Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Quick Couch Fix

I fell in love with a couch...online...on sale....had an online code for another 25% off.....AND figured out a way to get it here without paying shipping. I still couldn't justify it. We know we will be moving soon. We're not sure if we will be renting for another year or buying. So I just couldn't justify spending a dime of our down payment on a new couch. And I couldn't stand the thought of getting it on sale, with a discount and putting it on a credit card just to pay interest. That would kind of make the sale price null and void.


I was feeling sorry for myself and my tired couch. There were strings hanging out all over the cushions from Stella's claws and the fabric was looking a little dirty. I went to TJ Maxx to browse away the blues and found these darling paisley pillows:



I bought four. So for a mere $68, a good scrub with the shampooer and some time cutting all those annoying strings the couch went from this:



To this:



And the best part is, Stella still has her favorite sunning spot.


I started making an Ottoman slipcover with some old linen curtain panels I had. It's not working out like I had hoped. I might have to go with Plan B. And it's probably time to replace that lamp shade. Or go back to TJ Maxx and pick up the lamp that I had in my cart that I put back out of guilt. It really would have been perfect.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Designing for a Future, Unknown Home

Our house hunt has been put on hold. It doesn't mean that we won't be moving we just don't know the plan right now. It's complicated.

Until then, I will continue to collect design inspirations for whatever future home we have.



Hopefully we have a fireplace in need of some love so I can do this project by the Lettered Cottage



I love Amy Butler fabrics for color and pattern in the girls' rooms. Pinks and greens for curtains in Taylor's room, blues and purples for curtains in Kendall's room.





http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/mainmenu.php

What I know for sure is that we will need some new furniture. Our couch is too small and is showing its age. I couldn't believe it when I walked into Bi-Mart yesterday and saw this couch on sale for $244! Seriously, it's real leather, has great modern lines and contrasting stitching. I may just need to pick up two, even though I have no idea what our future living room will look like. I love the idea of matching couches facing each other in front of a fireplace. Symmetry brings me joy.


And while we are on the topic of moving and designing a yet-to-be-determined home, I am definitely back to wanting a one level, spacious rambler/ranch home. In fact, there is one that was on the market for a long time, didn't sell, they rented it out for a while but the renter lost his/her job and so the owners moved back in. Here is hoping that they want to sell it when the time is right for us and we can get a killer deal. I'm a dreamer.