Archive for January, 2009
We Nailed It
Oh I am madly in love with the newest addition to our master bedroom. It’s this yummy little linen looking ottoman with nailhead trim:
Sure it looks like a super spendy little pouf, but it’s actually a TJ Maxx steal, snagged for $119. The funny thing is that $119 is actually the most we’ve ever spent on an ottoman (the two leather ottomans in the den were $69 Target steals and the woven ottoman in the third bedroom was under $40). But it was ottoman love at first sight, and although I initially resisted the purchase when I saw it with a friend, I couldn’t get it out of my mind so I brought John back to TJ Maxx that evening to weigh in on my beloved nailheaded pouf.
One of our rules is that we need to have a spot in mind for the item that we’re considering, and I actually had two (slipped under the console table in the living room or next to the armchair in the master bedroom) and I pointed out that we could always return it if neither of my predetermined ottoman places worked. Lo and behold John actually liked it, and before I knew it we were carrying her over the threshold into Casa Petersik.
Here’s what the bedroom used to look like with our DIY pedestal table (we actually popped a tabletop from Lowe’s on a smaller wooden pedestal table from Target and painted the whole thing glossy white). It was definitely an improvement from the old set up, but the exposed fan wire always felt a little messy and the pedestal table always seemed a bit too tall for the low slung leather armchair beside it.
So we moved the pedestal table into the den (stay tuned for those pictures, gotta love two mini makeovers for the price of one ottoman!) and replaced it with our plush new pouf.
The ottoman is the perfect height for the chair (it no longer competes with the height of the arm) and the fan is now aimed directly at us as we sleep instead of 12 inches above our heads. Summer can’t come soon enough! But best of all, that unsightly black fan wire is now nowhere to be seen. And thanks to the ottoman’s lower profile and smaller surface area, the whole room feels a wee bit larger and less crowded. Which is key in our tiny bedroom.
And have I mentioned those nailheads really do it for me? Swoon.
What about you guys? Do you have a major crush on certain decorative details like nailhead trim or curtain grommets? How about x-backed chairs or beveled glass edges? Dish the decorative detail dirt.
House Crashing: A Dreamy & Decadent Delight
We’re super excited to share the latest casa we crashed, camera in hand. In fact, we couldn’t stop snapping pictures of this lovely local home (which was actually featured in Domino magazine last summer!) and of course homeowner Katie Ukrop was a fabulous hostess. Oh look, here she is now to show us around.
Katie is somewhat of a local celeb here in Richmond. She owns a fabulous gallery called Quirk (that we toured here) and is such a super nice person that it’s no surprise that everyone in Richmond knows and loves her. But on with the tour. Her entryway is grand and welcoming, with painted floors that continue throughout the entire first floor (although the pattern and tones change from room to room). Her old wood floors were a bit worse for wear so she left town for a few days and had them sanded and painted while she was gone. The details were left up to Sunny Goode, a local artist with a penchant for floor stencils (we toured her shop here). So Katie returned home wondering what floor decor would await- and let’s just say she wasn’t disappointed.
Here’s another shot of that fabulous stenciled floor, along with her delicate and airy furnishings (which hail from specialty shops and mainstream stores like Storehouse and West Elm alike). Of course the gorgeous marble fireplace and lofty ceilings add to the dreamy feeling that Katie captures oh so well.
And the gorgeous bay window doesn’t hurt either.
Just beyond the living room is a posh little sitting room with built in bookcases and yet another fireplace. We absolutely adore everything from the brilliant Oly light fixture, those fantastic pocket doors, and of course that amazing painted border on the adjoined dining room floor.
Katie adores soothing symmetry, and in this room she cleverly balanced the radiator under the left window with a parson’s desk from West Elm under the right window to create eye-pleasing balance and a functional place to pay bills. And who can miss that ethereal blue bird painting above the fire. Not only does it bring out the lovely painted floors (which happen to be blue in this room) but it’s also a piece from her gallery, Quirk, which has loads of amazing paintings, drawings, jewelry and more.
Part of what makes Katie’s home so soft and welcoming is her muted palette and her feminine touches. Delicate pink linen pillows and loads of glossy white keep things feeling serene while punches of brighter pink (like the fabric on the ottoman) and quirky accessories (like the ceramic deer head on the wall) add pops of personality and fun.
Another thing that keeps Katie’s home feeling fresh and fabulous is her mix of furnishings and materials. From an old ornate chandelier to a shiny lacquered dining table, Katie likes sleek as much as antique and she mixes the two flawlessly.
Just beyond the dining room is a cheerful and über functional kitchen. Simple white cabinetry with a beadboard backsplash keeps things feeling open while miles of built-ins ensure order and organization- even with two growing children and a hubby living under the same roof. And how adorable are those pink mixer prints framed and hung on the backsplash- they’re yet another score from her gallery Quirk.
And we love Katie’s penchant for white ceramic collectibles. They can be found in almost every room of the house. She likes to group similar objects on windowsills and side tables, and you can never go wrong with a smorgasbord of white pottery on a handy shelf above the cooktop.
Yeah, we weren’t kidding when we said Katie’s kitchen had built-ins. It was impossible not to drool over all the places to stash stuff in her super functional and fabulous kitch. And is that cut-out chandelier not to die for or what?
Beyond the kitchen is a sweet little sunroom full of more white built-ins and accessories along with some pops of green thanks to good ol’ Mother Nature. And Charlie, her adorable pooch has no problem lounging around on his hot pink floor pillow atop those dreamy blue floors. We imagine he pretends to be the captain of some fabulous pink ship sailing the seven seas.
And for one last touch of soft blue in the space, Katie painted and distressed this hutch to complement those soothing blue floors and filled it with another casual collection of mixed and matched white pottery.
So folks, what did you think of adorable Katie’s home? Was it not everything you thought it would be and more? No wonder it was in Domino last summer, right? And isn’t it amazing that two kids and a dog can live so easily and seamlessly with such a soft palette? The whole house feels like a breath of fresh air. We can’t wait to hear what you guys think. And a big thank you goes out to Katie and her family for so graciously opening their doors to us (her children even took some pictures of me and John while we were taking pictures of their house). Oh and be sure to check out her gallery and maybe even stop by and meet her in the flesh!
Fab Freebie: Pewter Geek
Lookin’ to add some flash to that backsplash? Some bling to your bathroom? Well here’s a freebie you’re sure to go geeky over.
Castalina makes high-end, hand-poured 100% lead free pewter accent tiles that are sure to upgrade any tile job around your house, from the kitchen to the bathroom and beyond. Even if you don’t have any tiling projects on the horizon at the moment, we think these stylish “dots” would look just as great lining a tray, bordering a picture frame, or even grouped in a grid as a sleek coaster or pillar candleholder. They’re even safe for flooring projects (they are real metal after all).
All of Castlina’s tiles are exclusively available at Costco.com for some pretty darn amazing prices compared to the other 100% pewter tiles on the market. They come in two finishes (polished or aged), two sizes (2×2″ or 1×1″) and three designs (flat, domed or pyramid) so there’s definitely something for everyone.
And here’s your shot to snag some for free. Since we couldn’t pick our favorite tile type to give away, Castalina kindly agreed to let the winner pick their prize! So one lucky guy or gal will receive two boxes (24 tiles) of their preferred style – that’s up to a $236 retail value.
To enter, just comment on this post with the words “I’M A PEWTER GEEK” by Wednesday 1/28 at 8pm EST. And while you’re at it, tell us what you go geeky for (I’m a little too caught up in Lost theories and Sherry is a bit Twilight crazy these days). Oh and Castalina ships anywhere in the Continental US, so this contest is open to all residents of the lower 48 states. We’ll announce the lucky random winner by the end of the week, so stay tuned…
Oh and Castalina also makes liners (those fab long pewter tiles along the top of the above picture), so be sure to check out everything that they offer right here. You won’t be disappointed.
Curious about how our giveaways work? Find out the juicy details here.
