Monthly Archives: May 2010

D.I.Y.: Colorful Pots

28 Friday May 2010

Posted by in D.I.Y., garden

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

, Kyrlon Indoor/Outdoor Gloss Paint, terracotta

All spring I have been looking for great cobalt blue pots for my front steps. It’s not that they are so hard to find. It’s just that they don’t seem to ever run less than $60 per pot and that was a lot more than I wanted to spend. Then I finally had an aha moment this week while making placecard holders for a party last night in which we spray painted miniature pots to use as the stands for the placecards. Why not just buy terracotta pots and spray paint them cobalt blue? I went to a few places before I finally found the right size and shape for what I was looking for, but I found them. Step two was to lay them out on newspaper on the grass.

Step 3 was to paint them. I used Krylon Indoor/Outdoor Gloss Paint in Regal Blue. I first painted them upside down and then flipped them to do the rims and upper part of the interior. This paint dries super fast so it only took a few minutes before I could flip them. I could have gotten away with just one coat, but I wanted them to look as good up close as they did from afar so I did two coats. You can also do a spray primer first, but I wanted them to be a little more rustic looking with some of the terracotta showing through.

And voila, here is the finished product with plants. The color is a close match to my front door and shutters, and it is amazing how cohesive the front of the house now looks. I do like terracotta pots, but I just wanted something a little more special for my front steps (even though the rest of the front entry needs a LOT of work still) and I like how it came out so much that I’m thinking I might do the ones on my back steps too. The total cost for 2 pots (not including plants) was about $33 so a pretty significant savings compared to the colored ones you find in most garden centers. Of course, now I think I need new house numbers and a new light fixture never mind the woodwork that needs to be repaired and the steps that need to be replaced.

Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday weekend!

Etsy Pick of the Week: Buoy Pillow

27 Thursday May 2010

Posted by in Accessories, Etsy Pick of the Week, pillows, textiles

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Buoy PIllows, Cobalt Sky Studio,

When I first saw these life size Buoy Pillows by Cobalt Sky Studio on Etsy I thought they were cute, but then when I saw that they can be customized with a last name, house number, or baby’s name and birth date, they became a little more irresistable. They are the perfect unique gift for anyone who lives by the sea or just loves the nautical look. And at $25, you can’t really go wrong.

Under My Umbrella

26 Wednesday May 2010

Posted by in Accessories, beach, garden, Outdoor

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Aqua Market Umbrella, Bamboo Parasol, beach, Design Within Reach, Hampshire Stripe Round Market Umbrella, Mid Century Sunshade, Pier 1 Imports, , Santa Barbara Umberlla, The Conran Shop, Tuuci Razor Shade, Watermelon Cover

Watermelon Cover by Santa Barbara Umbrella

Ahhhhh, the beach weather has finally arrived and a little bit ahead of schedule here in the Northeast. I am eternally conflicted with my complete and total adoration for the sun and my very fair and freckled skin. And while I can handle a little too much sun (even though I shouldn’t) I can’t bare to see my kids whom are even more fair skinned than I (in fact the doctor claims she has never seen a fairer pair) get a sunburn. Hence it is time to figure out how I will shade these two outdoor loving little people. Here are my favorite picks for beach and patio umbrellas.


Lillypond Umbrella by Santa Barbara Umbrella
Hampshire Stripe Round Market Umbrella by Pottery Barn

Mid Century Sunshade available at Design Within Reach

Tuuci Razor Shade available at Design Within Reach


Aqua Market Umbrella by Pier 1 Imports

Bamboo Parasol by The Conran Shop

Now I just have to figure out how to keep the little dears under my umbrella. Enjoy the beautiful day!

If you like this post, then you might like these:
5 Fabulous Outdoor Dining Tables for Under $500
Colorful Plantation Chairs Perfect for Lounging
New Pillows for the Patio

My Favorite Day of the Year

24 Monday May 2010

Posted by in garden, Inspiration

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

garden, Peony

I spent most of the weekend in the garden moving plants, extending my perennial garden, mulching, etc. and was so tired and achy last night that I went to bed at 8:30. This weekend was also the 3 year anniversary of when we moved into our house and even though there is always a lot of work to be done when you own a home, I am amazed at how much progress we have made in our yard which had been long neglected before we moved in. Today I got a reminder of why it is all so worth it, the day I look forward to all year…more than Christmas and my birthday. My absolute favorite flower is the peony and I am so happy for the few short weeks they are in bloom each year. Today our first peony of the year is in full bloom! Here it is, and I’m looking so forward to the dozen or so more that are to follow. It is so rewarding to work so hard and have such a beautiful result. For those of you who don’t garden, you might think I’m nuts, but gardening is a little bit like raising children. You remember when you planted each thing, where you got it from, and are amazed by how much it’s grown with all of the tlc you’ve provided it. So I encourage you all to go out and get dirty! It’ll be well worth it.

18th Century Colonial Renovation: Part IV

21 Friday May 2010

Posted by in Before & After, Eco-friendly, House Tours, Kitchen

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, Abstrakt, HardiePlank, LEED certification

The 18th Century Colonial Renovation we’ve been following has made quite a bit of progress in the past month and we can now see a bit more of what the end product is going to look like…at least on the outside. This week the clapboard was installed on the front of the house (the sides are going to be shingled). The material they selected for the clapboard is call HardiePlank lap siding. It is a fiber cement product that is resistant to moisture and rot and only has to be painted every 15 years. It is also considered to be an eco-friendly product that earns points toward LEED certification (if you are going for that). In case you don’t remember what the front of the house looked like originally, here is a reminder. The front porch has obviously been removed and a new set of double stairs will be installed soon.
As for the interiors, it still looks like this, BUT, really this isn’t all that bad because all of the electrical, heating and plumbing have been installed and the inspections are are being done so we should be seeing sheetrock very soon. Above is the future kitchen. You can see the stack of 8″ wide plank flooring that is going to be installed in the kitchen-the only room besides the master bath where new flooring needs to be installed. The kitchen cabinets have also been selected and they are going with Ikea’s Abstrakt cabinets in high gloss white and the counters will be butcher block. This room will truly marry the colonial look with a modern one, but I think it’s going to be very cool in the end. Things are really starting to come together and I expect we’ll be seeing some finished rooms in the next month!

Etsy Pick of the Week: Bubble Chandelier

20 Thursday May 2010

Posted by in Etsy Pick of the Week, lighting

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Bubble Chandelier, , Jean Pelle,

As soon as I laid my eyes on this Bubble Chandelier by Jean Pelle, I knew it had to be my Etsy Pick of the Week. I love the airiness of it combined with the natural twine that wraps the cables that hold it all together. It comes in two sizes as well as an elongated version. I would love something like this for my living room or a pair of them would be great to hang over a bedside table. I would just need to clarify with the kids that these bubbles aren’t for popping.

The Envy Inducing Chaos that is 9 By Design

19 Wednesday May 2010

Posted by in Inspiration, Kids

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

9 by Design, Bravo, Novogratz, Sixx Designs

I just finished catching up on last night’s episode of 9 By Design on Bravo. Have you been watching it? It’s the reality series featuring Cortney and Robert Novogratz, their 7 children, and their amazing design business, Sixx Design. Every time I watch it I think that they are crazy and that I could never live the way they do. They are famous for buying up completely dilapitated buildings in New York City and turning them into stunning buildings that are pieces of art in and of themselves besides being beautifully decorated and that sell for tens of millions of dollars. But after thinking they are crazy I get envious of their fearlessness. I’m not even sure that’s the right word, but you can often sense Cortney’s trepidation about putting the house on the market (again!) or leaving her new baby behind while she goes to London for a few days, and then within moments she gets right on board with whatever the idea may be. They do make mistakes (like booking the location for their book launch in London for the wrong date), but they do things themselves and they don’t pretend to be perfect which makes them even more likeable. I think I tend to overthink things way too much and then I feel like nothing gets accomplished. So I think it’s time to stop thinking and start doing. How I’m not exactly sure, but I’m not going to think about that. If you are doing then things are happening that will lead to new things. Sure, the Novogratz family has some help with the kids, but they are very hands on with their children and at the end of every episode you have seen a fabulous design, can feel the love in their family, and can see that there is more adventure on the horizon. If you haven’t seen it yet, check it out on Bravo on Tuesdays at 10 p.m.

If you like this post, then you might like these:
Collectable Iconic Designs
Monochrome Living in a Multi-Colored World
Amazing Bookshelves 

Brimfield Report

18 Tuesday May 2010

Posted by in Inspiration, Shops We Love

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Brimfield Antique Show, Sleigh daybed, Vintage Fiestaware, Vintage stove

My first trip to the Brimfield Antique Showon Friday was a great experience. We barely even scratched the surface of what was there. I think we visited 6 or 7 of the 23 fields that were open, but it gave me a good sense of what you can find there (just about anything you can dream of). Some of the booths were very well styled (above) and some were literally just boxes and boxes of what many would consider junk (but if someone will buy it then there is still value to it).

My partners in crime were my husband and 1 yr old daughter. The stroller was helpful in carrying our goods, but I think the people pulling wagons were the smartest so if you go keep that in mind. Sometimes even the smallest things are heavy.

Vintage Fiestaware

When I say you can literally find anything there, I mean it. Here are some of the higher end items that caught my eye.

Beautiful Sleigh Daybed

Vintage Stove

I love antique washstands. I actually have one sitting in my garage just waiting for our downstairs bath to be redone. They are great space savers because they tend to be smaller than modern day vanities and they are generally much better quality than your average modern vanity too.

Loved all the vintage letters and symbols in this booth.

When I first saw this booth, I thought what a bunch of junk. Some of the instruments and equipment were literally snapped in half, but then I became totally inspired by them. If you wanted to do a sports or music themed room for your child, I would much rather see vintage baseball bats or hockey sticks on the wall than a baseball or hockey wallpaper border. The instruments could easily be spray painted in fun colors to hide the damage to them. The items can still have a great life as decor even if they aren’t otherwise functional.

Some of the items were new products and not antiques which I have mixed feeling about.

A selection of glass door knobs. There were actually some incredibly beautiful doors that we saw too.

Some of the items were really random and I wasn’t sure what on earth I would do with them, but I thought they were kind of silly all in a bucket together. Perhaps garden decor?

And there were many many things that were modern and didn’t have that antique feel so even if antiques aren’t your thing, you will still likely find things you love. We actually only spent about 3 hours at the show and I would have loved to have spent some more time looking at some of the silver and dishware. There was oodles of it and it was a great place to pick up a little silver salt and pepper set or candlesticks.

I did not actually find any of the items I went in search of, but have no fear, I didn’t come home empty handed. I’ll share my purchase with you once I get it put in place. I broke my own rules and didn’t grab anything until I was done looking. I missed out on one of the things I went back for because the vendor had left already, and I almost didn’t get the other items either because someone else had scooped all but five of them up just as I got back to the booth, but I am happy with my purchase.

The next show is July 13-18th so mark your calendars now if you’re interested.

If you like this post, then you might like these:
Etsy Pick of the Week:  Vintage Red Objets
Fiestaware:  Color for the Table
Etsy Pick of the Week:  Vintage Industrial to Pop you Decor

Etsy Pick of the Week: Cape Cod Beach Tables

12 Wednesday May 2010

Posted by in beach, Etsy Pick of the Week, Furniture, furniture, Outdoor

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

beach, Cape Cod Beach Table,

We’ve had a bit of a tease of beach weather here in the northeast. What had been a beautiful spring has suddenly turned into chilly and windy weather. I am hoping that if I start posting about beach items, the warm sunshine-y days will come back to us. This Cape Cod Beach Table from Etsy is perfect whether you are hitting the beach for cocktails and sunset or you’re spending the whole day at the beach with the kids. Keep those lunches sand free! It would work great at the park or a concert or polo too because there is actually enough room to put a few glasses and plates on. Now if the sun would just come back out!

Brimfield Opening Day!

11 Tuesday May 2010

Posted by in Inspiration, Shops We Love

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Brimfield Antique Show

Today is the opening day of the Brimfield Antique Show in Brimfield, MA. I have always wanted to go and this year I finally am! Nothing is going to stop me. We are planning on going Friday which is supposed to be a little rainy and we will have at least onechild in tow, but I don’t care. This is supposed to be the show of all shows. Their web site says that if you can’t find what you’re looking for then you probably aren’t ever going to find it. There are 23 different fields which are run by different promoters and over 5,000 vendors that show their goods. I am looking for a chandelier for my dining room, a child’s chair that can be reupholstered in some beautiful Beatrix Potter fabric that my mother is holding onto for the kids, and any cool vintage fabrics that I can find. Of course, I imagine I might find some other things too and will spend much of the day convincing my husband why I need to have those things or sending him off to look for something else while I snatch up what I want. I will of course let you all know what I find. If you are going to go be sure to check out the Brimfield Antique Show web site and the listing of all the show hours since not all fields are open every day and the hours vary by field. And remember to bring comfy shoes and that you’ll always get a better deal if you pay cash. The show goes through Sunday, and if you can’t make it this time, you can check it out again from July 13th-18th or September 7th-12th.