The power of emotion.

We are in the beginning phases of getting ready to sell our home.

There are so many things on our "to do" list and it seems to be growing by the minute.

We find ourselves "discussing" what projects are top priorities and which ones should be at the bottom of the list. I have discovered yet another difference between male and female during all of these "discussions".

My husband is very smart, analytical, my walking calculator...I am creative, emotional, visual...quite a pair of opposites, but you know what thay say about opposites...

With all of the persuasive skills I have, I have tried to move my projects to the top of the list.

Things that will evoke emotion in a woman...a lovely laundry room, a spacious organized closet, and inviting kitchen and on the list goes.

Launrdry room from Hamptondesigns.com

This is the basic layout of our laundry room now, and if we weren't planning on selling...well, I could see this being next on the list.

Image by Mark Lund form Real Simple

photo from easyclosets.com

This is image is the farthest thing from my closet, but it does make a girls mouth water...

image from Furniture online magazine

Image from Southern Living

I am in love with this kitchen - Image also from Southern Living

Jeremy on the other hand wants the house to be power-washed, grass to be green, and the price to be right...(I am not saying that is not important, just pointing out how different our priorities are during this time).

We have one of these right now, just waiting to be put to use....

So, I have concluded that in order to be successful in this adventure we are about to embark on, it takes two...we are both right all of these things matter and completing these will only help in the sale and showing of our little home. Wish us luck!

Room with a view

My personal budget for new decor around my house is small.

Especially if we are talking about something that is not functional but just real pretty.

This makes me sad yet resourceful...which I am so glad of. I am finding more and more ways to beautify on a budget, which is a fun challenge.

This is my space before:

I am ashamed to say that this has looked like this for about 2 years...sad little swatch on the window and all, but usually the bench has a lot more stuff on it.

But after a little bit of shopping my house and my mom's (thanks Mom).

We have this:

I had these plates from Wisteria for the longest time and they were always suppossed to hang on either side of the window. But when we went to hang them they just looked pitiful.

They needed some friends.

I had one silver platter that I had bought and intended it for a client, but it did not work out...and I found the other one at my mom and dad's house.

And it is almost identical, so it works out great.

Close up of one of the plates:

And I made this pillow - I got the idea from a wonderful blogger (can't claim it as my own).

I will try to give credit when I remember which blog it came from.

I got lost in blog world one day and you know how it can be...kind of like etsy because there is just so much good stuff out there.

If you're in a recession, there is always burlap...cost effective and stylish!

And here they are side by side the before and after...

I had great intentions of attempting a valance before this post, but did not live up to it...

maybe in March!

Linking up to the before and after party @ Thrifty Decor Chick

The elephant in the room.

I know from experience that some of the hardest decisions for a designer to make are the decisions about your own home. I have struggled with it at times and other times it seems effortless.

I think part of the battle is that I am surrounded with too many options. I am constantly looking at fabric, paint, inspiration pictures, etc.
So, by the time I make a decision I come across something else that I love that I could have chosen.

To look at an example of this in my life we will have to take a walk down memory lane.

I was 22.
 I was a working woman about to move out on my own.
And I didn't own one single thing...Okay, I take that back. I had this.

A console my parents bought for me for my birthday.

And a pair of these -

That's right, only an interior design major in her junior year would ask for a pair of sconces for Chistmas and hold on to them for a few years until she had a place of her own.

I  My parents were big supporters of communal living in college - hence, the no furniture delima, I resided in the sorority house during the school year and would sub-lease in the summer. I have to admit, I loved it.

So, it was time for me to spread my wings and move into my very own townhouse.

I spent so much time selecting finishes for my very own space...it was so exciting.

And this is what it looked like:

I had a clean slate to work with...how often does that happen?

I didn't have a clean slate for long...because I bought this:

(and this is where the elephant comes in).

I found this beauty at Norwalk.

It was a floor model that was on sale and being that it was my favorite color at the time

(and in my small price range) 

I was SOLD.

Fast-forward a few years later, when my tastes change and so do my surroundings...Everything had to work around the RED sofa...I was constricted with what I could really do because of this purchase...

I definitely wasn't thinking that I would have a husband, baby, and 70 lb. dog that would all be fighting for a seat. Yes, I fit on there too, somehow.

I do love Big Red.

She reminds me of a stage of life that was a little simpler and a lot less crowded.

She has been good to us, but I think her days are numbered.

If I could have told the 22 year old Elizabeth what I know now I would have said:

1. Your style will change (so will your favorite color)

2. Comfort IS important

3. You will soon have to share this with a few people you haven't met yet, but you really love...so make sure it seats 3 + a dog comfortably.

I am happy that I made the purchase. If I tried to convince Jeremy now that we need to buy a red leather sofa, it would take a lot of convincing...and probably wouldn't happen.

But like I said, I am ready for something new...maybe its just a slip-cover for now, but change is good.

If you think you're home is out of style, just give it 30 years.

My parents are doing some renovations in their home and with these renovations come the need to purge, clean, organize and purge some more. I have helped a little bit in the past few weeks and in doing so have been able to come across some goodies for myself.

Among the many things that were found was this book - Copyright 1982.

Now, I anticipated to see some dated photos...but the real reason for me keeping it was all of the "how to" projects that are in this little gem...how to make a roman shade, hang wall paper, make a bed skirt, the list goes on and on...

I was, however surprsied to see a picture of this kitchen.

Despite the window treatment and the light fixture, it seemed spot on to all the pictures in the magazines today. I bet someone bought this house in 1989 and covered it in wallpaper and country blue with a bunch of geese and now the people who own it are stripping the wall paper and trying to get it back to something close to this picture. How funny...

So, if you think your home needs an overhaul, just wait a few years, you may be back in style by then!