Reading Nook for Tommy

I so wish I had a before picture of his room. Not that there was huge changes in this corner, but there certainly a big impact with just a few added pieces. Tommy has built-ins in his closet, but there is only one shelf he can reach and a toddler has a hard time picking a book based solely on the spines. I should know, since he loves playing the "let me take my sweet time picking a book so I can stay up later" game. Plus, there was always a giant pile of books next to the chair that was a complete mess. So I searched for a few solutions and came up with these photo ledges from Ikea. 

They come in white and black and are super easy to install. We hung them low for little people and now he has his own "library" we can switch books in and out of easily. 

Tommy also needed a new lamp since his last one broke. There is no overhead lighting in his room currently, so it needs something that will illuminate most of the room (there is a table lamp in the opposite corner). So when I came across this industrial style floor lamp when I went to get the photo ledges, I was psyched. 

This is the bronze color, but it also comes in a very dark gray. Now he has an even better place for night time stories with us and he loves that the lamp has a floor button to turn it on and off. It is basically a club in there during the day. 

He is still in a crib, but when it is time to move to the big bed, I cannot wait to paint and get some more toys/organization in his room. Then he should be good for many years to come. 

xo

Erin 

PS: The rug is from Dwell Studio (discontinued), Ottoman from Burke Decor, Chair from Ikea. 

Not Just for Tweens

I have been having some busy days around here and soaking up this summer with the kids. Mary turns one at the end of the month and I am savoring every last second with her before she is no longer truly a baby. 

I did have time this morning to put together this fun bedroom after I was looking around for some accessories online. Who knew that PB Teen had such style? The site is of course chock full of preppy teenager options, but there is some seriously fantastic pieces that would work for grown ups, too. Bonus is that the prices reflect more for a kids room, so your budget goes a lot further. 

1. I love a good pom pom drape and these are black out. $89-$119

2. Pretty chandelier $129

3. Obsessed with this petal abstract painting. Beautiful colors and scale. $149

4. This canopy bed has been pinned to death and there is a reason. It is gorge. $599-$899

5. Pretty scalloped bedding that can be monogrammed is always a good idea. $29-$159

6. This tray side table is a fun alternative to the usual shapes. $98

7. A soft Moroccan Diamond Rug is perfect for a bedroom. $143-$169

8. This navy velvet love seat is the perfect size for in front of a bed. $799

Happy Monday. I hope your week is off to a great start. And I hope to post more this week. Anything you need help with in beauty, design, food, travel, or fashion? I love getting ideas for posts from you. Upcoming wedding, living room refresh, cooking dilemma, happy to help ladies. 

xo

Erin 

Black & White Inside

After my post on Friday, I realized that my black and white obsession goes beyond fashion. Looking at all my recent inspiration photos that I have pinned, the theme continues throughout the house. My living room is a work in progress right now (currently the land of legos, trains, and puzzles) but I have been leaning towards a black, white, and gray color scheme. But now I am thinking of it in other areas of the house thanks to these incredible spaces. 

This bathroom is amazing. That copper fixture? Love. 

I wish I could be this bold and do a stripe. So fun for a guest room. 

This shows how black and white can still be soft. This is more the style of my home. 

Fun and modern. 

Outdoor living in such a chic way. Those chairs are beautiful. 

Here are some fun pieces that you could incorporate easily into a room. 

1.  Fun pillow from Furbish $50

2. This is the rug we have in the living room. Could not love it more, great for kids. Crate & Barrel $299 for 8x10, comes in other sizes too. 

3. I think I am ordering these Serena & Lily $58 sheers for our bathroom. 

4. Super chic lamps from Furbish $210 for set of 2

5. An easy throw by Nate Berkus $29

6. Love this modern vase from Target $22

7. Kind of obsessed with director's chairs. This one from Target $41would be so fun in a sun room or as kitchen dining chairs. 

8. Can't go wrong with this classic from West Elm 

9. I want these pillows from Dwell Studio $86 for my couch

Are you into black and white like me? 

xo

Erin 

(All photos from Pinterest)

Master Suite Before & After

While I hate to say this room is "done," it feels done. No more furniture needed, paint has been applied, hardware and mirrors are installed, and ghastly window treatments have been removed. It is lovely and comfortable and working just as we had hoped. But...... we also have ideas for this side of the house (first floor master) and would like to rip everything out and reconfigure the space in both the bedroom, bathroom, and closet in the next few years. Until then though (and maybe two small purchases) we are finished. 

This is the before picture from our house listing...

And this is now...

The paint color on the wall is Sherwin Williams Serious Gray with Lazy Gray on the ceiling. I almost wish we went a bit darker, but at night it has a much moodier feel that I love. 

The coral border bedding is from Crane & Canopy and the headboard is from the Camden tufted with brass nail heads by Ballard. 

The side tables, leather bench, and dresser are Camden collection from Restoration Hardware. 

The rug is Ironwork Trellis from Shades of Light. I want to add something above the headboard. Maybe a pair of antique brass mirrors? 

The master bath is right off the bedroom and is closed off in sections (vanity, closet, shower/tub/toilet). This is the before when we moved in...

 There have not been a ton of changes, but subtle ones that make the space our own. 

 The light fixture is from Restoration Hardware. I tortured myself over that decision as well, but going with something clean and industrial works best for us. 

 I got the rug from ESale Rugs for such a bargain. Still love it. 

 The mirrors are West Elm. I poured over mirrors for so many months, but really I just wanted something with clean lines and large scale to open the space up more. 

 I thought of maybe changing the paint colors in the bathroom, but really nice clean and bright white just feels right. 

This claw foot tub is really nice and all, but honestly I have used it maybe twice in a year. You think it is is a mistake to get rid of it (probably relocate to a different bathroom) and just do one huge shower when we reconfigure? 

 It does have a lovely view. 

 The shower is kind of small, so a big double shower head one sounds really nice. 

It feels really great to have these spaces done. Now I am off to obsess over the nursery, which is getting wallpapered today. So excited to see how it turns out and get everything set up to show you! 

xo

Erin 

Master (Bedroom) Plan

It still feels like there is so much to do at the house, like an endless list that I will never get to the bottom of. We have an empty living room, a dark hallway that is in desperate need of light, door knobs that need to be installed, runners to be picked out, a barren guest room, and on and on. I have settled on that fact that this will all take years. And it is okay. 

The one room that needs attention next, since we use it every single day, is the master bedroom. We have lived without a headboard and the furniture we brought with us since June. With just a few more pieces and some paint, the room will finally become more like home to us. I have been looking at many, many pictures on Pinterest to settle on a room that mixes our already masculine furniture with some softer touches. I like rooms to have that mix and it only seems fitting for the master. 

Here is the finished product, or at least a mock of what it will look like. I hope. 

Already owned: the dressers, bench, rug, and lamps. 

What I need to get: coral trimmed bedding, tufted nailhead headboard, Gray Shower Benjamin Moore paint

I wanted a moody color on the walls since the attached bath is all white with white marble counters. Those gray boxes are actually windows. The rug was the old one from the family room and I love how it looks with the dark floors. For just a slight punch of color, I love coral with the gray and navy. 

What do you think? Should I stick with these choices? It is not that much to get, but pulling the trigger is so hard! 

xo

Erin 

Renovation Results

Renovations are truly labors of love. One day you are smitten with the vision you are seeing come together before your eyes, the next it is four months later and you are still trying to cross those final items off the list. 

Our new house had been completely renovated recently, except for the basement level. While finished, it needed a complete gut. We took everything down to the studs (about 1200 sq ft) and came up with a simple design that would be functional, airy, and satisfy our needs for years to come. 

Since it was a basement, the entire concept was to keep it fresh and light. Matt and I worked alone with our contractor, which was a learning experience, especially for me. My desire to use a designer was trumped by our enthusiasm to conquer this project ourselves. The outcome is fantastic, but I absolutely learned a lot. While there are a few details I overlooked because of my "amateur" status, they most likely would never be noticed by anyone else. 

The basement consists of a large family room, half kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. It was not a walkout basement when we started, so we had a door cut (through the foundation) into the stairwell to the outside. This alone took two more weeks than we had planned, but it is amazing to have that access to the backyard. 

We are still waiting for furniture for the family room, so I will wait to share pictures of that space. I have also not decorated the spaces yet. Nothing on the walls, accessories, etc. All in due time! I am so excited to show you what we have done. 

Bathroom...

To make all the spaces cohesive, we used Benjamin Moore Pebble Beach on all of the walls with white trim. To contrast with the light walls and ceiling, we picked slate tiles on the floors. 

The granite is absolute black to keep it really clean looking. We used very affordable fixtures throughout since this space will not be used very often. Everything is from the Moen Banbury line. The nautical light fixtures are from Shades of Light. We chose white subway tile to keep it classic with one band of cobalt glass tiles to break it up a bit. My contractor used some extra trim to build the mirror.

 Bedroom...

The nice thing about this bedroom is that it has a full size window, something you do not normally see in basements. The carpet (wish I would have vacuumed it before taking the picture!) is Martha Stewart in Thunderhead. 

Everything was from our old house except for the dresser, which I got at Ikea. I am obsessed with the glossy white front and patina colored wood. 

Kitchen...

We used the same materials in the kitchen as the bath to be cohesive. The granite bar top matches the bathroom, then we used butcher block for the rest of the space. I am really into the mix of materials. We used a carpenter to build everything, including the counter tops. It took a lot less time then ordering them through a cabinetry company. 

He built these deep drawers and tons of space to hold just about everything in our house. I am on the hunt for some art to hang on that empty wall. 

While tiles was not our first choice to finish out the ceiling, we decided on not dry walling since we are unsure of other work we might want to do soon. Tiles make it a lot easier to get to any duct work, wiring, etc. The washer and dryer is a bit bigger than we anticipated, but the fact we have a second set of full size machines makes me giddy. The microwave is also a convection, which doubles up the cooking appliances. 

And there it is! Months of work and still working on the rest of it. It has been so fun to start using the space a bit and this "in-law" suite will be well used over the holidays. Once the couch that Kate Marker Interiors ordered for me comes in, I will share the family room. Think tons of built ins, toy chest bench, and a comfy deep navy couch to curl up on. 

xo

Erin