The Perfect Piece of Art

In 2010, Coastal Living magazine featured the Water Color resort in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.  Since that time it's been on my must-visit list - the homes and resort look adorable and perfect for a family vacation.  I also fell in love with a piece of artwork from the article that was hung in the kitchen of the home they featured.  Then, the other day I was reading The Lettered Cottage blog, and there it was again! My White Boy Dog picture! Being a dog-lover it is just so adorable, don't you think? And the colors are perfect for a coastal home.

White Boy Dog via Shop/Ten/25

 Unfortunately it is a hefty $399 for the small version and $599 for the large through Shop/Ten/25 - and that seems pretty standard.  Gotta save my pennies!

Here are some photos of the Coastal Living-featured home at Water Color. It's a great focal point in the kitchen of this home.

Coastal Living- featured Water Color Home on VRBO.com

 

 

Coastal-Living Featured Water Color Home on VRBO.com

 The home is available for rent through VRBO.com...something I'll have to keep in mind if we ever make it to Santa Rosa Beach.  I can at least visit my favorite piece of artwork, if I can't own it myself! :)

Solving the Toy Dilemna

As the kids' toys have multiplied over the years, our need for storage that hides the clutter has grown as well.  We've moved far beyond a few baskets or a cabinet.  Enter the Expedit shelving unit from IKEA...my lifesaver in more than one room in our house. Centsational Girl has a great post today about her Expedit shelving - and so many others around blogland. It inspired me to show you how we're using it to bring some order to our home.  We simply turned it on its side and made a bench out of it in a mini-kids play area in the family room.  They have their bench filled with toys (and out of sight to me) and their little table - another IKEA purchase - next to it.  I had a local upholster make a seat cushion for it as well.  I actually just went out to get a secondary unit for the basement, where we enter from the garage to house shoes.  Everyone's got their own basket - including the hubby! I'd love to someday create the look of built-in shelving, perhaps in the office using one of the larger versions.  They're just so versatile.

Flying South

We just got back from spending the long weekend visiting my husband's family in Charlotte, NC.  The plane ride alone made my son's weekend. That along with playing non-stop with the cousins is always a good time.

We just love it down in Charlotte - not just the warmer weather, but the clean, almost Disney-like feel of the city. It is incredibly well manicured and maintained, perhaps because they don't need to spend city funds on slow plowing and salting like we do in New England?

The homes are like nothing you see in the Northeast either. I drive around with my eyes wide open taking in all the sites.  Some are almost castle-like we often proclaim.  Here are a few of these Southern beauties that are for sale.  I'd happily take any of them!  :)

 

All images via Realtor.com

Love for Graphic Rugs

I got my Crate & Barrel catalog in the mail today and spotted this fabulous black and white striped rug...

I've been never feeling like the rug in our office is right, it's just what we had...

Perhaps a bright, striped rug like this would do the trick to add some graphic interest and pop to the room? Here's another one I'm loving from Garnet Hill.

Lots of fun options out there. Perhaps it's time to try a new rug!

Home Goals for 2012

I'm always coming up with new ideas to make our house live better for us as our family grows and changes.  Here are some thoughts on what would be great to accomplish in the new year, though I'm sure they'll be more as we go along! I'm linking this up to the Nester so we can see what we all have planned!

1. Potty train my son...and get the kids to clean up after themselves. This would make for a happy home!

2. Install new windows on the first floor of the house so we can stop the drafts and really clean them. I am constantly battling spider webs in these old, drafty windows.

3. Get our outdoor shower fixed and in working order for the first time in the six years we've lived here!

Pinterest

4. Add a work surface on top of the washer/dryer. Something like this...

 

Here's a great DIY countertop post I found for the below...

 

5. You can all say "Eww" to this...I know it is gross.  20+year old carpet I'm guessing and it is hunter green - just like my college bedding! We need to install new carpet in the playroom. That is for sure.

6. Do something with my son's pile of books in his room. How cute would this be?!

Pinterest

7. Or maybe just get a whole new house all together! I'm stalking this one down by the water at the moment. :) Isn't it cute? It's all just a dream at this point though!