Like, Want, Need!

I am still on my sweatshirt kick, and this Wildfox number looks awfully cozy. I am a huge fan of their tops, nothing in this world is softer or more relaxing to throw on (trust me, don't try one on unless you fully intend to buy it because you will have no choice once it is on). I can picture myself curled up by the fire in this number on the many MANY cold nights to come.

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I think I should maybe finally jump on the decorator bandwagon and indulge in a Diptyque candle. Maybe. I do have a birthday coming up in the next 3 months and all...

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Finally, if you are a fashionista then you already know about Current/Elliot jeans. But you may or may not know that Emily Current and Marritt Elliot are also savvy designers and have a new line at PB Teen (I was in the did not know camp until a lovely buddy clued me in).  This tree trunk side table has stolen my heart. Literally. The carving proves it.

I need this in my life yesterday already. And everything else in their line for that matter.

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Friday

 

A little surprise bouquet Sean brought home to cheer me up after (ANOTHER) trip to the dentist. I love `just because` flowers.

I was so thrilled to find this adorable Etsy shop by Canadian children`s illustrator Marion Arbona. Her Etsy shop features the original art from some of her books. I just love the whimsy and style of her creations and this one in particular from `Nathan and his Dog` made me smile so I had to have it.

 

I added a hint of gold to make it fit in the pre-cut mat that came in the frame. 

And the drawing has added a lot of happy to this corner.

 

 

Last, but not least, congratulations to our Urban Walls giveaway winner!!! 

Have a cheerful, sweet weekend!

The Dining Vibe at CottageK

This house is going to be exciting for me (are you sick of me saying how excited I am?? I'm just so freaking excited!!!). I have always loved a good challenge, and this is going to be a very challenging project. Why, you ask? 

I am totally stepping into a new zone, creatively, with the style of this home. I want it to be young, hip, fresh, clean, yet collected and storied. It is going to be a merging of things I love and things that I may not have tried before. I am already falling in love with the direction I see it going in my mind, so I can only hope that it translates into the final product and some uber cool couple or person feels the same way. I want them to feel like it is the only thing like it around and that they most likely won't find anything else like it.

Did I mention I am staging this house like I did with Lexington? I think it is crucial to portraying the whole story for this home and I really look forward to that part of it.

Here are few snapshots that have set the vibe for the dining room.

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This picture sums up my current dream space. Clean, crisp and fun.

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After doing a ton of scouring around I decided that this School House Electric light would be the perfect solution to our problem: we need lots of bulbs, and it has to be swag-able (moving and creating new light-boxes is not cheap or fast! I need both). Scott at School House Electric is amazing and is having the factory make it possible for us to swag it properly with adjusted cords lengths. Those guys rock! 

We are ordering it in white and I think it will be an understated but stylish addition to the dining room. 

CottageK: the kitchen plans

I am SOOOO excited to get going at CottageK! The best part is that we are gonna knock this out in approximately 3 weeks total, so I'm gonna try my darnedest to break it down in real time as we go. A far cry from the 9 months we spent over at Parkview, right?! I'm hoping this may spark some creativity or motivation for those of you sitting at home, not loving your kitchens, specially because this is project is totally budget focused!

Did I mention that Sean and I are doing all the work at this house as well? No paid help and no professionals! Just us. (I can already picture the ice packs and back rubs we'll be needing).

In order to do things quickly, and really affordably we are saving the cabinet bases. They are totally clean, functional and we aren't changing the footprint at all so there is absolutely no reason to trash perfectly nice cabinets! What we are doing is removing all the upper cabinets to give this tiny space some character. We are planking the back wall horizontally, adding some signage lighting to highlight the space, and adding wood shelving.

Here are the lights I've ordered (on sale right now!) from Restoration Hardware.

We are doing a new marble countertop, as well as new honeycomb tile on the floors, but here is what we have envisioned.

Which is a long way from this, but doesn't take all that much $$$ to get there.

Welcome to CottageK

Since Parkview sold early this past Summer I have looking for a new project to sink my teeth into, and I am thrilled to share that I finally found it! Welcome to

 

Last week was a whirlwind! On Thursday morning my realtor emailed me a potential listing, I liked it and so she sent along the comparables for the neighborhood (which I adore!). As I opened that email I noticed this little cute cottage was also for sale in the same little area and asked if I could see it at the same time as she showed me the other one. By noon we were in the house, by 3pm I had an offer written up, and at 11 am on Friday morning I heard that the sellers had accepted my offer!

It definitely feels like the stars aligned for this little house and me. So let me show you around the little cottage that I fell in love with.

It is in one of my city's oldest and most historic neighborhoods, and even though this house isn't nearly as old and stately as most, I love the tree lined streets and feel of the area.

The last last owner was an elderly lady who kept the house in perfect condition! It is clean, tidy and well cared for, just not all that modern. Exactly what I was hoping to find. I plan on keeping as many original elements as possible, like the beautiful old doors and windows.

With the exception of the kitchen and bathroom the house has all it's original hardwood.

 

It's tiny but so adorable. Perfect for a young, hip couple who wants to be close to down town.

 

I can't wait to show you my plans for the kitchen! It is going to be incredibly cool.

 

The two bedrooms are nicely sized, with large windows.

 

While I don't think they'll stick around, I will definitely be keeping these adorable lights. I just think we need a little more light in here!

 

 

The front bedroom is particularly lovely with the big window.

 

 

The bathroom will actually see the most transformation! new tile, vanity, lighting and paint. It should be a lot more stylish and functional afterwards.

 

But my FAVORITE thing about CottageK is the yard. The front is private and secluded with the big trees, but the backyard is an oasis in the city.

I decided to dub the house CottageK in honor of the previous owner, who so obviously loved the home.

 

Wren is in love with it as well, and finds the garden magical considering it is already Fall and ours has long since stopped providing flowers for her to pick.

 

Rocks the owner had collected on her family travels.
 

 

The back of my little cottage.

We get the keys in just under 2 weeks and then the frenzy begins! I will show you all my plans leading up to then, and all the progress as we go. This should be a short and fun project and I am hoping it will be done by the end of October.

I can't wait to share another journey with you!