The Vote is In/Random Wisteria Inspiration

Thanks so much for all of your feedback yesterday! The vote is in and Danny Gokey won! Just kidding... Actually, it was pretty clear that you all love the blue-green vanity (option 1). I was leaning in that direction, but my head is so deep in the project I wasn't sure if it was just my fatigue and desperation talking. So I really appreciate your comments.

So yes, I'm going to go ahead with the blue-green vanity and I'll be sure to let you know how it turns out. I also appreciated the comments from those of you that had other ideas for me. Believe me, I took those into consideration and I may incorporate some of them into the room as well.

A few of you mentioned replacing the faucets, and BELIEVE ME, I'm right on board with you. In fact I just purchased one of these Delta Victorian faucets 0n Ebay (and I'll be buying another soon)....I'm sooo excited!

And since I can't ever publish a post without showing you something pretty, I thought I'd share a few random items I was lusting after on Wisteria's website today. They're not necessarily cheap, but boy they're pretty :-).

Medium Bird Glass Cloche

X-Back Chair with Stripe Cushion

Treasure Nest (Bluejay)

Delightful Doormat - Crown
Garden Stools
Through the Looking Glass Table

XO ~ AnNicole

Keeping it Real: A Decorating Dilemma

Have you ever had a room that ends up being waaaay more difficult to decorate than every other room in your house? While some rooms just seem to come together (somewhat) effortlessly, that one little stubborn room just keeps putting up a fight? Yes?...Okay good. That makes me feel A LOT better.

I've shown you my kitchen (ad nauseum...sorry) and my living room (and I'll be showing you a few other rooms soon) but for some reason my master bath has decided to be a worthy adversary. In all honesty....it's been kicking my butt. I hate to even admit that, because I feel like I should have all the answers in the decorating universe, but man oh man I've had trouble with that room.

Here's the BEFORE photo (again...sorry that you're seeing it for the umpteenth time)

Here's the KIND OF AFTER photo (way too dark and blah....and I truly apologize for the flat iron and paint cans in the photo).


It's blandness kind of gives you a tummy ache, huh? Sooo, obviously, I'm cooking up a Plan C.

I was looking through my inspiration photos over the weekend, and I was struck by this one from Pottery Barn.

OPTION 1

I hadn't planned on using a color as bright as the blue-green on the vanity, but I really kind of like it. It would give the bathroom a focal point and it would also tie in with my bedroom (I'll be showing you soon). If I did paint and glaze my vanity, I'd probably paint the walls a cream color and use white on the trim. So, that's possibility 1.

For possibility 2, I could paint the walls a very pale gray-blue and paint/glaze the cabinets cream. Kind of like the kitchen below from HPJ185 on Rate My Space.

OPTION 2:

Or...for possibility 3, I could always just paint everything cream and white and call it good (with a few carefully chosen accessories to bring in a bit of color and texture). Keep in mind there's no natural light in the bathroom, though, so I'm not sure how all white would work in there.

OPTION 3:

Photo: Coastal Living

I'm opening the lines American Idol style (...minus the actual phone lines) and letting you cast your vote. Yes...I'm that desperate, but I also trust your fabulous taste and judgment. Besides, sometimes you can become so immersed in a project it's hard to see straight...know what I mean?...so I thought it would be constructive to get some perspective from you.

Thanks so much...and please, please, please keep reading my blog. I promise I DO normally have lots and lots of great decorating ideas to share...or, at least a whole bunch, or gaggle, or something like that :-).

Paint Color Party!

Melissa at 320 Sycamore is having a favorite paint color party today. I am so excited about this party because I L-O-V-E paint colors....like seriously, a collection of paint chips is more exciting to me than a box of chocolates. I love paint that much. And then to actually see colors and other people's homes and actually be told what they are?!...oh stop, it's too much.

So, while I was excited about the party, I wasn't originally going to participate because the reality is that can't say I know what my favorite colors are yet. I've only lived in our cottage a year and I think one must get to know one's house. It's like that scene in Under the Tuscan Sun where Diane Lane talks about introducing herself to her house and letting her home introduce itself to her. I'm a firm believer in that concept.

There's honestly only one room in my house right now where I'm completely content with the paint color. Le Kitchen...

The color is Restoration Hardware's Cappuccino and it works so well in this room because there's plenty of light, and it's combined with cream cabinets, tan floors, and black and white accents (and a smidge of silver sage).

I also like the color in my living room (The Nester's Tobacco Road...do you think the paint company knows it's her's? If not they should...and pay her residuals or something).

I think it may have been mixed just a little off, though, because it's a smidge too yellow for me. I'd prefer if it had a bit more tan in it, but it is very warm and cozy.

I thought I'd also share some great paint colors from the house I used to live in.

Ralph Lauren Cotswold Breeches was used in both the living room and guest bath (below). It's a nice substantial neutral with green undertones. Very nice.

I used Ralph Lauren Archectural Cream on my kitchen cabinets and Ralph Lauren Manor Gray on the walls. It's a very nice combo.

Finally, I painted the laundry room Sherwin Williams Svelte Sage and it was my FAVORITE room in the house. It's such a soothing green. It has a lot of gray in it so it doesn't take any energy to look at it...does that make sense to anyone besides me? (oh...and yes, this is the only photo I have...sorry!).

Soooo, I'll be sure to let you know when I develop new favorite paint colors in the Cottage, but be sure to head over to Melissa's to see other great paint ideas. Enjoy!

Patio in Progress..AKA The Blue Period

I've desperately been needing some patio furniture, and I just haven't done it because it's so darn expensive!!! However, how can I possibly have outdoor get-togethers if I don't have anywhere for people to sit? So I told myself I could spend $100, to improve my patio situation.

Wanna see what I found? Oh, I'm sooo excited.

Disclaimer: This is where I meant to include the actual photo of the glider I was going to buy after my dentist appointment this afternoon...but the appointment ended up being a little more complicated than planned and one of my cheeks looks like I'm hiding a jaw breaker in there...I'm not even kidding. Therefore the photo below is a a similar bench I found online (ummm..does it sound like I had a lawyer draft that disclaimer?...just checking).


Isn't it cute? The real glider is from Garden Ridge and it's on sale this week for $80.00 (well, $79.99 but c'mon...who do they think they're fooling?). It's hard for me to fork out $80.00 on any one item, but I knew it had to be done.

I then stopped by TJ Maxx and found these adorable, beachy outdoor pillows.



They came in sets of 2 for $19.99...not too bad.

And while I was at it I had to buy the matching placemats...why not, eh?


Oh...and I stumbled upon this Dash and Albert outdoor rug at TJ Maxx and I just couldn't pass it up. Although, it may end up inside...soooo many possibilities.

So...if you do the math, I went a little over my $100 limit...but that still wasn't bad for everything I bought. And I am so excited to get it all together so we can finally enjoy our patio!

So that's it for now. I'll be sure to report back when it's finished.

An American Girl in Germany

Hey everyone! I'm happy to say my feet are firmly back on American soil....although I think the coherent part of my brain is still somewhere over the Atlantic. Oh well...

First, I want to give a BIG thank you to Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick for her great guest post last week. Like many of you, I desperately want to start using power tools, but I'm just a little bit skeered. I admire Sarah and her "Just Do It!" attitude.

Okay...so let's talk Germany. I honestly didn't have a lot of time to get out and explore, and I would have looooved to have taken more pictures, but I did grab a few I thought you'd be interested in. If the picture quality isn't top notch it's probably because I took it in the span of 5 seconds...better than nothing, right?

I basically had one day when I wasn't in a conference center, and on this day we traveled to a charming little town called Aachen. It's about an hour outside of Cologne (where I was staying).

Isn't it cute?! It was hot that day so we decided to stop into this little pub for a cold beverage. I think it's one of the few old buldings that's left in the town (since most towns and cities were flattened during WWII).

I loved this old blue and white tile.

And (being the decorating geek that I am) I was transfixed by this old painted lettering.

We then wandered down the street, and this little row of homes stopped me in my tracks. I love the blue next to the yellow, etc. So charming.

Care for a Lilien?

Or a Hortensien?

And I lagged behind my group just so I could discretely snap a photo of this menu board. If I'd had the chance I would have eaten there just so I could have stared at the menu board and flowers.
We then crossed over into Belgium so we could visit a U.S. WWII War Cemetery. It happened to be Memorial Day in the U.S. so this was especially fitting.

Isn't Belgium beautiful?! I could easily imagine myself living in a little farm house in the Belgian Countryside....where we'd eat Belgian Waffles and Belgian Chocolate...oh yes, I could just picture it :-).

It's hard to capture the vastness of the headstones in the cemetery. There were thousands. Apparently most of the soldiers laid to rest in the cemetery perished in the Battle of the Bulge.

It was truly awe inspiring.

Finally, I snapped a few photos of my hotel for you. I've noticed that in European hotels (even in nice ones) the public spaces are usually pretty grand and the guest rooms are fairly humble.

Here are a few photos of public spaces in my hotel (I really should have taken more).

Doesn't this drape look like a ballgown?

And look at its graceful little puddle! It's almost like a train on a wedding gown.

I actually ghasped when I caught a glimpse this fabulous courtyard.

Notice all of the window boxes in the photo below? They were everywhere in Germany.

And here's my little room.

Surprised at how plain it is? I was too...especially since this was a very nice hotel. It was perfectly comfortable though, and the down comforter and duvet cover were to.die.for. I wanted to sneak it out of there it was so light and cloudlike and the cover was so incredibly soft and smooth. Ahhh...

Oh, and here's a gratuitous shot of the bidet...which I was never adventurous enough to use.


And I loved this little "Do Not Disturb" sign...it could have just been the jetlag though.

It's good to be back! Thanks for your patience last week.

XO~AnNicole