Dining Room Update: Painted Glossy Built-In Buffet Revealed!

You might remember awhile back I posted about wanting to paint our fug built-in credenza in the dining room. They are original to our 1924 home (which is ye olde for Los Angeles), and I dealt with a lot of opposition to the idea. People really feel strongly about painting woodwork! I say, if it's not in great shape, change it. 

This is how it used to look in our dining room, which is more of a hallway in our little house. You see it right when you walk in the front door. To me, it was a real eye sore--a monster that ate the room.

BEFORE:

My china didn't even look nice in there...

After about two weeks of sanding, puttying, and multiple coats of Ralph Lauren's Marsh Grass, here it is!

AFTER:

I couldn't me more thrilled with out it turned out! I think the color is just enough of a contrast to the wall color (Farrow and Ball's French Grey) but still "disappears."

We've also replaced quite a bit of our furniture. We have a bit more to go (2 more chairs, which are being made now, artwork, probably a bar car) but I felt like we'd done enough that I could share it with you.

I also ADORE our light fixture. I wanted something traditional with a modern feel that I could also still see the buffet through. Enter this Sandy Chapman fixture that I've long lusted after. I think it's perfection.

Crappy acrylic hardware was replaced with these brass reproduction lovelies.

Hello, my name is Jennifer, and I'm a brass-aholic.

I think our china looks a zillion times better in there, don't you?

My One King's Lane artichokes are sitting pretty for there, right now, but I have something else in mind. All in good time, friends. All in good time...

xoxo

Weekend Update: Fiddlehead Fig Leafs and More

Happy Monday, everyone! We had one of those nice, productive weekends and crossed a few projects off of our never-ending To Do list. Speaking of, I will have lots to share on the progress of our garage conversion to guest house/office.We're putting a little bathroom in and finally picked some tile. It's not my very first choice but it needs to tie into the main house baths, which are completely travertine. We are going with the lighter ivory travertine on the right:

A little close-up:

We finally got around the buying a pot for our fiddlehead fig leaf. I wanted to post about it months ago but I couldn't find a modern ceramic pot in 16" diameter for the LIFE of me. 

Rolling Greens Culver City finally came through for us.

I also spied this pretty little painting at Gibson and was CRUSHED to learn the price. Its tiny dimensions would be so perfect in our bathroom. I feel a DIY project coming on...

This charming mid century credenza won my heart is a contender for an office makeover I'm working on.

And we are also getting around to our master bedroom redo. I can't get enough of Peter Dunham's Fig Leaf (I must have a fig leaf obsession), so it may have to make an appearance as curtains or in my office. The little aqua bits are SO good with our wall color (Farrow and Ball "Blue Gray")!

So that's all I got for ya today, but tomorrow I'm sharing pics of my finished Painted Built-Ins!

Thrifting Thursday: A Look Back At Nate Berkus for HSN

Hi guys. It's been a bit of a hectic week here. I'm trying to nail down some kind of schedule for myself to create time for all the things I want to do, but I'm finding it hard to get it all done. There are just not enough hours in the day!

Anyway, my plan for today was to write about all the amazing things I found in the Nate Berkus for Target collection, but frankly, it was BAD. Like, I walked out of Target empty handed for the first time in my life bad. Maybe the good stuff was gone already but even when I checked online there wasn't anything that interested me. This was a total shock, as I've always adored his HSN products.

Some of the classics:

The Orbit Lamp...

Customizable settee--perfect for small spaces.

Chevron dhurrie

Twig side table

Sunburst mirror: I've used this in a client's home and it's very pretty.


Okay, this is starting to feel like a Nate Berkus tribute blog. He is one of my favorites, but this is getting out of hand! Please stay tuned for some of our home Before and After reveals coming next week!

xoxo

Pinterest Trends: "Like" What You See?

Awhile back, one of my go-to morning bloggers posted what her Tumblr account revealed about her. I'm not completely sold on Tumblr yet (it's here if you want to check it out), but I always find it interesting to look at my "Likes" on Pinterest. Maybe it's because I don't have to choose a board and write a descriptive, they tend to be a little more insightful for me. Anyway, here are mine from this week:

I have been yearning for a little more simplicity in my own home, and I can see a little of that here. Also, there is never enough coffee for me, so a custom coffee cabinet? Luxury! What do your Pinterest "Likes" reveal about you?

xoxo

All images via Pinterest

Thrifting Thursday: Goodwill Hunting

I picked these tiny treasures up at Goodwill a few weeks back and wanted to share with you today:

Wouldn't this blue bud vase look sweet in a bathroom with a few white garden roses?

I had grand plans to sprinkle these brass bowls throughout my home office built-ins, but then C said they looked like Eucharist cups.  Still gonna use 'em!

I've been searching for a little black and white something for my entry table, and this Nate Berkus for Target frame will do the job. 

It reminds me of these gorgeous boxes that I'm constantly on the lookout for:

Which reminds me, the new Nate Berkus collection for Target comes out THIS Sunday. I wonder if it's going to be a Missoni-style situation, or if we'll all get to pick up a few pieces before they're cleaned out.

I think thrift store finds add so much personality and warmth to our homes. What do you think? 

Weekend Getaway: Lake Arrowhead

We escaped to the mountains this weekend for a much-needed break from the grind. Some friends have an amazing place on the peninsula in Lake Arrowhead, and it was just what the doctor ordered. Aside from the completely terrifying drive up the mountain (the road in is called Rim of the World Highway, okay? And I have problems on Mulholland, people...), it was perfection: 65 degrees and crisp, sunny skies, walks in the woods, boat rides into town and a toasty fire at night. 

The view from our bedroom at sunrise.

Boat ride into the village.

My only regret was not picking up this blanket from the Pendleton shop in town:

P slept like a log from all that fresh mountain air, and actually cried when it came time to leave. C and I grabbed a real estate catalog in town; we often think about a second home someplace outside the city. Lake Arrowhead is so close, it's definitely a great option. But that winding road--I still have little half-moon marks in my thighs from my own fingernails! 

xoxo

Blanket image from here.

Pinterest Round-Up: Best Pins of the Week!

From time to time I take a little break from Pinterest, but lately I've been all over it. Here are some of my favorite, inspiring images from this week. 

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend! Planning our first fire of the season in our fireplace tonight and possibly a quick trip up to the mountains!

xoxo