Thursday, March 13, 2014

Wall doings

Our walls are lacking love in many places.  I hope to gradually find things that I can't live without to make our home feel more like us rather than just go to the store find something that will work for now and throw it up.  It makes it hard but in the long run, I know it's what we need.

Right now our dining room wall needs some love.  In the worst way.  John suggested getting a few large scale pieces and putting them up.  But what? Our dining room's pretty traditional at the moment.  I would like to bring in some modern touches to even it out a bit.  Of course I don't have pics of our current dining room, but here are some ideas that I am loving to try.

Large scale maps.
I know this isn't anything new and has been done for years, but I think it could really work for this space.  I found a great ETSY shop (link below) that has some wonderful vintage options.  I'm thinking just simple black matted frames to hang them in a large group and be done.

inspiration shot:
Vintage Maps - Paris, France 1705 size 36" x 44" ( set of 4 sectionals )

A massive painting or wall hanging.
This also is a tough one because I am so not good at finding something I love and it can be very expensive. Thankfully for ETSY (yes, all caps is necessary) I may be able to find a nice piece by an unknown amazing artist that I could afford.

inspiration shot:
Domino Decorating Ideas | Living dining room - November 2007 Domino magazine

Dining Room


this last one by the way, might be the most beautiful home I have ever seen.  GO to the link NOW and check it out. You won't be disappointed!

So those are my plans for now. Either some big maps framed or a big painting/something to hang.  Decisions, decisions.


Wednesday, March 12, 2014

The perfect little desk

So I have been scoping Craigslist for weeks now looking for the perfect little desk for our living room. Just somewhere we can house the laptop, bills and important papers since our current work station is our sofa in the den. And I found it! And it's mine!




I love the size and the detail of the wood.  Wish it had a top to it as well, but I am excited to do some decorating with a new lamp and frames and find a fun chair to recover to use.  Could even possibly paint it down the road, but I love the look of wood so will probably leave this one alone.  Also have a guy coming Friday to give us a quote on putting built in's around the fireplace.  Of course the den needs new carpet and we definitely need to fence in the back, but built in's can't be tough (i.e. expensive), right? 

Do you hunt on CL ?  The seller said she had over 20 people contact her in just one day and I was the first one to say I'd buy it so it's all mine!  I promise to follow up with some photos of how it ends up at our house. 

Here are a few shots I found on Pinterest that are inspiring me.

secretary desk by stairway. After kids toys are gone
Pottery Barn of course.

Well contained, classy bar.  I would prefer two or three small pictures above, though, for more color and definition.
I never even thought of this possibility!!

Great post on home offices and finding pieces to fit your space. Little Green Notebook: Thinking about my home office
Can you say swank?

red mahogany stained secretary with claw feet and horizontal stripe curtains
This was an amazing re-do

English Study, small and cozy and liking the fact they used contemporary art
Love it all!

Barometer work lamp - found one just like this at Ikea! $29.99
And maybe a lamp like this one?

desk lamp designed by Jo Hammerborg in the 1960s for Fog & Morup - Denmark
or this one...

stay tuned!


all images found via Pinterest