Being a Gemini is Exhausting

Are there any other Geminis out there? Do any of you fellow Geminis feel like it's almost impossible to decorate a room and be happy with it for any length of time because your "twin" will want a different look in a few months?

Why do I ask, you say? Oh, I don't know. It could be the fact that I've worked on my master bathroom for nearly 3 months now and I can't quite finish it because the twins keep bickering with one another.

Twin A: I want a light and airy bathroom.

Twin B: Oh, please. Give me some contrast. You liked the contrast
in the kitchen, right?

Twin A: Yeah, but this is the bathroom. Can't we have
a beachy look?

Twin B: Beach-Shmeach, I want a luxurious European flair.

It's exhausting I tell ya. So since I haven't been able to get my act together enough yet to give you the full reveal, I thought I'd show you what I have been able to get the twins to agree on...and accomplish.

First here's a before photo of my bathroom to refresh your memories.


Perdy right (...heavy sarcasm)? I especially love the burgundy laminate countertop (even heavier sarcasm). And I should note that this photo is with the PREVIOUS OWNER'S stuff. Am I ashamed to claim the burgundy candles and flimsy green towels as my own?...yes, yes I am. Boy I hope they never read this blog.


Well I took care of that countertop straight away by painting it to look a wee bit like travertine. Not bad, eh? Don't worry, I will do a tutorial in the very near future....oh, and I will be replacing the faucets.



I also removed the giant wall mirror and replaced it with two cute little oval mirrors from Lowes. I'll probably hang my faux vintage grain sack between the two (um, ignore the fact that it needs to be ironed...I didn't notice that until now).



I originally wanted the fancy tilting kind, but I was able to get two of these for just a little more than the cost of one of the tilting mirrors. I couldn't argue with those numbers.

I knew I needed to come up with some kind of storage solution for the weird empty space in the corner, so I bought a bookcase that was just the right size, painted it cream and adorned it with a little skirt to hide its legs.


Not bad for $48, a little fabric and a few upholstery tacks.

And...that's pretty much it for now. I'd show you more, but the twins are still bickering so I'll have to get back to you after I've been able to mediate and reach a mutually satisfactory solution.

Tagged...A Little Bit About Me

I have been tagged by Ellie over at TheTwinsMama to share some information about myself and Amanda at Serenity Now to list 7 things I love. So I'm kind of going to combine both into one - I hope that's ok.


7 Things I Love:

1. Dessert - Anything with chocolate, peanut butter, cream, crust, pastry = heaven. Fortunately for my snug little jeans, I don't indulge very often.

(Tollhouse Pie at the Dodo in Salt Lake City...To-Die-For!)

2. Mexican Food - I could eat it everyday. I love anything with cheese, sour cream and a flour tortilla. Again, good thing I don't let myself eat it everyday (Um, should we be concerned that my first two items are food?...I'm just sayin').

3. Almost anything from Banana Republic or Anthropologie - Really, can you blame me?

4. Movies - I love movies. I could go every week. I like anything from spy movies, to historical movies, to chick flicks. I don't like anything disturbing though, which pretty much leaves horror movies or anything nominated for an Oscar out....just kidding...kind of.

5. Travel - I love seeing new places. It doesn't matter if it's The-Middle-of-Nowhere, Oklahoma or Europe. I love seeing how other people live.

6. Music - I always have to have music near me. It doesn't matter if I'm cleaning, getting ready in the morning, in the car, at work (when my boss isn't there)...I love music.

7. Hanging Out With My Boy - Ok, that's a little pathetic, but we have fun together.

( He really is happy, he's just trying to look tough.)

7 Things I Don't Like:

1. Waking up Early - I'm definitely NOT a morning person, but I do it anyway.

2. Wierd Seafood - I have a reluctant relationship with seafood. I'll eat it if there are no claws sticking out, or a face on it, and if it's cooked....and I won't eat shrimp. It looks like a bug to me.

( Um, do you see that wierd claw thing sticking out? Yeah, I'm not into that.)

3. Cooking and Grocery Shopping - I do it anyway, but I'm really not into the whole food gathering, planning and preparation thing. It's so much work! It's much easier to eat out. Honestly, the whole food aspect of our lives stresses me out. Do I really need to bring home the bacon and fry it up too? Really?!

4. Walmart - I have a love/hate relationship with Walmart. I love the low prices, and hate everything else about it. Sorry Walmart.

5. Things that I Love but Can't Afford - I know, who doesn't feel that way, but I had to say it.

6. Things I Don't Love and Can't Afford - Ahhh, don't we all love car repairs?

7. Being Away from My Family - I really miss going to breakfast and shopping with my mom, and I really miss hanging out with my dad on Saturdays.

Art on a Shoestring - Alicia Bock

I love Alicia Bock's photographs. They have such a dreamy quality to them. I imagine her having the coolest life...like something out of a Ralph Lauren ad or a French movie.

You know, wandering through sundrenched fields,

or strolling up and down the beach with the wind whipping through her hair,

or sitting at a French cafe sipping lattes and snapping photos.

I know noboody's life is really that dreamy (she is a mother after all), but that's the sort of ambience her photos have.

I recently bought a package of five of Alicia's postcard prints for $8. I was originally only going to frame a couple of them but I loved them so much I came up with a new plan. I tacked some twine to the wall like a clothesline and then hung the postcards with mini clothes pins.

Tres lovely...(yes, perhaps I should work on my French).

Alicia also has larger prints available for $35 on her Etsy shop or on her website, which is very reasonable in my humble and thrifty opinion. Not that she needs free advertising from me since she's a superstar and all (seriously, her stuff has been on Grey's Anatomy and Sex in the City)...I just had to share with y'all.

Inspiration that Sticks with You

I hope everyone had a great weekend! We sure did. We drove to Kansas City to spend Easter with family...the way it's really meant to be celebrated.

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Do you ever have a decorating photo that just sticks with you? You just can't seem to get it out of your head? There are plenty of photos out there that I really like, and plenty I love...but every once in a while, I stumble on one that puts me in a decorating trance. I hope I'm not alone in this.
Here's the most recent photo that's been sticking in my creative little brain.

It's from The Home Book (which I finally returned to the library after renewing it as many times as they would let me), and I just love everything about it. I love the soothing color palette, the fluffy cushion and pillows that beckon you to curl up and stay a while (and knit a color coordinated scarf...if you know how). I love the mix of fabrics on the pillows, the sumptuous window treatments, and the charming white woodwork. I could design an entire room around this photo.

Here's another one that has inspired me. It's from Cottage Living (R.I.P...sniff), and I keep referring back to it even though I'm pretty sure I've memorized every detail at this point.

I love everything in this room, the comfy white chairs, the brown ticking stripe pillows, the cool brown fabric on the ottoman, the neat details on the mantel and coffee table. This could be my living room and, even I, wouldn't get tired of it.

Here are a few photos that inspired my kitchen makeover.

Photo: Cottage Living

Photo: HGTV Rate My Space - JBeachem

Photo: Unknown via Camilla at Home

Here's one more that I keep going back to over and over again. It's the fabulous Meg Duerksen's gorgeous master bathroom.

Umm, looking back at these photos I guess it's pretty easy to guess what color palette I'm most drawn to...lol. I guess that's the point of inspiration photos that really touch you, though.

If you haven't already done so, I'd highly recommend going through your favorite photos, placing them side by side and looking for similarities. It's very enlightening I tell ya. And when you find those photos that make you get all googly eyed and adrenalized hang on to them for dear life. :-)

Happy Easter!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter weekend! Here are some inspiration photos in case you need to do some last minute decorating. They're all from MarthaStewart.com. You have to admit, Martha does the "pretty" part of holidays right.

XO ~ AnNicole