Changing colors

This is what Autumn looks like at my parents, where I grew up.  The colors are very warm and inspirational.  I love this time of year and how the changing and falling of leaves is also representative of life transitions.

"I realize there's something incredibly honest about trees in winter,

 how they're experts at letting things go." 

- Jeffrey McDaniel

Rugs

Aqua walls

Just let me obsess for a moment. 

Farrow and Ball's Arsenic paint color

 

 

 

 

Weekend estate sales

I CANNOT believe it's already August 19.  Which means in 14 days my UT Vols will be back in action on the field.  In 72 days I'll be wearing some crazy Halloween costume.  And in 133 days I'll be toasting to a new year.  Gahhh... time really does zip on by.  (Thanks to my online calc for the countdowns! hehe)

But there is no countdown to Friday, because it is already here! :)  Which means weekend estate sales are bumping and grinding all over town.  Here's a look at some things that might be worth scoping out...

Check out these bulls eye mirrors.  I've always wanted one.

No so much a fan of what's in this frame, but just the frame itself is cool.  A little bamboo looking.

But check out all these frames.  SUPER LOVE these!

And these framed pictures with the old lithographs.  I wouldn't change anything about it.

This rug is just gorgeous.  So perfect for an entry way or layered over a sisal rug.

Not sure about this rug...

I bought this rug at a recent estate sale.  Sort of digging the Southwestern trend with more muted colors like mint green, dusty pink and blues.  Now that I have it home I'm just not sure.  This is a photo from the house of the estate sale so you can't really tell what it looks like in my home, but I'm thinking it might go on Craigslist soon.  So indecisive...

Built-Ins

One of my favorite things about older homes, and newer ones too I suppose.. are built-ins.  They have such charm and I love how they can hold all sorts of odds and ends besides just books.  This is definitely a must-have on my checklist of everything I want in a house.

Post college digs

So you just graduated college and moved out of your four bedroom house (with six roommates of course) - only to leave behind the barrage of date party cups, sorority trinkets and "I love college" posters that are ever so common in a student rental.  Now that you're a big kid in a new city, it's only natural to want what all the other big kids have when styling your new digs.  Well I can say from personal experience that the transition from college slum to full-time employee doesn't necessarily mean a cooler more grown up abode.  So taking small steps and thinking creatively can help turn a small one-bedroom apartment into a chic living space.  Please turn your attention to Lauren McGrath's (from Good Bones Great Pieces) first apartment.  And take notes why don't ya...

Flea market lamp and tables - painted in fresh new colors.  A tiny ticking stripe sofa fits the space perfectly.

Curtains from Ikea are cost efficient and the muted colors keep the playful pattern light and airy.

A hand-me-down dresser was painted white and adds extra storage to the living area, while a chair found on Craigslist gets a shiny black paint job and new upholstery.

A cafe set is the right size for this tiny room - and the shelf from Ikea with flea market finds adds personality to a plain wall.

More flea market finds (desk, lucite bench, alabaster lamp) and a great mirror (similar ones can be found at HomeGoods) suit the corner of this bedroom quite nicely.