I need your opinion.

I mean it!

White:

Natural:

or Sea Spray:

You may remember that we had a (now discontinued) Marimekko comforter from Crate and Barrel. That recently bit the dust and we need a replacement (C&B was pretty reasonable and good to work with.) I've had my eye on this Pintuck Duvet from West Elm for a while, so I think it's time! But I can't decide which color to get! I'll be purchasing it this weekend, so I need your opinion!

I like the white, it's so nice and crisp, but one typical pro to white is that you can bleach it. This, you can't. Our walls are a dusty gray blue, so I'm thinking the natural might not be the best compliment.. but is the Sea Spray too similar?

I do love the Steel Blue color, but I'll be honest, Duncan rules the roost and is now sleeping in our bed. I don't want to see his light hairs so easily!

What do you think? Have you ever had a white comforter?

images: West Elm

outdoor improvements

We've been working a lot on improving the interior of our home, but every time I saw the outside, it was a little sad.

It was pretty devoid of color and needed a little pick-me up. I painted the front door and mailbox, and added some potted and hanging flowers. It made such a big difference!

I have a pretty black thumb, so for now, all of my planting will be in pots. Less damage done if I'm a neglectful gardener! I couldn't decide whether to also paint the storm door blue.

What do you think? I also have some herbs on the back porch. I painted the stand yellow and the pots blue last summer. The blue wore off, which I actually love. Nice and worn.

Thanks to my momma who spent an evening helping me! We still have much to do, but obvious changes like paint make a huge difference!

We got a rug!

I took a picture of it! See? The rug!

Things are definitely shaping up. We still have lots of table/bookcasey items to buy, but the progress feels good! Oh, and I got the second lamp, but still need a new side table where it can live.

now vs. not

Things I loved recently at HomeGoods and whether or not I bought them:

Not in my home:

Not in my home:

Not in my home:

Not in my home:

Not in my home:

NOW in my home!

You thought this whole thing was one big sham didn't you? No, no, my friends, I did buy ONE of those lamps. I thought I could put my lovely birthday lamp

Reminder, this is birthday lamp:

So, I thought that could go on the other side of the couch, but it really just wasn't working. The first lamp is much too large and in charge. Even though I bought it a few weeks ago, a little sister birdie told me that the other is still there. I may try to swipe that up tomorrow. It seems a little silly given that I don't have an end table for it, but when at HomeGoods, seize the goods! Even if you're putting the cart before the horse.

Okay, signing out, as I've reached my corny phrase quota for the day.

i got it from my mama

I love family heirlooms and think they can truly complete a space. To me, a look layered with pieces rich with tradition and history make a house a home. When my grandmother passed, I inherited a few lovely items. As you can see (and might remember,) her absolute favorite color was yellow! It adds such sun-shiney happiness to our blue living area.

The pottery here belonged to her, the art is a gift from my talented mother to Chris.

I feel very lucky to have received one particular piece of art that she painted. I am so loving it in our home.

Feeling inspired by the family influence, I've begun to do a little bit of painting myself.

It doesn't quite work in our current space. It looks so measly in contrast to my grandma's gorgeous 4'x5.5' painting.

I'd love to make two large pieces, similar to this one, to flank our couch.. And replace the coffee table, add some end tables and new bookshelves. It's a process, people, it's a process.

In closing, isn't this exactly what will.i.am had in mind with his "I got it from my mama" lyrics? I think, yes. ..and if the girl real pretty, 9 times out of 10, she pretty like her mama.... Anyway, I don't compare to the two women who precede me, but I'm having fun playing around with it!

twenty-six

I celebrated my twenty-sixth birthday this weekend with LOTS of delicious food. I was too busy devouring it to take any pics, but for you Cinci folk, here is where I went and my top recommendations:

Friday dinner with the fam: La Poste : Mussels and Clams, Mushroom Ravioli, and Cherry & White Chocolate Bread Pudding

Saturday brunch, post-massage, with my momma and sisters: Annabel's : Scramble Du Jour

Saturday dinner: Otto's : Crostini Sampler, Iceberg Wedge, and Sea Scallops

ALL DELIC!

In the midst of gorging, I stopped at a local consignment shop and gifted myself this little beauty. Not on my "shopping list," but I definitely couldn't leave it behind!

no more mono - bedroom pillows

I've got pillows on the mind.. like, spice up my room, add some color and pattern comfortable soft necessities. I'm thinking about a couple rooms in particular, our bedroom and the living room. Let's start with the bedroom. It has been largely a monochromatic color scheme, and I'm looking to add a little somethin-somethin. Right now, we have this bed,

light-medium gray-blue (nothing like being noncommital) walls, this comforter from Crate & Barrel, and, rather than, Merimekko overload, we have paired it with dusty blue sheets.

That's pretty much as far as we go in the color spectrum. I love our table lamps, which have a distorted clear glass base and solid white shade. So, here this is where I start thinking about these pillows from CB2

Love them! I'm a little worried that it could be horribly wrong, but.. I love them! So there's that, and the fact that they're on sale for $10 each... and I'm thinking they'll add a needed modern touch ... and, if nothing else matters, orange and blue are totally BFFs on the complimentary color wheel.

So, if you give a girl new pillows, she's going to want new curtains...we know how that goes. If the pillows are the perfection I'm hoping for, I'd add some orange curtains.

From Urban Outfitters, these are my first pick. Unfortunately, they've received some bad reviews, one in particular stating that this color is more of a peach. How much do you trust reviews?

From Target, but I fear they may be a little too dark. I'd much prefer to see them in person. What do you think?

images: Crate & Barrel, CB2, Urban Outfitters, Target