Great Storage Solution For a Small Space.

Living in the city definitely has its perks, but one of the drawbacks is definitely a lack of storage space.  In our home, we have plenty of space for us, but for all our stuff?  Well, that can sometimes be a different story.  As much as I try to limit what we buy, and purge often, I still sometimes find myself overrun by our possessions, and there is no where more in need of storage than in our kitchen.  Our kitchen is an open concept, and it's small.  Really what that means is that we have just about as many cabinets as you possibly can have, and what we have is no where near enough for food, dishes, glasses, and all the "kid stuff."  (Those of you with kids know exactly what I'm talking about.) A few years ago, we purchased sideboard, and that was a game changer... finally our stemware, my grandmother's china and silver, and the kids board games had a home (lucky on opposite sides) and that worked great until the new kitchen countertops were put in.  In short, there is just no way I'm storing anything on them.  No cookbooks, no bowls, no toasters, no crap.  I keep my Nespresso machine out and a sweet little woven bowl I picked up in Costa Rica and that is it!  I know, I know, what great idea to get countertops that you actually want to see, when you are already lacking storage, but c'est la vie, I love them and I want to see them.  After cleaning out as much as I could from the existing cabinets, I realized what was left over really wasn't that much,  and I had a great little space by the kitchen that would be perfect for some shelves.  Originally, I wanted wood but I figured with all the butcher block and the wood sideboard, that would be too much.  I didn't want to spend bucks on this after just re-doing the kitchen so when I stumbled upon these inexpensive little shelves from CB2, I knew I was in business.  

Yes, that is faux brass and marble and yes, they are awesome.  I picked these guys up during some Christmas sale, and I pretty much squealed with delight after they were installed yesterday.  (They may be faux, but they sure are heavy as real marble so I had them professionally installed.)

 Now, all my favorite cookbooks and bowls have a place of their own, leaving the countertop clear and clutter free.  This is the first time EVER that has happened and let me tell you, I won't be turning back anytime soon.  I absolutely adore these shelves and think they would be perfect in a kitchen, home office, bathroom, or side by side in a living room, with leaning photos on top.  They look like the real deal, and even my husband didn't believe me when I told him they were only $50 dollars each.  If you are looking for a simple storage solution, this is it! 

Kitchen down, now if I could only get the clutter out from under the bathroom cabinets (just say no to free samples!!!) 

... to be continued. 

YM Gift Guide 2014: For The Home.

After taking a quick glance at my list of favorite house and home gifts to give this year, I finally accepted that yes, I am most definitely am drawn to things that are 1) navy, 2) gold/ brass, and 3) leather.  As much as I try to find things in other color palettes, I always seem to go back to these three things, and you know what?  This suits me just fine.  I'm a girl who knows what I like, and everything on this list I like... I like a lot.  For those of you out there looking for a little something to spruce up your home this holiday season, here are a few of my favorite things.  The beauty of buying for the home this time of year, is that you can get your every day items for a song.  It's what I like to call the real magic of the season!

No spoiler here, since she already knows, this is what I'm getting my sister this year.  I've seen this amazing bar cart on pretty much every blog out there, but it was only when I picked it up that I realized just how awesome it is.  Made of brass and wood, it's stylish, functional, and impressively sturdy.  Cheers to that! ($130)

I am obsessed with this gold basket.  Like, I want one in every room.  I could see using this for holding blankets, towels, toys, even as a waste basket in the bathroom or office. So, so good. ($20)

Brass + Planter, is there anything more I need to say? ($50-65)

This is my favorite candle on the planet.  Initially, I bought one for our guest room, but very quickly decided that I needed to see it every day, and put it out front and center in our living room.  It smells incredible, and is large enough to use as a planter when it burns down.  You know I'm all over that. ($88 with 25% off with code GIVEGLAM)

These coasters are on the tip top of my wish list right now.  So simple, and so beautiful. Oh, and they are also navy. Sold! ($48)

Even though these sheets are technically made for kids, we have them in our guest room, and I get so many compliments on them.  The gold dots add just the right amount of whimsy, and these would be great for a holiday inspired room paired with a red plaid throw. (From $79)

The one and only thing I wish we had in our home is a fireplace.  Mark my words, if we do ever move, that is going to be on the top of my list.  For those of you who are lucky enough to have one, I'm loving this personalized canvas/ leather bag for storing wood by the fire.  ($99)

This leather magazine rack is so elegant and would be great for those of you who live with a magazine hoarder, and may also sometimes exhibit hoarder tendencies as referenced by her extensive Cookie collection that will forever live with her shoes.  I'm not naming any names here. ;) ($138)

The single greatest item we have ever bought for our home was the Nespresso machine I gifted myself last year.  We use it multiple times a day, and it still works as good as it did the day we took her out of the box.  While aesthetically I wasn't sold on this one, I took my salesperson's advice that this was the easiest and best machine they have.  Almond milk lattes are my jam, and with one push of a button, and about 1 minute of waiting, I have the most perfect one in my hand while running out the door for school.  The milk can stay in the container which is refrigerated, and then the whole piece can be put in the dishwasher.  Never ever having to wait in line at Starbucks again... game changer. ($399 with 100 dollar club credit)

I absolutely love every single piece from Heather Taylor, but if I had to choose, this pillow is my favorite.  Simple and beautiful, exactly what I want my home to be.  Her tablecloths are equally as awesome. ($112)

Just when I thought I couldn't get any more Navy in to my home, a girlfriend of mine turned me on to this new line available at Macy's.  Love, love, love.  (Prices vary)

Finally, how great is this copper tray which comes with free monogramming?  So great for those holiday parties, this also would make a great gift for those on your list who love to entertain.  I'm filing this one away for future wedding gifts! ($175)

Sadly, this is the end of the gift guides this year.  I hope you found them helpful, I also have a great time making them! Happy Friday!

So Minty!!!

 Remember last week when i was debating whether or not I should paint the bathroom mint? Well, on Monday, I whipped out my paintbrush and got to work. The end result pretty much speaks for itself, and to say I LOVE it, would be an understatement! Here are a few shots of the space.

I ended up painting the moulding and doors as well, basically because they were looking a little dingy, and I have to say this is my favorite part of the whole room.  This took a lot longer than I expected, but having everything one color really makes the space look so much bigger.  From now on I'm definitely doing this in every room I paint (which hopefully won't happen for a very long time :))

This just goes to show, when in doubt... always paint!!!!!!!!

Affordable Brass Lighting- A Roundup.

 Brass is most definitely having a moment right now, and I feel like there is no better way to incorporate this look in your home, than to add a few statement lighting features.  I have to say, I do question if one day this look will scream "so 2014" so for me, finding some pieces that are more budget friendly is a must.  I feel like I've been scouring the internet for at least a year or two now, with no luck, and then suddenly every big box store was featuring some pretty killer options, at some very wallet friendly prices.  Right now, I am in the final stages of adding some lighting in our home (will definitely share the afters) and since sharing is caring, I figured I'd share with you a few of my favorites. 

Sconces

As far as sconces go, I am absolutely in love with this first one.  The shop one forty three pretty much kills everything in my book, and next week, we have some sconces that are similar to these going up in our bedroom.  The bottom would be great in a bathroom, or mounted on some built-ins. 

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Ceiling Mount

Last year I went through and changed out what I like to call the "boobie" fixtures that our developer picked for our home (you know the ones that actually look like a boob, that are stock in every new development?)  I really wish this top one was available then,  I most definitely would have scooped it up!  The bottom is something a I have my eye on for over our dining room table.  Right now I am working with them to create something a little longer and larger, and I can say the company is a dream to contact for custom work!

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Table Lamp

I would absolutely welcome both of these in my home with very open arms. The first is under 50 bucks. Talk about a bang for your buck. The second brings quite a bit of glamour to a room, and would great in an office or living area.

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What do you all think about brass? Trendy or amazing? I clearly fall in the later category! 

Flower Power.

I don't know if it's the fact that for the past two days we have had the most beautiful Spring-like weather, or if it's just my personal style evolving, but lately, and unexpectedly, I've been finding myself drawn to florals in homes.  Of course, by "drawn to" I mean completely obsessed with, and by "completely obsessed with" I mean trying to find a way to incorporate a statement piece in my home, like yesterday.  It all started when I cam across this stunning sofa/ottoman set from Anthropologie and found myself devastated when I saw that that ottoman only comes in extra large.  Tears people, tears.  Just look at this beauty!!! That is a statement piece, a statement that I would happily make day in and day out. 

Now, as luck would have it, I can't seem to get the idea of a floral ottoman out of my head, and every fabric I find is a little more modern, or tribal, than I'm looking for.  Now, I'm not talking your grandmother's floral (wait, now that I think about it, I might be!) but just the perfect "pop" of a delicate flower. I'm finding through my search, that I like florals best when paired with a more modern, or unexpected palette, and it seems like the placement is the key. While I continue to scour the internet for my perfect piece, I'll leave you with some insanely perfect uses of florals in the home. Each one more jaw dropping than the next. 

That is what you call some serious Flower Power. 

A Look Inside.

 If there is a holy grail of online videos, I'm pretty sure this is it. A look inside the home of the incredibly intelligent and fashionable Sarah Jessica Parker. I've probably watched this clip about 5 times now, and I have to say that each time it grows on me more and more. Her abode is not at all what I expected! It is just so funky, warm, eclectic, and lived in. It really is the exact opposite of the over styled, magazine ready, picture perfect homes that we are used to seeing in the monthly glossies and on blogs. It obviously doesn't hurt that the architecture of the house itself is dripping with character. That moulding, and staircase really are the stars in my book! Even though this is pretty much the opposite of my design aesthetic, I feel so inspired by how much personality her space has... and those built in bookshelves, I would die for those bookshelves! I Oh, and she answers 73 questions in the witty and likable way that only she can, but the star of this video is most definitely that house!

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A home that actually looks like home... I dig it.

TV Gallery Wall.

We all know there is nothing more that I love in life, than a good gallery wall. On the exact opposite spectrum, is our media wall, which up until last week had only one thing on it... the TV. In most spaces, I don't have any feelings one way or the other about solo television, but in our space (where all the furniture faces that one wall) it was kind of an eye sore. I've gone back and forth over whether on not I should just wallpaper the area, but since I was never 100 percent, I decided against it. After the Carter Kustera prints arrived, which were meant for the guest room, I had a vision of a bright and sunny gallery wall, filled with color pattern. Minutes later, Grayson and I got to work, and after stealing a few pieces from the rest of our house (a print, similar to this one, is actually going to be the large center piece) I finally found a way to camouflage the television and actually lightened the whole room! Now, I'm kind of addicted (shocking I know) and I actually want to add more prints, and take the wall to the ceiling, but these things take time and for the moment I'm just happy that I finally figured out what to do in this space. Behold, my new favorite wall in the house!

Doesn't it bring in so much color? I love it!

When it comes to a good gallery wall,  in my book there is never too much of a good thing. For those of you who agree, here are 6 of my all time favorites. 

Ahhhhhh I'm so inspired! You can bet there will be more where this came from!