Family Pictures

Seeing all the fall items in the stores is getting me excited about the holidays!  Brian and I started to talk about what we will do for this Christmas' Family Picture.  Last years came out so cute- I don't know how it can be topped.  Luckily- we have one of the best photographers in Greensboro -ever:  Dano Keeney  He has done Tucker's infant pictures as well as our Christmas Pictures last year.  Here are some of my favs!

Little guy trying to grab the camera

This is our most favorite EVER!  we used this for the cover of our card and then the pic of our shoes for the back. 

Infant Pictures @ 8 days old:

A little off the bottom

We just trimmed one of our front trees- really opened up the house!  I wish I had before pictures!  I can tell you that you could not see the front of the house that well with how it was before.

Long term plans for exterior of house:

• Painting brick exterior cream
• Black hinged shutters
• Cedar shingle roof
• Climbing vine for over front door
• Window boxes?  Maybe...
• More plants of course :)
• Lamp Post

A Touch of Glass

Inspiration

When we moved into our house it appeared that the original chandelier was removed and replaced with this pendent light... not so glam ;)  

Dining Room when we first moved in

   So knowing that we are doing this house on a budget, I could not go off and spend too much money- we have lots more to do!  I got this chandelier at www.spectrumhome3.com and it was under $300!  Now- it looks very fancy- but don't touch it- because it is glass and might break- just kidding (it is totally sturdy).  We really like it and are excited to do more in this room.

After New Chandelier

Picture of chandelier before I put in the correct wattage- yikes that is bright

There is still so much to do in this room.  Some of my plans include:

• gray or navy grasscloth above chair moulding
• antique ceiling medallion around chandelier
• curtain wall (like in living room)
• finding a buffet or sideboard
• painting trim and below chair moulding white- but window frames black
• painting table like below
• 

Summer Fireplace

I am embarrassed to say that it has been a very long time since I have posted on my blog!  I have been doing a few updates here and there around the house and finding some amazing deals.  Hopefully i can get all caught up soon.

I have always been a huge fan of ferns.  This house is amazballs- but does not have anywhere to hang them.  I do not have any large outdoor pots (yet!) but I was thinking that ferns in the fireplace would look awesome- and they do!  I paired them with some lanterns and driftwood garland that I bought on my recent vacation to Pawleys Island (more about that later) and I am so happy with it!

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Summer Fireplace

Ferns, Lanterns, and Driftwood Garland 

Fireplace after painting.  The gong above was purchased by my Nana and Papa when the lived in Tokyo- it is actually a table top!

Fireplace Before... looking at how pretty this is- I'm kind of sad I painted it!

where to hang your faux kill

  When I got the antler chandelier I had visions of hanging it in my dining room or my son's bedroom and have it look uber cool. I did have some second guesses about the dining room- was the chandelier big enough?... would it fit with the decor?.... huh...  then I thought- is this neighborhood ready for an antler chandelier in the dining room.... would I be making apologies for it later???  AHHHH!  then I decided to place in Tucker's bedroom- it would be SO cool- what little boy has a chandelier like that in his room?  No one!  that is- no one but my son ;)

So Eric (the most amazing handyman ever) comes over yesterday to hang it up and guess what?  It is too tall for the room!  I was so disappointed.  So then Eric and I walk around the house looking for a home for said antler chandelier.  Foyer?  nope- too long.  Staircase?  nope- too hard to get to.   Last but not least- the KITCHEN!  I gotta say... i love it! 

Chandelier Before

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Chandelier After

Hanging of the Antlers 

Next thought is to put a dimmer on the switch- this thing is BRIGHT (which I like) but who doesn't love some mood lighting?

    

Curtain Call

So Brian, Tucker and I have been living in a fish bowl- our family room has one huge picture window with NO BLINDS!  AHHH- this has been driving me crazy since we moved in and as of today...our neighbors can no longer see us watching TV or Brian doing his P90X.... sorry ladies!
As a reminder- here is what it looked like before:

love the window- but no privacy!

Eric (who is awesome and fixes everything in our house!)
installing the ceiling mounted track

I ordered some burlap panels from Ballard Designs and a ceiling mount rod from Curtain-Tracks.com.

Burlap Panel

Hanging Curtains- we decided on 5 hooks per panel- 6 panels total

I love how they turned out!  I will warn you- the burlap smells a little like gas... Eric has told me this is normal and it is nothing that some Frebez won't take of- so I'm not worried.

I'm pretty happy about this project!  The only thing I might tweak is adding more hooks per panel... we will see!

Brian enjoying some TV.... or is that smile because of the the curtains???

Tucker's Room

So the next room I would really like to tackle is Tucker's room.  The room looks so boring right now- walls pale yellow, nothing on the walls... just furniture and toys on the floor.  His room at our last house was SO cute.
Here are pictures of his old room- Walls are Benjamin Moore Soot:

Antique 3/4 bed.  Tucker will be the 5th generation of my family to sleep in this  bed.

Vintage Tennis Racquets  from ebay as well as blue print

who doesn't love a sock monkey... this is the first thing I bought for Tucker when I was pregnant- and of course it was at a way cool boutique on Robertson Blvd in LA- i am pretty sure it was the only thing I could afford in the store ;)

Vintage world map that I had cut into 8 parts and framed for Tucker's room- I think the map costs about $6

"T" from old sign- great ebay find!

Pottery Barn Kids rocker from Nana and Papa- LOVE this chair!

Pom Pom Bedding.... i love this bedding- one of my splurges for the room

 Now I am trying to think of new ideas for his room- some thoughts:

Chalkboard wall

White Antler Chandelier- was saving for dining room... but i don't know

I love this striped bedding and would love to do some custom fabrics- but more on that later ;)

Oars from "Thrill of the Hunt" in Greensboro

I love this idea!  Our vintage tennis racquets will be perfect, I'm just in need of some old sporting equipment ;)