Making it Lovely

Pregnant!

Making it Lovely — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:22:52 +0000

Brandon and I are going to have a baby!

I’m 13 weeks along and the due date is April 14. I had a pretty rocky first trimester, which is why I didn’t want to say anything right away. I was on bed rest for a while and there was a lot of bleeding and cramping and worrying, but I’m (we’re!) doing much better now.

The upside of having to go in several times for emergency doctor visits and ultrasounds is that we got some very early pictures of our little blob – I mean baby!

It really does just look like a little blob at 6 and 8 weeks.

And of course, Brandon tricked me a few weeks ago into taking a barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen photo. Oh, you should have seen his face as I figured out what he was doing! Too proud of himself on that one. ;)

Anyway, we’re thrilled to finally announce the news. We’re having a baby!

Teeny Tiny Plants

Making it Lovely — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:07:07 +0000

Months ago, I ordered some plants from a catalog. There was a half-off sale, so I figured I’d give it a try. I bought three hydrangeas, a lilac, and some flowers and bulbs, all for about $20.

They finally arrived and they are SO little!

I guess I knew they’d be small, but still. I hope they make it through the winter.

Mary Engelbreit Oct/Nov 08

Making it Lovely — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:11:04 +0000

My retro curves bookplates are featured in the noteworthy section of the October/November issue of Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion!

(They’re #6.)

Thank you, Mary Engelbreit!

Style: October ‘08

Making it Lovely — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:51:18 +0000

I tried on the Ponte Pleated Dress from Target the other day and it is so flattering, I knew right away that I’d include it in the October style post. And of course I paired it with my headband from Love, Lulu Mae (I think they take custom requests if you’d like a similar style).

The olive green Frye shoes from Urban Outfitters look perfect for fall, and I’d pair them up with some cute green tights. The bag from J.Crew is beautiful, but I’m not sure what they mean when they say “it only looks expensive”… it’s $500. That’s definitely going to remain a wish list item.

Do give the dress a try though (it’s only $25), especially if you’re on the curvy side. Very becoming.

Dream Home (MIY: Borghese Dresser)

Making it Lovely — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:54:18 +0000

Making it Yours (MIY), a new feature for Making it Lovely, continues today. I’m following one piece of furniture through several stages in an imagined life and presenting a mood board for each. The first item I’ve been designing around is the Borghese 3-Drawer Dresser.

The dresser has had quite a journey, showing up in our fictional girl’s nursery, teenage bedroom,first (tiny) apartment, and first home. Many years have passed but the dresser is still holding up and is now headed with her to her dream home.

The table lamp from her last home is here, along with the side table she’s had since her first apartment. Her taste has changed over the years though, and now she leans more toward a subtly glamorous look. A velvet sofa and graceful chair are complemented by silk curtains and a matching pillow. Our girl does still love color and pattern, and that’s brought in with yellow walls, a patterned pillow and a gorgeous patterned rug.

Here are all five of the rooms I’ve designed featuring the Borghese 3-Drawer Dresser. Several items appear in more than one setting, just as you would bring items with you from home to home.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the first edition of Making it Yours!

First Home (MIY: Borghese Dresser)

Making it Lovely — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:55:27 +0000

I’m continuing today with Making it Yours (MIY), a new feature for Making it Lovely. I’m following one piece of furniture through several stages in an imagined life and presenting a mood board for each. The first item I’ve been designing around is the Borghese 3-Drawer Dresser.

The dresser has already been in our fictional girl’s nursery, teenage bedroom, and first (tiny) apartment, and now it’s making its way to her first home.

Here it is, back in a bedroom. The walls are wallpapered and the ceiling is painted to match the pattern’s background. Carpet tiles from FLOR and a honeycomb quilt add some nice texture to the room, while a silver table lamp adds some additional sparkle. The walls have a lot going on with the wallpaper, but there’s still an opportunity to hang artwork like the New Growth print from groundwork. The four-poster bed in the room was originally yellow but it’s been painted teal instead.

In the next edition of MIY, our new homeowner will be taking the dresser along with her to her dream home.

Remote Control

Making it Lovely — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 21:08:38 +0000

I bought a remote controlfor my camera so that I could take self-portraits. Or as Brandon put it, I’ve invested $30 in the ongoing self-absorption project that is my narcissism.

First (Tiny) Apartment (MIY: Borghese Dresser)

Making it Lovely — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:56:43 +0000

Making it Yours (MIY) is a new feature for Making it Lovely. I’ll be following one piece of furniture through several stages in an imagined life and presenting a mood board for each. The first item I’m designing around is the Borghese 3-Drawer Dresser.

We’ve seen the dresser follow our imagined girl from her nursery to her teenage bedroom, and now it’s making the move with her to her first (tiny) apartment. Her place may be small, but there’s a little space next to the door where the dresser will fit perfectly. There’s a set of lacquer boxes that sit on top, and an Owl Umbrella Stand on the floor shows a sense of humor.

The girl living in this apartment doesn’t have much of a budget, but she’s slowly getting some nice pieces. The couch may be from Craigslist (or a hand-me-down), but she’s got an awesome side table next to it and an expensive looking lamp that only cost $30. Blue paint on the walls makes the apartment feel fresh and fun, and an orange poster on the wall helps the orange in the couch fabric look like it belongs.

When we next see our girl and her dresser, she’ll be living in her first home…

Teenage Bedroom (MIY: Borghese Dresser)

Making it Lovely — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 20:39:45 +0000

The dresser was last seen in a little girl’s nursery, obviously decorated by her parents. Except now the little girl has grown up a bit and she wants little to do with her parents’ style. The chandelier and the rug are still there, but everything else has changed.

There’s a new bed, and she’s picked out hot pink bedding with guitars all over it. The walls have gone purpley-pink and a string of butterfly lights are strung up haphazardly. There are posters and pictures all over the place, including an awesomely cheeky Rock Out With Your Cock Out print. Her initials are hung over the dresser, which is at this point covered in CDs, lip gloss, and who knows what else. The rest of her stuff is shoved into pink plastic drawers. The room is a study in controlled chaos and girlie style.

The dresser will next make it’s way to this young girl’s first tiny apartment…

Sophisticated Nursery (MIY: Borghese Dresser)

Making it Lovely — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:10:08 +0000

The dresser makes its first appearance in a very sweet, very sophisticated little girl’s nursery. Her parents have decided to buy a beautiful crib and bedding, and they’ve painted the walls a soft green. A Flokati rug underfoot will be a soft surface for baby to play on.

The dresser is standing in for a changing table with a changing pad placed on top, sharing space with a teddy bear. A feminine chandelier and graphic mobile hang overhead, and a there’s a cute print framed on the wall.

Next time, the little girl in this nursery will be a bit older and we’ll see how the dresser fits in to her teenage bedroom…