You’ll have to excuse me if I’m a little preoccupied this week. My hubby is taking the bar exam this week, and we are all on pins and needles. MY brain hurts, so I know his does!!
But don’t worry, I won’t leave you hanging. I’ve got some fun posts lined up for you, and I’ll be back soon with more house updates!
In the meantime, you can keep up with me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! And be sure to check out the shop at Hunters Alley! :)
I’ve never been an avid reader. I’m envious of the people that can sit down and finish (and enjoy!) a book, but I’m just not one of them.
That’s why I love coffee table books! I even have a Pinterest board dedicated to this love. I can sit and go through every page, or thumb through as I have the time and patience. Plus, we all know how easy it is to style with books!
In my opinion, there are a few staples that every well-decorated home should have…
1. The Big Book of Chic by Miles Redd
“An internationally acclaimed interior design sensation, Miles Redd is known for his quirky brand of cozy glamour. This lavishly illustrated volume features a diverse selection of his unique interiors, an inspiration to anyone interested in spirited, eclectic design.”
2. Domino: The Book of Decorating by Deborah Needleman
“Domino: The Book of Decorating cracks the code to creating a beautiful home, bringing together inspiring rooms, how-to advice and insiders’ secrets from today’s premier tastemakers in an indispensable style manual.”
3. The Perfectly Imperfect Home by Deborah Needleman
“Over the years, founding editor in chief of Domino Magazine Deborah Needleman has seen all kinds of rooms, with all kinds of furnishings. Her conclusion: It’s not hard to create a relaxed, stylish, and comfortable home. Just a few well-considered items can completely change the feel of your space, and The Perfectly Imperfect Home reveals them all.”
4. Design Sponge at Home by Grace Bonney
“’Thank you,’ wrote a reader to Design*Sponge creator Grace Bonney, ‘for teaching me that houses don’t have to be frumpy and formal. They don’t have to be matchy-matchy or rigidly modern. They can just be comfy and unique and reflect who you are, no matter how small your budget or space.'”
And then there are some that I am just dying to get my hands on…
1. Glamorous Rooms by Jan Showers
“Glamorous Rooms showcases the elegant eclecticism of renowned designer Jan Showers’s interiors, including many projects unpublished until now.”
2. The Age of Elegance by Alex Papachristidis
“One of today’s eminent tastemakers, Alex Papachristidis is known for arresting, elegant interiors that meld classical motifs with a modern perspective and sophisticated details. This volume pays homage to Papachristidis’s refined sensibility and celebrates Alex Papachristidis Interiors’ twenty-fifth anniversary.”
3. Fifth Avenue Style by Howard Slatkin
“In this gorgeously illustrated volume, Slatkin, an interior designer and founder of the iconic home-fragrance and lifestyle brand Slatkin & Co., opens the doors of his legendary Fifth Avenue apartment and invites readers to accompany him on an intimate tour.”
4. The Welcoming House: The Art of Living Graciously by Jane Schwab
“The owners of the acclaimed stores and decorating firm Circa Interiors present eight stylish, beautiful homes blending comfort, beauty, and function with classic Southern hospitality. A house with an open door is like a friend with an open heart: inviting, generous of spirit, and constant at the core.”
5. The Find by Stan Williams
“In The Find, Stan Williams and some of today’s most clever style makers, including Simon Doonan, John Derian, and Real Simple’s Kristin van Ogtrop–all diehard devotees of New York City’s Housing Works–show not just what to look for, but also how to look at an object to identify a great piece.”
I’m ashamed to say that the only one of these I have in my collection is Design Sponge. But you have to start somewhere, right?
What are some of your favorite coffee table books? Do you have a good collection going?
Happy Sunday friends! The weather is finally looking up here, and I’m planning on spending some time outside today. Here’s what I’m up to lately…
Currently:
Reading– This list of things that older people say they regret doing, or not doing. It’s a great reminder that life moves fast and we should all make time to do the things that make us happy.
Listening– To the washing machine. Lots of laundry today!
Wishing– That contact paper was durable enough to use on kitchen counters. How amazing are these faux marble countertops?!
Hoping– That this closet system works for us in our master closet. We didn’t want anything that relied totally on the wall for support, so we ordered two of these free standing systems. (And thanks to I Heart Organizing, we got $25 off!)
Loving– Our new kitchen hardware!! More on that coming soon.
Wanting– All of you to go follow my new Facebook page! There are a lot of exciting things happening for the blog in the near future, including a complete rebranding (a sneak peek of the new logo is on the Facebook page).
Feeling– Excited about my new shop on Hunter’s Alley!! I already have a few items listed, but you can expect many more in the next few weeks.
Clicking– These hilariously incorrect test answers. I would make a horrible teacher, because I would totally encourage this type of behavior in my students!
You can find out what other bloggers are up to over at Lauren’s blog. Have a super week! :)
Well, I guess I’m “Facebook official” now…
If you enjoy the blog, please head over to the 702 Park Project page and give it a like! As some of you may know, The Remedy House has closed as a shop, but will continue as a fabulous blog by my best friend Mary. I’m so thrilled to announce that I will be taking on a new shop over on Hunters Alley. I’ve already added several items, and you can expect lots more in the coming weeks!
I’ve been working with Tasha of My Cute Lobster, and am thrilled to announce that the entire new brand will be rolling out in the next couple of weeks, but here’s a sneak peek at the new logo:
Have a wonderful weekend! Tune in Sunday for the weekly Sunday Currently! :)
Background photo via Lonny Magazine.
If you haven’t voted in Apartment Therapy’s Homies Awards, head on over and vote! Today is the last day! You can vote for as many blogs as you like, including this one!
When we started our restoration project, we decided to hold off on doing a full kitchen renovation. The kitchen does not necessarily have a look or layout that we would choose, but it is functional and, for now, that’s what’s important. So we wanted to spend as little money as possible in this space until we do a full renovation down the road. We have done a few easy upgrades that we think have really made an impact in that space. We painted the walls (Sherwin Williams Morning Fog) and trim (glossy white), painted the cabinets white, installed new engineered hardwoods, installed a new sink faucet and garbage disposal, installed a 5-burner gas range we found on Craigslist, and bought a new fridge. With the exception of the fridge, which was our big splurge (although still a bargain), we’ve spent less than $700 in the kitchen.
But there’s still one glaring problem area: the countertops. They are ugly and cheap laminate countertops with lots of stains–paint stains, burn stains, food stains, etc. And no amount of cleaning is going to make them look better. So I’ve been exploring some options…
1. Paint – Apparently you can paint countertops. See examples here, here, and here. This would be pretty inexpensive and give us a lot of creative freedom, but I worry about durability.
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2. Concrete – This would be an inexpensive and durable option, but it could prove difficult to do ourselves. Also, to my knowledge there isn’t a food-safe concrete sealer available. We could get around this by always using cutting boards, etc. but it may become a nuisance. Examples here and here.
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3. Buy New – We could purchase new, inexpensive countertops from somewhere like Ikea. This would probably be the easiest option for us, but the most expensive of the three.
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We have less than 25 square feet of counter space, which would make any of these options pretty economical.
Does anyone have experience with any of these methods? Is there another option we should look into? What are your thoughts?
If you haven’t voted in Apartment Therapy’s Homies Awards, head on over and vote! You can vote for as many blogs as you like, including this one!
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