Winter Project: Curtain Ideas

Yesterday morning I sprung up out of bed way before my alarm with tons of ideas brewing in my head. Does this ever happen to you? My best creative thoughts come when I’d least like them to (i.e. when I’m asleep). One was for an idea I’m brewing up for a christmas gift (which will be revealed at a later date, if all goes well) and the other was for curtains for our home office. Now, why 5:00 am and striped curtains seem to be a winning combo, I’ll never know. But I’ve been saving some images of striped curtains recently and think these just might be the ticket for our office curtain dilemma.

These striped curtains from Little Green Notebook started my striped obsession, and the search for further curtains of the same.

It wasn’t until I found these curtains and a super helpful tutorial that I really started to ponder the idea of stripes in our office. I love a good, graphic print and what’s better than a bold stripe? Oh, and horizontal and thick stripes for this girl – I’d like to avoid any traditional vertical stripes in this office because, frankly, it’s just not my style. I have a hard time finding the right fabric most of the time, so I’m seriously considering a DIY approach for these puppies. Now’s where my lovely readers come in to play.

Here is a very rough sketch of some ideas I’m considering for the office window treatments. I’d love to bring in the mustardy yellow that’s in the lamp shade and reupholstered chair, but I’m not sure if that would be too drastic on two windows (4 panels). I love the tone on tone of a light gray and a white, but maybe I need Option 3 to bring a little bit of both colors into the room. Option 3 may be a bit more traditional, so I’m a bit hesitant about that one. Just to refresh your memory, the curtains would be going in this lovely hole that we call the office:

Care to share your thoughts on the curtain options? I’m not 100% on the striped look (when am I ever 100% on anything house related?) but I’d love to hear what the blog world thinks and hopefully help in my decision-making. Poll time – go!

Un-tagged images yoinked from Apartment Therapy and Smitten Design.

The Craziness that is Me

I’m a scatterbrain.

It amazes me that I’m a designer sometimes – a profession that relies so heavily on little details – because, goodness, I’m a basket case sometimes. Take today, for instance. I came home during the day to let Charlie out for a few minutes between meetings. He was his usual, boisterous self, so I was preoccupied with trying to clean his muddy feet and forgot to lock the door. AND CLOSE IT. I actually left my house with a door cracked and not locked. Hey robbers, come on in, the house is open for business. I also ran some errands and picked up some vitamins that we were out of. Said vitamins were the ones that Scott and I decided to buy from Trader Joe’s since they were half the price. And where did I buy them from? Not Trader Joe’s. Naturally. Oh, and I went to the store to pick up dog food and forgot that I had bought anything when I got home and waltzed right in the door – sans dog food.

It’s a wonder my lovely husband can tolerate me. And that my head doesn’t fall off my shoulders. Maybe tomorrow my brain will work with me and not against me – for my abode’s sake.

Image courtesy of Google-icious.

Loathing Leaves

Isn’t this a lovely sight? Every Fall, I get excited about the changing leaves and being able to enjoy the vibrant yellows and reds for a brief amount of time. Our neighborhood is transformed seemingly overnight into a movie-like set up. The slight nip in the air and the energizing colors that are introduced into the landscape almost make me forget about the awful event that happens shortly after the initial high – the dreaded raking of the leaves.

Ugh.

And that’s not even the half of it. Or a fourth of it. Thanks to our super lush neighborhood, every fall we have an all out battle against dead and decaying leaves. It’s a fight against time to rake them up to save our grass, only to be defeated by the evil leaves the very next day. It’s obnoxious. This year, however, we decided to take off our DIY hats for a second and give some local landscapers some extra cash by doing them the honor of raking our leaves for us – all for the cool price of $60. Scott actually said “that’s the best $60 I’ve ever spent” after we admired the 24+ bags lined along our street, all while relishing in our un-sore muscles. We’ll do our fair share of raking to keep things from getting out of hand, but we plan to hire professional help at least one more time to give us some time for other, more enjoyable things this Fall. What are your thoughts on hiring someone to rake your leaves? Some of our friends seemed to think $60 was a bit outrageous, while others agreed that it was money well spent. Sound off!

Winter Project

This past weekend, while driving around town running some errands, my husband said something to me that almost made me look forward to the dreaded winter season. “Let’s do a winter project”. I paused, smiled, and thought my husband must really get me. I’m a self-proclaimed winter hater, so this little idea thrown up by my one and only was music to my ears. It didn’t take much discussing for us to decide that our home office needed a bit of a pick me up. I admit, the office hasn’t been featured very often on this blog because, well, it’s heinous. It’s basically a mishmash of random furniture pieces that had to go somewhere, so they ended up in the office. Take a look at our disaster that is in desperate need of a winter makeover.

Oh, the horror. Yes internet, you have now gotten a glimpse into our sad little office that we close the door to when guests come over. The old school table I refinished (ie tried to salvage) sadly sits in the corner, but doesn’t provide any efficient storage. And the wires. Oh goodness gracious, the wires. They are the bane of my existence.

The other side of the office is even more sad, if you can believe it. We have some wall space that isn’t being utilized to its full potential, and some hand-me-down storage that just isn’t making the cut. So what to do? Enter, our winter project idea collage.

Scott and I love the rich browns we have rocking in this space, but this room needs some colors to brighten things up a bit. Also, Scott works from home about 3 days a week and spends all day in this room, so the organization needs to be pumped up. I’m not completely sold on this collage, but it’s at least a good starting point while we work our way to a more functional and pleasing home office.

The desk, rug and side chair are existing, as well as our lovely Crate and Barrel ladder bookshelf. We’re planning to toss the old green table, as well as the cheapo college bookshelf to free up the room for some more useful storage solutions. We’ll reposition some items in the room to make the space work better, as well as add an Expedit storage unit from Ikea to form a credenza of sorts, with tons of useful storage within. We’ll even customize it with some door inserts, metal legs and some colorful knobs to take it from building standard to super snazzy.

Scott is in desperate need of an office chair that can house his tushy for an 8 hour day. I’ve been eyeing this one from CB2 for quite some time, so I think we may need to make it a member of our household. We’ll also bring in some color/pattern through window treatments – I’m not 100% sold on these particular ones, but I want something that will coordinate, as well as play off of, our newly redone side chair.

Thoughts? Comments? Any other items that we desperately need to make this office an organizational haven? Share the goods, people!

Sarah + Matt: Engagement

I’m a bit hesitant to post these. It’s always difficult to put yourself out there, especially if you’re unsure of yourself or if you’re attempting something that’s uncharted territory. I can post things about design and home decor because I live and breathe it everyday. I know it may not be perfect, but at least I know I’m somewhat decent at it. Photography is a completely different story. I’ve been immersing myself in photography for a year or so now (blog stalking, studying, etc), but have yet to try my hand at actually shooting people. Enter Sarah and Matt.

Sarah and Matt are good friends and neighbors that recently got engaged. I soon as I heard this news, I put my fears aside and asked them if they would mind playing models for me in exchange for some free engagement pictures. Luckily for me they obliged and we headed out to some spots I had scoped out around Charlotte and played around for an hour. I had no idea what I was doing, but I figured you have to start somewhere, right?

My first attempt at a photo shoot worked out just about perfectly. It was an overcast day, so I wasn’t trying to figure out how to avoid blaring sunlight at 4:00 in the afternoon. I shot everything manually to really try and challenge myself, though (yay me!). That meant about 60 good images out of 200 something, but hey, I’m a newbie. Oh, and all of us were pretty nervous since we were in a totally new situation – but luckily, nervous laughter looks like real laughter. :)

I found this super sketchy abandoned storage/warehouse near my office that had some pretty fall leaves and just the right amount of rust to create some interest. Matt informed us that the pretty leaves were actually poison ivy. Whoops. They were troopers though and ran with it, despite the risk of itchy skin.

Aren’t they photogenic? I honestly don’t know how photographers get people  to look fantastic in pictures, since I am guilty of closing my eyes in 90% of pictures taken of me. Luckily, these two were naturals so I didn’t have to prompt them to look awesome. Score.

Some things I learned in my first photo shoot: posing people is hard, overcast days rule, I love my 50mm 1.8, and I really want a wide-angle lens to get some different perspectives. I also made them a little custom CD for all of the images I took. I’m such a nerd, but I love doing stuff like this, especially when it’s a little humourous with their butts on the back of the case.

Thoughts? Comments? I know I have a handful of photogs out there that read my blog, so I’d love some constructive criticism. You can keep comments like “Audrey, you stink. Quit trying to be like us” to a minimum, though, for my poor little ego’s sake. Gracias. :)

ATL Anniversary

Yep, two personal posts in a row. Read ‘em and weep. In honor of our actual anniversary tomorrow, I thought I’d share the little weekend getaway Scott and I took this weekend to celebrate two years of wedded-ness. Now, you might be curious as to why we decided to take a vacation to somewhere I’ve lived before. Actually, it’s genius. We got to experience Atlanta as tourists, but actually knew where we were and the shortcuts to scoot around town quickly. We got to enjoy a city we were both familiar with, but in a different light. Needless to say, we had a blast.

The highlight of our trip was eating at Woodfire Grill and getting a chance to meet the chef, Top Chef’s own Kevin. I’ve been known to clap and embarrass myself profusely in the presence of a celebrity, but I have to say I held my own this time around, thankyouverymuch. Although, I didn’t manage to keep my eyes open for the picture. If you know me at all, this is no surprise to you. :)

The food at Woodfire Grille was one word: incredible. Scott and I aren’t usually ones for fancy fare, but we realized this trip that that’s just because we’ve never had really really good fancy food before. We ate things like an amuse-bouche, chilled confit shrimp salad and an egg aioli sauce – all terms that I just looked up to see what they were and how to actually spell them. We had multiple courses, spent multiple dollars, and loved every minute of it.

We also made an after dinner stop at a favorite ATL spot, Cafe Intermezzo. This place is the perfect spot for delicious desserts and after dinner drinks/coffees, thanks to their overzealous menu of choices. We sat on the patio and stuffed our already full faces, in the true Hernandez spirit. A little google action actually told me that this restaurant is home to the world’s largest Espresso/cappuccino machine – who knew?

I fulfilled a little secret fantasy of mine when we stayed at the Westin in downtown. This John Portman structure has always had me drooling, so I was pleased as punch to actually be a guest here. The exterior glass elevator and revolving restaurant were closed for repairs (boo) but the soaring lobby had me at hello. ::close your ears now if you don’t want to hear a bit of gushing:: I had a wonderful time with my hubby and I just want to tell him how much I love and appreciate him everyday. Happy anniversary, Scottie. :) Here’s to many more years (and fun trips) in the future!

Happy Halloween!

This year we decided to take a stab at dressing Charlie up in a friend’s scarecrow costume. He looked quite fetching, but the costume both paralyzed him and caused him to high step like a prize winning pony.

If anything, it made for a good photo op. Hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Halloween!

I’m Just Mad about Chevron…

Recently, I’ve been seriously digging some chevron patterns. I keep on seeing bold, chevron patterns popping up in catalogs and design glossies and they’re just begging me to jump on the chevron bandwagon. I recently added this ironing board cover to my “buy me this” list and I’m thinking that this little guy might just need to jump into my laundry closet. How great is this bold, yellow pattern?

And how about this fun chevron pillow? The stripes are nice and thick so the pattern isn’t too busy – a common complaint of my loveable chevron.

Even one of my favorite retailers has hopped on board with their own stab at a black and white chevron rug. Even though the black and white is such a strong contrast, I can’t help but love it. I’m thinking a rug and curtain combo in my future – I’m just living on the freaking edge, aren’t I?

There are even tutorials online to create your very own Chevron fabric (for upholstery, curtains, etc.)…

… or creating a chevron patterned top to your desk (or any other furniture piece – think sideboard or media cabinet!)

These bold patterns are popping up everywhere and making me itch for some zig zag pattern in my life. Any patterns or trends out there have you begging for more?

Real Simple Roundup: November 2009

Would you believe that my dog took out his anger on another issue of Real Simple? Well, you better believe it, baby. This dog has a personal vendetta on my favorite mag. Maybe he’s jealous of the time I spend pouring over every inch of printed prose – but watch out, December issue. You’re next on the doggie hit list.

Luckily for me (and you, of course) Charlie managed to only destroy the very beginnings and the back cover of this month’s Real Simple. So, without further ado, my favorite parts of this month’s issue (that are still intact) for your viewing pleasure:

1. Transform a Corner. First off, I have to address the new look to my beloved Real Simple. In the editor’s note, that I’ve featured in the past, she mentioned that they’ve hired a guru of sorts to make the great RS layouts even better. I don’t typically take well to change in something that I’ve become so accustomed to, but after completing this issue, I can’t help but give two cheers for the new look to RS. If it’s even possible, the issue is more organized and easier to navigate, with a cleaner and sleeker look to boot. Perfection.

One of my fav features this month was a little piece on transforming a corner in your home. I’m constantly trying to create interesting little vignettes in my house (and failing miserably, I might add) so this was right up my alley. RS layed out just the right way to dress up a corner in your living room, create a mini dressing area in your bedroom, or plop a perfect game spot in your den. Most of these ideas incorporate items that are already present in your house, but just developed in a different way. Easy, right?

2. Money Conversations Everyone Should Have. I lean more toward dunce than doyen when it comes to finances, but Real Simple is always there to lead me in the right direction. This article lists some awkward, but necessary, conversations that we should all think about having when it comes to our finances. Talking with your spouse about who pays what and where your investments are allocated are just some of the issues this article brings up. It also touches on approaching your parents on their nest eggs (and if it’s enough to keep them afloat in the future) and sharing the responsibility with your children on saving for college. Each scenario is broken out by why it’s important, when to talk about it and how – a perfect little list to guide me through the uncharted territory of financial land.

3. The Hectic Holiday Handbook. Nevermind the incredible Thanksgiving recipes that are in this issue (seriously, there is drool all over my issue; not a pretty site) RS also included this handy dandy guide to the holiday season. One of the things I love about Real Simple is their vast array of seemingly useless knowledge that they throw at you, and this article is no exception. Did you know that miniature quiches are one of the worst things you can eat at a buffet spread? And that an opened can of cranberry sauce is good for up to two weeks? Or that you should splurge on club soda and bourbon, and but can skimp on gin and vodka when stocking a bar? Now that RS has given me tons of knowledge like this, I can keep this in the bank and pull them out at any time to sound like a smarty. And what’s better than sounding like a smarty pants? Not much else in my book. Thanks Real Simple, for making me look good.

Honest Scrap

I have officially fallen off the face of the Earth. At least the world that is blogland – where the heck have I been? It’s been almost a week since my last post, which is downright unheard of around these parts. Alas, life has gotten in the way. I knew October would be our busy month (traveling or hosting guests every weekend, as well as celebrating our 2 year anniversary) but I didn’t think the blog would suffer as much. So, to make up for my absence, I’ve decided to take my part in the Honest Scrap “tell all” that has been bestowed on me from a fellow blogger, a la Freckles Chick. Get ready for a face full of honest crap scrap that is moi, the author of this artful abode.

The rules:
* Say thanks and give a link to the presenter of the award.
* Share “10 Honest Things” about myself.
* Present this award to 7 others whose blogs I find brilliant in content and/or design, or those who have inspired me.
* Tell those 7 people they’ve been awarded HONEST SCRAP and inform them of these guidelines in receiving.

1. What I lack in chin, I make up for in big toe length. Painting a pretty picture of myself, aren’t I?

2. I love self-deprecating humor (see above). Making a joke about myself just makes me feel right for some reason. And, I mercifully make fun of the ones I love. If I constantly rag on you during any misspoken moment, I love you to bits. If you’re getting by without my wrath, well, you need to work your way up in the ranks. :)

3. This commercial makes me super happy inside. Everything about it – the concept, the music selection, the fact that it has a loveable dog – I just can’t get enough of it. It makes me weepy and giddy all at once – love it!

4. I am a stutterer. Not so much that most people I know even notice, but enough to bother me to no end. I can’t count the number of times someone has questioned my intelligence or even my sanity because of my inability to fluently pronounce a word. Over 3 million Americans stutter, along with some famous peeps, so I consider it an interesting personality anecdote. :)

5. I love my dog, which is no surprise to you lovely readers. I don’t love him in an inappropriate, treat-him-like-a-human kinda way, but like a real family member. Becoming a mother may be one of my biggest fears, but the fact that I’ve kept this little pup alive gives me a little glimmer of hope. And who wouldn’t love that face?!

6. I never in a thousand years thought I would be a designer. I always enjoyed crafts and such, but I was a big time math and science geek. I actually enjoyed calculus class, for goodness sake. That’s until I took a drafting class my junior year of high school and fell in love with drafting. I’ve even won an award for my impeccable drafting skills (shared too much? you betcha). That love of drafting, my history of drawing floorplans in sidewalk chalk as a little girl, and the yearn the do something different from my doctor filled family led me to design.

7. I’m afraid of bees and frogs. There, I said it. You are now allowed to laugh.

8. I’m a worrier to the nth degree. Every time my husband flies somewhere or a friend is driving to see me, I’m on pins and needles. It’s obnoxious.

9. I have a great uncle that holds the world record for sailing across the Atlantic ocean in the smallest boat. Hey, it’s not exactly about me, but it’s pretty freaking interesting. And a little bit crazy. Which leads back to me – a little bit crazy.

10. I recently developed an allergy to my wedding rings, after wearing them for almost 2 years. I immediately thought, “is this a sign?”

Now that you’ve had to suffer through a plethora of Audrey facts, take a minute to check out these other lovely blogs I’m passing the proverbial torch to. Each of them are great reads and deserve a quick look if you’ve never visited them before. Enjoy!

Entertaining by Evie

Smitten Design

Andrea’s Cakes

Little Green Notebook

Sutton Grace

OhBrooke

Make Under my Life