Showing posts with label decor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label decor. Show all posts
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Kitchen Nook

We redid this space a few years ago. Yes, I said years, but I just found these pictures so you're welcome.

Kitchen Before:


Doesn't that make you murderous? Sorry for the shite picture. Those are potted plants on the wallpaper, y'all. Potted. Plants.

Kitchen After: (with help from the supremely badass Karrie Kaneda from Happy Habitat. Also, since this photo was taken the floors have been restained to walnut.



So much better. Although, purposely left out is the rest of the kitchen which makes me murderous in a fruit-on-the-tile kind of way. Ick. 

wall color: Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist (We did the entire house in this color. It's lovely and soft)
table: IKEA (I feel it's small for the space but whatever. I send out wishes to the universe that a perfect big Saarinen shows up one day.
chairs: West Elm (these chairs are beyond gorgeous and quite possibly the most uncomfortable chairs in the universe, especially now that I am elderly with a bad back)
Fabric: Ack! I can't find the source. The benches are in a coated cotton because kids are gross. 

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It’s Not What You Think

Peter’s on my laptop a lot doing various things, or I should probably say UNdoing various things that I have unknowingly done, to make my computer run better.

One day recently he said “What is this file on your desktop?”

“What file?” I say.

He points to it and says “I always forget to ask you about it.”

It’s a JPG with the name “masterbat…”

I immediately start laughing and have been laughing every time I think of it.

This is the file, which is a picture.

masterbath

Get it?

MASTER BATH. (I enjoy the tiling, floor, rug, and glass door)

But the “H” was cut off.

MASTERBAT(the invisible “e” is from your dirty imagination)

I think he was expecting something a little more titillating.

Laughing again.

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In Praise of My Bed

calmbedroom2

                                (pic source unknown)

 

In Praise of My Bed

by Meredith Holmes

 

At last I can be with you

The grinding hours

since I left your side!

The labor of being fully human,

working my opposable thumb,

talking, and walking upright.

Now I have unclasped

unzipped, stepped out of.

Husked, soft, a be-er only,

I do nothing, but point

my bare feet into your

clean smoothness

feel your quiet strength

the whole length of my body.

I close my eyes, hear myself

moan, so grateful to be held this way.

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Altering

A few weeks ago, I had the entire interior painted Benjamin Moore’s Balboa Mist and I swear my blood pressure has lowered. It’s glorious. Restful and calm and beautiful. Light enough to look white but not as stark. I also had them paint the bannister black, which looks crisp and sharp. (Plain oak is the enemy!)

When the painters were here I was STILL frantically getting down wallpaper in the kitchen so they could paint. (I’m one of those people who literally needs a fire under my ass to get things done.) The result is nothing short of miraculous. Well, maybe not miraculous, because shit’s not totally done (kitchen) and the fruit tile still taunts me but a HELL of a lot better. I was terribly proud of myself for not half assing the area behind the refrigerator and just letting them paint over the paper, because “no one sees it.” I joked that now we can pull out the refrigerator and have drinks back there because it looks so good!

Peter and I even pulled down 3 cabinets and replaced them with LACK shelving from IKEA for open shelves!

This whole process of rethinking and refining our space has been incredibly liberating and creatively fulfilling.

Karrie was here a few weeks ago and I’m still mourning her departure. She’s one of those people you love being around because, in addition to being funny, smart, super creative and loving, she makes you feel like a better version of yourself. I love to hear her opinion and her take on things. It’s always colorful (literally and figuratively), thoughtful and interesting.

5-southafricandesign

How killer are those chairs? We picked up two of them with the gray seat and paired them with the IKEA Docksta table in the kitchen.They are art, I tell you. Sometimes I just pull one out and run my fingers along the smooth wood and stare at the intricate webbing of the seat while whispering sweet nothings. Love does not even do a good enough job of describing how I feel about these chairs.

I’ll post pictures tomorrow. I’m currently laying on a heating pad in bed. I’m flaring like a mofo and NOT happy about it. It’s been going on for weeks. Plus, my children are on Fall Break. Crappy combo.

Karrie has a few posts about her visit and some fabric choices on her blog, Happy Habitat.

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Goodness

Untitled Yellow 2010 b

I haven’t been blogging my darlings. Laziness, I suspect and a bit of constricting writer’s block. Well, not writer’s block but “oh who cares about that? block”. Anything interesting I would just throw up on Facebook or just ignore it.

School is in full swing, which is GLORIOUS. (Typing that just reminded me of Laura Branigan’s song GLORIA, so now that will be stuck in both of our heads. You’re Welcome.)

Things making me really happy:

  • We’re going to The Broadmoor Labor Day weekend for a night. I just up and booked it. Have wanted to do it for forever and just hadn’t done it. We’re going to go to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo first, then check in, go to the pool and Peter and I are going to lie in beach chair sipping cocktails while our kids frolic. Then we’re going to grab dinner and explore the grounds. I promised Hadley we’d have breakfast in bed via room service, which she is super excited about. As am I. Of course, now that I’ve mapped all of this out and have expectations, none of it will happen.

  • This article about Tavi and Ira. Hearts and rainbows were shooting out of my head when I was reading it. I love them both.

 

  • I’ve almost gotten all of the wallpaper down from the kitchen!!!! This is HUGE, you guys. Or as Donald Trump would say “Youge.” It’s been more than a year that the wallpaper has remained partway torn down. It’s just hard and really high up all over the kitchen…and life gets in the way. And I’m lazy.  Look.

LivingRoom&Kitchen 020

See? Makes. Me. Murderous. Those are potted plants. But now it’s GONE! I have big plans. And that gross light is gone. And the table is on it’s way out.

 

LivingRoom&Kitchen 026

You know what else drives me batty? TILE. It’s everywhere. All kitchen and bathrooms have this tile. ARGH. AND…your eyes do not deceive you. That green and beige border tile? It has fruit on it. Yes. Fruit. Hideous.

BUT! There is hope. My lovely Karrie of Happy Habitat is going to come save the day and consult me on what to do to my house décor wise. (No pressure, Kar.) She has the greatest eye.

  • And last but certainly not least… We saw The Book of Mormon!!! Tickets sold out in 4 hours and I was on 2 phones and 2 computers to make sure I got them. It did NOT disappoint.  It’s everything everyone says it is and more. It just is. Perfectly profane and funny and smart. We saw a matinee and I just wanted to line back up and see the 7pm show.

Happy day to you, noodles. To combat my fierce PMS, I’m going to get some sun on my face and blare pop music as I run errands. Wish me luck.

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Keeping It Low Key…Still

Ok, so I had my 2 week follow up appointment with my surgeon today and he assured me everything I am going through is normal. This was validating and I’m sure you can imagine what I had been imagining. Or maybe you can’t. It was dramatic, people.

Upon entering the exam room he said “So, how are we doing?”

Eloquent 38 year old that I am, I said “You didn’t tell me it would suck this bad.”

He laughed uncomfortably.

I’m in a better place mentally though, in less pain..sort of, and have updated my expectation management software to the current (and more realistic) version.

Can I just take a moment to recognize Peter Provost? The guy is a champ. Truly. And I would have been committed to the loony bin had it not been for him these last few weeks. The guy’s phenomenal under pressure. I will miss him being my driver, personal assistant and all around sherpa.

So, I stumbled up on the following advice last year and like a good little nerd, I copied it and put it in my calendar on 12/5/11 with the header “EMILY: READ THIS”. (I love when I do stuff like that) Imagine my delight when I opened it and read what fits PERFECTLY into my desire to “keep it low key”

Enjoy.

(via Blooma Blog – I’m sorry I don’t have the link and now I can’t find it!)


Be in charge of your holiday season. Don't let other people or advertising medium impose their expectations on you. Keep in touch with your deepest feelings.


• Keep it simple. You arrange the pace and space. (So important for keeping your kids sane, too!)
• If the loss of a loved one, financial troubles, or any serious anxiety surround you this holiday, make the season as simple and as positive as possible for yourself.

Holiday Bill of Rights:
• You have the right to take care of yourself: eat right, exercise, and get enough rest.
• You have the right to mixed emotions: happy, sad, frustrated, guilty, afraid, and thankful.
• You have the right to solitude—for planning, thinking, reflection, introspection, prayer, and relaxation.
• You have the right not to accept party or dinner invitations.

So good, right?

Our darling tree is up. A lovely wreath is on the front door. We play Christmas music every day and talk about the excitement of Christmas. I have a few activities planned (Botanic Gardens lights & Denver Gay Men’s Chorus Christmas Show) but other than that, we’re keeping it…say it with me…LOW KEY. And I couldn’t be more delighted.

Sending you some zen and coziness on this lovely Tuesday.

XO

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Druthers

Saw this poster, smiled widely and thought “Exactly!” (found via Design Crush. Poster by Dear Colleen)

champagne

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Thursday Loves: Family Edition

Pain abounds this week. It literally feels like someone is trying to pull the muscles from my bones. Achy city. Especially in my legs, knees and hips. It’s distracting.  I’m shuffling around and pushing myself too much. The house remains in disarray as I don’t have enough energy to do anything. To do lists lay undone.  I hate lupus. I missed my fave yoga class (hi ladies!!!) because the kids were sick, which they gave me and I was miserable. I’m also currently in a fight with my boobs because they are weird and bizarre. It will take time to get used to these plastic bags attached to my ribs, where my lovely, soft breasts used to be.

The physician’s assistant at the plastic surgeon’s office, who is really really great, tried to console me by saying my bubbies (thank you HW of New Jersey)  look really good and in proportion to my body, etc. I understand. I’m glad they look good and are in proportion. But that doesn’t really take away from the fact that they are NOT mine and I didn’t ask for this shit.

It’s also more thing to add to the list of things that make me “not look sick.” Nothing on the outside shows that I have lupus. In fact, no one would know unless I disclose it, but now I have this other thing that makes me defective or different. From the outside, people are like “awesome, sweet rack! And you’re thin and funny and have pretty hair, life must be GREAT!”

It’s bizarre and contradictory.

I have to snap myself out of it and tell myself “Consider the alternative. (the cancer) Acknowledge, move on.” (both the cancer and lupus) But wallowing for a bit is good. And normal.

Peter hollers at me to lay down, always by making me laugh first. He’ll literally stand there and wait until I stop what I’m doing and go lay down. Part of me wants to say “you’re not the boss of me.” but the other part of me knows he’s right, so I retreat to the white heaven of my bed obediently.

To be so loved and cared for so unconditionally is a permanent Thursday Love. He is the ultimate. (But for fear of you thinking he is perfect, may I add, that he is an extremely loud talker and quite a gaseous human being.)

I watched Luca and Mia last week while Meg and V did some new house business. Mia was full of sass and comedy and Luca just wanted to snuggle with Emmy on the couch as we watched the girls play. I did not argue and relished the squishy boy in my lap.

We had to banish poor Finny to the playroom and close the door because he was sick. (PS- kids are gross and are constantly sick) He was totally set up though in his jams with snacks, juice and a DVD. He would come out from time to time only to get yelled at by the group that he was sick. It was funny. Mia has found her voice and I love seeing her exhibit such independence and moxie.

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Delicious, no? I kept smelling his head. Meg’s babies both have her eyes, which I love. He would cry when I put him down because he was tired and it was almost naptime. So I made a point to put him down a few times to hear him cry out and reach for me. Sick, right?

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Because my priorities are out of whack COMPLETELY, I dragged myself downtown yesterday afternoon to get my hair cut and highlighted. You girls know getting your hair done is therapeutic. Throw in an eye brow wax and it was damn near a spa day. I love my hairdresser, Michael, as he is like family. Our family has known him for 20 years. Insane. He calls himself my “brister”. A combination of a brother&sister. I ate chocolates, listened to his tales of life as a single man on the scene and devoured all of the good magazines. Twas a lovely time. But I’m paying for it. With fantastic hair though! Blarg.

Anyway, am I the only person who takes massive amounts of self-portraits after haircuts? Or really anytime? M blows it straight like the best of them, and since I NEVER blow it straight, I like to have a record of how good it can look straight. In one of them you can see Finn behind me in the tub. Notice the bathroom decor too. You can’t see much of it actually in these pictures but it makes me murderous. It’s like being attacked by doilies. Apologies for the horrible light too.

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Finny wanted in on the photo shoot action too. My sweet boy.

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Michael cut Hadley’s hair last week and she’s rocking a funky a-line bob. I’ll take pics when Hadley’s surly doppelganger retreats and my real daughter comes back.

He cut these crazy, choppy short bangs. I said “Um, it looks like she cut her bangs herself.”

“No, it doesn’t! She looks edgy. She doesn’t want to look like everyone else, Emily.”

“She’s 8, Michael.”

He shooed me away, as did Hadley, who was delirious at her first trip to a place that is not SuperCuts. I do have to say my heart beat faster with pride when she saw all of the beautiful bottles lined up neatly against the wall and she whispered breathily “Product!”

That’s my girl.

One more thing: The book, Girl with a Dragon Tattoo, rules. I’m completely into it. Thanks for keeping me motivated, Mary!

Shoutouts to: EJK for having the adorable AJ, Jenny for being the ultimate bad ass, Tay for getting her Masters (!!!) and my sis for selling her house and buying one. Yippeee!

XO

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Thursday Loves

  • Finn still calls a grilled cheese a “girl cheese.” I do not correct him because it’s so friggin cute. I suppose I should considering I thought “whipped cream” was “whup cream” until I was like, 15. (Don’t blame me. I spent my life in Texas until I was 11.)
  • No obligations today = an easy and relaxing morning.
  • I want this in my house somewhere. They’re grass installments. I like the hanging ball. So cool. (via swissmiss)
  • My heart swelled like a mama looking at Tavi (the 13 year old fashion blogger) all gussied up in Miu Miu channeling Courtney Love. She looks so pretty and grown up!
  • The stellar phlebotomist this morning who took copious amounts of my blood. I’m not even kidding. A good blood draw can make your day. I literally didn’t feel a thing. I was detailing everything to H&F about what was going on. Finn couldn’t watch. He stood in the hallway. (sweet boy!) Hadley, of course, was all up in the guy’s business, asking questions and watching my face. She would have drawn the blood herself if would have let her.
  • MUSIC! My car stereo (does that date me?) broke and I have been suffering. I didn’t realize how much until today. It all sort of clicked. No music = unhappy mama.
  • United States of Tara and Nurse Jackie did not disappoint. I forgot how much I LOVE United States of Tara. It’s been so long since the first season.  I love the opening sequence. I cannot look away when Toni Collette is onscreen. I just find her so fascinating and beautiful. I also dig the daughter Kate (Brie Larson). She’s hysterical and I love her style. The whole show is fabulous.
  • I like this sign from Sundance

test

  • Annie’s fruit snacks are my children’s crack. Specifically the “berry patch” flavor.  I wondered “Could they really be that good?” after going through yet another box. (There are only like 6 packets in the box, which sucks)  The answer is yes. I don’t like fruit snacks. I think they are boring and waxy and a waste of energy to chew. But THESE! Melt in your mouth delicious I tell you.
  • I blame the arrival of Spring for the overwhelming urge to shop and update my closet. And by “update” you know I mean “get more jeans, black, grey and white t-shirts”. I want to SHOP. Actually, I want to be styled. I want to go to Saks and sit and have someone style me, appropriately and then leave with a new wardrobe.

At what point do I seek help because I’m STILL mad Jesse James cheated on Sandra Bullock? Anyone?

Another totally random side note: I’ve been finding myself censoring lately, which is dangerous. Hopefully, it’ll pass.

A bientot.

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And It Was All Yellow

I loved this Vera Wang dress from the moment I saw it at the 2006 Academy Awards. I loved everything about Michelle Williams in the dress too. The hair. The lips. The necklace. Simply stunning. No other dress has stayed in my mind like this one.

The image of her in it pops into my head from time to time when pretty thoughts are running through my brain. It’s always a welcome image.

ADDED LATER: After posting this, I was perusing Go Fug Yourself and Jessica mentions this dress. Funny.

michellewilliams

Also, on a totally separate note, I have been trolling craigslist hoping and praying that this Saarinen oval table just pops up for a reasonable price. Big fat chance. I know. Stop laughing. However, it’s fun to look. (This is part of my goal to make this house more “Mine” and less “Look! Joann Fabrics and Suburbia got drunk and threw up all over your house!!!”)

People will sell ANYTHING, which makes me laugh.

1. No one wants your gross waterbed. Not even for $50. No one.

2. Or your pilly, stained bean bag, Gary.

2. The term “mid century modern” is WAY overused. This couch is NOT mid century modern, MFers. Not even close.

grosscouch

3. The chair you bought for cheap at a garage sale, painted a fun green color and then reupholstered the seat with funky fabric does NOT make it “vintage”, Lynette. It just doesn’t. Bless your heart.

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