25... (for the 13th time)

Yes, 25 for the 13th time means 37. That's how old I have been for a day now. Feels pretty good, still not buying 30 is the new 20 though. Thank you Hoop for the birthday post and most importantly my new super cool yearbook page!!!! Framed and matted in purple...holla!!! I am still shocked you found it! (Read previous post if you are lost...)

I have to mention my birthday is a day after Addie's (my baby is now 5! sob, sob...) We both had great ones and ended the week at Lindley and Molly's school Fall Festival. Who says you can't throw down on your birthday when you are 37?

(cute little blond in front is one of Lindley's besties from practically birth!)

I had to show you the whole fam. Jeff ditched the wig, mustache and glasses pretty quickly after we realized no parents were letting their children near him. He did have quite a creepy vibe going on.

I know this is technically a design blog and you probably do not want to hear any more about birthdays so I promise we will be throwing so much design your way over the next few weeks your head will spin! We are off to market! We can't wait!!!

Have a great week and we'll be back soon!!

Bye, bye Birdie,

~A 

It's Your Birthday!

On this day (we won't say how many years ago), Ann White Schutte was born. I tried to find some historical events and truly, there aren't any except for a couple of baseball stats that make no sense to me. Ann shares her birthday with Princess Leah, Mick Jagger's daughter and Miss Teen USA. Big Whoop. 


To honor her on her birthday, I wanted to share her birthday gift with you. She has no idea she is getting this, but I guess she will find out when she reads the blog this morning. Before I the big reveal, I want to share a little background with you...


Ann and I met in 9th grade. 

We were super cute and WAYYYY cool.

Ann was a cheerleader. I was a tennis player. No need to show a picture, this post is all about ANN! 


Ann was kinda like a hippie (picture cut off jean shorts with a sunburst painted on them). I wore big collared shirts (picture flying nun). Ann worked at a bar-b-que joint, I worked at a preppy sportswear store. We were/are complete opposites and still are.

We were on the homecoming court. We both have shoulder pads. I look like I'm getting ready to play the bag pipes. Did we color coordinate on purpose? God, I hope not.

 We were also, the epitome of cheesiness. Senior year, we decided to leave a legacy of cheese and do a yearbook memoir together. We noted all of the "bad" stuff we did that made us soooo "cool".
Ann, I found the original and to celebrate your 25th birthday, I want you to have it!

I hope you have a wonderful birthday and many many more!
Bye bye birdie,
~H

Brand New Room!

I finally photographed my friend's new room. Before, it had a desk and the large wall unit on the back wall. When she called me, she said she wanted a room where she could hang out with friends and have a cup of coffee. "I want it to feel like Starbucks." I'm not sure that I got the "Starbucks" vibe going on, but I tried. Kinda Starbucks with a triple shot of something...

 I started with these amazing Anthropologie flocked drapes. She wanted a large table where the kids could play games/puzzles. We found this clean lined table on Overstock.

 The room took off from there. The West Elm chaise is perfect for reading or can double as a sofa. Every room needs a pouf so...

 Notice how her dog Oscar is the same color as the hide. It was not planned, but cracks me up every time.

I love the reclaimed wood table with the glossy West Elm owl lamp. 

 Here's another shot

And a close up of the pillows...

A close up of the amazing drapes. They are linen flocked with orange velvet. 

I love all of the different textures. Do you?

Bye bye birdie,

~H

Another Before and After

THE BEFORE...

My friend Emily asked me to help her update her space. At first glance, the sectional was closing off the room, so the first step was furniture placement. Relocating the sectional would open up the living space to the rest of the house.

 Also, take note of the very large 2 story wall behind the sectional, the 4 photos weren't the right size for the wall, at least all by their lonesome....

A floral rugs and dated and worn out fabrics on the sectional and pillows made for a tired room. 

They had just finished installing a new, updated fireplace surround, so we wanted something that would complement the cool coastal vibe they had going on. Also, their paint colors were perfect, so no need to change the colors. 
We slip covered the sofa in a new textured gray because the old one was looking a little faded and tired, added some amazing new pillows (mixing in some from Homegoods and some custom) and viola!

A new rug from Overstock is a much needed replacement for the floral rug. 

We added art, photos, sketches and different types of frames to the (now) proportioned photo wall and there is also room to grow. 

Fresh fabrics make a bold statement.

 We stole a console table from the entry and decked it out with a metallic green owl (everyone needs one), some family photos and an old-fashioned swing arm lamp for reading. 

You can see what a difference the new furniture placement makes! 

 Her TV is going to be relocated above the mantle, but we added additional interest with some sconces, accessories and a killer Ikat ottoman for more seating or feet.

 More lighting and texture...

Great accessories and a whole new look. What do you think?
Happy Monday!
Bye bye birdie,
~H

I want...

A sliding barn door. I want one bad. Real bad. The problem ... I have no where to put one. Should we move? build? add on? How can I get my sliding barn door fix if I have no where to put it?...

 the walls, the floors, the hide, love love love it all!

 love the industrial vibe ...

so much I'm liking about this space...

diggin the rug too...

 what have you been diggin lately? Anything you can't imagine your life without?

And for all you Wilmington peeps- Big South is this Sunday and there are some pretty killer rugs, and this...

Now, don't go out bidding me... not sure where I'll put it... but it's mine!!!

Have a great weekend!!!

Bye, bye birdie,

~A

 credit to: google images, Big South Auctions, Caroline DeCesare

Despair Over Chair

 Yes, this is the newest addition to my living room. The remote you see ejects the person sitting in it into a standing position. It practically shot Hutson across the room. 

Pro: I don't have to help Read get out of the chair 

Pro: Read is relatively comfortable.

Con: I throw up in my mouth a little, everytime I look at it.

Con: It's made of velour.

What's a girl to do?

Clearly, I am very shallow. I'm less concerned with my husband's comfort during his (very long) recovery and more concerned with how long this eye sore will be the focal point of my living room. 

Has there ever been an attractive recliner?

This one... not so much. I mean, the robot doesn't seem to mind it, but of course, robots don't get annual pap smears. There's just something about a recliner that seems to have built-in stirrups.

Now this, I could do. Imagine it in a killer print or a charcoal fabric. It's Milo Baughman and a perfect midcentury take on the recliner. The retro styles are so much better than the current ones. Why is that? 

This is the "Gala" recliner chair by Franco Albini. It really reclines... I have no idea how, but who cares? It's pretty amazing. It looks comfortable (enough). 

This isn't bad. I like the lines of it. Not sure why you need the extra arm pads.

I've decided that I'm totally a looks girl. Who cares about function. I mean, I'll wear heels all day long until my feet fall off, if they look good. What about you?

Gotta go, my husband needs the remote.

Bye bye birdie,

~H

Credit to: Buyfurnitureyoulove.com, Milo Baughman, Franco Albini

Why Men Don't Give Birth

How was your weekend? Mine was, should we say, interesting... My husband has had a problem with his hip since he was a little boy and this weekend, he got a new one. 

The best part are people's reactions when I tell them my husband is getting a hip replacement. They assume I am the trophy wife and he must be 85.  He did great and is out right now with his PT (in stockings) walking the halls. This is where the "in sickness and in health part" comes in. I just gave him a sponge bath. He has a walker and is going to be home bound for 6 weeks. That's 42 days; 1008 hours; 60,480 minutes. What will we do?
When a 36 year old gets a hip replacement, you feel a little out of your league. I'm thinking about my "Mimi" who just had hers done too. Maybe we can sit around and watch this...

Or

And when he's really up and about, join some of our friends for...

Oh yeah, this is going to be awesome. Wish me luck!
Bye bye birdie, I'm off to play Parcheesi...
~H

I heart....

October. It is my favorite month of the year. The weather has been gorgeous, I've worn my new fave boots twice and pumpkins are everywhere. It is also my birthday month. I will be.... older.

  I do tend to keep my eyes peeled this time of year for a few little trinkets that might make me smile should Jeff want to purchase a little something for his amazing, smokin hot, kind wifey... (moi)

Jeff would have to get me these except I already have them. Sweet Jen over at Fotojenik made them for me and gave them to me. They are my #1 accessory this fall. I wear one or the other everyday. (stay tuned...they might just be a giveaway soon...)

Jen and her hubby went on an amazing trip to NY and found these. They did not bring them home for me though. I guess they wouldn't fit on the plane. So, Jeff, head to NY and bring these back for my birthday...please.

 Kim over at Chattafabulous has these for sale. Brass stags...loving them just not enough horizontal surface in my house ...boo...

Love this... 'Tiny Fawn' by Darrah Gooden. It is collage on canvas. (so sweet). Not quite sure why I am drawn to the deer. Except of course it is hunting season here and I am just waiting for that first venison cookout.. (not so sweet?)

I think this pillow is great! I would love it in my sun room on the new camp bed. Cute Shelly over at Pillow Happy on Etsy makes these.

So that's it... just a few fun fall finds that would make great birthday gifts for me  um, I mean anyone!

Sooo... if we were to do a cuff giveaway, which one should it be cowhide? or snakeskin?

Happy Thursday...
Bye, bye birdie,
~A

How to ruin your 11 year old's life....

co·til·lion also co·til·lon (k-tlyn, k-) 1. A formal ball, especially one at which young women are presented to society.

A more accurate definition would be: Somewhere you force your 5th grader to go on a quest to ruin their life. (that's almost a direct quote from Jackson)

But for all us Southerners that were also forced to go, it is a right of passage. I remember it well. I had buck teeth, and was tooth pick skinny with a Pat Benetar haircut. Thank you 80's. Not really the girl the boys were asking to dance. (Not that the 5th grade boys were really asking anyone to dance). But I made it out alive and was thrilled to sign Jackson up for the same torture experience.

Here he is all dressed up and ready to go. (he's still not quite sure where he's going)

Why is it when you ask an 11 year old boy to take his picture you either get gang signs or James Bond poses?

I did get one good pic before I took him to "The worst place he's ever been to in his whole entire life". (another direct quote) I have no pictures once we got there- he really would have died. Though I did manage to sneak into the balcony and watch the entire lesson. Poor thing he looked green. -And he gets to go back next month. (Yipee!) Though he keeps asking me if I have called that lady to get our money back because he is never going back there again. I can only imagine that the dances and manners he is learning will serve him well one day...

(Boys stop burping the alphabet eventually...right? )

Anyway, I enjoyed Cotillion way more then he did and can not wait for the next lesson. I am soooo sneaking in a video camera! I'll keep you posted!

Happy Monday!

Bye, bye Birdie,

~A