The House // Powder Room Part Deux

So many of you emailed and commented about the powder room that I thought I would give you more of a peek. Like everything else in my life, this room is never finished (although it's one of the farthest along).

 

Short term wish: paint the vanity, find a great little rug to warm things up and add a hit of color. Possibly paint out the trim, but I'm still too tired from the dining room. Long term wish: tear out the vanity altogether and buy valuable real estate with a pedestal sink. But that will mean more work (and mo money) than the sink alone, so there's quite a list of projects ahead of that one.

Wall color is Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron in semi gloss. Literally everyone that walks out of this bathroom thinks it's a different color (is it gray? black? navy? dark green? brown?). I love that. I spent some time collecting the many gilded frames and mirrors, and have replaced the art in a few of them with pieces that I love. Ahem. Like watercolor leopard from Jessica that I will probably never shut up about.

I originally left large gaps on the walls with the intention of drawing in ornate frames with a white paint pen for interest, but I decided that I liked the composition as it was, so that may or may not ever happen. As I stated in the last post, there's still one empty wall to address but, again, I'm in no hurry. There are more pressing matters than the rarely used powder room. (We need to have more parties, I guess!)

 
* Sorry for the grainy cell phone pics. When I'm ready to actually photograph this joint, I'll be hiring. Plus, I'm still in high hopes that this baby can be published someday. I don't want to give everything away now, do I?  :)

The House // Snippets

Sometimes it's nice to go through the old photo roll and realize that we are, in fact, making progress around here when it can feel so slow-going. Which I'm fine with since it means I'm finding unique pieces that I really love. But, damn, at some point you just want to be proud enough to show pics of your house, you know?

Just a few snippets . . .

The formal is feeling like an actual room. Those shelves were a total disaster zone until recently.
Need to figure out what to do with the other side of the room, but it's getting there.

The (adjacent) eat-in actually has art on a wall! Unheard of.
This piece is an original from Jamaica in the 1960s. The color and graphic elements sold me on it.

Once it gets warm enough, we'll paint the door to the garage (in that alcove to the left) for a pop of color.

Still debating said color. Could just go black. Who. Knows.

I'm also intent on painting the sliding glass door to the backyard black, but Eric is fighting me on it.

Guess it will be a lot of work. (Which means it will totally get done in a timely manner...)

The dining room and trim are painted out in a glorious moody blue (semi gloss Ralph Lauren Rue Royale).

Unfortunately, we still have to paint that window (*groans*) and choose some drapes.
Choosing fabric and upholstery kills me. KILLS ME. So hard to commit.

Now that ma sexy new chairs are in (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) I really think we need a new table.

And obvi an amazing chandy. We've discussed this already, haven't we?

sidenote: YOU GUYS, these chairs not only look amazing (how did I score brass? I'd never even seen them with brass frames until last week!), but they are comfortable. as. hell.
I am going to loooooooove hosting peeps and sitting here for hours on end!

Bonus: the upholstery doesn't make me want to vom.

(You're seeing packing marks on the seatbacks in this pic. Those are gone now.)

To rug? No rug? I dunno.

A few of you wanted to see the bathroom after I posted shots on Vine.

This room is TOUGH to photograph, but here's a lil bit to show layout.

 All of the walls have art in gilded frames except one (I'm sort of afraid of clumsy drunk men knocking them off the wall in front of the toilet. Is that weird?)

Guess if you didn't know before this post, you know how much I love brass now. ha!

Our family room has been painted, but we have a long way to go.

We've been trying to hold out for a sectional, but thems be spensive. Not sure it's gonna happen.

In the meantime, we have gray walls, a sage green couch, blue parsons chairs, a dark leather chair, dark wood, a giant BAR that we're housing for my brother and a red/orange/pink/navy persian rug going on. Can you say hot mess?

The entry still needs love as well, but I'm debating wallpaper there.
Sadly, I have very expensive taste in wallpaper. Shocking.

Fun in store for you guys tomorrow so be sure to check in! ox

Interiors // Guest Room Inspiration

I mentioned last week that Eric and I have made some great progress on the house since the holidays. (Two full weeks of vacation always helps.) I have a pretty good vision for where most of the rooms are going . . . with the exception of the family room and G's/the guest room. Which is soooooo frustrating because G's room was literally the first one actually furnished. There are a lot of decisions left to make about finishes. I think my struggle is in making it fit for a preteen's taste while still being somewhat neutral and welcoming for adult guests.

Not as easy as I thought it would be. Especially after covering the walls in Kalamata Olive.

But we will get there, I know this.

I stumbled upon this room the other night on Pinterest and am completely reinspired. I'm working with so many similar elements, it's uncanny (you know, with the exception of deep purple walls).

 

A Storied Style

I love how collected and perfectly undecorated it feels.

Time to get to work!

the house // sunroom progress

So, let's talk about the house a little bit, shall we? As previously discussed, Eric and I nixed the idea of an eat-in dining area and went straight for a sit-and-watch-me-pour-your-drink zone off the kitchen. We're not the types to even use the dining room unless hosting anyway, so why have two? This meant finding just the right size seating to fit the small space. Mind you, not only is this part of the kitchen, but it houses our laundry closet, access to the backyard and door to the garage. Basically, we had to find ourselves some furniture that could float. When I came across this beauty on Craigslist, I jumped.

I love the piece, but I do not love the fabric. Animal print is up for consideration. I always love that look on vintage settees. I think it really brings them up to date with a little edge. Timeless edge, mind you. We do not be reupholstering on a whim 'round these parts. I would sell a kidney to get my hands on some delicious Scalamandre velvet. Or I do love the variation of color in this (affordable) Calico Corners option. Ooooor I'm pretty taken with this beauty, if anyone knows what it is:

 MMR Interiors

I can't afford it, can I? Maybe I should be open to a little Mei Ling? Of course, I have to take the neighboring dining room into account. Quite honestly, I've considered a color similar to the one in the photo above...and it looks to me like it would work juuuuuuust fine. Or maybe the same deliciously warm white with fabric wall panels?

The sunroom still needs a rug (cowhide?), a pair of ghost stools and a modest pedestal table. I looove my Jenny original in this space, and I think I'd like to play off that palette to give the garage door a pop of color (try not to judge the trim that be old and busted).

Big shoutout to Jacquelyn for her paint recommendation! I am deeply taken with Benjamin Moore's White Dove. It's clean and crisp, but still very warm. Naomi tells me that I need to paint the trim the same color...which is clearly still on the to-do list. And, dear God, I know how bad that orange floor burns your eyes. I really wish we'd stained them before move-in, but the 3-week closing period didn't allow for much prep. Maybe someday...you know, when the house is full and it's totally convenient.

Help me find a fabric, party people! I neeeeed you.