Rugs USA Does it Again!

You may remember a while ago, I shared with you my favorite bargain site for great rugs, RugsUSA.  Well, my husband not only gave me permission but downright insisted that I get a new living room rug.  I've wanted one for quite some time but like everything in my own home, I have problems pulling the trigger.  I was perusing the RugsUSA site and came across this awesome new feature they have: upload a picture of your room and then insert the rug you are interested in to see what it will look like in your space.  This must be like what online shopping in the future is going to be like!!  It's sort of like when you are designing a photo Christmas card and you can upload your photo to see what it will look like only this time, you can do it for a room in your house!  And it was SO helpful.  I had about 6 rugs in my cart and when I placed them in my virtual room, it because abundantly clear that 4 out of the 6 were totally wrong for the space.  Needless to say, that helped a ton in my decision making process!  I certainly hope other retailers will follow suit down the road - it really enhanced my shopping experience.  And no, RugsUSA did not ask me to promote their site...I just love it! 

If you haven't already signed up for their email list, I highly recommend it.  I just got my rug for 50% off with their New Year's sale!  They frequently have promotions if you keep an eye out.

Here's a preview of my new rug (fingers crossed my husband will like it since I purchased it without running it past him first!):

Living Room via Instagram

I am totally obsessed (albeit late to the game as usual) with the Instagram App on my phone.  I love how it makes every picture look so authentic, aged and professional.  Just look at our living room through the eyes of Instagram:

Accent Wall in the Kitchen

My husband finished painting the dining room. It is actually an eat in part of the kitchen. Of course I forgot to take any before pictures but luckily I did snap a picture of what the color used to look like.  I HATED it.

I've never been a fan of accent walls so don't ask me what possessed me to do one here.  And the idea for the green kind of came out of no where.  I guess it was spring fever.  But, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.  And, bottom line is if I get sick of it, we only have to repaint one wall.

Eventually I would like to get a corner cabinet for over where the green bookshelf with glassware is.  For now, that will have to work.

The big mirror really does make the space feel a lot bigger.

Now I just need to get new counter tops and backsplash and maybe paint the cabinets...

Eat In Kitchen Inspiration

In our new house we don't really have a formal dining room.  The previous owners remodeled and busted out the wall between the kitchen and the dining room so we have one large room (okay, well, this house is still small but you know what I mean) separated by an island.  The cabinets and appliances are in good shape but I am not a fan of the backsplash or the counter tops. 

Anyway, I've been looking for some inspiration and have found some of the coolest dining spaces on Pinterest lately and I thought I'd share some. 

Seriously, every time I start thinking I've read every design blog under the sun, read every design magazine, and shopped online at every store and that there can't possibly be anything new out there, I get proven wrong...I'm pretty obsessed with these spaces and they all feel so fresh to me.

This one is my absolute favorite.  There are two images so you can see it from different angles.  I want to move in IMMEDIATELY.  I'm wild for the artwork, the pattern on the chairs, everything.

Here are some other pretty amazing spaces...

Now I just need to get to work on my own...

All images via Pinterest.

Living with large Lighting

I am loving all of the recent changes to my living room - new color, new furniture and another new change that I hope to share with you all soon.  One downside that is really bugging me is the lack of light.  We have four lamps in here but no overhead light.  I've got an electrician and so I just need to pick my lighting and get it installed.  I'm having trouble deciding on a fixture.  This is my top runner as of right now:

 I like it for two reasons:  1) Just 'cause it's pretty.  2) I have a gift certificate from Christmas to Ballard Designs so it is practically free.

Only thing is, the room isn't big so I don't want it to overwhelm the space.  That said, I really like the larger version of the above fixture better than the smaller one.  So, I started looking around at smaller spaces with really oversized lighting.  It could be a statement...what do you think?

Here are some examples:

 via Glass Art

via From the Right Bank

 via Perch

via Design Shuffle

 source unknown

Last three images via here.

Media Center and Bookshelves

Guess what we did this weekend?  Put together our new media center and bookshelves.  I love how the white of the painted wood stands out against the dark walls and how it shows off all of the colors of the different books and accessories.  I have some tweaking to do to the styling but you get the jist. 

First, a before shot:

Here's how it looks now:

I love how the mantle looks with all of the candles lit up also.  The room is starting to feel so cozy!

Tuesday Tip: Turning a little nook into something

There's a little space behind the door in our living room.  It wasn't being used but I knew it had potential.  I don't think these pictures show how cute it really is.  It was sort of a last minute decision.  We bought this hook from the Container Store a few weeks ago.  As much as I love lucite, it is hard to believe this is the first lucite looking piece I own!

Then I remembered this great mirror I found at a thrift store a few years ago.  I was this close to painting it white so that it would stand out against the wall but at the last minute chickened out.  I just love the look and texture of the mirror as it currently is and now I'm glad I didn't change it.  So, I hung the mirror and then my new hook underneath for scarves.  I have the perfect little nook to check my hair or makeup before I leave the house and pick from one of my scarves to accessorize!

It is amazing what defining a purpose for an unused nook can do to the room!

Living Room is painted!

My sweet husband has been working extra hard.  I finally picked a color for the living room and I love it more than I even thought I would.  I haven't finished getting everything in order but it is soooooo much better than the lime sherbet color that was in here before.

We used the Behr paint with the primer mixed in.  The color is clove brown.  It really reads a dark olive green in some lights.  I love how the white trim really pops against it.  

New Bedroom Drapes are up!

Remember my new drapes that I purchased a couple of weeks ago?  We finally got them hung.  Here was the bedroom before:

We got the rod and finial set at Home Depot.  It was in the Martha Stewart collection.

I really love how much cozier it makes the room feel.  It is amazing that something as simple as that can add a much more finished look.

My Crafty Space

We're still slowly settling in.  The plan is to finally do some more painting of the upstairs next weekend since we have a three day weekend.  No promises though.

I have been getting my crafting area together.  I'm thrilled to have a proper spot for it in our new house. 

I've started to feel more creative just sitting in the spot looking at pretty ribbon and inspirational images I've posted on my bulletin board.

I love the colors in these tamari balls my friend Leslie gave to me as a gift from her wedding.  It is still beyond me how she made these things.

I love using special things like this crystal dish of my grandmother's to hold every day items like my scissors and safety pins.  It makes this area feel even more special to me.