thursday's thoughts: couches

via

What a sound piece of advice for a Thursday morning!  While I agree with the sentiment, I have to stop myself (often) from falling into the trap of just trying to get things "finished" around the house.  Really we have a long way to go on the house, but I am so thankful for lots of years ahead to make this house the home we really want.  

While some major projects are on the back burner for now, I am trying hard to get the living room fairly furnished before Christmas rolls around.  This will be our first Christmas morning in our own house after 6 years of marriage, and I cannot wait to wake up and see our tree and stockings before bouncing between family celebrations.  

We're on a tight budget for decorating, so getting the room into shape means being creative.  There are some pieces that will definitely be more of an investment, but I am trying to become a DIY queen with pillows, curtains, and this bench makeover from Becky's blog.  (Check back for posts on these projects...can't promise success, but I am definitely going to try!)  In the meantime, we are on the hunt for a couch.  I know we want a white couch, and I love the look of tufted upholstery and nailhead, but I think it might be more reasonable to get slipcovered white pieces.

slipcovered / nailhead / tufted

I should mention that we have a slipcovered couch in the family room that definitely gets more day to day use.  Any great options out there that combine more of the pretty details with slipcovers?  Or should we just bite the bullet and invest in scotch guard?  Decisions, decisions...

xo,

spend or save: target copycats

ORIGINAL: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8
TARGET COPY CAT: (pictured above) 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8

It's no secret that I have a love affair with Target.  It never fails that I will run into the store for a box of cereal or a birthday card and come out with 2-3 items to try in our house or in my closet.  (I know, I'm a marketers dream...)  My last trip to Target was no different, except that I saw about 10 things I wanted to take home with me that were NOT on my list.  

While Target has always been my go to for inexpensive, trendy items, Target has really outdone itself recently.  The shelves are stocked with tons of items that are copycats of some of my favorite pieces from other retailers.  With prices substantially lower than the original retailer, it's hard to turn down some of these Target copycats.  Can you guess who Target is copying with the items above?  

xo,

help + phillip lim for target

 :: H E L P ::

Friends, I need your help!  I have been working diligently on our living room, and I am so happy with the fabrics I've found to round out the space.  Except...this beautiful navy and white pattern.  I broke the cardinal rule and fell in love with this fabric without looking at the price.  Needless to say, I have been on the hunt for a similar fabric for the better part of the week, and I am hoping someone out there can help.  I don't need much (only about 2 yds), but since I will be attempting a DIY with the fabric, I want the price point to be one that won't be too painful if I mess up.  Anyone out there have a good fabric source?  Or have a couple yards of this stuff lying around?

john robshaw for duralee bindi fabric

:: P H I L I P  L I M  F O R  T A R G E T ::

In other news, thanks to my friend TB for letting me in on the Philip Lim for Target event starting Sunday.  I had heard rumblings about this way back when I was studying for the bar, but it completely slipped my mind until yesterday when T reminded me that it was this weekend!  While I can't say I am enough of a die hard to shop online at midnight (and certainly not die hard enough to line up at the store before the doors open), I do think there are some pretty great pieces coming out.  Although I've been disappointed by Target collaborations in the past, don't be shocked if you see me at Target on Sunday (during normal daylight hours) checking this one out.  And, just to get you all inspired, here are a few of my favorites from the look book.  

Anything you have your eye on?  

Happy Friday!

xo,

house updates

In the past few weeks, I have finished unpacking (most) of the boxes that have been lingering around our house, and I have started attempting small house projects.  We have decided to hold off a while longer on any major changes to the house, but in the meantime, I am working on little ways to make the space feel more lived in and personal, despite a few empty rooms here and there.  

nothing like fresh flowers, framed map prints, and a gold tray to give a little life to an entry

I can't claim to be a true DIY pro yet, but I am pretty proud of my work with a little black spray paint

We will add a little height when we actually fill out planters, but I was super excited to find these in the clearance section at target.  The before picture shows the old brass lanterns that flanked the door on the day our roof was redone (sorry for the poor quality photo- this was the only picture I had of the front of our house before)

Next up: new paint and maybe a few pieces of furniture for our living room.  

Hope you enjoyed a little peek into the new space.

xo,

PS: I'm not sure why the caption on the gallery wall photo is in all caps?  Please let me know if you see other format issues when you open in your browser or device.  Thanks!

loving ikat

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5

To say I have been obsessed with ikat lately may be a bit of an understatement.  I don't know if it's the bright fun print (perfect for summertime) or just that I am always a bit late to pick up on trends, but ikat is consistently catching my eye.

I know it's a bit trendy, and frankly, I worry that it will soon go the way of the chevron stripe and be totally overdone.  (I can say that since I still have a blog design with chevron stripe...)  In the meantime, however, I think it's the perfect punch to brighten up a space, an outfit, or just on its own.  

What do you think?  Is ikat's time in the sun almost up?

xo,

kitchen dreams: the little things

Happy Thursday!  Last week I posted about the elements of my dream kitchen.  While the big components are important, I also think the little things can really make or break a kitchen.  The kitchen in our current  house is literally too small for two people to stand in at the same time.  BUT, I love it because it has storage and it is functional.  I firmly believe that the largest, and most beautifully decorated kitchen in the world won't make up for a lack functionality and proper storage.

With that in mind, here are a few of my favorite kitchen "extras" that I think would transform any kitchen space...

Built-ins.  I love this spice storage rack and the built in drawers for frequently used items.  This would make finding that elusive all-spice MUCH easier!

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Hanging space for pots and pans.  How brilliant is this storage solution?  No more pulling all of the pans out to get to the one on the bottom!

image

 Pull out dog bowls.  Although our current dog bowl isn't technically in the kitchen, it is pretty close and always under foot.  Since the kitchen is the main hub for most of the house and the dog always want to be in on the action, I think having dog bowls that can be hidden away, but still in the kitchen would be AMAZING.

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 Silverware specific drawers.  Do you hate plastic silverware dividers as much as I do?  I have no words for how happy this makes me...

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At least one big storage space.  I showed you this picture in a previous post about home staging, and I think this is what makes our kitchen so useful.  Having one large storage cabinet with room for all of our serving pieces and extra everyday china makes even our tiny kitchen feel organized and roomy.

What other "little" things make your kitchen functional?

xo,

kitchen dreams

Hello Dears!  As you may know, we are moving back to Florida in May.  We have a house under contract and we could not be more thrilled.  Though the house has lots of wonderful features, it is also an older house that needs a little updating.  While many of our initial updates/improvements on the house will be not so fun (think new roof, attic insulation, etc.) I can't help but dream of an updated kitchen one day.

Luckily for me, I love looking for inspiration pictures and a fairly consistent theme has emerged over time.

I love gray and white granite with white cabinets...

image

wide plank, dark wood floors...

image

stainless steel appliances...

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and a beautiful backsplash and unique lighting.

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Any favorite sources for house inspiration?  I have a ways to go before our kitchen looks anything like these, but I love this period of planning and looking at beautiful pictures to get some ideas!

xo,

thursday randoms

Happy Thursday!  While I usually feature something related to homes, or decorating, or DIY projects on Thursdays, today I am feeling a little more scattered.  So, instead of trying to pull together a piece on one particular topic, I thought I would share a few randoms with you (some related to usual Thursday topics, some not.)

1.  As you may remember from this post, our house in NC is under contract.  We looked at houses all weekend, and we finally have an offer in on a house in Florida.  All that to say, one of my favorite things about the house is that it has seagrass wallpaper in the living room.  I love, love, love seagrass wallpaper, and I have already spent hours thinking about how I would decorate this room if the Florida house becomes ours.  I love this inspiration picture...neutral colors to match the seagrass with a few pops of subdued blue/green pulled from the rug.

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2. Have you all ever used the "sleep cycle app?"  Josh and I both downloaded it a little over a month ago and we have become strangely obsessed.  I have friends that use apps or devices like fitbit to measure things like activity and sleep, and I am starting to understand the fascination.  One thing I will say is that I am always jealous of Josh because I rarely hit "deep sleep" according to the app.  Well friends, last night, I not only hit deep sleep, I also had 100% sleep quality...a first in the time I have been using the app.  While the original intent of the app is to wake you up during a phase of your sleep cycle that will be the least disruptive, I really just like to see my sleep patterns during the night.  Check it out, but fair warning that you might become a little obsessed.

100%...yes!!!

3.  Now for some internet funnies... First up, this buzzfeed for the 22 ugliest shoes of the 90s.  I was crying I was laughing so hard...remembering some of these terrible wonders that I insisted on purchasing, despite my mom's best efforts at telling me they were awful (thanks for trying mom.)  I definitely had numbers 1, 14, 16, and 21 (but not in different colors.)  Fess up...which ones were in your closet?

buzzfeed

  

4. Last, I'm sure you all know, but google reader is being discontinued in July!  I am a devoted google reader fan, so I am starting the search for a new option.  USA Today featured an article about other options, and flipboard is one of them.  I use this occasionally, but I still prefer google reader.  Do you all have any favorites I should check out?

flipboard

xo,

a touch of shagreen

Good Morning!  Today I am excited to share one of my newest obsessions with you- shagreen!  I have been trying to figure out where this love for shark/sting ray skin came from, and I think it is the fact that classic pieces can be given a little twist with the addition of shagreen.   I don't know that I (or my wallet) would love this in large doses, but I think small amounts of the material provide the perfect pop to a room or outfit.

c. wonder

Take this plate from another one of my obsessions C. Wonder.  While this shagreen is faux, the classic look of the material combines beautifully with a more modern green color and square shape.  I can just see this plate dressing up a dinner party, as a tray on a side table, or even hanging on a wall for an added pop of color.  I might just have to order one...or twelve! 

etsy

Can we all sigh together over this bracelet?  Here, the shagreen provides the contrast to an otherwise classic bangle shape.  I think this would be the perfect addition to so many outfits and would wear well for years and years.  This little touch of texture doesn't overwhelm the bracelet, but it provides just the right amount of glamour!  Maybe a birthday present to myself?!?

williams sonoma

Finally, a touch of shagreen for your man (or for yourself.)  This box would be perfect atop a dresser or night stand to hold watches, cuff links, or your pearl earrings.  Love the emerald color (color of the year!) and how it makes the texture pop.  Still not sure why Williams Sonoma is carrying this in their regular store v. Williams Sonoma home, but some mysteries shall remain...

What do you think?  Can we get on board with decorating your house (or yourself) with some shagreen this Spring?!

xo,

flower pressings

Good Morning!

I have a treat for you all today.  Remember this post, when I told you all that Josh is literally the nicest person on the planet?  Well, today he is being not just a sweet, loving husband...he is being really, really, really nice to me as well.  Today is day 2 of a 4 day event, so posting new material was not going to be in the cards for me today.  BUT, in addition to helping me survive the week, Josh agreed to write a "guest post" about how he made me a set of flower pressings (seen here.)  A huge thank you to Josh and I hope you all enjoy!

Hi Ann Elliott Readers,

I will be the first and loudest to say that I should not be the one to write this post.  Luck and trial and error made the pressings turn out the way they did, and there are hundreds of ways I did it incorrectly I’m sure.  Most of the pressings I do for AB are just small flowers from places we’ve been together, which means they’ve got to be small enough to fit in a book.  Then Annie discovered Lauren Lachance, and I had to up my game.  Here’s what I do…

1.  Pick the Flower:  Flat flowers like Oakleaf Hydrangea (see picture above) and Dogwoods are the easiest.  Flowers like clover and lavender that can be pressed from the side are a good place to start too.   Roses and flowers that require you to open up the entire blossom to press are a pain and don’t try daisies, they just fall apart.  The quicker you can move from step one to two and three the better your final product will be. 
2.  Set up the Flower:  Lay the flower face up on a sheet of paper.  Arrange the petals, leaves, stamen, stigma, and stem (I just got that off of Wikipedia) how you want them, and try to keep them from overlapping too much.  Then carefully lay a second sheet of paper down on top.  If you picked a flower that has a stamen you’ll need to either 1) cut them off or 2) cut a small hole in another sheet of paper to stick the stamen through otherwise they will stain the petals.
3. Press the Flower: Lay the flower in the wax paper on top of a board or hardcover book.  Then lay another board or hardcover book (Annie prefers to use her collection of Fifty Shades of Gray...this is a test to see if she checked my work) on top of the flower.  Finally, find all the heavy books, unused barbells, or paint cans you have and lay them down on top. 
4.  Wait:  If you check the pressing too soon it might mess everything up, so wait.  Someone told me to microwave the flower in 30 second increments while it’s being pressed to speed up the process, but that seems like much work.  After a day or two, you can check the flower to make sure it’s pressed correctly, but it needs to stay in the press for another couple of weeks.  Once the flower is thoroughly dried and flat, you are ready to go.  

I hope you like this and that you do not share this with your husband or boyfriend or men in your life.  Next week I’ll be back with another riveting post on the art of designing a centerpiece that will make any guest feel welcome…

A huge thank you to Josh.  Please show him some love and leave him a comment to let him know how much you like his post!

xo,

a living room design

Two more days until the weekend!  Is anyone else exhausted after only two days of this short week?  It always seems that slowing down for a little break makes starting back up that much harder!

I mentioned in this post that my sister-in-law is thinking about re-decorating her living room.  I have slowly but surely collecting images that I think would work well for her space and I am so excited to share the components with you today.

1. Curtains.  A few years ago, my sister-in-law invested in beautiful fabric and had curtains made for the living room.  This is not the exact fabric she chose, but this is as close as I can find.  The actual fabric has a bit more of a burnt red and navy blue color scheme, but the feel is similar.

fabric

2.  One of the major investment pieces for the re-decorated living room is a new couch.  I chose a navy couch to pull out the navy tones in the monkey fabric and to coordinate with the fabric in her dining room.  (It's also nice to have a darker couch with dogs and kids in the house.)  While matching colors and fabrics from room to room is definitely not required, I do think it is nice if a house has a certain flow from room to room.

couch

3. The living room serves a dual-purpose and would actually be divided into a living room and more of a music/reading area.  (Check back for more on the music/reading nook later.)  To create some separation, a sisal rug (see this post for more details about hypoallergenic rug options) would be placed in the main living space.  This will help define the area of the room as well as give the room some texture and warmth.

rug

4.  I would love to use this bookshelf as a "console table" at the back of the couch.  This would be the perfect spot for some storage and it will help continue to define the space by being placed at the edge of the rug.  It is also not too stuffy and combines a great shape with distressed wood- a nice contrast.

bookcase as console table

5. Finally, I love this red lamp.  It could be placed on the bookcase to provide extra light to the couch or on another side table.

lamp

To complete the room I would add these two armless chairs, maybe these throw pillows, and maybe an antique trunk as a coffee table.  What do you think?  Will it flow together?

I would love to figure out how to format these pieces and present them to you as an "inspiration board" but I honestly have no idea how to do that!  Anyone out there have a good program that I should investigate?!?

xo,

outdoor spaces

Good Morning!  

via pinterest

Can you believe it is still raining?  Luckily for me I have been cooped up inside classrooms and meetings most of the week, but I am definitely feeling ready for some sunshine and vitamin D.  Just the thought of the sun peeking through the clouds (maybe tomorrow?!) made me smile this early morning.  So, for today's "design post" I am sharing my favorite decorated outdoor spaces.  Dream away with me today... the sunshine will come back again soon and I would love to enjoy it in any of these places.  

via pinterest

What I wouldn't give for a BIG porch swing at the beach right now!  I love the mix of warm and cool toned pillows and the fact that they mirror the natural colors found right off the porch on the beach.  The wide planks on the porch and the beautiful view are just an added benefit!

via pinterest

I think this space is the perfect mix of upscale, casual elegance.  The columns and the beautiful lanterns make the space seem upscale, while the jute rug (in the foreground if you look closely) combines perfectly with the rattan chair and potted plant to keep the space liveable. 

via pinterest

What's not to love about this space?  Beautiful architecture, big open windows, green space, blue skies, and the perfect pop of Carolina blue in the pillows.  I'm there!

via pinterest

I pinned this photo on pinterest loooong ago and it was one of my most popular pins by far.  I have never been able to put my finger on exactly what I love about this space other than the entire overall feel.  This is actually my goal in decorating spaces- while there can (and should) be some items that you adore individually, it's how they all fit together that makes the space work.  In this picture the striped pillows always stand out, but I also think the wicker, the white washed brick, the color scheme, the hurricane lantern on the table, and the boxwoods all play a role in my love for this porch.  

Off to pull on my trusty rain boots and wait for that sunshine to peek through...

xo,

PS: Another great way to perk up on a rainy day is to shop at my Charles Emerson Designs Party!  Enter code "PartyWithAnnie" for 10% off through Tuesday, January 22.

  

weekend surprises

Happy Monday!  Will you judge me if I say I am a little relieved Monday is here?  I think it's because Monday brings a little certainty to my life.  I know when my classes are, when my appointments are, and how I will spend most hours of the day.  And, while I always enjoy weekends at home, this one brought a few unexpected surprises that have added to the "to do" list.  Here is a quick recap:

Mac had an allergic reaction to something.  We are not sure what it is, but he is doing much, much better. SO, after too many hours at the vet and too much $$$, we have:

lots of medicine and a VERY drugged pup...yes he is about to fall asleep with his head on top of his toys.

With a sleepy, sleepy puppy we had some extra time and Josh was sweet enough to hang some pressed hydrangeas in our dining room for me.  Lauren Lachance does beautiful flower pressings, and knowing how much I love them, Josh replicated them for me with flowers he got in Cashiers, NC.  He did a set and they go perfectly on either side of our dining room windows.  That's right, he picked the flowers, pressed the flowers, framed the flowers, and hung the flowers..multitalented hubby alert!

a little competition for lauren lachance...

We also managed to finishing unpacking from Christmas Break.  BUT, have you all heard of the "make me move" function on zillow?  Basically, you list your house at the price it would take for someone to make you move out tomorrow.  Josh listed our house with a "make me move" price just to see what would happen and someone contacted us!  (I can't believe this happens often...maybe it does, but I just can't imagine there are that many people out there "making people move" on a regular basis.)  Anyway, the potential buyer is coming to see our house this week...so we busted out some more boxes and starting packing extraneous things up.  While it's not a pretty packing job we are showing the house in less the 48 hours and might be making a move...soon...  CRAZY!

just a quick peel at the mess we made in our "quick roundup" of stuff in the kitchen...where did all of this come from!?

Last but not least I have to share this picture from a friend's birthday dinner earlier in the week.  We all went to a Japanese steak-house to celebrate with her.  BUT, as you can see, she is so popular we had to sit at multiple tables...four to be exact.  Feeling extra thankful for great friends today!

friends celebrating dania

How was your weekend?  Fabulous I hope!

xo,