Cool New Find

I am looking for a lamp for a desk in my bedroom. I just found this new introduction from Uttermost. It is 28 inches in height- a nice big light. I love the style- but worry that it won't actually give me the lighting that I need at that desk... But it's so cool... Only 100W... But it is cooler than any desk lamp... If it doesn't work there- I could probably find another good home for it...

My Vanity Night Stand

My DH is a wood worker and wants to make us night stands. I still have it in my head that I would like a vanity/night stand- (see this post) as our master bath is not large enough for a sit down vanity. I came across this table on Phoebe Howard's site and thought this could be the perfect design. I think I would add a drawer- but with no hardware- to maintain the sleek look. It can have a magnetic opening. DH's night stand can have the same style- but with two larger drawers- which I know he will want...

What do you think? What would you want in a vanity night stand?

What to do with my boys'...

I am not happy with my bunk beds in my boys' room that my four year old is too scared to sleep on, and my two year old won't stop climbing on - so I am thinking I want my husband to build some beds similar to the ones that he built for my girls' room (below). My beds in the girls' room are not full length twin sizes. I had the mattresses cut down - so that they would fit exactly wall to wall. I would do the same thing in the boys' room - but the room is longer - so hopefully they will not out grow them... (most moms probably want their boys to grow tall huh?) I came across this photo above and liked it. What do you think? It would give them plenty of room to build train tracks...

Wallpaper Wednesday Goes Teal Damask

Damask 1Damask 2

Damask 3

Damask 4

I want to convince my husband to do one of these in my Master Bedroom. It's a long shot- his middle name is "Let's keep it neutral". I have shades of cream, teal and brown. Which is your favorite?

All papers are from Ronald Redding.

Priceless Art

After seeing this post- Carol left this message:

Here's my question: how much is too much to spend on artwork? I see this piece for the wall costs more than the sofa. I guess I'm surprised by this, but maybe that's why my house never looks professionally done. I'm pretty cheap when it comes to things on my walls. Is there any rule of thumb?

- Carol

I would never put a rule of thumb on the price. There are rules on the size and scale. I once heard of accessorizing being 1/3 the job cost. I think it is great when you are starting a job from scratch, and have finite amount of funds to reserve an appropriate amount to decorate the walls and accessorize. Most of us decorate as we go along. I can tell you that I personally saved for a year for a hand painted screen in my family room. It did cost about the same as my leather sofa. Sometimes, however, you can find the coolest items at a low cost- like a plate collage. These plates I found on Etsy- a set of three for $16. You could search out some cool plates- raid your grandmother's house- go to flee markets- TJ Max- and make a fantastic collage on your wall without ever having to write out a large check. Oftentimes people purchase items that are too small- probably to save money. The cool mixed media art at the top of the post- also from Etsy is only 6" x 12"- Most walls would need a set of about 16 of these :) Sometimes- to make your art affordable- you could start with , say 4 pictures- (on a smaller wall) and slowly get more as time goes on- until you have the amount you need to fill the wall you are working on.

In this post - the wall art is the glue. All of the other items are natural- or black. The art is what pulls it all together. It is also the element in the room that will make it not just functional- but "cool" and pleasant. This piece is what gives the room "atmosphere." The wall art is also the "focal point" of the room. It is a pivotal vital piece. Spending some money here will prove to make all the difference in the room.

Your attitude is not uncommon. I run into it a lot- and people diminish their beautiful homes by purchasing their wall art at @X&^%$ and *X%&^%&^ . (I mentioned actual places- but thought I would offend a bunch of people... :) Those places are great! For when you are in college- or just starting out.- But when you are a grown up- it's time to get some grown up wall art. ;)