Inspiration

Staging Inspiration

My apologies ahead of time- until we list this house on April 13th (and maybe even after), you can be assured that I will most likely be sporadic and very very very one tracked minded.  I have a feeling most of you are here because of my flip stuff anyway, so let's consider this a good thing.  Millie was a bigger project than I ever anticipated and has been sucking all of my time, energy, and brain power for better or worse.  While I still have a few big things going on, the biggest will be staging.  Following my previous trend of spending as little as possible and buying vintage as much as possible, I'm definitely handing myself a challenge here.  The interior design side of me wants to stage this house to the nines, but I need to pull myself back.  ROI.  Spending more won't necessarily bring more back in return.  I need to be STRATEGIC! The area that I've been thinking about the most since it's literally the most open ended is the living room- or rather 2 living rooms- and what the ideal way to stage them would be.

If you do a search for Craftsman Bungalow, you find 2 things:

Wood filled bungalows with complete period furnishings that look straight out of a museum (which are gorgeous in their own right, but not what I'm going for),

hoh bungalow

or whitewashed spaces that have taken it a bit to the extreme (also very nice, but I could never do that to Millie's wood work),

toh 02-update-craft

My goal here is to find the right balance of old and new and put my quirky little twist on it.  I think textiles are going to be key here.  Who doesn't love some good throw pillows??

fixer upper bungalow

A bit less formal than Millie's living rooms, but I love the cozy vibe from this open concept space featured on Fixer Upper. (note- textiles enhance coziness)

at restored bungalow

Even though this room featured on Apartment Therapy sports the painted woodwork, it also sports a nice balance of darker natural materials mixed in.  Can we just swoon over that coffee table for a sec here?

This pinned image seems to lead to an inactive real estate listing, but I love it all the same.

pin bungalow

The shell of the space is very traditional and borderline formal, however the softness added with furniture and accessories makes the house feel so welcoming.

I have so many great ideas for Millie's living rooms, but so little time and budget to execute!

After hunting endlessly on craigslist and at estate sales, I gave up on finding a pair of chairs that weren't hopelessly dated and ordered these on clearance from Target.  I'm totally making it my mission to bring back the 'granny florals' and make them cool and fresh again.  The fluffier fabric balances well with the straight lines of the chair.  Trust me when I say these will totally make sense hanging out in the first of Millie's living rooms.

threshold floral

 

 

 

 

Flea Market Swap Roundup

swapitreveal.jpg

I hope you took some time last week to pop by the other bloggers who participated in #swapitlikeitshot.  Let me tell you- when you give creative people a $10(ish) budget and the task to give thrifted treasures new life, you end up with some pretty amazing projects! ***As always, please click through to the original source and pin from there.  Give the credit where it's due!***

First of all, I just LOVE with what Colleen at 58 Water Street did with the items that I sent her!  Those items were a turned wood bracelet (I think?), a fun shaped box adorned with some unfortunate horsies, and a deep wood frame.

swapitcollagebefore

Looks like she was inspired to use plants just like I was.  The simple graphic nature she gave to the items is spot on, don't you think?

Swap It Reveal via 58 Water Street

Nancy over at Artsy Chicks Rule takes the prize for the most transformed.  Those pineapples should have always been gold (but weren't!).  Let's just say, I need to play around with some chalk paint myself.  Head over to her blog to see what these items were in their past life!

Thrifty Makeovers Swap It Challenge - Jewelry Tray DIY via Artsy Chicks Rule

Another crafting tool that I'm just itching to play with now is a Cricut.  Allison at Two Thirty-Five Designs used it to create gorgeous hoop art.  I'd like to be friends with that chic little bird.

No Sew Felt Hoop Art via Two ThirtyFive Designs

Jillian from I am a Homemaker turned simple wood placemats into an unexpected table runner.  I may see a DIY table runner in my own future- maybe one with some chalkboard paint?  Hello dinner party!

Crafting a wooden table runner via I am a Homemaker

The amazing organizer of this whole event, Charlotte at Ciburbanity even transformed the box her items were sent to her in!

Rainbow Ribbon Box Makeover via Ciburbanity

It was so fun to be a part of this event and I hope you've had a blast checking out the results!  I'd love to hear which project (from these or any of the projects) was your favorite!

To make it easy for you to go check out all the amazingness once again, here's the list of last week's Flea Market Swap participants.  Great job ladies!!!

Day 1- Monday Run to Radiance Decor Adventures Year of Serendipity (That's me!) 58 Water Street Don't Disturb This Groove Like Saturday Artsy Chicks Rule

Day 2- Tuesday Two Purple Couches While They Snooze The Gathered Home Black and White Obsession Ciburbanity Restoration Redoux Confessions of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer

Day 3- Wednesday Primitive & Proper Queen of Everything That's My Letter Finding Silver Pennies Migonis Home Windgate Lane

Day 4- Thursday I Am a Homemaker Town and Country Living Thoughts from Alice Our Southern Home Chic Little House SG Style Two Thirty~Five Designs

Day 5- Friday Gourley Girl & Guy The Thinking Closet The Charming Farmer 2 Little Superheroes Shades of Blue Interiors Live Pretty on a Penny

Eternal Winter

This endless snow is throwing me way off my game as you can probably tell by this random Thursday- first post of the week.  I feel like I'm living in Frozen here with Elsa's eternal winter.  Quick, we need an act of true love!  (Yes, I am a grown a$$ woman with no kids quoting Frozen.  Embrace it.)  Seriously, though 70+ inches of snow in under 3 weeks with another potential blizzard on the way?  Sheer craziness.  Mother nature's completely lost her marbles.  All this shoveling and schedule rearranging has drained my energy and my creativity, so please accept my apologies. Instead of the usual, here are 3 things from around the interwebs that caught my attention:

1. Emily Henderson.  Oh Emily.  Interior styling rockstar.  She's currently showing us 1 credenza styled 4 ways.  She's shown us 3 so far and the first is far and away my favorite.  She's labeled it "Upper East Side Mid-Century."

Credenza_4-Ways_Oil-Painting-Masculine-Brass_Mid-Century-Modern-Glam

 

2. On Pinterest, I stumbled upon a round-up of 30 Free printable to spruce up your child's room via Little Gold Pixel.  Not your average, cheesy, cutesy child art.  Thumbs up!  Most could also mix in a non-child oriented gallery wall.  And look, another Frozen reference!

children2-600x738

 

3. How did I not know that Society6 sells throw pillows??  I've purchased art and phone cases from them.  Now I'm looking for a place for all these pillows!  Do you see those prices?  With a pillow insert, a 16x16 pillow is only $27!

society-6-pillows

 

I'm sure I'm not the only one fighting the winter doldrums.  This snow is only temporary, the days will get longer, and before we know it will be flea market and spray paint season.  Ah, Brimfield.  I cannot wait!  Only 89 days, but who's counting.