A.B.C... Wall! Part Two.

Okay, so yesterday I unveiled my inspiration images for the ABC Wall I have been working on for our baby's room!  Today, I am ready to share.... the wall at least.  You will have to wait for a full nursery unveiling!  I have hinted at some of my nursery decor here and shared my nursery closet makeover here.   I also shared my crib bedding here! 

I love my finished ABC Wall, but will say that this was not a easy or quick project.  I have been collecting letters for at least 4 months.  I wanted "found" letters rather than buying all new letters.  The main reason for this is that I wanted letters of different shapes, sizes, materials and styles.  I focused more on letters I liked and less on color.  Since my nursery is "shabby chic" in nature.... I knew I could or would paint letters to fit color theme.  I became a mad women in search of letters and even the husband got into it.    I bought letters at  Brimfield, Restoration Hardware Baby, Hobby Lobby, Christmas Tree Shops, on Etsy and at other random stores.   I found some great ones when I went to Savannah at this store called the Paris Market.     In all, some letters were cheap ($2) and a few were a splurge ($15).  You will see a few duplicates, but I tried to find a real variety!

Once I had all my letters and saw the color range I planned a paint scheme.  I loved the color of the letters they way they were, but not for a nursery.  So,  I decided I wanted the letters to be all different shades of white.  With the help of my mom, the non-white and non-cream letters were painted various shades of white.  Some were given a pink undercoat first so I could sand them and give then that distressed look.   Once painted, the husband and I then planned out how we wanted to hang them on the wall trying a few different arrangements but going with this!

Hanging them was also not an easy task.  There were some tense moments with the husband.  I still need to tweak and straighten a few.   I want to get a new "J" as I don't like that it is the same style as the B and W and sits to close to the B and W!   I also need to get some poster putty or velcro to "help" a few stay straight.  I love the outcome so it was worth the effort!

I will debut the full nursery very soon.  Thanks for your patience!  Until next time....xoxo

PS- Today is the final day to enter my giveaway!  Enter here.

S.C..... Shabby Chic! Of course!

I love love love Rachel Ashwell.  I was so excited to see a giveway on Old Painted Cottage for one of Rachel's books... signed!  I seriously used to record Rachel's Shabby Chic show on VHS tape (pre DVR days).  So inspring! 
Well, the giveaway is open to June 30th- so get to it!  You can enter and read more about on Old Painted Cottage's blog.

While you are at it, check out Rachel's Blog! 

Here are some very Shabby and Very Chic Inspiration Photos! 

 Photo via Coastal Living

Photo Via Proper Hunt

 Photo via Era of Elegance

Photo by Decor 8 

Oh shabby and oh chic!  Until next time...xoxo 

S.C.= Salvage Chic! Antiques....

This past summer cruising Craigs List I came across some postings from a store in Pembroke, Massachusetts. It is called Salvage Chic Antiques. One lovely day I decided to take a trip to the store and check it out! They have great stuff and the prices are fabulous! The website is great as the woman there keeps it up to date daily! She will put items on hold if you see something you love (details on website).

The day I went I left with two items. One (old record player cabinet) which I have no place for currently and is sitting in my basement was $55. The other, a tiny black set of drawers fits perfectly in my living room in a small space between two windows. I cannot totally remember what I paid for it.. but I think it was like $50. It was in great condition and already painted a shiny black. I am constantly perusing their site to see if there are any other items I must have.

Here are some of the current items the website all ranging around the $150 or so range (give or take a $20). I must have dressers on the brain! :)

This one is on sale cheap for $89.... for table and chairs. Perfect for small kitchen (pair with china cabinet above) or even living room for cute gaming area.

This is adorable too for just $89. I have one just like it at the foot of bed in guest room!

They also have cute accouterment (dishes, wall decor, linens, etc). Check it out! Until next time....xoxo

C! Craigs List! Love it!

I am kind of obsessed with buying furniture... even though we don't need any! Some people take in stray cats.... I take in end tables and chairs and desks and....! I am in love with Craigs List. We got an adorable wrought iron couch for our sun porch for $80 bucks. It is perfect! Also, our prize find is our $200 dining room table and 6 chairs. It is a very worn farm table that I am in the process of improving. It was an all light wood color (mostly from wearing). I saw its potential immediately! I painted the table legs white and need to do the chairs next... also white. I will then darken the top a bit with a fresh coat of stain.... but will still preserve the very worn look. When done it will look 5x its price! I am hoping to find patio furniture next!

There are amazing things on Craigs List. Yes, you have to go to a stranger's house. (BRING A FRIEND.) Yes, you may drive somewhere random (GET OUT THE GPS) and then you may not like it in person (CONSIDER IT AN ADVENTURE). But, when you find a jackpot item.... so worth it. You often need to paint, re-upholster or clean what you get. But, a project makes you feel like you accomplished something! Be proud!

Here are some of my current Boston Craigs List finds!

These chairs are amazing. Navy blue wool looks in good shape.... $25 a piece (5 available). Tape off the upholstery and paint the trim a bright color (pink maybe?) or white! They could be so amazing!

Gossip Bench.... love them! Paint this any color and re-cover seat in a fun fabric. Perfect for a hall or foyer... $45 Bucks!

$150.... paint a fun color (I have aqua on the brain), recover the seat, and voila! Gorgeous!

I think this chair is amazing for $100! I see this painted in black with a fun bold print to recover the seat! Or... paint the chair white with a rose or flower print cover on seat... kind of shabby chic. There are so many options!

$225 for this.... a splurge ... but so cute! Just recover the seat and bolsters in amazing fabric and you are done! If you have the right spot... perfect!

Ohhh Craigs List.... how I love you! Until next time.....xoxo

D.... Give me an A! What does that spell....Dash & Albert!

Okay... when I started this blog I thought... "I am busy, so a goal of 2-3 posts per week would be good". But, I am addicted. My topic of the day rugs. I am self admitted rug snob. One of the toughest days of my marriage was when my husband was playing with the dog while drinking red wine and knocked the entire glass onto our predominantly ivory hooked rug! Luckily- I was able to save it (Bonus Tip: Pour white wine on red wine to get the stain out.) But, there was some ... "What is wrong with you? Do you not value our home? Is there a brain in that head? What are you going to do about it? Just get out of my way!"

Well.... when my sister and brother-in-law bought their amazing condo in Cambridge... they solicited by design help; my sister thinks she is design challenged. Kelly, you might be... but I still LOVE you! My first tip to her (having made the mistake myself) ... was START WITH THE RUG.
You can then pick wall color, furniture and what not to compliment the rug. It is MUCH harder if you get other items first and then try to find a rug that works. Trust me. When trying to find a rug for my sister's place. I found this AMAZING site: dashandalbert.com. Their rugs are incredible. I want them all; particularly this one or this one. I have total rug envy... I wonder if they will take a trade one PB rug for one Dash and Albert.... probably not.


This is the one (left) that now graces my sister's living room. Classic and warm....traditional, but not too shabby chic. Paired with perfect bluish silver wall color and chocolate brown sofa and chair. I bought her the most perfect coffee table and end tables at Brimfield Antique Market. Both fit the smaller space well and are ivory antiqued with some chocolate brown to tie it all together. (I will do a future post on her place some day so you can see my work! :) She also got this one (right) for her dining room... which you can see from the living room so they play off each other well.

This also shows that they are not all flowers. I am a flowers gal, but they do have other options, like this zig zag one if you are not!


Happy Decorating and Happy Halloween. Until Next Time....xoxo