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Monday, June 25, 2012

Keeping The Entryway Organized

Do you find it difficult keeping the entryway/foyer clean and organized? This is the first space people see when they enter your home. It creates an immediate impression and usually reflects the state of the rest of the house.


If one has an entryway/foyer table, this could be where the mail can get dumped and where keys are thrown.


I had shared this space with you in my first post last year. I had purchased the bench online from Target. It was initially for the outdoors but I brought it into the house. I love the tiles on it and the spindles beneath the arms lend character.

I have repurposed the bench. It serves as an entryway table and a good size one, too.

I would like to show you how I keep this area of the house clean and organized for everyone.

I purchased this unique vintage English brass magazine holder from Phat Dog on Etsy last year. I had initally thought I would use it as an accent piece in the living room and I had it there for a few months. It has two compartments.


Although it has some discoloration and a few minor dings, it has some beautiful repoussé* work of an outdoor pub scene and I have chosen to leave it as is. It has more character untouched.

* repoussé - malleable metal decorated or embossed by hammering from the reverse side.

I also found this adorable woven basket from simply objekts, also on Etsy.


It is just 9 1/4" high (with handles) and 8" wide.

I have both items on the bench as tools for keeping mail and keys organized as they are brought in the front door.


The basket has ample room for all keys  - house and car. And I also keep my spare mini measuring tape to grab-and-go for when I am shopping for items that require measuring. A small one is lighter, naturally, and adds little weight to my already heavy bag.

The mail is placed in the magazine holder. Magazines and catalogs in the back compartment and everything else in the front.


From here I can easily discard/recycle junk mail. On occasion this has got quite full on days when we have received more than the usual amount of mail but I am getting to be more diligent with clearing the magazine holder. These two items have been worth every penny.

This is an easy way to stay organized in the entryway before these important items - mail and keys - get lost and/or add clutter to any space. The basket saves time looking for keys and the magazine holder enables some initial organization of mail before it is moved to the next location.





I love this system. As you can see, the bench has room for flowers and when I am running in-and-out of the house through the day I do leave my bag on it, too.

We have a coat closet as well as a mudroom (or mud "nook", as I sometimes refer to it) for coats and backpacks and shoes.

Staying organized saves time and of course, conserves energy.


Do you have an organized system in place for your mail and keys? I would love to hear about it.


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I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

I Am Excited About These Home Goods Finds

I am so thrilled to be able to incorporate these new pieces into the redecorating of the basement. I happened to come across the four fun items on a quick trip into Home Goods a couple of weeks ago. As usual, I was multitasking and was not looking for items for the basement.

The first two pieces can double as tables or seating. They were $69.99 each. I love this drum-shaped one with it's fluted sides and spiral top.





This seagrass-like piece I picked up first. I think it is a great piece to lighten things up and for adding a natural element and texture. Both pieces are lightweight so will be easy for the kids to move around as required.

They will make perfect accents to the PB teen sectional.



This fun chevron-patterned throw pillow was $16.99.


  

 
Lastly, this wire magazine holder which will balance the heavier pieces, I plant to keep stacked against the wall. It is perfect for a book or 2, incomplete artwork, journals, anything the kids may be working on/reading that requires a temporary home. A convenient, accessible storage system. 

This cost me $19.99.

 


I also liked the magazine holder because it will (hopefully) help the kids keep any items in there organized as everything will be visible. The price...

 

 
In a couple of weeks we have family visiting us from Australia so I have to have some of this in place before then so that all the kids can enjoy this space when they are required to be indoors.


We are finally in the last couple of days of final exams and I have 2 moving-up/graduation ceremonies this week and a couple of home projects to complete. So bear with me if I am a little late in visiting your blogs this week.


If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Friday, June 15, 2012

Sectional For The Basement

I have yet to share pictures of the furniture in the basement but I wanted to show you where I shopped for the main seating for this space.

A few years ago I had my heart set on a lounge sectional from PB teen after having weighed different options. I have used faux suede for my home and for clients so when I saw this collection online and liked the overall look and shape and height of the pieces I knew this was the solution for my kids and their cousins and friends who visit frequently.

When purchasing any type of seating (or bed) it is important to take into consideration who it is being bought for and have them test it out. Before making this purchase I did want the the kids' opinions and so we visited a PB teen store on Manhattan's Upper East Side and tested the floor sample. They sat and yes, they "lounged" !


View in Room


I wanted something that would last many years - durability, comfort and of course, style were the criteria.
This is perfect for an adult to lounge on, too. The basement has the second of 2 televisions in the house - the first one is in the family room. On occasion I have watched a movie or a show on this ever-so-comfortable couch.

I opted to buy the four pieces shown above with the cushions in the exact chocolate brown color. Many color options are available.

The bases offered are white turned wood (shown above), storage base (below), or pedestal base. The storage base comes in white, chestnut or espresso finishes while the pedestal base can be purchased in white, chestnut or dark espresso finishes.

Cushy Lounge Collection

I chose the pedestal base in white finish.


View in Room


This lounge set has been used in different configurations as the kids desired. It was as much a perfect choice a few years ago as it would be if I had to purchase it today. We love it.

The cushions can be used without a base if one prefers. At a sizable 31" square the seating is so very roomy and extremely comfortable. Height varies depending on the base.




I love low seating options. They lend a casual feel to a space and I find them more inviting.

The navy twill with white piping option (below) was not offered when I was looking.


Cushy Lounge Collection


Neither was this Trailblazer faux suede option which really looks like leather.


View in Room

This collection is currently on sale at PB teen.


Meanwhile, I found some perfect (and unexpected) pieces last week while on a quick trip to Home Goods. I will share those with you next week.


Enjoy your weekend and Father's Day!

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.
Please Note: I have not been compensated in any way by for this post. The views and opinions expressed here are solely mine and are based on my experience with and on my purchase of this product.


Monday, June 11, 2012

Cocktail Tray Table For The Living Room

On a recent "trip" to Joss & Main I came across this amazing cocktail tray table. And it was offered at a fabulous price. I thought it would be perfect for many decor styles and certainly for a small space where the need for an end table might arise.


I had been on a hunt for a stylish end table for a while and grabbed this one the moment I saw it. It has a global feel with a subtle engraving around it and it adds the metallic element to the living room.


It is functional and pretty and of great quality.
It cost me just $51.95 + s&h  and works perfectly with the other items in the living room.



The ring on the leg to the left of the picture is used to collapse the 3 legs.



It adds a little punch to the space between 2 armchairs.




Are you familiar with Joss & Main? They have some great items at amazing prices. If you have not visited their site, sign up and check it out.



If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.


I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.


Please Note: I have not been compensated in any way by this company. The views and opinions expressed in this post are solely mine and are based on my purchase of and experience with the product.

Friday, June 8, 2012

On The Coffee Table, New Blog Design & Anniversary

I am enjoying the daisy poms I purchased for last weekend's event; mostly for the dining table. I had 9 jars of them and if you recall, I did not fill them up entirely. I like them looking less arranged. These flowers bloom perfectly for a good 2 weeks. 

I have moved a couple of jars to the living room coffee table with my Manzanita candelabra from west elm. I have placed the jars between the branches.




I am playing around with the other items on the table to add some turquoise and teal colors. A work in progress.




It is certainly a more organic look than what I had before.




I am working on the styling of the table while I enjoy my flowers. I removed the rug that grounded this space. It is now in the master bedroom where it looks amazing. I am contemplating rug options for this space.



Here are more flowers on the end table by the sofa. I love how the sun catches them.




About my new blog design. I wanted a clean design with color and I did not want a design that would compete with pictures in my posts.

I had been a follower of The Mustard Ceiling blog from my early days of blogging (last summer). Some months ago I saw Elizabeth's impressive new designs of various other blogs and asked her to redesign mine.

On my search for ideas I came across this fun grey/natural and fuchsia pattern selection from Tracy Ann Digital Art on Etsy. I love the look of texture and this background has it. The pops of color modernizes it.

Thank you so much to Elizabeth for creating this in a timely and most efficient manner. She has done a great job! If you are considering any such design work do stop by Elizabeth's site and take a look at her portfolio. It speaks for itself.

A couple of weeks ago was one year since I first started blogging. And although I do not post every day it has become part of my routine, for the most part. I am always thinking about post ideas and taking a lot more photographs than I used to and I do also have to say I have made some truly wonderful blogging friends. I would love to meet you all!

Thank you for those who have been following my blog and are regular visitors!




Enjoy your weekend!


If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.


I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.