Bamboo Roman Shades- Project #5

Living room during the day-side view

 Pool Table room during Day with large window &  bay window

 The same rooms at night.. gives you better idea of texture of blinds.

 Excuse my hubby's mess on the pool table.. he thinks it is his dumping ground for all things tennis/gym

When we bought this house the downstairs had ugly 80's vertical blinds. Which as hideous as they are they keep alot of the heat out from the sun in the summer.. but they also darken the room a ton. Our living space downstairs is all open, the only seperating spaces is the french doors that close nate's office and our double sided fireplace in the middle of the room. I hated them. I dispised them. But I couldn't do anything about it because it wasn't in the budget after the hurricane damage and if I redid blinds in the living room I would have to do it in our formal living room known as the pool table room also. Luckily the french doors in the dining room going to the pool I decided to keep naked and save $$.

Since we are finally getting to the point where there aren't any major projects such as repairing the roof from a tree during the hurricane. I have had time to find blinds I loved and I could save for. The issue was we have 3 very large not average size windows in the living rooms and than two small ones in the bay. So I had to buy custom.. which can be PRICEY! After late night searches online I finally found my blinds..but I kept debating between dark wood like we had upstairs and in nate's office or light with dark accents. I decided on light wood to light the dark wood furniture. The blinds were shipped to the house and sat for a week before I finally convienced Nate and his bromance Jon to put up the curtains. 

Saturday we did St. Arnolds Pub Crawl with Jon, Alice, Nyomi, Paul, Justin, Jennifer and Gil! It was a great time. We than went back to our place and grilled out and Jon offered to help Nate on Sunday! Wohoo!! Jon is in construction and is a perfectionist so I knew Nate and him would hange the blinds perfectly and in one day..where as if it were Nate and I it would take forever.  Sunday came and passed and the boys took down the verticals and hung my beautiful bamboo roman shades. I have posted pictures of them in the day and at night so you can see them. I love the filtered light they allow in the room now. They add some privacy but you can see outlines of people in the rooms at night.. hence why they are downstairs. But we also have them in our rooms and I just draw the curtains. I love them and they remind me of my honeymoon in a tropical destination. I love the natural look  and hope you do too!!

Valentines in the E Casa

Well it's been super busy around the Embley casa. Like usual we have been teaching, I have been in my masters program, and we have been doing things around the house and enjoying our friends. I have made a ton of project lists and have only completed a couple of them..lol. But I found beautiful vintage shutters to display on my new mantel I ordered recently. So that is exciting. I will post pics of the shutters painted aqua with my special personalized subway art soon(hint-it is beachy with our wedding date)!!  But the cottage/vintage/traditional look is coming togeather and the great thing is it is all very versatile. On to other news...We recently planned a little trip to New Orleans to celebrate Julie's 30th in April. We also are planning our second honeymoon (baby moon) last vacay with out kids for July..but we are waiting for my check for my stipend from school. It got lost in the mail in December and they just voided and recut the check Feb. 1st. So now I hope this one will make it here. We are going to have our babymoon and put a little nest egg of $$$ away for baby/mommy..lol It will be for maternity leave etc.  Also great news!!!  We closed again on the house and everything went just as planned!! Hooray!

Feb. is in full swing. I can't believe Valentines is right around the corner! Well when I was growing up my mom always decorated for the major holidays- halloween, thanksgiving, christmas, and easter. She did small things for us for the smaller holidays such as valentines. But she wasn't into decorating for the small holidays as much. Now that Nate & I have our own house I like to change the decor up with the holidays and seasons. Nate really enjoys the winter seasons such as thanksgiving and christmas because we go home to see family and we have a break from work.  These are my favorite holidays too.. so I gravitate towards their decor and I forget about the other holidays!! Oopps. I have a TON of christmas decor..I have started a great collection on my fall decor.. and today after getting the PB catalog I got a jump start on my easter and St. Patty's day decor. More of that later.

The great thing about the main great room is that now all the main items are neutrals. The couch and arm chair are a chocolate brown. Area rug is a cream that matches the burlap/linen colored drapes and walls.  So it is super easy to just add a few things to give pops of color for seasons. It also makes it easy for the house  to feel not so drab in the winter months which I hate.

So I started to pull out my valentines decor and noticed it is basically non exsistant. I know I need to work on it. I have vowed to do better next year because I want to be the mom that my kids remember certain holidays because I made it awesome. My mom used to have us build scarecrows in Oct. and I loved it!! She also had a christmas village we put up every christmas and helped with the tree. I love these holidays because she involved us and made it special.. so I need to do better with the little holidays too.

I have a few vday pieces. I have a heart door mat I bought at target the very first valentines Nate & I were together. I recently purchased a new door hanger for vday because some how in the move I can't find my old one. I found my little heart rose wreath and than I bought an XoXo glitter sign to put on the entry way when you walk in. Than I pulled out my vday pillow I have had and another love pillow. Lastly on our coffee table is red candles and a heart candy dish full of pink, red and silver dove chocolates. The pics are below.

I have to say my favorite this season has to be my chalkboard. I layered the wreath over it and than wrote love scripture on the board. Verses are listed below:

My lover is mine and I am his. Song of Solomon 2:16
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth- for your love is more delightful than wine. Song of Solomon 1:2
Love is patient, Love is kind. It does not envy, it is not rude. Love rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always preserves. Love Never Fails  1 Corinthians 13
I obviously had to shorten the corinthians verse due to lack of space on the chalk board.. but it is a classic and I wanted to put it on there.
My absolute favorite is his kisses are more delightful than wine.. perfect for a wine lover like me to write!!
Well hope you enjoyed! I loved following the Valentines Mantel linky on the blogs I follow. I love seeing how creative others are. Hopefully next year I will be the same ;)

 Front Door with Vday Decor (DIY frosted glass I did) & Mat

Entry Way- Chalkboard, Rose Heart wreath & XoXo

 All my Luv Scriptures I chose to write on the chalkboard

Above- Hugs & Kisses pillow  Below- Hand Stamped Love pillow


















Happy Valentines Day!!

Project #4- Wine Cork

Nate's Aunt Susie retired last year and after his grandma passed away she moved back home with Grandpa. I personally think it is great so they both have company..but Aunt Susie had alot of antiques and they are currently being stored at Nate's Mothers. So she no longer had use for this bar cart. Nate's stepdad and him had to unassemble it to fit in our SUV and we hauled it back to Texas from Illinois. I love it! But I felt that the area above needed some approriate decor. That is when I decided to make a wine wreath.
The first step was to collect wine corks. Most of mine are collected by yours truely but the first layer you lay straight as possible and won't see with the top layer so I bought some online.
So you line the corks up as close as possible and hot glue onto a straw wreath. After you cover the first layer you go crazy layering corks which ever way you want on the second layer. But remember this layer is the layer you see so you have to be sure you put the pretty side of the corks showing. I even included a couple champange corks. The one on top is from our honeymoon and the one on bottom is from when we bought the house 3 years ago. So it has lots of memories in this wreath. Total time to make is 2 hours. You can hange it with fishing line or ribbon. But I chose twine to make it more coastal/beach bungalow feeling. I mean wine and the beach are hand in hand in my mind!

The Big Day!! Closing Day- Project #3

Our Lovely Suburban Cottage In January!

 Today is HUGE!! We finally finished the refinance process and we are closing again on our house! I am soo excited. This whole process started in October. They had a appraiser come out and appraise our house (luckily it is worth more than we paid for it- which is great in this market) but the appraiser said there was water damage on the molding under our bay window and on three pieces of siding. Most likely still left over from the stupid hurricane!!!

 After christmas break I called the contractor about replacing the siding. We were in a jam to get the siding repaired, appraiser back out, pass inspection and close by Jan 31st so our taxes would be paid on time.  Nate and his buddies replaced the modling under the bay window during break and I painted it. But the siding intimated Nate since he had never done it. I remember watching my dad repair some so I felt we could. Well after the call to the contractor and the shocking price of 800 bucks..we decided time to knock it out ourselves. But the problem was we have what almost looks like a dormer window (one of the front bedroom windows pocks out more) in the second story where the roof and siding meet it is pitched. So Nate was concerned with the angles. The whole first story is brick. I recalled that Home Depot cuts wood and thought they would cut siding too. We go to two stores before we find one that has the siding and saw that is working. The guy said he really shouldn't cut hardiplank because it is basically concrete and could get in trouble. But the pieces wouldn't fit in our SUV unless cut down and I think he saw my expression and felt a tinge.. He said 'well I am the manager I can't get in much trouble I can do the straight cuts for ya!' Wohoo. So we got the siding but by this time it is dark! The next day we spent the evening cutting them and putting them up. The third night painting them. Nate and I were so proud that we did ourselves, saved money and did it in 30 degree weather. Oh and the total for the whole repair of molding on bay window $64.00 (molding, liquid nails, caulking, nails and paint) plus the siding was $65.00 (paint, nails, saw blade to cut concrete, and siding). I feel like we came out on top here..heheh!

Pic of the siding we repaired!! Sorry a little dark

The  last step was the appraiser came back out and we passed!!! So now onto closing before Jan. 31 when our taxes are due.

So today I will leave work early and sign the contract to close on our house again. Which means taxes paid on time..wohoo!! Also, if you read in my previous post- I am very emotionally attached to this house. I am very excited to be closing again. The best part about this is- this time the house is move in ready! Oh and my stuff is already there!! Score- no more painting and unpacking! Instead I just have to organize all my crap now instead. And this time we don't have to ripe up flooring, install new flooring, rip up sub flooring, install new toilets and subflooring, paint every surface, survive a hurricane, rebuild after the hurricane, drain and acid wash the pool, instal pool equiptment, refinish the gazebo, redo all the backyard landscaping, and install all the lighting in the house! I feel like this time we are really coming out on top! Thanks to the previous owners.. oh that is us!! Needless to say, at moments my husband gets frustrated with the projects we do on this house and says I can't beleive we ever bought this house. But really in the end it was a great investment. We bought at the low and got a bargain for it. Even with all the money we put into it we are still coming out wining here! So I am happy to say I feel that 'We are finally home'.

Our house will prolly never look like a PB catalog as much as I would love it too. But it is our house and to me it holds great memories. I love our house and I can't wait for all the new memories we will have in it. So let's raise our glasses to my house!

Project #2- Living room & Dining Room Updates

 Linen Curtains, Milk Glass ( some have corks spilling from their edges too), White Frames, White Candle Holders with White Peace Lillies infront of Fireplace & SEAGRASS JUTE RUG!!

 White/Linen Throw Pillows- once summer arrives I want some beachy white/blues!

 My cork,seashells and vanilla candle centerpiece on coffee table. I love it.. some might think wine & beach not really .. but they have my color theme whites and tans.

 Here's the dining room- table still not refinished.. but new PB stripe Jute rug, New Bar from my MIL, monogram plate from Cousin-in Laws, Margarita Maker & Wine stored below!!

Here is the Light I was given for the dining room still in it's box.. hubby swears it will go up next weekend & than I will share more pics.

If you saw my previous posts you saw my inspiration. It is finally coming togeather, but I didn't want too much of a theme. Currently there are just a lot of neutrals and it was amazing how when I placed the seagrass rugs in from PB (got them on winter sale) that the rooms look so much larger. They also keep the dog hair down because it doesn't hold the hair well. The shag tan and red rug moved to the other side of the living room where the pool table is and scout still loves laying on 'his' rug.  Basically both rooms are done now! I want to get some nautical beachy pillows for summer and add the bamboo roman shades to living room and I will be done. The dining room just needs ceiling light hung and table refinished. I am thinking since this is the only room with out a vaulted ceiling attached to great room about painting the ceiling an aqua or pale blue.. almost white. I think it would look cool! We'll see if I get around to it!!

PS it is a little dark under the fish tank but I finally got a PB Pepsi crate.. nate dislikes it alot! So it not under the coffee table now. It is under the fish tank. The other one I got was yellow ( i disdain yellow) and is in the garage holding my tools. I figure once we have kids it can hold books or small toys like legos. So I won't part with either!

Happy New Year & Project #1 of 2011

 Coat Rack & show basket overflowing- Above
Below- Entry way Table completed with Chalk board & Wall Gallery - Christmas was still up!!


Nativity Scene given to us from Nate's Mom which was brought back from Africa from his grandpa!! Also our Jingle Bell wreath and Note to Santa on Chalk board from Scout!!


Close up of Valentine Decor in Entryway- Fresh Mum Flowers from my hubby! Not always there! Plus my sheet music wreath with Psalms written on Chalk board. Also my vday decor of XOXO!!

View from livingroom- my last DIY frosted front door windows letting in the light! LUV!!  It looks a little busy with the mums and XoXO.. but its for a short while..

Previously when we had a ton of warm colors in the great room (think all reds & browns) there was no entry way table. It was just a wall of crosses. I loved the crosses but my hubby hated them. He is a christian he just prefers art/photos on the wall than a whole wall covered in crosses! When I decided to change the decor in the room to something I could change when I got tired of it.. I went neutral. Now the curtains are linen to match the walls and everything is very classic with punches of color here and there.

  So I started thinking of a better way to maximize this area. I started with a memo board that is a chalk board (old mirror converted). I than hung all our favorite pics from our weddingmoon in Hawaii. There are pics of Nate and I with his sister and than us with my sisters, landscapes where we snorkeled, the wedding, honeymoon shoots and of course a Hawaiian Guitar printed on sheet music and a vintage skeleton key on scrapbook paper.. I love the Key- Nate will always hold my key to my heart as well as Hawaii. All the frames are black so that it feels cohesive but they are all different types of frames, some shiny, some matte, some flat some bulky with trim! I call this our tribute wall to Hawaii.. whenever Nate & I are stressed we always think back to Hawaii. So it is nice to have the reminder in our entrywall.
 Once I created the wall gallery I felt that it needed a table! So I found a PB knockoff and it is great in it's ebony color- vintage yet modern I feel. It really was a desk but it fit the wall space perfectly and I love the turn table legs and ebony finish.  I also pushed the two stools  covered in cream linen that I use for extra seating when kiddos are over under the table. On top I added a potted orchid- my favorite flower on top of a stack of books on beaches and Hawaii. I love orchids, I have some in my vanity area in our bedroom, one in the guest bath upstairs and now one in the entry. I feel like it adds instant elegance or timeless-ness. Yeah I am an english teacher and I just made that word up!! Plus a great lamp with linen drum shade. It was than complete!
To make the area work even better for us I bought a coat rack to hang dog leashes, keys, my coach purse, scarfs and jackets on it. If you see under the rack is the leather shoe basket which I am going to up grade to a larger one in wicker soon! I have to upgrade because my coaching husband has more tennis shoes than fit in our closet and now the shoe basket!! I found a great one at Target similar to a very costly one of PB and will order next pay period.. I hope you enjoy! I sure love it! I feel like the lamp makes such a lovely light in the evenings.. the photos are near and dear to us obvioulsy so I love looking at them. I also love layering the chalkbaord with wreaths (stole idea from nester).. Lastly  I  love the function of this area now. Pretty and funtional!!

Isn't my hubby great for bringing me mums.. the only reason they are in the entry way is because Bella our siamesse loves eating flowers and she is scared of this table for some reason.. mums are safe!

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!!