B is for Built-Ins!

I am obsessed with built-in anything.    You might have sensed this having seen my breakfast nook and entryway bench.  We live in an old house with great molding and details and I think built-ins just look like the belong and they use space ooh so well!

I have saved zillions of photos of built-in everything and thought I would share some of my favorites.   Sorry I don't have photo credits for most of these photos. 

Built In Window Seat from Decorpad

Photo Unknown.  Love how this uses "wasted" space so well!

Love a bench, love the storage... love it!

Daybed equals guest sleeping space.  Charming and cozy!  

Hello... lover!  Space for everyones coats, shoes and things!

I hope/plan to do this in our baby's room down the line.
Storage is key in an old house!  

Books, books, toys, toys, whatever!  

Again- love how this is perfect for this space!
Custom is what makes built-ins so great.

Another "inspiration" photo for baby's room.
STORAGE!  STORAGE!  STORAGE!

Charming, two-toned... cute!  

I don't know what I would have done had my husband not turned out so "handy".  Some of this built-in stuff requires that he worked on being a bit more of an "expert" before we get cracking.  But, boy .... do I love me some built-ins.  I have a few projects in mind... surprised?  Probably not!  

G....Gold!

Have you been watching the Nate Show?  I LOVE Nate Berkus!  His new show is fantastic.  Well done Nate!  I was catching up on his shows this weekend and watched his episode on "Going Gold".    I don't wear gold jewelry or like much gold, but I do love it when done right in the home!  One of the highlights of the episode is when Nate whipped out some gold leaf to turn an Ikea chandelier into something unique with some bling! :)

Here is some gold in the home, done the way I like it! 

Photo via Decor Pad

Photo via House of Design and Style

Photo via Design Roots

Photo via Decor Pad

Photo via House and Home

Photo via Decor Pad

Go for the Gold!  Until next time...xoxo

P & G... Pink & Gray!

One of my favorite color combinations these days is pink and gray!  It is creeping up all over the places these days too.  Yes, pink does scare away most men, but I do think it is softened and made less "super girly" when you just do touches of pink mixed with gray!

Here are some inspiration photos to get you in the mood for some pink and gray!

Photo from The Shore

Photo from A Paige in History

Photo from Design Hole

Photo from Decor Pad

Photo from E Homes

Photo from Feed Age

Photo from the Newlywed Diaries

I love pink and gray... a touch feminine but calm and cool!  Until next time...xoxo

S.P.... Sneak Peak!

So, as I have mentioned before, we am hastily working on the baby nursery!  There is one particular project that is slow going.  It is not yet ready for full unveiling, but I thought I would give a teaser and talk about inspiration.

I have a huge file on my computer which is simply all sorts of inspiration photos I have collected over time.   There are lots of different and random photos.   Sometimes when you look at a photo, you might have no idea what small item I was interested in, but, there is always something!

I have created an inspiration board via My Deco with my top 4 nursery photo inspirations.  

Think you know what I liked about each photo?  Well stay tuned you soon shall know!  Until next time...xoxo

B is for Black.... Wall!

Oops... never did a post last night for today!  Overslept this am too!  Fun.   This has been a hectic first week after vacation!  But, the good news is I have lots of inspiration photos saved!  Today, I will share some photos of black walls from the "Courtney" files.  Not sure where I found these photos, but if you are into drama- a black wall will give you drama!  

Not sure this fits my aesthetic or the look of my house, but when it works it is just cool!

TGIF!  Until next time......xoxo

B is for Bedrooms!

I am wanting to add a little something to my bedroom.  It is lacking..... well.... something!  I am not really sure yet what I want to do or what direction I want to go in, but I am hunting for ideas!

How cute are these bedrooms?

Country Living

Country Living

Unknown 

Decor Pad

Decor Pad

Decor Pad

Just shopping around for some ideas!  What to do... what to do!   Until next time...xoxo

I is for Inspiration!

Last night I went to the Blogger's Ball.  It was great.  I was drawn there to see and to hear Erin Gates from Elements of Style.  I "heart" Elements of Style... a whole lot.  It was truly my biggest blog inspiration.  A friend shared Erin's blog with me and I litterally sat in front of my computer pouring through the whole thing on a Saturday.  I was almost as obsessed as Erin is with Twilight! :)  She is so talented and humble and funny!  I was hoping to say hello to her, but could not find anything cool to say other than "Oh my god, I love you.  You are the best, seriously, you are!"  Rather than look like an idiot or crazy person, I passed on saying hello!

Also at the Blogger's Ball were the very cool Liana Peterson of New Brahmin and the talented Jessica Sutton whose blog is truly so inspiring!  I was not as familiar with their blogs, but soon will be.  They were both fantastic too.

Design Salon hosted this event and I got some great tips that I am already planning to put to use!

Oh.....if I only did not have to make money for a living!  Back to work.  Until next time....xoxo

F.D.... Front Door! Inspiration!

The husband and I want to give our front door a little makeover!  The people who owned our house before us were not very detail oriented.  When they painted our front door, they did not really tape of the door knocker or lock hardware as there is paint all over it all.  Additionally, the door is an odd color.   It is not terrible, sort of a purplish red, but it just not what I want.

The front door is a big part of curb appeal.  We did a variety of projects last summer to work on our curb appeal.  We made large planter boxes and planted more bushes and flowers.  This summer is all about the back yard... well and the front door!

Need some front door inspiration?  Check out these lovely and welcoming doors!

I am not sure what color we will go with.  Maybe a warm brick red color?  Or... slate Blue?  Stay tuned! Until next time....xoxo

O is for Ottomans!

I am a little obsessed with ottomans right now.  Like X benches, that I wrote about a few months ago they look great in a variety of spaces!  I have a console table in our family room that was screaming for something to go underneath it.  Our family room is a big room and we entertain in it frequently!  I determined that ottomans would fit perfectly under the console table largely becuase it would provide additional seating in that room when needed!  Plus, I picked storage ottomans so we can keep miscellaneous items inside.  Storage is ALWAYS a good thing in my house!

Check out these ottomans!  Doesn't it make you want to run out and buy a few for yourself?

These are the ottomans I bought for my family room!  $40 at Target!  They are now on sale for $35.  I had been looking for something white or fabric, but when I saw these, I knew they would fit perfectly!

  

Images from:  Good Housekeeping, Decor Pad, Pottery Barn, Unknown (from my Inspiration File), Unknown (from my Inspiration File), Real Simple. the Nest, and Ideal Home Magazine UK.

Get yourself some ottomans.  Don't worry, you will find a spot for them! Until next time....xoxo