Tips for the New Year from House Beautiful

I'm in major purging mode. I wouldn't consider myself a pack rat or a hoarder but I have stuff...lots and lots of stuff. So in preparation for BabyFu I am trying to get rid of anything I don't need!

House Beautiful has a great article on their website page today about ways refresh your home for the New Year..here are a few images.

#1-Clear up the Entryway. My Mudroom is a disaster right now with laundry/presents to be returned/multiple purses. Time to rethink the bench that never gets sat on!

#5-Show off your dishware. This could free up some cabinet space!! I might select a few Serving pieces and hang them in the Dining Room & Kitchen. Anybody have any good hanging methods for pieces you will actually use?

#4-Re-purpose an Antique. I currently have a piece similar and while it is not an antique I think I can get more storage out of it...LOVE this as a bar. I am dying to show off our fun glassware.

#7-Make a Home Office. I am in desperate need of this. M has his own office area but we really want to make his into built-ins in our formal living room. My area is a small spot in the kitchen. I need a place where I can have personal laptop + work laptop/monitor and then all my stationary..etc. We are running out of rooms so maybe a desk in the guest room? The only issue is when I am on maternity leave and work from home the 3rd month I will have to kick out guests....decisions decisions.

#13-Be Fancy. Well this will never happen in the master bathroom as it is a closet, but I would love a great storage piece in the guest bath. Funnily enough this piece is similar to one that has been offered to me by a friend. I really want to put it in the guest room so at least my personal laptop/stationary will have a home.

What are you working on for the New Year? So far I have put mini-martini glasses in my give away pile!

All Photos & article via House Beautiful

Nursery Art

Yes...another nursery post. I promise to post something NON Nursery before Christmas!!!

So people keep asking me if I have a theme. I really don't...or I'm trying not to. I can't decide though if I should stick with pastels..I have a beautiful dhurrie that was in my parents attic that is pale blues and greens. Or do I use this fabric I really really want to use and introduce jewel tones? All Blue Nursery below...

Restoration Hardware

Too many decisions!!

And another area I'm having issues. I have a beautiful Fox print by Sallie Middleton. (My last name means Fox in German) But I also have this AWESOME New Orleans 1980 Rodeo print I love. However, the Rodeo print is straight 80's in the color choices. I wish there was a magic place I could take it to make it all blues, or pastel it, or get an outline made.....ideas? And the fox print is a definite. But can I mix the two in the same room? I also have two Norman Rockwell books I had imagined tearing out the drawings pertaining to children and doing a gallery wall above the crib in Ikea frames....(yes, the whole blog world just gagged at gallery wall)

From the Parents' Attic

Sallie Middleton "Young Fox"

So...do I go the economical route and stick with pale blues? Get white curtains and hopefully border them in 3" plain blue? Frame the Fox in pale silver?

Or do I buy 12 yards of the fabric I really really like, throw in some Babar prints (and my fox) and add some punch?

I did go with this bedding b/c it was on sale and matches the walls. I can still go with the all blue or pops of color....So...back to color vs pale blue...

Can I do both?

Why is this so stressful!

Answer..............

Because I'm not drinking.

Design & Naming Baby Block

Jenny Lind Crib

You dream of these moments for years...picking out a baby name and decorating the nursery. Fabric swatches are piled all over your dining room table as you decide what matchsticks you should use under the curtains and if the glider should match the shams on the daybed or the crib bumper. Your soon-to-be little boy's name is PERFECT and his monogram is already being printed on your Leontine Linen order...

Leontine Linens

YEAH FUCKING RIGHT!

Between working 50+ hours at work, feeling like humpty dumpty, and the Holidays; I haven't even picked a paint color or name. And yes...I do have plenty of time but the ceilings are finally being scraped upstairs (eat me popcorn) and our nice little worker said he could paint the nursery also for a song....

So.........

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!! We have a yellow kitchen, blue guest room (all very mild pastels)...does that force me to do pale green? I love pale green but also have some pretty fabulous Volanges Toile by Manuel Canovas pale green curtains...maybe I should paint the guest room pale green and put the curtains in there and go for baby blue in the nursery?

And is Serena and Lily over? I LOVE it but afraid by the time I pop this kiddo out S&L will be so 200andlate.

S&L Asher

S&L Ben

S&L Blake

S&L Ronan

I know I like the Jenny Lind Crib pictured up top (and above in the Serena & Lily pic). I have a daybed for the room, and I like some of the items below...just having massive color issues. Most people tell me to try to make sure I can carry some of the items to his big boy room. Oh right....more complications...

Bogart Flat Weave Wool Rug from Garnet Hill

Pottery Barn Bailey Baskets

China Seas Jungle on Tint

Rikshaw Bombay Pattern

Jonathan Adler Giraffe Sconce

Bamboo Mirror

China Seas

Rattan Hamper from Home Decorator's Collection

China Seas Shrimp on Tint

 

Any advice?

xoxox

Images from Serena & Lily and the blogosphere

Huge Furniture Sale Today & Tomorrow at Lux!!!!!!

If you are in Charlotte you must stop by this huge sale! Several designers are dumping their goods onto the Lux Lampshade Warehouse off Southside Dr! This will be going on throughout the weekend!

Get there soon!