Lovett Kitchen Reno
We're getting close to a kitchen renovation. Haaaallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. I've been patiently waiting for this since we moved in.
I'm not trying to do anything groundbreaking here. I just want some classic updates that will make the kitchen feel brighter and less dated. Less sad, basically. We lack serious counter space, so they'll be some tweaks with the layout that will hopefully not be too costly. This isn't our forever house so we don't want to install too many high-end materials but just want something fresh and new.
And with the amount of cooking TH does, this is sure to be a great investment.
Here are some kitchens I'm inspired by.
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I love the look of an open floor plan. I was thinking of partially knocking down the wall that adjoins the dining room to allow for that open, brighter feel.
I like the idea of a shelf designated just for cookbooks.
I thought the painted glass cabinet trim was a creative way to add just a small amount of color and depth.
butcher block countertops add durability and organic feel.
subway tile is a bit of a no-brainer. I'm leaning towards dark grout to coordinate with our existing slate floor tile.
And just because I'm hoping to get the ball rolling on this, I've already rounded up some items.
light fixture // subway tile // faucet // sink // hardware // butcher block // runner
I'm ready to demo!
Lovett Family Photos
Get ready for family picture overload. Say cheese(y). No, no corny cheesy here. But for the sake of metaphors, I'd say it's more like a Burrata or even an aged Parmigiano-Reggiano as opposed to Velveeta.
Today I'm sharing pictures from the family photo session I mentioned wanting to do in this post.
I searched for photographers that felt could catch the spirit of us and the mood I was aiming for.
Something natural feeling without the one two three pose. Just some overall casualness in own habitat.
Cue in LK Griffin.
These guys are magical. They're a husband and wife team who we were so ready to befriend after, actually, bonding over cheese! This stuff writes itself almost.
They're really talented and just super cool, friendly and so easy to work with. Highly-hugely recommend them.
Check out Nora in the back. When she's not looking for her balls, she's looking for attention. And Bams went camera shy.
Felix's onesie used to belong to TH.
Look how into pretend reading they both are.
homies
Happy boy.
The life of Bams and Nora. They just chill here all the time. Wait for us to come home, wait for people to walk by. They own this window.
wallet sizes for everyone.
Email me if you want to see all 70 something of them. I know some of you get bored at work. ha!
Happy Tuesday.
credit: LK Griffin
Thirty Two
Hey, I'm still here. I'm alive. And thirty two. Gaahhh. But the way I see it, 32 is really just 23 backwards. Like my thinking. Sometimes.
Yesterday was my birthday and the day before that was Mother's Day, leaving me feeling stranded today because I was starting to get used to the attention.
Today is just another Tuesday. You may have noticed some blog changes though and a real site. Feel free to look around. But don't get too comfortable because I'm already planning on making changes. Except for the new logo. That stays and I love it thanks to Sara.
During yesterday's birthday dinner, I hauled it to the ladies room after a few cocktails and got a kick out of taking selfies in the bathroom while TH waited patiently at the table like he was experiencing an awkward first date.
While I deleted the abundance of selfies today, I couldn't help but notice how much I coordinated with the bathroom's palette and how much I actually liked the color scheme.
Inspiration is everywhere I tell ya.
art :: earrings :: pillow :: decorative box
Happy Tuesday to me!
PomPon
Plum Pretty Sugar just launched a new collection called Pompon and their director of brand relations emailed me to give me a peek.
It's full of pretty Spring colors in classic geometric prints and feminine silhouettes.
these boyfriend-inspired shirt/dresses are ideal for getting ready, a casual brunch or using as a coverup out by the pool.
geometric patterned skirts either belted or offset with a statement necklace feel casual or slightly dressier.
ooh, a greek key robe with tassel detail looks soft and zexy.
Plum Pretty Sugar is also a great source for bridal and maternity wear and pretty gifts and stationary.
I've rounded up some of their cutest cards and gifts, some of which could totally be part of a greater Mother Day's gift.
one // two // three // four // five // six // seven // eight
Happy Tuesday!
Mid Century Modern
I've been meaning to share pictures of this project for two weeks now but every time I think I have time to sit down and right a proper post about it, there are other things on my to do list that take precedence. How do you do it, mothers? How do you do it? And I still only have one!
Not the point. That's for a whole other post.
Today the focus is on this project I've been working on for a young couple who bought their first house a little less than a year ago. They both work crazy long hours so we've been working on it piece by piece. There are a few more things to be done to the master bedroom and office but today I'm sharing the living room, guestroom and sunroom.
There were budget constraints but I went a la Tim Gunn and made it work. We pretty much started from scratch, getting rid of most of their furniture keeping their big black bookcase and a few accessories.
They wanted something clean and fresh with a mid century modern feel and color moments.
Here's the living room before when it was staged for selling.
nothing offensive just baaaahring. Joe and Jane could live here and you'd be like cool. Joe and Jane have no personality. No offense to anyone named Joe or Jane.
Let's bring in some life though.
A little big more color, some pattern and now we're talking.
Here it is on the day I went in to check on the paint job, showing some of their existing furniture. They needed a place to sit while we waited for new stuff. Say hi to Mochee, their dog.
Another before shot from a different angle.
I thought the red door was cool and bold so we decided to keep it that color.
Here it is on the day I went through all of their accessories to style this big bookcase, which was originally on this wall but felt it protruded out too much and kind of blocked that left turn into the hallway. I thought it would make more sense taking up that large wall in the living room where it now is.
guest bedroom before
Client had these wooden pieces you see on the left and I figured they'd make cool art, giving the room this worldly effect. They also echo the nightstand sides.
Adding an ethnic throw at the foot of the bed really gave the room that pattern and color it was asking for.
Sunroom before
aka the party room.
This space was meant to just be a fun room to chill out in and hang with friends. There is complete privacy out back so it didn't require any window treatments and because so much natural light comes in, it allowed to go bold with color.
It's like summer all year round in this room.
And that's it for the tour. Master and office coming soon.
Happy Tuesday!
photography: Bethany Nauert
Spring Wishlist
One thing I wasn't counting on postpartum was how different my regular clothes would fit. Nothing fits the same. And now everything in my closet makes me mad. This blouse is a bitch. And sad. Why don't you like me anymore, dress? Even my accessories and shoes are off. I don't even know my size anymore. I went from big to bigger. I swear even my cellphone case doesn't fit. I'm dying for updates. But now not knowing whether stuff is going to fit or not takes the fun out of ordering clothes online. Confirming that order always made the next 7-10 days worth living, especially when my two favorite words on the internet were involved, free shipping.
So I did the next best thing and just filled up my cart. Here are some of my pending purchases. And while fedex won't be making any deliveries to my house soon, at least I won't need to return anything either.
1. dress - this color is so pretty and looks comfortable enough to sleep in. But the plunging neckline scares me. I can no longer wear something like this without revealing how much support I need.
2. shorts - I need a new pair of destroyed denim cutoffs to replace my old pair of destroyed denim cutoffs.
3. rings - simple and shiny and brass. should be easy but I'm not even certain of my ring size anymore.
4. iphone case - I neeed this. The kind of need you don't really need.
5. elephant shirt - this has to fit. And if it doesn't at least it was cheap.
6. sandals - these will just stay in my cart forever.
7. belt - even though my hips expanded, my pants still want to drop it like it's (not) hot. Love the three contrast bands on this one.
Happy Wednesday!
Four Months
My sweet little boy is getting big and I no longer feel like I'm going to drop and break him. He's still on the slim side though. Just under 12 lbs and almost 26 inches long, according to TH's obsessive height check-ins. We'll have more accurate measurements next week at his doctor's appointment. But most importantly, he's healthy. Last month I said he was close to laughing. Not quite sure if what I'm hearing is a legit laugh but he does express heightened bursts of smiles mixed in with gibberish whenever I say, boo. Best word to come out of my mouth. He loves it. I wonder if it's because he was almost a Halloween baby.
For the most part, he's pretty chill and relaxed. He must get it from me. Although he's totally outgrowing his bassinet, he's still sleeping in our room. And sometimes we co-sleep. Don't judge. Grabbing and reaching were big steps this month. Rolling over, not so much, but he has done it a few times. Oh, and he realized he had feet last week and was heavily entertained for a bit but by the time I went to grab the camera he was done. But I saw it and it blew even my mind.
We've been saving his monthly stickers and by the looks of this month, you'll notice he's into putting things in his mouth too.
Being a mom still feels surreal and I still stare at him in awe. And to think there was a time where I couldn't imagine loving anything or anyone more than Bams and Nora. Babies, they really change your heart and they don't even know it.
Happy Monday!
Instagram: Take Me to Tulum
I'm itching for a vacation. After getting pregnant we didn't travel anywhere too distant. There was Philly last summer but I'm more interested in relaxing on warm sand with a cocktail in hand. We skipped the whole babymoon thing because laying on a beach in bathing suit was not my idea of comfortable. Tanning my back didn't seem doable.
And now I have it in my head to go to Tulum after seeing Sincerely Jules posting about it a few weeks ago. I've been to Mexico plenty of times but I think the last time I visited the beaches was when I was four. Rosarito and Baja don't count.
I call first family vacation.
And as much as I love me some sun, super happy for the much needed rain we're experiencing.
I'm way happy to stay in and cozy up with my baby.
Happy Friday!
Inspired by Art
I'm totally in love with this In the Deep art piece sold by Eclectica Kiddo.
It's such a great example of fun art for kids with some grown up flair. It's a piece that can easily transition from nursery to toddler room to teenage room. And if it's been kept for that long, might as well take it to the dorm too .
I was inspired by this piece to create a room vignette for a child with mature taste.
art // sconce // blocks // dresser // rug // glider // stools
And to find out more about eclectica kiddo, I'm over on Spearmint Baby today sharing more of their fun, contemporary art.
Head over here.
Bloom2Bloom
The sweet team behind bloom2bloom sent me one of their pretty floral bouquets. Flowers without a special occasion, sold.
And get this, not only do they provide pretty flowers, but any time anyone makes a purchase a portion of the purchase contributes to the donation of arrangements to women's shelters, clinics and hospitals. Goodness, imagine if more companies did this. I'd probably feel less guilty about impulse purchases.
But back to the flowers. I love receiving (or purchasing) a ready-made bouquet because then I get to turn it into something a little more special. So many times I see people do this with their bouquet.
They just stick it in a vase and call it a day. What? That's it, you're done? What an insult to flowers. Other times I do see people remove the wrapping but don't trim the stems to accommodate the vase it's going in.
I say have fun with it. Get creative.
Spread that bouquet
and pick a vase.
I don't always lay out my vases. But when I do, I take pictures.
I had enough flowers to create two different arrangements. It's like I directly donated to myself.
arrangement one
I didn't want to squeeze all the flowers into this one vase to allow flowers to breathe. It's the equivalent to sharing one water bottle with eight strangers.
I put the extra flowers in this teapot I rediscovered while I was cleaning out a cabinet a few weeks ago. It's never been used and rather than wait for tea time, I repurposed it for flowers. Give your flowers extra personality with out of the ordinary vases.
And seriously, check out bloom2bloom and buy someone you love, or even just like, a bouquet, especially knowing you're donating to someone else in need. "Spreading smiles", as b2b says.
Happy Thursday!