Inspiration for an Inspirational Space

{images from inspiration for decoration}

To Bamboo or not to boo...

{Bamboo Loveseat on Craigslist} 

Could this work if painted yellow, or white, or green and recovered? hhhmmmm...

{seriously. look at this green bamboo with my fave color: orange

Image found here.}

I nearly peed my pants

I most definitely did cry from laughing so hard and I'll admit there were a number of snorts. So ladylike, I know.

If you haven't visited Jenny over at my favorite and my best, then you must immediately. You will live longer if you do.

Recuperating from a Decorating Catastrophy

{the guestroom}

{other side of guestroom}

{small hallway outside of guestroom, office, and bath 1}

{long hallway. so I decided against the long painted runner once I found these for $30 at TJMaxx. all my colors...perfect!}

{living room. sorry for the late night pictures.I'm looking for something to put on the wall above the tv. it looks so lonely}

{the wall opposite the sofa. it's still a work in progress, but I'm loving it. oh, and there's my chair. I'm almost done now. I only have the seat cushion to sew}

{the doggies and their favorite chair on the little landing in the master}

{one side of the master. I also feel like I need something on the space above the bed. I need ideas}

The office still needs a lot of work since it's been the hardest to organize, so I'm not including any bland photos. We're totally lacking in storage space and so it's been a struggle trying to find a place for all the hubby's music stuff and all of my craft supplies. It doesn't have any color in it, but I'm thinking a combo that works with orange is in the cards.

I am working on replacing the chairs in the living room with two of these:

{option 1. one of my fave's}

{option 2}

{option 3. another fave}

{option 4. love the shape, but not totally convinced about the fabric}

{option 5. LOVE the shape and like the color. the pattern is lovely. this is probably the most practical}

So, what do you think? I'm leaning towards option 1 because the modern and relaxed shape as well as the pattern will prevent our living room from seeming too stuffy. But, option 5 really is a great shape. I mean, just look at that looker in this living room. It just really makes me want to get one like that.

{Image from Design Sponge}

The prices range from $150 to $370.00. I know, sorta a big range. Either way,  I think these Tarjay options are great, especially with a 15% discount for purchases over $125, free shipping, and apparently an extra discount from the hubby's employer; they are worthy of all my pennies. I really love the Dolce chair I bought from Tarjay a few years ago. The doggies have loved it a lot too since they've worn in out. It's comfy and the right size for our place, so I'm guessing all of these will be around the same size.

Also, since our ceilings are all higher than the ones in our home in Petaluma things are feeling a little mini in the rooms. Any suggestions on how to "lift" our spaces? Affordable options for decorating the walls? I was thinking maybe some architectural object like a decorative door?

Thoughts?

City Living: Before and kinda...sorta after

Okay, so I've literally just sat waiting to load all the pictures for an hour- an hour!! Ugh....this is part of the reason that I haven't been blogging since we moved. We're not able to get the same internet connection we had in P-town, so the internet connections basically sucks. Big time. It's on and off consistently. Annoying as heck!

Anyways, the above images are a little glimpse into what we originally started with when we were unpacked by the movers on the last day of moving. Crazy mess.

Seeing as I'm having some major troubles with the loading of the pictures and I need to get to bed some time today since I have to get up at the crack of dawn for the longest of longest work days...I will share them tomorrow. I'm sorry to leave you with the ugliest images ever. Just be happy it wasn't you stuck with this mess. =) oh yeah...these were after I'd already arranged some of the stuff. Also, did you notice I didn't include the office...it-was-BAD!

I'm "ruche"-ing out to get some!

Hellooooo. The lovely Miss Bryn just found the jackpot of clothing stores!

I completely concur with all the hoopla over this FABULOUS shop that definitely has me thinking Anthropologie for the average salary gal. Ruche has got everything I want for the fall season...and probably for every season after this. Check out these little numbers...oh... and they're soo affordable!
annabelle dress-$36.99

coral bells dress-$45.99

eggplant ruffle sweater dress- $42.99

fae blossom gray sweater- $49.99

kiev chunky sweater-$59.99

marseille stroll light trench-$46.99

go-to hoodie-$36.99

The only problem I have now is deciding what I want. I will have to practice a lot restraint. I think I'm starting with a dress first. Who doesn't like an outfit in one!

a real hardware store

I had to return something to a store around the area I work in. As I was checking out, I asked the man at the register if he knew of a hardware around the area. 

Now, in case you're wondering. The city I work in is literally the city I work in. I don't really spend any time hanging out there. I try and avoid situations where I might come face to face with my students outside of school. So, of course I literally go to work and home; unless I have to make a pit stop at the fabric store(s) or the mall. 

This was his reply, "Oh, I know there's a Restoration Hardware right down the street." and I responded with, "No, a real hardware store." What a dummy! 

19 feet long....man, oh man

We have a problem with a very long long hallway! It's typical for a lot of SF homes and ours is no exception. When I went looking for a runner at Tarjay, I could not find one long enough. The hubby suggested buying two runners and then just laying them close together, but it's just not going to cut it for me. Then, yesterday, I saw this...

{Images via Little Green Notebook}

and then today, I saw this...

{Grant K. Gibson designs}

Long runner in hallway...with do-able paint pattern...on simple runner you can buy at OSH???!!!

I think I'm doing this during the weekend.

Hellooo Inspiration!

I somehow stumbled on this little gem of a blog today. Who doesn't like Inspiration for Decoration ?!!? Check out all these fabulous images I found!

Is that enough for now....I could go on and on.

p.s. Oh, I'm making some roman blinds this weekend for the area by the kitchen and I'm finally going to be post from frightening before and after pictures of our place in the city. 

p.p.s. I've decided to go with a sorta new color scheme. I'm focusing on earthy tones: browns, oranges, a bit of red (not my favorite color), greens, and white. We'll see how it turns out.