Pretty In Pink

You know me. I'm all on the navy and white ship. Not one foot, but two. I've moved in, and call me sailor, because I'm here to stay.

But... let me just come out and say it. I'm a girl (duh). But I've never been one for pink. I've been one for golden, for mint green, for red, for navy and white - but never pink. It's not that I don't like it, it's just that you'd be hard pressed to find anything in my house that has that rosy hue.

So imagine my surprise when I recently discovered my draw towards hot pink. I'm not sinking in slowly with ballet pink or purpley pink, I'm diving right into the deep end of HOT PINK. Should I blame Pantone & Honeysuckle?

I've noticed on Pinterest (remind me I need to do a feature JUST on Pinterest - it's that awesome) that a few of my most recent pins have turned pink. Check it.

All images via Pinterest

What do you think, am I going of the rails on the crazy pink train? Or is it just a summer fling? Maybe you've had something like this happen to you - jumping across the color wheel. Explain to me what is going on!

J. Crew on a Tuesday

First of all, notice I've added a little coral to my navy, white, and grey wardrobe? It's new. The sweatshirt is old. but I like it.

Got my May J. Crew catalog in the mail today.

LOVE the cover.

I think J and I will have to recreate someway.

Christmas Card?

Anniversary pictures?

xoxox

Happy Tuesday!

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my lovely sister.

She's not a teenager anymore :)

Put Our Service to the Test

I know, I know, I know that we are not done with the office. I've still got three quarters to play. But I'm working with a shoestring budget (literally) and things take time. And I'm not the kind of girl who has the determination to think about just one room in my house.

I want to redo my guest room. I want someone to visit. And when they do, I do not want them to feel like I stuck them in Duke's room. Or a storage closet. Or jail.

Nothing has changed since I took these pictures. Well, I take that back. I currently have a napping husband in there, a few more dust bunnies, and Millie has moved next door to live with the little girls there. I believe her name is Natasha now.

But it still is cold. And practically colorless. And there is a dog cage in there. So I've been daydreaming a lot about that room lately. So you can imagine my surprise when I found an image that is exactly what I had been dreaming of.

Velvet and Linen via Little Green Notebook

No joke. This is what I dream about. Beige linen upholstered headboards. Hotel-like duvets. Trunks at the foot of beds. And whatever that amazing thing is hanging above the bed, I dream about that too. I just didn't realize it until now.

Obviously, the guest room is white with white carpet. Part of that equation works. The other part, I'll deal with (and find a big area rug). But I have plans.

I have a door in my garage that I salvaged saved from one of the houses they were tearing down over the summer. I've been planning on using that for a headboard since the day I found that big beautiful thing.

I also have a crazy DIY plan to get that amazing duvet for cheap, cheap. Like a birdy. Those of you who are savvy to the DIY will probably have already thought of this a while ago, but I'm not sharing my idea until I finish it and have a picture to show it off.

I'm on the lookout for the trunk. Well, technically, I got one of these for my wedding. But the thing is, it's maker became a daddy before I got it. (Yes, I am still waiting, you know who you are...) ;-)

As for the side table, I'm thinking about moving one of the ones from our bedroom (and both when we move to a bigger house) into the guest room. Won't actually do that until I make my headboard (for our room) and get/make less wood-y bedside tables for our room, so for now I'm keeping the chair. Or maybe I'll find something else. Who knows.

I also want to bring in some DIY curtains (maybe navy blue? Dark brown? White?) to class that window up a bit. Since the view from it is really just my neighbors back yard. And a dresser. Something kind of antique and old looking.

Source

So what. I'm a room floozy. But they are all my rooms, in my house. So I can think about whichever one I want to. Whose going to be our first guest and send me into a panic-induced crazy makeover of this room??

The Office: The Vision

First, there was a mass organization. Then came the boy decor. Finally, we needed to style me pretty.

So I did research. I looked through my favorite magazines and catalogs. I looked through my "Inspired Bookmarks" on Mozilla. I searched the web. I listened to you. And I've made headway on the office.

And when I say headway, I mean it. Because as of yet, it is all still in my head. Yes, I have moved my desk. And yes, I put a mirror on it. But I should mention the aforementioned desk is now shoved into the same corner as the book shelf. This means all the furniture (and honestly, all the stuff) is in one half of the room. With the exception of my "Keep Calm and Carry On" print.

As you can see, I do not exaggerate (at least not right now). If anything, negative progress has happened in the office. But not in my noodle. Nope, I've got it all in there. It'll take some time to collect all the pieces of the puzzle, but soon enough, it will get there. Wondering what I've got? Here is my inspiration.

 Yes, pallets. If you spend as much time as I do on the design blog world, you'll know these are a hot commodity. And I'm using them to give my old bookshelves a face lift. 

Get excited now.

Source

 We need seating in there (aside from the one desk chair) and I know just where to put it.

The spot that J always crouches when he comes to visit me at work.

And this great loveseat from Target might be just the ticket.

Source

 I'm loving flannel lately. The texture, the warmth, the colors.

I'm probably going to try to bring in some flannel in pillows. We'll see.

Source

 I love chalkboards. I know they are trendy. So I will spend little money, and DIY one myself.

But it will be so nice to be able to jot down notes on something other than my Airmen and Family Readiness Center pad of paper.

Source

The curtains. Oh the curtains. Stripes. White. Love, love, love.
DIY, I suppose!
Source

And the pièce de résistance.

No not a belt. But I am using this as my inspiration for the top secret, most exciting project of the room.

And I need your help.

Source

I am looking for old leather (or good pleather) belts. Lots of them. I'm scouring thrift stores and closets (most owners know I'm there). But I still need more. I need lots and lots of leather belts. So please, please, please if you have even one old leather belt you no longer use, I need it. I'll even pay for the shipping. And I will also let you in on the secret project. So look through your closets and let me know.

Like I've said before. It will take a while. It will be slow. It will be one day at a time, but eventually, my office will be pretty. It will be organized. It will look like a girl works there (and a boy). Anything changing around your house?

Molly & Pyle do Panels.

Let's have an open and honest chat today, shall we? I have something I just need to get off my chest. I've been thinking obsessing about this for a while now, and I just need to talk about it. I am very jealous. Very, very jealous. I'm not usually a jealous person. I'm not. But sometimes, something just hits me the wrong way, and that baby green monster comes out just a little. Okay, maybe a lot.

I have a friend. Let's call her... Molly(een)*. Molly is getting married in 4 weeks. She just bought a house. Her and her husband-to-be, Pyle*, have been working very hard to make their new house a home. They've been painting, cleaning, decorating, etc. And posting pictures of their progress on Facebook. And like the good house stalking friend I am, I have been checking out the new pictures five minutes after as soon as she posts them.

Now comes Mr. Green Monster. I realized after looking at one of her pictures, that Molly & Pyle have an amazing wood paneled ceiling in their living room. Yes. They do.

When I inquired about the ceiling to Molly, she simply said "Oh, I thought you knew we had that!"

Oh, she thought I knew. She thought I knew and that I was okay with it. But no, I did not know, and no I was not okay with it. Her living room soars to astronomical heights. And like the cherry on the sundae, she has a breathtaking, show stopping, jealousy inducing ceiling.

Little did she know, I have a small stock pile of ceilings just like hers saved on my hard drive. And just to prove it...

Photo courtesy of Desire to Inspire.

Photo courtesy of Desire to Inspire/Laurel Walter.

Photo courtesy of Desire to Inspire/Michael Robinson.

Photo courtesy of Style Me Pretty/Aaron Delesie.

Photo courtesy of WhisperWood Cottage.

So now you can see why I am so jealous. Wait...

Now you can see why I am so jealous (yes, that is my ceiling). The following words are for Molly:

I will still come celebrate your wedding with you. I will be so happy and I might even cry. I will wear my dress and carry my flowers like a good bridesmaid. But when you take me to tour your house, I will pay more attention to your ceiling than to you.

Are you jealous of my friends Molly & Pyle? It's okay to admit. Or perhaps you have a beautiful, jealousy-inducing ceiling. If so, I don't think I can handle seeing it. Just keep it to yourself. I do not want to see it... Okay, who am I kidding, show 'em to me.


*Names have been changed to protect the innocent (from acts of severe jealousy).

Too Early for Santa...

But is it too early for fall? We've got a high of 87 today, 96 tomorrow, but yesterday it was nice and cool, rainy and Halloween-y. So my question is this: When can I get away with decorating for fall?

Pottery Barn

{Cowboy} Phraseology

Martha Stewart

Pottery Barn

Hometown Girl

Classic, Clean and Comfortable.

First of all, I hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day Weekend. Jon and I went down to Oklahoma City with a couple of friends on Saturday, and then have been working on an upcoming reveal for the rest of the weekend... Lets just say I have paint in my hair, on my face, and all over my arms. But that's for another day.

It is no secret that in a military life, we move a lot. So that means a lot of decorating. A lot of starting over with my spaces. A lot of blank canvases. A lot of "What the heck do I do with this space??"

So I blog stalk.

[blog stalk (blɒg stawk)

v - to frequently view the online journals of other unknown/known people.

She would often blog stalk home decor and DIY blogs as inspiration for her own home.]

I find some pretty awesome houses, ideas, and design. I've fallen for Katie Bower's crisp, fun style; The Youngster's clean, cool house; and I have found inspiration that has left me desiring.

In order to create a cohesive, pulled together look, I have worked hard to come up with an answer to the question: what is my design style? Nautical? Feminine? Eclectic? Traditional? In order to do this, I started bookmarking rooms that I loved. Only the rooms that I really LOVED and wanted to live in, because I, like many people, like pretty things. And just because I find a room pretty & interesting, doesn't mean it is "my style."

Desire to Inspire

Desire to Inspire

Desire to Inspire

Now, looking through these inspiration rooms, I find a few similarities.

- I'm drawn to muted, natural colors. Think neutrals; whites, beiges, greys, blues (especially navy), blacks.
- I love wood paneling. I know, weird (I do like them with a nice whitewash on them).
- I love all sorts of natural woods. Deep, dark woods; light, airy woods; perfect woods; and imperfect woods. Love them all.
- I love when a house feels like I can walk outside and be on the water. Whether it's a cold, gray beach in the Pacific Northwest, a colorful harbor on the East Coast, or a romantic sunset on Lake Michigan. I am a water baby.

So what do these all have in common? The three C's: Classic, Clean, and Comfortable.

Desire to Inspire

I like design that is classic. I don't want to have to change my decor every year, because the look just doesn't work for this year. I like pieces that are going to be here for a while. Nice clean lines, warm neutral colors, and a look that can transform with age.

Desire to Inspire

I like design that is clean. I don't like clutter. While I do find many home accessories to tickle my fancy, I do not indulge on these things often. The less "stuff" I have, the cleaner, simpler, and nicer my house feels. I don't like to have shelves full of things. I'd rather have a few pieces that mean something to me.

Desire to Inspire

I like design that is comfortable. Lived in. Cozy. I want people to come into my house and feel like they can sit down on my couch with tea or hot chocolate and talk. Take off their shoes and stay a while. I want my house to be warm and welcoming. I want my house to hug me.

Desire to Inspire

That being said, there are many other styles that speak to me. I love a soft, feminine office with lots of pink and gold, curvy furniture, and a Parisian feel to it. I love a cool, beachy living room with shades of sea glass and shells everywhere. I even love a dark room, with very masculine lines and leather furniture.

But because I know my style, I know what pieces will fit into my house without a problem. I know when I'm thirfting, that wood Ralph lamp will fit seamlessly into my living room, while that cool, low, mid-century dresser might look better in my neighbor's house. Being on such a tight budget, its nice when I know if a piece will work with our house or not before I bring it home.

Pottery Barn

Desire to Inspire

Desire to Inspire

All that being said, I have two disclaimers to add. First off, I never feel as though I cannot love a piece that is not defined in "my style." There are always exceptions. You might have a very feminine style, but fall in love with a big leather couch. Thats okay! I've found that as long as you love it, it will find a place it belongs amongst the other things you love.

Secondly, I discuss at length "my style" in the post. "My" is defined as J & Mallory's style, as defined by Mallory.

So, you knew it was coming... what's your style? Soft and feminine? Loud and vibrant? Eclectic and bold? Not quite sure yet? Take my advice, start a design folder. Save the pictures you love. Then look for a pattern. And then share! :-)

All photos courtesy of Desire to Inspire or Pottery Barn.

Summer Lovin.

Shhh! Don't tell J, but I'm having a little summer romance with numbered home decor. I can't get enough of it. I find myself making excuses just to google "numbered pillows." I spend all day staring at numbered dressers. I love, love, love simple font numbers. Check it out for yourself, I'm not greedy. I'll share. Whats my love, is your love.

Pottery Barn

A Little Bit of Sanity and a Lot of Chaos

Design*Sponge

Family Living

Domino via DomistiKatedLife

Apartment Therapy

Domino

See? How much are you loving numbers now? Letters and I have had our little trysts as well, but right now I'm spending a whole lot more time with Letter's cousin, Numbers. Who else has this slight obsession going on? Any creative ways to incorporate my newest love into my house? Bring on the inspiration! Get ready for some major DIY numbering to hit the Recor house (and blog) very soon!