Running from the Law

Friday, August 13, 2010

Nesting

I'm in a full-blown nesting mode (no, I'm not pregnant).  I finally put together a list of about a million things I want to do around the house.  Some of these projects are quite significant (remodel bathroom and build walk-in closets), some are pretty minor (replace curtains in living room) and some are just going to take me a long long time (remove wallpaper in kitchen and install all new interior doors).  But I've recruited some help - my dad and Kelly are coming in a few weeks to help us come up with ideas for the upstairs remodel and teach me how to chisel, among other things. 

I think one of the things that triggered this motivation was a giveaway I won.  Mandy at OMG I'm a Mom hosted a giveaway for a long-distance remodel from the amazing Kristin at Bien Living Designs and I won!  I still can't believe it!  I've decided to use Kristin's service to redecorate our master bedroom.  It's the one room in the house that I haven't touched since we moved in and I hate that room.  Basically I'm going to give Kristin some info on the room, my taste, my color ideas, my budget, etc. and she's going to do all the hard work/designing for me!  She'll give me a presentation with her ideas for furniture, artwork, floor plan, colors, etc.  And then it's up to me to buy what I want/like and implement her plan on my own time frame.  I couldn't be more excited about this.  Currently our master bedroom is a blank slate.  We have 2 borrowed overflowing dressers in there (that will be going back to Ryan's parents), a bed (with no headboard) and a TV.  We currently have a plain white comforter and a million white/ivory pillows.  Nothing on the walls and no color in the whole room.  This room is a complete blank slate.  

So friends, what do you think I should do?!  I want something romantic and fresh and light.  Nothing super heavy or dark.  I'm very traditional and not modern at all.  The furniture would be something dark wood with classic clean lines (think Pottery Barn).  Most (all) of my house is done in browns/tans and greens.  I LOVE browns and greens.  But I'm thinking of mixing things up a little bit.  Since I have this opportunity to work with a pro, I thought I'd something a little different.  Ryan would never go for anything "girlie" so all pinks and purples are out.  I have a love/hate relationship with blue...most of the time I hate it so I want to avoid that.  One of my guest rooms is done in bright colors with lots of red, so that's out too.  Which leaves me what?  Yellow?  I keep leaning towards the idea of a black and white and yellow room.  Am I crazy? 

Ryan's not convinced that he likes it.  He's worried about too much yellow and black.  He thinks we should stick with the colors we love (browns, greens, ivories).  And I'm still debating on the colors but I do think it's cool and can be done well (especially with Kristin's help!).  I was thinking maybe light grey walls, with mostly white and pops of yellow and black here and there.  POPS of color - not a full-blown yellow nightmare. 

Here are some inspiration pictures I've found online that kinda demonstrate the look I'd want. 

Above: I think this is just lovely.  Classic.  Light grey walls.  Pops of yellow and black are not overwhelming.  Would this work with wood furniture?

Above: Even though this is more modern than my taste, I really like the colors here too.  No zebra stripes though.
Above: These pops are a little too intense, but if they were a little lighter it'd be really pretty.  I wonder if Kristin can put a fireplace in my bedroom?
Above: This room has a lot of grey in it, which is also nice.  I like the idea of light grey walls (these are way too dark for me).  But I'm not a fan of the white furniture.  And still a little too modern.
Above: This is really cute.  I like the yellow and black pillows.  I like that the color is in the accessories.
Above: Way too much yellow and black.  I think this is what Ryan's afraid of.
Above: Wallpaper?  Interesting.  Too much yellow for me.
Above: Again, I like the grey walls (wish they were lighter).  Like the pops of yellow in the accessories, but this is way too black and dark.  I want something more natural looking.
Above: This is pretty, but still a little dark.
Above: Not bad.  Not a big fan of the patterns in the fabric.  And not doing that canopy thing.
Above: Yellow and whites with wood.  This is pretty.
Above: I love this!  Although, I probably won't have any white furniture.  I think a dark wood would look ok in here right?
Above: Is this close to what our room would look like with wood?  We won't have black furniture.  I think brown wood goes well with the yellows.  But no black.  I don't love this.
Above: Much better.  I think all of these are really pretty. 
And the yellow could even be muted a little more and still be nice. 


What do you think? 

Am I crazy to like the yellow/black/white color combo? 

Is my hesitancy because I'm out of my comfort zone or because it doesn't work?

Should I stick to what I know (and love) - brown / ivory / green?

Help!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Cody

Meet Cody.
Is your heart melting yet?
Cody is my nephew that lives in Chicago.
He's absolutely stinking adorable.
He doesn't really stink.
He smells like puppy...and Louis Vuitton.
Cody loves this orange thing.
It's a cross between a dinosaur and a turtle.
We nicknamed it Dinoturtlesaurus Rex.
Cody was not impressed.
So we switched to a rawhide.
But chewing is exhausting.
Power nap.
This is my favorite pose - the "over the back of the couch so I can watch mom" position.
But guess what Cody, your mom left you home alone with your crazy Aunt Sara.
And her crazy camera.
After 2+ hours, Cody was getting a little fed up with the photo shoot.
Please stop!  Please can we just go outside?!
Yes we can Cody, but the camera comes too!
Why do you do this to me?
Please stop...this is so embarrassing.
We're out here in public, you crazy lady.  People can see us.
I'm not smiling, I'm not smiling, I'm not smiling.
Oh, a leaf!
Delicious!  And crunchy!
I'm still not smiling.
But being photogenic is exhausting.
Time for a nap with Uncle Ryan.
Find a good position.
Then STRETCH!
And YAWN!
Are you really still taking my picture, woman?
I'm tuning you out.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Sweet dreams, Cody...
...and Ryan...
... and Dinoturtlesaurus Rex.