Serenity Now

Bedrooms are made for relaxing and getting away from it all.  This design palette with cool, serene blues and rich, dark chocolate browns will do just that.  

Update your dresser with some knobs in colored glass, and keep all your clutter off the dresser by using sleek shelves and pretty hooks.  A cushioned bench with storage is perfect for stowing away extra pillows and throws, when you go to bed.  Add some luxury to your bedside manner with a chic shag rug in white, and keep your night tables clear by using wall sconces instead of table lamps.

Remember to think about your closet and dressing area when you are decorating your bedroom.  Use shiny votive cups to keep your makeup brushes and pencils in order, and maximize small spaces by using baskets to keep scarves and belts in order, as well as your seasonal accessories like hats and gloves.

Credits:  Paint by Benjamin Moore "Glass Slipper"; Wallpaper by Graham & Brown; Hooks, Knobs, and Votive Cups by Anthropologie; Floral Art Canvas via 2Modern.com; Mirror & Wall Sconce via Crate & Barrel; Baskets via Cost Plus World Market; Nightstand, Storage Bench, Headboard, via West Elm; Rug via Ikea, Chandelier via Target 

Favorite Things

These are a few of my favorite things...for Eva and Zoe...all items courtesy of the Gap.

First Birthday

Eva and Zoe turn one this month!  Just because we are not having a big party for them, doesn't mean they won't get to celebrate in style....

Here are some easy and pretty ideas I have in mind to commemorate the special occasion.

The Nursery

I remember how we felt when we first found out I was pregnant.  Our first natural emotion was elation.  We were so happy to know we were successful, after trying for what seemed to be a long time.  Then, reality set in and our house seemed so small.  It was even more difficult to visualize a space in our home when we found out we were having twins, not just one baby!


I had just redecorated our home office, and I loved the way my crafts room (which doubled as our guest room) was set up--but it was obvious that we were going to have to give up a room soon.  After much consideration, we decided to eliminate the 'guest room' and find temporary new homes for all the furniture in that room.


We moved the futon to the office, for future guest use, and the large drafting table and mini chest of drawers was moved to our bedroom.  The large entertainment center, along with a TV and DVD player, was moved out since we really could not find a place at home to accommodate it.  However, there were a few pieces we could keep still keep once we converted the room into a nursery.  We kept the white shelves, which were perfect for a nursery, and also kept a set of three white nesting tables, which also worked well in the new space.


My vision for the nursery was to create a room that was serene and peaceful and that our babies could grow into.  The sex of our babies was never relevant, since I knew I could always add pink or blue to any design I came up with.  Ultimately, we settled on a soft sage green for the main color of the room, with a soft ivory to complement it, to be used on the lower half.  The room would be divided by a soft white chair rail going around the entire room.  We decided to buy the cribs in a dark finish and balance the dark cribs with white accent furniture to avoid a look that was too heavy for a nursery.  We also had to move a large bookcase (from our office) into the nursery, since the futon would not fit into the office unless we did.  The bookcase complemented the dark finish on the cribs.


Here are more photos, along with the breakdown of what it took to create our lovely nursery.  I apologize for not posting prices, but it was a long process and I am afraid I did not keep very good track of all our expenses.

Room painted and chair rail installed by our friend Kylin {Thank you!}

Espresso finish convertible crib [Purchased new, Buy Buy Baby]

Dark finish ladder bookcase [Repurposed, from office]

Pink ruffled lamp shade [Purchased new, Pottery Barn]

White nesting tables [Repurposed, kept in room]

Green silk curtains [Purchased new, Restoration Hardware]

White shelves [Repurposed, kept in room]

IKEA Chair [Repurposed, from living room] {being replaced soon with new LaZBoy rocker}

White dresser [Repurposed, from our bedroom] {updated with new crystal knobs}

Original Pop Art, Artist Michael Albert

[Acquired on a trip to NYC]

{Professionally Framed, at Art of Framing, in Phoenix}

Pink ceiling light fixture [Purchased new, PB Teen]

Laundry Hamper [Purchased new, Land of Nod]

Fabric storage bins [Purchased new, Pottery Barn]

Large bookcase [Custom built] {Thanks Tony!}

Fabric storage bins [Purchased new, Pottery Barn]

Large bookcase [Custom built] {Thanks Tony!}

Sneak Peek: My New Office

Here is my new office! I wanted to give everyone a sneak peek, for now. The only thing left to do before I'm 'finished' is install the ceiling lighting I've purchased. Stay tuned for details of this project, including a breakdown of all the costs associated with the new room!

This was my office, before the makeover. So, what do you think? Feel free to share your comments. Thanks!

Painting Furniture 101

One of the key features of my new home office was the use of modern black furniture, instead of the original cherry wood furniture I've had for years. I decided to re-purpose the same furniture by re-painting it in black. This was not as easy as it sounds, but in the end it was still worth it!

At first, we thought spray paint would be the best option, but we soon learned that spraying the furniture black (even after sanding and priming it) did not result in the best finish. We started with the desk, and as you can see below the paint went on blotchy and did not look so great.

A quick trip to Home Depot to return the many cans of spray paint ended up in purchasing interior paint in a Satin finish to complete the project. I had to sand down the desk again, to remove the spray paint, and then applied two coats of paint with a small paint roller. The result: Success! As you can see below, the finish was even and had a nice sheen to it, and best of all, it was QUICK!

Here are pictures of the rest of the furniture, in various stages of repainting.

TV CART

LARGE FILING CABINET

TV CART &

SMALL FILING CABINET

I hope this inspires you to re-purpose some pieces you have, and save some big bucks buying new furniture. In today's economy, we all need money-saving ideas that keep our house beautiful.

The cost of this project was under $50, including the can of paint and the painting supplies.

{A big thank you to my husband, Victor, for moving the furniture in and out of the office, as well as helping me tape and touch up the tedious corners and drawers of the furniture!}

Do Sweat the Small Stuff: Light Fixtures

When I bought my new home five years ago, I upgraded as much as possible to make sure I could have a home that was beautiful and elegant. However, the upgrades the home builder offered for lighting were still nothing but dull and dreary. I hope the pictures I share with you of the true upgrades I've made in my home inspire you.

DINING AREA

In the dining area, I inherited an inverted half-sphere, which was standard but not very appealing. I quickly went out shopping looking for something more dramatic, and found these beautiful pendant lamps to hang over my dining room table. I bought three of them, and set them on a dimmer for mood lighting. I cannot stop receiving compliments on this quick update, which did not cost more than $200.

BEDROOM

For the master bedroom, I found this beautiful capiz shell pendant that echoed the light colors of my decor and complements a romantic, airy style. I found this at Cost Plus World Market for under $100, and also put it on a dimmer to up the romance factor in the bedroom.

BATHROOM

Every new home comes with these awful Vegas-style dressing room bulbs. I was also quick to replace those in the master bathroom. It really made a world of difference. See for yourself the touch of elegance it brought to the bathroom. These I found at Home Depot, and am sure I did not spend more than $100 on them.