Sculptural Wall Install

I am on a major push to finish some things up around here.  Enough that I can just chill out at home.  I'm not going to make a real list like last time, because that's just depressing.  Possibly more because of how much I change my mind as opposed to how much I didn't get done.  (But that, too.)  I'll just continue to share some progress thoughts here, if you don't mind.

Like this new idea for the upstairs hallway: molding that acts as sculpture.

(via Adore Home Magazine)

It seems easy enough to accomplish, though the simple way (installing full sheets of progressively smaller plywood squares) seems a bit heavy for the wall to sustain.  I would also leave space between each large rectangle.  But I love that the interest comes from the dimensionality rather than a color, pattern, or texture.

Still mulling it over.  What do you think of this?

Desperate.

I'm getting desperate for spring.  DESPERATE.

We have enough snow on the ground that it could be February.  Or November.  Or really anything but SPRING like it's supposed to be.

I want--no, need--bright.  And fresh.  I want to wear my new white jeans and put on my sunglasses for once.  I want to hear the birds chirp and start the garden and go for a bike ride without needing snow tires.  My brain is a muddle as if I have been blinded by the whiteness of it all.  I am so desperate that, in an act of superstition, I had my husband remove the paper snowflakes that were still adorning our doors this weekend.  Because maybe it's our fault and our little papercuts are summoning the real ones.  Right?

Hey, how about some bright, cheerful pillow pairings?

The pinks and blues on the right are destined for this living room.  So fresh and bright I will live vicariously through them.  

Which would you choose?  Is is Spring where you live?  No, wait, don't tell me.  Of course it is.

Small Measures

 Via Oh Joy

Clip botanical prints at random.  Stick to a simple color palette to keep it from getting away from you: here, the yellow and green is sweet and summery.

Ashley has been hosting a little blogger tag sale this week--including vintage botanical book plates that would be perfect for this!

Have You Lost Your Mind?

That is what my husband might say (or at least THINK) if he happens to wander in to the guest room and sees this:

Yes, I'm thinking about reupholstering the headboard.  No, I didn't plan it.

This is what happened.

I am making new curtains for the girls room because of the new rug.
Because of the new blinds, which replaced the temporary one but do not have any of their light blockage, I need to sew the curtains with blackout lining.

At places like Joann's, blackout liner can be $12/yard, making this "free" project decidedly less so.  So I went to my favorite fabric warehouse, where the goods can be had for $3/yard.

But you can't go all the way to the fabric warehouse and not look around.  Nay.  And what did I find?  That's right.  This Persian Diamond fabric from IMAN's collection for Calico Corners (I blogged it here) for a mere $7/yard (original retail was around $54/yard).  How could I not buy a yard (or two?)

Meanwhile, the guest room always felt close but not quite.  I keep falling in love with it, only to become disenchanted mere days later.  (I'm not usually so fickle.  Truly.)  And it occurred to me on my way home with my score that this could be amazing on the headboard.  Here's where the room was most recently (except that the rug went to the living room!)  Oops--I kind of love it.

But.  What do you think?

And if I do it, shibori-style throw pillow or animal print?  I love the freshness of the white bedding for spring. (By which I mean, for the fresh blanket of white snow we lovingly received today.)

(Colors on the right are far more accurate.)

Decisions, decisions.

Liebster

I have to say, getting back into the swing of blogging is harder than I expected!  I have lots of stuff to update you on--client work, projects around the house, new sources, etc--but sitting my butt down in the chair every night, well, that habit was easy to break.

Enter Kai from Love in Idleness, saving me with a Liebster award.

I am going to skip most of the rules.  I'm not going to post 11 random facts about myself (you can see 7 here.)  I'm not going to tag 11 more bloggers.  But I AM going to answer Kai's 11 questions, which I found to be awfully fun.

Ready?


1. What is you favorite black and white movie?
Band a la Part

2. Do you sing (loudly) while driving?  Windows up or down?  People in the car or not?
Yes!  Windows down, unless I'm in the city; then up to spare my driving neighbors, especially when I am singing this.

And in terms of company, only if I'm driving with my favorite girlfriends, and we've got this going on.

3.  What was the most useless class you took in school?
Calculus.

4. What was your best thrift shop score?
A red and white polka dot vintage Yves San Laurent bustier.  It wasn't so much the price as the YOWZA.

5.  Are there more animals in your house than people?
No!  We are a no-animal household.  Though my daughter once tried to trade her (allergic) dad for a cat.

6. What is your least favorite chore?
I pretty much skip the chores I loathe.  I do all the recycling, but I make my husband break down cardboard.

7. When you go on vacation, would you rather drive or fly?
It's the journey.  I am a fan of and believer in the good old fashioned road trip, and I am an expert long-distance driver. (My record: New Mexico to New York in one trip, solo, no stops beyond gas and drive- through.)  That said, sometimes it's the destination.  Flights required.

8.  What is your TV guilty pleasure?
Smash.  But I'm not all that guilty: I'll sing it from the rooftops.

9. What is your favorite thrifty savings tip?
Figure out the sales cycle, and wait.  (e.g. West Elm always has 20% off of something--it's just a matter of being patient until the category you are coveting--bedding?  dining?--gets its turn.)

10.  Do you follow recipes when you cook, or just wing it?
Recipes.  Although I am getting much better at substituting and improvising within a recipe--for a control freak like me, those are some excellent baby steps!  And I am an expert meal-planner, which helps.

11. Why do you like blogging?
Kai snuck a doozy in at the end, didn't she?  I always say that my job has two parts that feed each other: decorating and blogging, and that I wouldn't be happy with only one or the other.  As a writer, blogging provides and outlet and an audience.  As an isolated work-from-home type, it provides a sense of community (and some lovely friends!)

Thanks Kai!

Sneak Peek

A few little projects to go, but I really need to show you some of the in-process work at the Cheeky Monkey!

One of those decoupaged bathrooms

Custom plaid wallpaper

And "london underground" wall murals!

More finished photos, before and afters, and information to come.

Also.  I installed most of this adorable girl's room today, and my god, it is the cutest thing ever.  Final photos are pending electrician, which could take a while as we make other lighting decisions in the house, but I'll share some peaks next time I get over there.

Happy to be back!

Oofta

Well, spring break happened.

I was feeling desperate for a getaway, but a staycation was all we could manage.  We hit the Children's Museum, Como Zoo and Conservatory, Waterpark of America, The Children's Theatre, the library, the playground, and the Minnesota Zoo.  We tie dyed, painted an enormous canvas, and got out the sidewalk chalk.  We ate at old standbys like Noodles and Co and tried new places, both chain (SmashBurger) and local (Parka).  We saw The Croods.  The big thing for me was doing much of this on my kids' time.  So often, it feels like we are rushing them in and out, or offering limited time because we need to get to the grocery store or we didn't leave on time.  This week I tried to go with THEIR flow.  Imagine my surprise when I paid for parking at the Children's Museum and discovered we had been there for more than 5 1/2 hours!

I have to say, it was great to take a break from work, both client work and blogging.  When you run your own thing, it can be difficult to feel like you are ever "off."  My goal for the week was to be present for/with my kids.  It took a little time to settle in (switching gears can be like that), but in the end, I did, and feel refreshed for it.

I have lots to share, and I will dive back in--starting tomorrow!

Thanks friends, I have missed you!

Heather