Progress on my office

We had new carpet installed on our 2nd level on Saturday. (even though I HATE carpet!) I’ve started putting my office back together. I am changing it up a bit…not sure about the layout yet. I want to hang some shelves on the other side of the desk (the side that you do not see in the photo)…I also have 2 end tables, a rug, and throw pillows to add to the couch…

Tufted Grey Couch

via decordeprovence.blogspot.com

I have decided on a tufted grey couch for my new living room. I love the look of velvet, but it is not a requirement. This is one of my favorite inspiration pics. My goal is to find a couch UNDER $1500. There are so many options but I’ve narrowed it down to these 2. If anyone else has suggestions for an INEXPENSIVE but comfy sofa I’d love to see/hear about it.

If I go with a more modern sofa, #1 would be perfect!

Raymour Flanigan Beckett Sofa – $1499, L 83” x W 36” x H 33”

IF I go with rounded arms like the sofa in my inspiration pic, #2 is extremely affordable!



Martha Stewart Saybridge Sofa in Storm – $999 plus 10% off if i purchase before Feb 6th! 92″W x 40″D x 31″H

thoughts??

Have you picked out a Valentine Card?

I love this one. The 3 words that mean the most! via Little Bright Studio

Brass coffee table or brass end table?

I’m shopping for my living room and looking to add a few brassy/gold accents. I am hoping to find an affordable brass coffee or side table. I LOVE the brass table in the photo above. It was from a penthouse apartment that I fell in love with last year. You can actually purchase the same coffee table from Neiman Marcus. Unfortunately the $1399 price tag (plus $215 just for shipping) is waaayyyy over my budget! So, here is a little inspiration for the room as I begin my craigslist/eBay hunt!

Diane Bergeron

Munger Interiors, I LOVE this coffee table as well. Again, way above my budget! $1129 plus shipping from Neiman Marcus

elledecor.com…Nanette Lepore’s living room.

Greg Natale.

Jennifer Cheatham Designs, i love these round side tables. They remind me of this & this…2 other gold/brassy side tables that I love!

Decorpad.com via Nicole Gerulat The side table in this room is sooo beautiful!

shannondarrough.com via LAUREY W. GLENN PHOTOGRAPHY.

Decorpad.com

Decorpad.com

Shopping for Hardwood Floors (day 1)

2012…the year I’ve decided to take the plunge and do some remodeling! I’ve been wanting to put in new hard wood for years. My main motivation is to get rid of the UGLY carpet in our living and dining rooms. But I’ve also always wanted a darker/deeper brown floor. I am NOT a fan of the washed out red/cherry floors that we currently have. (see ugly carpet here and our current hardwood here.

So, my first stop this morning was to Dan Higgins Warehouse. Wow, I was soooo overwhelmed. They have so many choices and the warehouse walls and floors are covered with different colors/styles/brands. But they made it so much easier for me with an hour long presentation of products.. I felt like I took HARDWOOD FLOORS 101!

Here are my main requirements…
1. I want to go dark, but am not sure if I want a chocolate-y brown or something with redtones coming through.
2. I want something that will hold up well…the strongest possible wood. Two toddlers will be dropping and throwing toys on the floors. I also have a 65 lb german shepherd that loves to run and play and will definitely contribute her share of scratches!
3. I prefer something that is as budget friendly as possible…is that really possible when putting in wood?

So, based on my needs & my likes they suggested an oak wood with lots of texture and pattern coming through the finish. Texture & pattern will hide flaws, be less likely to show dirt, and really just come with “character!”

I took home 2 samples that I really love to see how they’d look in my home during day & night. I was also drawn to the re-engineeered wood. I thought it wood be friendlier on the budget but it was not! SOOOO surprised at that. The other drawback about it is that it cannot be sanded down and refinished in another color like the real hardwood can. I want this option because we will sell the house someday and it gives the new owners flexibility in case they do not like the color that I pick.

After my morning at Dan Higgins, I went to Home Depot. NO ONE in the flooring dept. offered to help me so I simply grabbed the 3 tiny samples you see above and headed out!

BTW, the one that I am leaning toward right now is the wider, 5 inch planks that you see on the left side of the photo above. It is a Johnson floor, Oak handscraped, color Chesnut. The sample on the right with the narrow planks is my FAVORITE COLOR/TEXTURE. It is by Shaw and called Mineral Bluff. Unfortunately it does not come in wider plank (BOO!!)

OLEBY Sheepskin on Bertoia Chairs

I’m just waiting for my new dining room table to arrive: the 17TH C. MONASTERY DINING TABLE by Restoration Hardware.

I’ve been chair shopping but I’m hesitant to buy anything until I see the new table in my dining room. I decided to soften my bertoia style chairs with some fluffy faux sheepskins from IKEA. They are called OLEBY and are only $9.99 each! I figured that for this price if they do not work I can use them elsewhere in my home. If they do work with the new table then I’ll only need end chairs. (I already have a few chairs in mind, I’ll post my chair picks later this week.)

Next on the 2 do list:
*new hardwood floors (the carpet is finally going to go in 2012…i seriously cannot wait!)
*new shades for dining room and master bedroom
*curtains for master bedroom
*refinish furniture for my daughters bedroom
*artwork for dining room
*kitchen remodel (yes, pretty much everything!)

a few more of my dining room…i cant wait for my new table!

& here is a little more sheepskin on dining chair inspiration. I LOVE the last pic. The bertoia chairs look much softer with the farm style table:

Pinterest.com

prcouture.com

apartmenttherapy.com

hgtv.com

Bookshelves

Bookshelves keep getting more creative. The wall shelf made of pipes is one of my favorites. by Stella Bleu Designs