New Living Room Chairs from Ikea!

So after considering practically everything I could think of in order to choose chairs for our living room we finally decided on the Ektorp chairs from Ikea! I had been looking at them for a couple of years now but since we already had the Ektorp sofa wasn't sure I wanted to have the matchy matchy look going on. However after listing the pros and cons they won out over the chairs from World Market I showed you on this post . Here they are in our living room with the Target pouf I also recently bought on a whim.

By the way here is my inspiration photo for my living room although since my style is a bit more shabby chic/cottage it won't be exactly the same

Source: Uploaded by user via Kelly on Pinterest

I think I'm going to use this fabric from Waverly called Chippendale Fretwork in Mist for curtains

Source: housefabric.com via Kelly on Pinterest

And I'm still on the hunt for a vintage french or queen anne style coffee table, can't wait to reveal the whole living room once everything is all pulled together!

My Cottage Dining Room - A Work in Progress

So this is how our dining room currently looks which I feel pretty good about but it is still very much a work in progress. 

Our table was purchased at a consignment store for only $75 and I love it but it is really dinged up and while my husband would rather sand it and stain it I really want to paint it white to match our china cabinet.
 

I love our floors but I was recently informed by my husband that he will be pulling them up and redoing them after reading that they will last longer if they are staggered....

So on my to do list for this room is:

- make or purchase white or off white slipcovers for the dining   chairs
- purchase a new chandelier
- paint the dining room table white to match the china cabinet
- figure out what to hang on the walls

I couldn't find any photo's of what it looked like when we moved in but just picture dirty beige carpet, a ceiling fan from the 1970's and ugly wallpaper that covered even worse panneling!!! I've still got some work to do before it really looks like my inspiration dining room and I seriously hate my tiny dining room window but for now it works for us:) Thanks for reading!

Woo Hoo! New Kitchen Valances Almost Done!

I haven't posted lately because seriously I've been a little overwhelmed with the upcoming holidays, but I'm vowing to not let myself get too crazy and force myself to have a glass of wine and just enjoy them this year (seriously when did I ever force myself to have a glass of wine).   So I just had to post a quick pic of my new valances that Christina at The Seam is making for my kitchen windows with my favorite fabric, I just can't get enough of it! Christina finished one of them this week and sent me these photo's (it was raining so she couldn't get a great shot).

(close up of the aqua trim)

I can't wait to hang them! Our kitchen reno is almost complete and I can't wait to share it with you.... Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone!

Found! Fun Kitchen Curtain Fabric

Since we moved into our house  I have been wanting to spruce up the windows in our kitchen with some fun curtains.  We had finally decided on a color scheme and the renovation is 75% complete so I figured now is as good a time as any to find some fabric and then try my hand at making some no-sew curtains.  Anyway after a long search for some fabric with some aqua/turquoise in it and something that is fun and kitchen appropriate I found it!!!!!

The fabric is designed by Bari J Ackerman for Windham Fabrics. It is from the FULL BLOOM collection and I found it on Ebay for $3.50 a yard.  It came super fast and I'm hoping to start making them this week.  Here is my inspiration photo that I found from graphic designer Kimberly Shaws blog here http://kimberlyshaw.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/02/best-teapot-fabric.html. 

She has an amazing shop where she has teacup accessories, stickers, etc.  I love that she used pom pom trim on hers and I think I may steal this idea too although I plan on making full curtain panels instead of just a valance.  Wish me luck!