Make Mine Eclectic

Evolving Living Room

jessimarie33 — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:54:42 +0000

We finally have some progress! No, the walls are not painted. Still peach. But, the little love seat has been replaced with a large L shaped sectional couch!! This makes the room so much more cozy and functional for us. Now I just can’t wait to entertain. And paint!

Here is the view into the living room from the doorway. The sectional is a perfect suede in a neutral cream color. The button tufting at least makes the more modern shape a bit more traditional. We all know I love button tufting, right?

What do you think? Better, no? When the walls are a nice gray I think things will come together even more. I am also working on making a tray for the ottoman, because we are now not using the old coffee table. I will update when I get that brainstorm finished!

One More Office

jessimarie33 — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:46:28 +0000

Things have been busy. Extremely busy. But, I have been productive, and coming up in the next week or so I do actually have some updates and projects to share! I finally started a new job in Iowa and have settled in living in our new home all the time now. This has kept me on my toes, and also been stressful, but at the same time I have been able to spend more time in our home and accomplish A LOT!

So, to tide you all over I wanted to share another adorable office I came across on VT Interiors blog. And, stay tuned for some peaks and projects around our house!

Chair Love

jessimarie33 — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:48:47 +0000

This week’s chair love is so fun! Enjoy!

http://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=81993

I’d love to add some fun chairs to the new looking living room!

2012 Resolutions

jessimarie33 — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 17:04:42 +0000

Does anyone ever keep resolutions? This year I am not going to use the same old resolutions, eat healthier, exercise more, and be more positive. Nope. This year I am going to try some fun resolutions that I may actually keep.

1. Finish some projects around the house that make me feel happy.

This ribbon organization box is on my list. I love being organized and using this to wrap up some pretty gifts would definitely make me smile:

http://www.marthastewart.com/273213/ribbon-organizer?czone

2. Make more handmade gifts. I think I have the ability, now I just need to believe in myself!

I think these candles would be so cute as gifts!

: http://www.marthastewart.com/273016/teacup-lights?center=0&gallery=872280&slide=218868

3. Cook more. Yes, read it again. I’m sure Jeremy needs to read it 3 times. But, I’m serious!

This steak and mushroom dinner and the rum balls look like two amazing recipes to try!

http://www.marthastewart.com/334878/grilled-steak-with-blue-cheese-potatoes?czone=food/dinner-tonight-center/dinner-tonight-main-courses¢er=276948&gallery=275652&slide=282732

http://www.marthastewart.com/351250/rum-balls?backto

4. Host more gatherings at our new home! I mean go all out. Invitations, decorations, food…

I want to feel like Martha!

: http://www.marthastewart.com/856543/decorations-new-years-eve/@center/859874/new-years-eve

5. Make progress with the furniture business. I’m in no rush to jump into opening a full on shop yet. But, I would like to try some of my projects in a shop.

A bench like this made out of two old chair would be super neat!

http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2009/05/diy-tufted-bench-transformation/

What are you resolutions??

Home Offices

jessimarie33 — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 18:59:39 +0000

I have been pining away at lots of beautiful home offices lately. There’s a reason… I finally got a job in Iowa! Not only am I completely stoked to be officially living in Iowa full-time, but also, this job allows me to do a lot of my work from home!

This is the perfect set up for me. It will allow me more spare time to get projects done, and we also have the office space set up for me to do it! But, currently our bright red and semi-cramped office space is needing a major spruce. So, enter blogland inspiration.

Some photos of offices out there are gorgeous. However, social work doesn’t allow me to be glamorous or clutter my work space with pretties. That leaves me fewer options. I need a functional space that I also feel comfortable and like myself in. Plus, we are hoping to leave the futon on the other side of the room and use the space someday for a partial play-room as well. Oh, and did I mention that I can’t change much as far as items because I am working with a non-existent budged!? Let’s see if I can pull this off…

Here are some faves for you all!

I love the bookcases in this photo. It utilizes the space well, which is what I really need to do!

: http://www.elementsofstyleblog.com/2011/12/nooks-and-built-ins.html

This office also has great shelving for storage, while also remaining a bit feminine and glam. I need an office that can work for me from everything from my personal business, to kids and family projects, to social work moments.

: http://www.unplggd.com/unplggd/home-tech-tours/maegans-unabashedly-feminine-home-office-tech-tour-154482

I also like having my desk in the middle of the room or at least facing outwards instead of towards a wall. It helps if I need to meet with clients. Here is another one like that.

: http://with–this–ring.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-09-08T08%3A14%3A00-05%3A00&max-results=5

I’m not a huge fan of green walls, but I love the black frames in this office.

: http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=green+home+office&view=detail&id=8AC0BFD450BA352A92F8C704D6E1FDBA970925DC&first=0&FORM=IDFRIR

This office has been my dream office for years now and was the inspiration for the office in my last house being light blue. This one might end up light blue as well, with the addition of the red items. Again with the black frames!

: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3gk_XdcOr78/ShNziQmi-LI/AAAAAAAAA2M/E5HorshZ4dU/s1600-h/House+of+turquoise.com+-+Designer+Mary+mcdonald.jpg

Another blue office. Reminds me of mine with the couch. Something so sweet about this one!

: http://katelynjamesblog.com/teal-shabby-chic-decor-office/

I adore this desk. Enough said.

: http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2009/02/inspirational-images-gallery/

This one is so sweet and has that touch of glam I’d love.

: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/boston/before-and-after-beth-beatties-tiny-office-goes-glam-144617

I love the outward facing desk in this one too.

: Pinterest

Well? What do you all think? I’d love suggestions for my new home office!

Our Christmas Style

jessimarie33 — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:03:42 +0000

Yes, it’s a little late, but I thought that I would share our Christmas decor with you. Inspiration is good anytime, right?

So, here are a few of our first tree together! (we did eventually find the perfect green skirt! ) We went with a bit of a “camo” theme with colors this year. That was my nod to Jeremy. We used golds and greens and bronzes on the tree. My photos don’t seem to do it justice, but it was really pretty.

See the antler ornaments? Shimmery pinecones helped add sparkle too!

Our rustic bronze star was really pretty too.

Camo snowmen…

My “dance in the snow” pillow…

In the dining room we displayed my grandparents’ jewelry tree. Grandpa made this out of Grandma’s old jewelry.

Here is a close up of the sparkle, as this may be the last year for this tree. I might be using the jewelry for another very special project. Might, as in I have not made up my mind to tear down this beauty. Hmmm…

The two of us spent our night alone together quietly, so here’s a peak of our simple blue table.

It was basic but cute, and also easy.

And, although there was no snow on Christmas in Iowa, I took these a bit before hand of the first snow at our new house. Come to think of it, I don’t think I have shared a view of the outside of our home, so here is the front…

The side…

And a view towards our barns…

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday!

Dining Chair Love

jessimarie33 — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:47:51 +0000

Browsing some gorgeous photos today I came across two dining room photos that I just loved. The first is so bright and fun with its mismatched chairs. I wish I was bold enough to pull this off!

http://172.27.72.27/web/login?_bcsp=1&_bceq=U2FsdGVkX19AWSaVzu6gSQ_LdCTFGVxOalYEylI8NE-SkOHy6xBuSN1CO79qmUyXgtVewHeCqspB2qRwH5tFMV0qumy9HhJYIUWH_xAw84FnO2d6jHlGsNMUOtI_VS8N1ibetYXKqUiYeq0h9RMty7oRm8zzkAOjfUIJYdlee9PZEcCR0rS-qY2T1YfsG48VC-XhYvoNlImjut3E5kpScJgPz25ABtvQWE93KBEsKDKczjNwzq2BE8RCloeZuyq2Ek4A-vw31O4JjDKpQJ-z5FpZss2s8RimGBbFQKf4Pgu-XWHDYOBIot8id6IlUJ8XjdelczVBJrovorwX2XheX3aOO3O908qTOIVNK6mtDY7YBmCYHwq0yLf0cU7f3zKrNGJeJHhonsuJnYH1VzqFKE9L7r8xiiJUzI8iUF0LkRjSHKT5q2Vj8In8M1Oh9gALfjJAGDReoZxPLIDdwJmUNaTfJNlQAdxaKs45E8WzHW46CjCRLPPYjeOkTA_PBxib5-HbK_DSNmhU-UktikdHbXnHuDpTLQBXaUrPQ6D4aK-UiPEIcFmwBS0aGVgDnCthXfNc3jzzNZ8.

The next is something I’d absolutely love to try someday, with a bench being used on one side of the dining table. This bench is no regular bench, rather, a gorgeous antique bench!

http://eclecticrevisited.com/2011/08/15/dining-room-decorating/yellow-gold-dining-room-decorating-antique-chairs-mismatched-settee-bench-matching-cabinets-shelves-decor/

I absolutely adore that bench! Enjoy!

Oh, and I want to share a peak at my Christmas holiday decor with you, but I’m running a bit behind. Still to come! Hope you all had a great holiday!

Living Room Brainstorming

jessimarie33 — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:07:52 +0000

I’ve said it before, we hate our living room couch. We have a small living room, but would like it to work better for us. So, what do we do when a friend is wanting to get rid of an almost new L shaped sectional in cream? Snatch it up!

It looks huge and things are in disarray right now, but it is so comfy, and much more what we were wanting for a more functional room. A sectional seems more modern than our house, but this one combines my love for tufting too! So, now I have been on the hunt for living room inspiration before making any decisions about ours. Enjoy my eclectic collection of musings…

I love the horse photo in this one. And, it’s a sectional.

http://blog.highfashionhome.com/2011/01/desire-to-inspire.html

This one is an L shaped couch and a smaller room like ours.

http://www.decorpad.com/search.htm?searchType=photos&q=tripod

I love the gray of this couch. They are using a coffee table and the ottoman is separate for more seating. We are considering doing away with our coffee table and using a large tray on the ottoman. Hm?

http://designbuildlove.co/?p=730

Not a sectional, but I love a Chesterfield. Always inspiring. lol

http://angelaglancy.hubpages.com/hub/Creative-Ideas-that-Bring-Rustic-Cabin-Style-to-the-Living-Room

I loved the patterned pillows in this living room. I am also digging the idea of the wall mounted lamps. We lack floor space and this might do the trick!

http://angelaglancy.hubpages.com/hub/Creative-Ideas-that-Bring-Rustic-Cabin-Style-to-the-Living-Room

Another gray sectional, and I loved the mix of fun pillows!

http://www.decorpad.com/search.htm?searchType=photos&q=pillow

Bright colors and a rustic coffee table.

http://www.decorpad.com/search.htm?searchType=photos&q=sectional

Not exactly our style room, but I love the big coffee table and even the tweed on the couch!

http://www.diynetwork.com/blog-cabin/blog-cabin-2011-family-room-pictures/pictures/page-3.html

Another room with no sectional, but how pretty!? I love everything about this one.

http://www.decorpad.com/search.htm?searchType=photos&q=leather%20tufted%20cocktail%20table

The next few rustic rooms are for Jeremy

http://172.27.72.27/web/login?_bcsp=1&_bceq=U2FsdGVkX1_T166YAlOS6hwvqX7l3co-tZb-agKeV-kZIwbg1CVmp7qryTEu9whzS2gqgH-92WgqpwWh72IsYCjcjCLxWpmEuEA9aMHXGwftKrjoiEuQyICxU9tW49xjsqmXlLZoNUkaAWktevaeZahvFLZH3YV_zNdNTJ9bYRCqrj-Hd6jIu1wnz9NOghaMr7i_34ELMXSUpYriLBTpLodrfmi7DZkH3UKiDj_oFVH8MInZ6djWJWmwkEInlL0Nv7Ox12mDTQsoCiTBx2WItCXRR-ZqfrhSIAwfJNDo824hESSVu7FFbpOz1nX6HGah1frKSCMuv0FJ_8EtF1ghzgVTasJag_vsxzOUunVY0UEJpDuZn94J4r90o_UI3GIH4Nfqn5nF1yvquoyJXM8TWsse0SDdSXlL9mA5_rg4x4kmoP3MK1zNtI0z3RReFrwmlTIjVsnYL89aUP1n-vtdTyTJ7bzfomZ_gxtjr9np2Z6nAQjNvHQQG-usbAa5YkACRp9thR8kFHTwPgXgndpFG2TfUvmtRc77MUBHuu4jk36JQAnOZiyM59O0_ytuFf2qWGBGAzo4jE6Yb1IglwWpaQ..

I love the mix in this room. The more subtle antlers, and especially the tufted chair!!

http://www.kagozi.com/rustic-living-room-decorating-ideas-and-inspiration/

This one has the Chesterfield for me and the antler chandelier for Jeremy!

http://www.kagozi.com/rustic-living-room-decorating-ideas-and-inspiration/

Any more ideas? Let us know! And soon I will show you progress on our room!

Rustic Chair, Blanket, Antler Love

jessimarie33 — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 22:10:49 +0000

It has been super busy around here, but I wanted to drop in and leave you with a cozy winter photo. Not only do I love the old shabby chair, but also the thick knit blanket and the antlers…

http://style-files.com/

Photo by Jeroen van der Spek.

Hope to have more projects for you soon!

Rustic Blue Chair Love

jessimarie33 — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 01:43:35 +0000

I finally got the chance to finish a little antique chair project over the holiday weekend. This little guy was found at a late garage sale. Shabby pink paint hid the cute chunky style of this cutie. Enter my rustic blue paint…

Before…

And after…

Well, what do you think? I think this one turned out super adorable! For sale now in the shop!