Sneak Peak

Okay, so it's not complete, but here is a sneak peak at my bedroom. You can see the headboard that was painted black and the new blue duvet set.
I'm still trying to come up with a way to fix the bed/headboard issue. As you can see, the headboard is tall and the bed is low. So there is an obvious gap. Right now because of the height difference, the two are unattached and the headboard is just leaning up against the wall. It's not great to look at but I guess it could be worse. So either I've got to find a bed frame that sits higher than 5 inches off the ground, find a bed frame that will fit bed risers, or cut the headboard somehow. Although I do prefer to raise the bed than to lower the headboard.

The other obstacle I have is that I have no idea what curtains to hang. In the first photo you'll see something up, but it's hard to see clearly with the sun shinning in. So I took a picture of the baseboard so you could see what's up now.I bought 2 different color sheer panels at World Market a while ago and hung them side by side to see which one looked best. Unfortunately, I am not crazy about either one. I love sheers, but let's face it, it almost defeats the purpose of a curtain. At night, if the blinds are open, you can still see in. As for the white panel, it does nothing for the room. Blends in with the wall. As for the aqua, I knew it wasn't going to be the same color as the duvet and that's what I was going for. I don't want the matchy-matchy look. But I'm not sure if the blue and the aqua really complement each other. So far, the visitors I have had haven't been crazy about it.

So I'm stuck. I want to avoid matchy-matchy, don't want anything dark or heavy because I like the natural light that comes in and want to keep it airy and light in there, and I'm afraid to mix-n-match patterns because of the odd pattern on my duvet set. HELP! :) Any suggestions? Send links and photos if you wish, because those always help!

As for side notes, ignore the lamp and ruffled bedskirt...these will be changed. Also ignore the fact that the curtain panels don't go all the way to the floor...I over estimated the height of the curtain rod. :)

P.S. I'm buying this Ikea chair from some guy off craigslist tomorrow, so I'm pretty excited about that. At Ikea it's $100, but I'm getting it for $80. He said it's immaculate! I'll post photos once the living room is viewable. haha

New Headboard & A Book You Should Look At!

So I am now the new proud owner of a headboard. I don't think I've had one since I was a small child (with the exception of those years with a daybed). I bought this large, Broyhill, solid wood headboard off of Craigslist last night for only $60. It was a steal! It just so happens to be stained in a cherry finish which matches my nightstand and my dresser (not pictured). However, I'm going to be painting all 3 pieces black next weekend. I can't wait! I'm sure I'll post before and after photos because by the time the pieces are painted, I'll be moving into my new apartment and I'll be wanting to show that off. So, I can now scratch "get headboard" off my To Do List. Woohoo! :)

My new blue duvet will be delivered either later today or Monday, so I'm excited about that as well.

In other news, I came across this post on Apartment Therapy today that really intrigued me. I would sum up what the post is about, but I'd just be reiterating what they're saying and trust me, they say it much better than I ever could. So please click on "this post" and check it out yourself.

I couldn't have said it better myself when AT said:
"If you watched the endless footage of flooding in the Midwest on television last night, you probably wondered - as I did - if this was a freak of nature or the shape of things to come. And then you might have thought - as I did - that if it IS global warming what the hell is going to stop it."

I worry more and more every day as I watch the evening news what this world is coming to. I wonder if there will even be a world for my children to live in. Should I start building my underground bomb shelter now? Ironically it'd be to protect me more from floods, dangerous UVB rays, low air quality and poisonous food more than it would be to protect me from a bomb. How weird that feels to say and yet, it's our reality.

What is this world coming to? And how are we going to rise up and stop it?

The Great Chair Debate

To be honest with you, I don't even know why I'm posting this. With the amount of time it takes me to write this, these items may be gone. So it appears hopeless, but oh well. I'd like feedback anyway.

In my new apartment I think I'll have to get rid of my loveseat and replace it with a nice chair. I'm fine with this, as long as I can find the right chair. So I've been glued to craigslist lately trying to find that perfect chair and nothing has really stood out to me just yet, screaming "I'm the one!". However, I did find a few unique pieces that I wanted to share and possibly get feedback on.

Here is a beautiful black velvet tuffeted chair that is gorgeous. BUT the fact that I have 2 cats doesn't seem to agree with black velvet. Would you attempt it? And if so, would you do anything special to avoid the cat hair collection? Besides vacuum the chair every single day?

Here is a lovely antique chair, but it's pink, and doesn't look as comfy as a modern chair. But tell me, do you know of any kind of dye you can put on fabric like this to change the color?

This is of course an Ikea chair. My sister has one, but she was smart and went with a neutral color. Although semi-comfy, I'm not sure if this is the way I want to go. But haven't completely made up my mind yet.

And last but not least, the craziest of all, the "I-don't-know-what-to-call-it" chair. It's ugly, I think we can all agree on that, but the frame of the chair seems to be solid. And it looks fairly easy to reapholster, correct? (This coming from someone who can hardly make a pillow.) I don't know, does it look like a project worth taking on? Are there even any slip covers out there for a chair like this? ...HELP!

Shabby Chic?

For some reason I have always had a soft spot for shabby chic decor. It's weird too because it's not really me, I'm not the most girly girl out there, and yet I am drawn to the softly painted and distressed look. I am, however, never going to be drawn to girly floral bedspreads, so don't hold your breath on that one.


Here are a few Criagslist finds that I found today that I keep drooling over. I refuse to purchase this style though because it goes against everything I have going on in my apartment right now. If I bought 1 or 2 shabby chic pieces and incorporated them into my home, I'd have to do a complete overhaul on everything else just to make those pieces work.


P.S. I found a new apartment Monday and signed the papers and I move in mid July. So that problem is now taken care of. My new apartment is a little smaller but has a nice open floor plan and should be lovely with it's nice vaulted ceilings and 12 foot walk-in closet. :) I wish I could buy all new furniture and start with a new style....but I think that's wishful dreaming!


Shabby Chic nightstand $35


























Shabby Chic desk $75





























Shabby Chic sofa table or buffet. $85

Shabby Chic coffee table $75

News

1. Got news that at the end of the year our office is closing. So we will all be laid off.
   
2. Another person backed out of the Florida trip. So now only 3 out of the original 6 are going. If we can't find more people to go, we may be in financial trouble.
   
3. I may spend my evening selling a bunch of crap on craisglist....for money.

Nashville Craigslist Finds

I have been finding such good stuff on craigslist lately. Too bad I'm not ready to revamp my entire furniture collection. Maybe when I move in a year, but not now.

Click on the pictures to go directly to the craigslist ad.

A pair of vintage lamps. It's hard to tell in the pic, but they look like they could be jadeite.
$25 (SOLD)

A vintage black telephone. Pretty cool.

$25

The "Friends" couch!!! How very cool! I love it.
$100

Man, I could get the retro, shaby, funky feel I'm wanting if I was only ready. Unfortunately, Riley and Molly (that cats, aka "hair twins") won't allow this. If I bring it home, they'll only destroy it. So in a year, I plan to be cat free and shopping for new decor. Woohoo!

Anybody want 2 cats? :) Seriously...let me know.