june's play area

My little Junebug will soon be needing a play area of her own. We were in Brooklyn this past weekend and I watched her go nuts over a friend's play area. While our living room isn't big, there is some wasted space that could be converted over for her. Nick and I aren't huge fans of the in-home toy store mentality of today's parenthood, but there are a few things I want to get for our Bug Pie. Here's a rough draft of the play area, along with some over-the-top ideas too.

First, a train table - these things are all over Craigslist for around $50.

souce

A couple practical play mats (hand me downs from a friend)

On top of this Ikea rug, which we already have...

source

Maybe a couple toy bins

An Ikea Mammut chair..

Now, on to the "if money was no object" playroom items...

An Anna Maria Horner rug...



This is actually a pint-sized chair for your stylish little one - from Target, no less!
A few Hable Construction totes strewn about...

An Eco Tots play table...

Here are a few gorgeous play rooms - for those celebrity play dates.
Suri's not allowed though.

from the desk of annie

Kitchen of the Day

I've had this kitchen in my inspiration file for years. There is so much to love about it!

this old house

so cute...I couldn't help myself

Big girl in a messy dining room.

Kitchen of the Day

Leah from House Obsession (great blog!) pulled off an amazing kitchen transformation at her house. I love the simplicity and retro vibe. It's soon to be featured in Country Living magazine.

shower me with bathrooms

As Nick and I gear up to renovate our tub and shower this Christmas, I thought I throw some shower porn your way. No, not that kind.

Well, sort of...I do hear that "bewh-chica-bewh-bewh" music when I see a tiled, frameless, steam shower.

source

source

source



source



house of turquoise



house of turquoise

supermarket centerpiece

Bridget and I are gearing up for Thanksgiving in Brooklyn - I haven't seen her since her wedding in August, her parents haven't met June yet, AND....we will all be meeting Missy's baby for the first time!!! She should arrive any minute now.

Found this beautiful, rustic, and simple centerpiece idea on Design Sponge. Great idea with items you can pick up at the grocery store. Or at any of the corner markets in BKL. I actually have that oatmeal container, which I use as a flower vase.

nursery decor

Abby from Feathered Nest re-posted her tutorial on this felt monogram - yippee!

there's a monster under my bed and it's drooling

I spoke with my super duper uber pregnant sister tonight and asked her what it is she wants/needs now that she only has a few days until my niece arrives. her response, wall art for the nursery. well, well. that's right up our alley. my sister and her husband are literature fiends, mostly russian, but really anything classic (I hesitate to use that term, but, alas, it fits). they have a wild appreciation for words and have spent many a car ride, saturday night and sunday morning reading out loud to each other from their latest epic of choice. we knew then that we wanted to find her something word, alphabet, literature based. with this in mind and based some of the things she specified, I went straight to etsy to find some cheap, yet unique nursery art options.

barkdecor

bad bird

wall envy art

strawberry luna


barking bird art


magicpug

like every other male in his 30s-40s, missy's husband adores where the wild things are. (okay, we all love it, how can we not?)

buddha taxi

love the idea of the quote on the stairs, or maybe inside a closet door?

new age audrey

the best part is I am only just warming up. this is just from about fifteen minutes on etsy. love that site.

wingback....back

This design is a wallet-friendly option for my wingback chair - using a solid fabric on the back and sides. I found this chair on Gorgeous Shiny Things.

If you're in love with a pricey patterned fabric, this is a good way to keep costs down. And I love the nailhead trim. I think I'll do that to my chair!

(Did anyone notice the Kelly Wearstler Imperials Trellis fabric?)

a nice long soak

After 7 months of early wake-ups with the baby, I could use a spa day. This japanese soaking tub looks so inviting.

source

before and after

I just spent the last 20 minutes completely engrossed in before and after shots of amazing design makeovers on design*sponge. going back to the dining chairs for my sister-in-law, something like this might not only work but be a much cheaper option.

before

after

images: design*sponge

faux runner

After finishing our post about installing a stair runner, I remembered that you can always fake one too. Here are some painted stair runners to inspire you. Break out the blue tape!






Or you can just paint the stair steps, like this hot pink

images via alicia b designs, the haystack needle, bumblebee cottage, apartment therapy, uktv, pink wallpaper,

Pipe Up!

Oh, contrasting piping, how do I love thee?



images via my home ideas, room service, sarah richardson, decor pad, pottery barn, overstock, easy life furniture