Capiz, please.
Warning: what you are about to read will probably make you $59.99 poorer but 59.99% giddier.
The gorgeous capiz chandelier that we have in our bedroom generates its fair share of compliments and “where’d you get that?!” remarks.
Which is actually no surprise since we discovered it when Domino magazine raved about how fantastic it was (with a fantastic price to match- just $99). But thanks to a recent West Elm sale, our beloved capiz beauty is now available for an almost inconceivable $59.99. Be still my beating heart.
And not only does it come in the luminescent white color that we adore, it’s also offered in this gorgeous sand color that they call “mocha.”
Might as well be called “you mocha me crazy” because I am positively loopy over this lamp. So here’s the link. Happy shopping!
(Post by Sherry, who wants one in every room)
Extra! Extra! Read All About It.
Guess whose mugs graced the new Home & Garden section in Richmond’s local paper this morning?
I know. We couldn’t believe it either.
Last week we were just sitting around minding our business when, totally out of the blue, The Richmond Times-Dispatch contacted us. They wanted our help relaunching their newly expanded Home & Garden section by featuring our DIY table project in their new column appropriately named “I Did It Myself.” Needless to say, we were ecstatic.
To read the online version, click here. And if you’re visiting us thanks to the article- howdy! We have lots of exciting before and afters and tons of archived DIY projects and mini-makeovers, so feel free to make yourself at home. And speaking of home making, click here to find out how you can score an exciting room makeover of your very own.
Oh and drop us a line if you’d like to introduce yourself. We always love meeting new neighbors (you never know when you’ll need to borrow some sugar).
(Post by John)
Penney Pinchin’
You know how you always click the “clearance” button on websites with big dreams of finding something amazing for a really good price but all that remains is old holiday decor and weird stuff that no one would actually want, even if it was free? Well, I clicked the “clearance” tab in a recent JC Penney email with that exact experience in mind, and was pleasantly surprised. Turns out they had some stuff that’s actually pretty great for a lot less than you’d think. We’re all about mixing high with low (and low with low) so check out the clearance goodies we sleuthed.
Like this charming rattan stool on sale for $49 (down from $129):
And these chic storage trunks ($79-129, down from $199-299) that come in white, turquoise, or red (and are a lot cheaper than these Pottery Barn versions):
They also had this sleek red garden stool marked down from $159 to $69:
And this adorable etagere (orginially $249) now only $99:
Oh and it also comes in a beachy white finish. Decisions, decisions.
Of course there are still a bunch of questionable clearance items in the mix, but that’s to be expected.
(Post by Sherry)
Clean Slate
The front of our house continues to transform (goodbye scalloped porch, hello red door), and this weekend we worked up the energy to tackle the jacked up front walk.
Why? Because this is the jagged and trip-inducing path that we inherited with the house. Talk about an ankle sprain waiting to happen:
We like a rustic cottage-y path, but ours was narrow, wobbly and not quite the inviting introduction to our front door that we envisioned. Plus, the previous owner had a thing for ornamental grass and wooden borders that were seriously cramping our style.
So this weekend we dug it up to make way for a bigger and better version. Here’s what it looked like after several hours of lugging beams, relocating plants and moving slate.
Lucky for us, between the previous path and the rubble from last summer’s back patio makeover (see bottom of the Gallery page), we had a huge supply of slate tiles just waiting to be put to work. All we had to do was piece them together in a tighter, wider pattern and we’d have a new, more grand and wobble-free walkway, right?
Wrong. This turned out to be a weekend-long puzzle involving some very heavy pieces. 48 twenty pound pieces to be exact. Here’s our progress after 2 hours of lifting n’ shifting at the end of Day 1. And by “end” I mean the point of muscle exhaustion.
Pretty sad, huh? So we started Day 2 with some ibuprofen and a divide and conquer strategy. Sherry started fitting pieces together by the porch and I picked up where we left off near the driveway. Three long hours later we had almost met in the middle.
And finally, after about 4 hours (and a few dozen hand cramps) our 900 pound puzzle was complete.
Much improved, no? The amazing part was that we were able to create the clean-edged curve on the right side of the path without cutting the slate. We just happened to have enough slabs with straight and curved edges to make it work. And the subtle variation in color among the slabs was also a happy accident that makes the whole path look a little more like bluestone (or some other more expensive material) due to the fact that every piece isn’t a uniform dark charcoal color. Not bad for a $0 project.
Unfortunately, we can’t check this project off our list quite yet. We still need to dig in all the slate tiles so that they’re completely level. And once they’ve settled, we’ll plant grass seed in the cracks for a charming cottage look that will blend seamlessly into our front yard… just as soon as we regain full function of our limbs again.
(Post by John)
Amy’s Design Dilemma
It’s design dilemma time again- and this time it’s a total bathroom gut job! Amy’s ready to go the whole nine yards, and we’re psyched to whip her master bathroom into shape. Here’s her letter:
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed seeing the transformation of your beautiful home! My husband and I just bought our first home in Ventura, California and are in serious need of a main bathroom remodel! It has carpet tiles (yuck), stripped-down walls (used to have wallpaper), ugly faux marble in the shower surround and on the vanity, and is just plain outdated. I want to gut it and do it right and I would absolutely love to get your opinion as to what I should shoot for. I have an idea, but I am kinda lost! Here are some of my general likes: traditional & modern, Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, earth tones, rich cream, browns, espresso, and silver. If you could help us with our direction, it would be greatly appreciated. - Amy
We love a good transformation, and this bathroom is definitely primed for a major one. Here’s the moodboard we whipped up for Amy’s soon-to-be-fabulous bathroom oasis.
1. This is the gorgeous and surprisingly affordable carrera marble tile that we chose to cover many of the surfaces in the room. Tiling the entire floor, the shower surround, and even the top of the vanity with these gorgeous marble slabs will make the room seem more expansive and super luxurious- and they’re only around $6 per square foot.
2. A light mocha on the walls (once they’ve removed all that wallpaper glue) will introduce the earthy palate that Amy loves, while keeping everything feeling fresh, light, and spa-perfect.
3. John and I have pined over this gorgeous sink from moderndanish.com, and at $179, it’s hundreds of dollars cheaper than anything from Kohler. We think it would look spectacular atop a deep brown vanity.
4. Which brings us to this inspirational photo of a chocolate brown vanity with a tiled top. We think the marble slabs would look spectacular if they were carried over onto the top of the vanity, and the gorgeous white sink above could be centered on the marble top for the ultimate teeth-brushing experience. We couldn’t find the exact vanity, but this one comes pretty close. We also think a large mirror with a deep chocolate frame above the sink is a must to inject a little drama and reflect some major light.
5. Like jewelry for the bathroom, this amazing satin nickel faucet from Overstock would be the icing on the cake. And it’s almost 50% off thanks to overstock.com.
6. To bring in a little texture and break up all the solids, a plush striped towel, like this one from Pottery Barn would keep things soft and inviting. And it just happens to be on sale.
7. A chic new frameless glass door with a satin nickel pull would keep things open and add to that high-end look by ensuring that the amazing marble shower surround is visible at all times.
Then all Amy needs is a breezy white curtain for that window and a chic satin nickel light fixture to replace the old one above the sink. Then it’s time for a little champagne in the shower. Cheers to Amy’s new bathroom.
If you have a design dilemma on your hands, click here for a custom moodboard of your own. And tell us what you think of Amy’s bathroom transformation. Ideas? Suggestions? Share and share alike.
(Post by Sherry, who has a serious case of bathroom envy)
Shear Willpower
As you last saw a few weeks ago, we removed our shoddy screen door and painted the door behind it a brilliant lipstick red. Then we ripped down the scalloped header with vigor and shared the victorious results. But Project Pimp My Porch is far from complete. We still need to relay the front walkway, because it looks bad (really bad). But while we work up the energy to tear up the jagged slate and create a wider and more level pathway, I took it upon myself to get going on some much needed front landscaping.
See, after azaleas look spectacular for three long weeks in April, they’re immediately supposed to be cut back when the flowers begin to fade. So I got to work trimming all of the bushes the obligatory three inches or so. Observe:
And then I did something that John and I have been talking about for two whole years. I cut the three bushes on either side of the front steps waaaay back. So far back that I was left with six giant piles of leaves when the smoke cleared. But it had to be done. As gorgeous as the jumbo azalea bushes look each spring when they show their stuff for 20 straight days, the rest of the year they’re just giant green bushes that obscure the porch railing, making our house appear even more squat and encircling the perimeter like a solid wall of unvaried color and texture. And viola… we have our porch back.
It’s open and inviting and the house looks taller and more, dare I say it, updated. The old wall of unbroken bushes is no more. And the azaleas will still fill in and flower, but we’ll never let them get so overgrown that our cute porch railing is hidden like gorgeous hardwood floors under a grody old carpet. And now we even have space to pop some annuals into the mix for a splash of new color and texture to boot. So as soon as my forearms stop burning and my biceps stop twitching, I just might talk John into helping me tackle that new walkway. Stay tuned…
(Post by Sherry)
HGTV’s “Green” Home
If you’ve caught any HGTV lately, then you already know about their Green Home sweepstakes. Just like their annual Dream Home giveaway, you can enter (once a day through tomorrow, by the way) to win an extravagant home in a gorgeous location (holy property taxes, batman). The obvious twist this time is that the home is riding the eco-friendly bandwagon and is constructed using the latest and greatest in green building techniques.
So as we drove through South Carolina toward our Florida vacation a few weeks ago, we spotted billboards advertising tours of the Green Home, which is located just off I-95 in Hilton Head. “Perfect,” we thought, “we’ll make a pit stop, take the tour and give our lovely readers the inside scoop.”
But it turns out that HGTV had another kind of “green” in mind because the tours were far from free. It would’ve cost $40 for the two of us to take the 15-20 minute tour. And we couldn’t even drive by the house to sneak a complimentary glimpse because only the chartered shuttles full of paying customers were allowed anywhere near it.
Call us cheap, but isn’t that a bit much? It’s twice as much as two movie tickets (which entertain for two hours) and about four times as much as a design magazine subscription for the year. Talk about makin’ bacon. Especially for an contest that’s aiming to make green mainstream and accessible. Plus, they have insanely major sponsors for the whole project who are paying an arm and a leg to be included. Don’t they want as much exposure as they can get? Back when Sherry worked for Country Home magazine, they made it as easy as possible (read: free, free, free) for the public to tour their show homes and gawk at all the goods inside. Nary a dollar bill was exchanged.
Fortunately, HGTV offers a great virtual tour on their website for zero buckaroos. Which is definitely more our style.
I guess we’ll just have to give you guys that inside scoop once we win it. With a kitchen like that, a fella can dream, can’t he?
(Post by John)
Manisha’s Design Dilemma
This week’s decorating doozie is all about accent pieces and accessories that can completely alter the style of a room. Manisha dreams of a lighter and more contemporary family room, and gosh darn it we love to give the people what they want. Here’s her letter:
Dear Sherry & John- Your home and design choices are really beautiful and inspiring and your blog is a favorite daily read of mine! Where I need your help is in our family room. I purchased a sofa set that had red, gold, and mustard pillows and thought I’d try for a fun global eclectic look but boy was that a horrible idea. The room started to look really confusing and gave me a headache whenever I entered it. I’d like to stick with neutral colors but move away from a more global and traditional look to something much lighter and more contemporary. With that in mind, I’d like to purchase a sunburst mirror for over the fireplace, a new rug, some lamps, window treatments and a coffee table - any suggestions you have would be great. Thanks!! - Manisha
The bones are all there. The creamy tan wall color and camel couches are the perfect starting point along with the deep wood tone of the side table. And those white shelves are particularly reminiscent of our own dining room shelves- which are über clean and modern. Manisha’s room is primed for a light and bright transformation, so let the fun begin.
1. We’ve pined after this gorgeous Pottery Barn rug for months, and think it would be the perfect addition to Manisha’s neutral family room. The geometric pattern adds a contemporary feel and the soothing blue tones immediately lighten and brighten the whole space.
2. This amazing lamp is another way to inject more of the new pale blue accent color into the room. And at an unbelievable sale price of $23, ya just can’t go wrong.
3. If lightness is the goal, look no further than a sparkling reflective surface. A silver sunburst mirror over the fireplace would make the room seem more open and airy while adding a splash of glamour. Good call Manisha.
4. The white shelves would fit the new contemporary and clean feel if they sported yummy reflective accessories in tones of nickel, chrome, glass and pale blue. This gorgeous mirrored obelisk from ZGallerie would absolutely take the cake.
5. These perfectly priced Target pillows in pale blue silk would definitely work with the existing chocolate ones on the camel couches. Along with the pops of blue in the lamp bases, a few splashes of color on the couch will keep everything feeling balanced and help break up that sea of camel and chocolate.
6. The new color scheme is a classic combination of chocolate brown (in the rug and the wood furniture), camel (in the couches), pale blue (in the rug and the accessories) and creamy tan (on the walls and in the rug) along with pops of crisp and classic white. Mmm- it’s one of our favorites.
7. This West Elm coffee table sports clean lines and a deep chocolate color to ground the pattern in the rug without feeling too heavy. It would be the perfect place for some big hardcover books about the ocean, the sky, the mountains or anything else with glossy blue and white cover art.
8. Here are some more light and contemporary accents, this time in the form of apothecary jars stuffed with breezy beach shells. They’d look fab on the white shelves or the existing dark wood side table.
9. Crisp white curtains from Ikea would finish things off and invite the sun into Manisha’s new light and airy family room. These particular curtains rock our world (we have them in our living room as well as our sunroom) and the price (for two!) is oh so right.
That about sums it up. We’d certainly love to relax in a family room chock full of the items above, but what do you guys think? Ideas? Comments? Ready, set, sound off.
And if you’re in dire need of some decorating advice, click here to get your very own virtual design consultation.
(Post by Sherry)
No More Things?
When Sherry and I heard that Linens n’ Things filed for bankruptcy last week, we panicked. Is LNT about to disappear a la Sharper Image?
Not yet. According to reports they’re just closing about 120 under-performing stores for now. You can check this list to see if your local LNT made the cut. Fortunately, ours dodged the bullet.
See, we registered at LNT for our wedding so just about all of our dishes hail from there. If they closed, you know what would happen, right? I’d break a plate or a bowl, we’d be short one place setting, Sherry would shoot me a death-look and then we’d have to replace our entire collection since we’d no longer be able to buy just one item. So we played it safe last night and purchased a few back ups:
Ok, we already had the spoon.
But for those who are wondering, these are 10 Strawberry Street dishes. They’re just about the perfect, nondescript white plates and bowls- and they’re also pretty affordable ($4.99 per plate, $3.99 per bowl). Plus you can get them for even less since LNT honors those 20% off coupons from Bed, Bath and Beyond that seem to multiply in our mailbox (we never knew this until we saw someone in line with about ten of them and they honored them all!). And now that we have a few extra plates and bowls we won’t have a nervous breakdown when one or two of them inevitably break.
(Post by John)
It’s A Set Up
Burning question: does a perpetually set dining table look fabulous or forced? Magazines and catalogs often feature fantastic dining rooms with sparkling settings- even with no one around to put them to good use.
But in everyday life, does an always-set dining room table look sophisticated and coordinated or just plan strange when no one’s about to chow down?
(Post by Sherry)
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