Coziest Lil' Reading Nooks

Ok, I've officially said the word "nook" so many times in my mind that it doesn't even seem like a word. But, I promise, it is. And these, my friends, are some of the most beautiful nooks I've seen in a while. You're never going to believe this, but I wish I had one.

image from A Thoughtful Place

image from Bringing Nature Home

image source unknown

[in five]: First Five Purchases

Let's just get one thing out of the way: I have been a total slogger. That, my friends, is a word I made up for one who slacks on his or her blog. Her, in this case, is me. I'm tired. Those 25 hour drives just take it right out of you. Plus, we're kind of a big deal here in Utah (with our moms). They want to spend all sorts of time with us Stella. The good news is that almost all of our moving piles are put away. I still have nothing on the walls, and I probably won't for 21 more days. That is when Husband takes his anesthesia boards, and then I can bug him about things to hang up and projects and such.  He can hardly wait.

In the meantime, even though I am tired, I am not too tired to think about things I want to do with this place. (If that ever happened, I'd probably be dead, because I am pretty much ALWAYS think about someone's house.) I don't know why it is that when you move, you pretty much think you need all new stuff, but it's just the way it goes.  These are the things I'm going to purchase first: bath mat, frames for gallery, birch brackets, floor mirror, and bins for the playroom. (Links are under pictures.) So far, I have only bought one thing: the floor mirror. And that is only 20 percent. I seriously feel like such a failure.

Zig Zag Bath Mat from West Elm

image from Samantha Pynn (frames for gallery)

Ekby Valter Bracket from Ikea

Mongstad Mirror from Ikea

3 Sprouts Bins from Target

[kreyv of the day]

image from Lisa Sherry Interieurs

Mixing Metals, Don't Mind If I Do...

Remember when you absolutely did not mix silver and gold? It was one or the other. Well, guess what: SO not the rule anymore. Mix. It. Up. I just bought my first gold item--an itty, bitty fabulous gold frame, and I can't wait to add more gold to me casa. (Sometimes I go all bilingual on myself, wait till I pull out la francais. Correction: trilingual.) Mixing metals gives such a cool, collected look which I've decided is something I'm lacking in my house. So, I've pretty much got to take care of that problem, because nobody likes a problem, right? Sigh*. The things I do for my family...

image source unknown

image from Zoldan Interiors

image from Kelly Wearstler via Pinterest

Let's Talk Mantels

We've already established my pure, unadulterated jealousy toward anyone with a beautiful fireplace and mantle (and anyone with an IKEA, but we won't go there...today). Most mantles are the focal point of the room they are in, so, of course, they should be totally fabulous. Here are a few of my favorite ways to style a mantle.

(1)Layers: I love a layered mantle, as long as it is clutter free. Think threes, maximizing room height, and varying picture size.

image from Apartment Therapy

(2)Mirrors: Mirrors are a fabulous way to style a mantle. Mirrors bring in extra light and are super versatile. Finding a unique mirror will definitely score you extra points with the decorating Gods! With that being said, you do not want to make them angry.

image from Centsational Girl

(3)Hanging Prints: I love the idea of either two, three, four (two on top, two on bottom), or even six (three on top, three on bottom) prints over a fireplace. It's clean, it's simple, and super chic. If you are looking to maximize the height of the room (which I am always a big fan of), opt for four or six prints over the fireplace. If you use two, use tall prints.  And, above all, just make your mantle fabulous. Let's keep those decorating Gods happy, shall we?

image from My Favorite and My Best

Not Too Shabby

I have always wanted to design a shabby chic guest room. I know, I know, that puts me at like ten guest rooms.  So...let's just say I need to rethink some things, but for now, let's just admire my vivid imagination, shall we? I love a little shabby chic as long as it is not overdone. (Especially love those overlapping frames in the first image. Gorg. Looks like a great diy to me.) As for this imaginary house of mine, who wants to come stay in it? Rumor has it that the guest rooms are spectacular, which totally makes up for the subpar food.

image from Elle Decor

image from A Beach Cottage

image from Euro Antique Market

[kreyv of the day]

image from Houzz

[so cheap, so easy]: Spoon Mirror

image from Country Living

What's that you say? A mirror made from spoons? No. The mirror is a mirror, sillies, but the frame is made from spoons. Genius, right? That's what I'm thinking. Now, I haven't made this myself, yet, but I have made a mirror similar to this using sticks.

You'll need a 12" floral craft ring (like the one pictured below), a 12" mirror, hot glue, liquid nails, and of course, spoons and spray paint. The ring and mirror can be found at any craft store. I found mine at Michael's. Now, if I were making this, I would buy my spoons at a party supply store, so that I wouldn't have to spray paint them. I'll be honest, I don't have enough patience to spray paint plastic spoons! You will want to buy spray paint to match your spoons for the craft rings, though.

Spray paint your ring to match your spoons. Next, you can just hot glue spoons all the way around the hoop. Notice they are glued in alternating heights. Finally, secure your mirror to the back of your hoop using liquid nails. Done and done. Love it! (This would also make an uber cute wreath using the same instructions minus the mirror and one ring.)

image from Be Home Made

Five Must Haves for Entries

I'm going to start saying the word foyer like foy-yay rather than foy-yer. It makes me sound fancy. I should add vozz instead of vase. It will really help me get back to my French roots. (I took one year of French in seventh grade. Would you like me to sing Bon Aniversare et Toi? Let me know.)

My boy, Nate Berkus (yeah, we're pretty much besties...he just doesn't know it), says these are the five must-haves for a welcoming entry.

(1) Use a tray for keys, wallets, etc.

image from The Nate Show

(2) Add a lamp or chandelier

image from Domino

(3) Use mirrors to create a "window" in a dark entry

image from Decor Pad

(4) Use a console table

image from Decor Pad

(5) Choose a natural fiber rug for durability

image from Apt Dweller

Shopping Antiques

First and foremost: people, did you not see the awesome giveaway on the previous post? You better get to it! Remember, leave a comment for each entry telling me which item you completed.

So, speaking of antiques, I kind of felt like one the other day. (Technically, an antique has to be at least 100 years old, but just go with it.) I found a radio station called something like gen x radio. I pretty much knew every word to every song. They play everything from Sublime to Wallflowers, to Destiny's Child to Boyz II Men (A, B, C, bee, bee dee). Sorry. I couldn't resist. Anyway, I was thinking, "Geez. I'm only 30, (I was only 30 when this happened. Can't say that anymore.) and this is an oldies station." I mean, I guess I've been out of high school for thirteen years and college for ten. How in the heck did that happen? Yeah, I don't know either. Regardless, the music is pretty rad, and I'm going to start calling it the vintage station, because vintage is totally in.

Here are Nate Berkus' tips for shopping antiques:

(1) Create a Focal Point on a Wall

image from Canadian House & Home

(2) Create an Instant Collection with Inexpensive Finds

image from HGTV

(3) Create Homemade Art with Vintage Frames and Fabric

image from Timeless N Chic (etsy.com)

(4) Secondhand Wicker is Inexpensive and Adds Warmth

image from Cal Finder

Who is the Fairest of Them All?

I have wanted a big mirror for quite some time. In fact, there's one at IKEA that is not very expensive. The problem? I have never lived near an IKEA, and the mirror doesn't fit in a suitcase. I love mirrors just leaning on the wall. Of course, this might be scary with little ones running around. Then again, by the time I have a fabulous mirror like this, I may not have such little ones. That's a sad thought (that I won't be getting a mirror anytime soon AND that little ones grow up so fast). Now, to choose my favorite. It's got to be between the first one, and the one from House Beautiful. And, the one from Rue!

image from Life in a Venti Cup

image from Country Living

image from Rue

image from House Beautiful

image from Life in a Venti Cup

Five Must Have Home Accessories

I think it's time I tell you about my other man--Nate Berkus. I've never been into talk shows, so I was excited when he started a show about interior design (and this, that, and the other). I'll be honest, the first time I watched the show, I was a little bit disappointed. I wanted less serious talk and more interior design talk. But, now I love it. I record it every day, and, as nerdy as it is, I sometimes take notes. Okay, I said it. I take notes. Let's move on.

I decided to start a repeating post titled, "Nate Says." This is kind of a joke at our house, because many a time, I share Nate's advice with my hubby. I start the sentence with, "Nate says..." Jeremy laughs at me, but I know he secretly loves it and probably takes notes himself. So, with that being said, this post is about Nate's five must have home accessories.

1) Mirrors

image from Decor Pad

image from Casa Sugar

image from Design Files

2)Books

image from Material Girls

image from Real Living

image from Real Living

3)Something from Nature

image from Nesting Newbies

image from Rol Vn

4) Silver Frames

image from Pottery Barn

image from Pottery Barn

5)Original Art or Sculpture

image from B-Metro

image from Life in a Venti Cup

Lonny Mag's 5 Trends for 2011

Michelle Adams from Lonny Magazine appeared on the Nate Berkus Show to feature the top five trends for 2011. So, if you're looking to add a little somethin' somethin' to your pad, here are the latest and greatest!

[five]: MIRRORED ACCENTS

image from Elle Decor

image from Decor Pad

image from Design Ties

[four]: TYPOGRAPHY

image from Swiss Miss

image from Design Sponge

[three]: STORAGE ART

image from Martha Stewart

image from Martha Stewart

image from Martha Stewart

[two]: MID-CENTURY LIGHTING

image from Gear Patrol

image from Decor Pad

[one]: RUST

image from Morgan Harrison

image from The Lennox

image from Pottery Barn