Chevron or Stripes?

I received 2 wing back chairs (for free!!) and I am sending them off to the upholsterer to be recovered.  I keep going back and forth trying to decide on a fabric for them.  Do you like the large scale chevron or is it too trendy and will go out of style quickly?

Or do I go with a classic black and white cabana stripe, in outdoor fabric, that is easy to clean if the kids spill on the chairs???  I can't decide, I really love both options, but would love to hear from you!!!

The Baby Diaries Part 2: Barron + Serena's Nursery

 Happy Labor Day Weekend!!!  I hope you are enjoying the time off and soaking up the end of the Summer sun!  I've managed to spend most of my weekend in doors, enjoying the AC and laying around relaxing.  Just when I think I have the energy to do something, all I want to do is lay down again.  I'm a complete bum with a huge belly and officially over being pregnant!  I'm still working and plan on doing so till I give birth, which is probably stupid because I get even more exhausted but it keeps me busy and I like the company of my co-workers all day.  I have managed to get a few things done, like decorate the nursery Barron will be sharing with his Sissy (I have packed my hospital bag in case I do go into labor sooner than I expect!)  

 I wanted their room to be very calming and relaxing when we're in there.  I chose Behr's Dolphin Fin as the wall color.  It's seriously a gorgeous color and if I knew how to properly work my Canon EOS camera you could get a better idea of it, but I don't, so take my word, this color is gorgeous!  It's definitely on the lighter side, which I wanted.  Since Barron hasn't transitioned out of his crib yet, I haven't put the bumper pads or dust ruffle on yet, so it's lacking a bit of color there, but you get the idea.

I still have 2 silver picture frames to hang over the crib, one is Barron's birth announcement and once this little girl gets here, hers is going up on the wall too!  

 I made the changing table area for little Sissy.  All her clothes (and I mean all the drawers are packed with her clothes!) are stored here as well as diapers and supplies you need when changing diapers.  I gave in and ordered on Amazon some stupidly expensive diaper pail system since I will now be changing 2 kids' diapers and figured the plastic ghetto grocery bag method I've been using wasn't going to cut it anymore.

 Here's my solution to a glider or rocker...Ikea's Poang Chair in Black/Brown with a Granan White cushion.  First, the thing is cost effective at about $150 all in, second it bounces, and third it's really comfy!  I just couldn't justify spending $600 on a glider that I wasn't going to use that long.  I found this ottoman at a local thrift shop and the thing was totally beat down.  It was $20 out the door and I had my mom give it some tender loving care to bring it back to life!  I found this flamingo fabric at F&S and knew I wanted to use it somewhere in the nursery.  It brought in some coral pink without making the room too girly, so it works for both kids.  The gray leopard pillow I found online at C. Wonder  for about $30 for 2!   

I sadly had to move my white Expedit from my office and switched it with the 4x4 black/brown model that was in here before for more space.  It creates so much storage and the framed art is Barron's first piece that I bid on at his little art auction at daycare!  Kids art is my favorite thing and framed with a nice white matte makes it look even more special.    

 I created a little nook for Sissy's little shoes and growing hair bow collection!

 After countless hours on Pinterest, I was inspired to create a book wall for Barron.  I found these picture ledges at Ikea that were super easy to hang.  I love all the colors the books bring into the room and he can grab a book and we can hang out and read.  

 The chevron pillow was a Home Goods purchase...

I bought the blanket on the bed at Pottery Barn and had Barron's name monogrammed on it, and they don't carry it anymore, which I am super bummed about because I wanted to get a matching one for Sissy, but now I'm looking elsewhere.  The toddler bed was purchased online from Amazon, it's the Davinci Modena model.  It was a pain to put together but it uses a crib mattress and sheets, so it's a nice transition for now.

There are a few more things I want to add like a rug and some colorful pillows, but for now, we are good to go and I'm just glad that I was able to get it done!!!  Now I can relax....

See more inspiring nurseries here!

Crushing on Tommy Smythe

Every saturday afternoon I religiously DVR all my favorite HGTV shows and lazily lounge on my couch relaxing.  My favorite shows (besides Color Splash and Candice Olsen) are Sarah's House and Design Inc. I love watching the dynamic duo, Sarah Richardson and Tommy Smythe, remodel and redecorate fabulous spaces.  I love their creativity and quirky personalities, and I especially love Tommy's quick wit (his dandy sense of style rocks too)!

I about fell over when I saw Tommy's recent project in House and Home.  I love how he mixes traditional elements with a gentleman's haberdashery.  Zebra, houndstooth, and gray wool fabrics are so warm and cozy, but I especially love how he offsets these with glossy black walls, crisp white trim and lots of dark wood.  

This gold mirror hangs perfectly over the sofa.

I love the look of round mirrors grouped together up the stairs, gives it an aged look.

This bathroom packs so much punch for such a small space!  I love when a small powder room has a surprise element like this zig-zag pattern in yellow, black and gray! 

Loving the pops of orange mixed with navy!  This is fast becoming one of my favorite color combos!

Are you dying over the kitchen yet?  He perfectly blended gold hardware with classic chrome faucets.  That floor is beyond stellar!

I want that red Chesterfield and I love the mix of gray, black and gold.  

 Lots of crisp black and white, seriously I want to move in here!!!!

New Favorite Fabric Source

After searching the internet for David Hicks' La Fiorentina fabric, I came across this fabulous knock off at only $18 per yard from Spoonflower.  

As I started browsing their site, I found many of my favorite fabric styles at nearly a fraction of the price the originals cost.  This spotted fabric is one of my favorites that I've been wanting to do for the bench at the foot of my bed.  It reminds me of Snow Leopard that Jan Showers uses frequently in her interiors.  It has such a glamorous vibe and I could totally see lots of gold and black used as accents with this one!  

I always love a beautiful pink ikat!  This is such a fun print that adds a comfortable element to any room and a punch of pink is so much fun!

I love a good graphic geometric shape and this navy color way feels masculine and mature to me, but mixed with a bright pop of pink in a room would be so chic! 

Of course I love a black and white chevron so I had to include it.  I adore chevron, one of my first acrylic on canvas paintings I did in Art Class my sophomore year of high school was in this pattern and I still have it.   Every time I see this print, I get happy.    

This purple ikat is perfect!  Pair it with navy, yellow, brown, black and you have a rich accent for any chair you are recovering.  I want to do this on a pair of Louis style chairs with black painted frames or even on the bed bench.

My New Favorite Fabric

A few weeks ago Hallie, over at The Glam Lamb, did a post about Liz Caan, my new favorite interior design crush.  I immediately fell in love with her work, but was even more intrigued by the fabric on the throw pillow, tossed casually in the white chair above with the Hermes blanket.  I later discovered while browsing through the latest issue of Lonny that it's Thomas Paul for Duralee.   

I love anything with a peacock feather!  This pattern in particular is really speaking to me because it's so graphic and packs a punch.  The brown color way Liz used works so well in this interior, it totally can stand alone, but it complements the other pieces in the room so nicely.  I love everything going on in this room!  The bright orange monogrammed pillows, the faux fur blanket, the dog painting, mixed with the mirrored nightstands.  Set against the calming blue walls is absolute perfection in my eyes!

Here are a few other colors of the fabric....

I love this  peacock blue, I would totally upholster a chair in this color...

Love the deep plum too, I could see this one used in a dining room... 

Of course, I love any great neutral with a great pattern!  This one would be my first choice to cover my bench at the foot of my bed.  I'm feeling inspired again!!!

I Adore Snow Leopard

I'm currently obsessed with this fabric from Hinson & Co. called Snow Leopard.  I'm planning to recover my bedroom bench in this one.  It adds just enough leopard glam without being too cheesy!     

 You may have seen it before, Jan Showers regularly uses it in her interiors and she used it for the cover of her book Glamourous Rooms!  

Holiday Decor

The tree is up and I've got the place as decked out for the holidays as I could possibly handle this year! I'm really pleased by the way my little fake white tree (purchased from Wal-Mart) turned out dressed with pink, white, aqua, and silver decorations.

The one downside of not having a real tree is the fresh piny smell. So instead, I loaded up on holiday scented candles that are displayed on the buffet and I filled clear glass hurricanes with colored ornaments that sparkle. (Notice the Louis Chair with the leopard pillow? I've been wanting to paint the frame white and recover it in a leopard fabric - what do you think? The other option would be a white frame with black ostrich leather - I just can't decide).

Notice the pop of pink on the couch? Those are the new throw pillows I had my mom make for me. I really wanted to balance all the dark gray and brown going on with brighter colors and I am so happy with the results! It's so easy to change the look of a room with new throw pillows.

I had this piece of Waverly pink paisley fabric saved, backed it with the pink fabric, and had a new throw pillow made. For some reason, paisley just reminds me of the holidays, it's cozy, and I love that it's pink and brown to complement the couch.

I love to hang glass ornaments from a chandelier. You can't see it in the picture, but I have this really ugly 80s chandelier hanging in my dining room, so the ornaments at least make it appear a little more festive and dress up the room for the holidays.