Triptych Heaven...

I know you have seen this.... Don't you still love it!? I had a client that had to have it! She said the first time she saw it, she lost her breath...that's almost a direct quote. We all know that feeling...

It's Lord Bodner's Octopus in triptych... Love it in brown...

Thom Felicia used it in a dining room....

And I got to use it ....

here! So here is my question... does the table need something on it? Maybe a silver tray, interesting boxes? The room is super tall, so I didn't want to hang it any lower or take away from how cool it is...

Or, how cool the console and stools are. Hooper and I found these at  fall market...LOVE!!! This client has a fun eclectic, bohemian vibe happening in her house- speaking my language! It was hard for me to deliver the stools... They would be so happy at my house too!

Thoughts? I can not wait to show you the rest of the space. (As soon as the rug company finishes shearing the sheep to make the wool to make the rug...waiting!) 

Happy Thursday!

Bye, bye birdie,

~A

credit to: google images, Thom Felicia

A Haven for 2 Sisters

I recently got a phone call from a new client/friend who wanted to switch her master with her girl's room. Initially, I thought... uhhh. why? Until I saw her amazing house and how much she and her husband adore their little girls. In about 2 minutes, she had me convinced. It is an older, historic Cape Cod with two bedrooms upstairs and one large shared bath in the hall. They have done a ton of amazing work on the home and her very talented husband can repurpose just about anything. Her little girl moved out of her nursery into her big sister's room (age 5), to be close to her. My sweet friend wanted both of her daughters to feel like they had their own new room to share. She didn't want the little one to feel like she was moving into the big one's space. So... they traded rooms.  I helped a little, but can't take credit for all of this. 

 They got bunk beds with a trundle for sleep overs and we ordered another Pottery Barn Kids quit for the bunks -- one in pink and one in green. 

 The antique chandelier was moved to the new room and pops against the new pink ceiling.

 The dormers make perfect alcoves and this room has two -- one for a study spot for each little girl. 

 Her handy hubby took an old curtain rod, and ran it from the floor to the ceiling with wooden braces on each end. He added pegs for the girls' hat collection and hung a mirror at their level for dress up.

 There is tons on storage opposite the bunks from a repurposed shelving unit. 

 There are details galore...

And my favorite, old record covers framed in glossy white frames. Isn't it dreamy! I can't wait to show you more of this house. Next stop, the little girls' room turned master!
Bye bye birdie,
~H

We are not Irish

We are not Irish. This, however, is what I woke up to... 

Oh yeah, my kids are determined to catch this... 

A creepy cute red headed guy that clicks his heels a lot and lives to be 300. Did I mention that when we trap him, he is going to live with us and we are to raise him as one of our children? (I have no idea where they get this stuff). These traps were quite elaborate.

 This one is decorated (evidently for a girl leprechaun). Yes, it's decorated, right down to the bedding and wool rug. Oh dear, I'm afraid the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Please note: I had nothing to do with this. You can imagine my surprise when I got home last night from a birthday party to find this set up with a video camera to "catch" the little green imp. Try finding a leprechaun at 11 pm on a Friday night. To make up for the fact that we are not the proud parents of a little green person, I made a St. Patrick's Day treat for breakfast. 

....Green pancakes with rainbow sprinkles and green syrup. I could get used to this Irish thing.Happy St. Patrick's Day!


bye bye birdie...
~H

Famous American Day...

Yesterday was Famous American Day at Molly's school. All the first graders pick a famous American to study (past or present) and then  dress up and go on a school wide parade. My water baby  picked Bethany Hamilton. We made a surf board and dressed her in a wetsuit and explained it was ok that she had 2 arms because she isn't really Bethany Hamilton. But, Molly had other plans...so after I left her classroom and joined the  paparazzi (aka parents) lining the sidewalk waiting for the parade to begin, Molly had her teacher unzip her wetsuit and tuck her arm inside...

So as Ronald Reagan, Dolly Madison, and Martin Luther King Jr. passed I see Molly Bringing up the rear with a missing limb! I gasped, laughed and explained to the small terrified child beside me that Molly does infact still have both arms.

Happy Thursday...

Bye,bye Birdie,

~A

Flea Finds

Yesterday, I needed a pick me up. Sounds expensive huh? Not if you stumble upon a great little flea market! I visited Trash to Treasure Flea Market in Castle Hayne and will definitely go back. I went on a hunt for some bedside tables for a client and sadly didn't have any luck, but...

 And then there were 2! I bought the pair for $90 and am thinking about putting them on my porch. 

I could use them as side tables or put them together and use them as a coffee table? Should I paint them? They are iron and super cool. Let me know, I'd love your input. 

 I couldn't resist this Henredon faux bamboo mirror. Imagine it glossy white or a bright color...

Here is the same mirror at Circa Who, it sold for much more than I paid for mine! Plus, when I look at it, I see an "H" -- like it's calling my name. Maybe I should keep this too? 

I loved him, but he didn't make it home. A little too pricey at $250, but isn't he cool? He would be pretty under a console or in front of a fireplace. He is carved wood with a great patina.  And last, but certainly not least, one of my fave fabrics (retails for $42) is at Fabric Solutions, my favorite bargain fabric store.

  Pictured in the center, it is $7.99 a yard. Dwell Studio "gate" fabric is a steal and even prettier in person. 

Remember this wingback from Studio 123 in Raleigh? See here. Oh, the possibilities... Have a wonderful retail therapy filled day...
Bye bye birdie,
~H


credit to: Studio 123, Circa Who,   

The Highs of Lowe's

We are on a first name basis with the peeps at Lowes. I'm telling you, I could have a tool belt (it might be bedazzled, but still).Ann's dream job is to work at the paint counter.It's my favorite place to be early in the morning or late at night. The other morning with my first cup of coffee, I browsed the aisles looking for inspiration. Boy did I find it. 

Loving this for a playroom or kitchen wall. Plus, I'm a sucker for cute packaging. 

 Don't you just love the Edison bulb? This Allen and Roth pendant is perfect for an island or even a bathroom. I would love to hang a couple over my bathroom sinks. See here.

 This bronze axel chandelier is $164!!! 

This one from Currey and Company is $1170.  

This pretty mirror could hold it's own or create a killer wall design if you hung a bunch of them together. It's around $60 bucks.  

This one sold out quickly on One King's Lane for $499, but retails for $1200.

Jewelry for your floor. That's what this grate is when you replace your air vent with this beauty. My client just put this in a living room I finished. Great find! See the room here. 

 This wall paper is pretty great and would look killer just about anywhere. I love it in a bookcase like this one...

Obviously, the shot above is Imperial Trellis by KWID but the wallpaper from Lowe's would make a nice backdrop for some bright accessories.

 I'm putting these in an office I'm working on. Not bad for a flush mount!

This one eventually ended up in a dining room Ann worked on. See here.

It is organic and retro all at the same time and is much cheaper than the Currey and Company one...

Don't get me wrong, I adore Currey and Co. It's one of my sources for lighting, but let's face it, the budget doesn't always allow for it. Good to know, there are some great priced options out there...and at Lowe's Home Improvement. What about you? Are you a Lowe's shopper or a Home Depot kind of girl. 


For even more inspiration, visit Lowes Creative Ideas Blog for DIY weekend projects and tons of great inspiration from our favorite store.

Bye bye birdie,
~A&H


credit to Lowes.com, Joss and Main, Currey and Company

A little chair help...please...

Look what I got! I know, I know, super traditional and not what you'd expect from me BUT I love it and my other pieces are going to accept it into our home with open arms.....

Its going in this room at the end where the little desk is now...

I have my Grandmother's chair there but I am thinking I need something else. It would all be very traditional if her chair stayed. (probably a little too much for me...)

So.... help! What do you like?

I love these honeycomb ghost chairs! I think one of these bad boys would look great...

 I could stay traditional and do this ghost chair? When I say traditional, I mean shape... though I am now considering lucite a classic...

 Another option would be to simply slipcover the chair I have in a pretty linen...

The secretary is tall and narrow... I might need some height...

OR... I might need a stool... this is my fave! And it was available on Overstock...holla! It's still available...in black. BOO! I want clear... The search begins..

What do you think? honeycomb, ghost chair, slipcover or stool? Help a sista out...please...

Bye, bye Birdie,

~A

credit: Southern Living, Overstock

I throw my hands up in the air sometimes...

Sayin' ayo, gotta let go....

How was your weekend? There is not a coffee bean in the world strong enough to get me functioning at a normal pace this Monday morning.... Saturday, we had 5 girls spend the night for Lindley's 9th birthday (2 weeks late... details, details...).

Anyhoo...

The birthday girl had a blast....

celebrating with her besties....

(Graham and Lindley representin')

Somehow, Jeff made it upstairs and to bed (after whipping his hair back and forth) while I danced the night away and finally crashed on the sofa watching Princess Protection Program...

Word has it, the girls partied til 1 a.m. and were up at 6:15 asking for breakfast (that part I remember!)

 I am tired. My body doesn't do that anymore- party or sleep on sofas. I like my pillow, my bed and my 10 p.m. on the weekends bed time. So, if you see me today... set the bar low.

Happy Monday!

Bye,bye Birdie,

~A

Big Girl Room

 Ann and I recently worked on a little girl's room together. I told Ann I would "help" again if she painted the wall. While she painted, I shopped and shopped and showed up at the end to help touch up and then oops, forgot I had to meet the bus. This is typically how we roll. Check out her amazing wall and this bright, eclectic room.

I love the bright pops of color. It looks like the we did the room around the rug, but I found it at the end of the day. Isn't it great?

 Ann's wall looks amazing (as always) and I love the yellow chair she talked me into getting via text. 

 Pier 1 has the most beautiful throws that look handmade. Check them out!

The walls are Beach Glass (Benjamin Moore). It almost reads as a neutral gray with a lot of depth which makes all of the colors pop. Did I mention the client is 7? When I showed it to her, I asked her if she liked it. She said: Like it?? I LOVE it! Our work here is done.


Bye bye birdie,
~A&H