Reader's Choice: To Pop or Not, That is the Question

Once upon a time, my studio desk had a great task lamp attached to it, and it has disappeared.  Which could be a sad tale, but I found this great lamp in the as-is section at Ikea and it was a perfect replacement.  It has a super heavy base on it, so I don't have to worry about it toppling of when I extend the neck or if I tilt my desk slightly.  

Not to metion, at 50% off just for being the display model, the price was right:

The only thing that may not be right is the color.  Which is a little strange, since gray almost always equals perfection in our home.  In the studio, maybe.  Or maybe this lamp could be one more little pop of color.  Either way, it's up to you whether we paint it and what we paint it.

I don't have a poll today because I didn't want you to be locked into just a couple colors.  Feel free to sound off any color you would love to see the lamp painted (refer to this post to see a wider shot of the room as it is now) and I'm sure I'll find the right spray paint to match.  Or, if you think gray is gold and it is perfect just the way it is, then let us know that, too!  Can't wait to see where we land.

Mi Casa es Su Casa

Hi friends!! Today (while I am away directing a girl's camp) I wanted to share with you the amazing work of my talented, bilingual, little sister, Andrea of Doublclik.  While I dabble in paints, she is a genius behind a camera and she can quickly turn her photos into magazine-ready editorials.  Seriously.  You must check out Doublclik's website (that she designed single-handedly) and live through her blog where she regularly posts shots from her latest shoots (my latest fav is this senior shoot)  Her and her husband are currently living in Mexico where she is taking their city by storm.  Andi has made amazing opportunities for herself as a photographer.  The homes that we all drool over in the virtual pages of Lonny magazine and Pinterest, she sees first hand.  Lucky for us, today she is giving us a peak at a few of the amazing homes she has done photoshoots in--be prepared to re-think Mexico...and to pick your jaw up from the floor.



I'm not sure I will ever get over those curtains breezing over the shiny floors.  What's the most luxurious home you have ever been in?  Did you snap a photo when no one was looking?

From Terrible to Sterile to I-Can't-Look-Away-Stunning!

After painting the walls, ceiling, and floor of the studio--and living with it all for a week or so, it all started to feel a little sterile.  I waited anxiously for the floor to cure up so that I could hang some curtains and lay our flooring.  

Don't get me wrong, I'd take sterile over the before photo any day.  Because seriously:

Yesterday, before we went our separate ways for a week, Chris helped me hang the curtains and lay the FLOR tiles and look at her now:

We got the extra long curtain rod at Ikea for $5 and picked up the curtain clips there, too.  So hanging the two tapestries from Urban Outfitters that you all voted on was a breeze.  I actually didn't even hem them because I don't mind a little pooling at the bottom.  By making the curtains extend the entire length of the wall, as as high as we could--it really makes the room look a lot larger--not to mention, it let's the curtains be the look-at-me textile they are.

When it came time to lay the FLOR tiles, I found the center of the room and laid my first square right there--making sure it wasn't crooked at all.  Then I started building out until I had a plus sign (this area rug is designed to be square) to make sure I liked where the ends landed.  After a few tweaks the the right a half inch (really) I filled in the rest of the carpet.

I rotated the squares to make a sa-weet design.  Zig-zags, diamonds, large-squarish-tunnels.  I'm a fan of the neutral color and surprise designs when you look a little closer and longer.

Next up, I suppose we should get some furniture in here, don't ya think?  Guess I better dig my desk out of the garage.

Before you skip away, let's take a look at a before and currently and admire all of the amazing decisions you have made:

Look at how awesome you have pulled this off so far!  Give yourself a pat on the back.  Best reader-designers, ever.  I tell ya. We're still waiting for the new fixture to come in and we do have one more thing for you to vote on later this week, so don't take off your hats just yet!

DIY Washer Bracelet

This week is a big week for me.  I am the girl's camp director for my church and girl's camp starts tomorrow (!!!) and goes through Saturday.  So, behind the home decor scenes I have also been brushing up on my knots, making schedules, and preparing activities and crafts for months.  One big theme for camp this year is "trust," and this simple bracelet will be a fashionable reminder for the girls, but you can make one, too, proclaiming whatever message you want. 

You'll need:

1.  Metal Stampers.  I got this 1/8" 36 piece set with letters and numbers at Hobby Lobby for about $7 with a 40% off coupon.  Score!

2.  Some sort of string, twine, hemp or leather.  This bracelet (or necklace) could be cool with a thicker strap, but I am loving this thin leather I found at Hobby Lobby.  It was around $3 for 25 yards.

3.  Metal washers.  Find 'em at Home Depot (where I picked these up) or hanging out in your garage.  For a necklace, I might go smaller, but I love these big ones for a statement bracelet.

While the whole process may seem self-explanatory (hammer the letters into the washer, tie some string  and voila!), I struggled at first.  My letters were not stamping very well even after I pounded that hammer 16 times--and that, my friends, is no exaggeration.  Luckily, Chris, my hero, stepped in and showed me that if you rock the stamper back and forth with each swing of the hammer, the letter gets pressed into the washer perfectly.

Then I just cut two lengths of leather (depending on the size of your wrist) and looped each around the washer and tied it to my wrist.  I actually love it for its looks, simplicity, cost and--most importantly--for the message.

Even though I'll be camping the rest of the week with a herd of 12-18 year old girls (oh dear...I really am NOT a camper), I have posts lined up so a beat won't be skipped.  And yes, those posts include the curtain and carpet reveal in the studio (you're gonna die), as well as some other fun posts you can look forward to.

Anyone else struggling visualizing me camping?  Are you so not surprised the crafts are my favorite part about camp? What letters would you stamp in your washer?

Psst.  Through tomorrow get 20% off our Etsy shop with code Memorial20. 

Weekending

Now that the floor has dried and cured, we are anxious to lay the FLOR tiles.  I will say, they aren't exactly the color I expected (isn't that 85% true of every online purchase?) but I think that they will still be lovely. Especially with...

The tapestry-turned-curtain you all voted on!!! This tapestry took 57% of the vote and I ordered two, one for each side of the window.  They arrived a couple days ago.  This is the silliest photo I could get showing how big one panel is.  Complete photo fail, but the others looked like I was trying to be sexy or something--which in my opinion--is infinitely more embarrassing (right?). The fabric is gorgeous and I can't wait to get them up.  You guuyyss, you did such a good job choosing everything for the studio.  

 We also hope to get in some yard work, Ikea-ing, and barbecuing and relaxing and more relaxing.  After all, it is the weekend.  A holiday weekend.  What are you up to?

Above Par Studio Sub-floor

The floor in the studio has been a topic of conversation over here since we started this little reno.  After we weren't able to find a match to our existing laminate to temporarily lay, and were discouraged to lay new flooring in here (for fear it would be discontinued by the time we were ready to re-floor the rest of the house), we happily decided to work with the subfloor.  Specifically paint it.  Once we lay the FLOR carpet tiles down, there will only be about a foot border of the subfloor showing, but we wanted it to still look chic...and not like this:

Eeks.  Granted, that was before we removed the tack strip and cleaned up the debris.  Chris was a champ at getting that part done.  I swept with a push broom first and then Chris meticulously vacuumed the floor so that the paint would cover evenly.

Errr, technically, we used a solid color stain--not paint.  I sent Chris to get porch and floor paint and he came home with this.  Either way, it worked beautifully.  He chose (yup, this was all Chris) a dark chocolate color called Cordovan Brown.



Initially, I worried that it was too dark, but by the time I finished rolling out the whole floor, I was in love.

Here's another before:

And the dark, chic after:

The whole process only took about an hour and a half.  I cut in with a brush around the baseboards and then rolled the rest of the floor making sure I ended up at the door leading out of the room.  Not worrying about floor drips was bliss! 

How do you feel about the color? We are so glad we went this route for now, but would love to hear if you would ever bare your subfloors.

Jane's Beachy-Vegan Mood Board

One of my favorite things about doing custom mood boards (besides peeking into other people's homes) is designing spaces in a variety of different styles.  Recently, I was able to design a beachy-vibe living room that almost made me pack my bags and head to the coast. Here's Jane's letter:

Julia, 

Yay! I'm feeling hopeful already. I love soothing, beachy comfortable feeling with pops of color (like colors of beach glass)....I tell people that if 3 blocks of houses were cleared away, our house would be on the beach. We live in Racine, WI. right off Lake Michigan. There is a white slipcovered IKEA couch in the L shape that I really like. I have two boys (ages 7 and 4) who aren't always the neatest. I also have two cats that have claws. I'd like to stay away from couch material that is really rough since they may be attracted to it and want to scratch. I also want to stay away from any leather/down as we are vegan. No one uses this room. It is just a passing room to get from the den to the front door. I want it to be a place that gets utilized. A place we want to sit and read a book or sit with friends that is comfortable. I am open to anything. We don't have a ton of money so I have to be somewhat thrifty. I like TJ Maxx and IKEA. I buy things and then return them because I am at such a loss in that room and nothing is working.  Thank you!! 

-Jane

Here are a couple photos of her living room that Jane sent along with her e-mail:

And here's what I came up with for the space:

After studying the layout of the room for a long time, I decided to take all the furniture away from the walls--so there would be a walkway on the right side of the room, opposite the fireplace. Since Jane lived so close to the beach--I designed her living room to reflect that. Let's dive in:

1. A soft, greenish, blue, gray would be a serene backdrop for your room. Check out Quiet Moments by Benjamin Moore. Also, paint all of the trim a crisp white.

2. Coral and light turquoise (the general color scheme for the room) are a match made in heaven and this rug would be beautiful in the space.
Area rug found here.

3. The client mentioned she wanted a sectional, but a love seat would be a better size for this room with this layout.  I love this white, slipcovered one for it's size, beachy feel and affordable price. The door to the family room (?) will be behind the couch, although several feet away.
White Couch found here.

4. Two armchairs placed opposite the couch will create a balanced and intimate place for conversation.
Armchairs found here.

5. Toss a light turquoise throw over an armchair to tie the colors together in the pillows on the couch.
Throw found here.

6. I noticed the room didn't have an overhead light, and that floor lamp currently in place doesn't cover much ground. An arc floor lamp is a great and contemporary solution to no overhead lighting. I'd put it next to the arm chair closest to the fireplace.
Arc floor lamp found here (this is the exact lamp we just got for our living room and we love it)

7. Pillows for the couch are where you can really tie everything together. Look for a creamy beige, pops of turquoise, coral, and even splashes of gold.
Beige chenile pillow found here.
Floral turquoise found here.
Coral found here.
Gold and turquoise found here.

8. About that little nook near the front door--if it were me, I'd cover it up. Take that large mirror on the opposite side of the room and hang it right over that hole. Place a small wall shelf like the one pictured and you instantly have an entryway. A teal vase completes the look.
Wall shelf found here.
Teal vase found here.
Inspiration photo found here.

9. For the mantle, I'd go for more of a layered look like this. Take the big, framed picture off the opposite wall and hang it here. I love the other pieces you have on your mantle, but don't be afraid to add a few family photos leaning against your big art.
Inspiration photo found here.

10. Now for the opposite wall, that will now be clear of a couch. I envision a very neat, beach-themed-gallery wall here. Hang the photos in white frames. It can be photos you have taken yourself, or a few that I have gathered up for you for inspiration.
All photo prints found in this Etsy shop.

11. The large plant currently have in the far left corner of your room, think about moving to the corner nearest to the placement of the floor lamp. Clear out the space and walls leading to your family room and put two white, bookshelves on either side of the door. You can even add extenders if you want to and trim it out for a built-in look.
Bookcases found here.

Beachin' right?  Now if only our house wasn't so land-locked.  What's your favorite part?  I am crazy over the throw pillows.  

Is there a room in your home begging for some help? Are you stuck in a design rut? Send photos and your dilemma to moodboards@chrislovesjulia.com and let's get started. Check out our Mood Boards page for more info.

Tearin' up Carpet and Takin' Names.

I made it back home last night, err technically early this morning, around 1am--which felt more like 3am since I've been hanging out on the east coast since Friday.  My sister's wedding was beautiful and for my whole family to be in one location for a few days was a complete blast.  We danced the night away and, of course, snapped lots of pictures since all 7 of us are rarely together. 

Chris did amazing things back home while I was gone.  He took such great care of Greta and spoiled her with multiple trips to the park a day.  He also fixed kitchen sink that has been leaking since we moved in, removed the reverse osmosis water filter so our water dispenser on our fridge wouldn't be so sluggish, AND fixed the toilet in the master bath that we have had to manually flush (aka put our hand in the tank. ew.) for months.  It felt like Christmas coming home.  He didn't snap any photos of those projects, but this morning, I jumped right back into work and ripped out the old carpet in the soon-to-be studio:

Ta-daa!!

I still have to remove the tack strip around the edges and vacuum up all the carpet pad debris, but I am so grateful to be rid of that carpet.  We mentioned a couple weeks ago that we weren't quite sure what we were going to do about the floor.  The FLOR carpet tiles that you voted on will be a great area rug that will cover most of it, but we were hoping to lay some laminate wood down underneath. You can read in this post about our wish to find a match for the flooring that was leftover in our shed.  Update on that--no dice.  We brought a section to lumber liquidators, even though we knew the flooring was discontinued, to hopefully get a good match.

The guy working there was so helpful and measured the depth of our flooring and showed us some close matches.  The bad news--he also explained to us that no flooring would actually connect with our existing laminate so we would have to join them with transitions.  That's when we scratched that idea because that would look crazy, not to mention the slight bumps of the transitions would feel crazy underfoot.

We started talking about buying hardwood flooring just for this room.  After all, we plan on replacing all the laminate downstairs eventually anyway.  The worker discouraged us, explaining if we don't buy it all right now--we could run into the same problem when we're ready to re-floor the main floor.  It could be discontinued.  All of this discouragement was actually to our benefit because we weren't putting ourselves in a bad situation down the road and we were able to come up with a different idea:  Work with the subfloor.

Type "painted subfloor" into Google or even Pinterest and the examples are outstanding.  Granted, we aren't planning on doing any detailed stenciling or crazy colors--but now we have the confidence we needed to know painting the subfloor is the perfect temporary solution for this room.

....and now you know how I am spending the rest of my day.  What are you up to?  Are you down for painted subfloors?

P.S.  We have fallen behind in our votes for the Exterior Melodrama.  I blame my absence.  Click here to cast your daily "Love it" vote.  It only 2 seconds. 

Giveaway Gold: Our Humble A{Bowe}d

**Giveaway is now closed**

Congratulations to L.R. who said they are best at hiking!

Happy Monday, everyone!  I am traveling back home today from my sister's wedding and have a special treat for you.  Our newest sponsor, Our Humble A{Bowe}d is offering up prints from their Etsy shop.  You may recognize the name from my blogroll, as Amanda runs a blog I check in on daily, but I am thrilled to introduce you to her little shop full of custom art.

My favorite print is this "Bee Happy" one:

She also has a selection of custom intricately hand-cut paper art, like this:

You can see the rest of her custom art (most of it, you can even chose your own colors!) right here.

The Nitty Gritty on winning:

Prize:  $30 credit, good for or toward anything in the shop.  This can get you 2 prints, pay for a portion of a cut out, or a combo!

To Enter: To enter leave a comment with the words, "Humble me!" and tell us what you're best at.  (haha!)  

As a bonus entry: Like Our Humble A{bowe}d on Facebook

Giveaway Closes: Thursday, May 24th at 11pm MST

Number of Winners: One

Prize Ships:  Anywhere in the US or Canada

Fine Print:  Only one entry per e-mail address, people. We'll summon random.org after the giveaway closes to select our winner and announce it on Friday as an update to this post.  

I'm off!

This morning I set aside my usual paint brushes and opted for a much smaller one to add a spring touch of pink to my little nails (Essie's Mod Square is too sweet for words).  Let's face it, long nails and an avid DIYer just don't go together--not even for a wedding.  Wedding bound, I am--and Pittsburgh bound, my hometown that I've been away from for too long.

My sister, Victoria, is marrying her partner Jenn (the actual ceremony is in D.C.) and I am flying in just in time to bag 200 s'mores for the "picnic-chic" reception.  

Wedding Top.  Wedding Shoes.

I am so excited to see my relatives that I haven't seen in years and to have my whole family (I have 4 sisters, ya know) all in one place for the wedding weekend.  Although I will miss Chris and little Greta, they seem equally excited to have time together here. My to-do list is a mile long today, and unfortunately as much as I am itching to tackle the latest doorstep arrival...

it's gonna have to wait until I get back.  Happy early weekend to you and I'll see you Monday for a giveaway!

Anyone else have a wedding to attend this weekend??

New Lamp Love.

Last week, I quickly relayed that the living room didn't really look like this anymore:

And that a lamp had been purchased to replace those two black floor lamps flanking the couch.  You see, originally we had planned to have a big arc floor lamp in the family room.  I even included one in the mood board:

Well, after seeing the couch in the space, I still was set on the arc lamp, but Chris felt like it might shrink the room which would be against what we were going for especially since adding recessed lighting and taking out that duck-inducing ceiling fan.  There wasn't much room on either side of the couch, so a floor lamp was really the only thing that made sense:

Then, on a whim one afternoon, I moved the living room lamps to the family room and they felt so perfect there:

Like, really, really charming. Amiright?

And without even realizing it, we ordered the exact lamp from CB2 that was pictured in the family room's mood board for the living room.  It arrived yesterday, and I put it together myself (with a little help hinderance from Greta) in about 45 minutes.

I snapped a photo last night so you can see how she shines at night.  Sorry for the blurriness, I must have been real excited about the amount of light it gives off.

In short, it all worked out.  We are smitten on all accounts, although the new lamp has kind of started a mini-revamp for the living room.  But. BUT, I am trying to push the thoughts out of my head until we finish the studio and the family room.

Any other lamp love going on?  

P.S.  Don't forget to cast your two-second daily vote for our Exterior Melodrama.  Just click here.