Organizing with Antonius!

Heya Nesters!

I'm sure the post title made you think of some fabulous local TV show that provides tutorials on organizing in a Roman fashion.  {No? Just me? Anyone?.... Anyone? ...Bueller?}  But really I'm talking "IKEA language."

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Love, Like, Loath: The New House

Heya Nesters!!

I just realized that it's been over two years that we've lived in this house and you guys have barely seen anything at all.  {All those other "responsibilities" have taken over.} But there is SO MUCH I want to share with you all! The rest of the house is really coming along nicely, a natural progression of bettering... except the master bedroom.  I don't know what it is.  I feel like I hit a roadblock when I chose a color I ended up loathing. Remember Wasabi Powder?  So, I am bringin' back the oldie but goodie "Love, Like, Loath" post. Which ironically, was also about my last bedroom.

It's lovely-- in this picture. But frankly. In other lights its kind of a bummer color.  May I say, slightly poop-ish.  And its a difficult color to work with others.  I have bought plum glass lamps to try to work those kind of muted shades but it just looked muddy.  I was thinking of adding some gold/brass accents in here to look a little vintage. But I just keep hating everything.

See how as you turn on the yellow light bulbs, it looks much more yellow?? Poop-ish!  Who has two thumbs and is a Debbie Downer about this room?  THIS GIRL!

The thing is, I'm a color gal. And while this is a color.... I like mixing complimentary colors together. I don't feel like I'm doing my job if I'm just doing black, white and the one color on the walls.  Which is exactly the rut we've fallen into in the master.  In fact, I'd rather have white walls and be able to put some awesome colors in the bedding and accessories!

So, first loath: paint color. But lets not be pessimistic here, lets follow the title and really get into it with the Love's first. {But seriously, I have a LOT to say about this room so bear with me.}

LOVE:
I LOVE our bed and bedding.  Our bed is the Hemnes King size bed and the mattress is also from IKEA and is the most. comfortable. mattress. ever.  I currently have our Home Goods white and beige Moroccan Medallion print/variegated stripe reversible quilt on the bed for the Summer.

The throw pillows are kind of a mishmosh of finds.  The 4 pillows we use while sleeping are Ralph Lauren from Home Goods.... and I only use white sheets.  I love white sheets. The "Performance Sheets" from Target are affordable, wrinkly resistant and super comfy. The euro shams are from IKEA. Then the velvet lumbar pillow I've had for ages. And I saw the raw cut pillow at BB&B on sale and it was still insanely expensive {even if I had used a coupon!} but without even searching, I found the exact same one on clearance at Home Goods for a quarter of the sale price!

So, I love our bed in general.  The other thing I love is the little set up on my dresser. 

If you cant quite see, I've got 3 containers on a mirrored tray with my favorite perfume, Stella McCartney Nude. And then my little frog box.  I got her as a present from an old friend for Christmas many years ago and I just love how whimsical she makes this otherwise very adult space. 

It's nothing wild, but it makes me smile.  And that's all that matters, right?

LIKE:
There are quite a few things in this room that I like.  And I am okay with keeping and improving upon them, or replacing.

First is all the lamps. They're all okay. They're a crackled glass globes.

I want to paint a bit of it with my beloved gold paint. Just an uneven, drippy bit on the inside.

And I thought I could compliment the other set of lamps by painting the inside of the shade kind of like this.  But do I want to do the gold and silver together? Not particularly.  Maybe the answer is to spray the base a fun color also!  Who knows!  But for now, they're "okay".

I also like the mis-matched night stands.  I've had them forever and I like that they don't match the rest of the Hemnes furniture.  I normally loath matching bedroom sets. But this one was simple, inexpensive and worked for us.  Another like!

Lastly, the simple white curtains. I like them. They were non-committal, white cotton, cheap curtains from Target. They're fine. *shrug* I like the way white curtains look in crisp rooms.  What I would like to ultimately do, is get a longer curtain rod that will allow the curtains to go all the way to the ends of the bed, almost as if its a secondary headboard. Would I like to upgrade to something with more pattern and color? You bet! But that comes after I get a clear vision of what this room should look like. 

LOATH: 

Ohhhhh there are so many things...  But this is a new addition.  

We originally had a GIANT AC built in circa 1969.  It worked great but sounded like a steamroller in our room at night.  It had to go.  Since we just had our windows replaced and we are siding our house in a couple weeks, the team that did the windows, also removed and patched the hole the AC left.  Doesn't it look lovely??  

It's going to be mudded and fixed up like new soon!  That wall over Matt's smaller dresser will have an interesting mirror.  We don't want just a standard every day mirror.  We want something funky and a tad ornate.  I'm thinking something like this....

Then the big blank space {that looks totally engulfed in flames from the poor images I took} over my dresser is going to have a nice big TV mounted so that we can snuggle and watch movies in bed.  I'm a big fan of watching movies in bed. 

Another loathsome moment in our bedroom is the space between our dressers that holds our laundry basket. 

The basket is too small for the space.  And it is constantly overflowing. I had a brilliant idea that may never come to fruition, but I want to add moulding to the base of these dressers and connect them in the corner.  Something like this..... 

Ignore my horrible photoshopping job. But you get the idea.  That way, we can have the laundry basket  in the corner still but hide the "dirty little secret".  Brilliant, right?! It's just a matter of figuring out how to do it all.  That would be one serious IKEA Hack! 

One of the last things I loath are the sliding wood doors to our closets. 

Yikes! Talk about dated.  But it's nothing a good couple of coats of white paint won't fix!  And I can spray the little knob-thingys with ORB and it will work perfectly with the wood of the furniture. We may even affix a full length mirror with some moulding on the second door from the right.  It's got the 

best space in front of it and it will never slide behind the other. 

And the very last thing I will gripe about tonight is the art.  We've got the front half of the room figured out for what will happen down the road. But its all the other "art" that's at the other end, near our bed that drives. me. nuts. 

This is sentimental.  I drew Matt a version of "George Lasso's the Moon" from It's a Wonderful Life for our first Valentines day, it had only been a month and was too soon for a real present.  And it's sweet and I love it, but it doesn't hold its own over the night stands.

I feel the same about this canvas art I made long long ago.  It just doesn't fill in the space well enough. I would love to do something like this.

Then there is the biggest point of contention.  The degrees. I love my boyfriend and I love that he's smart. {Maybe even smarter than me ;)} But he has both his undergrad and masters degrees hanging on the wall. He has his own office... the perfect place for a degree! After broaching the subject with him about possibly moving those to his office and maybe adding a piece of art to that wall instead, he got offended, saying that it's his only truly proud thing he has hanging in a shared space {aka not his office}... and he wants to keep them there...

*sigh*... I love him and his happiness is more important than the "balance" in our bedroom.  But They just look so empty there. So, I think what we may compromise on, is utilizing those sentimental pieces that currently hang over the nightstands and over Matt's dresser, and making a little gallery wall of sentimentality. Maybe I'll coin the name Sentimenwall? Eh? Eh? Like it??  

So there you have the longest winded blog post in the history of man-kind. Thank you for keeping up with my blabbering.  But now, I'm dying to hear your thoughts on what to do... whether you like what I like or hate what I hate. Let me know your thoughts, Nesters!

xoxo

G

Bachelorette Pad Tour: Part Duex

I thought I'd start off this long-ass post with the latest news on the house and move: There have been some setbacks.  Everything is all good, it happens with every renovation.  But I was supposed to move last Saturday and it has been postponed until Friday, the 15th.  My landlord was kind enough to let me leave half way through the month as extra "just in case" time.  Turns out we needed a little extra "just in case" time for the reno's.  Here's whats going to happen:  On Friday we get the Uhaul and move all the junk out of my apartment and into the basement/garage of the new homestead.  Since the floors will be in the middle of being re-done, we will have to leave it all down there without moving it directly into the space.  From Friday until the floors are dry and ready to be walked upon, I will be staying at Matt's condo with him and his brother. Once everything is all cured and ready for our tippie toes, we will move all my and Matt's belongings into our place and we will officially be "merged."  Y-I-K-E-S!  I am so excited to be in the house and out of box jungle!

Anyhooz... back to the imperative topic at hand.  And that should have been at hand a couple weeks ago when I finally gave you the first true House Tour.  Alas, things around here have been such a mess due to the move, I haven't had much energy to clean up my bedroom. But I did it.  And I did it just for you guys.  So if I may implore you, lets begin Part Duex...

I'm not dead! But we have a bed!

I swear! I'm still alive and kickin'.  I can't even tell you what I've been doing that has kept me away from the keyboard for so long this stretch.  The past month has been a blur.  My grandest apologies. But did you like my rhymin' in the title?  I should start rapping.  Did I mention I'm bad ass?

Oh right. Because I'm not.

If it ain't broke, dont fix it...

However, if it is.... you probably should fix it.  As we saw in my bedroom, I need to fix that heinous issue that's happening over my head when I snuggle up every night --That's right!  I'm talkin' about the bed frame and the framed poster over my bed.

Basket Case

Heya Nesters! May I start off by saying a hearty TGIF to you all!  Spring is right around the corner and  so is Easter! And you know what Easter means.... BASKETS! I have a problem with baskets. I love them. Particularly if they are dark brown and/or have handles. I am a total "basket case"!  {I crack myself up!}

 Oh hello 1994!... Nice to see you again... I've missed you!

Orange and Teal seals the deal.

Heya Nesters! I know it's Wednesday and it's going to be a long one.  But lets rise against the doldrums and enjoy some eye candy.  Shall we? I just had to share with you guys this amazing room designed by Kendall Wilkinson for Traditional Home. 

I know what you're thinking: Incredible. The unapologetically bold colors and the hyper glam silhouettes and textures... I have no words.  {Ok, maybe a few.}  I bow down at the feet of Kendall Wilkinson for their show stopping room.  I just thought you all might like the hump day stunning space!  

Do you love it? Hate it? Specific elements that you love or hate? Dish, Nesters! We all want to hear!

Love. Like. Loathe.

Heya Nesters! Yellow, Aqua and Chocolate. Those are the colors of my bedroom.  Way back yonder, in my old apartment, I had the most beautiful pale aqua walls that were so incredibly soothing and they totally tied my whole decor together.

Now with the "no painting" policy in my current apartment, I have been feeling a bit lost in terms of where to go with my bedroom decor. 

If I Had a Million Dollars: The Love Shack

Heya Nesters!  I really am not a huge Valentines Day person.  Sure, we say "happy valentines day" with a smooch or two and have a low key day where I cook homemade ravioli, meatballs, sausage and my Nannys' sauce and watch a movie. But that's not out of the ordinary.  It's just another date because we love each other every day. I strive to be the sweet, made-for-Lifetime-TV-movie {minus all the obsessive stalker-y murders}, weepy-Hallmark-commercial, sappy romantic girlfriend all the time for him, not just on Valentines day.  So, in honor of loving every day and every night with my main squeeze, if I had a million dollars, I would have a looooooove shaaaaaaack! That is decorated for lovin' all year round!

Hats Off!

Heya Nesters! On Saturday, I was on my way home from upholstery class I made a little detour down a  side street I don't normally take.  Like it was destiny, there, sitting in the four foot pile of snow, was a gem of a trash pick - a broken chair. And it was mine. All mine.  Now you may be thinking, "Gina, why would you ever want a broken chair?" You'll just have to trust me on this.  But that's not why I'm telling you this story! Believe it or not, it gets better! As I was pulling the chair out of the snow, the owner came out and asked me if I was interested in any vintage hats.  She was moving and said they would just be thrown out otherwise, so I followed her to a pile of hat boxes.  I only went home with one adorable one that I am totally in love with.

Isn't she cute?

If I Had a Million Dollars: Jewels for Your Rooms

I have a confession: I am scared of using bold colors in my home.  I think many people feel that way.  I have ideas galore of great colors and what would work without clashing but still being bold and make a statement.  And then I step into my beige house. Hello, Beige couch.  Hello, Beige walls, Bathroom, kitchen, bedroom.... everything!  But it's safe.  My theory is that down the line I will have a home I own, that I can paint the walls rich colors and that way my furniture will match whatever walls I paint!  That's why this week, If I Had a Million Dollars I would have my whole house in rich, saturated jewel tones. 

 

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 The accessories in this room really complete the jewel toned heaven. The chair that incorporates all the colors and the bedding are all spectacular. Is it bad that my favorite part is still the silver deer head?  Damn you neutrals!!

Tulle and Tootsies

Good {snowy} Morning, Nesters!  Last night I added a little tulle and tootsies to my fine nest.  What the heck am I talking about? Well... lets start with a little background.

Via

DIY Project: Girlie Bookshelf

Heya Nesters!  Well I have to admit, I kind of forgot to post about this DIY.   It's not entirely done but I thought it was dramatically different enough to show you the "during" portion. A while back {so far back that they were taken in the old apartment!!} I introduced you to this bookcase that my dad and I made when I was a kiddo. It hold sentimental value and I am a total sap so there was no way I could get rid of it. But at the time I made it I LOVED pink, flowers and Hanson. {I know... I not only dated myself but I made myself "that girl"}

When I was 17...

Heya Nesters.  I remember the moment when I realized I was no longer a "teen".  It wasn't when I turned 20, it was the day I asked myself "When did VH1 become cooler than MTV?"  I was about 17.  And that theory has gone one step further that now neither are all that cool. {With the exception of Teen Mom, I shamefully admit that show is a total guilty pleasure.}  In the spring, MTV aired a show called "When I was 17" where celebs discuss who and how they were when they were in high school.

{Image via MTV.com}

 

 

 

So, when I was 17, I loved pink, purple and silver.  Oh yeah... and don't forget Christmas lights.

Urban Ruffles

Urban Out fitters has done a seriously fabulous job of working the ruffles this season. And I don't mean the kinds SJP wears...

We're talkin' house soft goods. They have outdone themselves my friend. Out done I tell ya!

Tray Chic: Deux

Heya Nesters and welcome back to Monday! Do you remember last week when I was ogling all kinds of trays?  I wanted to wrangle in some things that felt like they were just floating on some larger surfaces and this picture was so inspiring...

Why Couldn't I Commit?

Heya Nesters!  Welcome back to Monday!  Hope you all had a nice weekend.  Let me start by saying I have been spending far too much money lately.  With Christmas around the corner, I am trying to tighten my belt.  But did you guys notice something missing in the reveal of my nightstand mirrors?

I don't have any throw pillows on my bed!!  I know, I know. What kind of a faux interior design fan am I?!

Mirror Mirror on the Wall 2

Heya Nesters!  Yesterdays post was all about the bargain leaning floor mirror that I scored at Walmart. That wasn't where the bargains ended for this this gal. Oh no, I hit the jackpot at The Christmas Tree Shop.  Every bedroom design image that sticks in my brain is one that involves mirrors above or behind matching nightstand lamps. 

Mirror Mirror on the Wall...

Do you ever have those shopping trips where you plan on getting absolutely mundane things like soap or hand lotion and you walk out with forty dollars worth of amazing deals? I had 2 of those this weekend.  Good bye, Money. It was nice knowing you!  But man I scored this weekend when it came to mirrors especially. 

Remember a while back I started the hunt for the perfect {and perfectly priced} leaning mirror?  Oh. Yes.  I found it.

Back in action

Heya Nesters.  I'm back in action today... sort of. Still a little tired and worse for wear, but on the rebound from a pretty terrible bout with influenza.  Anyhow, I decided I wanted to keep it simple today, no need to over-exert myself, right?  So lets take a peek at some cozy homes that make you think "Gee, if I had to be under the weather, doing it there would make it somehow more bearable."  Or maybe that's just me...?

 {via Apartment therapy}