Whale of a Time

After yet another coat of navy paint in the bedroom, Nate and I are assigned with our individual tasks. He's taking care of "manly" duties like electrical work and nailing trim. I'm in charge of decorating - the perfect excuse to acquire Thomas Paul's Moby Pillow. I had wish listed, obsessed over and even posted about this pillow over the last year and it was well worth the wait. Although, truth be told, the pillow is resting comfortably in my living room until I move into his place.

Outfit Notes: Banana Republic Dress; Forever21 and Banana Republic Bracelets; Necklaces from J.Crew, LOFT, NVme Fashions, Wendy Mink Jewelry

Bedroom Renovation: Making Progress

It's been awhile since I've mentioned the renovation at Nate's place. But don't worry, we've kept at it. After completing the floor and walls in the living room, we've piled furniture into the living area to work on the most exciting part of the endeavor: the bedroom.

We have very few "before" photos of the bedroom - which just illustrates how eager we were to spruce it up. It was similar to the living room with dirty carpet and equally filthy "white" walls.

First on our plan of attack: remove the carpet. Fortunately, this one was installed fairly recently and the carpet pad was not glued down. (We're all about the small victories - and I don't think I have the patience to ever peel off another disintegrating pad.)

The guy who lived in the house before was not exactly handy - I'm even going to go so far as to call him an idiot. There's an ever-growing list of minor headaches from the previous homeowner: he left the top of the doorway bare because he ran of trim in the bedroom, and now we need to buy new trim for the room because we can't find the same pattern. He didn't cover the windows when he sprayed the ceiling with that god-awful "popcorn" texture. Hell, even the closet doors were hung upside down. Ugh.

The shining glory of the entire room is near the ceiling. Nope, it's not the ceiling fan circa 1980; it's the stenciled menagerie of woodland creatures.

The floor had a surprise of its own: there were two areas that had low-quality filler boards. These had to be replaced so they'd look uniform once the polyurethane was applied.

But all of the filler boards weren't parallel to the original floorboards; there was one portion that ran perpendicular to the rest.

Nate was able to fill in the holes with the aged wood from the "secret room" we discovered in the bathroom.

Once that was complete, it was finally time to paint. I had the paint color picked out months in advance.

A deep, rich navy. There was skepticism from everyone I showed the paint sample to - including Nate. But what did they know?

The stenciled critters were the first to go. (I've never seen Nate happier than he was at that moment.)

For those interested, the color was Ralph Lauren's Black Watch Navy that we had color-matched at Home Depot. (If you'd like the color formula, let me know.)

Isn't it perfect? I'm so happy with how rich the walls look - and how they recede into the background: a must in such a small room. (It's also the perfect backdrop for upcoming nautical touches.)

Nate did an incredible job with the floor. This is where he filled in the perpendicular hole. He spent hours chiseling the floor and creating those mini slats to make sure they fit as seamlessly as possible.

This photo is exactly why I love polyurethane. The glossy coat brings out the richness of the wood's age.

In the next few weeks, we'll install the trim and start decorating. We even have a new mattress coming!

{ haute household under $25 } bedroom

Today's Haute Household Under $25 post comes from Jessica of Beautify My Life, who found items for the bedroom.

Haute bedroom under $25 by beautifymylife on Polyvore.com

Decorating a bedroom is all in the details. In my home, the bedrooms have solid color bedding (chocolate, champagne, etc.) and fairly neutral wall colors that let me add fun touches like these!

1. Manvi Zebra Print Lamp Collection, $22.97. Animal prints can be overwhelming, but little details like this awesome lamp from World Market add a fun touch to a bedroom. And the best part about a zebra print is that as wild as it may be, it goes with anything, color-wise.
   
   
2. Crate & Barrel Hayward Pillow, $19.95. Lots of throw pillows are a must for a luxe-looking bed (even if men don’t understand their purpose). This green shade is a nice pop of color, but not too girly if you’re trying to mix your taste with your guy’s preferences.
   
   
3. IKEA “Pugg” Wall Clock, $19.99. In today’s world of digital everything, it’s nice to have a good old wall clock - both for its practical and aesthetic benefits. This one reminds me of the clocks in every elementary school classroom, but oddly in a good way.
   
   
4. MOR Neroli Clementine Soy Candle, $18. Candles are key to setting the mood in the bedroom, whether you’re feeling frisky (wink, wink) or just looking to unwind. The pretty tin makes this a great bedside table accessory, plus MOR has some of the best scents!
   
   
5. Anthropologie Pretty Pansy Vase, $18. Regardless of your personal style, fresh flowers are one of the best decorating tools you can buy. I usually have a bouquet in our main living area, and then I’ll take a couple of buds to put in smaller vases around the house. This one would be adorable on a bathroom counter or dresser. Or if you’re not good about buying flowers, use it to store your makeup brushes or eyeliner pencils!
   
   
6. Urban Outfitters Modern Branch Jewelry Stand, $24. One thing I’ve learned over the years is that if you hide your jewelry in a drawer or a box, you won’t wear it. So having a way to display your baubles that actually adds to the decor of your room is key. I love the organic look of this jewelry stand that can hold necklaces, bracelets, you name it.

Thanks, Jessica! Be sure to visit her at Beautify My Life!

{ haute household under $25 } kitchen

Today's Haute Household Under $25 post comes from Kristen of City Coeur, who found items for the heart of the home: the kitchen.

In my opinion, any house or apartment is all about the kitchen. The old saying that the kitchen is the "heart of the home" is completely true - how many times have you found yourself trying to prepare a meal for a holiday or a party while tripping over everyone in the house as they congregate in the kitchen? It's almost as though there is a natural gravitational pull toward the room as soon as the oven is turned on. Although I'm someone who loves the kitchen, mine is of the notoriously tiny New York City-type. But that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice great kitchen items - if all those people are going to be under your feet as you try to cook, you might as well hand them some cute kitchen gadgets to help you out with!

Shabby Chic Wood Chalkboard, $24: This is a kitchen decorating idea that is both cute and practical! I'd use it to keep a grocery list on for everyday, but I might write up a restaurant-style menu when I have company over for dinner!

Eiffel Tower Grater, $21.50: I don't think that kitchen gadgets have to be boring, thus why I am a bit of a sucker for anything kitschy like this. Who doesn't want to daydream about having cheese and wine by the Seine while making Tuesday night dinner?

Floral Apron, $19.99: Some might think that wearing an apron is outdated, but honestly I'm a messy cook. I can think of a few stained shirts and baking injuries (note: don't work with boiling sugar syrup while wearing shorts - it splatters and burns!) that could have been avoided if only I had a colorful apron like this one to save me.

Love Preserve, $15.50: Fauchon is a heavenly food shop in Paris that stocks all kinds of gourmet items in pretty packaging, which thankfully also has a U.S. online store to re-stock at in between visits. A dab of strawberry-rose preserves on your toast will brighten up your morning no matter how much of your kitchen is still packed in boxes!

Passion Fruit Vinegar, $13.99: I think it's important to have something a little unexpected as an option for guests when they come over for a meal. Put out a bottle of passion fruit vinegar among your regular salad dressings, and I'm pretty sure I know what everyone will choose.

Thanks, Kristen! Be sure to visit her at City Coeur or on Twitter @citycoeur.

{ haute household under $25 } office

Today's Haute Household Under $25 post comes from Laura of A La Mode et Plus, who pulled together ideas for the home office.

Carrie Bradshaw would be the first lady to tell you that there are several important firsts in a single gal's life: that first great kiss, the first time his beautiful lips utter that sweet L-word and the first time your guy sees your apartment. But Ms. Bradshaw failed to mention another very exciting first: the first time your guy gives you a key and invites you to come join him in his bachelor pad - for more than just the night. Yes, ladies, it's a thrilling moment when your guy decides he is ready to wake up with you snuggled by his side every morning and that he can handle your morning breath day in and day out.

But, transitioning from "me" to "we" can also be a little scary. The combining of two lives - or, more accurately, two tastes - can be quite tricky. And remember, if you are the one moving into his previously male-dominated territory, you must approach with caution. Try to contain the urge to immediately tell him all the changes you will make, and instead slowly incorporate non-intimidating items that reflect your own personality.

A home office is a perfect room to start in. You have many options of accent items you can add to the space that won't leave him feeling suffocated in femininity. Leave the pink shag carpet that screams "I am woman, see me take over your space" at home and opt for a classy, neutral mirror with feminine accents instead. The key to office decor is to keep the big pieces in the room gender neutral, and let the accents speak to your inner design goddess. If he wants to keep his plain computer desk and the black carpet, let him. But compromise by hanging a girly print that shows your interests and an embellished lamp to add some lighting to the room.

I know I said to stay away from pink, but since it isn't the dominating force of this print I think you are ok. Plus, he'll be attracted to the humor of the print. It's a fantastic way to remind your guy, and yourself, that you have a life outside of him and interests that are a huge part of who you are. Price: $22

I adore this photo mobile and love that they have hung post cards. I think it is the perfect way to display mementos from trips the two of you have taken together. That way, he feels represented in the room, and he'll have a visual reminder of happy moments the two of you have shared. Price: $18

Do I even need to explain the appeal of Paris? Je ne pense pas! Paris is the eternal city of romance. And a wall calendar is a necessity in any office so you have a place to write down all the important dates in your life - and it's an excellent opportunity to subtly remind him of big days! Price: $3.50

Photo boards are an easy way to add an instant feminine touch to a space, but the yellow and black tones of this board will make it appealing to your guy as well. And don't worry, he really just loves seeing your smiling face. Price: $19.99

A mirror can add so much depth to a space, and the shape of these mirrors is very appealing to the feminine eye. But it isn't a threatening silhouette for a dude, either. Plus, you could spruce these up by painting them an agreed upon bright color to make them a statement piece in the office. Price: $17.49

Ok, so this lamp is slightly over the $25 limit, but forgive me: I can't help myself when I see a sweet, delicate piece such as this! I just have to share. Price: $25.49

Oh and have I mentioned the most important part of moving in together? Simply have fun and enjoy one another! That is why you made this decision in the first place so remember not to let the silly things, such as decorating, come between you. Happy moving in, Jessica, and I wish you and D lots of sweet memories!

Thanks, Laura! Be sure to visit her at A La Mode et Plus or on Twitter @laurachanning.

{ haute household under $25 } living room

Hi everyone! I’m Emily Marie from Sprout Through Concrete.

When I read that Jessica was hosting a guest post series on home furnishings under $25, I was ecstatic. As a 20-something living in Chicago, I know the feeling of needing to decorate on a budget. I recently signed a lease to live on my own for the first time, so my pocketful of change seems to be getting smaller by the minute. Needless to say, I’ve been exploring home décor ideas that are cost effective and easy to do.

I love the indie look of crafting your own space. It creates a very stylish atmosphere that it truly all your own. So, for my section, I’ve chosen to focus on creative DIY ideas for your living room.

Jars are great for everything accessory-based. Flowers? Perfect. Candles? Put ‘em in. Buttons? Start a collection. You can find jars for cheap almost anywhere – a good find online is through Goodmans.

PHOTO CREDITS: 1, 2, 3

A table is a terrible thing to waste. Solid colors on wood is clean and works in almost any room – but for your living room - why not have some fun and jazz it up your wood table with wallpaper? There are some beautiful designs on Etsy – here are some vintage designs that would complete a middle-table look.

Bonus: Better Homes and Gardens has provided a list of creative things to do with wallpaper. Check out the photo credit for more ideas!

PHOTO CREDIT: 1

As in any room, lighting sets a mood. The living room is no exception; in fact, it’s probably the most important room to have great lighting in. As the room that houses hang outs, guests and relaxing chats, it’s important to provide a pleasant ambiance.

I’m a huge fan of string lights – they provide subtle creativity to a living room as they are underused and can be hung in so many different ways. I love the referenced DIY light board and unique low-hanging pendant lights above. Target has some cute options for string lights!

PHOTO CREDITS: 1, 2

A quick way to add some quark is through regular paper. Country Living has a great “how to” for transforming lampshades. A paper-made shade would be adorable on a side table or near a couch. Plus, the flexibility of this option means that if you get tired of the original paper you chose, you can quickly change it up!

Paper source has some lovely papers that would be perfect, like this or this.

PHOTO CREDIT: 1

With staple pieces like couches and chairs, the living room can be pretty expensive to furnish. But, if you don’t mind hand-me-downs, Salvation Army can hold some gems. My boyfriend and I recently fixed up a cabinet from Salvation Army that cost $25 – and it turned out to be pretty cool. Check out my blog for a run down on how to make a “Creative Cabinet.”

The best thing about thrift purchases is that if you goof on a DIY technique or paint job, no sweat, it was cheap! They’re fun and surprisingly easy to transform.

Thanks so much to Jessica for allowing me to write this post – and to all of you for reading! May all your households be "haute."

Thanks, Emily! Be sure to visit her at Sprout Through Concrete or on Twitter @EmilyMarie703.

{ haute household under $25 } outdoor spaces

Today's Haute Household Under $25 post comes from Jaime of La vie ... J'aime, who pulled together ideas for a chic outdoor living space.

Who does not love dining alfresco in the summer? Nothing beats grilling outside, enjoying a cold drink, and basking in the day's last warm rays with friends and family. My roof deck gets lots of use each June-September, and every year, I purchase a few items to spruce it up. Here are the outdoor space items that I have my eye on:

1. Acid etched letter J at Urban Outfitters - I would love to hang this, along with my roommates' J & S, on the wall.
   
   
2. Butterfly fused glass lantern at Pier 1 Imports - When the sun goes down, the party doesn't stop with this colored lantern.
   
   
3. Pop flower plates at Crate and Barrel - This fun, summer pattern goes with all colors for entertaining.
   
   
4. Mars party tub at CB2 - This red tub is perfect for holding beers & other drinks to cool down.
   
   
5. Terracotta tiki citronella candles at Ace Hardware - Keep the bugs away in a cute way!

Thanks, Jaime! Be sure to visit her at La vie ... J'aime or on Twitter @laviejaime.

{ haute household under $25 } bathroom

Hi friends! My name is Lynzy and I am from Sparkling Footsteps. Aside from my fashion blog, I am an avid runner training for the NYC marathon, huge foodie and love working in the ER as a Physician Assistant. I am guest posting today for Jessica and wanted to share with you some items that you can use to help recreate a stylish bathroom (each item is under $25!)

I absolutely adore all of these green glass dishes and bottles via Anthropologie. The color helps to bring out the green in the shower curtain. I recently started to redecorate our new apartment and these colors would defintiely help to brighten it up a bit. I mixed in a hint of blue with the bath mat and totally adore the little man soap dish.

• Vintage top, $9.95
• Cloud Formations Bathmat, $20
• Bottle Green Bath Dish - Anthropologie.com, $30 (worth the additional $5)
• Sahara Mod Bathmat, $30
• CB2 - man soap dish, $7.95
• Amazon.com: City Scene 100-Percent Cotton Shower Curtain, Asian Lily:..., $25
• Blanc Lila Soap from Au Marche, $8.50

I also bought these cute vinyl art deco letters to go along the outside of the bath tub via etsy. The letters read "Get Naked." and make me smile every morning. Get them here.

If you wanna chat it up you can follow along on Twitter with me or visit me daily with bloglovin'.

Thanks for letting me guest post, Jessica! :)

{ help wanted } Haute Household Under $25

On Friday, D presented his apartment key to me nestled in a little velvet box. (Swoon.) This also makes it official that I'm abandoning my apartment and moving in. We spent time yesterday packing up the dry goods in the kitchen - and throwing away an embarrassing amount of expired pantry items ("I'm forgetful, okay? Yes, I realize it expired in 2007 ... you still love me, right?").

While packing is certainly the downside of moving (and a bit humbling in my case), I'm looking forward to making his place feel more girly like home. Of course this means I've been e-shopping for home accessories - as if it wasn't obvious by last week's picnic post and a sangria pitcher tucked into the Tuesday Treats post. Lisa commented last Tuesday admitting that she also has moving on the mind. Seems like an opportunity for a guest post series, doesn't it?

This is where you come in.

I'm looking for bloggers to help with a week-long "Haute Household Under $25" feature. Pick one room of the house from the list below and let me know you're on it.

• Bathroom: Lynzy of Sparkling Footsteps
  
• Bedroom: Jessica of Beautify My Life
  
• Kitchen: Kristen of City Coeur
  
• Dining Room: Lisa of The Sentimentalist
  
• Living Room: Emily of Sprout Through Concrete
  
• Outdoor Spaces: Jaime of La Vie ... J'aime
• Office: Laura of A La Mode et Plus!
  

The Requirements

• Choose four to seven items and create a collage or send separate images of your selections. Please size the images to 400 pixels wide.
• Draft a written portion describing what you're choosing and why.
• Include the URL and price of each item - I'll link to the items in your description.
  
• Include your name, title of your blog and your URL so I can link to your site.
  

Interested?

• First, send an e-mail to me at JessicaStyleObsession@gmail.com by Wednesday, June 15 and let me know you'd like to take part. I'll put you on the schedule.
• Send your post to the above e-mail address no later than Tuesday, June 21. (Kudos to those who send something earlier!)

{ picnic perfect }

There's been no shortage of excitement this summer: gatherings of friends and afternoons at the pool, new restaurants and bike rides. And the most exciting event is also a little scary: moving into D's apartment later this summer. I admit, I'm nervous about transitioning from "me" to "we."

Let's take a moment to absorb that, shall we?

Since his cat seems hellbent on destroying any nice furniture, mine is headed to storage. But it's left me daydreaming about the interior tweaks I can make to make the place feel like home. ("Honey, how attached are you to your lampshades?") Our first task: transform the balcony into a cozy area for dining and entertaining a la fresco.

1. Cabana Stripe Table Cloth, Anthropologie, $68
2. Sushi Queen Flatware, Anthropologie, $24/set
3. Sea Grass Tumbler, Anthropologie, $3.95/each
4. Bottle Opener, Dalla Piazza, $10
5. Orange Crush, $3.29/6 bottles
   

Living Room Renovation: Making Progress

Nearly every weekend for the last few months, I've been playing This Old House at my boyfriend's place. We've made small strides in putting the finishing touches on the bathroom, like hanging the closet door and choosing a shower curtain, but we've turned most of our attention to another area in desperate need of a pick-me-up: the living room.

The living room wasn't much to speak of with white walls and stained carpet. While we were pulling the trim off the walls, I asked Nate why he hadn't painted when he moved in. He did. He chose white. Sigh.

I can't adequately describe how disgusting the carpet was - and how poorly it was installed. The previous owner must have measured incorrectly, requiring a 10-inch wide strip of carpeting to be pieced in along the wall. No matter; we were planning to pull up the beast anyway.

But first we addressed the need for color. After countless trips to Menards and Home Depot, I've assembled quite the collection of paint samples. I was originally leaning toward green, but we couldn't agree on a shade. I wanted something bold and vibrant. He preferred a muted, subtle shade. This left us with a selection of institutional gray-green hues to choose from.

So, we changed direction and went with a soft gray-blue paint. However, this does mean that the entire house will be painted in essentially the same color scheme: turquoise for the bathroom, navy in the bedroom, and gray in the kitchen and dining room.

Then came the most satisfying part: ripping up the carpet. This lead to the most unsatisfying part: discovering that the carpet pad was glued to the floor. I can't even report back on the hours spent peeling up the disintegrated carpet pad and chipping off hunks of glue.

Add in hours upon hours of sanding and we had a fresh hardwood floor to finish. We were a little concerned about all of the stains and discolorations in the wood from years of spilled beverages and foot traffic, but it adds character. I prefer imperfect wood floors anyway.

While Nate tackled the unpleasant task of coating the floor with polyurethane, I headed outside to stain the trim. (This also resulted in the inhalation of too many chemicals - and a bout with laryngitis a couple of weeks ago.)

Ailments aside, the floor is done and we nailed in the baseboards this weekend. Believe it or not, I'm actually wielding a nail gun and using it - not just posing for a photo!

There's still a fair amount of work to be done with putting up trim around the windows and ceiling, then purchasing window treatments and light fixtures.

But until that happens, I'm obsessing over our refinished floor.

The Bathroom: A Transformation

A few months ago, I casually mentioned that my boyfriend and I were embarking on a home renovation at his place, starting with the nearly-dilapidated bathroom.

I wasn't kidding, was I? The "before" version was disgusting. The hard water stained all of the fixtures orange. The wall behind the shower was rotting away. And the window in the shower overlooked the backyard deck, allowing visitors an eyeful (if you were brave enough to actually shower there - I never did).

During the deconstruction phase, we quickly realized that nothing was salvageable and (thankfully) decided to gut the entire room and start over - including removing the window from the shower. As Nate was tearing down the moldy drywall one evening, he excitedly called me:

Nate: Alright, I was working on the bathroom and I have something to tell you.
Me: Oh no! Is everything alright?
Nate: Well, just listen. I was tearing down the drywall and I discovered, get this, an extra two and a half feet of space behind the wall! So, do you want a bigger bathroom? A bigger closet in the bedroom? Or ... and I've always wanted one of these ... a secret room?!

The bathroom was about the size of a cell block. A discovery of two and a half feet of space along one wall, added much-needed square footage. This gave us the opportunity to put the vanity on the other side of the bathroom and create a built-in closet alongside of the shower.

One of the first reconstruction projects was tearing out the linoleum flooring and laying tile. (And see that shiny new tub?! It's beautiful, aside from the sticker on the front that just won't come off. I'm hoping a squirt of Goo Gone will work miracles.)

When we chose a paint color, I narrowed down the choices to five shades of aqua and let Nate have the final say. He was fine with the hue one a one-inch square paint chip, but was shocked to see it on the wall. Fortunately it grew on him; I'm in love with the color and had no intention of repainting (even though I offered to).

Moving the vanity and medicine cabinet to the opposite side of the wall quickly made the bathroom feel more spacious.

We finished building and painting the shelves in the built-in closet. Next week, we'll hang the door and affix the knob I chose from Anthropologie.

Just a few final touches remain: touch-up painting, hanging towel racks and choosing bath accessories.