Console Table Vignette

At our old house, we didn't have room in the entry for a dedicated console table.  Here at 1240, we have ample space...

Because a console table wasn't in the budget (at least one that I loved), I bought  two matching, clearance bookshelves from Target for $27 each.

Right now, they're packed with books in the least artful, most utilitarian way possible.  Someday they will be artful. And probably dusty and full of dog hair too. And then we will have babies who will pull everything off of them and then they'll be either empty or full of toys.  Anyways...

I have decorated the wall above the "table" but now I'm struggling with how to actually compose the table decor. 

I keep finding the trend is to put a mirror or large framed item in the center and flank it with two tall items such as lamps or a plant.  I really don't like the "perfect" symmetry. I am seeking for that perfect balance of just cluttered enough and sort of haphazard...   :D




I stumbled on this GREAT blog entry about console table vignettes: 

http://simplynaturaldecor.blogspot.com/2009/02/every-home-should-have-one.html

And here are some of the examples in it:

 

I'm going to add photos of my set up once I get brave enough. How come everyone's lives look so beautiful and unmessy on the internet compared to mine?!?! Haha.

Love this Vignette

Dream Pantry

LOVE the barndoor and chalkboard wall!!

Give Anything a Chalkboard Label!

Here is a FANTASTIC tutorial for adding chalkboard labels to anything. I would never have thought of spraying the paint onto contact paper to make adhesive labels...genius!!

Front Porch Summer Decorations

Love them!

Dining Room Decor

I love these overstated shelves and the whole palette of this dining room!

Things of My Dreams

...things of my dreams include burlap and twine!! EEEE.

...and blankies that look so cuddly you could never abandon them

...and vintage doors!

...and clothespins with black&&white photos...

...and headboards with so much charm you could steal them right off your friend's wall!

Kitchen Decor Ideas

I'm the type of person who knows what I want with almost a snap decision...when things don't come to me that fast, they fester and annoy me. The kitchen window above the sink has been bothering me, but I think I like this idea:

-taken from theoldpaintedcottage.blogspot.com, a wonderful blog

We are also planning to do a similar subway tile backsplash! I want an apron sink too, but that's for another day and another paycheck. :)

Perfect for the Entryway

Love this concept...it's a little too fussy for my style, but close!! Now, somebody help me find a bench, some burlap, and that amazing shelf.

Kitchen Table

http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/2011/10/day-20-industrial-sorta-table-top.html

Give me that BEDDING

Please? I love the coverlet.

Upright Pallet Garden Tutorial

Check out this madness!!

Now go see how the tutorial for how to do it. It's really simple AND SO AMAZING. Click here!

New Blog I Love

diychichome.com

adorable ideas like this one:

I can't wait to do this for the guest bedroom and/or a puppy lounge.

And how great is the coffee table?!

And this?! My mind is exploding with creative ideas.

Best Color Tool EVER

Found this on another shabby chic blog...it's a tool called "my colortopia" that lets you upload any photo and highlight any area of it. It then gives you paint color suggestions!!

Can't wait to use the heck out of it.

Bathroom Ideas

I want charming, warm bathrooms!! I am fairly firmly rooted in with the idea of wainscoting/beadboard and interest above such as wallpaper. Here is an example:

My biggest issues with this bathroom are that the wainscoating goes up waaaaay too high on the wall, the wallpaper is seizure-inducing, the mirror is far too understated, and the vanity sucks, haha. I want something with counter space!! We have basically this exact same vanity in the rental we live in now and I am forever trying to compensate for the fact that a toothbrush and a bottle of soap take up all of the real estate in the bathroom!

Style Undefined

I am mostly NOT a fan of "shabby chic" but I think my style approaches the boarders of "shabby chic." I don't like white walls or white floors. I don't like white or pale pink linens. I mostly don't do lace or ruffles. I think rust is offensive. I think you get the drift. With that said, I still browse a lot of shabby chic blogs (like shabbychicblog.com) for inspiration. I like to think of the things they do as blank slates waiting for me to color or pattern or embellish. Here is a great example:

I absolutely LOVE the wood tones of the table and chairs. And the little seat cushions are to die for! They need some giant buttons around the fastenings and they need to be made out of a fabulous print or richly toned canvas to be invited into my house, though.

The other thing I adore about shabby chic is the idea of using collections of junk as a beautiful display. I am naturally a bit of a pack rat and to have my junk be displayed in an artful way gives me immense happiness!

Curtains!

I have my heart set on simple matte black curtain fixtures with a linen or burlap type floor-to-ceiling curtain. Recently, I've been wondering if this would be boring? So I'm trying to expand my curtain horizons to something with visual interest. I love the idea of painting on text to make the curtains look like they are made with old flower bags or advertisements. This picture gives a small glimpse of what I was envisioning:

I'm also considering buying a floral stencil and painting it on in a very subtle color like a watered down white or blue. I have yet to find a photo of what I'm trying to describe, but maybe one will pop up someday!

Window Trim

The windows currently in the house are slightly recessed and trimless like these:

That window has what is called an "apron" at the bottom.

What I want to do is frame out all of the windows and paint the apron white as well so it looks more like this:

Our aprons are more like the first picture and I want to use trim like the second. I don't foresee it being a huge project...but I think it will have a big impact.

Kitchen Backsplash

The house we hope to buy has newer modular cabinets in a dark wood finish. They are nothing special, but they are also nothing I feel the need to replace. The house also has dark floors and currently has laminate counters in a light tan/beige tone. I strongly dislike the countertops, but they will have to stay until I can afford granite. And who knows when that will be. Like I said in the last post, I have my heart set on small subway tiles in a soft color like celery, grey, or light blue.

The cabinets in this pic are a bit darker and much more modern than what is in our perspective home, but the countertops are similar in tone. I believe ours are a little more brown and yellow in tone. I really like the backsplash here, though.

modern kitchen design by san francisco architect At-Six Architecture

Now, despite having just said that I have my heart set on subway tile, I also love this backsplash. I do NOT like the tile treatment above the stove so that would have to be omitted. The cabinets shown are the correct color, but they are more ornate. I LOVE the countertops and fixtures though. Most of I love the distressed wood shelf up above!

eclectic kitchen design by san diego photographer Chipper Hatter Architectural Photographer

Tile Above Stove

For a kitchen with dark wood cabinets, I have my heart set on some sort of small subway-like tile. Right now the celery greens and soft blues are at the top of my list. However, I have no idea what colors/tones the countertops should have.

For now, I found this idea for above the stove. Normally I really dislike fancy tile things above the stove. For some reason they either stand out as granny-like OR ugly. However, I LOVE this idea. Since I want small subway tiles for the whole backsplash, I'm not sure what to put in the center. That will take some monkeying around, I think!

It will be pretty easy to do a shallow built in niche like this and I'm really excited!

Introduction

If I've directed you here, PLEASE scroll through as many blogs as you can without falling asleep and comment away. I absolutely need the feedback!

If you've stumbled upon this blog on accident, you should know that this blog is purely a sort of "sketchbook" or "bulletin board" for ideas I find floating around the internet for my future house. I have been living in a rental for the past 6 years, but we are currently in the process of buying a house. Since we started the home-buying process, I've been daydreaming extensively about what I will do with it when I get my hands on it! I'm compiling ideas here with no real rhyme or reason. Feel free to comment and let me know what you think of ideas as well. I welcome any feedback including tips, warnings, etc.

A final note: my style is a sort of contemporary modern meets french farmhouse mashup. While I love the barnwood and distressed look, I refuse to have white walls or white cabinets or too much pink and lace. I like a relatively simple room that beckons you in and compels you to touch things. I like organized chaos (like collections of blue bottles) and decor with a very personal touch. We also have dogs and plan to have a big family (read: messy, crazy kids) so things need to be ready for that, especially if they are investment pieces. I fully recognize how immature and under developed my taste is. I have a general idea of what I like when it comes to a big picture. I am extremely decisive when it comes to individual items. I just have a hard time putting the big picture together sometimes.

Hopefully someday I will be able to post pictures that incorporate all of the great ideas that come from this blog!