Cold feet contd.

After some measuring I realized that a 5x8 just wasn't going to cut it for the living room.  This became an issue because when you jump to an 8x10 the price jumps too (quite a bit actually).  While the hunt for the perfect living room rug continues, I have found a new rug obsession....painted rugs.  Check out two of my favorite examples from the blog-o-sphere:

               

               Painted rug by Charm Home

Painted rug from the almost 40 year old intern

Let me tell you, there are a lot of other painted rugs out there all using some version of a stencil or tape and the all important erslev rug from Ikea. Who can beat $39.99 for a 5x7 and $59.99 for a 6x9?  Granted these are flat weave and will require a location in our house that needs some floor coverage but doesn't require a cushy pile.  The men in my life, hubbs and pup, like to lay on the floor so comfort is almost as high as aesthetics on the priority list.  So, I'm thinking a painted rug looks like an excellent replacement for our current kitchen rug http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/39827?feat=902-CL1 (sorry for the link, I'm too embarrassed to include a photo).  Note to self, never purchase a braided wool rug.  Ikea here I come!!

Grown-ups live here

Before

Beer signs are fun...and they belong in a bar.  They may also be appropriate on the wall in a bachelor pad.  Unfortunately, Hunter Drive does not have a bar, bachelor area or man cave that would provide a proper home for the beer drinking paraphernalia that my husband has collected over the years.  I've been slowly moving our menagerie of beer signs to the basement stairway because hey, grown-ups live here.

The last sign to go is our beloved Narragansett beer girl, who presides over the kitchen table.  I figured moving her would be a struggle and I would have to come up with something really great and pretty inexpensive to take her place.

After

During a local summer sidewalk sale I found printed fruit from the US Department of Agriculture Yearbook from the early 1900's (facebook for fruit).  Each page was around $12 each and I found 8 that looked terrific together.  They were just pages ripped out of a book and kind of an odd shape for a typical frame, so I got lucky re-using four cheap document frames that I had purchased for $3.99 at Walgreens back in college.  Wouldn't ya know, I found 4 more of the exact same frames on amazon for the same price!  Best of all, the "mat" is just the back cardboard flipped around.  Pretty good huh?

Neutral Nursery

I recently joined One Kings Lane, a discount designer site for the home.  And I have to say, where has this been all my life?? 

While many of the items on the site are above my price range (even with the discounts offered), I was pleased to see that there were many home accessories that are absolutely affordable.  The gorgeous yellow pom pom throw in the inspiration board below is currently on sale this week for only $39.99!  

A couple posts ago I mentioned the idea of converting our office into a nursery.  With perfect grey walls, canary yellow and white accents would look fantastic.  I know that yellow and grey is by no means a new combination for home decor, wedding colors, etc. but I haven't seen much of it for a nursery.  I can just imagine a long list of DIY projects starting up: fun yellow print curtains and a quilt, martha stewart's tissue paper pom poms hanging in a corner, a knit pouf for a foot stool.  Could all this be done in 9 months?  

    

Duvets for Dogs

                         

At 26 years old I learned that I am a dog person. Ok, ok...a crazy dog person. Our dog, Wally, is my first dog and I love, and spoil him to pieces. Dog decorations are commonplace at Hunter Drive and if that weirds you out you should probably stop reading this blog.

I was delighted today to find Molly Mutt, a dog duvet company that specializes in reusing old textiles from around your home to stuff a dog bed. While I think this is a fabulous idea, we already have a couple of dog beds so creating a new one isn't very high on my list. However, with 25% off from Daily Candy this week, I'm pretty convinced one of these duvet cuties will end up adorning Wally's gigantic llbean bed in our bedroom. I'm torn between the "perfect afternoon" (image left) and "pictures of you" (image right). What's a dog lover to do?