It's done! Midcentury Marvel Nursery for Miles

I know I've been promising nursery photos for a while, but it turns out that photographing a room is a lot harder than it looks on everyone else's blog.  Especially when you don't have time to edit the images when you're done because a certain small person enjoys eating every three hours and you like snuggling with him the rest of the time.

However, Baby Miles is currently napping, so here are the best of the photos I have.  Please forgive the lack of artfully shot closeups of stacked books with an objet on top.

The room turned out pretty much exactly like I pictured it in my head, and I think it will grow with Miles as he goes from baby to toddler to little boy (I don't even want to think about that!) 

My idea for gold washi tape trim looked more like a brown stripe once it went up, so we ended up using cobalt blue tape instead.  The "theme" is really only represented by way of framed prints on the wall and shelves, so if later on he decides that he loves dinosaurs more than anything else, we can make some updates without scraping decals or investing in new pieces.  Plus, the room came together pretty cheaply - nothing is high end, or so precious that it can't withstand life with a little guy.

I hope Miles likes the room as much as I do - his dad and I worked really hard to finish it three days before he was born!

In case you're interested, here's a list of where most everything came from (starting with top photo):

Rugs USA Homespun Trellis Rug (wait for a sale!)

La-Z-Boy Impulse Rocker

Argington Bam Crib (I bought mine used)

Society6 Pillow

Marvel Art Prints (ours are 5"x7") 
Nate Berkus for Target Wall Studs
Nate Berkus for Target Lamp Base 
Hey Y'all! print by Stephanie Creekmur via Etsy
Threshold Grayson Grommet Window Panel (with blackout liner) 
Green/white quilt made for me by my great-grandma in 1983
Sunburst mirror frame (the mirror broke) via Global Views warehouse sale 
Ikea Stockholm Mirror
Changing Pad Cover by BLVD67 via Etsy
Vintage dresser via Craigslist, painted with Olympic Mermaid's Tail 
American Folklore map print by William Gropper, cut to fit collage frame from Target
Walnut toy chest made for me by my late Papa Lonnie
Elderly dachshund is vintage, find similar via All Texas Dachshund Rescue 
Awesome pit/pointer/lab/mystery mix via SPCA Dallas 
Studded initial via Hobby Lobby
Texas A&M bunny via Build a Bear
 

And just for fun, here are a couple of photos from this week.  I think my kid is pretty much the cutest ever!  ;-)

Baby Cardigan's Nursery: Midcentury Marvel

When I found out that I was pregnant, I started dreaming of adorable nurseries.  I've swooned over Joni Lay's designs for a long time, and couldn't wait to piece together one of my own.  Once we found out that Baby Cardigan is a boy, I began scouring the internet for inspiration and was really bored by the standard formula of chevron print + baby animals = boy nursery (I'm so tired of it!) so I decided to make an adult design more juvenile instead.

Here's where I landed:

So far, this is just a design but most everything has been purchased, and it adheres (in theory) to the criteria that I discussed with my husband:

• Include as few baby-only pieces as possible, meaning that the design should be able to grow with Baby Cardigan and accommodate his future preferences without requiring us to buy new furniture other than a bed.  
• No permanent design elements. We are not planning to be in this house long-term, and the thought of painting over a large-scale project like a striped wall or tearing down a large decal (if you're into that) makes me sad.  In this room, the walls are staying neutral and even the gold trim will be washi tape that can be ripped off when we move, or decide to go in a different direction.
• Not be too babyish, since we both hate cutesy looking pieces.  (This has made registering difficult, since the fabric prints on so many products are awful!)
• Include Marvel characters, since N is a big fan and looking forward to sharing that world with Baby Cardigan
• Not contain anything too precious that cannot be cleaned or repaired.  The navy and white rug was bought at 70% off on Cyber Monday and is actually intended to protect our new carpet from a little boy, but it can be steam cleaned if the stains get out of control and was only $205.  The chair is covered in a bonded leather that can be wiped down, and the dresser (similar to the one pictured) is a $150 vintage piece that we are painting ourselves, so any marks or scratches can be covered up with another coat.  
• The chair needs to be inexpensive or reusable.  We ended up going with a mid-priced chair from La-Z-Boy because I will not spend $1000+ on a chair that won't fit in with the rest of our house, and the cheap options at our local big box stores were awful.  I was also not brave enough to buy a chair I've never sat in when return shipping can cost as much as a new chair.  I'm pretty thrilled with our choice, since it will add to the retro feel of the room and is really comfortable and well made.
• Overall, the room needs to come together fairly cheaply.  The chair is our biggest expense, but everything else has turned out to be fairly inexpensive.  We know we'll have plenty of other expenses once the baby arrives, and I set a firm budget that's probably equal to what some people spend on a crib and dresser.  Luckily, I've not had any big challenges once I realized that shopping for regular decor is way cheaper than anything intended for a kid space.  (I think it's like weddings in that the prices are inherently higher because of the emotional purchase)

Now is the time where I ask any experienced mamas what things you think I need, especially when it comes to a baby registry?  Or, what are your favorite nursery designs?

//////////////////////////////////////////////////

Product Source Information

Scotch Expressions Gold Washi Tape

Rugs USA Homespun Trellis Rug (wait for a sale!)

La-Z-Boy Impulse Rocker

Argington Bam Crib (I bought mine used)

Society6 Pillow

Marvel Art Prints (ours are 5"x7")

Be Brave print by Charm & Gumption

Nate Berkus for Target Wall Studs

Little Hipster Outdoor Pewter Fabric (for curtains, maybe)

Nate Berkus Lamp Base

It's done! Bathroom Renovation Before & After

At long last, our bathroom renovation is done!  I could not be more proud of my husband for sacrificing his evenings and weekends all summer and fall, and I think the end result looks pretty great!

We live in a mid-century ranch house, and there's not much space to work with, so we did a lot of designing before we figured out how best to utilize the layout.  I also wanted to keep the look modern and fun, but without too any finishes that a future buyer may be scared of.  (It turns out that most people who buy houses think beige is fantastic)

Here was the before shot:

This was the design plan:

And, the finished product (which was REALLY hard to photograph because that room is tiny and the lights are bright):

I decided that gray cabinets would add some contrast to all the white, without blending in with the floor, and a Silestone countertop will offer the same look as marble but without the need for maintenance and no risk of stains.  The existing tub was refinished, and N installed white subway tile all the way to the ceiling to make the dark end of the room feel brighter and more open.

To add storage space, we decided to install two sets of drawers opposite the vanity with a matching countertop, and built-in shelves on top of an ikat wallpaper that the next owners can paint over or rip down if they want to be boring.   Several baskets from Homegoods will let me hide things I don't want sitting out, although most of our drawers are empty at the moment.

Overall, I'm thrilled with the end result and am so relieved for this project to be over.  Doing projects like this yourself obviously saves lots of money, but the timeline is measured in months instead of days.  I'm super proud of my husband, but I'm excited for him to be able to relax after work instead of putting in 3 hours of manual labor.

That said, any ideas for amazing Christmas gifts for the man willing to build this for me will be much appreciated.


Source Information:

Mirror - Purchased from the chip and dent room at Horchow Finale (with a small crack), repaired by Malloy Glass in Dallas, TX

Cabinets - Ordered from Second & Surplus in Dallas, made by Shiloh Cabinetry

Countertops - Lyra by Silestone, purchased as a remnant from Irving Countertops

Floor Tile - Exotica Walnut porcelain plank tiles purchased from Floor & Decor.  We have these throughout our living area and kitchen and love them!

Wall Tile - White subway tiles purchased from Floor & Decor

Wallpaper - Soft Ikat by Patty Lonsinger via Spoonflower

Shower Curtain - via Amazon.com

Rugs - Nate Berkus Aztec Diamond rug via Target

Baskets - via Homegoods

Pineapple Thingys - Nate Berkus for Target (on clearance, no longer available online)

Reader Request: Coastal Chic House

Today I'm excited to help my cousin Michelle, who's about to buy her first home, and is eager to customize it to suit her taste.  Based on her Pinterest boards, I'm calling her style coastal chic (which is fitting since she grew up on the water) and I think that she's going to have an easy time adapting her new(ish) construction home to be less beige and more of a home for her and her boyfriend.

Here we go... and please remember I'm talking about a whole house, and not one room so everything isn't going to match perfectly.  Ok?  Cool.

First, I think a color palette of pale grays, blues and smokey teals will instantly transform the feel of the house.  I'm a big fan of the West Elm and Pottery Barn collections at Sherwin-Williams, since someone has culled the bajillion options for you already.  Then, to add some more personality, Michelle could add some wallpaper on accent walls or powder rooms, and bring in printed fabrics for curtains and throw pillows. 

Paints from Sherwin-Williams  /  Ikat wallpaper  /  Bird wallpaper

Stone print wallpaper  /   Nate Berkus fabrics  /  Ikat fabrics

In areas where there is wood, tile, or just carpet that she'd like to cover up, I think a fairly inexpensive geometric rug from World Market or Homegoods will add personality and be dog-friendly since you can send a rug off to be deep cleaned in a way that you'll never achieve with carpet.  

Some rugged furniture will add a masculine element to the rooms, but not make it feel like a hunting lodge since it can be offset by classic pieces, colorful accents, and pretty nailhead trim.  And since everyone in our family is convinced that we can indeed do it ourselves, I'm sure a painted vintage piece will make its way into the home sooner or later.

Medallion rug  /  Ivory Moroccan rug  /  Coffee table  /  Sofa  /  Nailhead trim chair ($269!)

Accent table  /  Silver vase  /  Sea glass vase  /  Painting by Clare Elsaesser 

Antique map of Galveston, TX

Overall, my main advice for people approaching a house from scratch is to set the mood with paint, and then start buying what's important to you and don't settle too much.  It's hard when nice things cost a lot of money, but what you don't want is a house full of things you want to get rid of in five years.  Luckily, you can inject tons of personality into a space with affordable art from Etsy and secondhand pieces that just need a little attention.

Good luck, Michelle!  You know where to find me if you need more opinions ;-)

DIY: Country Chic Baby Shower

I know, y'all are surprised to read this title here.  While I do come from a small town, I'm not a fan of rustic things.  However, this weekend my friends and I hosted a baby shower for our sweet friend, Rynnetta, and I think it looked great!  We decorated my living room with some vintage inspired fabrics and burlap, and it was cheap and chic!

Here are some highlights, since I'm pretty proud of us:

The gift table - covered in a burlap skirt, homemade bunting, and Trader Joe's hydrangeas

A little prop I made for the photo booth (we made people take photos instead of playing games)

 

My favorite cupcake recipe (via My Baking Addiction) actually starts with a boxed mix, and they were so good!

Burlap and cotton table runner - who knew I had this in my head?!

 It's a little hard to see, but behind the beautiful mama-to-be is the photo backdrop that we made from a fitted sheet, burlap ribbon, and leftover fabric.

Let me know if you have any questions about where to buy anything, or how we made something. Or, share your own shower ideas!  

Happy Monday!

I Made Decisions! (Bathroom Renovation Update)

For those of you who don't know me in real life, let me just say that renovations are tough and mine is currently in full swing.  My husband is working his tail off, and I hardly see him.  I'm about to help with tiling, and the room is really coming together!

Since I was running out of time, I had to quit second guessing myself and just make some big purchases.  Here's where I netted out, and what our room should look like:

And that's why we've been busy.  See you Friday!

Marriage is about compromise... and fewer pillows

It's hard for me to believe, but I've been married almost three years.  They've flown by and been mostly carefree, though not without a few compromises.  One of the things that has been hard to accept is that we simply do not have room for the mountains of pillows that I'd like to layer on our bed.  At my husband's insistence, I am changing the look of our bed so that we won't have a pile of euro shams and throw pillows in the corner.

Since I'm not what you'd call minimalist (ha!) I started looking for alternatives and realized that I have enough fabric layout around to make a long bolster pillow that will span most of the bed and still bring color to the room, but stand neatly against the wall when not in use.

Like these:

 

I think I am going to use my yellow Nate Berkus ikat fabric to make mine, and perhaps with gray and white polka dots on the back side.  Originally I wanted leopard, and probably will get one someday, but for now I'll use what I've got laying around.  Hopefully I can sew a rectangle!

P.S.  As part of my compromise, I am selling several sets of pillow covers and have inserts for free for Dallas people.  DwellStudio euro shams for sale here, and zebra print Wisteria covers for sale here. 

DIY: Shelf Styling & Grosgrain Trimmed Roman Shade

When I get bored, I suddenly notice things that I don't like about my house and embark on a whirlwind effort to fix them.  This weekend, I decided that I was bored with my built-in shelves and since I'd been meaning to replace the awful mini-blinds anyway, I did a little re-styling.  Here's the end result:

Excuse the photo quality - I don't know what I'm doing yet.

I started by raiding my bookshelves and taking the dust jackets off of a bunch of hardback books and then picking what frames and small things I wanted to keep out.  Then, I pulled up my interiors inspiration board on Pinterest and went to town stacking things and rearranging until I didn't hate it.  (Working in the records my husband insisted on keeping in the room was really hard.)

Then, I went to Lowe's and bought a plain white roman shade to replace the blinds.  I cut about 2 feet off the end below one of seams and re-jigged the cords so that the bottom panel doesn't gather when you raise and lower it.  I bought 4.5 yards of pewter grosgrain ribbon from JoAnn's and used fabric glue to attach it to the freshly-ironed shade, and then yelled expletives and cursed Messrs. Allen & Roth for designing weird hardware that I eventually succeeded at installing.

Check out that handiwork:

Then, while I was at it, I switched up the mantel a little bit too.  It's nothing award winning, but it will do for now.

Now that you see my stuff, please feel free to share any ideas for improvement on the mantel, or help me in my search for someone I can work with for some e-design.  Or teach me how to take good interior photos?

Guest Room Makeover: Everything Under $50

Hello!  Sorry for the silence yesterday, but I had no decent ideas to write about and I was putting the finishing touches on what I am going to show you today!

Ever since we finished our big DIY projects around the house, I turned my attention to sprucing up our guest room, that I'd hastily "decorated" for $150 in 2010.  I didn't have a lot of money to throw around this time either, but I relocated a lot of stuff I already had and found some great deals that came together in a way that makes the room much more soothing and special.  Plus, I didn't pay more than $50 for anything I purchased!

 

Check out more pictures, plus the source list after the jump...

5 Things Friday: Home Edition

Good morning!  This week has been great, but busy, for me and can't wait to spend it relaxing at home with some books while my husband watches baseball.  We may even get crazy and start shopping for bathroom tile and countertops!  I know, it's a wild life we lead.

Until then, here are five things I deemed worth sharing on the internet:

1. Remember those animal figurines you could get at the Hallmark store in the 90s?  Since I had a dachshund, people would give them to me and until recently, they sat on a shelf.  Since everyone and their cousin has started spray painting toys gold, I decided to try transforming my little dogs and I'd say it turned out well.  Total cost: $4 plus 20 minutes.

2. This week I finally ordered the Safavieh Rug I've been eyeing for a long time.  The price dropped significantly, and shipping was free, so I am kicking off Project Dining Room.  It may take a long time to get to my goal, but I'm finally on my way!

dream dining room - fall 2012 by cardiganjunkie on Polyvore

3. I think this photo is so gorgeous - I want it.  Luckily, prints are totally affordable.

Source: society6.com via Haley on Pinterest

4. No, I'm not pregnant, but that doesn't mean I don't love nurseries.  This vignette is perfect for a little girl without being too "done"

Source: littlemothdesign.blogspot.com via Haley on Pinterest

5. I've decided that I'm going to revamp my existing sunburst mirror and make it bigger and more impactful.  I'll be picking up some wood shims and trying my hand at this technique that I found via The Thrifty Abode.  Fingers crossed that it doesn't suck!

Source: thethriftyabode.blogspot.ca via Heather on Pinterest

And with that, I bid you good weekend!

Help me! What to do with a vintage trunk?

I can be an impulsive shopper.  I'm quick to see potential in clothes, and sometimes in decor.  However, one recent bargain has me a bit stumped.  I am the proud owner of a 70 year old wood and brass trunk that cost me $20, and have not a clue where I'm going to put it.

There's lots of great inspiration on the internets:

Source: lonnymag.com via Julie on Pinterest

Source: greigedesign.blogspot.com via Randi on Pinterest

Source: designsponge.com via Jessica on Pinterest

DIY Inkblot Artwork

This Saturday, I found myself with some spare time in the afternoon and decided that it has been too long since my last art project.  I was recently inspired to try my hand at some inkblot art after being inspired by Mondo's collection on Project Runway All Stars (so glad he won!) and a few other paintings I've seen in magazines and on Pinterest.

Source: picktainment.com via Haley on Pinterest

Source: newyork.timeout.com via Haley on Pinterest

Source: matchbookmag.tumblr.com via Haley on Pinterest

Source: aulitfinelinens.com via Haley on Pinterest

And since I'm cheap and ambitious, I got a yard of white denim at Hobby Lobby and two small bottles of acrylic paint and went to town.  Here's how it turned out:

I will be honest and say that some of my creations look like I just made a mess.  I'll definitely do this again, but will try to keep my paint more contained so that the resulting images are more frame-friendly.  I also want to layer different colors into the design like that amazing wallpaper above.

All in all, it was a good use of $10 and only took me about 30 minutes from start to finish.  I think this would be really fun to do with kids, and will generate a set of unique pieces for an area where you've got lots of wall space to fill.  Like my poor little guest room.

So... is anyone inspired to give it a shot?