{diy} officially refurbished wicker

 The mismatched set of $150 wicker furniture (with cushions) has been a work in progress for quite awhile. Gotta love craigslist. It all started with the ideas, then the paint, and finally I have finished the pillows. The end result has made me really happy. It took some convincing, but the mister finally went for the Shock Red Montana Gold spray paint.

 

It is a favorite spot. Few things are better than being in the backyard with a book sitting in some wicker furniture...

{decor} pillow love

I feel like every magazine I have ever read has mentioned the ability to makeover a room by changing the accents. In a living room pillows are often a topic of discussion. The living room has been a focus of my new found desire to spruce up our home and it is definitely coming together. I created a bird pillow not too long ago that I posted about here. Now I went a little crazy and ordered a pillow... or two... or three... to add to the mix. Here are the recent arrivals!

I was inspired by Emily Henderson's Secrets of a Stylist. One episode in particular really lit my fire :) I have to admit that I have bought more than one item from the etsy shop owners featured in this redesign. The California pillow is from Plumed, an adorable handmade shop that will custom embroider a pillow just for you. I wanted to reflect my love for the East Bay. I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. The grey chevron stripe also caught my eye. It is from a fabulous store called Moxie Mandie. I heart her prints and she also was willing to make a custom size to meet my needs (and the pillow insert I already owned...). I can't wait to have the couch restyled and to share it with you!

Happy Sunday!

{bedroom} too country?

The last two people to walk into my bedroom have immediately described it as "country." Although "French Country" is definitely a term that I feel captures at least part of my aesthetic, I definitely want to be a little edgy/industrial as well. Looking at my bedroom with fresh eyes, I find myself wondering... is it too country?

So here's what I am thinking [thanks to the Domino book of decorating], I am going to collect a bunch of inspirational images and get clear on what my style truly is. I am lucky in that I am a person who has not made many big purchases. Family hand-me-downs and craigslist have been my best friends. So now, as I enter a phase of my life where maybe some purchases can be made, I want to get clear. What is my style?

I love so many things. Domino suggests that a person collect things and images and say what you like about them in order to get to know your personal style. I have found that there is much work left to be done, but this is at least a first step heading in a direction...

 

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I love the pop of the yellow in the headboard and the vintage feel of the bed frame. I like the detailing on the wood. I also like that the blankets are a little disheveled, it looks lived in. 

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The pintucking caught my attention right away. I like the simplicity of the white. I like the wood siding on the walls and the hardwood floors.

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I HEART the floors. The contrast of the color and the print in the duvet make me happy as well.

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It is the feel of this photo that gets me more than the design. I like how lived in it feels. I love the doors in the background that peek through to the tub.

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The pop of color is totally stunning. The bed is a little mod for me, but then I love the old radio and little alarm clock. I also really like the line of the lamps. The mister and I read in bed a lot, so light is definitely important.

The answer to the question of is my bedroom a little too country might be yes... None of these inspiration photos scream French Country, although I still maintain that there are wisps of that influence. I might be a little more confused now than when I started. So what to do with this bedroom of mine?