Customizing carpet

Not everyone can do a custom rug for their home and rightfully so, it's down right expensive!  However, buying a set size rug isn't your only option (ie: 8 x 10, 9 x 12, etc.) Instead of settling on a rug size that isn't exactly what you need, I always recommend that you visit your local carpeting store and have a rug that you love made to your specifications. You can pick options that are wool or synthetic, traditional or modern, and most importantly...what works for your budget. The store will cut your carpeting choice to your size requirements then have it bound or serged, leather trim or not, etc. I did this with our dining room. I knew that I wanted a wool, tone on tone rug (and a non-standard size), so I went and had the size made and I'm in love with the results. Here is an image of the rug in my dining room.

Check the carpeting stores in your area for sales. I know in my community some of the stores hold once or twice a year blow-out tent sales. Once the dining room is completed I'll share photographs.
Happy Monday!
  

Ready, set, go

Having competed in triathlons and running races (prior to having my children) kept my workouts very honest. Basically, for the past four years the only running I've been doing has been to the bathroom!! I've been itching to get back into triathlons and running. So, last night I signed up for six running races over the next several months. How I'm going to squeeze training into my already tight schedule is yet unknown, but I can guarantee you I'll find a way. These sneakers will be my footwear of choice for months to come (and flip-flops.)

 Have you done tri's? Running races? Would love to hear your stories...do share! Also, blogging friends, I'm hoping you'll keep me motivated! Have a great weekend!

Shadow boxes

Regardless of one's budget for interior design/decoration, one of the goals of most homeowners is to make their house feel like a home. Infusing elements that are meaningful to one's family is one way to achieve this goal. Below is a recent post on personalizing one's home...here are some additional shadow box ideas. All of these were created with an $8.00 wooden and glass shadow box...very inexpensive artwork, but truly priceless. Proper placement in a home makes a difference on it's impact.

This post was about a shadow box that hangs in a built-in shelving unit in our vacation home. http://hamptontoes.blogspot.com/2010/03/personalizing-your-home.html In a post on my son's bedroom you can see another example of using a shadow box. http://hamptontoes.blogspot.com/2010/01/our-sons-bedroom.html

Generally, people consider hallways as a means of getting from point A to point B. I almost always like to create galleries in hallways so that they are no longer thought of as a hallway, but rather a gallery. In our hallway on the bedroom level, I have three different shadow boxes on display. This one is filled with stuff from when I was a baby. The little white cotton dress was worn by our daughter too!

This is the other grouping in the same hallway as above, but on a different wall. These are filled with very meaningful mementos...also, the wallpaper lining in each shadow box is the same wallpaper as in our son's and daughter's bedroom. (Yes, I have a little thing for baby chapeaus!)

The sky is the limit when creating a shadow box.  I love their ideas too! One blogger, Shari @ http://www.littlebluedeer.blogspot.com/ commented on my blog that she is planning to put her great-grandmother's apron in a shadow box and display in her kitchen...that would be amazing! I also think a grouping of shadow boxes above a console in a living area could be quite striking!

I'd love to hear about your ideas for additional items that are perfect for a shadow box! Oh, not one of these displays took me more than thirty minutes to assemble and hang...a great weekend project!

Sivaana pillows

While at the New York International Gift Fair earlier this year, I came across a supplier of pillows that had some really fun options for dressing up your sofa, chair or bed.  Check out this link http://www.sivaana.com/ . I am typically not a fan of decorative pillows that look as if they say "don't touch me," but made an exception with this one...I "needed" a little "bling" inspiration for a chair in my office. The pillow arrived last week...it is now the "wow" factor in my work space. A friend of mine, also an interior designer, ordered another sparkling option for her bachelorette pad. The possibilities are endless with Sivaana's unique selection - each pillow is handmade in India.


Here is the link for this particular pillow:
 www.sivaana.com/product_details.php?pro_id=40&cat_id=25&img_id=0

 Do you love accent pillows too?

Worlds Away console

I recently posted about having an activity/game table in a living room. I had some inquiries about the console that sits in the background. The console is available to the trade only (wholesale through designers/shop owners), however you can peruse the Worlds Away website... http://www.worlds-away.com/ . They have beautiful furnishings (I love their casegoods/tables/lighting.) If something peaks your interest, contact them and I'm sure they will gladly point you in the right direction to purchase any product you can't go without!
Photo from March 25, 2010 posting

Here is the console in my living room. You can also view the console on the Worlds Away website...

www.worlds-away.com/product/3-piece-mirrored-buffet--white-lacquer

Foo dog through  http://www.emissaryusa.com/ (to the trade only)

Splash original artwork by Eric Lee with Presteau Studios (http://www.presteau.com)/

Framed original artwork by Ruth Kole Cargill (http://www.ruthkolecargill.com/)

Have a happy Monday...it's gorgeous outside here in NY!  

Enjoy your weekend

Whether you are celebrating Easter or Passover, have a wonderful holiday surrounded by those who make you happy!

Bringing the outside inside

We were very excited to wake-up this morning to no rain (it's been raining all week.) Since it's spring break, we jumped at the opportunity to be together outside all morning and afternoon with the sun shining bright....working on our children's garden and feeding the ducks at the pond. My son is now sleeping, my daughter is having a snack and I'm doing a quick post. Wanted to share with you how it now feels like spring in our vacation home...both flower groupings I picked from our gardens.
The forsythia are sitting on a table in our great room.

And, the daffodils are in the guest bathroom.

Have you brought the great outdoors in from your yard or with a store purchase?