Thursday 10 March 2011

Sunday 6 March 2011

Spring in the Mudroom ....

What a fun and busy week this has been ...

Last weekend, my beautiful stepdaughter and her boyfriend drove up from GA for a great visit; my precious son turned 5 (*insert me crying*), and I turned 42 (again, *insert me crying*)!  AND, my wonderful and handsome husband threw an absolutely fantastic surprise party for me filled with great friends, family, food, drinks and entertainment!  What a great night that was, although, my body still hurts from dancing (one last *insert me crying*).  lol 

So, today, on a rainy Sunday, this household enjoyed a "Lifetime" day (our name for a "lazy day," where my hubs watched sports ... Jax destroyed his playroom with friends ... and I watched *cheezy* Lifetime movies while playing around the house)!

Speaking of rain (which brings mud), I thought we'd revisit our *mud*room, which I have tweaked a bit for Spring!


Hard to believe it once looked like this:


What a difference paint and beadboard makes!  Our neighbor added the beadboard for us.  I then painted it basic white and painted the walls SW Antique White.


The area beside the dryer serves as our little command central.  The black granite countertop used to sit on top of our kitchen island.  We had it cut down to fit this spot and are really pleased with it.  I recently added a pitcher filled with wild flowers for a touch of Spring:


I love the magnetic board (by Peter Walsh) that I found at Office Max.  The black pockets that I added (along with the cream and black photo holder), are all magnetic!  You simply place them wherever you want to on the board.  Fun feature, and they serve as a great place for "this and that" (as I have labled them):


On the soffit above, I changed out the accessories.  I found this cute "Towels" wooden box from HomeGoods, which I added greenery and a small plate.  I then added more white plates, pitchers and wicker trays that I had on hand.  Still tweaking though ... and am on the lookout for a few vintage items to place up here (also hoping to break up the symmetry a bit):





Beside command central, I hung a few pictures, along with two "art" frames where I change out Jax's colorful creations from time-to-time to suit the season:


On the opposite wall is a fun chalkboard found at HomeGoods last Fall (to which I added a gentle "be kind" reminder), along with an iron scrollie from Pier One:


I haven't changed the picture wall much, except for the addition of the rustic "Faith, Family and Friends" sign ...




I added different pillows to the bench below.  And, the wonderful hooks are the perfect place for everything, including my big ol' wonderful "Miche" handbag (which I absolutely LOVE and get compliments on all the time).  You can change the shells of the bag to suit your outfit, season or mood ... they have a shell of every kind and color imagineable.  You should check them out:


Down on the floor is a new sisal rug from World Market, purchased with a gift card a sweet friend gave me for my birthday!  Love all of the fun colors:


And, of course, I still have the hefty and durable basket I found at Target on sale last Fall, which houses the dirty clothes ("P-U") LOL!



Well, that is *all'z* I got folks ... I'm off to check out your projects!  Please join me for fun linky parties:

Dittle Dattle/Amaze Me Monday
A Stroll Thru Life/Table Top Tuesday
The Tattered Tag/K.I.S.S.
Thrifty Decor Chick/Before and After Party
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia/Tuesdays Treasures
Savvy Southern Style/WUW
My Backyard Eden/Make it Yours Day
Elements Interiors/Whassup Wednesday
The Shabby Chic Cottage/Transformation Thursday
At The Picket Fence/Inspiration Friday
French Country Cottage/Feathered Nest Friday

Take care,
Becca




Wednesday 2 March 2011

Nidhi Chanani

I received a mail from Nidhi Chanani introducing her work to me and I thought her illustrations were very charming.
nidhi4
Veranda...
'At the veranda, above everything, she takes a break and enjoys the moment.'

nidhi1
Sari...
'I followed my mom everywhere, holding on to the edge of her sari. It was soft and silky like the comfort of her love.'

Nidhi, a freelance artist and illustrator was born in Calcutta and raised in California.

nidhi2
A Grand Adventure...
'What kind of fun will find these kids as they head out in search of adventure on top of a friendly elephant?'

nidhi3
The Gate...
'She stands at the gate and watched the world unfold.'

Do visit Nidhi's Etsy Shop for more of her lovely illustration prints.

( images by Nidhi)

Tuesday 1 March 2011

EGG-zactly What is My Problem?

Happy March!  We made it ... goodbye winter and *please* don't come back for a LONG time!

On a recent trip to Pottery Barn, I found the prettiest faux robin's eggs!  Because they were so reasonably priced, I bought a large bag of them, along with a bag of larger, cream eggs.  Then, when I hit Home Goods, I came upon a pack of three nests filled with various sized cream eggs, too!  I had to have them since a box of three was only $6.99!  I've enjoyed placing them all around the house; however, I think I've overdosed on them just a tad!  Come and see: 

We'll start in the kitchen ... my Home Goods cake stand and cloche house some of the robin's eggs, which I placed in a nest (from Michael's) and then rested all of that on shredded paper (click on pic to enlarge, if you'd like):


In the dining room, I threw one of the nests with eggs from Home Goods into my arrangement.  Why not(?), I say.


My son thinks these are dinosaur eggs!  LOL


Beside the arrangement, more robin's eggs landed on the silver candle holders.  The beautiful blue color reminds me of pieces of turquoise:


In the sitting room, a cream ceramic bowl (which I shared last week) has yet aNOTHER nest of robin's eggs surrounded by vintage book pages bound in twine, seashells and orbs. 


I like these eggs and nests so much, that I even grabbed a cream picture frame that I wasn't using ... removed the glass ... added a burlap backing and hot glued the eggs into the nest, which I then hot glued to the burlap.  I love the pop of blue.  Yes, I'm crazy ... go ahead and say it:


I also went ahead and threw the last three robin's eggs into a cocktail glass, which sits upon a beautiful cake platter (from PB) that my sweet friend, Hayley, recently gave me!


Over in the great room, I found two matching vases (from Tuesday Morning), in which I mixed real branches and faux flowers.  I then thought it'd be fun to place the larger eggs in the base of the vase, as well:


Unexpected, but fun (I think ... I hope):


Got a basket filled with greenery?  Why not throw a nest with a few eggs in there!


So, now I'm down to one egg-filled nest. I *think* I found the perfect place for it!  A bird corsage ... just what every girl has always wanted !!  LOL



Thanks for stopping by~

Join these wonderful blogs for a few great parties:

A Stroll Thru Life/Tabletop Tuesday

Savvy Southern Style/WUW


At the Picket Fence/Inspiration Friday

Finding Fabulous/Frugalicious Friday

Be Different Act Normal/Show and Tell Saturday

Under the Table and Dreaming/Sunday Showcase

Becca

Sunday 27 February 2011

Rang Decor Readers Creative Spaces: IX

Mishta & Anirudh
Today under Rang Decor Reader's Creative Spaces, I take you to a colourful Goa-inspired home in Bangalore.
entrance porch
Entrance Porch...

Mishta and Anirudh are a 30-something couple, both designers, one a product designer and the other a graphic designer, decided to build over Anirudh’s family home’s existing ground floor bungalow on a 60 x 40 plot in Sadashivnagar, Bangalore.

The design of the house revolves around three courtyards and two trees.
avocado tree at entrance
Avocado Tree at the entrance...

mango tree courtyard
Mishta explains,"A courtyard on the second floor at the back of the house is carved out to let a mango tree spread it’s limbs...

main courtyard
...and a main courtyard, also on the second floor, at the front of the house, is designed to pay homage to Geoffrey Bawa’s tropical style with a pond and landscaping."

The over-arching theme of the house has been heavily influenced by the couple’s love for Goa, a destination they run off to, to recharge, every two and half months.

Mishta adds, "The idea was not to recreate a Goan house, but to pick Portuguese influences, through colour and form and combine that with the sense of an open Asian tropical house."
drawing room3
The drawing room...

drawing room4

dining room
The dining area...

balinese lamp at stairwell
Balinese Lamp against coloured glass at the stairwell...

master bedroom
The Master bedroom...

guest room3
Guest bedroom...

second floor lobby
Second floor lobby...

Mishta adds, "The main colour scheme for the house is yellow ochre and dark green. The flooring is cool green kota stone with small floral tiles inlayed at intervals.

Common passageways are in black and white checks. Rustic tiles in terracotta and green have been used in the flooring of the courtyards. Ceramic floral tiles were sourced from Spain and fitted into niches in all the courtyards."
nameplate
Custom-made nameplate tiles from Velha Goa...

Mishta & Anirudh~ Thanks for sharing so generously photos of your vibrant home with readers of Rang Decor.

P.S. If anyone has any queries regarding Mishta and Anirudh's home, feel free to ask in the comments section.

( Images by Mishta Roy)

Saturday 26 February 2011

New Found Love: Paper Lamps

Floor lamps, table lamps, hanging lamps, sconces....paper lamp comes in vast variety n gives u opportunity to b more creative with one existing  old paper lamp....confused ....n thinking how???
Be lil creative...u can paint it, can draw something over or do some crafts work over it..Have a look.....


Image Source: Click here



Image Source: Click here
 
Above one is the creation of very talented lady here u can find her DIY project.
Now the below one is combo.....get light as well as some green thing in ur room...its just different.

Image Source: Click here


Or just use floor lamps n pendant lamps both at one place....believe me it looks so elegant


Image Source: Click here



Hope u've got some idea to transform that boring white paper lamp into eye popping thing :-)
Do visit this space frequently as I'll come up with something very interesting.
Till then take care.



Tuesday 22 February 2011

Dreamy Creamy

I just love rooms in cream.........be it bedroom, living room or dining room. Cream is the color that goes well with every room. It gives warmth to decor.

What a lovely room.....looks so royal in cream.

Ahhhh....this is the room I am dying for....its look like one has put all his/her efforts to make it just perfect.

I love each n evry detail of this room...this an extraordinary work...love it.

What a look...Living room looks bright n spacious in cream.

I can spend whole my day in this bathroom. What a lovely decor.
Image Source:  Click here