27.2.12

A Little Bit of Everything!

This is kinda a mosh posh post. A little bit of everything! So my last post was about my new sitting arrangement and I mentioned that I probably would change a few things about it and I did. I got rid of the fake plant and decided not to put a plant there at all. I have a fetish with live green things (more on that in a bit) so I knew that my husband would kill me if I brought another one into the house. So anyway here is a picture of the updated space.


I added a new ottoman from Target which was on sale! Booyah! I love a good sale! I also brought our basket full of blankets to this side of the room to add a bit more. I love this ottoman because the color matches our couches and it also is a storage ottoman. I slides wonderfully on the floor so you can use it for your feet as well! I love it! Oh and I added a little Yorkie too. Isn't he adorable?

I also decided to paint our kitchen cabinets last weekend. I didn't realize how bad they were unit I started painting. When your cabinets look yellow next to the new white paint, its long over due! I don't think I have touched them since we moved in the house. Here are some pictures!





Next on our to do list in here is to install new countertops and some new backsplash. I wanted new cabinets but I think they will do for now. Although I do not have the biggest kitchen, I love my little space!

No onto my live green thing obsession...

I love the look of living greens things in my home. I think it brings in an extra warm feeling. Here are our greeny family members...

Added a little pinwheel for spring!

This one we adopted yesterday. Isn't she lovely? She hangs out by the kitchen window.

Meet the big daddy! I love this one. He is in our family room soaking up sun by the front windows.

I will probably add more but don't tell my husband!

24.2.12

A Little New Mixed In With The Old...

So after we refinished our hardwood floors this past weekend, I knew that I wanted something different to go under my front windows in our living room. What used to go there was a red hand-me-down armchair from my parents. It definitely was a bit beat up but we needed something so we took it. Oh and it was free and this woman never turns down something free. But the chair had run its course and lucky me it had a few bad legs that, even with chair pads, would scratch our newly refinished floors. So today I ventured out to plenty of thrift stores to find....nothing! Those places are always hit or miss and I always find something when I don't need it. And today I needed something and of course walked out empty handed!

So after I had lost faith in the Hampton Roads area thrift stores I decided to take a quick look in Pier One. My intention was not to look at chairs but to head straight to their clearance section. They always have the best sales! Even if I walk out of that place with something as small as a candle holder, I am one happy lady. Well this particular evening and for this weekend only they are having a nice sale on their papasan chairs. I only noticed this because they had a huge sign that you could not miss! I pretty much ran into the thing.

We used to have a papasan chair and now I am trying to remember why we ever gave it away! But needless to say I was pretty impressed with the sale. They combined the prices of the papapsan frame with a cushion of your choice for a total price that was about 30% cheaper than if you bought each item at its regular price. This made me smile! So guess what I did? Yep you guessed it! I got the frame with the cushion for under $140. This may sound steep to some but finding a piece of furniture to fill spot doesn't come cheap. This is why I was searching the thrifts stores. I knew that there was no way I could afford a new, well made armchair.

And I had always thought that I needed an arm chair to replace the old arm chair, but I was totally wrong! I needed something completely different and I must say....I love it!

Oh and not only did I spruce up the new spot with the chair but I also grabbed things from around my house and garage to create a little side/reading table. Everything you see next to the papasan chair cost me nothing! I am not sure if I am digging the fake plant right now. I am researching nice inside plants that my kids can't destroy and my dogs won't eat. So hopefully soon I will have a replacement for the fake!

Here are some pictures...





I decided not to use a flash because I wanted to show how the light it the room makes it look. I love love love the pattern of the cushion. It just ties everything together. The table that I made will probably not be permanent but it will do for now. I would rather spend a few extra bucks on getting an ottoman for the chair. But we will see!

And here is a picture of our living space. It has taken me almost four years to get it to where I love it. It has come a long way since we first moved in. We definitely feel at home here.



If you are in the market for new seating, head over to Pier One. Sometimes they can be a bit steep but then they can pop up and surprise you. Trust me! They just did it to me! Bye for now!

23.2.12

All Natural Baby!

So this past weekend I got what I have been wanting since we moved into our house almost 4 years ago...my floors being refinished! And I must say, they look amazing! We originally were going to go with a darker color but once I saw the floors natural color I quickly changed my mind. I also think with having three kids and three dogs, the dark color may have been a bad choice.

But I am so happy with my decision! I no longer have to live with beat up basketball floors. They are nice and even! Oh and I also went with a satin poly. I love how they have a little bit of shine but  not too much!

Here are some before pictures...





The previous owners had carpet over these beauties! How dare them! I know, I know...they don't really look like beauties but I love me some hardwood floors. I still do not understand why people would cover them up! So needless to say, I have lived with them like this for way too long!

Thanks to my love and one of our close friends, my floors went from that to this...

sorry for the dirty floors!




I love how every board has its own color! That shows just how natural and true these hardwoods are. I love every part of it! There was only one downfall to going natural. I have no idea what the previous owners did to the floors but there is one spot that just never went away. Well when I say one spot, it is pretty big. But to me it just adds to the floors! Maybe one day, if we decide to stay in this house, we will stain them darker! But who knows! I love them!

Oh and this little project only coat us just shy of $275. Pretty sweet! It pays to know some handy men!