Industrial Design...Let's discuss it. I have a new client/old friend that loves this style, which is so beyond exciting for me because as much as I love my other clients and friends, this would be way out of their comfort zone....but not mine. Industrial design has a reputation for coming off cold with hard lines, but it doesn't have to. If done right, industrial design can be and should be as warm and inviting as any other space. It's tricky though. Adding texture is a must. This can be tough, but any soft-scaping you do can bring in texture. I begged the two of them to bring in some color in the draperies and pillows, but they stuck to their guns (which I admire and love) and we kept it in the neutral family.

Here's a few of our favorite pieces, that we can't wait to bring into my client's bonus room:

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These bookcases actually go with the television stand below (it looks like it's a completely different wood tone and metal tone in this picture for some reason than it really is). This bookcase is begging for baskets filled with the family's board games, and pictures galore.

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This was the first piece we picked out, and it will hold their television and all of it's ugly components.

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Look at this perfect table and pair of bar stools for an industrial chic space. A great place to drink a beer and watch others play pool. 

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This picture does absolutely no justice to this amazing sofa. It's definitely a splurge for the couple, but we all immediately gravitated towards it in the store, and I know it will be a conversation piece for years to come. And I promise for movie watching purposes, it's amazingly comfortable. I literally had to get help to get out of it, after sinking my booty in there. 

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This piece is one of my hubby's favorites, and definitely gives off that industrial vibe. 

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Like I said before, they really wanted to keep the room neutral and cozy. Cozy, I'm good at. Neutral? Not so much. I'm going to do my best to bring in interest without color, but it will definitely be a new challenge/experience for me. I think these faux fur throws, will add the depth and texture this hard space needs, and bring in the cozy factor with the impending cooler weather upon us. I'm now searching for some linen window coverings for the space's two big windows, with the hopes that it will add depth to the space. 

They will be using this space as the "everything space," basically a place to watch movies, drink lots of wine, and possibly play pool, if we can find a design friendly pool table (rumor has it Nebraska Furniture Mart has custom ones, so we may have to make a trip there this week). 

They also requested a cowhide rug....which I was pretty excited about. 

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I've always loved these. I've heard they are indestructible too. I've heard stories that you can get anything out of them; wine, sauce, blood...ya know, all things that spell partaaaay to me.

So this is where we are right now, but I will keep you updated as the room evolves. 

What about you guys? Do you prefer calm, neutral spaces, or more lively bright spaces? And what about industrial design? Too cold and modern, or totally hip and fun?

A little fall on this ridiculously hot day...

One of my favorite treats as a child was my mom's no-bake chocolate cookies...yes we've all had them...and yes we all know their delicious; so when I came across this recipes for no-bake pumpkin spice cookies, a little yelp may have escaped my mouth:

Ingredients:
1.5  Cups  White Sugar
.5    Cups   Brown Sugar
.75  Cups   Butter
.66  Cups   Milk
3.5  Cups   Quick Cooking Oats
1     Tsp     Pumpkin Pie Spice
1     Tsp    Vanilla Extract
1 Box Instant Pumpkin Spice Pudding Mix
I couldn't find this at my local grocery store...just to describe how small our local grocery store is, they also ran out of bread that day....like all types of bread, so I substituted the pumpkins spice pudding mix with vanilla pudding mix and 1 TBSP pumpkin pie spice.

Directions:

In a saucepan, combine sugars, butter, and milk. Bring to a boil. Boil 2 minutes. Remove from heat and add in the pudding mix, stirring to combine completely. Add in pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, and oats. Stir to combine and let stand 5 minutes. Drop by spoonful on wax paper, and let them dry. These do take a little longer to dry than the traditional chocolate ones, but they are so worth it.

Now go, make them, and don't tell anyone you are because then you can eat them all by yourself.

I'm lovin' it August...

I thought I'd take this month's "I'm Lovin' It" post and just make things really easy for my husband (and anyone else). Ya see, my birthday is less than a month away, so why not take advantage of this post and just spell it out for him...This is what I want for my birthday, Race...

Sidenote: subtlety has never been my strong suit.

The Colin Stuart Riding Boot in Fog from Victorias Secret:

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World Market's Bodum Chambord French Press:

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Navy Blue Teardrop Earrings by Rustic Gem:

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The Simbra Zigzag Frame from World Market:

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ZGallerie's White Decorative Ram Head:

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What about you guys? What are you lovin' this month? Any other birthdays coming up?

Country Living Magazine House of the Year

I've never kept how I feel about Emily Henderson, as a designer and my pretend best friend a secret. She's just such a genius, and I loved that when watching her show there was always a moment when you thought she had completely lost her mind, and then in the end the room came together flawlessly. That happens to me sometimes...except the whole flawless ending thing...

 No one can add whimsy and interest to a space like she can, and I can't explain how obsessed I am with her newest creation;

I present to ya'll for your eye-candy needs, the Country Living Magazine's House of the Year:

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Where to begin....The mint color on the wall in the main living spaces is something I would never choose for most rooms, but here it just screams a day in the country. It's light and airy, and the blank walls keep your eye moving. Then there is the hammock in the living room, I can't be the only one that has dreams about this. It adds an amazing casualness and comfort to the room, that just can't be recreated.....without a hammock in the living room.

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  The teal on the walls in the bedroom and on the cabinets in the kitchen is seriously a perfect color. Benjamin Moore Oasis Blue, so gorgeous.

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Then there's my absolute favorite part of this house, those dining room chairs. I've actually been crushing on these chairs from World Market for awhile, but the wood tone was never right in my home, Emily fixed this by painting them that same amazing Oasis Blue color, and they are jaw droppingly (not a word) perfect. I am so tempted to do this....like today, but I'll hold off for awhile...maybe.  

The dining space is another space that just screams cozy up here with a cup of coffee and the newspaper. I have been long into the idea of using a settee or sofa at a casual dining space, and this space just puts it over the top. I also think that the pendant in this space is pretty perfect. Since you can see through it, it's visually light and doesn't take away from the other great moments in the space...Brava Emily...

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....And then there is that amazing tile in the bathroom, if it wasn't on a bathroom floor I would probably rub my face all over it...it's that stunning. It's by Granada Tile, for those that are curious...and you should be. 

Now, go to her blog, and read all about this amazing makeover.....seriously leave.

Sofa swap..

I've been searching for a new sofa for awhile. Ours has seen better days. It's 7 years old, and actually considering what we've put it through, in very good shape. We will probably keep it in storage in fact, for our future home, but for now we need a new one. There were a few must haves when it came to the new sofa:

Must be a sectional-

We love our sectional, and can't imagine not having another one in our living room. The shape fits our home well, I don't think a sofa and love seat would have anyplace in our current living room. I also love the amount of seating a sectional offers.

Must be Microfiber or 100% Polyester-

Not only do these two options make the sofa softer, but they are amazingly easy to keep clean; in fact, our microfiber couch has really impressed us.

Must come in a teal color-

After seeing images like these on Pinterest, I am completely sold on a bright teal sofa:

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So here's the options:

The Dunham Down-Filled 2-Piece sectional in Lagoon:

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The Dunham Down-Filled 3 Piece Sectional in Lagoon:

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The Milo Microfiber Sectional in teal...sorry for the weird picture, it's the only one I could find of the sectional in teal.

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There's also a custom option at a local furniture store, that actually comes out less expensive than any of these options and will probably be our best bet.

In any case, I'll keep you updated.