February in Review and a Look at March

Despite the bitter temperatures and a month long battle with every flu/cold/virus in the book, February proved to be a great month - full of fun projects and celebrations too! Here's a look at the top projects from February, in case you missed any of them.

eBay Dresser Overhaul

Foyer Welcome Arrangement

eBay Wing Chair Overhaul

No-Sew Sink Skirt

Spring Centerpiece

I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank my top 3 referring sites from February. Thanks so much for all the wonderful readers that are sent my way. I truly appreciate all that stop by for a visit and leave a comment - it still boggles my mind that anyone would be interested in what I have to share.

So thank you, thank you, thank you!

 


  

And finally, what's in store for March - enquiring minds want to know...

Remember this photo of our wallpaper removal attempts way back in January? The time has finally come for an explanation and all the details about that upcoming project.

Source

I'll also be researching, planning, and hopefully building (depending on the weather) the frames for our French inspired potager garden. I'm going to need lots of help and advice on this one - so all you gardeners, please speak up!

Source

Mr. DD will also be tackling the highly anticipated wine cellar.

In addition to these projects, the family and I will be taking a much needed holiday for some time in the sun. Lots to look forward to!

Become a follower so you don't miss a thing.

Thanks again for a great February!

Until next time,



If you'd like help designing your home, please contact me on designingdomesticity@gmail.com.
Don't forget to check out the new SHOP section on Designing Domesticity!

Is it Spring yet?

I've spent the whole of the weekend slowly coming out of my sickness-induced fog - mostly relaxing, sleeping and eating - three of my favorite past times! But I did manage to find some time to interject a bit of Spring into our home.

A sweet, white African violet.

Wrapped in burlap and placed under an iron crown - for a slightly different take on your typical cloche.

But if you're experiencing weather similar to ours, Spring still feels miles away, which is why we spent the majority of our weekend enjoying this...

A cozy fire.

I hope you had a nice weekend as well.

Until next time,

If you'd like help designing your home, please contact me on designingdomesticity@gmail.com.
Don't forget to check out the new SHOP section on Designing Domesticity!

CSN Giveaway No. 2

It's been a crazy couple of weeks around our house - filled with surprises, reunions and tearful good-byes - as well as lots of illness, which hopefully helps to explain my spotty postings this past week.

With most of this behind me now, I am thrilled to announce my 2nd giveaway with CSN stores. You remember these guys, with over 200+ online stores they sell everything from home office desks to cookware to home accessories.

You'll have $45 to spend on anything that strikes your fancy - to have a look around, click here.

Here are some of the things I've been looking at lately...

Wall frames - my guest suite needs some custom art!

Starburst mirror - this would look great in my front entryway!

A natural seagrass, jute or sisal rug - great layering piece for our living room!

Mantel Shelf - our family room/playroom fireplace needs some sprucing up.

How can I win, you ask?
Well, first things first - you must be a follower of Designing Domesticity!

Next up:

1. leave a comment letting me know what you'd like to purchase.
2. follow me on Facebook
3. share the news of this giveaway through Facebook or Twitter.

Submissions will be accepted until Thursday 3rd March 12 PM, CST.

This giveaway is now closed.

If you'd like help designing your home, please contact me on designingdomesticity@gmail.com.
Don't forget to check out the new SHOP section on Designing Domesticity!

Friends and Something New

I've just dropped our friends at the airport - 4 days seemed like enough, but as always, it's left me wanting more. How lucky we are to have such good friends from our time in London who are both willing and able to travel.

And now nice of them to bring such a lovely hostess gift - check out what I got!

It's a framed collection of vintage playing cards, spelling out Primrose Hill from one of my favorite vintage/antique shops called Judith Michael and Daughter. As you may know, if you read this blog often, I worked in Primrose Hill 4 out of the 5 years that we lived in London.

This special piece will now forever hold a place in  my heart - not only as I reminder of their visit, but as a reminder of our time in London, our walks to work and so much more.

But the real question is where should it live now?

It could be in the office, on this blank wall as part of an art collage.

Or it could be in the family room/play room, which already contains a fair amount of our travel related items.

or even our bedroom, on the far wall where I have also considered creating an art collage.

What do you think, where should I place my new favorite bit of memorabilia?

Until next time,

  If you'd like help designing your home, please contact me on designingdomesticity@gmail.com.
Don't forget to check out the new SHOP section on Designing Domesticity!

Simply Embellished Window Treatments

I'm still slowly plowing through our long list of wants in the guest suite. For a reminder, click here.

This past weekend I decided to focus on the window treatments.

Here's where we started...

I picked up this valance from a big box store shortly after we moved in. I never really loved it, but the price was right, so it came home with me.

When we decided to update our guest suite, I knew the valance would be one of the first things to go.

This whole project kicked off due to my local Crate and Barrel closing - they were literally selling everything in the store. I managed to pick up a display curtain rod and rings for a bargain basement price.

It was a sign - time to start in on the curtain project.

You may recall this photo from my sink skirt post last week.

Target curtain panel in natural linen.

As you may expect, I used Stitch Witchery to create a one inch hem across the bottom. Easy. I hung the curtains, stepped back to take a look and thought - BORING.

I definitely needed something to take these curtains up a notch.

How about this...

Upholstery webbing

It's natural, slightly rustic, with a slight French feel to it - perfect!

I won't go through all the ins and out of attaching this, because we all know I used Stitch Witchery. And to be honest, you're probably getting sick of hearing me sing it's praises!

But I will tell you that I doubled up to ensure a secure hold and I left about an inch at the top and bottom to fold over and secure to the backside of the drapes.

So, what do you think?

Are you diggin' this little something extra - a bit more texture and interest?

It's subtle, but still enough to be interesting, right?

Of course, I love it.

Let's hear what you think?

Until next time,

If you'd like help designing your home, please contact me on designingdomesticity@gmail.com.
Don't forget to check out the new SHOP section on Designing Domesticity!

A Pictorial Party Recap

Providing a couple images from our party is the least I can do, seeing as you all so graciously listened to my prep ramblings for a whole week. I hope you enjoy!

The living room decked out with food and drinks!

The dining room and Mr. DD serving a tray of Whiskey Snowballs.

The Bar

Why do people always hang out in the kitchen?

Which, as a side note,  is definitely the worst room in our house!

Thanks to all our friends for joining us for our 2nd annual February cocktail party!

And a very special thanks to our London friends, who read about the party here on Designing Domesticity and flew over (from London, for 24 hours) to surprise us just hours before everything kicked off! I swear, we would of invited you if we thought you would of come - lesson learned! You're definitely on the invite list for next year! Black tie required.

Until next time,



If you'd like help designing your home, please contact me on designingdomesticity@gmail.com.
Don't forget to check out the new SHOP section on Designing Domesticity!

$16 eBay Chair Reveal

Yesterday I left you with my freshly slipcovered wing chair...

But I think we all agreed that it needed a more finished look.

I decided to fold the excess fabric under and pin with upholstery pins.

I love how this shows off the shape of the piece.

But I'm not done yet!

I decided to add nailhead trim.

Have you worked with this product yet?

It's essentially a roll of nailheads - every 5th nailhead has a hole where an actual nailhead can be applied. If you look closely you can see that they all connect, but it's a small price to pay for this type of convenience - at least in my book!

Maybe not every one's cup of tea, but considering this is just a slipcover and being only $17 - this was too good to pass up.

Here is the trim along the base of the chair.

And here it is along the curve of the arms.

Ready for the big reveal?

Just one more of the before!

And finally, the after!

Nailhead trim and upholstery pins help to give this basic slipcover a custom tailored look at very budget friendly price.

Thanks again Sarah at Three Boys for the inspiration.

Until next time,

If you'd like help designing your home, please contact me on designingdomesticity@gmail.com.
Don't forget to check out the new SHOP section on Designing Domesticity!

$16 eBay Chair

It's true, I've developed a little bit of a love affair with eBay as of late.

You may remember my eBay dresser overhaul from a couple of weeks ago. Well, when I was clicking through to leave feedback on the seller another little item popped up and peeked my interest.

If you follow me on Facebook you've already seen a sneak peak, or perhaps you caught a glimpse in one of my posts from last week.

Here she is!

The fabric is in good condition, although slightly dated and the overall shape is nice; the proportions are a little smaller than anticipated, but for $16 I really can't complain.

I got straight to work with a slipcover I purchased online.

Like most slipcovers, this one required a bit of tweaking...but I have to say, slipcovers have come along way since I last used them.

I ordered this one online, it was marketed as a stretch twill by Maytex.

I must admit that when I first opened the package I thought it would go right back. It's soft like a nicely worn t-shirt and it has a very subtle stripe, that from a distance reads as a solid - neither of which I had anticipated when I ordered it.

But after a bit of tweaking it looked like this...

That's better.

I think it needs more though. Taking a cue from Sarah over at Three Boys, I think I'm going to give it a bit of the nail head trim treatment.

Stop by tomorrow for the reveal, that is if I manage to get it done tonight!

Until next time,

If you'd like help designing your home, please contact me on designingdomesticity@gmail.com.
Don't forget to check out the new SHOP section on Designing Domesticity!