Honey, I shrunk the house!

While Hooper has been busy with her laundry room and clients (the over 4 ft. tall kind) I have been busy with 3 very demanding clients  (the under 4 ft. tall kind) of my own. It all started when I bought this home at Salvation Army for $4.25. I thought it would be the perfect Christmas gift for my girls. The only problem was it was ugly as all get out! It was a purple Victorian with pink trim and over the top gingerbread details. So... I dropped it off at my brothers shop and asked (very nicely) if they could make it look like my house by Christmas.

Not bad...eh? They made new windows, fixed the roof, made new doors (one of which looks like my front door) and gutted the inside. Oh...the inside...that was the part I could not wait to get my hands on...

Scrap book paper makes the perfect wallpaper. Could it be my house with out a painted kitchen floor? I think not!

It amazing what you can make with all those random wood pieces in the wood section of A.C. Moore.  And toilet paper rolls make perfect drum shades...covered of course!

Yes, that is a sunburst mirror made out of flat toothpicks...the creative juices really start flowing at 3 a.m.!

acrylic refrigerator magnets are the perfect size for school pictures...or for fabric scraps to make dollhouse art!

this is a 4x4 (inches) canvas that I let my inner Jackson Pollock out on!

It would only be practical to have a runner... With it being such an open concept dollhouse I thought a runner would cut down on noise when the little dolls ran up and down the stairs...

This is a heart pine table my brother made for the girls for Christmas...(I have one too... grown up size in my dining room!)

The drum shade chandelier, burlap runner, roman shades on the windows and a buffalo check floor keeps the space casual and fun. (er..um..for the dolls)

No home is complete with out a little hide!

modern fabrics in a traditional room keep the space young and current... we would not want the dolls to feel like their home was dated!

okay, okay...do not judge me...I have not grouted the tile yet...

I kind of wish this was my real bathroom...

Under the eaves is the perfect spot to tuck a nursery... The flokarti rug will be soft underfoot and the perfect spot for (fake) baby to play.

Needless to say I had a blast working on my (I mean their) new dollhouse.  

BIG...HUGE thanks to sweet Jen from fotojenik for snapping these pics. And for not staging an intervention. (which she threatened to do after I showed her the mirror!)...

May all your renovations run smoothly, and all may your clients (young and old) be happy ...

Bye,bye birdie,

~A

credit to: Soundside Carpentry, A.C. Moore, Fotojenik

Deals About Town

We love a bargain. In fact, it is the only way to shop! We find some great deals around town at our fave bargain go-to spot. 
Big South Auction in Wilmington, NC, is a great source for antiques, collectables and great finds that could just find their way into your home. John Ward and crew offer amazing deals week after week. Auctions take place on Sunday afternoons and you can preview items online or stop in the week of the auction. If you are unable to attend the auction in person, arrange for "absentee bidding" -- easy to set up and less stressful. I tend to break a sweat and twitch when bidding on something I want for myself or a client. Absentee bidding allows you to set your max and relax at home.
Check out this mid-century modern reproduction I "won" recently at Big South Auction. Ok, Read says it isn't "winning" because we have to pay for it... Still. Feels like winning. 

 Wouldn't a collection of these look pretty on a wall?

 Or a pair of these tucked under a console?

 Imagine a punchy fabric on this little number... Ikat maybe or a chevron pattern?

Great entry table with a marble top...

uh... anywhere.

 Writing desk or FUN-ctional bedside table?

 Paired with chocolate or coral in a study?

 French style guest room? Be my guest...

Powder room or paired with a large scale painting. Beautiful original...

Great pieces at great prices. See you Sundays at Big South Auction! 


Bye bye birdie...
~A&H






Credit to: Big South Auction

Oh happy day...

PUH...LEASE!  How do I follow Hoopers off the chain post with anything ? If you are reading this for the first time, scroll down, check out Hoop's laundry room and tell her how great it is b/c it is pretty great. It is not just b/c the design and execution are amazing it is great b/c the WORLD'S MOST IMPATIENT person did it. I was convinced I was going to have to show up and patch, repaint, fix but I didn't. My girl waited for paint to dry, didn't rip off tape too soon and walked on it only when it was done (not before). CONGRATS!

But I guess I will follow up with something, or someone... John Robshaw... (love him...)

 From fabrics to furniture to block art prints...his look is collected, vibrant and BEAUTIFUL!

 Love this bench. 2 at the end of my bed would be fab!

 These framed fabrics make me oh so happy... I love showrooms...

My birthday is in October...Just file that info away and when you remember it, don't forget this throw!

 So, pink is THE color for 2011...but is anyone else as stoked as I am to see indigo everywhere?

Have a great weekend and be sure to check out all the happy fabrics John (we are on a first name basis now) has to offer...

OH... the best part... he has a line of fabric for Lucky Brand! My favorite brand of all!!!!

Happy, bright Weekend!

Bye, bye Birdie,

~A

Off the Chain Laundry Room

This is a before and after story of insanity. I'm talking lock me up and throw away the key. Sometimes, as some of you may know, I get an idea in my head and I just can't let it go. My husband urged me not to do this, Ann urged me not to do this without medication on hand, but I just couldn't let it go. I couldn't just leave well enough alone. 

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it", that's what they say. Whoever "they" is. Well...Define broke. Once I gave my kitchen a face lift, my laundry room (where I spend 75% of my day) was looking tired. Sad, tired and was a constant reminder of my Cinderella status. One morning, bright and early, Read took all of the kids to the circus. If you recall, it is dangerous to leave me home alone. While he was at the circus, I was creating a 3-ring circus of my own at home. Let's just say that the painted floor images I have seen on all of the blogs these days, wouldn't get out of my mind. Yes, I am out of my mind.

 I painted. Lots. Coat after coat of annoying white porch paint. Called Ann every five minutes for advice. I don't paint. I would not try this at home. It's awful. Leave it to a professional (Ann). She was worried once I pulled it off that I might steal her job. No worries Ann, it was like having a baby without an epidural and I haven't even gotten to the awful part. Then, I started taping. 
I wanted to come up with a design that expressed how it feels to spend day in and day out in my laundry room. Fluff and fold. Fluff and fold. Fluff and fold... you get the gist. So.... I came up with a design that just nails it. It's a satire on a floor. 

I painted a chain. What felt like hundreds of chain links. Millions actually. A great geometric with meaning. 

Yes, I did that. After taping it off (which involved lots of math, which I also don't do), I painted over the tape with gray 

semi-gloss paint.

Then, I added a coat of poly for protection and shine and Viola! 

 Then, I added fluff to my fluff and fold room... The valance is from one of my favorite local boutiques. My designer friend is redecorating the store, and the valance was the perfect shape and size. Who says you can't go in for a pair of shoes and come home with a valance?

 Can you see my new broom peeking out? Who knew sweeping could be so much fun! Watch out crumbs.

 I covered this space in cork  board and then upholstered it in a fun fabric for kids' artwork. 

 A couple of ceramic "tufted" garden stools for putting on shoes or time out. 

 A chalkboard wall so kids can stop coloring on my living room wall and a covered canvas for invitations. 

Not that we get invited anywhere, but if we do, I sure don't want to miss it!

 Tons of hooks for totes and my favorite sun hats (cause they make me smile and it might just be warm enough to wear them soon). 

 Bins for dirty and clean and yet to be folded clothes... storage up top for recipes, keepsakes, coupons, photos and anything else I may need a random spot for.

 Pictures that make me happy while I am fluffing and folding, fluffing and folding... 

                   A touch of Spring in my window

And lots of bright sunshine in my new and improved laundry room! What do you think? I kinda don't want to leave. 


Bye bye birdie...
~H

Forced Family Fun Photo Shoot!

My head is spinning... Saturday was my brother's wedding. All last week I was running around like a mad woman trying to tie up loose ends for the rehearsal dinner. Let me just tell you we did it at a farm and we (my sister in law, and sister and I ) did all the tables. Burlap over cream linen with all sizes of mason jars filled with candles, antlers on the tables , & wild rambling flowers and greenery in vases. Sounds pretty? It was GORGEOUS! I can say this because I have no pics. to show you to prove that it wasn't. My pics. were to dark so I am waiting on pics. from someone else...I'll post then if they are good.

But... I do have some family pics. to show you. My sweet Jen from Fotojenik came over and snapped a few shots of the kids before we left. There were no adults in the wedding only the nieces and nephews. I am a little old for taffeta so this was a very good thing!

 Okay so I lied...my 'S' is not in my stairwell... yet... well it was but I took it down for fear it would fall and kill someone and it is going back up as soon as my brother's can come over and secure it properly...

 That bow tie was more then I could handle...too cute. My sweet Lindley was mad because her shoes would not stay on. She sulked the entire photo shoot... At the end I paid her $20. for this fake smile. Yes- I paid my child $20 to smile. Take notes & sign up for my parenting class...

Molly grabbed those flowers from the yard and never stopped posing! Addie had a fever of 101 the whole day. We stuck her on a bench at the reception and she slept through everything.

                                      

Sweet,cute hubby! I had this pic up... then took it down...then put it back up... So here it is- I hate pics. of myself- I am so much cuter and younger in my head...bummer. I drive Jeff crazy! So Jeff here is a picture of us... up for the world to see!

ANYWAY... Thanks Jen! It was great to have these pics!

May all your wedding weekends be fabulous!
Bye bye Birdie,
~A

BIG credit to: Fotojenik