family room updates

Something had been amiss in the Arkanoff family room and I couldn't quite put my finger on it. I kept thinking it was the paint color on the walls when one day not too long ago it hit me like a bolt of lightning. It was those dang giant natural wood french doors. They were casting an orange "oakey" hue onto everything.  So I grabbed the primer and dove in not even considering the amount of work ahead of me. I blogged yesterday about the exact number of coats in store. Once I finished one side completely it was clear that had definitely been the problem. That was sort of the turning point where I felt back on track. A little trip to Bloomington, IN last week netted us a couple of great finds that felt like tied up all the loose and ends. The space is D-O-N-E. {till i get bored of course}

I swear I did not pose the dog. Thats just Trixie. 

The aforementioned recently painted frenchies to the left. Poufs from Calypso St. Barths for Target. 

pillows clockwise from top: large white euro is simply shabby chic for target, yellow flower pillow is dwell for target and the grain sack union jack is from Lola Rue and Company in Bloomington. 

That sweet 1950's school map of Europe is also from Lola Rue. It brings the color and energy I feel like we were lacking before. I'm not even going to pretend that we don't have a gaudy plastic playhouse because I'll own it. It's a family room and right now the littlest member of our family loves to play in there. Not to mention it fills up the weird space under the stairs nicely. {for now} Note another glass paneled door going into the laundry, don't worry it's on my list. 

i love the buffet that we picked up this past winter from a local antique store. it's the perfect size to hold that man t.v., it's got tons of storage not to mention character that newer pieces we looked at lacked. 

The mantle got a nice little update too. To make room for the old new wall map the chalkboard i made got bumped to above the fireplace which is where it probably should have been all along because it fits so well there. i made a quick summertime sailing flag inspired bunting and clipped it up. {tutorials on the chalkboard and the bunting coming soon}

A view going up the stairs to the foyer, kitchen, living/dining level.

Hope you enjoyed your tour. 

Tune in tomorrow... I just might be giving away a snazzy dress from here! 

Au Revoir my friends! 

linking up to:
the shabby chic cottage, my romantic home, tatertots and jello

dwell spring 2011

Soft and soothing ikat patterns, the classic dot, and toile dominate the new dwell spring line. I wish I could swap the dot bedding in image one for the ikat bedding in number three. The ikat on that beautiful grey upholstered headboard would be just my style right now. So calming, relaxing and fresh. 

*source

on a completely unrelated note i'm in a movie watching mood. has anyone seen anything awesome lately? 

Orla Kiely Spring/Summer 2009

The weather man promised me 60 degrees by the end of the week. I'm holding out hope and in honor of said temperature spike here's some Orla Kiely images from her Spring/Summer 2009 collection. Incidentally if you haven't been to Target lately you might not know that in the spirit of Dwell, Orla Kiely now has herself a little collection of kitchen odds and ends for sale. The line is super cute just in time for that warm weather.