Oh Craigslist How I adore you.

So Nate was away all weekend at a Tennis Conference. I spent all day decorating our house, we have a total of 3 trees, lights, holly, evergreen live wreaths, and garland. It really is a winter wonderland and that is exactly what he wanted!!
I started to come down with something Sat.  so that lead to a late Saturday evening following/stalking all my favorite decorating blogs, seaching pottery barn website for inspiration and looking thru craigslist to see if I can score any cool vintage pieces. Well guess what ladies and gents.. I told you I loved to have a WM table and we were going to be saving for the piece (hoping bday $ and xmas $ would help us out) but deep down I really wanted that Pottery Barn table but Nate was hesitant because the ones that aren't 1200 bucks are made with veneers now.. Nate couldn't rationalize spending 700 dineros on veneer table.  SO I decided I could have the next best thing.. World Market table.. That was till I found what I found on craigslist.

Sorry the picture is sideways.. turn your head..work with me here. But that is my Pottery Barn table bought online for gasp wait for it 35 bucks. I originally went to see a more expensive table the guy had for sale and I saw this beauty. It barely fit in our new SUV.. but it fit and I may have driven an hour there and back but hell 35 bucks for a PB table.. umm worth it!

I absolutely love her. The pic looks hard to imagine her great size because there are only 2 chairs but she can sit 6 comfortably.  She is in great condition and I love the farm house look with the planks across the top. I just feel that the finish blends with the chairs too much and the floors. It is a beautiful stain..just not my taste. Of course I have to personalize it.. I mean I don't sit and read all those blogs for nothing . I have an obsession now with DIY and decorating.  I have decided that  I would love for her(dining table) to be black to match our console table in the entry way and the gallery frames. Our entry opens straight into the dining it is like an alley way to the dining on the right is the formal living with our pool table and see thru fireplace that on the other side is the living room. So I feel that since the console is black the table would match it and bring your eye to it rather than blend with the chairs and rug. She deserves to be noticed. I also just dig the black look with distressed edges. If I had spent 700 big ones on her I would feel bad restaining her.. but I paid 35 and she is all hard wood and sturdy. All she needs is a facelift to be Tricia Vintage Cottage Style.

Now this is where I ask you to imagine in your head.. My hubby has a hard time envisioning things. SO I search online for design inspiration just to show him- if you are the same way well read and keep scrolling down I posted pics.  

I than will add 4 more parson chairs slip covered (so you can wash them) in white linen from Ikea, WM or PB. Also a Jute seagrass rug and I have my eye on a beautiful light fixture that the hubby likes also ( have a sneaking suspicion I am receiving for my bday next week). We spent sometime this past week in the home improvement stores both of us debating which lights would look better. 

It is so funny because I always loved decorating, but it wasn't till we bought this house my passion really sparked. When I previously ask Nate his opinion on paint or furniture selection he had none. 

But I explained to him decorating is like a hobby- like golf for him and he is starting to great interest in it now. Well I can't say great.. he goes with me to the stores (sometimes) and puts his two sense in now.  He took me antique shopping last weekend. It was nice. He would tell me what pieces he liked and which one he dispises of because they look country to him..lol.  But I truely  appreciate his voice in decorating  more than I dunno that is your thing so buy what you like. So debating on a light fixture in our house is a sign of love!  But than today I told him my grand plan for our table.. I explained the steps I learned from Alter'd.com on how to paint and distress the table to black. He was reluctant until I showed him pictures.  He than told me well I can help on the weekend with the sanding and priming. Ill help you finish the table..  I was in shock. The man hates projects, admits he is not handy and would rather cook than start a DIY project but he just offered to help me. It made my heart beam..because he wasn't offering because he likes it but to be with me and make me happy! Oh I love him.

But on to my inspiration rooms.. now I don't want them to look exactly like these- just giving u a sense of my style and taste.. First is from Jones Design, the next couple from Decor Pad than from Lettered Cottage and PB.

 From Jones Design. I love that she paired seagrass chairs and linen parsons with a black table. Such a dramatic but still casaul feel.

 These two pics I like the style of the rooms.. but really it is our light fixture Nate & I agreed too.

 The common trend is a traditional table but with a mix of chairs. Currently I have two seagrass chairs and I want to pair with linen parsons like Jones Design did in the first picture. And the last two pics I love because  well the design but that is the beloved light fixture Nate and I agreed on. Its modern yet traditional and I love it. Nate thinks it will look great with the iron accents we have in the house. I agree..amazing!! So now you have seen my inspiration stay tuned for the progress. I hope to have it stunning by Jan. when I go back to school from winter break. But I have a very busy break so we'll see how many DIY and decorating projects I work in.

Below is a PB pic of a bar. I showed it to Nate because I love this buffet and the way that they used the shelving. Nate particularly liked it because entertaining purposes of using as a bar ( but hello storage also).  Our dining room is open to the great room but is not that wide for a table and large buffet. So I need to find a smaller piece. PB sells a vertical one but I am not drawn to it. So I am on the search for something similar to work as a buffet or a bar as Nate would say.  It will also be black.. I might buy it a different color and stain too..haha. But we can't afford the hefty price of 1399 for this piece either. I do lust after it though. Jones Design took an antique french buffet and painted it and I love it also. She has it staged as bar so that might be what I look for on criagslist next! So many great finds to be found on there!! I should have been listening to Nester and Mandie a long time ago.

To change the subject---Well School is in till Dec 17th.. than we are off to Illinois till the 28th of Dec. On the way there since it is a 15 hr ride there and back (30 hrs in a car) I figure Ill catch up on grading and studying for my 6-8 generalist test to get certified to teach Jr. High.  So I don't think Ill have much time to do DIY, we also close again on the house when we get back. Scott is also flying in to stay with us from Costa Rica for a couple days. While he is here we are going to go to Lake Charles to gamble.. my husband loves casinos. I hate em but like decorating I will try to tolerate. So busy break!  Hopefully I will find time to relax before we go back so I feel as if it really is vacation.  I am really excited to finally have the same vacation as Nate and not be rushed up north to have christmas and rush home so I can get back to work. We can take our time getting there, staying there and coming home. We also have our new Limited Edition 2011 Santa Fe which has so mch more room for our luggage, books, Scout, and presents that it should be a great comfortable trip! 

Happy Holidays I'll Post pics of the house all jolly and merry in Christmas Spirit next time!!