A fun stay-in-date for couples with little ones with early bedtimes...
Build a fort in the living room from bed sheets with lots of pillows and blankets (just like when you were a kid!), dim the lights, watch a mini-marathon of a great TV show, and enjoy a some bubbly, and grapes dipped in Nutella... a sweet and romantic camping adventure in the comfort of your own home (and no need for a babysitter)!
Some fun extras:
Small, But Stylish
I recently watched a real estate/lifestyle show that included a segment about tiny houses and found it so interesting. Sadly, I completely forget what the show was called, but I think it was on HGTV.
I really admire people who can live with ONLY what they need. I tend to be a bit excessive, but I do try to think about things before I buy them, and I make an effort to donate clothes, books, furniture, etc that I no longer use or need a couple of times a year.
But back to the tiny houses... Patton, Goalie and I lived very happily for four years in our charming and lovely two story condo in Dupont Circle for over four years, and it is just 700 square feet! That is definitely as small as I could go, and living there made me consider the best use of every square foot when I was decorating.
We were so happy in a small space, but our National Harbor condo now feels huge (in a great way) in comparison since it is twice the size. Living in DC, I fell in love with furniture that doubled as storage, learned that vertical space is as important and usable as floor space, and that large accents in decor makes a little space feel bigger. Also, high ceilings are key. And the fact that our condo in Dupont is 2 stories gives it a bit of luxury and loftiness that 700 square feet on one floor just doesn't quite have.
Here are some really beautiful, small houses, and tiny living spaces to inspire and impress you! And an interesting article on the topic.
Ocean Treasures
My family's shore house in Avalon, NJ (one of my all time favorite places in the world) is one of the most beautiful and easy to relax in homes I have ever been in. I feel so lucky every time I walk in the front door.
My mom did such an amazing job on every aspect of the decor, but the very best part is her beautifully displayed, incredibly extensive sea glass collection which was gathered from beaches all over New Jersey, the Caribbean, and Spain. My whole family loves to go for sea glass walks when we are all together down the shore.
Here are some photos of my mom's collection.
And some Sea Glass Inspired items from around the web:
mobile / mirror / ring / "Sea Glass" paint / dress
Sensational Settings
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| Coco and Kelley Tabletop |
If your dining room needs a fresh look, no need to splurge on new furniture, curtains, or light fixtures. You can breathe new life into the same old stuff with some great table accessories. Think place mats, linens, napkin rings, salt & pepper shakers, and a creative centerpiece, and you can get an exciting new look on a budget.
Here are a few fun options below ... set a table for 4 for under $80!
Whimsical Woodland - $79.16
Snowglobe Bear Shakers $14.95 / Wood Print Fabric for Napkins $15.99 per yard / Faux Grass Placemats $13.96 / Deer Napkin Rings $15.26 / Owl Vase $19
Wild Western - $73.16
Horsey Salt and Pepper $24.95 / Bandana Napkins $5.28 for a dozen / Cowhide Napkin Rings $15.96 / Tan Faux Leather for Placemats $14.98 per yard / Tumbleweed Centerpiece $11.99
Oh So Zen - $75.66
Tiny Bowls for Salt and Pepper $2.20 / Vintage Cotton Napkins $12 for 10 / Twine for Napkin Ties $8.74 / Pebble Placemats $40.72 / Beta in a Bowl Centerpiece (fish, bowl, marbles) $12
Glitz and Glamour - $79.73
Bling Salt and Pepper $22.95 / Fuschia Organdy Fabric for Napkins $3.99 per yard / Rhinestone Napkin Rings $23.80 / Mirror Tiles Placemats $9.99 for a pack of 6 / Magenta Vase $6 / Ostrich Feather for Centerpiece $13 for 9
Delightful Doors
No reason your door needs to be a bore. I used these oversized poppy flower decals in silver to dress up the entry to my condo. It took about 3 hours to carefully place each little section of the blooms but I think the over all effect is so much fun. It's easy to do and not permanent so it is a great decorating option for apartment renters.
Here are some other delightfully decorated doors.
Clever Little Fox
Lucy's locks have begun to take on a lovely coppery glow as the days go by, and so Patton and I have been calling her our clever little fox.
Here are some fantastically foxy nursery items that make me wish I had a second home so I could decorate another nursery for my little fox:
Find Foxes:
Fox Cub Print / Comforter / Fox Tracks Rug / Foxy Jumper / Fox in a Box and Blanky / Fox Pillow / Toy Tote / Book / Mobile
AND....
if you are the crafty type, you can
Homemade Headboards
Three easy equations resulting in homemade headboard masterpieces...
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Reclaimed Love 
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| Triple It |
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| Bright Fabric Tiles |
Luxury Look for Less
I have been completely lusting after this dresser (ok... it is actually an extremely sophisticated baby changing table) but it is waaay out of my price range.
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| Nurseryworks Uptown Changer |
Instead I am making over these dressers from Ikea which I just got for $119 a piece to get a budget friendly version of the same look.
With a little white paint and some fun drawer pulls (you know I love the animals so I am ordering these lion heads) I am hoping to have to some expensive looking dressers to use as bedside tables and extra clothes storage for under $150 each.
I am giving myself a deadline of two weeks so wish me luck and stay tuned for the final result!
Etsy Rainbow
Click the pictures below to shop for these beautiful and affordable art prints in ever color of the rainbow from those talented folks at Etsy:
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Pretty Perches
Every living room needs a great statement chair or two. I got a pair of these super chic, quilted white leather studded stunners at o.co (baby sold separately) .... where the quality is great, the prices are better and shipping only costs $2.95!
Here are some other fabulous accent chairs available at a steal (each under $300!!) on o.co
Pinteresting Porches
After spending a terrific weekend at my parent's house, lots of it in their charming porch where I have so many warm memories (the best ones most involving really delicious steamed crabs, buttery corn on the cob, juicy tomatoes, cold beer and lots of laughs) I am really wishing I had a porch of my own.
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| Shutter Porch |
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| White Washed Floors |
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| Comfy Seating |
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Ocean View With Floor Length Curtains
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"With My Hair, You can't Even See Me in Here"
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| Roger Sterling |
"Stop being demure. You're already on the bed."
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| Roger Sterling's Office Not only is Mad Men's Roger Sterling the king of the witty one liner, but he also has a very cool, very stylish office in my favorite decorating colors... black and white. Here are some Sterling worthy items at a smaller price tag      Shop Here: Spinal Chair and Ottoman / Marble Table / Ball Stool / Chrome and White Glass Bar Cart / Op Art |
Animal Kingdom
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| Walton Ford |
A couple of years ago I got a beautiful day planner full of Walton Ford's gorgeous animal illustrations which are reminiscent of Audobon illustrations only the animals are always up to no good in Ford's version... monkeys getting drunk, birds fighting fish, snakes stealing eggs, etc.
As a great lover of animals, both in real life and in home decor, here are some great items for your house inspired by the wild and wonderful animal kingdom.
Rhino Head / Giraffe Nightlight (Lucy just got this as a gift.. Lucky girl!!) / Elephant Salt and Pepper Shakers / Leather Piggy Bookends / Bunny Mobile / Owl Lamp / Leopard Area Rug / Silhouette Pillow
Beige ... The Right Way
I spent seven LOOONG days in the hospital last week bringing my gorgeous and super sweet baby girl into the world. Both the labor room (where I waited in frustration and pain for three days) and the recovery room (where I smiled and stared and hugged and kissed my little Lucy for four days) were completely beige, and not in that luxurious, understated chic way, but in the most offensively boring way possible.
In an effort to not dislike the neutral tone for the rest of my life, here are two truly beautiful beige rooms
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| Living Room |
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| Bedroom |
and some beige treasures from around the web.
For Home:
To Wear:
Lace Shorts / Wedges / Open Knit Sweater / Hook Bracelet / Straw Clutch / Drawstring Baby Sweater / Men's Suede Ankle Boots
And next time you are at National Harbor, be sure to check out the fabulous home decor and clothing at Coco Blanco, where the beautifully neutral curated collection never fails to inspire me.
Blue Heaven
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| Blue Bedroom |
Here are three mood boards for a chic and funny friend who is redocorating her bedroom. She selected a lovely wedgewood blue paint for the walls and has a dark brown bed frame in her light filled bedroom. As for the rest of the room... anything goes!
1. Crisp and Classic
The Palette: Wedgewood Blue, Navy and White with Silver Accents
Wall Decor
A selection of Wall Medallions like these painted white and hung over the bed
Get them here:
Blue and White Silk Scarves in White Frames
Textiles
Curtains / Sheers / Rag Rug / Duvet Cover / Ikat Pillows
Furniture
Lighting and Mirrors
2. Bright and Bold
The Palette: Wedgewood Blue, Sunny Yellow, Royal Blue and Citrus Orange
Wall Decor
Textiles
Zig Zag Curtains / Bird Duvet / Royal Throw Pillows / Rawhide Rug
Furniture
dresser knobs / dresser / Side Table / Upholstered Chair
Lighting and Mirrors
pagoda mirror / Spilled Paint Lamp / Blue Lamp
Furniture
dresser knobs / dresser / Side Table / Upholstered Chair
Lighting and Mirrors
pagoda mirror / Spilled Paint Lamp / Blue Lamp
3. Sophisticated and Feminine
The Palette: Wedgewood Blue, Ballet Pink, Lavender and some Sparkle
The Palette: Wedgewood Blue, Ballet Pink, Lavender and some Sparkle
Wall Decor
large smoke prints on canvas
Textiles
pale pink rug / tufted duvet / blue throw blanket / ruffle pillow / Blue Satin Pillowcases / Lilac Sheets / Sequin Fabric for Curtains
Furniture
velvet bed bench / Hollywood Bedside Cabinet / Silver Basket Chair
Lighting and Mirrors
Sleeping on a Cloud
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| Illustration by David Wiesner |
How peaceful and comfy would it be to sleep on a cloud? Inspired by incredible author/illustrator David Weisner's wonderful Caldecott Honor Award Winning Book, Sector 7, I set about finding a way to do that every night.
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| Sector 7 |
Ever since Patton and I had our "Mini-Moon" at the Four Seasons in Philadelphia (thanks, Mom & Dad!!!) right after our wedding in December 2003, we've been trying to recreate that amazing sleeping experience in our own home.
I think we may just have done it!
We were looong overdue for a new mattress and box spring since we've been sleeping on the set Patton bought at some sort of roadside warehouse situation while he was in flight school in Pensacola in, like, 2002. A decade later, it seems we were more than ready for an upgrade.
First thing I did was call the lovely people at the Four Seasons who were happy to tell me which products they use (Stearns & Foster Luxury Plush Firm Pillowtop Mattress and 500 thread count cotton sheets, in case you are wondering). I checked online and the mattresses were a bit out of our price range, so we went to our local mattress showroom and laid down on a bunch of beds. Funnily enough, the sales guys gave me a big spiel on what kind of mattress is best for me since I am pregnant... like it is a permanent condition.
We found the mattress we liked best, a firm mattress with a plush pillow top, at the store and then bought it from US-Mattress for a little over half the price of the showroom and that included box spring and in home set-up & removal of our old set!
Then I did a little research and went crazy with the bedding accessories.
We found the mattress we liked best, a firm mattress with a plush pillow top, at the store and then bought it from US-Mattress for a little over half the price of the showroom and that included box spring and in home set-up & removal of our old set!
Then I did a little research and went crazy with the bedding accessories.
The key to creating a bed as comfy as a cloud is lots of layers. I always notice in the nicer hotels that there's an abundance of pillows, super soft, cool to the touch sheets, blankets, and duvets.
Here are the 13 (!!!) layers that went into Patton, Goalie & my little block of heaven....
Layer 2 - Down Alternative Cuddle Bed
Layer 3 - Westin Heavenly Bed Mattress Pad
Layer 4 - Bamboo Fitted Sheet
(Bamboo is so soft & cooling & eco-friendly & magically gets softer with every washing!!!)
(Bamboo is so soft & cooling & eco-friendly & magically gets softer with every washing!!!)
Layer 5 - Bamboo Flat Sheet
Layer 6 - Thin Down Alternative Duvet in Bamboo Duvet Cover
Layer 7 - Thicker Down Alternative Duvet in Bamboo Duvet Cover
Layer 8 - Furry Throw
Layer 9 - 2 Firm King Pillows in Bamboo Shams
Layer 10 - 2 Westin Heavenly Bed Standard Pillows in Bamboo Shams
Layer 11 - 2 Goose Down Squishy Standard Pillows in Bamboo Cases
Layer 12 - 2 Body Pillows in 100% Cotton Cases
Layer 13 - 1 very fluffy, cuddly Havanese/Papillon mix dog
Ever since we set up this luxurious new sleeping situation my very pregnant, and achy body has been feeling wonderful and my hubby's back, which was usually sore in the morning, has been feeling much better!
It's just like sleeping on a cloud.....
Tray Tres Chic
It's just about pool season and I am really looking forward to spending some time on my building's rooftop pool sipping something refreshing and soaking up the sun.
Here's a selection of chic and cheap trays perfect for placing your cocktails while enjoying a quick dip in the water or some light and entertaining reading:
Shop Trays Here:
Studded Faux Croc / Aqua Bamboo / Birds of Paradise / Phantom Tray / Beachcomber / Hammered Metal / Bichon Tray / Personalized Platter
Perfect Poolside Drink Recipe:
Santo Libre
Add 2 oz of White Rum and the juice of one lime to a glass (I like ice in mine)
Fill remainder of glass with Sprite
Garnish with a lime wheel
Bubbly and Refreshing!
Some Fun and Funny Poolside Reading (short stories and essays for summer attention spans):
Covering Ground
Floor cushions are fantastic for creating a comfy and intimate space... the kind of room that invites someone to grab a glass of wine, settle in and make themselves at home.
You can create a sort of exotic harem-y type room by using moroccan poufs (speaking of Moroccan decor.. I am completely in love with this "wedding" throw) or sumptuous satin cushions,
or a bright and inviting space where grown-ups, kids and pets can all feel equally welcome using oversize cotton pillows in an array of colors.
Some incredible options for this affordable and fun room refresher:
Moroccan Pouf / Multi-Color Cushion / Cushion Couch / Corduroy Lounge Pillow / Velvet Floor Pillow / Stripe Cushion / Zig Zag Pillow / Wicker Pouf / Mongolian Lamb Pillows
3 Dining Room Ideas
Here are three very different, stylish and affordable dining room ideas for you.
Elegantly Rustic
Shopping Sources:
Chicly Minimalist
Shopping Sources:
Eclecticly Modern
Shopping Sources:
Magic's In the Cards
So, about 7 years ago, I got this really cool deck of cards and became a little obsessed with them. Each card is a work of art in it's own right and I would flip through and look at the the amazing illustrations... each representative of a nursery rhyme of fairy tale.
Last year, I finally got around to finding a fun way to display them at home. Once we moved from our jewel box of a home in Dupont Circle to our more spacious condo in National Harbor, we finally had enough free wall space and I framed the deck and hung it on the wall in the study. My brother liked the deck so much, I framed one for him as well.
Do you have any fun collections and how do you display them?
Shopping Sources:
The Key to the Kingdom Transformation Deck and Book by Tony Meuwissen / Custom Frame
A Place to Dream
Now that Lucy's nursery is all set, my next big project at home is decorating Patton and my bedroom. Right now the walls are plain white (and not as an actual style choice, but out of lazyness) and the furniture is just kind of a mish-mosh... Lamps that didn't look right in the living room, a bookcase we had in the nursery when it was just a guest room, and a bunch of artwork and mirrors just sitting on the floor waiting for a home.
I've decided the color palette above, pretty grays and turquoises (found on this VERY cool design website), is very soothing and restful, plus it mixes well with the rest of our condo and now I need to work out the details of the room.
Here are some ideas I am toying with:
A Pair of Bedside Pendant Lights (space saving idea... leaves the nightstand clear)
Shopping Sources:
Bedside Table Options
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Shopping Sources:
Aqua Nightstand / Fossil Table / White & Silver Key Scroll Stand / Reclaimed Wood Dresser / Mirror Top Table / Mirrored Night Table
Dresser and Mirror Combos:
Shopping Sources:
Wood Tiled Dresser & Pebble Oval / Shell Like Dresser & Ocean Mosaic / Concrete Slats Dresser & Pagoda Mirror (a pair would be nice)
Bedding
Shopping Sources:
Mimosa / Cockatoo / Hotel Suite / Sand Dollar / White Pintuck / Malin Figur
Wall Art (I am hoping to make something myself... here are some possible points of inspiration)
Image Sources:
Lipstick Dots/ Paint Chip Art / Monochromatic Paint Stripes / Bright Colors Washed on Canvas / Collection of Photos in a Large Frame / Nautical Charts
And, since I am likely painting the walls a soft gray, I am considering an exciting treatment for the ceiling like one of these:
Image Sources:
Mirror, Mirror
As you can see from the series of photos above, I love decorating with mirrors... they are pretty, reflect light and have a way of making any space seem brighter, larger and more glamourous. I like to use mirrors in lots of different ways... we have a mirrored backsplash in our Dupont apartment, I use a pair of mirrors on the bottom shelf/against the wall under the tv as a pretty way to hide wires, I like to use smaller mirrors as serving trays, and Lucy's mobile is constructed of tiny mirrored disco balls which splatter fun light patterns around the room when the sun shines in to her nursery.
My VERY favorite place to shop for all home decor, and ESPECIALLY mirrors, is HomeGoods. I got each of the mirrors pictured above from the store closest to my home. I get so happy every time I go in HomeGoods because they ALWAYS have a fresh set of unique treasures for me to dig through. Their prices are insanely affordable...I think the priciest HomeGoods mirror of the 10 or so that I have in my house is the 7 foot tall floor mirror we keep in our study which I practically stole at $179. More important than the great prices... everything seems a little bit unique and one of a kind-ish.
If you don't have the time to hunt through the latest shipment at your local HomeGoods here some gorgeous looking glasses from around the web:
Shop for them Here:
Black Scroll / Bone Sunburst / Atoll Wave / Mosaic / Strips / Portico / Fish Eye / Aqua Rimmed / Giraffe / Skeletal
Splurge here:
Coffee (Table) Talk
As a non coffee drinker and a HUGE fan of bubbly, I prefer to call it a cocktail table, but regardless of what you name it, no living room is complete without one.
Patton and I have a fantastic wide padded bench upholstered in zebra fabric that I scooped up at Steinmart about 5 years ago for an astounding $80! I love it because it works as a table, an extra place for guests to sit, or, more often, we slide it directly against the couch and it is comfy enough and perfectly sized to make our couch into one HUGE chaise. And for some reason, I prefer sitting on it instead of the couch when I am playing Mario Kart Wii (fyi... I am shockingly good at Mario Kart). We've gotten tons of use out of it, and WAY more than our money's worth, but it's looking a little worse for the wear so a new one may be in order soon.
I also love the idea of a cluster of 2 or 3 smaller tables instead of one central cocktail table. This is especially useful and versatile for a smaller space. So I've taken some budget friendly coffee tables that I love from all around internetland and also found affordable, smaller versions of the same look that you can arrange and rearrange in a group.
I also love the idea of a cluster of 2 or 3 smaller tables instead of one central cocktail table. This is especially useful and versatile for a smaller space. So I've taken some budget friendly coffee tables that I love from all around internetland and also found affordable, smaller versions of the same look that you can arrange and rearrange in a group.
Here are some budget friendly options, both large and small, I am entertaining:
Get 'em here:
Hammered metal drum or Chrome Garden Seats (we have 2 of these in our study and LOVE them)
Ghost Table or Acrylic Nesting Tables
Mirrored Cocktail Table or Faceted Mirrored Tables
Reclaimed Wood Coffee Table or Recycled Wood Barrels
Marble Round or Marble Squares
Velvet Ottoman or Tufted Cubes
Ghost Table or Acrylic Nesting Tables
Mirrored Cocktail Table or Faceted Mirrored Tables
Reclaimed Wood Coffee Table or Recycled Wood Barrels
Marble Round or Marble Squares
Velvet Ottoman or Tufted Cubes
However, when I win the lottery, I am getting one of these:
Go ahead and order, Richie Rich:
Snug as a Bug
As a very wise Dude once said, an area rug is a very easy and inexpensive way to "really tie a room together."
When I shop for an area rug I have a few requirements. The rug doesn't have to fit all the categories but it HAS to be at least one or two of the following....
- Soft, thick, shaggy or plush... I like everything in my home to be comfy and snuggly and I love a rug where I can cuddle up next to my hubby and my pup and take a little cat nap.
- Eye catching, bright or humorous... I love bright colors or bold patterns and rugs are an easy place to infuse these into the room. Get a bold striped rug, a funny graphic rug, or a bright colored hide and you'll add some excitement to even the most neutral of rooms.
- Affordable... rugs get a lot of wear and tear and they are also something that can be easily switched out for a fresh look in a room (much easier than repainting walls, or rearranging or buying new furniture) . If you can find a great, budget friendly rug and then a few months or years down the road you see something eye catching you it won't feel so guilty replacing the old with the new.
Here are some fantastic area rugs at affordable prices (starting at $39!)
Tie your room together:
Black and White Stripes / Pink Cowhide / White Shag / Aqua Recycled Cotton Shag / Grey Scallops / Vintage Poster Round / Hopscotch / Wingdings / Smooches / Crayon Stripes
Design fun at http://www.babybedding.com/
How cool is this website and why can't there be more like it?
You can use the amazing "design your own" nursery tool at BabyBedding.com to plan every detail of your baby's crib bedding.
I recommend starting by using the "nursery options" button to modify the wall color and trim, crib type, and floor choice to reflect what you have in your own home. From there you can click the "bedding options" to select bumper type and trim and skirt length and type. Then you can have a design field day selecting fabrics for each detail of the bedding (don't forget the little things like the bumper ribbons).
They also have a wonderful selection of bedding sets that you can choose from (like the one below) but I think designing something custom is more fun.
I ordered my baby girl's bedding from this website and I HIGHLY recommend http://www.babybedding.com/. The fabric is excellent quality, the prices are comparable to off-the-shelf sets from most baby specialty retailers, the customer service is super friendly and extremely prompt in responding to all questions, and the production, which is done in their Atlanta headquarters, is completed so quickly and so precisely that I got my gorgeous, one of a kind set within a week of designing it on their website.
Only two more months til Lucy is dreaming, happily surrounded by her beautiful custom baby bedding!
If anyone knows of any websites where you can design custom bedding (like for grown ups) please send me a link! I would love to have some one of a kind bedding.
City Living - Dupont Circle, Washington, DC - Rent ME!
Please check out our beautiful Dupont Circle condo which is available for rent in June 2012.
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| View of Living Room from Front Door |
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| View of Living Room |
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| View of Living Room from Kitchen |
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| Hallway to Kitchen |
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| Hallway "Office" Closet |
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| Kitchen |
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| Built in Bookcase and Stairs to 2nd Floor |
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| View of Bedroom from Stairs |
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| View of Bedroom from Window |
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| 2 Closets and Sink Lead into Bathroom |
$2725 / 1br - Luxurious 2 Story Apartment in Wonderful Location (DuPont Circle)
Unique and beautiful 1 bedroom/1 bathroom apartment in unbeatable Dupont Circle location. This two story luxury apartment lives like a townhouse with its own private entrance and includes beautiful wood floors on both levels, crown molding throughout, high ceilings, spacious bedroom, updated stainless steel kitchen appliances, built-in book shelves, large windows and ample storage space. Enjoy the very best that the city has to offer from this charming location just 2 blocks to the Q street entrance of the Dupont metro and the wonderful Connecticut Avenue restaurants and bars, half a block to the Safeway Supermarket and all the excitement of 17th Street. Pet friendly, shared laundry facility on premises. Utilities (electricity, heating & cooling, water, and garbage removal) included in price.
If you are interested, please contact me at: mailto:dupontapartment@hotmail.com
Funny Bunnies
I also like to see what visitors to our condo think of the fact that we have a pair of giant black and white fluffy bunnies on canvas looming over our couch... most think they are funny or cute or interesting.. other people think they are a little weird. Which, of course, they are.
I do get a lot of inquiries as to where I picked up these fabulous fuzzy guys.
I got them at an AMAZING website called Gallery Direct which has hundreds of thousands of images, both fine art OR stock images (this is where they have a terrific selection of animal photos on a plain white background in the vein of the super talented photographer Andrew Zuckerman) available to be printed on canvas, paper, acrylic, aluminum, mirror or wood in quite a range of sizes.
I ordered extra large prints on canvas for my bunnies (as well as the mischievious pig in our soon to be occupied baby nursery).
The prices at Gallery Direct are incredibly affordable, especially when you order larger sizes and the quality and customer service are impeccable. This is a great resource for oversize art pieces that make a big impact on a room.
Just some of the super cute animal art available at Gallery Direct:
Elephant / Orangutan / Goldfish / Ostriches
Bubbles @ Breakfast
Last spring my husband and I hosted a group of friends for a pre-Food and Wine Festival champagne brunch...
We served scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and dill on crostini, mixed berries and homemade pop tarts from a delicious recipe I found on Cupcakes and Cashmere
My pop tarts weren't quite as pretty as Emily's but they were certainly delish!
I made half the tarts with granny smith apples and honey, and the other half with Nutella and bananas
Everyone just grabbed cocktail plates and forks and helped themselves.
The best part, of course, was the champagne bar that we set up on our bar shelf... we had plenty of bubbly, and a yummy selection of juice mixers... like orange-peach-mango juice, lemonade, and blueberry-pomegranite juice, and bowls of fruit garnish... sliced peaches, strawberries and blueberries.
It definitely got our fantastic day at the National Harbor Food and Wine Festival started out right.
You can buy tickets for this year's Food and Wine Festival here: http://wineandfoodnh.com/
Throw your own Bubbly Brunch!
The Necessities.... Bubbly, fun flutes, cute bowls for berry garnishes, snack plates for those yummy tarts, beaded cocktail forks and chic faux gator studded coasters
Veuve Clicquot / Flutes / Bowl / Snack Plates / Cocktail Forks / Coasters
The Look... dressed up pajamas with whimsical accessories and classic ballet slippers
Bird Pants / Necklace / Cardigan / Earrings / Bralette / Tank / Ballet Slippers / Bracelet
Harbor Baby!
Anxiously awaiting the birth of my baby girl this May! Shopped obsessively for weeks and weeks to pull together a fun and girly nursery (at a bargain) that would still be a comfy place for our family and friends when they come and visit us at National Harbor. You should have seen the pile of boxes sitting outside my doorstep every day ... insanity. Have a few more finishing touches and then we just need to add a baby! (now if ONLY we could decide on a name...)
PS... that furry gentleman on the bed is my wonderful Havanese/Papillon pup, Goalie. The sheepskin in front of the crib has become his new favorite spot to hang out.
Source list:
• Crib: Babies R Us
• Crib Bedding: http://www.babybedding.com/
• Dresser: IKEA
• Bookshelves: IKEA
• Rugs (chevron and sheepskin): http://www.o.co/
• Eames Style Rocker: http://www.o.co/
• Morrocan Pouf: www.amazon.com
• Lamps: HomeGoods
• Curtains - JCPenney ( with some homemade magic to get the curtains to the 108" length)
• Guest Bed Bedding and Pillows - JCPenney
• Floor Mirror - Ikea
• Wall Mirror: Pier One Imports
• Pig Photo on Canvas: www.GalleryDirect.com
• Animal Artwork - Etsy (Trafalgars Square)
• Alphabet Artwork - Etsy (Loxly Hollow)
• French Typography Print - Etsy (Nutmegaroo)
• Dresser Runner - Etsy (ExclusiveElements)
• Stuffed Animals: almost all are by JellyCat
• Tassel Garland: Confetti System
• Mirrored Hook Shelves: PB Teen
• Disco Ball Mobile - Homemade
Pin It Now!
Love this post! You have an incredible sense of design, Mandy, and it's great to get some of those creative decoration ideas from you. Thanks for sharing! I'll certainly be referring to your blog when I'm decorating my new place in the fall!
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DeleteThanks so much, Robyn.. you are so sweet!!!
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