Our Master Bedroom

This is our master bedroom. Again--hate the paint color. I know. I should really get over it, just want to make sure we're clear on that. I hate the paint color. (I'm not quite over it, yet.) I wanted our bedroom to be comfy and non-fussy, so I kept the color palette simple and minimal. There is a rug under the bed that doesn't show well, but I'm too lazy to take more pictures, so you'll have to use your imagination! Not pictured is the bathroom, because there's really nothing awesome about it, and my desk/office nook. I'll show pictures of that later. It's new and not styled yet, so this is all you get for now!

Our Kitchen, Dining Room & Powder Room

Next stop is our kitchen and dining room, which is all really in the same room as the living room and entry. Just play along. I'm pretending like I have a big house. And, it's not actually a next stop, since you can see the entire thing from the front door. While I'm at it, I might as well admit that we NEVER call our bathroom a powder room. It just sounds fancier. Again, just play along, thanks.

Our Entry & Living Room

I decided it was time to let you all into our lil' abode. Currently, Jeremy, Stella, and I are living outside of St. Louis while Jeremy completes a residency in anesthesia. I love our little town house, but it is little, and it is a rental. Two of the most important design elements are good paint colors and lighting...I can't do either. (We did paint the living and entry, and it will probably cost us hundreds of dollars when we leave, so that is what is holding us back from painting the rest of the house!)

Okay, now I'm rambling and stalling. I'll stop. Here it is...the moment you've all been waiting for. (Ok, not really, but humor me a little bit.) We'll start with the entry and living room.

[kreyv of the day]

image from House Beautiful

[so cheap, so easy]: Entry Hooks

This is one of my most resourceful projects. (You know I like people to think I'm resourceful, right?!) It is also very practical, which is not one of my strongest traits. We HAVE to have these hooks, especially in the winter. There is really no need for instructions. It's a piece of wood with hooks drilled to it. But the reason I think I'm so darn resourceful is because we already had the wood, AND it was already finished.

We bought a dresser a few years ago, and the company accidentally sent us two tops. They didn't want it back, so I just kept it--not knowing what I would ever do with it. Because I wanted this to be a cheap project, I chose hooks that were inexpensive, but I think it could be so much more interesting with oversized hooks or even hooks that are all different from each other. So, if you ever make this, make it more interesting than this one, mmkay?

[color kreyv]: Pale Gray

Sometimes I feel sorry for myself that I can't paint the walls in my house. I know the hubs loves that we can't paint, and he probably does his evil laugh whenever he thinks about it. If I could paint, I would start with the master, and I would paint it a pale gray. I die over gray rooms--so beautiful, uber beautiful, in fact.

image from Arhzine

image from Apartment Therapy

image by James Swan

I Need the ABC's to Motivate Me

I know, it's a suh-weet rhyme. I've really gotten in touch with my inner gangsta rapper since living in Milwaukee and St. Louie. Anyway, I am loving the idea of an ABC display in a nursery so much that I'm already planning on using this idea in our next nursery. What's wrong with this plan, you ask? Nothing besides the fact that, as of now, there is no next nursery.

You see, the hubs and I are planning on adopting a second child, and even as I type, the big red adoption folder taunts me. It sits on my desk judging me, because I am a procrastinator. So, here's my new goal: I am going to work on the adoption for 30 minutes every day. That's doable, right? Totally doable. My goal is to be eligible by the end of the year. That gives me about four months. Like I always say, "so cheap, so easy!"

image from Project Nursery

image from Ohdeedoh

image from House of Turquoise

Home by Novogratz

Have you been watching Home by Novogratz on HGTV? In case you haven't, it's about a husband/wife interior design team (Cortney and Robert Novogratz). They used to have a show on Bravo that also included their family life. (They have seven kids.) But on their HGTV show, it centers around one space design per episode. You should definitely tune in and get inspired. (HGTV doesn't even pay me to say that.)

They create some very "out of the box" designs. Their work is trendy, fun, and very unique. Here are a few of my favorite designs.

I am in love with these stairs that they designed for a family/play room space. (When my hubs saw this picture he asked, "What's the deal with the writing on the stairs?" Duh, it's fabulous, that's what!)

Speaking of stairs, I am dying over these. Do you think they wear well, though? Beautiful, regardless.

On the last episode, they designed this space for a trendy couple who's design style was industrial/cozy. They mixed industrial pieces with very traditional pieces and very over the top chandeliers. My favorite part was the chalkboard paint ceilings and the black and white wallpaper in the bedroom.
And, my last fave is their photo collage wallpaper. Totally cool.

all images from HGTV

[kreyv of the day]

image from Houzz

[so cheap, so easy]: Repurposed Cribs

I'm not going to lie, this is a good one, guys! Using your crib rails for magazine and/or quilt display? Genius. Love. It. It's so cheap that it's free, and the easy depends on where and how you will obtain your crib rail! I know, I'm excited, too, but please don't dismantle your crib if your baby is still using it. I know, it will be hard, but you can do it.

image from Ohdeedoh

image from Ohdeedoh

[color kreyv]: Plum

These plum rooms are amazing, no doubt about it! The color is so sophisticated and rich. Several years ago, my little brother and I decided to paint my mom's main bathroom plum (he, of course did the painting), only then we called it eggplant...tuh-mayto, tuh-mah-to. (So, it's not really an expression that you put in writing, what can I say?) Anyway, the bathroom probably gets more compliments than any room in her house.

Speaking of plums, I can't believe that summer is almost over. (Yeah, nothing to do with plums, just wanted to change the subject.) It absolutely flew by, but I have to say, I am SO enjoying this cooler weather. St. Louis summers are not my favorite, but the rest of the year has great weather (minus the occasional tornado)! Since I don't have kids in school, I consider Labor Day the end of the summer. So, here's to the last few weeks of summer (and plums)! I hope you enjoy it!

image from House to Home

image from Stars and Quills

image from Deco Ideas

Gage's Room

I went to Texas last January and worked on my nephew Gage's room. Gage is now nine, so he needed a big boy room. We were not able to paint, but if we would have, I would have chosen a subtle gray tone. We wanted the room to feel masculine, but also playful. I definitely think this is a room that one of my favorite little guys can grow into! He is going to be a little ladies' man some day. He's quite the little charmer, and he can even play the guitar!

Pinterest Pretties

I was a little late getting on the Pinterest train, but oh, how I love it! Here are a few little bits of eye candy that I found on there a little while ago. I am so in love with these dressers, and I would especially like to replicate the ombre one in the first picture. Isn't it to die for? The only thing I need is a dresser, a room to put the dresser in, and another person in my house to need the dresser. Hmmm, I'll have to work on that.

image from Knock Knocking via Pinterest

image from The Beautiful Soup via Pinterest

image from Feathered Nest Interiors, LLC via Houzz

[kreyv of the day]

image from Style Files

[so cheap, so easy]: Book Shelves

Book shelves, not to be confused with bookshelves...aren't they cute? All that is needed is two L brackets per shelf. From what I've gathered, the brackets are about $3 each(depending on what size you choose). I wish I could take credit for this project, because I like to be resourceful. And this, my friends, is a very resourceful project!

image from Real Simple

[color kreyv]: Pink & Green

Pink and green is not just for little girls! Umm, hello! How sophisticated is the pink and green in the first pic?! I know. Uber chic. That pink ottoman and the pink in the floral pillows are to die for, and the tone of the room is so happy! But, would you ever use this combination in your living room or in a sitting room? It's a little bit bold and brave (and of course, feminine), don't you think? Hmmm, I'm thinking about it. I think I'd do it in a guest room. (That brings me to how many guest rooms in my future, pretend, dream house? I plan on having lots of company!)

image from Bibelot

image from Pink Bedroom Ideas

image from Metropolitan Home

Timeless Trends

I must say that I've missed seeing Nate's beautiful, smiling face every day on The Nate Show. How dare he take the summer off. I'll forgive him. After all, Nate can do no wrong in my eyes. I do hope, however, that when the new season starts again, the shows are more centered around design than they were last season. I'll have to talk to Nate about that next time we go to lunch. Anything else you'd like me to tell him?

On a past episode, Nate had Michelle Adams from Lonny Mag as his guest. She highlighted three timeless trends. Here they are (by the way, I think I need monogrammed soap):

(1) Animal Print Accessories

image from Southern Accents

image from Jena Williams

(2) Nailhead Trim

image from Isabella & Max

image from Kwinter

image from Pottery Barn

(3) Monogrammed Home Accessories

image from Pottery Barn