Been away and a give away....

So last week was our big vacation.... We packed up the car, kids, surfboards and went 12 miles down the road to Wrightsville Beach. Everyone laughs at us but yes we vacation 15 minutes from home. We stay at The Hanover Seaside Club (Founded circa 1890)...

(Don't worry, It's definitely been updated)It's a beach club we joined about 6 years ago. It offers coveted beach parking, a boat dock on the sound, showers, food and 13 rooms on the 3rd floor you can rent. AND is Oceanfront so I can have my coffee on the porch every morning and watch the waves. I can also have my wine on the porch at night and hear the waves. (Bliss!)

We all had a blast!

Our rule is you have to kiss the first fish you catch....

 Ad's was a trooper... she took breaks when she needed them but for the most part was full throttle (shocker)

 Catching crabs and then putting them to sleep is always a fan fave for my kids...

 I love this picture of Jeff and Lindley... Proves my theory they are just alike. (look at their arms!)

After the car was packed and we were ready for the long trip home, Molly had to catch a few more waves for fear I wouldn't bring her back for at least a week... (and I won't- I have to detox from all the family fun.)

I guess it's back to life this week... Can't wait to show you a project Hoop and I just finished. Stay tuned...

and...

Do not forget our cool summer giveaway (See previous post here).

Happy Monday

Bye, bye Birdie,

~A

Summer Give Away!

It's time for a Summer GIVE AWAY! 

My cousin, Margaret, recently started Margaret Turner Designs (here). She is a big shell collector and scours the beaches of Bald Head, Wrightsville and Masonboro to find the perfect shell. She then designs her own fabrics with these local shells and has them hand sewn into beautiful gauzy summer scarves. 

They are the perfect accessory to any outfit or as a wrap on a breezy night. One lucky winner will get one of these beauties (a $55 value!)

Sea Urchin

Navy Scallop

                             Gold Scallop                                           

                             Navy Sanddollar                                        

Navy Scallop

 TO QUALIFY:


One entry: Leave a comment on ANY of our July Blog Posts
Two entries: Leave a comment on this blog telling us which pattern you like best
Three entries: Become a follower (if you already are, invite a friend)


We will draw a winner and post it next Friday (7/27). That gives you one week to start reading! Happy Summer and good luck!


Bye bye birdie,
~H

Graham's Fab Bath

 Graham's new bedroom has it's own bath (lucky girl) and let me tell you, one could not get a makeover without the other. The "old" look had bunny pictures on the walls and pink towels -- just too young for a "grown up" nine year old. With a few minor additions, the bathroom went from drab...

to fab!

The walls are Benajamin Moore "Waterfall" and look like a Tiffany box.

 Drapes and shower curtain are from Target. I can't even sew on a button, so used Stitch Witchery to add a pink band at the bottom and lengthen them. 

 I always have an extra ghost chair that rotates around my house, because they are just SO great! Little "tufted" ottoman is from Homegoods via my laundry room and the shag zig zag was a steal from Overstock. 

 All of her prissy accessories (wonder where she gets that from) are contained in a HG mirrored tray. 

 And finally, $8 knobs from Pier One dress up the cabinets. What do you think? Small budget, big look?
Happy Monday!


Bye bye birdie,
~H

So close...yet so far away.... Lindley's Room Reveal!

While Hooper was redoing Grahams room, I was working on Lindleys. We used lots of the same things in both designs, wallpaper, b&w rug, and chalkboard paint but that doesn't mean the spaces are similar... at all.

Lindley, though trusting, did want some say (the last big surprise reveal room redo for her didn't go over so well). She loved the wallpaper (YES!) and using the rug as an upholstered headboard instead of on the floor. BUT she did remind me all black and white was to sophisticated and she wanted pops of color. (almost a direct quote)We decided on a bohemian throw back direction... (Emily Henderson would be so proud)

I was stuck on the bed skirt and Hooper suggested the y&w zig zag.... yes a pop of color like my client wanted. I had suggested b&w zig zag but this is much better! Can you believe the IKEA duvet and sham were only $20!?!?

So, yes the rug became the headboard. My upholsterer extraordinaire got a little confused and the made the stripes vertical instead of horizontal like I wanted. I was bummed BUT vertical is the new horizontal...right?

We I am loving the wallpaper. We both are... Lindley and I spent hours making cut outs for all the little frames. Great stress reliever- I highly recommend!

Did I mention L has the tiniest room in the whole house! She suggested taking down a wall and expanding into my master closet. Hmmmm...yeah....NO. Before doing her room I cleaned it while she was away... 5 garbage bags later I decided she might be a hoarder...

SCORE! On my last junk shop outing I got this 1950's kitchen cart in perfect condition for....$20!

It makes the perfect art cart for L!

I loved this fabric (I mean we) but didn't like the scale of it on the bed so Hoop suggested adding it to her existing panels. I cut off the tabs and no sewed it on with stitch witchery. Voila! I also

painted the ceiling Ben Moore peacock feathers and kept the walls white. Because the room is so small the bold ceiling adds a lot of personality to the space.  

This is an auction piece from L's 2nd grade class. It had to be mine. I pulled out tons of cash and went to the auction on a mission. Those other cute moms didn't stand a chance... I only had to tell one mom her son was crying in the hallway as the bidding closed.

The zebra tray tweened up the space with out having to do a hot pink and zebra room... L loves it! And it is cute with the hot pink flokati bear skin rug on the floor.

Remember the dresser? See here. We decided not to paint it after I cleaned it up. Love the clear birch...

My grandmothers mirror wasn't modern enough for Lindley but after we painted it with chalkboard paint, it was funky enough. I couldn't part with it! Lindley also got a whole chalkboard wall- she's in heaven!

The metal side table came from World Market and was on sale for $29. Since my super cool Woodard chairs fell through (long story) I was happy to get this with the same metal wire vibe.

And when it was all said and done... Lindley was super happy!!!

Molly and Addie have decided their room is next. (OH DEAR) ... The last I heard it was going to be done in all purple chalkboard paint, floor, ceiling, dresser... we'll see!

Happy Thursday

Bye,bye birdie,

~A

Girls Room Reveal

Graham is growing up. First sign: she started "decorating" her room because it was babyish. I should have known when I hung the first pink curtain, it wouldn't have staying power. By "decorating", I mean hanging Justin Bieber posters and my favorite: the furry kitten poster from the book fair. Those furry kitten poster people must make a cheesy fortune. 


The plan was to redecorate when she goes to spend the night camp. Ann was going to redo Lindley's room at the same time and we planned on using similar items, different styles. She caught on and Ann decided it would be best if I got Graham's opinion (because Ann is so not a control freak and thinks kids should be able to voice their creative opinions). PLEASE. This is how it went down:


Me: I would like to redecorate your room -- what do you think?
Graham: No mom, let me do it, you have NO idea what you're doing.
Me: Uh um, I do this for a living.
Graham: Mom, I really don't think you could handle me as a client, plus you have bad taste
Me: Again, I do this for a living.
Graham: OK, I want a black room.
Me: Hold on, hello, Xanax, are you there? It's me, Hooper. 


We compromised and I started here with a black and white Dhurrie rug Ann found at Homegoods. We each got one and I can't wait for you to see Ann's reveal of how she used it in Lindley's room.

 I recovered these chairs that I got for $50 each at auction and took off on a Palm Beach Cabana vibe. 

 Ann talked me into this king headboard from a local junk shop and I had it painted a Tiffany blue. I turned the queen mattress sideways to create a day bed feel. 

The elephant fabric above gave me just enough "youth" to keep her young and she liked it! (shocker)

The black and white stripes are chalkboard paint so Graham can express herself. Ann did a chalkboard wall in Lindley's room too... stay tuned. Her nook is the perfect size for a desk. 

We painted and recovered an old bulletin board. 

And added some of her original art to bring in the pink. 

The lotus flower chandelier gives off a pink hue which evidently is acceptable to an almost tween. Notice the West Elm paper mache` elephant over the bed.

The $65 fretwork cabinet was a score at the Eclectic downtown. Painted the same as the headboard, it houses games and art supplies. 

Ann found the bamboo lamps at Homegoods and you may remember these garden stools from my junk shop jaunt awhile back (here). I added a glass top and they make perfect bedside tables.

Remember the Graham and Brown (no relation) wallpaper that Ann wanted for Lindley's accent wall (here).  

 We have a lot more frames to fill!  

 Graham was certainly my most difficult client to date. Lindley was much more easy going (and trusting). Stay tuned to see how Ann used some of these same elements for a completely different look!
Happy Monday,
bye bye birdie,
Hooper 

You say it's your Birthday.....

NO WAAAAYYYY!!!! I have a 12 year old, as of 8:23 a.m. There must be some mistake.... Am I not too young?

Last night we celebrated at the beach with lots of family. (love my nephew sliding into this pic!)

Sooo...Happy Birthday to my firecracker boy!!!!

My mom suggested I wait 2 more days so he could be born on the 4th of July. Hmmmm.... doesn't really work that way?!?! I had already gained 45 lbs and my ankles were the same size as my thighs. I was smokin hot!!! I was relieved to have my 9 lb 4 oz boy on the 2nd! (Yes... you read that right...)

Here are some firecracker red, white and blue spaces in honor of the 4th....(I've always wanted to do Jackson's room R,W &B but his love of fishing and wildlife lead to a browner palate!)

love the yellow fabric.... could have something to do with my Orla Kiely obsession...kind of has that vibe...

 
 The polka dot pillows make this space for me!

 red, white and navy works....

kids rooms are the perfect spot for a little americana color palate...traditional or mod....

Could you do it? Could you have a red, white and blue space in your own home?

Happy 4th and  Birthday to Jackson-Bo!!!

Bye,bye birdie,

~A

Credit: Mary McDonald, House and Home, House Beautiful, Google Images