Pre-holiday Spruce-Up: The Vintage Blue Tile Bathroom

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. 

I shared the photo above on Instagram 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.

Antoinette Poisson Printed Pillow + Vintage Bamboo Armchairs

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.

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 John Derian's trio of stores is in the East Village.

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 Architectural Digest, 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.

Aren't the prints lovely?

(via Architectural Digest)

(all via Antoinette Poisson)

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?

 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...

(all via Meet Me in Philadelphia unless otherwise noted)

Have the shopping gods shined down on you lately the way they have for me?

Cafe Curtains are Having a Moment

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'.

Easy, breezy...the perfect balance of privacy and exposure. A nod to days gone by.

(via House Beautiful)

(via Jeffrey Bilhuber)

(via Two Ellie)

(via Markham Roberts)

(via House Beautiful)

(via Jeffrey Bilhuber)

(via House Beautiful)

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. 

I recently made a few pairs for my home (more on that soon), but they're also incredibly easy to make by repurposing antique dishtowels or other linens. No sewing involved, either!

Do you have any cafe curtains in your home? Would you consider it?

J.Crew Indigo Top becomes Footstool Upholstery

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 tackling bathroom tile demolition that I'll share more about soon!

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.

Spotlight: Designer Lee Ann Thornton

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 Lee Ann Thornton.

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.

Hello, It's Me (and a Bit More of Our Living Room)

Hello, it's me. It's been an awfully long time, hasn't it? A whole summer, in fact, which was never my intention.

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 at 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. 

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. 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.

When I was unemployed, 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.

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.  

You may remember that I wrote about my quest to find the perfect slate for our fireplace surround back in May. When that search stalled, I opted to paint the brick.

I didn't expect to like it nearly as much as I do, but I do.

I found the antique bench, now placed in front of the hearth, sometime last winter for $30 and had it reupholstered recently in Tilton Fenwick's charming "Gideon" stripe in mint/red.

 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.

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. 

Now, you're probably wondering where the sofa shot is...

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. 

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!

(all via Meet Me in Philadelphia)

Bit by bit, inch by inch, the living room (and life in general) is coming together.

P.S. An extra-special thank you to those who emailed and checked in after me in the last few months. 

I sure have missed you all. 

Our Newly-Reupholstered Living Room Chairs

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!

Winner of the $150 UncommonGoods Giftcard

Congratulations, RayRay Cartucci! I'll email you!

Thank you to all who entered! I wish I had a giftcard to give out to everyone.

Happy Monday!

Win $150 to UncommonGoods! {A Giveaway}

(cube planter / kantha blanket / embroidered region pillow)

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 UncommonGoods.com? I was thrilled when the team from UncommonGoods reached out to me, because the company features unique designs and handcrafted goods that make perfect gifts for anyone, any home, any occasion.

I'm always reluctant to endorse companies here on my blog unless I completely agree with their mission, their vision and their products. UncommonGoods 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.

Today, I'm highlighting some of my favorite products from UncommonGoods, but I'd be silly not to draw your attention to a fabulous selection of gifts for women here, a number of unique personalized gifts here and a collection of jewelry that anyone would be happy to wear here.

Here are just a few of my favorites pieces currently available at UncommonGoods:

(one - personalized family art / two - mini coastal lamp / three - hands bowl / four - ladybug castle)

(five - mosaic necklace / six - pearl wine glasses / seven - lowercase alphabet blocks)

Like what you see? Want to win a $150 gift card to UncommonGoods? To win:

-Comment below and let me know what you'd spend the $150 gift card on!
-For extra entries, follow me on Pinterest, Twitter and/or Instagram and comment below confirming you're a follower for up to 3 more chances to win (comment separately for each way you follow)!

Contest ends Sunday, May 18th at 11:59 PM. And I'm sorry, but this giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. A winner will be selected using random.com and will be announced in Monday's post.

Thank you UncommonGoods for this giveaway! Good luck, friends.

This giveaway was sponsored by UncommonGoods, though all opinions are my own.

Decisions, Decisions

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.

Lately, our living room fireplace has been the subject of intense deliberation around these parts.

Our Guest Bedroom {A Long-Overdue Reveal}

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!

I made it my mission--just as the year started--to rework the space so it more accurately reflects my evolving style.

Quince, Of Course {+ Other Garden Developments}

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.

This weekend the quince buds opened and, despite their thorns, invited me to snip some for display around the house.

In Progress: The Living Room Carpentry Projects

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 our living room carpentry projects last weekend.

Let's get to it!

Karl Blossfeldt Botanicals

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.

Peeks into Our Finished Basement Changes

Remember all the way back in January, when spring sunshine seemed like a million years away, when I shared my DIY tasseled curtain project? 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.

Now that the weather's more cooperative, I snapped a few pics of the basement that I wanted to finally share!

Replacing Ugly Outlets {For Highly Particular Homeowners}

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.

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).

Good Things Happen to Those Who Wait

The day has finally come when I have some positive news to share about my job search: I have one!

My New--but Antique--Rug

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.

Spring Has Sprung in My Etsy Shop!

(ikat pillow / double leaf serving dish / bejeweled brass wastebasket)

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.

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?

Well, the Meet Me in Philadelphia Etsy Shop is stocked with so many new items, just in time for a spring spruce up!

Plans for Living Room Carpentry Work

One of our 2014 home goals (perhaps the primary one) involves our formal living room. In its current state, it's pretty okay. Tolerable even. But, we've made plans to start improving the existing charm of the space starting next weekend, and it all starts with 3 much-needed carpentry improvements.

Let's chat about them, shall we? 

My New Aubrey Levinthal Painting {A 30th Birthday Gift}

Hello again, friends! You know how this next sentence goes: I apologize for my absence then make some silly promises to post more regularly...blah, blah, blah. Honestly, I guess I've felt a little tapped out while I wait for more home projects to commence.

In the last few days, I've finally had a few developments to share. Before anything else, I wanted to share my new original painting from Aubrey Levinthal, a talented artist and lovely person to boot.

The Demilune Table {Five Easy Pieces}

In five days, I've shared my "Five Easy Pieces"--items that enhance any space with minimal effort and even less consideration. They all work, and they just work almost anywhere.

My fifth and last item, the demilune table, is as versatile, transitional and functional as any piece of furniture in a home. And you probably won't believe this, but while composing this post, I took a thrifting break yesterday afternoon and discovered a demilune table for my house! Is that fate or what?

The Louis Philippe Mirror {Five Easy Pieces}

What would a list of must-have decorating pieces be without a mirror? Not a very good list, I tell you. 

My "Five Easy Pieces" list would be incomplete without the addition of the Louis Philippe mirror, an item with style effortless and uncomplicated enough to work in both living room and bathroom, both in dining room and kitchen.