hello, friday.

this week has been super crazy and i'm ready for a little time me time. me time that includes pulling weeds in the yard, planting some more grass seed, sanding on a little nightstand and prepping the bathroom for its makeover. did i mention working on some books as well? sigh.

maybe at least there will be margaritas involved at some point this weekend... 

have a good one :)

print above (which i long to have in my office, hint hint) is by azuregrackle on etsy.

outdoor furniture.

our backyard is finally starting to look like somebody cares about it! plants, furniture, a grill and a little organization will do wonders... and i am so happy to see it coming together. unfortunately, our outdoor seating is very limited and patio sets can be expensive. most of you probably saw this on d*s this morning, but i just wanted to talk about it a little more. 

these outdoor tables from lab31 really caught my eye and got me thinking... could this be a possible diy project? i have seen countless end tables and coffee tables that have a very similar metal base, and have even seen the bases sold alone when the glass had been broken or scratched. what better way to reuse them by painting them a fantastically bright color and using them outside? and while i certainly wouldn't be able to create the same caning effect (made from perforated steel) as lab31, some radiator screening could be painted and stretched diagonally to create a similar effect. do i need another project to add on top of my ever-growing list? no, but... i certainly will think twice next time i see a metal base like that... 

wallpaper love.

okay... so while i'm still crazy about getting our yard in order... i am now officially obsessing about wallpaper again. this time for our downstairs bathroom. 

i have already purchased paint for it (a very dark, plum purple)... but need to get wallpaper too. for those of you who have never seen the inside of our house, our bathrooms are a little different. there is an outer area for the sink and cabinets... and then there is a separate area for the shower/tub and toilet. these areas are separated by what i call 'corral' doors. doug hates them. wants to tear them down. except that they would leave extremely large holes in the doorway, and i'm not ready to deal with that. i actually like the doors. they offer privacy and keep the two areas separate. 

so, the outer area has this off-white vinyl wallpaper that's probably been there since the house was built. it's not cool retro wallpaper... it just needs to go away. there's also a nice ugly patch in the wall where someone opened the door a little too hard. beautiful. we retextured the walls in the upstairs bathroom when we took down this same lovely wallpaper and found out how messy and expensive retexturing is. and then you have to paint! so... it will be just as much, if not a little less costly, to just pick out some great wallpaper and go from there. the problem is, which wallpaper to pick?

the inner area is currently painted white, and that's where the purple paint will go... our tile is white, as well as our cabinets, tub and tile.

i am really wanting to go with a black, white and purple color scheme, with silver/gray mixed in. i have certainly thought of other crazy color combos, but want this to be something that will appeal to others if/when we sell our home. i want drama, but don't want to go too over-the-top. here are the top competitors so far...  

Julien Macdonald - Dazzle

Pemberly Gold Floral Retro

Darcy Pearl Modern

Heritage Charcoal Modern Damask

any thoughts or ideas? i am planning to order a few samples once i narrow it down a little... but i've only hung wallpaper once and have never picked any out for a room before. and i can't decide...

etsy faves.

organic cotton bag from hellome

was looking through my favorites on etsy today and thought i would share some here. just in case, you know, you get the urge to send me something pretty... :)

goodtime ring from yellowgoat

kimono robe by plumprettysugar

upcycled bottletop pendant by mintyfreshfusions

awesome wood portfolio by janiesmash

linen tea towel form jewelweeds

mmmm.

found this great christopher bettig poster on poppytalk a few days ago and can't stop opening it up from my inspiration folder to take a peek at it. i guess i keep wishing for it to suddenly appear on my wall, but unfortunately it's sold out! the drawing is so sweet... and of course, i am digging the type at the bottom as well. i think it completes it... (sigh) and (as if that wasn't enough)- it's green. can you say made for me?

couch frenzy

i have been in search of the perfect sofa (within my budget!) for quite some time now. since i live (oh yeah, we're married) with a very picky man who loves his comfort, it has been a rather difficult challenge to find something that fits our style, is beautiful and is also comfortable. we also have a doggie that loves his couch time, so i have to consider colors and fabrics as well... and while i love pretty much everything vintage - doug does not always feel this way. he has more modern tendencies, which i can certainly live with. i like to think of our style as vintage flea market with a modern edge.

the photo above, courtesy of design sponge and this is glamorous took my breath away. the color, the shape, the buttons, the texture... it is everything i have been looking for. i even love the curtains! now the hunt is on to find something similar that we can afford. i know that it would probably be wise to not worry about it until after doug graduates... but i can't help but look now. i found one very similar for sale in houston... but unfortunately we both drive (very small) cars... so, friends, if you just happen find something similar that is affordable (and that you are not planning to buy for yourself) please send me a line, pick up the phone, or please - stop by the office!