Hallway upgrade!

My kitchen nook is getting closer to coziness!  Here it is in its drab before - 2.5 years of being in limbo.

First year:
 (nevermind - I can't find any pics from the first year)

Second year after painting the walls:

 Boring, weird colors and completely out of scale - go ahead and say it cuz I know it!  Sadly it remained this way until about 2 months ago.  Inside my green stands, I kept all my photo prints, random knickknacks, tools, ribbon, and worm feed & compost teabags - yup, a huge smorsgasbord! (ok, it's really bugging me that I can't spell that word!  I am an AWESOME speller!)  I was starting to outgrow the drawers, plus the stands were way too small and green for that space.

Now, here it is with things a bit more IN scale and I couldn't be happier.  It started with just the yellow dresser.  Then I found the mirror, but the mirror was left on the floor for THE LONGEST TIME!  Hanging the mirror has kept me giddy for about 2 weeks now! :D

Want to know how much it cost me to upgrade this tiny section of the house? :D  I'm pretty excited!  Ok, here it goes:

Yellow dresser - $25
Gold framed mirror - $7.99
Everything else - already had!  I especially love my iron pineapple for $9.99!
TOTAL upgrade: $32.99

Yay!

xoxo, isabel

The Olivers

love the chandelier, headboard, and touches of glam

D Home Magazine recently featured the lovely home of Jamie Laubhan-Oliver and Larry Oliver located in the historic Cedars neighborhood of Dallas.  To read the whole story go here! All photography–the amazing Manny Rodriguez.

black ceiling??! YES!

i SO want a wood-planked wall!

there's something about pretty metal wastebaskets

Thanks to Rue magazine Issue 2 for showcasing the home of Dallas blogger, Atlantis Home, whose way eccentric home deserves a post of its own!  Perusing her site, led me to uncover how un-cookie-cutter DHome really is!  I've always admired their covers, but felt it was too uppity for me to ever buy, but it really is a great resource for getting to know a little more about how suburban areas can throw caution to the wind and thrive on uniqueness and local shops.

I'm looking forward to getting to know my area better!  A budding "designer" has got to have her little black book of resources and here's an easy, risk-free start.  I even looked at their job opening/internships to see if they could use a photographer =).  They have a listing, but they don't recommend full-timers to go for it. Maybe I'll try for it in the summer!  (I have GOT to stop making excuses and just GO for it, sacrifices and all!)


xoxo, isabel