: the well-before-their-time botanical photographs of German artist Karl Blossfeldt.<br />
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A love of nature and the inherent artistry of plant life is evident in the work of photographer and artist Karl Blossfeldt (1865 - 1932), despite his lack of formal photography training. To capture his subject at a larger scale, Blossfeldt crafted a homemade camera that was able to magnify the delicate details of plants up to thirty times. The complete collection of Blossfeldt's photos were published as <u><i>Urformen der Kunst</i></u> (<u>Art Forms in Nature</u>) in 1928 and, nearly a century later, the black and white images still look fresh, invite reflection and inspire future artists.<br />
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What's more spectacular than the curve of the yet-unfurled maidenhair fern or the buds of a forsythia?<br />
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One of the most lovely examples of framed Karl Blossfeldt botancials in situ come from <a href="http://www.laurenliess.com/pure-style-home/our-bedroom-gallery-wall"><span style="color: blue;">Lauren Liess</span></a>, whose recently-shared master bedroom revealed a curated gallery wall dotted with framed Blossfeldt photography.<br />
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Isn't Lauren's an example of a perfectly-executed collection of art? I sure think so.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHfBarlol1ulZvRtB_2zcF3oPUgTvqsIBh7NVErBIGmdzP0I7eiCKdTu_FtjlsXLh72uQ5OZVgatOvVEsHB6hLzfpUqGG70DkR0-2D5PIw24VM8NUU4DmLugJWlLnWeXcgu_t9jvIzI8/s1600/lauren+liess+bedroom+gallery+wall+via+Pure+Style+Home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHfBarlol1ulZvRtB_2zcF3oPUgTvqsIBh7NVErBIGmdzP0I7eiCKdTu_FtjlsXLh72uQ5OZVgatOvVEsHB6hLzfpUqGG70DkR0-2D5PIw24VM8NUU4DmLugJWlLnWeXcgu_t9jvIzI8/s1600/lauren+liess+bedroom+gallery+wall+via+Pure+Style+Home.jpg" height="640" width="448" /></a></div>
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(via <a href="http://www.laurenliess.com/pure-style-home/our-bedroom-gallery-wall"><span style="color: blue;">Lauren Liess / Pure Style Home</span></a>)</div>
More collections, or at least a combination of two to four Blossfeldt botanical images, can be found on the stylish walls of others across the internet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2maeDPOZS-2cDTvUab1QOw6bSQ0hvrNBGSFpIzFOLHWN8ZjTPPn2M1yhYboUF-3nFj9w2D2jhyiI4oYhIYh9Tx1c9od4QRZKyoZLoPGVXCm_Kc_kQkaSgs0hIbCWQMqMp_jWc-FBpvg/s1600/jordan+ferney+apartment+via+design+sponge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2maeDPOZS-2cDTvUab1QOw6bSQ0hvrNBGSFpIzFOLHWN8ZjTPPn2M1yhYboUF-3nFj9w2D2jhyiI4oYhIYh9Tx1c9od4QRZKyoZLoPGVXCm_Kc_kQkaSgs0hIbCWQMqMp_jWc-FBpvg/s1600/jordan+ferney+apartment+via+design+sponge.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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(via <a href="http://www.designsponge.com/2011/06/sneak-peek-paul-jordan-ferney.html"><span style="color: blue;">Design*Sponge</span></a>)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRhxmP-Re6Z80KPwkV65QLDUmWjoLCfEHpDfXJ9fPcqarzrDUaRIo4fbtarL5i5Trzz2bo7zhflbXhPsJmopm5UEg1Jlm3HeP8YHBxQFqv8DyLJsLPAiPxwHNqws2aDfN2C7xF9TWrJ0/s1600/karl+blossfeldt+via+bonny+neiman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRhxmP-Re6Z80KPwkV65QLDUmWjoLCfEHpDfXJ9fPcqarzrDUaRIo4fbtarL5i5Trzz2bo7zhflbXhPsJmopm5UEg1Jlm3HeP8YHBxQFqv8DyLJsLPAiPxwHNqws2aDfN2C7xF9TWrJ0/s1600/karl+blossfeldt+via+bonny+neiman.jpg" height="434" width="640" /></a></div>
(via <a href="http://bonny-neiman.blogspot.com/2014/03/website-updated-and-timeless-blossfeldt.html"><span style="color: blue;">Bonny Neiman</span></a>)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7kBSLdZ8gs-05NTkE1zKKZJYZRpnhouEkZMWmoolRYINpOyS_znOJAg5GegHeqHyV9ZrttRe2NeVUYOaDu-oByv6zkWekDu_j8VPwmI90WHgXk65mfz4qUcDIRsSXgrJZwXaMFsELw0/s1600/karl+blossfeldt+botanicals+via+Michael+Lassell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7kBSLdZ8gs-05NTkE1zKKZJYZRpnhouEkZMWmoolRYINpOyS_znOJAg5GegHeqHyV9ZrttRe2NeVUYOaDu-oByv6zkWekDu_j8VPwmI90WHgXk65mfz4qUcDIRsSXgrJZwXaMFsELw0/s1600/karl+blossfeldt+botanicals+via+Michael+Lassell.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
(via <a href="http://michaellassell.blogspot.com/2010_03_01_archive.html"><span style="color: blue;">I on Design</span></a>)</div>
If this photography resonates with you as much as it has with me, you can explore all of Karl Blossfeldt's photography in the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Karl-Blossfeldt-Complete-Published-Work/dp/3836550725/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1397180058&sr=1-1&keywords=karl+blossfeldt"><span style="color: blue;">Karl Blossfeldt: The Complete Published Work</span></a> by Hans Christian Adam. I certainly plan to order a copy for myself!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-PVfcVCADIw4wdtzXakfxCbS_A7L16ct9Vp1jS91d238xCbaHszqzo_p20ebPCnMXh8cMB5GKKfJS_blDmONkQybPh2kKwkqolr3uwcM6mZwD9FuTdqzJA53WwL75aMNwjjR56ibB10/s1600/karl+blossfeldt.+the+complete+published+work.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-PVfcVCADIw4wdtzXakfxCbS_A7L16ct9Vp1jS91d238xCbaHszqzo_p20ebPCnMXh8cMB5GKKfJS_blDmONkQybPh2kKwkqolr3uwcM6mZwD9FuTdqzJA53WwL75aMNwjjR56ibB10/s1600/karl+blossfeldt.+the+complete+published+work.jpg.jpg" height="640" width="476" /></a></div>
(via <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Karl-Blossfeldt-Complete-Published-Work/dp/3836550725/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1397180058&sr=1-1&keywords=karl+blossfeldt"><span style="color: blue;">Amazon</span></a>)<br />
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Do you own any prints of Karl Blossfeldt's work? </div>
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Do you love it as much as I do?</div>
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Are you planning to pick up a copy of Blossfeldt's book?</div>
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Hope you, my sweet readers, have a wonderful weekend!</div>
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345558627679373156noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695752413125708607.post-38901040227666104972014-04-09T08:00:00.000-04:002014-04-09T08:00:09.529-04:00Peeks into Our Finished Basement Changes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVKjlxDm1WCnZbHWEwJqJkYMPMLcxg9KWYy1sgInQlGVrcu71U-TAr6xOn_aoSkypjuHXTdKM8g4f6fAeJYcl5FSZJlpr1DRn7dpFylcu6Z1ICSO7KcIUKi2KK9F0FpF_u3o485dYfkA/s1600/sofa+in+basement.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="sofa in basement via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVKjlxDm1WCnZbHWEwJqJkYMPMLcxg9KWYy1sgInQlGVrcu71U-TAr6xOn_aoSkypjuHXTdKM8g4f6fAeJYcl5FSZJlpr1DRn7dpFylcu6Z1ICSO7KcIUKi2KK9F0FpF_u3o485dYfkA/s1600/sofa+in+basement.png" height="640" title="sofa in basement via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="427" /></a></div>
Remember all the way back in January, when spring sunshine seemed like a million years away, when I shared <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2014/01/anna-spiro-inspired-tasseled-curtain.html"><span style="color: blue;">my DIY tasseled curtain project</span></a>? At the time, I planned to share a sneak peek of the changes we'd started to make to our finished basement...but the sub-zero temperatures kept me from the space entirely.<br />
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Now that the weather's more cooperative, I snapped a few pics of the basement that I wanted to finally share!<br />
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If most of the furniture down here looks familiar that's because it is! The sofa, chair and ottoman, Saarinen table and tv stand all previously lived in <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/p/my-home.html"><span style="color: blue;">the living room & bedroom of our former apartment</span></a>, while the <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2011/04/paper-mache-side-tablefor-less-part-2.html"><span style="color: blue;">DIY papier mache side tables</span></a> lived in <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/p/my-home.html"><span style="color: blue;">the den area of our former apartment</span></a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJjReFmQB3zmBFoyNTsYasubBix_F8L9-nE70cRVQykyIj0Ga1Q8URcQS6Md5ddzGJ5WD0OHcy0Il8SopS13kZGedXxu4kYPZ-COH4wchyphenhyphenJvIprG1ieGRrc2-WiqnZ80fUh65WK6d9rNk/s1600/living+room+set-up+in+basement.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="living room set-up in basement via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJjReFmQB3zmBFoyNTsYasubBix_F8L9-nE70cRVQykyIj0Ga1Q8URcQS6Md5ddzGJ5WD0OHcy0Il8SopS13kZGedXxu4kYPZ-COH4wchyphenhyphenJvIprG1ieGRrc2-WiqnZ80fUh65WK6d9rNk/s1600/living+room+set-up+in+basement.png" height="426" title="living room set-up in basement via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="640" /></a></div>
Our style has evolved in the main living areas of our house, but we loved our older pieces too much to get rid of them. It works perfectly that our finished basement proved to be the perfect casual space for this furniture.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqpaK6e95nCGScNCbVcySMUA2Z6hXv5dxTQ16bbINwfZBZkDKsc7BiZxixlXEOpaMzt2q16ImwHSW9-gRNhqqAfKa7PKijKA2b88toymxbWRZSCPO2bVP__gvI2KUC2JQpKG4f3JZTdqU/s1600/chair+and+ottoman+in+basement.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="chair and ottoman in basement via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqpaK6e95nCGScNCbVcySMUA2Z6hXv5dxTQ16bbINwfZBZkDKsc7BiZxixlXEOpaMzt2q16ImwHSW9-gRNhqqAfKa7PKijKA2b88toymxbWRZSCPO2bVP__gvI2KUC2JQpKG4f3JZTdqU/s1600/chair+and+ottoman+in+basement.png" height="640" title="chair and ottoman in basement via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="426" /></a></div>
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We intend to use this seating area as a place for Adam to enjoy his decades-worth of video games. His various games and game consoles will live down here (efficiently hidden), giving him his own "man cave" of sorts...though <i>we'd never call it that</i>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibetSbmutr03J0OHr59KL66eiDyHXzeHat5UKCgw-6S6qFne3Z9slFRRIG1tYDwB8zY6wD91NVl8XDbWAD7Mrpm5zUChdNJjqbqS1VoPJiwwNtjutKNr-3c3Tle7-l0tmUVOg_2vEemAU/s1600/living+room+set-up+in+basement_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="living room set-up in basement via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibetSbmutr03J0OHr59KL66eiDyHXzeHat5UKCgw-6S6qFne3Z9slFRRIG1tYDwB8zY6wD91NVl8XDbWAD7Mrpm5zUChdNJjqbqS1VoPJiwwNtjutKNr-3c3Tle7-l0tmUVOg_2vEemAU/s1600/living+room+set-up+in+basement_2.png" height="434" title="living room set-up in basement via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="640" /></a></div>
Our MGBW sofa, which we love to death and couldn't bear to part with, partitions what would otherwise be a large open space here in the basement. Setting up the furniture the way we have gives definition and purpose to this corner.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUJjOdIEaf-Ia8jpV_LfNmqLT6HsoiIj5twjEPPxSzUXqIwCRgEAYecvpPU_QN1C9cwpLz8EgViCLs-S6NXVY2MTDJ3d2FSzgNkIQAVgn5sNH7t-p0RetsbggwGzOXs6yrvTGgsDZK0M/s1600/eames+rocker+&+blanket+basket.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUJjOdIEaf-Ia8jpV_LfNmqLT6HsoiIj5twjEPPxSzUXqIwCRgEAYecvpPU_QN1C9cwpLz8EgViCLs-S6NXVY2MTDJ3d2FSzgNkIQAVgn5sNH7t-p0RetsbggwGzOXs6yrvTGgsDZK0M/s1600/eames+rocker+&+blanket+basket.png" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRLP86zUHcGbVcNI7c5Yl4cC0pSpEs8QKTuIvqcqjx5D2C1yRYGyQsIeIxGjJhzgcjt8stEdCIpQb-krGu6knQZJeQ3sP8uNrvuUZeHm0f039MWBkoBMj5V7lddr4YazamA2eGHXNlp0/s1600/sofa+in+basement.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRLP86zUHcGbVcNI7c5Yl4cC0pSpEs8QKTuIvqcqjx5D2C1yRYGyQsIeIxGjJhzgcjt8stEdCIpQb-krGu6knQZJeQ3sP8uNrvuUZeHm0f039MWBkoBMj5V7lddr4YazamA2eGHXNlp0/s1600/sofa+in+basement.png" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
And since most of the decorating decisions in our house are about my whims and wishes, I wanted to make sure Adam had a space for his "things".<br />
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Aside from video games, Adam loves records. He has been carefully building his vinyl collection over the last year. I wanted to honor that interest, so together we made a little area for his record player and a wall display for some of his favorite albums (most of which aren't shown...there are many more!).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkByzIi3JvEczm_Mq3JF0HCS2lPgvT6-n4zdpa_-GYEbVdP39eM38MdWWgT5lcQy3xcafTK_sFQoWu67ELlk-E0K_2zkcFWSeDln8q59BNJEnzCe8j8IAtP47d-EdH2LZfPrY2PP0ysg/s1600/record+wall+display.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkByzIi3JvEczm_Mq3JF0HCS2lPgvT6-n4zdpa_-GYEbVdP39eM38MdWWgT5lcQy3xcafTK_sFQoWu67ELlk-E0K_2zkcFWSeDln8q59BNJEnzCe8j8IAtP47d-EdH2LZfPrY2PP0ysg/s1600/record+wall+display.png" height="494" width="640" /></a></div>
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(all via Meet Me in Philadelphia)</div>
Two of the <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50152595/"><span style="color: blue;">45" Ribba picture ledges from Ikea</span></a> </span>work beautifully for showing off a rotating collection of album artwork above the record player and speakers.<br />
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There you have it, a long-overdue sneak peek of our finished basement changes. When I say sneak peek, I mean exactly that; in fact, there are a few more areas we've begun to furnish and customize for the way we want to live in this space.<br />
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Be on the look out for more updates soon!</div>
Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345558627679373156noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695752413125708607.post-72387236440174137322014-04-07T08:00:00.000-04:002014-04-07T08:00:00.676-04:00Replacing Ugly Outlets {For Highly Particular Homeowners}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3JGegRABzu7UK_q1ZldNDdW6rN91IM6PvWzx-O8JCGdqqLupjoscF8YTm6qu4IqAc-yBFpYOWWyyzp0SG2sXARptvZtndTwfgCuXEvszbC_5Q6V0haIIY4kjRk-58EqD9gwDhGzmXPU/s1600/craft+room+outlets_after.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="outlet cover replacement via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3JGegRABzu7UK_q1ZldNDdW6rN91IM6PvWzx-O8JCGdqqLupjoscF8YTm6qu4IqAc-yBFpYOWWyyzp0SG2sXARptvZtndTwfgCuXEvszbC_5Q6V0haIIY4kjRk-58EqD9gwDhGzmXPU/s1600/craft+room+outlets_after.png" height="640" title="outlet cover replacement via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="640" /></a></div>
I'm a really particular person. If I was a parent, I'd be one of the "choosy moms" that those peanut butter commercials love to talk about. One of the things I'm super particular about are the electrical outlets in our house.<br />
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I especially hate the old round, bisque-colored ones that are throughout each room. But just this week, I made it my mission to improve the appearance of the outlets on one floor of our house (the finished basement).<br />
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<a name='more'></a>At Home Depot, I came across a life changing, money saving solution to my I-hate-my-electrical-outlets obsession. In the electrical aisle, I found <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/p/Hubbell-TayMac-1-Gang-Decorator-Wall-Plate-White-2500W-20/100156927"><span style="color: blue;">the duplex outlet cover from Taymac</span></a>, which completely covers existing outlets!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAa5HJzsInRh5g4QDyVvZ41GiR2z0zICCG1yJvdfiTz1STKyQ_0-jfJoYm3c3GWCvcCERsXxgNC-wHHFCrE2AbHnkKoJ0vVTvVVGXbFGylr6R9Z9Jh2qSiiYTs_rSXEpQkEXER8_kNrPY/s1600/masque+outlet+cover_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="outlet cover replacement via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAa5HJzsInRh5g4QDyVvZ41GiR2z0zICCG1yJvdfiTz1STKyQ_0-jfJoYm3c3GWCvcCERsXxgNC-wHHFCrE2AbHnkKoJ0vVTvVVGXbFGylr6R9Z9Jh2qSiiYTs_rSXEpQkEXER8_kNrPY/s1600/masque+outlet+cover_1.jpg" height="640" title="outlet cover replacement via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="478" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5VuWIDHXs4mAF9pD1PbAXM-Wd634GauVjJLCKIMvjLYsBLd6vLV13Cu6UE4kARK4ha35TOUoJ2sM9GpKoGEo-q5iIydQ9T62zbE3xWYXm0xKWvpwhznb74ZYFEtvXLeqMaywIAtonrw/s1600/masque+outlet+cover_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="outlet cover replacement via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5VuWIDHXs4mAF9pD1PbAXM-Wd634GauVjJLCKIMvjLYsBLd6vLV13Cu6UE4kARK4ha35TOUoJ2sM9GpKoGEo-q5iIydQ9T62zbE3xWYXm0xKWvpwhznb74ZYFEtvXLeqMaywIAtonrw/s1600/masque+outlet+cover_2.jpg" height="640" title="outlet cover replacement via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="478" /></a></div>
I needed 13 for the basement, so it's a good thing they are only $2.25 a piece! It covers the entire outlet in one solid piece and each cover is easy to install.<br />
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Here's one of the outlets before:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRVNrmhyphenhyphenhEm6pk4kkxBNBOuVaBD2i1XxYRsWo3RXwhuvqyahmLG8e5rSBrivoZXB6utxvoa75s_OIceetsZz60jn249HyybMaq8UQLq0mh5HUxSM9mdVhaOpTqRiD70qj4j8_tor-U74/s1600/wall+outlet+before+replacing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="outlet cover replacement via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRVNrmhyphenhyphenhEm6pk4kkxBNBOuVaBD2i1XxYRsWo3RXwhuvqyahmLG8e5rSBrivoZXB6utxvoa75s_OIceetsZz60jn249HyybMaq8UQLq0mh5HUxSM9mdVhaOpTqRiD70qj4j8_tor-U74/s1600/wall+outlet+before+replacing.jpg" height="426" title="outlet cover replacement via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="640" /></a></div>
Step #1: remove the original faceplate with a screwdriver.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6B9Aqoa1x4DC7jlluxAf6lMZAXxPkVT9ybk7Ny4guv2pn6aqrmuFWAIl8EJxT0_HIbBEd-3XBMSa67jfl6ADGZTGjE54RrZDrVew5g6TsZbYf5uC7SvlVpGg6hyphenhyphenWGNcVYuApHNI_NNY/s1600/replacing+outlet+cover_step+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="outlet cover replacement via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6B9Aqoa1x4DC7jlluxAf6lMZAXxPkVT9ybk7Ny4guv2pn6aqrmuFWAIl8EJxT0_HIbBEd-3XBMSa67jfl6ADGZTGjE54RrZDrVew5g6TsZbYf5uC7SvlVpGg6hyphenhyphenWGNcVYuApHNI_NNY/s1600/replacing+outlet+cover_step+1.jpg" height="640" title="outlet cover replacement via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="426" /></a></div>
Step #2: attach the new faceplate with your screwdriver.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6pnF0K2d4kM7DKgWJz4cBsa-FAbs6cZSgm2ybIHt6HBFu2bWk9PSubCB-XQQFl9VeY2m2OX-sNdRDHQRATFFcr6YRTJb6tmPUrugzFhYN00wYJKqTY6X8tkbPhHw5Q-EOa1N_436Nmk/s1600/replacing+outlet+cover_step+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="outlet cover replacement via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6pnF0K2d4kM7DKgWJz4cBsa-FAbs6cZSgm2ybIHt6HBFu2bWk9PSubCB-XQQFl9VeY2m2OX-sNdRDHQRATFFcr6YRTJb6tmPUrugzFhYN00wYJKqTY6X8tkbPhHw5Q-EOa1N_436Nmk/s1600/replacing+outlet+cover_step+2.jpg" height="640" title="outlet cover replacement via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="410" /></a></div>
Step #3: sit back and enjoy your beautiful new electrical outlet cover (and repeat 12 more times, in my case)!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ONAS02GwOzCOcp-0DeYM8OSLPEFdJ_o2J1BmsNFQVlVky7K3Bh3cpzxByuMPSOfrZNSUm_qi6bwvALolRy_ONkQrVQOowJJrL31A2YrkSWSAD0QFBMVLwPYYK3efhJLeQ6jm0HNT9V8/s1600/replacing+outlet+cover_step+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="outlet cover replacement via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ONAS02GwOzCOcp-0DeYM8OSLPEFdJ_o2J1BmsNFQVlVky7K3Bh3cpzxByuMPSOfrZNSUm_qi6bwvALolRy_ONkQrVQOowJJrL31A2YrkSWSAD0QFBMVLwPYYK3efhJLeQ6jm0HNT9V8/s1600/replacing+outlet+cover_step+3.jpg" height="426" title="outlet cover replacement via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="640" /></a></div>
A view up close:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEplHmeeAidDAq0-zXS1vrXh0WZXa2WzNMfQqoShldW_L_r3zYCPPub0LluNyJtOFvYnweBzrUrSohDZjHJIGfTtcJaRrm50oXoYvExnBpZLePyzE2jqFkg0jX3swzUjEkJMz1FG0zpoU/s1600/replacement+outlet+cover+up+close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="outlet cover replacement via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEplHmeeAidDAq0-zXS1vrXh0WZXa2WzNMfQqoShldW_L_r3zYCPPub0LluNyJtOFvYnweBzrUrSohDZjHJIGfTtcJaRrm50oXoYvExnBpZLePyzE2jqFkg0jX3swzUjEkJMz1FG0zpoU/s1600/replacement+outlet+cover+up+close.jpg" height="640" title="outlet cover replacement via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="426" /></a></div>
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In a few minutes, I was able to replace all 13 outlets. Now they recede rather than call attention to themselves...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmDSksJI_hTl_RU2W9Op6kASVBDLKO8mrtrzNCM9s-WfDkCtHhLRCxT2QZJwS-P9lmr_5Cq9LVSfeTayI9ODtVZDwEagO5iLHh6ydfTiN0C_IBT7mMCPIhCm-RQ4m-uc2LjXcYbXILOM/s1600/craft+room+outlets_after.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="outlet cover replacement via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmDSksJI_hTl_RU2W9Op6kASVBDLKO8mrtrzNCM9s-WfDkCtHhLRCxT2QZJwS-P9lmr_5Cq9LVSfeTayI9ODtVZDwEagO5iLHh6ydfTiN0C_IBT7mMCPIhCm-RQ4m-uc2LjXcYbXILOM/s1600/craft+room+outlets_after.png" height="640" title="outlet cover replacement via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="640" /></a></div>
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(all via Meet Me in Philadelphia)</div>
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...and a highly particular homeowner like me can rest easily...until I find another thing to obsess over.<br />
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Have you ever seen these outlet covers before?<br />
Please tell me I'm not alone in being super picky about elements in my house--what about you?</div>
Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345558627679373156noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695752413125708607.post-67163280860579688002014-04-04T08:00:00.000-04:002014-04-04T11:39:13.559-04:00Good Things Happen to Those Who Wait<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHC2q7kUWE3roxK_snc0ERTUfa8qMmOO3SR7WCapdlB41OX2Gw0FEeuoKN58-rM-f3i5QJgbJqfZbfGr5nf35y9zeaqcUO5tM5oHGmhGmAb4Rod3Yw-xjScSoUfEjB2v-M1jZOYWMeIRE/s1600/nine-to-five-movie-title.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHC2q7kUWE3roxK_snc0ERTUfa8qMmOO3SR7WCapdlB41OX2Gw0FEeuoKN58-rM-f3i5QJgbJqfZbfGr5nf35y9zeaqcUO5tM5oHGmhGmAb4Rod3Yw-xjScSoUfEjB2v-M1jZOYWMeIRE/s1600/nine-to-five-movie-title.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
The day has finally come when I have some positive news to share about my job search: I have one!<br />
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I have so many feelings bubbling up inside me in light of these recent developments, but what's really worth sharing is this: over <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2011/11/tgif-111411-edition.html"><span style="color: blue;">the past two years of on-and-off unemployment</span></a>, I have learned a tremendous amount about myself. <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2012/08/unemployed-again.html"><span style="color: blue;">Unemployment has tested my mettle</span></a> like no other circumstance could.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurbN-NN43hSqR94tbJlNiRFzFBY6h4Zc1L-DyCTWGQ4IjSHcyvj96QIgM7Iwr2G1BLgXGsAtQs7cTW5ff4ZNrcY7a1B3oIgcrbgGGI1GAxlSVAxKN8kKlcbrYikxGKOawylH2oWtJnCw/s1600/baby-boom-diane-keaton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurbN-NN43hSqR94tbJlNiRFzFBY6h4Zc1L-DyCTWGQ4IjSHcyvj96QIgM7Iwr2G1BLgXGsAtQs7cTW5ff4ZNrcY7a1B3oIgcrbgGGI1GAxlSVAxKN8kKlcbrYikxGKOawylH2oWtJnCw/s1600/baby-boom-diane-keaton.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
When kind and concerned friends and family suggested I look into a career in design or short-term solutions like admin jobs, I did my best to thank them for their advice while trying to hold fast to my intended career: education, specifically early-childhood education and, even more specifically, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_Start_Program"><span style="color: blue;">Head Start</span></a>.<br />
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I applied to countless jobs, interviewed many times and revised my resume more than a person should admit; all the while the results remained the same--no job. I lamented my unemployment. I reexamined every career decision I had made. I declared that I would never be given a second chance to prove my skills and my commitment to quality early childhood education for children living in poverty. I cried.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKNMGWB8fuhxZgA03BnLpqcPzdsLg_6moV9SkGy6ZdssIxGULkGJpEiVOtPa7dVs69uYBGfH6di17rxMezRHOXaDoydDXGiJEAiII8liLKDuamnKx-rKE2u828bgEa2TGASRAuynX5Ieg/s1600/n-MURPHY-BROWN-large570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKNMGWB8fuhxZgA03BnLpqcPzdsLg_6moV9SkGy6ZdssIxGULkGJpEiVOtPa7dVs69uYBGfH6di17rxMezRHOXaDoydDXGiJEAiII8liLKDuamnKx-rKE2u828bgEa2TGASRAuynX5Ieg/s1600/n-MURPHY-BROWN-large570.jpg" height="266" width="640" /></a></div>
But through all of this, all two-plus years of this deeply traumatic experience, I've been the beneficiary of unwavering love, unending support and unceasing encouragement from those closest to me, especially from my husband. Without Adam, there were times when I could have drifted off into <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2012/10/through-waves.html"><span style="color: blue;">a sea of sadness</span></a>; with him, I always found the shore.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9DJZXyMmbLeTGZYpWUzMWsmBFEhlPlvtPhrcgMRXKRn63qs7AQXiy3t0Tm8SqRB51niwIIz0YJWtqyvnySsnTp93RHJQaUR5EWOzZcMAy7DbCO8GZYQEsYO7tidkiWwf2vGVoyW4zqk/s1600/working-girl-1988-01-g1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9DJZXyMmbLeTGZYpWUzMWsmBFEhlPlvtPhrcgMRXKRn63qs7AQXiy3t0Tm8SqRB51niwIIz0YJWtqyvnySsnTp93RHJQaUR5EWOzZcMAy7DbCO8GZYQEsYO7tidkiWwf2vGVoyW4zqk/s1600/working-girl-1988-01-g1.jpg" height="640" width="428" /></a></div>
But the time has come to finally look ahead to the prospect of new opportunities, new colleagues and new intellectual challenges. I think I'm ready to get back in the game. I've been on the sidelines long enough.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinKW0dsFv0PEHGUOvEQa_KnhBYgrAlC_zdMETLqNWINpL5WcoShx67AJcMbidY2Ee8ZVqlPIuewYPRNcp2jgsP93JIi2mYVJcbE_RanECo69Gpg9EYK_6uvYvljzKjrP-LsVkYwmPz3lM/s1600/designing+women.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinKW0dsFv0PEHGUOvEQa_KnhBYgrAlC_zdMETLqNWINpL5WcoShx67AJcMbidY2Ee8ZVqlPIuewYPRNcp2jgsP93JIi2mYVJcbE_RanECo69Gpg9EYK_6uvYvljzKjrP-LsVkYwmPz3lM/s1600/designing+women.jpg" height="640" width="612" /></a></div>
I'm a working woman again (actually, I start on Monday). And for the first time in a long time, the job will incorporate a both sides of me--education <i>and</i> design. I'd like to refrain from too much detail (for the sake of my own privacy) but my future colleagues have read my blog and have acknowledged it as a special skill set. How great is that?<br />
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What does this mean for the blog, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/meetmeinphiladelphia"><span style="color: blue;">my Etsy shop</span></a>, home projects and the like, you ask?<br />
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I plan to keep it all up. I'll probably post about 3 times per week and will keep up with <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/meetmeinphiladelphia"><span style="color: blue;">my Etsy shop</span></a> just as before. It has been an endeavor that's given me purpose, income and self-efficacy when I had none.<br />
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All that said, I am forever changed by my unemployment experience. I haven't fully processed the full effect extended joblessness has had on me, but I know this: good things happen to those who wait and to those who work hard to realize their dreams.<br />
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Wishing you all a very happy weekend! Thank you for your support, thoughts and prayers over the last two years--they've certainly had a hand in my changing circumstance.</div>
Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345558627679373156noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695752413125708607.post-1680825629755481922014-04-02T11:00:00.000-04:002014-04-02T18:25:16.289-04:00My New--but Antique--Rug<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MwUVcttJzbfQVC1QHRM394k6HiVoa2SHguBw03Q6gfFwUUvuiEGcyAm-lwVXnkVdJhom8OTabtW-boKdweYI2xELmM709YienUiOGYrqYB4lhzDeqhj02IpbQbxiR2tXaOtAXReni9M/s1600/antique+rug_1_meet+me+in+philadephia.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Antique rug in dark blue den via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MwUVcttJzbfQVC1QHRM394k6HiVoa2SHguBw03Q6gfFwUUvuiEGcyAm-lwVXnkVdJhom8OTabtW-boKdweYI2xELmM709YienUiOGYrqYB4lhzDeqhj02IpbQbxiR2tXaOtAXReni9M/s1600/antique+rug_1_meet+me+in+philadephia.png" height="640" title="Antique rug in dark blue den via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="427" /></a></div>
I'm off to a late start this morning--potentially good things are a-brewin'--but I had to make time to share my recent purchase: a beautiful and well-worn antique rug now living in the den.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>No room is really ever done as far as I'm concerned. Spaces, like the people that occupy them, are dynamic and that's just the case with our den, which <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2013/09/my-den-big-reveal.html"><span style="color: blue;">we ostensibly finished last fall</span></a>. There have been a few minor tweaks (as it is our primary hang-out), like a new TV and sound bar, a soon-to-be-recovered footstool for the reupholstered parlor chair, and (now) this antique rug.<br />
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On Monday afternoon, I stopped into one of my favorite Main Line thrift shops and walked out with this rug. It's not perfect. There is wear and some tattering that suggest its age, but I kind of love that. This piece feels right at home among the other elements in the room.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1GwE58w60t6n8Z1i092VSktpHl7mgwDblocXTbu17y_Ny2oCe-EvvY37LdLn6H84hRGTSDDSdfW_KDlC4EJs2B5TzkEkKgED1FD6UakuvX9kw-L8mmSniKDLzT6hugaSSDhL3FsTp4fY/s1600/antique+rug_4_meet+me+in+philadelphia.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Antique rug in dark blue den via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1GwE58w60t6n8Z1i092VSktpHl7mgwDblocXTbu17y_Ny2oCe-EvvY37LdLn6H84hRGTSDDSdfW_KDlC4EJs2B5TzkEkKgED1FD6UakuvX9kw-L8mmSniKDLzT6hugaSSDhL3FsTp4fY/s1600/antique+rug_4_meet+me+in+philadelphia.png" height="640" title="Antique rug in dark blue den via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="427" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbhT3P3SGSdfL-4Q9BjHy2pR5LQbxPT2Vkw63B3s16dcyXe-FcbY5Fz9LnkQT05A9sxm8DeVF4S_kXc0NBFx5e4Je6LcLgMbT_F9SoohJ15zyCq7wq7VvmD7d5HNG0WL4-7pkR5OBC1Q/s1600/antique+rug_3_meet+me+in+philadelphia.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Antique rug in dark blue den via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbhT3P3SGSdfL-4Q9BjHy2pR5LQbxPT2Vkw63B3s16dcyXe-FcbY5Fz9LnkQT05A9sxm8DeVF4S_kXc0NBFx5e4Je6LcLgMbT_F9SoohJ15zyCq7wq7VvmD7d5HNG0WL4-7pkR5OBC1Q/s1600/antique+rug_3_meet+me+in+philadelphia.png" height="640" title="Antique rug in dark blue den via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdz0oKfssdRLbv0tiWPhyphenhyphenXRFlDcO-7Gb6PH82jnQv7Wnufa2Jb2Xh5lJqlPGB3sCdOIruMf-omyhnytOHLw9qlrZT0dch0tdfb2Dl47dkEhTG_2rgY4qB8PDiT95up-GLM-1KlxI4d9A/s1600/antique+rug_2_meet+me+in+philadelphia.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Antique rug in dark blue den via Meet Me in Philadelphia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdz0oKfssdRLbv0tiWPhyphenhyphenXRFlDcO-7Gb6PH82jnQv7Wnufa2Jb2Xh5lJqlPGB3sCdOIruMf-omyhnytOHLw9qlrZT0dch0tdfb2Dl47dkEhTG_2rgY4qB8PDiT95up-GLM-1KlxI4d9A/s1600/antique+rug_2_meet+me+in+philadelphia.png" height="640" title="Antique rug in dark blue den via Meet Me in Philadelphia" width="426" /></a></div>
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(all via Meet Me in Philadelphia)</div>
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Its colors--coral, navy, cream and a touch of green--were already present in the room, so this purchase felt like a no-brainer. Maybe this rug and this den were just meant to be.</div>
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345558627679373156noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695752413125708607.post-86552662799304386332014-03-31T08:00:00.000-04:002014-03-31T09:30:20.124-04:00Spring Has Sprung in My Etsy Shop!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhzwiCRTC1RKjkIUmf1mAukAaf4117ngeRJj49yIr79DLMxNWvcnaujlk-F7p909wYy9upJVaSBvDzYwv71kLDGvslkAZykG3rmgplh-9KUa1M-yoWnnN-y1o4OScrjlycgbjtzZP4mM/s1600/spring+has+sprung+in+my+shop_april+2014_1.png.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Meet Me in Philadelphia Shop on Etsy meetmeinphiladelphia.etsy.com" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhzwiCRTC1RKjkIUmf1mAukAaf4117ngeRJj49yIr79DLMxNWvcnaujlk-F7p909wYy9upJVaSBvDzYwv71kLDGvslkAZykG3rmgplh-9KUa1M-yoWnnN-y1o4OScrjlycgbjtzZP4mM/s1600/spring+has+sprung+in+my+shop_april+2014_1.png.png" height="568" title="Meet Me in Philadelphia Shop on Etsy meetmeinphiladelphia.etsy.com" width="640" /></a></div>
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(<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/183784504/handmade-blue-khaki-ikat-print-pillow?ref=shop_home_active_10"><span style="color: blue;">ikat pillow</span></a> / <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/182692633/vintage-ivory-double-leaf-bowl-dish?ref=shop_home_active_4"><span style="color: blue;">double leaf serving dish</span></a> / <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/182879624/vintage-bejeweled-brass-umbrella-stand?ref=shop_home_active_2"><span style="color: blue;">bejeweled brass wastebasket</span></a>)</div>
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There's something about a change in season--especially when the days grow from short to long and the temperatures shift from cold to warm--that signals a time to make some change.</div>
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After all, we've been buttoned up in our homes for months now and are ready to see an update to our all-too-familiar surroundings, am I right?</div>
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Well, the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/meetmeinphiladelphia"><span style="color: blue;">Meet Me in Philadelphia Etsy Shop</span></a> is stocked with so many new items, just in time for a spring spruce up!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuTTbn-H6JLK-MFHvkNBiHPUk2DSlG00FghxL2TzHiGKdESsry-4hjewMoiYxnLj5RzVYaXe5XTrdYVKMOywAFzk2CnDUFxnaWq2ta1CSEzkGL2rKqYGmGa8_Yp6nLz2q9jCnkfe5YVXc/s1600/spring+has+sprung_etsy+shop_1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Meet Me in Philadelphia Shop on Etsy meetmeinphiladelphia.etsy.com" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuTTbn-H6JLK-MFHvkNBiHPUk2DSlG00FghxL2TzHiGKdESsry-4hjewMoiYxnLj5RzVYaXe5XTrdYVKMOywAFzk2CnDUFxnaWq2ta1CSEzkGL2rKqYGmGa8_Yp6nLz2q9jCnkfe5YVXc/s1600/spring+has+sprung_etsy+shop_1.PNG" height="640" title="Meet Me in Philadelphia Shop on Etsy meetmeinphiladelphia.etsy.com" width="480" /></a></div>
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(<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/182897268/vintage-red-gingham-picnic-cloth-napkins?ref=shop_home_active_23"><span style="color: blue;">gingham napkins</span></a> / <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/183243360/handmade-vintage-spring-floral-print?ref=shop_home_active_19"><span style="color: blue;">handmade floral cocktail napkins</span></a> / <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/183965509/vintage-green-glass-footed-candy-dish?ref=shop_home_active_5"><span style="color: blue;">green candy dish</span></a> / <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/183965893/vintage-hand-painted-clover-basketweave?ref=shop_home_active_2"><span style="color: blue;">clover vase</span></a> / <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/183944916/handmade-vintage-spring-floral-print?ref=shop_home_active_6"><span style="color: blue;">handmade floral pillow cover</span></a>)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cHTq0Mq3uwwAQomg7v8G8O73kRRT5ISArn4Zk8JwWfpHdFU_UJ4U9mj95L4PNXQpqcrKvHegVceLY5KbEnPyI-5Dt_wXB4btYoUoAnStxqWKSpxlfIzSfKfsXQFqIVvQjqWAhGs5HNI/s1600/spring+has+sprung_etsy+shop_2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Meet Me in Philadelphia Shop on Etsy meetmeinphiladelphia.etsy.com" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cHTq0Mq3uwwAQomg7v8G8O73kRRT5ISArn4Zk8JwWfpHdFU_UJ4U9mj95L4PNXQpqcrKvHegVceLY5KbEnPyI-5Dt_wXB4btYoUoAnStxqWKSpxlfIzSfKfsXQFqIVvQjqWAhGs5HNI/s1600/spring+has+sprung_etsy+shop_2.PNG" height="640" title="Meet Me in Philadelphia Shop on Etsy meetmeinphiladelphia.etsy.com" width="480" /></a></div>
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(<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/182881476/vintage-belleek-ireland-pink-hued-leaf?ref=shop_home_active_24"><span style="color: blue;">pink Belleek dish</span></a> / <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/182572458/vintage-framed-riverside-bridge-acrylic?ref=shop_home_active_9"><span style="color: blue;">vintage landscape</span></a> / <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/184030132/set-of-8-vintage-solid-indian-brass?ref=shop_home_active_3"><span style="color: blue;">set of 8 brass napkin rings</span></a> / <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/182949156/antique-bluebell-relief-floral-pitcher?ref=shop_home_active_21"><span style="color: blue;">floral relief pitcher</span></a> / <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/182891559/vintage-japan-hand-painted-bird-butter?ref=shop_home_active_1"><span style="color: blue;">chinoiserie butter pats</span></a>)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhInCFfmRGFC1Pjjn2_0NWZ09OFgaKeoqJXrqaRw49V8JVr56WlNcA8EFE2FDo6vxBoLpPiUKTT0hvDimpM4mDfo5DiyQElGC_FEnl0efp6wpGWG1dTZo4IXUA9iE0cumfg4NVwnnRGzx0/s1600/spring+has+sprung_etsy+shop_3.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Meet Me in Philadelphia Shop on Etsy meetmeinphiladelphia.etsy.com" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhInCFfmRGFC1Pjjn2_0NWZ09OFgaKeoqJXrqaRw49V8JVr56WlNcA8EFE2FDo6vxBoLpPiUKTT0hvDimpM4mDfo5DiyQElGC_FEnl0efp6wpGWG1dTZo4IXUA9iE0cumfg4NVwnnRGzx0/s1600/spring+has+sprung_etsy+shop_3.PNG" height="640" title="Meet Me in Philadelphia Shop on Etsy meetmeinphiladelphia.etsy.com" width="480" /></a></div>
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(<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/182687083/vintage-mini-woven-basket-with-lid?ref=shop_home_active_6"><span style="color: blue;">covered basket</span></a> / <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/169773776/handmade-lulu-dk-moondance-floral-lumbar?ref=shop_home_active_9"><span style="color: blue;">Lulu DK pillow cover</span></a> / <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/182582807/vintage-brass-hand-clip-letter-holder?ref=shop_home_active_8"><span style="color: blue;">brass mail clip</span></a> / <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/183793253/handmade-roberta-roller-rabbit-block?ref=shop_home_active_8"><span style="color: blue;">Roberta Roller Rabbit pillow cover</span></a> / <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/183941836/handmade-vintage-cobalt-pom-pom-tassel?ref=shop_home_active_7"><span style="color: blue;">tassel pillow cover</span></a>)</div>
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Just a reminder: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/meetmeinphiladelphia"><span style="color: blue;">my shop</span></a> is filled with both hand-picked vintage & antique home decor <i>and</i> handmade pillow covers, cocktail napkins and dinner napkins--pretty much anything you'd want to add some pretty to your spaces.</div>
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Happy Spring shopping! Thanks for supporting <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/meetmeinphiladelphia"><span style="color: blue;">my Etsy shop</span></a>!</div>
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345558627679373156noreply@blogger.com5