Backyard Summer Escape

Is it just me or are children happier when they're outside? My boys have started fighting and bickering a lot - I have a feeling this is the next 18 years of my life. (Help me!) When we're outside, the fighting almost goes away. It's magical and pure bliss. Needless to say, we've been spending a lot of time outside this summer.

I've been working hard on transforming our backyard patio into a summer escape. And by working hard, I mean buying a patio set and lots of water toys. Because, really, that's all we need to be happy. A comfy chair for me to kick my feet up while the boys run around getting wet.

We also eat outside quite a bit. Not only because Caden loves it, but when Porter decided to see how far he can launch his plate of food, it's a lot easier to clean up outside.

A few must-have pieces on our backyard:

• Water table


• Basketball hoop


• BBQ


• Sprinkler


• Water guns


• Patio table

This list is by no means all-inclusive, but they are some of our favorites. Do you spend a lot of time in your backyard during the summer? I would love to know what you have done to transform your backyard into a summer escape. Comment below to be entered to win a $25 Sears gift card!

Need help finding your own pieces for your backyard? Sears is bringing the ease of searching for those perfect pieces with their recently launched iPad digital catalog. On your computer? Don't fear, Sears has an amazing digital catalog built just for you.

|This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Sears. The opinions and text are all mine. Official Sweepstakes Rules.|

Settling In: Living Room

We are finally getting around to decorating our new home.  We painted some rooms shortly after moving in, but that's about it.  I'm pretty sure exhaustion took over with all the unpacking and settling going on.

Here's a little reminder of what the room looks like....



We originally thought we'd buy six Ribba frames from Ikea so we did a mock up over the couch to see what it would look like.

Then we talked about what we'd put in the six frames, but we couldn't pinpoint something that we both liked.  I was leaning more towards something like this to focus on textures and patterns.  My husband, Casey, had the idea of breaking up a large portrait into a series (something like this).  We both agreed that we liked the overall size of hanging the six frames, but would be okay with one solid piece too.  We knew this wall needed a lot of impact as it was the main focus when people walked into our home.  We found this great mirror at Ikea ages ago, and I swore it would never go here, but in the end, I had to admit to the fact that it works.  (I worry that people will be caught off guard seeing their reflection first when walking into our home).  It works here though because of the thick frame and it makes this small living room appear so much larger.





Luckily when we moved into this home, I loved the window treatments and since they match very well with our style and color palette.  We are still working on the styling of the space, but here's a glimpse what else we've added to the room.



These are frames that we had on hand and felt they anchored the chair to the ground. We'll switch out the pictures eventually (we've had these same pictures in the frames for over 5 years so we're ready for a change).



I wouldn't say this space is completed by any means, but I think we're off to a good start.  If you need styling tips for bookshelves (I know I do!), Jenny with Little Green Notebook has some great inspiration and tips.

|Sources: Bench- Pier 1; Bookshelf- Crate & Barrel; Black Leather Chair- Slumberland; Lamps- Target; Mirror- Ikea; Picture above Bench- Home Goods|

The Working Proof

|Village, by Blanca Gómez $30|

|Balance, by Wendy Marchbanks $30|

|Untitled, by Ben Javens $40|

Have you heard of The Working Proof?  Neither had I until today.  They are doing something incredible -- and we can all benefit from it.  You can purchase a lovely print and 15% are donated to charity.  You can search by artwork, artist, or charity to find a piece of art that's perfect for your home.  Such a great idea!

Little Alouette Sweetness

Have you seen these typography teething toys just released by Little Alouette?  Genius, I tell you.

I had the great privilege of rooming with owner Amy Turn Sharp at ALT Summit in January.  She gifted me a teething toy for Porter and it's his best friend when he's working on teeth. The word work is magnificent and it's so smooth and it feels like butter.  Butta, I tell you.

And even though these are teething toys, I think an ampersand would be pretty cool for decor.  Or maybe an @ symbol.  What do you think?

You can get 15% off if you order now from their etsy store by entering the code littlesummer at checkout.  And if you're not into typography (shame on you!) they offer tons of other designs like guitars and mustaches.

P.S.  Amy is an amazing writer.  Like a to the m to the a-zing!  Check out her blog.  And then ask her how her book is coming because you will be hooked instantly.

Um, hello....? Closet space? Where, oh where are you?

Shortly after we moved into our new home, I made a list of all the projects I wanted to tackle.  Within about 5 minutes, I had over 2 pages of a to-do list.  I stopped there and quickly became overwhelmed.

Don't get me wrong, there isn't anything inherently wrong with our house.  It's really just a matter of style difference and preference.  Though there are a many daunting tasks on the list, there are a few that I can readily tackle.

Since typing out this lengthy to-do list, I have felt a little stuck and unsure where to start.  Instead of unpacking (yet another) box, I opt for playing outside or snuggling with baby Porter.  How can you argue with that, right?



But the time has come where I'm a little more than sick of staring down unpacked boxes, and randomly needing things like wrapping paper, hole-punch, or swimming trunks, and then having to try and figure out what box they are packed away in.

So I hereby declare that my first project will be organizing the closets.  This is no simple task, but many of the boxes left to unpack were previously housed in a closet (i.e. linen closet, game closet, guest closet, etc).

Have I told you how much our new home lacks storage?

Out of all of those closets named above, I only have one of those-- a small, shallow linen closet.  So what the heck do I do with all this stuff?!  I've started making a donation pile (even though I feel like I've sorted through stuff like crazy).  I've also started buying a lot of baskets so I can try and make things look neat and tidy.

Do you have storage solutions that you could live without?

|images via Martha Stewart & Style at Home|

Our New Humble Abode

A couple fun things you should know about these pictures.  I took these before the morning that the movers were coming.  It was cold and rainy.  Okay, that wasn't really fun, but get this.  You will see all of our short term living items laying around.  So fun, right?  We decided to have a camp-out like experience for our first night in the new home and it was pretty awesome and memorable.

So first up.  This is Caden's room.



We decided the pink wasn't too suitable so we changed it to his favorite color.... green.  We also removed the white trim and drapery.  We still have a ways to go, but it's a start.  And he's jumping on his bed so what more can you ask for?



A house looks so much better with furniture, no?

Here's Porter's room.



Casey's Grandma would be soooooo happy in this room.  But atlas, we couldn't handle it.  I'm not quite sure we can handle this color either, but that's what I get for choosing a color by its name.  This color is called bubble from Sherwin Williams.  That describes Porter perfectly.  He's a little bubble of cuteness.



I told Casey that once I get the accents and decorations up, it will be just fine.  At least for Mr. Bubble and me.  The next thing to be removed from this room?  That silly light fixture.

That's all the updating we've done so far, but here's a look at some of the other rooms in our house.  I realize it's hard to place where you're at without furniture, but once we have some updating done, I will show you pictures.

This is the living/dining/kitchen.  This is my favorite area of the house right now.  Probably because it's halfway livable.  Right behind me in this picture is a huge window (taller than the one you see) with the same long drapes.  I LOVE these drapes.  They are simple, sturdy and a nice neutral color.

The kitchen is quite a bit smaller than our first home.  But, it does have an island.  wOOt!



When you go down those stairs, you enter the family room.  Like so.



I think I will like this space once I figure out how the heck we are going to lay it out.  We need to fit our office, toys and large couches in here.  Uh, yeah.  That's probably why we are stalking Ikea these days.

Go down another flight of stairs and you're in the basement.  Or what we like to call the Guest Suite.  Yes, we are that awesome so you better come visit!



Here's a little better look at the suite (sweet) part.  haha



It's not much, but look at this.



We figure you need your very own bar if you're staying with us.

So there you have it.  A nice little tour of bits of our new home.  We love it here so far so I can only hope the fun continue!

It's Friday!

Yay!  Friday is here!  We received more snow yesterday, and it looks like we'll be getting some all weekend.  I'm ready for sunny spring days so this snow is a little depressing to me. Have you read Jenny's article about being overexposed to design?

She has some really good things to say so I hope you take the time to read it.

I often find myself shopping for my friends, or blog readers.  I want to make everything look "cool" or "inspiring"-- but really when I try to do that, it just ends up being one big mess, and I hate it in the end.

My husband and I don't exactly agree on design tastes.  I lean modern contemporary, and he leans more traditional contemporary.  It can be really difficult to find a middle ground sometimes.  He cares a lot about design and aesthetics of the home, so it's also difficult for me to pull the "I know more about design card"-- because really, I don't.

One of the most fun home projects we did was decorate the boys' room.  We had so much fun being creative, and making it a room full of fun and inspiring things.  {Remember the airplane?}  I hope with our next home we can find more opportunities to be creative with each room design.

Do you design your home for yourself, or for others?  Do you and your spouse or partner see eye to eye when decorating?

One Fresh Nest: Amanda Moore's Abode

One Fresh Nest is a feature that we have on the site where we highlight a home that is beautiful and inspiring.



Today's One Fresh Nest is Amanda Moore's home.  She is a single mother, freelance writer and has designed dozens of nurseries for celebrities and private clients since 2006 through her former Manhattan nursery design consultancy first:place and her new design service
Baby Green based in Long Beach, NY.

You can also follow her on her blog here where you'll find endless inspiration.



What is your favorite room in the your home & why?
Each room is special to me for a different reason.  This was the result of the minimalist design approach I took: I only put furniture and art in each space that was necessary and that I truly loved, resulting in a little cluster of seven equally beloved spaces.  Yes, even the bathroom. But if I had to pick one room, I would select what we simply call the "front room."  I believe it was originally designed to be a screened-in porch when these kit homes were only intended for summer use, so it has windows on three out of four walls, and is always washed in daylight.  I had never used the color green in my home before, but I find that it connects me to nature every time I step through my front door.  The photographs of virgin rain forests on the crisp white walls help support this connection, as do the trio of little ceramic birds on the wall above the bookshelf. The reclaimed wood table/bench in front of the love seat is made from timber pulled out of a downtown Manhattan demolition, connecting me to the decade and a half in which I called the city my home. The avocado green rug bears my favorite symbol: the Buddhist Infinity Knot. We're a 'shoes off' household, so the storage bench was a necessity for corralling flip flops and sneakers. There is nothing fragile or breakable in this room, so this is the space where my son can stage light saber challenges, practice his karate and kick around a soccer ball.





When you were designing your home, where did you get your inspiration from?

I think I had been designing my 'beach house' in the back of my mind for years, even when still living in the city. So when the time came to move to Long Beach, the vision was already alive.  I ultimately drew inspiration from the beach and dunes down the block, any tropical beachfront cabana I've ever been lucky enough to stay in, the beautiful collections at Calypso Home and Donna Karan's Eastern Long Island home that had me breathless the first time I saw it in print.



What is your favorite piece in this room and why?
My favorite thing in my whole house is the pair of sun prints hanging over my bed.  For the first year I lived here, the only decorative piece in my bedroom was the ladder.  Then my son and I made the sun prints one late Summer afternoon and I knew they were what my walls had been waiting for (the black and white photo is an even more recent addition). I've learned that sometimes it's best to live with emptiness and the perfect thing will eventually make its way to you. The memory of making these prints with him and the vibrant cobalt blue make me smile every time I look at them.





Share your favorite DIY project in your home.  Tell us a little bit about it.

Actually, it would probably be the sun prints over my bed. But my second favorite DIY effort is in the bathroom. I wrapped the cheap plastic towel bar rod with natural twine (which is a surprisingly long undertaking!) for a peaceful, nautical vibe and to ensure that I didn't have to look at the dingy plastic.

Thanks Amanda for sharing your beautiful home.  Consider it Fresh Nest approved!

Laser Cut: Trend Alert

I've been seeing lots of fabulous laser cut accessories recently so it was no surprise when an email came from 2Modern highlighting some of their laser cut items.  Here's a few I've seen around recently:



Asymmetrical Cuff available from the Ponoko store.  (Yes it's a cuff, but wouldn't it make great napkin rings!)



Louis Poulsen Collage Pendant from 2Modern.



Until Dawn curtain from Artecnica.  Can you imagine the beautiful shadows you'd get from this delicate cut?

I love how with the laser cutting you can use a wide variety of materials and get really intricate cuts!

Design Challenge

Well, I had fun with the challenge!  Did you?

Here's the project I ended up with, after that simple sketch:



I turned the circles into pumpkins and made a great welcome fall frame.  I cut the shapes out of vinyl and stuck them on the glass of an empty frame.  I love the look!  Congrats Jen for winning!  What a fab project!!  Please contact us with your shipping address so we can send out your prize package!

Back To School Design

Back to school means many different things to many different people!  For those college students you know it's an exciting time!  They get to live on their own, make their own choices, and design their own unique place!  Here are some great little pieces to consider:



Writer's Block



Moustache Pencils



Fillsta Lamp from Ikea



Peacock Circles pillow from Pier 1

Speaking of layouts for small spaces, we now have a new option available to help with your home, apartment, or dorm room!  This is perfect if you've already got the furniture but just don't know how to lay it out as efficiently as possible.  This single room service is a one time fee of $75 and includes a new floor plan for your room.  Visit the Hire Us page to learn more.

Versailles in Photos

While in Paris my husband and I took the train out to visit Versailles.  It was definitely worth it!  I've never seen such expansive, beautiful grounds as well as an amazing palace!  Here are a few pictures I took of our visit there.



This is the Orangerie at Versailles. King Louis XIV brought over 3000 orange and other citrus trees to his garden. They were all in wheeled planters so when it was nice outside, his gardeners had to wheel them all out!



I love this little window latch, complete with the Fleur de Lis.  To open the window you had to lift and pull.  It looks way better then any latch I've seen recently!



Statues watching the hallway at Versailles.



I've always loved end grain wood flooring.  Basically you take the wood piece, and instead of cutting it into planks, you slice it like you would a roll of cookie dough.  You end up with a super durable wood flooring with a great pattern.



Little doorknob.  Loved the detail on everything here!



Period pieces of furniture.  I loved that the aqua/light blue was fashionable even then.



I saw many bust sculptures throughout my trip, but the ones where a few different types of stone were mixed together were my favorite.  This one had 4 different types of stone used.