Open House: John's Journal

Maria has been a long time reader of this blog and due to her lovely comments I found her blog! It is a source of contact inspiration and I'm happy to share her home with you today. 

Here is her chic living room that I pretty much love everything in it. Can totally see myself at home here:

Highlights:
-I think I will always love gallery walls. Also love that each piece a special meaning.
-Zig-Zag rug
-Swoon worthy Lucite coffee table

Fireplace wall:



Highlights:
-Bamboo Chairs from Pier 1
-Artwork by IKEA that is hung on L brackets and hides their flat screen TV!

Opposite the sofa we have these lovely ladies:



From behind the left ikat chair we can see a peek of animal print. You know me I think every home should have one and Maria whipped out her DIY skills to make this:



A little wood, zebra contact paper and nailhead trim was all it took! DIY instructions here



Gideon's room:



Highlights:
-Maria's dads boat maps were cut up and framed.
-Fun swing from IKEA

Master Bedroom:

What a serene and glamourous retreat.



Highlights:
-Show stopping lighting fixture that was a Candice Olsen find from Overstock.
-Large x-bench at foot of bed.
-Monogram on bedding! I love the special touch that a monogram gives to a piece. It makes it more personal and can help achieve a certain vibe/look depending on what font you pick. If given the opportunity I'm certain I would monogram everything around me. No one would be safe. :)

I spied this piece at IKEA a couple of weeks ago and I've been itching to use it. Love how it looks in this space!



What a beautiful home full of charm and glam! A big thanks to Maria for sharing with us!

If you are interested in featuring your home email me at cpavone0107@gmail.com

Open House: designstILes

So excited to share this next home with you. When Irene emailed me I wasn't just happy with her lovely home pictures, but in love with her blog as well. It was a win, win situation for me.

 

This is Irene and her hubby's Evan's first home. With a big chunk of money going towards a down payment they have been decorating their home on a budget. Irene hasn't let that prevent her from decorating a home that is not only fun, but a reflection of them as a couple.

 

Let's take a peek into her home :

 

I've been itching to paint my black (originally white) front door a fun color. Look at what the yummy blue Irene picked.

Highlights:

- Peek of the striped shade that was a simple white roller shade that Irene painted stripes on.

-Cool moroccan lanterns that were a left over from her sister's wedding.

 

Moving along we can see a peek into Irene's home office:

Highlights:

-Andy Warhol look-alike that Irene found in the trash and fixed up with a new frame.

-A little animal touch (a girl after my own heart) from Cost Plus World Market.

-Cool light pendant was only $45 from a local shop.

 

Desk area:

Highlights:

-The desk originally had faux wood on the backside. Irene fixed it with some black and white graphic wrapping paper!

-Glossy black fireplace.

-Wood paneling was giving a coat of white to brighten up the space.

-The little owl by the fireplace was a $20 find from Homegoods.

 

Living Room:

Highlights:

-Pink wing back was a thrift store find that was only $45!

-Crazy chair is actually a patio furniture from Pier 1!

-Cool faux ostrich table was a splurge from a local shop on sale for $700.

 

* Irene couldn’t stop thinking about that table for 2 months so made a great decision in picking it up. Yes, it was expensive, but it’s something she will always love and can used in a favorite color schemes throughout the years.

 

Close up of groovy lamp that was a flea market find for $40.

Highlights:

-Greek key end table. Reminds me of this bargain one.

 

Dining Room:

Highlights:

-Sunburst mirror wall. Irene picked them at a local shop and with the help of ebay.

-Artwork was painted by hubby’s great aunt. Love that it has history behind it.

 

Family Room:

Highlights:

-Has to be that pop of blue on the wall.

 

Accent chair in room:

Highlights:

-All of it!

-Yellow chair was a flea market find. Irene bought two for $100.

-Garden stool from Homegoods

-Rug from IKEA

 

Master Bedroom:

Highlights:

-Yummy brown paint color

-Cane pillows

-Orange wicker chair in corner

-More artwork from hubby’s great aunt.

 

Front view of bed:

Highlights:

-Amazing lattice lamps from Homegoods. Totally love these. I never saw them at my Homegoods.

 

They kinda remind me of these beauties from Jill Rosenwald:

 

Dressers with more knick knacks from Homegoods:

 

Lastly Irene gave us a little peek at her bookcase:

Highlights:

-Mid-century candlestick holders way up top are from a flea market.

-Vintage books from hubby’s grandfather.

-Horse head book ends from flea market.

 

A big thanks to Irene & Evan for letting us peek into their home. A loved the mix of flea market, vintage and a whole bunch of Home Goods. It produced quite the charming home.

 

I’m running low on open house tours so make sure you all start snapping pics of your home and sharing them with us!

Open House: The Babs Blog

A couple of weeks Kari from The Babs Blog sent me an email with some pictures of her home and told me that her design style was “college chic”. Kari and her husband don’t plan on being in this house for a long time so they decorated with mostly hand me downs, thrift store finds and clearance items. To be honest I wasn’t sure what to expect when opening the pictures, but I must say I was floored.

 

Take a peek for yourselves:

 

Entry Way: Everyone needs a lovely tufted chaise to rest when they come home from a hard days work.

I spy my favorite initial plates from Anthro:

Highlights:

- That amazing fainting couch that can still be purchased at Urban Outfitters.

- Chic end table

- Chiang mai dragon pillows from ebay!

 

Living Room: Look at all of that amazing sunlight that streams in. I’m totally jealous.

Highlights:

-Thrift store sofa purchased for $175! I love it. Kari had it recovered in white duck cloth.

-Gallery wall made up of ebay frames

 

Other side of living room:

Highlights:

- White chair use to belong to Kari’s grandfather. Kari gave it a new lease on life with some new fabric.

 

Coffee Table Vignette:

Highlights:

-I love the milk glass. It’s quite easy to start a collection on your own. I normally find them in my thrift stores for $1-$3.

-Fireplace filled with candles. What a great way to make an impact for little $.

 

Looks like Kari had a green thumb. Every room needs a touch of green in it.

Highlight:

- Amazing end table on clearance from Target! Wish I grabbed that one myself when it was on sale.

 

Living Room nook:

Highlights:

-This artwork was a quick DIY project. Kari used two pieces of canvas that she clamped together, painted grey and wrote out a poem in French with a white sharpie marker. Love this!

 

Dining Room: Love the touches of black all throughout the home.

Highlights:

-Fun capiz chandelier.

-Oversized artwork. This piece is from IKEA, but you can do the same with any pictures you may own. This piece is partially special to Kari, because her old NY apt is in it.

 

A big thanks to Kari for showing off her space. If you have a home you think everyone would enjoy please email me with pictures at cpavone0107@gmail.com.

Open House: Julie W.

I can’t tell you how much I’m loving this new series. It’s so much fun to see what all of you are doing in your homes. I love that many of your designs/diy projects are inspired by blogs! It’s fun to see bloggers suggestions come to life.

 

Today we are going to be taking a peek into reader, Julie W’s house.

 

First off is her basement bedroom. She recently tackled this project so that Mom and Dad would have a place a crash. I think she needs to tell Mom & Dad to move over, because I want to visit!

 

Julie went with the popular grey/yellow combo and I must say she hit it out of the part.

Julie used existing items that she had around the house to piece this room together.

 

Take a peek at the other side of the room:

 

Highlights of the room:

-Lamps painted in yellow!

-Caning fabric for headboard and toss pillows. Similar fabric available here.

-Artwork! Prints where from this book and frames from Walmart.

 

* I use Canopy frames from Walmart in most of my projects. When you order them online you get a special price on packs of 4 and they come with matting and in normal sizes unlike IKEA. I love them.

 

Moving along upstairs Julie gave us another peek into an additional guest room. I suppose I could stay here if Mom & Dad are visiting at the same time. :)

 

In this room we have another take on grey & yellow, but with the additional of blue as an accent instead of black.

Highlights of the room:

- Chic & Inexpensive artwork. Julie had seen the exact artwork at Zgallerie for $60. Always one to look for a budget option she found them at Art.com and purchased prints for 12.99 each. Then she used some Ribba frames from IKEA and made her own version for much less.

 

-Julie’s bedding is the ever popular pin tuck from West Elm. I found a great look for less last week at Century 21. They had it white and cream. F/Q size for a duvet cover and two shams was $69.99.

 

Lastly Julie invited us in to take a peek at her little girls room:

 

 

What a lucky girl  she gets to have two lucite chairs!

Highlights:

 

-She made the headbord from a kit available at Foam For You (source found by Janell)

 

-Barbie Calendar was used for the chic artwork, which I’m loving!

 

-Cornice made from Jenny’s tutorial at LGN.

 

-Also totally in love with the geometric fabric on the toss pillows and benches.

 

Pure love for this room!

 

A big thanks to Julie for sharing her home. If you would like your home considered for this series email me at cpavone0107@gmail.com

Open House: Living Livelier

When Deborah's email popped into my in box I literally thought I was going crazy. Earlier in the day I had been catching up on her blog and made a note to myself to email her an invite to be part of the Open House series.

 

Well I jotted down her email address and decided to get some work done first and then email her. About 5 minutes later I got an email from her with a bunch of pictures of her space! She must have read my mind.

 

Taking a step into Deborah's entry and I’m already feeling at home:

 

Some highlights from the room:

-Madeline Weinrib rug

-Sunburst mirror from Home Goods

- Red cabinet was brought over from Japan by her grandparents in the 1970’s.

-Keep Calm & Carry On artwork by Annechovie

 

Guest Bathroom: I love seeing some of favorites all together. Silhouttes, Imperial Trellis and the color green.

Highlight from this room:

 

Love that she got creative with some left-over wallpaper and dressed up a plain jane cabinet.

 

Kitchen Nook: Deborah’s love for Imperial Trellis continues into her eat in kitchen.

Highlight from this room:

The ebay chairs she found and recovered with her monogram.

 

Sitting Room: Love that she even has a sitting room. I’m totally jealous my teeny tiny little cottage doesn’t have that luxury.

Highlights from the room:

-Chic end tables, map artwork & globes from Home Goods.

-Hermes coffee table from Decorator Tag Sale

-Greek Key JA pillow

 

Opposite side of sitting room:

- Cool ladder came from grandma ( I guess good taste is inherited! )

 

-Living Room: I think this room is a perfect marriage of my tastes and my husband tastes. Don’t invite us over Deb, because I don’t think we would leave! :)

Close up of toss pillows:

 

Sweet family memories up on the wall:

 

Deborah’s latest project was wallpapering the back of her secretary with Chiang Mai Dragon.

Highlights of the room:

- Home Goods would be proud to see this room. The orange chairs, cowhide ottoman, black bench & lamps are all from there!

-Chic yellow coffee table from The Glass Knob, NH for only $68

-Custom rug from JA

-Large wooden storage hanging piece above sofa was a vintage find from grandma that use to be in a hotel.

-Fretwork fabric in toss pillows & accent chair in sitting room from Duralee.

 

As if I wasn’t already in love I also found out that they have a pool out back, which means pool house!

 

Deborah’s home is perfect example of my design philosophy. It’s part thrift store/flea market finds, part chic but cheap steals from big box stores and some designer splurges.

 

Deborah, I hope that big house of your has a guest room, because I want an invite to see it all in person.

 

If you have a home that you think HHFITD readers would enjoy email me with pictures! For those of that you have already emailed me don’t worry I’m going through them all and you should hear from me soon.