letting the cat out of the bag

The last time we chatted I promised you some news so I might as well just blurt it out.

I'm opening up a shop here in St. Louis!

I have to tell you that it feels really weird to type that (and it will feel even weirder to hit publish) because this has been what we refer to in our house as a 'lock it up conversation' for well over a year - meaning no one outside the walls of our house was to know. But now that leases are FINALLY signed and construction is underway, slowly over the last few weeks I've started to tell others - clients, close friends, etc. - and no one has laughed at me yet so we are off to a good start.

This is a very long time coming and it has been even harder than I imagined. And my imagination can lean pretty doom and gloom so that should tell you something. Potential business partners that flake, potential landlords that don't return phone calls and an architectural review board that has had...challenging opinions have made this difficult to say the least. However, I'm not a quitter. A cryer during all of this for sure, but not a quitter. And finally we lucked out and found a great landlord and a unique spot so with the biggest hurdles behind me (knock on wood) we are officially underway and I finally feel comfortable sharing.

So this is my new home away from home. Ain't she a beauty? NO. The answer to that question is no. If you think this is bad, wait till you see the inside. But she has a lot of positives - location, size, and most importantly - free range to change whatever I want. Of course when I planned and dreamed about this whole thing, I had visions of a super cute little shop downtown with a fabulous store front. But the more time this little mint julep and I spend together the more we are bonding. And let's be real, who doesn't love a great before and after?! Can I get an Amen!

And speaking of mint, that is the first thing to go. In my ice cream mint is an excellent thing, on buildings not so much.

So what will be in this little cinderblock gem? I'll have my office, which means I can have client meetings, store all my goodies and finally use my dining room table at home for dining. Wahoo! And on the retail end I'll have tons of great vintage furniture and lamps that have been refurbished, refinished and refreshed as well as accessories, custom lampshades and pillows, art etc. The goal being to provide people with pieces that have the character and uniqueness of vintage items without the work of having to remove the funk (old upholstery, broken drawers, missing legs etc.)

I'll for sure take y'all along as renovations progress and as I prepare for opening day, which will hopefully be in mid-June.

So, that's my Friday news. What do y'all have going on this weekend?

If you have a life and it isn't on social media, does anyone notice it?

Hey, I remember you! Long time no see. I may have had to do a bit of internet sleuthing to 'remember' my password to login to ye old blog, but now that I'm back it is just like riding a bike. (You hit enter at the end of a paragraph, right? ha)

I've got some fun stuff to share with you but I can't jump into that without addressing my absence. That would be like trying to dance around the giant elephant in the middle of the room. And if you know me then you know, I don't dance.

The obvious question is - just where the hell have I been and why haven't I been blogging about whatever it is I've been doing?! I'll answer the first question by saying that I continue to work with really fun clients on really cool spaces and they keep this girl on her toes. I try my best to be with my babies who are less and less like babies every day. Tear. Eve is going to be starting Kindergarten in the fall, which would make many a mom sad but I just gleefully think about having both girls in school five days a week, all damn day. I'm one excited mom. I talk to the hubs about how we should have more date nights but never get around to planning said date nights. You know, the basics.

I'm not going to sit here and tell you that I haven't blogged because I'm... that horrible 4-letter B word. That is a copout. Everyone is b*#y. It's called having a life. Even my 5-year-old told me the other day how b*#y she was. It is all relative people, and I do not dare to think, nor do I want to insinuate that my daily schedule is any more difficult, more important or more fascinating than anyone else's and therefore gives me the excuse to not do something. Not gonna happen.

So this leads me to answer the second part of that question - why haven't I been blogging about whatever it is I've been doing? Now to be technical, I do Instagram all the live-long day (except for the past week or so, but I'll address that next time). But Instagram and a blog post are far from the same thing. So I'm just going to lay it out there. For me, blogging became...tainted is the first word that comes to mind. When I decided to join this blog world way back when it was for an honest desire to share my design thoughts and ideas with like-minded people who enjoyed ogling at well designed spaces and talking about fabric, paint and furniture placement. And I just like to write. It was no more thought out than that. I liked the community - sharing ideas, building friendships over similar interests, braiding flowers into each other's hair while we sang in a circle. OK, maybe not that last one, but you get the idea - it was fun. Just fun.

And then over time it became about making money, affiliate links, following the oh-so important (eye roll) blogging schedule, getting professional pictures taken for a post on changing out a shower curtain and other general hysteria. In short, it wasn't fun anymore. I wasn't into blogging to make a career out of blogging. I blogged to escape from my career for an hour or two a day. So I dropped the mic and went on with my life. I would think about it from time to time and say to myself I really should write something. But it was like when you haven't run in two years and you think back fondly on that marathon you ran way back when - it is a nice memory but the idea of 'getting back into it' seems overwhelmingly hard. So I didn't.

And then about a month ago I ran into someone I hadn't seen in quite some time and we had a glorious catch up until she said - "So what are you doing now?"

A bit confused I said, "Still at my design business. Things are going great actually, I'm about to..."

"Oh." She stopped me mid sentence, "I thought you quit that. You know, since you weren't blogging anymore."

Oh hell to the no girl! She needed that mat from Office Space because she was doing some major jumping to conclusions. But I couldn't be mad for long because she had a point. One of my greatest joys in life is also what I do for a living (lucky to say that) so of course my general chatting about design stuff would occasionally cross over into chatting about my design business stuff which would then end up on my 'not about work but about fun' blog. How's that for blurred lines? So I had a talk with myself and agreed that I shouldn't give up something I enjoy doing - talking about design and writing - just because the forum in which I was doing it was no longer fun. Don't hate the player, CHANGE the game.

So I'm not going to worry about the rules of blogging. I'm going to blog like its 2008. When I've got something to share, I'll do it. Sometimes there might be a picture, sometimes there won't. (gasp) I won't worry about what time to hit 'publish' in order to maximize my readership or make sure to give my post a title that will increase my search probability on Google. And I won't be plugging anything except my damn self.

There it is my friends. I'm putting the fun back into blogging. Boom. So if you want to hang out, grab a drink and let's chat. And if you are long gone that's OK too. After all, I gleefully wrote on this sucker for months before anyone noticed.

Cheers!

This is getting too long so I'll share my new news next time. What?! A post with plans for another one?! I know, crazy right.

she went out for a pack of smokes and never came back

So as I was saying...

Ha, just kidding. Yes, it's been a while. How the hell are ya?! Did you think I'd fallen off the face of the earth? You gotta know I wouldn't ever leave you hanging like that. Have no doubt, I still think about you all the time and I've got tons to share. A million things have been happening, and at the same time nothing crazy is going on. Just regular life, like everyone else.

The inspiration for my living room changes

I will say this blogging break has been good for me to get a fresh mind, take a deep breath and find out where my design mind is headed and I can say that the times they are a changin. Currently three rooms in my house are in major flux. Well, 3.5 really. And those of you that have been around for a while know, my house is NOT big. 3.5 rooms, that's like 80% of my house or something.

#ProjectBrentwood

I've been lucky beyond words to be working with lots of great clients who are inspiring me not only in my work with them, but kicking me in the pants to make some changes at home. What better place to experiment than at home, right? It's the idiot in me - when I'm busy with work, I tend to pile more things on at home just to put the cherry on top of my chaos sundae. I'm seeing about getting some help for my condition, if insurance will cover it.

#ProjectChesterfield

So where am I going with all of this? That wasn't rhetorical. Really, what am I trying to say? I don't know either. Mostly I guess just HELLO! I'm still here and I'll be around a lot more. It's been a long while since I've had an unplanned, free-flowing, no specific topic post. Aaannnd, I think we now all see why. It's a big bag of muddled weird in this head.

#ProjectSouthCity

Thanks for all of you who emailed and texted me to check in. I really do have the best blog friends. Now give me the dirt. What have I missed??? Anything big going on? What's new with you?!

bh&g refresh magazine feature

I can't hold it in any longer! After teasing y'all for weeks (you are really good sports) I'm thrilled to share that my home is featured in the new issue of Better Homes & Gardens Refresh Magazine!! Woot Woot!!

There is so much to share about the whole experience, the shoot and the article, and now that I can spill the beans I'll be sharing every last detail. But for today, I'm just going to walk around with a goofy grin on my face and enjoy a wonderful day off.

So enjoy the sneak peak and I'll be back later this week with the full scoop. Happy Tuesday!

family hangout design board and the blue and white bash

Recently I worked with a fun and active family who is lucky enough to have a big, bright walk-out basement in their beautiful home. But with such a big space though, it was hard to decide what to do or where to begin. So we created a plan that would work for a sports loving family, but would still give the style mom was after. A warmer take on a classic blue and white color combo.

The big blank space will be given character with the addition of paneling up three quarters of the wall and built-ins at the end of the room to house the TV, books, etc. Around the corner a bar will be added along with an area for card games and the wall of windows will be given custom roman shades. Much of the hard work will be done by the homeowners over the winter months and I can't wait to see the progress.

I'm happy to share this board today here, and over at The Pink Pagoda's Blue and White bash. Head over to see more blue and white inspiration.

Do you have a room that you don't know what to do with? Email me and let's work together on creating a space your whole family will love.

the cork at the end of the tunnel

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What day is it? What's my name? Where am I?

I've got one of those good problems going right now my friends. As Dolly Parton would say, "I'm busier than a one-armed paper hanger." (name that movie). Lots of balls and I'm juggling the best I know how. Just know that good things are on the horizon and I can't wait to share it with you soon. Very soon.

Until then, I'm putting the champagne on ice. It will be chilled and ready for us to celebrate soon.

Cheers!

blog hop: a tour thru blogland

Happy Monday one and all! I hope your weekend was all you had hoped for. And if not, I hope you at least got to take a nap. Thank each and every one of you who commented and emailed me about the office reveal. Y'all know how to make me smile, that's for sure. And now whenever you imagine me working away, you know exactly where I am. Although, I doubt you ever imagine me working, but you know what I mean. That took a turn.

So today I get to play in the latest round of blogging musical chairs with the now well known blog hop. I was tagged by two lovely girls that I've long admired. First up, my dear Kimberly from Swoon Worthy.

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Kimberly and I have been buddies since the early days and we share a deep love of color, and a good stiff drink. Her taste and skill is inspirational and I've loved watching her take England by storm as she gives them a big dose of expat style.

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She is pretty much a big deal, and I will never stop twisting her arm until she opens up her Etsy shop, because on top of her design prowess, girlfriend is an artist!

And the other person who tagged me is the one and only Sarah M. Dorsey. If you don't know Sarah, let me be the first to congratulate you on finally crawling out from under that rock and give you her URL ASAP.

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Sarah is pretty much the MacGyver of DIY. Anything you could think of Sarah can make and chances are it will look a million times better than the inspiration piece that she started with.

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And she does it with such ease, and explains things so perfectly that she makes me completely believe that I could do those things too. I've learned so many invaluable tips and tricks from her, and to top it all off, she couldn't be any sweeter.

Thank you ladies for having me join in on the fun. Now to the questions...

Why do I write?
I don't really know how best to answer that (ironically, since it is a question about writing). Why do some people dance, or paint, or sing? Because it feels good and it feels natural. I've always written stories, I just didn't always have a forum in which to share them. I write in much the same way I chat with people in person in an attempt to be as authentic as I can with you because what is this whole virtual community about if not to build relationships, right? But with that said, I've always treated this blog (and the writing) as a selfish act, something I do purely for myself about something that I truly enjoy: design. So I write because I love to do it and I love to talk about design.

What are you working on?
For the first time in Little Black Door's life I find myself with far more going on outside of my home than I do inside of it. I have a few projects planned for this fall that include some renovations and repurposing but mostly I am working with a lot of amazing families in St. Louis and beyond on some pretty awesome projects. This will be a good test for me, because as I've discussed before, (here and here) I tend to want to talk about anything except myself. I've always focused the blog on my own house rather than talking about what I do for others. But as I get busier with others, the time to do stuff just 'for the blog' gets harder and the cat continues to chase its tail. So I'm just going to have to cut that tail clean off and move forward. Eww. So I guess that is a long winded way of saying, I'm working on living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens. And I swear I'll get off my arse and start sharing them.

How does your blog differ from others in your genre?
I probably mention cocktails more than anyone else. Does that count? This really is a hard question as I think one of the things that is so valuable about reading design blogs and being apart of this community is that every single person is different in the way they express their style. I would say I'm more color heavy than some and I do my very best to attain something out of the box, but relatable. I'm very drawn to things that have already been around the block and have a story to tell and I hope to encourage others to try a local antique or consignment shop before going out to buy new.

What is your writing process?
Well, I'll tell you, it is not one that sets a good example, that's for sure. Everything I've read about blogging, and to be honest it hasn't been much, says you should have a schedule and plan out your posts in advance etc. And well, I'm the opposite. I am a fly by the seat of my pants type of writer. Any time I've tried to follow a schedule I find I don't have much heart in what I write. It begins to feel more like a task rather than a pleasure, and that is when you've lost me. So because of that, I write when I feel inspired and when I have something to share. I'm of the opinion that you'd much rather like to read something with some teeth two or three times a week rather than a bunch of filler 5 days a week. Am I right?

So there I am. This was a great exercise really, I'm glad I did it. Thanks again Sarah and Kimberly!

And to keep the ball rolling, Sarah at 702 Park Project and my dear Albertina at Mimosa Lane, I want to hear your answers to these questions next Monday.

Do you like a good old fashioned Q&A? Who would you interview if you had the chance? Does a constant stream of questions from your children count as an interview? No wait, that's an interrogation.

family dinners

My daughter's school has an annual trivia night/auction and this year a Little Black Door design board was up on the auction block. Better than the chopping block, right? After a few rounds a wonderful family won the prize. They are currently on the tail end of a major living room/dining room/kitchen reno and were looking for some help to tie the new open floor plan together.

Working with their beautiful paneled wainscoting, a great collection of black and white photography and their existing dining table, we worked to develop something casual, young and fun. By using upholstered pieces, the space will blend well with the living room which shares the same space and act as a great homework and project area when dinner parties aren't on the schedule. Multi-purpose with style my friends. I can't wait to see it come together.

Do you have a new space to tackle? Email me and we can turn that new room into your favorite room.

one room challenge - the bathroom edition week 1

Spring has sprung, flowers are blooming and the One Room Challenge is back! That's damn good news people!

Twice a year Linda rounds up a group of 20 bloggers to design and put together a room in six weeks. Each Wednesday we all give updates on our progress and six weeks from today (fingers crossed) we unveil some pretty cool spaces. I'm lucky enough to be participating for the third time (see the first two rooms here) and I'm blown away by this group of participants. I mean, c'mon. Just take a look...

Pretty amazing, right?! Needless to say I've got to bring it people. The pressure is on! And what better way to alleviate pressure than to drink take on a huge job in a short time frame? Wait, that doesn't sound right.

No matter, I'm in the thick of it now. So what am I doing?

Welcome to my new home away from home for the next six weeks. Now you could be thinking - "What in the hell? She's doing a horder's bathroom?!" but let me explain.

This is the guest bathroom in my sister's condo (needless to say she doesn't have many guests these days). The whole condo needed A LOT of work when she move in and slowly over time she's been tackling each room as she could. Since she has another bathroom this room became the catch all for supplies, leftovers and castoffs that accumulate when you are under construction.

Well the good news is the rest of her condo has made some big headway. The bad news is that her guest bath looks like that. It is high time girlfriend has a place for guests to splash some cold water on their face after drinking a few of her tasty mojitos.

When we started to think about what was going to happen in this bathroom it took about sixty seconds to come up with blue and white. If y'all think I've got some collections, you should see my sister's place. She has more Chinoiserie in her house than....well anyone else I know (and that's saying a lot).

Realizing that particularly in a bathroom many fixed elements are just that - fixed (unique is not really a word that comes to mind when you think of toilets), we've done lots of hunting to find unique things to make this not just another bathroom. Good things are coming people. Believe it. I'm super excited for this one, it is going to be one major 'after'.

Now that you know my hair-brained scheme, let's see what the others have cookin.

Abby M. Interiors 

Because it’s Awesome 

Bijou & Boheme 

Calling It Home 

Chez V 

Chinoiserie Chic 

Copy Cat Chic 

The Decorista 

Design Crisis 

Design Indulgence 

Design Manifest 

The English Room

The Glam Pad 

Mimosa Lane 

My Notting Hill 

The Pink Pagoda 

Simple Details 

My Sweet Savannah 

Verandah House

Be sure to check for progress on Instagram, join the linking party tomorrow over at Linda's and come back next week when I hope to show a few less vacuums in the bathroom. That's a good goal for the first week, right?

spring cleaning

Well hey, look at that. I've got myself a new look! The amazing Sara Mueller is giving me a new look and feel, so excuse us while we tweak and fine tune.

In the meantime, be sure to check out my visit over at It's Overflowing, where I share some updated tour photos!

what do you want to be when you grow up

When I was little I wanted to be Walter Cronkite. And then Connie Chung. Then Blondie, Dorothy Hamill, John Hughes and Tootie (from Facts of Life). And with each new person/career I would imagine what my office would look like. My Walter Cronkite office had wall to wall bookshelves and a big mahogany desk. My Tootie office had awesome 80's blinds and a neon sign over my bean bag chair.

Sarah Richardson

My choices might have been... unique, but I think I went about discovering those options the same way everyone does - you see people you like/admire doing things you think look interesting. (or in Tootie's case - people who's skates your admire). Seems like a very logical way to discover and develop your path.

The bummer of all of this though is that when you are encouraged to pick your life's profession, you have yet to meet a quarter of the interesting or admirable people you will encounter in life. Eighteen years old is damn early to make such a decision. I liked to write, so Journalism school it was. I imagined a cluttered dorm full of old books and a bulletin board with all my articles and contacts. Very Woodward and Bernstein.

domino

And while I certainly do love to write, media wasn't my passion. But I stuck with it. I'm stubborn and I had made up my mind - journalism damn it. That is a real job.

I graduated and landed in the tech world just as it was bubbling. I was good at my job and got an apartment filled with the things I thought a young person on their own would have in their first place. Ala early Carrie Bradshaw. I wasn't particularly passionate about my work, but man did I love my apartment.

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It wasn't until my girls came and I got an old stack of childhood books from my mom that I began to put it all together. All of my favorite books had a common thread. I couldn't have told you the plot in most of those stories, but I could describe to you how each room looked. I got the movies I loved to watch so I could share them with the girls and again, I realized that the movies I loved were not about the stories, but about the interiors. Pollyanna - kinda boring but damn I loved her Aunt's house. The walk in closet in E.T. was about the best thing I'd ever seen with that octagon window and the banquet in the kitchen with those awesome Levolors - loved it.

And once it finally clicked, I couldn't be stopped. All the research and studying I'd done 'for fun' for decades was paying off.  I started to take clients here and there and developed enough of a base that when the opportunity arose, I took my leap. I was able to become what I had always wanted to be, if only I had listened to myself. Sometimes it takes a while for your head to catch up with your soul.

Over the past few months I've experienced several growing pains in my little business which is, as my favorite boss would say, a good problem. But even with the stress and struggle, I really do FINALLY love what I do. I'll share more over the coming weeks about all the good things bubbling up, but for today, I just felt like sharing.

So on St. Patrick's Day this Irish girl considers herself lucky to have finally found out what she wants to be when she grows up.

What about you? Do you know what you want to be? Are you doing what you love?

mommies behind the blog

It is going to be in the 60's today and you would think I just won the lottery. I am ready to tackle this day and I just might even roll around on the snow-less ground to celebrate. Can I get a whoop whoop?

While I breathe in that warm(ish) air, head over to A Dose of Pretty where I'm talking with Sara about the many hats us moms wear.

2014 goals

The time has come for me to put down my goals for the year on paper, or uh screen, so that I am held accountable come December 31. If I don't put them out there for y'all to read I won't have the fear of judgement as my motivation. And really, isn't that what gets us all out of bed in the morning? Right. So I spent the weekend shaking my magic eight ball and I've narrowed down my list to these five challenges, in no particular order. In honor of the Golden Globes...may I have the envelope please.

1. Fix the backyard.
I've whined discussed my backyard as long as this blog has been around (and even before that). And each year I talk about working on some privacy, but this is the year. And here's the reason - I can't look at my neighbors any more. They really are lovely people, but I just can't. While our side yard is vast and relatively private, our backyard, the space right past our deck and patio is rather close to our neighbors. And over the years our neighbors have added on to their homes, making our breathing room even smaller. And with the addition of a new neighbor and his many outdoor apparatuses, this is the year damn it.

Pinterest

 And while I'd love a tall ivy covered stone wall and boxwood hedges,

Almbacken

we are probably looking at something more economical. I know, economical and landscaping never really go together, but I'm going to try my best. We were able to redo our deck on a budget, so who knows what we will come up with. Maybe we'll find more $5 trees.

2. Organize closets
I have something that is a rarity in a house this age and size - two walk in closets. But I'm ashamed to say that I don't use them to their full potential. And in a house this size, that just isn't cool.

Eva Jeanbart-Lorenzotti's amazing closet

So I've got painting, construction, elbow grease and a lot of DIYs up my sleeve for these suckers. Note - I can not guarantee they can stay organized. (Do I hear a goal for 2015?)

3. Find a dishwasher that doesn't suck and a vacuum that does.
I told you how much my Maytag sucks and this is the year I'm doing something about it. There has got to be a high performance dishwasher out there and I am on the hunt.

Zoey cleans better than my Maytag does

I also have a vacuum on its last suck. Hmm, I need a new dishwasher and vacuum. Maybe it would just be cheaper to get a maid.

4. Focus on the details.
I find myself looking at different things these days. Table linens, candle sticks, picture frames, vases. The cherries on top of the sundae. The things that take a room from done to complete. And a hard, and dangerous rule for me this year - only permanent pieces. I'm not getting something just because it was cheap. I have a basement full of those purchases. Quality, unique and long term are the key this year.

Lesley Glotzl

5. Post more.
I really do have the best time getting to know you all and I think we have a really good time together. And well, we've been dating for a few years now, so I think it's time to take our relationship to the next level. Do I sound like The Bachelor?

I've got a lot to say, a whole backlog in fact, of things that I just don't get around to. So this year I'm going to make a hard effort to work four posts a week into my schedule. Gulp. And I want you all sharing more on here with me as well. You all are the best and I want to give more. 4 days a week. There I said it.

So ta-da, there she blows. My list for the year. What do you think? Do you make yourself a guideline for the year? Did you think Tina and Amy did a good job last night? Can you believe that Jordan Catalano won an Golden Globe?!

family room design board

Wednesday is a good day for a show and share, don't you think? Me too. I'm working with an awesome family of five who just moved into their 'this is it' house and they asked me to help with a few rooms.

First up - the family room. Being the smart (and realistic) people that they are they were not going to chuck a perfectly good sectional just because they moved, so we used that as our jumping off point.

They also had the wicker chair and an upholstered arm chair, so we were off to a good start in the furniture department. The armchair is a bit...dated shall we say and the wicker chair could use a spruce, but no sense in throwing out perfectly good furniture if all it needs is a little pick me up. I chose a great faded ikat pattern that will up the fun factor on the old girl and she is already on her way to the upholster for a little nip and tuck. The wicker chair will get a paint job and be as good as new.

The lucite coffee table will keep things airy and open and finding a great old buffet to go below the TV will provide tons of storage for toys, games etc. And can I just say how much I love a client who is game to rock some pink!

Finally we added a big sisal rug that will stand up to some pretty active littles and layered a pattered rug on top to hide the inevitable stains that littles tend to leave behind.

Good news is the buffet has been found, the curtains are already hung and all of the fabric is on its way. This room may just be ready in time for Santa.

Have a room in your house you want to tackle? Getting ready to move into a new house? Contact me for information on local design services as well as e-design. thelittleblackdoor@gmail.com

i'm in HGTV magazine, let's celebrate with pillows!

A few months ago I was sitting on the beach, sipping a cocktail (no lie) and watching my girls giggle in the sand. Life couldn't get any better. And then my phone beeped and I saw an email from HGTV magazine. What the what?

I am over the moon to be featured in their "WOW! What Color is That?" article. And not only do I get to show off the raspberry dresser I painted for my living room, but I'm thrilled the picture is also showing off some of my favorite work from my dear friend Jennifer at The Pink Pagoda.

It is so good to get one of my little secrets off my chest and share the good news with you all! I didn't think it was coming out until Tuesday, so y'all should have seen me when I spied it at Target on Saturday night (yes, I was at Target on Saturday night). As Ice Cube would say, it was a good day.

So be sure to check it out! Wahoo!!

And to celebrate, I have a special treat. My friend Brittany of Classically B is expanding her amazing pillow collection onto Etsy, and she is offering 15% off her already great prices to all little black door readers. Make sure you are a follower of little black door and you can use the code HAPPY15 at checkout. The offer expires on October 28th so make sure to order up before then! Early Christmas shopping people.

Magazines and pillows. Now that's a good Monday!

one room challenge - family room week 1

Sound the trumpets and let the stop watch begin, it is One Room Challenge time ladies! Whoop Whoop!

My dear friend Linda asked me to join in the fun for the second time and I am pumped and ready for some design action. Just look who I get to play in the sandbox with this time.

I know. Good, right?!

For those of you new to my blog, welcome and I look forward to getting to know you.

And for those of you who are new to this addictive series, here is the gist - 20 bloggers pick a room in their house (or the house of a client) to makeover. Every Wednesday for the next six weeks we will report on our progress, roadblocks and detours, ending with a big reveal full of oohs and aahs.

Six (short) weeks. Funny how six weeks sounds like a nice amount of time, until that clock begins and suddenly it seems like the snap of a finger.

This time I'm tackling our family room.

You might be thinking, "Elizabeth, you fool. That room looks fine to me."

But hold on with the name calling. I have a few good reasons actually.

First, those yellow walls aren't doing anyone any favors. They've been that way for five years now and I'm officially over them. While a happy choice in a lot of spaces, yellow in the basement just makes everything feel a bit jaundicey. (jaundice-like?) It's time for a change.

Then there is this saucy number. I found her at Goodwill for $20. She is in mint condition and after taking her vintage cushions for a spa day at the cleaners she is ready to rock the family (room). And green couch/yellow walls is not a good combo.

And the straw that broke the bloggers back was this little event. We had a really wet spring/summer. Not good. The only thing that prevented tears was the fact that I HATE that carpet. So I'm taking it as a sign of good things to come. I tried to convince the girls that we got water in the basement because they never pick up their toys but they didn't buy it.

So the plan is to change this room entirely. Something fresh, clean and most importantly dry. I'm channeling Anna Spiro and I'm going light, bright and colorful with a capital C.

The to do list is long. So very, very long.

- Rip up gross carpet (floor and stairs) and replace flooring
- Paint and plank walls and bookshelves
- Recover estate sale chairs
- Create some sort of art station for the girls
- Paint chairs and table
- Repair and paint coffee table
- Create toy storage that doesn't involve the words 'pink' or 'plastic'
- Get some art on those walls
- Find rugs
- New Lighting

I'll be referring to my Pinterest board on the regular, so feel free to check my organized brainstorm. And if you see a woman wandering around Home Depot with paint in her hair and a list in her hand, that's me. At Home Depot. For the third time this week.

Now let's check in with the others and see what great plans they have for us!

Calling it Home 

Chinoiserie Chic 

Classic Casual Home 

Cottage and Vine 

Design Addict Mom 

Design Crisis 

Design Indulgence 

Design Manifest 

The English Room 

The Green Room Interiors 

Henhurst Interiors  

Maddie's Nest 

Mix And Chic 

My Notting Hill 

Pawleys Island Posh 

The Pink Pagoda 

Shelter 

Simple Details 

The Vault Files 

And don't forget that you too can participate in the weekly One Room Challenge Link Party every Thursday at Calling It Home.

So let's start our engines and get to work. Now, who knows the best way to rip up carpet?

no-reply comments and links in a new window

Have I told you lately how much I love talking with you? Yes, you.

I love the comments you leave me each and every day and because of those comments I've started a lot of great friendships through this blog. I try my very best to answer each and every comment that comes in, but for some of you that's hard to do.

Yes, its the dreaded 'no-reply' comment discussion. I'm not the first to talk about this and there are many out there who will tell you how to correct this (here, here and here) but the crib notes version is, if you have a Blogger profile (which you can have even if you don't have a blog of your own) and your profile does not include your email, then you are a no-reply blogger. Also, if you have your Google + account linked as your blogger profile then you are a no-reply blogger as well.

This is frustrating because then I can't email you back. I used to do my best to research how to get a hold of the no-reply commenters and would sometimes be able to find an email address after a lot of digging but that is a lot of time. A lot.

So PLEASE check your profile and make sure that your email is listed, because I want to chat with you.

And one other thing for all of you fellow bloggers out there. In my former life I was in the big world of web development. Exciting, I know. And in that life I learned a few cardinal rules in the world of the web, one of which is broken all the time. Every single link within a post, whether it goes to another page on your blog or an entirely different site, should open in a new window.

You don't want a reader to be in the middle of an engrossing post that you worked hard to create to click on a link within the middle of your story and be taken away to another site. It is just like putting down a book only to find when you come back that you've lost your place. So frustrating. And frustrating to you as well if that reader doesn't end up going back to your site to finish that post. You don't want that.

The good news is that this is a super easy fix. When setting up your link, just make sure to click the 'open this link in a new window' box and you are all set.

So those are my two public service announcements for the day. And to thank you for your patience during this school lesson, I have a treat for you on Friday. You will love it, trust me.

And by the way,

via

weekend progress

It's Monday again. Joy.

How was your weekend? Mine was jam packed.

I finished some curtains for a client and they are ironed and ready to deliver today.

We transplanted the almost-dead hydrangeas to a spot in my yard where I know hydrangeas thrive and put in something else. (which needs to be trimmed)

We had a last weekend of summer campout in the backyard which was a huge hit, even if the hub's back is still paying for it.

I made a pillow with my new trim from Fringe Market. And when I say made I mean that I glued the trim onto a plain white pillow cover from IKEA. That's my kind of sewing.

If you don't know about Fringe Market yet you need to. They have amazing trims in all different colors and patterns, they will do any type of custom order you need and they are some of the nicest people of Etsy. Trust that I'll be ordering much more from them. Love them.

And we ended the weekend with a campfire and some neighborly BBQ. Now I've got to get ready for Amelia to start Kindergarten tomorrow. Wahoo!!! How is it possible to have a child in Kindergarten when I'm still a young dewy 18 year old myself?!

How was your weekend? Glue anything? Burn anything? Brave the back to school section at Target?