Crisp Interiors

A Kitchen Reveal...

2012-02-19T12:42:00.001-05:00

I'm embarrassed to admit, I don't think I've EVER shown you our kitchen. I've got a feeling that's probably because it wasn't perfect. In fact, besides taking down the cabinet doors and adding a bit of paint, it hadn't been touched since 1970!

(I forgot to mention .... we DID rip up the old linoleum flooring and.....of course, just painted the plywood underneath! Gosh, I wish I had a picture of that mustard colored floor though.

It was so 70's chic!)

The counter tops, however, will live on forever thanks to the trusty iPhone:

SO. FAR. FROM. PERFECT.

But that's the point...

I'm learning to let go of perfect and, instead, shoot for REAL!

We flip through pages of magazines, we see the perfect couch, the perfect lighting, the perfect floors, the perfect family who owns the perfect dog.

What we DON'T see sometimes is the GOOD stuff - the stuff that makes life worth living...the muddy paw prints, the stain on the sofa, that one spot that we missed while painting, the appliances that are older than we are. That's what I'm learning is NORMAL and wonderful even. These are the things that make our home truly OURS!

So....when we decided to "freshen-up" our counter tops on a whim one night, I wanted them to be unique and imperfect, a reflection of us.

Concrete counter tops seemed like just the ticket! Inexpensive, full of character, and completely DIY!

I so admire my husband for jumping right in one night, excited about learning something new. The learning curve was steep and he had to think on the fly quite a few times. But the end result? Well, it was just stunning!

I'll walk you through some of the steps and then show you where we ended up.

First, Michael brilliantly decided to use the old counter tops as frames to mold the new ones, so he popped them off and got to work:

This was the scary point. . .the point of no return.

And also the point where I realized we'd be without a stove and counters for a few days.

No problem!

I just perfected the art of take-out one meal at a time.

Step 2 (This part you need amazing friends for!)

Mix and pour the concrete.

I'm sure there is MUCH more involved, but Michael would have to fill you in on the details.

That's when the waiting game begins....

And all you can do is hope they turn out as beautiful as they are in your head :)

It seems like we had to let them dry forever, but in reality I think it was more like 2 full days.

Step 3 was LOTS and LOTS of sanding !

and then.... even MORE sanding.

That's when they began to look like we had both envisioned.

They became even more beautiful with each coat of sealer Michael added.

AND FINALLY...they day arrived to put them in.

I couldn't be happier!

Not because they're perfect...they certainly have their share of scratches, cracks & dents;

but because they're ours.

Old appliances, painted floors and all....we are blessed beyond measure!

And one more reason to smile....

The gardenias are starting to bloom outside our kitchen window.

So I thought I'd bring a hint of Spring inside on this rainy Sunday.

Enjoy today,

Linking up to: Between Naps on the Porch
http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com

Guest Post from Design Shuffle

2011-10-21T14:47:00.001-04:00

Today, here at Crisp, we're honored to be joined by the fabulous Susie from Design Shuffle. If you haven't yet checked out the site, you most definitely need to STOP right now and hop on over:

Design Shuffle

You'll find LOADS of inspiration and so many fabulous design trends!

I was so honored when Susie asked if they could stop by CRISP for a guest post!
My answer was, of course: YES, YES, YES!
I think you'll love what Susi's showing us today:

Hi, I'm Susi, a writer for Design Shuffle, a wonderful social media site for designers to share inspiration and projects with designers and design lovers around the world. Today I'm guest blogging about Juju hats here at Crisp Interiors. I admit that my love for Juju hats has not diminished. Like wallpaper, this interior design trend seems to be here for the long haul. Are you still in love with the Juju hat?Thanks for letting me guest blog at Crisp Interiors today! ~ Susi

Ah... beautiful Juju hats. Love the texture, feathers, and shape. While intense colors are typical, I also love the natural feathers.
Love the deep blue color of the Juju hat against the pink wall. The hat works so well with the colorful collection of paintings.

Juju hats come in a rainbow of colors to contrast or complement your décor. Love the intense pink of the fuchsia Juju and accessories in this modern feminine bedroom.
The red Juju hat is like a bullseye on the wall of this colorful warm hued bedroom design, drawing the focus to the bed. Juju hats have amazing texture and depth of color.
A Juju hat against wallpaper is a study in texture and pattern. The white of this Juju pops against the floral pattern of the wallpaper.
Living room designs look great with accent pieces like a Juju hat. In an all white space, a white or cream Juju hat is all about the shape and texture. Beautiful patterns of feathers become the focus in the absence of color.

Loved this tutorial on how to make your own Juju hat with yarn. Yarn gives these a great texture and can be selected in neutrals or bright colors.
Decorating ideas using the original Juju hats or clever DIY substitutes just keep multiplying. This book page Juju hat has the gorgeous texture of the original. [ Images 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 ]
Accent pieces like Juju hats are great additions to your interior design! For more great inspiration, head on over to Design Shuffle where you'll find inspiration from talented designers such as San Francisco interior designers and Boston interior designers!

Happy Fall Y'all !

2011-10-01T19:02:00.003-04:00

It's here!

It's really here.....

That magical night where summer fades into the distance and we all trade in air conditioning for open windows and those cool, soft sheets for warm, fuzzy blankets.

Last night was that night for us here in the Carolinas.

It's funny how I've witnessed this change for decades now, but still feel excited that it's happening... for real AGAIN!

Thought I'd share just a few of my favorite things about fall!

Some are NEW finds that I can't wait to try out this season....

First let's talk candles....

(which, by the way, are burning all over the house as I write...check out Bath and Body Works' DELICIOUS fall scents when you get a chance....UNbelievable!!)

If you're looking for that perfect fall decor at your next dinner, try this brilliant idea:

Worried about carving those perfectly round holes?

Look no further!

I stumbled across a tool that does the job wonderfully!

a steal over at Kitchen Kapers

$12.99

There's something about Birch that is just so rustic and chic all at the same time!

Now these, I haven't ventured to make yet...

BUT it's on the list :)

And speaking of lists.....

How about a FALL BUCKET LIST!

We started with a picnic!

I think a bonfire with s'mores might come next!

Another reason why I love fall?

It's BOOT SEASON!

Throw in a chunky scarf, and I'm one happy girl :)

And finally, some of my favorite fall entertaining ideas:

Pure genius...apple cider in an apple.

This smells good just looking at it!

A favorite of mine...

Pumpkin Pie Dip

SO easy to make and adds vibrant pops of color at parties:

Ingredients

8 ounce package cream cheese, softened

2 cups powdered sugar

1 cup canned pumpkin

1/2 cup sour cream

1 tea. cinnamon

2 tea. pumpkin pie spice

1/2 tea. ground ginger

1 cup Cool Whip, thawed

8 Gingersnap cookies, apples and/or graham cracker sticks

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

Directions

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth.

Add in pumpkin, sour cream, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and ginger. Mix well.

Fold in the thawed whipped cream.

Serve with green apples, graham cracker sticks, or gingersnaps.

One more....then I'm off to work on that Fall Bucket List :)

Trying this one for a party we're throwing tomorrow!

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL !!

Latest Loves

2011-09-02T17:44:00.001-04:00

In honor of the LONG weekend that's finally upon us, here are a few of my favorite things (lately)....

The always lovely Juju Hat

(Michael thinks I'm crazy for loving this, but I'm still loving it anyways)

Anyone have one yet??

My new gorgeous Chevron Striped Rug!

(A real steal from Urban Outfitters)

Classic, structured outfits like this little beauty:

Fabulous front doors

(Saving my pennies for this one, I do believe)

Genius organization ideas like this.

Wine rack doubles as a towel holder. Brilliant!

Succulents (I swear, they're the only plant I can keep alive) and the color scheme they bring to mind

Pink + Turquoise

So CHIC!

(Juju hat alert! Told ya I love them)

And lastly, I'm loving this quote lately!

It's JUST SO TRUE.

So this weekend, no comparing, just appreciating every little thing I've been blessed with.

That includes YOU! Even though I may never have the joy of meeting most of you, I truly appreciate all of your sweet comments, your support, and the fact that you take time out of your busy days to stop by. You are truly appreciated!

Enjoy this LONG weekend!

P.S. All images via Pinterest :)

A Simple Psalm

2011-08-22T11:23:00.001-04:00

This was my morning....

This view:

This song:

Hillsong's The Greatness of our God

These words:

Psalm 100

A psalm. For giving grateful praise.

  Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
   come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God.
   It is he who made us, and we are his;
   we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
   and his courts with praise;
   give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
   his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Praising Him is such a priviledge...not just for what He gives, but for
WHO HE IS!

Enjoy this day!

Pinterest Project #2

2011-08-19T12:16:00.000-04:00

Today I thought I'd share my second attempt at making
Pinterest POP off the screen
and make its way into our home with y'all today.

Since I'm trying not to spend A DIME on these projects, I found one that required only what we had on hand {and tweaked it a little}.

Here's the inspiration:

Family Rules

Chalkboard Map

Now, don't get me wrong - I LOVE the idea of a chalkboard map of the US and coloring in the states as you visit them together ....
but on this particular day, I wasn't feeling very artistic (actually at ALL!)

So... for now, we just have rules.
When we get a projector and can TRACE this very curvy country of ours, we'll create photo #2!

Someday....

This is how ours all came together :

Since I recently acquired this pull-down map from the turn of the century:

The new-ish one from the early 1990's, just didn't seem to hold the same appeal.

{Huck didn't think so either}

Enter chalkboard paint:

{This part was hard for me .... even though it's a map not NEARLY as old as I am, it's still hard to cover those pretty colors!}
But we went for it!
And I'm loving how it turned out:

I think this is MUCH more functional!
In fact, how GREAT would it be for a kids playroom?
Over a bed?
In a large kitchen for meal planning?
As a CHORE CHART for those little ones who love to check things off in a BIG way.

SO many possibilities for this guy!

Just for fun, here's a look at the desk you see pictured BEFORE the big makeover which included: scrubbing (LOTS of scrubbing), sanding, painting the top, and waxing the bottom.
{OH and see those doors? I'll be back soon to show you how we made a sliding barn door without that expensive track}

Sorry ...got side-tracked!!

Here's the AFTER one more time...

Just love the curve of the wood!
So unique!
A perfect start to Michael's room downstairs.

Happy Friday, y'all....
Enjoy the weekend!

The Trend That I Can't Get Enough Of. . .

2011-08-15T14:41:00.000-04:00

. . . MAPS!

I know, I know...they're everywhere right now.

{Which probably means I should move on to something more cutting edge.}

I'm trying....but I can't let it go :)

{and probably never will}

Because, after all, what good are trends if you can't fall in love with them and then keep them around for a while?

Am I right?

OK, so here are the latest additions to my ever-growing map collection.

FIRST . . . remember wayyy back when I promised to show you my favorite find from our Prince Edward Island trip? Seems like ages ago now.

Well anyways, I'm finally getting around to showing y'all!

While going through an old barn, we stumbled across this gem:

It's hard to read the faded print on the front but it's an Atlas of Prince Edward Island from 1830!

Each part of the island is drawn out, complete with the names of land owners

and 1830's "Island Hot Spots"

{like the Gentleman's Warehouse}

So clearly, I fell immediately in love with the history of it all !

{not to mention those gorgeous muted map colors}

Seeing that some pages were torn and others were completely missing,

I thought I'd do the others a favor and save them from the same fate!

Here's where they landed in our home:

{obviously, next time I should spend the extra money for non glare glass}

This one managed to give me a tiny, tiny POP OF PINK without Michael even realizing it!

Ok, now I have to show y'all one of my favorite new additions to the shop.

An antique pull-down map of Europe!

It shows some wear and tear for sure, but since it's from 1904, I guess that's understandable.

Look at these gorgeous colors up close:

I'm in love, but reluctantly adding it to the shop today :)

I know it will find a wonderful new home!

Hope you all have GREAT start to your week!

xoxo,

Summer Projects FINISHED

2011-08-06T16:12:00.000-04:00

I saw this on Pinterest the other day and it made me laugh.

THEN it made me squirm.

THEN I re-pinned!

Because ~~SOMETIMES~~ ....uhhh....most of the time, this is ME!

SOOO... JUST to prove myself wrong, I thought I'd show YOU and remind ME what I have managed to finish this summer.

Not promising much, but it's a start :)

WAY back in EARLY early summer (you know those days when you could still walk to the mailbox without breaking a sweat), I picked up this little letter box from one of my very favorite Saturday morning stops.

A fabulous old letter writing box!

It smelled like an attic and had horrible red felt inside, but EASILY fixed, right?

ESPECIALLY when you have some Annie Sloan Chalk Paint lying around :)

Just a quick coat of Old White

{brushed on messy to give it more texture}

Topped with some Paris Grey

{these brush strokes are smoother}

A quick dab of clear & dark wax and here she is....

Love the texture!

And OF COURSE I had to get a map in there somewhere, so I used some pages that had already been torn out of an old atlas I have lying around.

Just a bit of modge podge, and they're the perfect red felt replacement :)

Such a fun afternoon project...FINISHED !

The next one was just as quick and easy!

We found this sweet little tray in need of some serious TLC in an antique shop on Prince Edward Island

This time I used Annie Sloan's Provence as a base, dry brushed some Old White, waxed, and sanded.

It was a fun piece to experiment with!
{I promise, you can't mess up with this stuff!}

I love the cheerful pop of color it brings to the sun room....

Next up...

A gorgeous French Farmhouse style table!

I was immediately taken with the lines and its unique style....

BUT it came with DECADES of dirt!

Boy did it need some scrubbing and sanding.

After THAT, came the fun part....

Paris Grey on top and Old White on the base.

Here's the halfway point between paint and wax:

Very pretty, but lacking its original depth and character.

SOOO....out comes the wax:

I used clear first and then went back over with the dark wax to age and highlight the texture.

Now, it's become the perfect work station in our kitchen

OK!

Let's bring this thing home with my favorite summer project....

So most of you know that I love WHITE, but this one white wall in our home was NOT working for me. It needed a POP of SOMETHING!

PLAIN and boring and in need of some summer lovin'!

SOO... off to Benjamin Moore I go!

I was pretty sure I would walk away with a Revere Pewter, because it's just so consistently beautiful in every room.

{via Decor Pad}

See what I mean. . . Gorgeousness!

BUT....goodness knows we've got enough grey tones around here right now.

I picked a color I would have NEVER thought to choose, but it somehow works beautifully!

Benjamin Moore Homestead Green.

It reads more blue with all of the natural light in our home,

but I think it's the perfect POP!

And with that, summer projects are coming to an end!!

Enjoy your Saturday!

Be back soon to talk Flea Market Finds and MAPS!

(ohhh so many maps!)

Pinterest Project #1

2011-08-02T18:22:00.000-04:00

I'm quite sure this will be the first of MANY Pinterest Inspired Posts.

Seriously, I'm addicted! If you haven't already, PLEASE join so you can sympathize!

It's like a never-ending world of inspiration and I JUST. CAN'T. STOP.

You can find me here:

http://pinterest.com/emilybknotts/

to see how bad the habit has become.

{and it's only been a month}

Goodness gracious!

But the good news in all of this?

There are some SERIOUSLY creative people out there who are sharing ideas left and right.

Instead of JUST using it as a pretty place to land on the Internet, I thought I'd start doing a

Pinterest Inspired Project Post once or twice a month {we'll see how that works out!}

Here's the first thing I found PINteresting :)

I saw this FABULOUS idea on Pinterest, but it's originally courtesy of:

www.theidearoom.net

{Y'all need to check this site out if you haven't already! I could stay there for days!}

Starbucks Frappucciono bottles are the perfect size and shape for storing all of those little liquids that you use in a bathroom without looking cluttered.

Step 1:

Grab a few bottles next time you're at the grocery

(I found out that they come in large and small....I used both by mistake)

Step 2:

Spray paint the tops white

(I used a matte finish for mine)

Step 3:

REMOVE those sticky labels!

This is the worst part, but still not awful.

Grab some

and you're all set!

Step 4:

Make your own labels or use some courtesy of

THE GRAPHICS FAIRY

Now all you have to do is fill then and attach the labels with a glue stick!

They'll be so sweet in our guest bathroom!

{Still working on how to water-proof those labels though...any ideas?}

Let me know how to follow YOU on Pinterest too!

I can't wait to see what your favorite inspirations are these days :)

Happy Pinning!

Urban Outfitters....not just for clothes!

2011-07-27T12:30:00.000-04:00

I seem to always forget about this place...but every time I go back, I see something so unique it makes me want to click that tempting little "Add to Cart" button faster than I can check the price-tag!

Today, I came in search of a bookshelf for my new downstairs office (which is coming along OH so slowly. Guess the vacation relaxed me a little TOO much!)

I fell in love with this one:

.... it has casters!

I'm sold!

Then there's this little guy:

Don't need it - can't even think of a single spot for it, but it's the contrast of the wood and metal that gets me every time!

Maybe I'll forget about it if I move right along...

Ziggy chair (also come in grey and yellow)

Unbelievable price.... $279!!

Two more chairs I'm dying over....

The Madeline Chair

{comes in tons of bright, beautiful colors}

$349

Ikat Slipper Chair!

Lots of little trinkets to love too:

Letter + Map = A Must Have!

Vintage Locker Shelf!

Would be great storage in a bathroom!

OK, that's my plug for Urban Outfitters for the day :)

Truly, though, my heart still belongs to Anthropologie!

HAPPY SHOPPING!!

Prince Edward Island Treasures

2011-07-25T02:16:00.000-04:00

We just got home and I miss it already!

I always forget how insanely gorgeous that little island is.

(A little "me history": I grew up spending summers in PEI with my family. I haven't been back in six years, but thought it was high time Michael get a taste of the Island charm!)

For those of you who haven't visited, it's a MUST for the vacation "to-do" list :)

I just had to share some memories with you before they are all

lost in the mounds of work waiting for me at home!

Here's some highlights from our ~~Vacation~~ Holiday

{I just love how Canadians and Europeans say "holiday" instead of vacation. Michael and I practiced saying "Ohh...we're just here on Holiday" with a very FAKE English accent many more times than I care to admit! }

I won't bore you with TOO many pictures... but I will show you my absolute favorites AND some treasures that we picked up along the way!

The trip began with these guys waiting for us at the cottage for our Welcome to the Island Dinner!

I truly did try to love it! But the big guy's beady little eyes just kept staring at me . . .

I couldn't do it!

Michael had to polish both of them off and I'm thinkin' he was QUITE OK with that arrangement :)

Our first FULL day on the island was the perfect beach day!

High of 85 (which the islanders refer to as a "corker".... I guess that means it's hot!??)

and a cool breeze coming off the ocean!

PERFECTION!

I gave Michael a little tour around the island...

We saw:

Charming Fishing Villages

Where we just HAD to stop for a photo op!

The color of these flowers was so bright it almost hurts your eyes.

We found out later that it's actually a soy plant!

Soy or not, it was STUNNING!

Lots of lobster traps!

And a picture perfect lighthouse

(My favorite one on the island)

With cliffs that will take your breath away!

Not a bad way to spend our first PEI day!

The week all sort of melted together after that .... I love that about vacations!

You lose track of time and even days and just enjoy BEING!

I just had to take a picture of the sweet little barn with the TURQUOISE door!

That's my kind of farmer :)

Then there were the long runs on the beach and

the red clay roads leading home!

And we can't forget about the dune jumping:

(Michael didn't get a picture of my jump, but I can assure you that it was not nearly as graceful!)

We took a day trip to Dalvay by the Sea

(some of you may know it from Anne of Green Gables but most recently it was the destination of the Royal Couple)

So elegant!

I, of course, turned into a total tourist and whipped out my camera to capture these doors!

I think this home dates back to the 1890's!

We saw so many sunsets, but this one took the prize hands-down!

God was putting on a show!!

We saw so much more, but this would be the never-ending post if I showed you everything...so I'll just let you watch this video that was prepared for the Royal Couple before they visited the Island :)

But I can't leave without showing you just a few of our Island treasures!

I loved these old wooden fishing floats and had to grab as many as I could

(I went back for more after taking this picture)

The color is the perfect faded driftwood shade.

I think they'd look so pretty in a glass cylinder or bowl!

Gorgeous old doorknobs that would be beautiful as hooks or even just as art!

And then there was a Demijohn!

A WHAT??

Demijohns are those big bottles that you're probably seeing everywhere around flea markets these days! I would buy every single one of them if I could.

Originally used to transport liquids.... wine, olive oil, cider - you name it, a demijohn probably carried it!

This one struck my eye, though, because you hardly EVER see them still encased in the original straw packing and wicker!

LOVE a good treasure!

These old file cases (from the 1920's) and a dough board came home with me too :)

I can't wait to show you the greatest find of the whole trip!!

(Not trying to tease.... just don't have pictures yet!)

Be back soon with that!

Thanks Canada for another glorious holiday!

We're Leaving on a Jet Plane...

2011-07-13T18:15:00.001-04:00

. . . I can't even tell you how excited I am!

A week away with my best friend

(who also happens to be my husband)

at my most favorite place in the world
with absolutely NOTHING to do!

Doesn't get much better than that!

In the meantime, I'm leaving you with only a HINT
of where we're going!

See if these pictures give it away.....

Although we're planning to bike, kayak, run on the beach, and explore some quaint little fishing villages along the way, you can be sure that we'll take time to relax, eat delicious fresh seafood, drink some wine, and take LOTS of pictures!

(One thing you can count on...I'm SURE that our bags will be less clothes and more little antique treasures on the flight home!)

Anyone know where we're going?

Has anyone been?

Enjoy the week . . .

Be back soon with some fun stories and lots of great new projects to show you!

Chalk Paint and Modern Family

2011-07-01T18:00:00.001-04:00

OK, I know I'm a little late to this trend.... I promise I haven't been hiding under a rock -just waiting for the budget to allow some of Annie Sloan's INCREDIBLE Chalk Paint.

Well....the wait is over! Last week was my birthday and my wonderful in-laws bought me a quart of Paris Grey!!

{How in the WORLD did they go out on a limb and pick GREY??}

It's a joke... I know, I'm obsessed with grey!

So much so that I told Michael we should strongly consider naming our little girl

Anne Grey or Ella Gray or something of the sort.

Not quite sure he's sold on the idea of naming our child after my favorite color :)

But back to the gift....

It's everything you've read that it is and MORE!
Here's my top 7 reasons to getcha some:

SO easy to work with.
No mess!
A little bit goes a LONG way {really it does!}
Such pure, pale gorgeous colors!
You can paint with the wax to create a colored wax.
Easy breezy distressing {although I love the pieces I've done without any distressing at all}
Brushes are SOO easy to clean off!! (this may be my very favorite quality of all!)

So when we came across six of these beauties:

I couldn't WAIT to slap some Paris Grey on them.

I KNEW they looked familiar, but for the life of me couldn't remember WHERE I had seen them!

That night, I saw THIS....

A dead ringer for

THE MODERN FAMILY CHAIRS!!

{How GREAT is Cameron, by the way? I could be friends with him forever}

Best Cam Quote OF ALL TIME:

"I’m sort of like Costco. I’m big, I’m not fancy and I dare you to not like me."

-Cameron

I searched and searched for a link for y'all

{Just in case you are as much in love with The Dunphy's style as I am}

The closest match I was able to find are Pottery Barn's Napoleon Upholstered Chair:

Pottery Barn Chairs

Add some of Annie Sloan's Paris Grey,

Some Clear Wax

and Voila!

The newest addition to our dining room!

Before:

After:

Just in time to kick off the 4th of July weekend!!

Enjoy this special weekend with your family and friends....

xoxo,

All in a Day's Work!

2011-06-30T22:11:00.000-04:00

Today was one of those rare breezy Carolina summer mornings.

It seemed like the perfect day to make something beautiful!

Since projects are overflowing these days and our to-do list is growing faster than we can write it, I decided just to tackle just as many as a I could and dive right in!

First on the list?

HOME DEPOT RUN....

... to pick up some PAINT for the second bedroom downstairs.

Some days you couldn't PAY me to pick up a paint brush, but somehow today it just seemed FUN!

Remember this little pile of clutter?

Well....SOMEWHERE under there is hiding a GREAT little room with SO much potential!

I'm SURE of it :)

I don't know yet if this room will become a second guest room {with twin beds} or my office since I'm cluttering Michael upstairs office with un-read magazines, paint swatches, books for school, and sometimes even a shopping bag or two!

Regardless, I envisioned a pale PALE grey with some pops of yellow!!

I know, I'm a little late to this trend, but I just have to have a little of it SOMEWHERE in this house :)

First step? DE-CLUTTER!!

Before painting, I took off the old dingy blinds, washed the windows and . . .

SURPRISE there was a gorgeous view of the lake hiding underneath all of the cobwebs!

Looking better already!

Second step.... PAINT!

{Don't worry... I came back with an edger later....}

Speaking off? Have y'all used this little guy?

INCREDIBLE!

That's where we'll end on THAT room today... but I won't leave you hangin' too long.

Hint Hint: the finished product just MIGHT involve something like this:

(Like the rest of you, I'm in LOVE with Miss Annie Sloan and her fabulous Chalk Paint creation!)

I'll blog about it lots more later, but it's my new favorite for SURE!

In the meantime, one more little quick and easy project that can be done in 30 min. or less and is completely FREE!

Re-arrange those bookshelves.

I was tired of the clutter in the living room built-in, so it went from this:

To...

A much cleaner, more crisp after:

LOVE a quick transformation !

xoxo,

Designing a Dream

2011-06-17T10:57:00.000-04:00

A few weekends ago, Michael and I celebrated our FIRST year of marriage!

Though it's been absolutely wonderful in so many ways, we realized that we hadn't really dreamed together yet!

We were so busy planning the wedding, adjusting to married life and renovating a bachelor pad that we never truly stopped to just imagine and wonder about all that lies ahead of us.

So THIS weekend....we're dreaming!

Who knows if any of our plans will ever become real, but I think it's more about the process, the idea of our whole lives in front of us and the overwhelming potential which that brings!

In fact, until just now, I have never really stopped to get EXCITED about that!!

Too busy getting lost in the day-to-day, I guess.

Don't get me wrong, these dreams aren't JUST about a house

(although that's mostly what I'll share with you all).

But it's so much more about what we want our lives to be known for, how we will serve others, what we will do with the gifts we've been given, and how we will daily trust God to do things we could have never thought possible.

But for today, we're talking dream house....

(the realistic kind though. the kind that we could ACTUALLY afford. Not the ones I swoon over in Elle Decor or the ones that are far too extravagant to be even be CLOSE to practical. The one that just fits.)

Today marks the FIRST post in a series about the Dream Home.

We'll start with the outside and work our way through the rooms.

I'm HOPING that when all is said and done, we'll have a vision of where we're headed....

Let's dive in starting with:

THE EXTERIOR

{Keep in mind that our dream is to stay on the water and to stay relatively small}

The largest of these homes is 2600 sq. ft.

Cozy Cottages!

Option #1

Southern Cottage/ New England Coastal

Two wings that connect to the house.

The first is the master bedroom with its own porch.

The second is a sweet little guest cottage.

4 bedrooms total

Option #2

Low Country Retreat

Quite a bit smaller but a perfect lake house with a screened porch and even a private porch off of the master.

One bedroom upstairs with its own bath and dressing area.

2 Bedrooms

Option #3

More Low Country Influence

Wrap around porch

Master and guest bedroom down

Big loft and bedroom up as well.

Could easily add on later if needed.

For more pictures and more GORGEOUS plans, y'all have got to check out:

http://coastallivinghouseplans.com/

I'm leaning towards #1 so far....I just love that the master suite is connected with a vestibule!

And what fun to have a guest cottage :)

Which one is your favorite?

The greatest part about all of this dreaming?. . .There's not one ounce of pressure to make a decision.

Right now it's just pure FUN!

Be back soon with another "Designing a Dream" post to share.

Enjoy the weekend y'all!!

It's a "Before" Kind of Day

2011-06-16T15:43:00.000-04:00

You know, some days just seem perfect for new beginnings!

Today is one of them.

The whole summer is ahead of us and there's SO much to be thankful for!

In the spirit of the "befores", here's a glimpse of my ever-growing summer project list!

I don't even have a vision for all of them yet, but I feel SURE it will come.

The first two are little treasures I picked up at my FAVORITE thrift store! I've never spent more than $10 dollars on anything :)

First a PERFECT little tufted chair. Eventually it will be GORGEOUS with fresh new fabric, but for right now, I think I might try round 2 at painting upholstery!

Take a peek at my first painted chair here:

http://crispinteriors.blogspot.com/2011/04/from-dumpster-to-diva-painted-chair.html

Somehow Little Huck doesn't seem to mind the new chair just the way it is:

Next up...

The perfect companion .... a sweet little brass tray with folding stand.

There's LOTS more fun pieces, but I just have to show y'all the two last rooms in our house that have been left untouched.

Just begging for a makeover.

Now, I swore I was just going to leave them and forget they are even there...turn them into a "storage room" in my head of sorts.

But it's not working. I dream about how to make them pretty ALL THE TIME!

Just so you don't think I only show you the staged and perfect pictures and in the name of full disclosure, Here they are:

See what I mean about storage rooms?

Who knows what's hiding down there these days.

BUT...

These rooms could be GREAT!

They lead right out to the lake with gorgeous views!

A diamond in the ROUGH for sure....

They might not come together as quickly as I would like. Who knows, I might not even finish before the leaves fall, but there's a lot of GOOD stuff in between the "before" and the "after"!

Wishing you all a beautiful summer filled with projects, lazy days, suntans, BBQs, and even a few paint splatters :)

Leaving you with some glimpses of the things that, to me, make summer so magical!

CHEERS!

If I had a Million Dollars....

2011-06-09T15:29:00.048-04:00

Clearly I'm obsessed with all things old !

Not surprising, then, that I scan the Historic Properties website compulsively.

If y'all haven't seen this...seriously it's addicting:

http://www.preservationdirectory.com/historicrealestate/homesforsale.aspx

{My husband thinks I'm a loon. . . but then again, he builds NEW houses for a living. You know what they say about opposites . . . }

So when I stumbled across this little piece of heaven circa 1880,

. . . I was completely smitten!

For those kindred spirits out there who love old squeaky floors like me, this one's for you!

Can't you just imagine sipping sweet tea and lemonade here . . . wavin' to the neighbors as they pass by?

(I realize...I should have lived in the 1950's!)

Let's go in....

Not SO in love with the yellow...but goodness gracious, look at all of those architectural details!

As you step to the right, you'll find my favorite room in the whole house. . .

Fabulous 15 panel French Doors!

If I can't buy it, I'm thinking I should at LEAST befriend the new owners!

Maybe they'll let me house-sit one day.

Let's head upstairs to....

.... the landing, complete with built-ins just waiting to be filled with treasures

{and of COURSE old books}

OK...so this next part is going to blow you away!

THE. MASTER. BATH

Those floors, that paint, those claw feet... MY DREAM bath!

That's one lucky lady who gets to primp here every morning

In real life, though, I can't imagine that my ancient blow dryer, steaming hair straightener, and massive makeup bag would ever TRULY fit in.

{I'm pretty sure this would disqualify me from ownership of this home!}

Just in case you're not already in love, let's move outside to the

POOL HOUSE!

I would even settle for living in THAT!

Here's how the ad reads:

(In case any of you fine folks happen to be moving to Monroe, NC in the near future!)

Grand Greek Revival Architecture w/Neoclassical additions, The Myers Smith Home (Circa 1880) features wide front porches, terraces, and beautiful grounds with inground pool and cabana. Pride of ownership shows with many updates including a 2009 master bath addition, and kitchen updates. Wrought gates lead to 3 car garage. Home is Registered in the National Register of Historic Places.

A STEAL of a deal (or at least that's what I tell Michael) at $375,000!

But you know what?

After our wonderful, crazy, beautiful first year of marriage, I now know

that it's not the house that makes the home.

It's who's in it with you . . .

In the good, in the bad, and in the magical moments of life.

I'd feel beyond blessed to share even a tiny little shack with these two:

Blessed indeed!

A Bedroom Reveal...

2011-05-31T11:56:00.000-04:00

Hey there my long lost blogging friends :)

The last few weeks have been CRAZY to say the least,

so I am JUST now getting to the bedroom reveal post that I promised AGES ago!

I'd say it's about TIME, wouldn't you?

(I just really wanted a reason to show y'all my sweet little $5 dollar clock my mom and I picked up the other weekend! It's TURQUOISE!!!)

For our wonderful new readers, I'll catch you up to speed....

Here was our downstairs guest room BEFORE:

(I'm kicking myself for not getting a better before picture...but it was just a LOT of beige!)

And now for the

much lighter, much brighter

AFTER:

BM: Constellation on the ceilings

BM: Spring Mint on the walls

The floors are concrete and painted trim white.

Still lots of little details to work on, but those will all come when they come, right?

I never like forcing a room to come together, it just doesn't seem to work as well as piecing it all together as you find treasures along the way.

That way spaces always feel fresh!

In the spirit of fresh starts, I'll leave you with a quote that a friend of mine reminded me of this morning... Hope you all make today wonderful whatever it may bring!

“Finish every day and be done with it.

You have done what you could.

Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in;

forget them as soon as you can.

Tomorrow is a new day;

begin it well and serenely

and with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense.

This day is all that is good and fair..

It is too dear with its hopes and invitations,

to waste a moment on the yesterdays.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Guess who lives here...

2011-05-20T10:23:00.000-04:00

For those of you who are one step ahead of me, you already know the answer to this little puzzle...

For the rest of you (who, like me, are just now catching up on your Elle magazine)..

this one's for YOU!

Ready?

Which celeb lives in this insanely gorgeous NYC loft?

(give you a hint...I loved her before this, but now I REALLY love her!)

Fabulous freestanding tub and concrete stairs! Brilliant!

Gorgeous gallery wall and vintage pendant lights ...

and did you spy that sweet little chalkboard in the very back?

Any guesses yet?

EXPOSED BRICK (love this ALMOST as much as exposed beams!)

Such a cheery play space with LOADS of personality!

The vintage Hotel sign adds the PERFECT touch of charm and nostalgia!

I would love to keep you hanging and let you keep guessing,

but I just can't resist showing you these shots with our mystery celeb pictured....

THE FABULOUSLY TALENTED SHERYL CROW!!

We all knew she could belt out a tune,

but did you have ANY idea she had such an eye for

turning found objects into elegant and chic decor?

Loving the cage light!

{all pictures via Elle}

Speaking of found objects.... I'm about to go treasure hunting myself at my VERY favorite salvage shop!

Might just be back later to show y'all some new additions to the shop!

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Crazy Good Deal

2011-05-19T12:36:00.000-04:00

I'm gonna make this post short, so you can hurry up and get to
Crate and Barrel before these guys are all gone.

On sale for $19.99!!!!

{Here's the handy dandy link}

I picked up a pair for our guest room downstairs

I had in my mind something like this:

{via Domicile Interior Design}

The down side?

The warm honey shade was just a tiny bit too light for our rustic room.

They have some similar mirrors that were darker, but they were not nearly as inexpensive!

NO WORRIES.... Easy EASY fix!

{Five minutes MAX, I promise}

With a quick brush of acrylic Raw Umber

and a cheapy foam brush, the color turned out

JUST PERFECT:

Can't wait to show you their new home in our house....

I love a good deal and I LOVE sharing them.

Crate and Barrel...$19.99.... HURRY...RUN!

Heads UP. . . Exposed Beams!

2011-05-17T08:36:00.001-04:00

As I was scrolling through pictures this morning to get inspiration for a client's home,

I had SO many I wanted to share with you guys. . .

but then I noticed they all had one common element:

EXPOSED BEAMS!

I never knew HOW MUCH I loved these guys until I put scrolled through picture after picture of these gorgeous architectural elements that absolutely and without a doubt are ROOM MAKERS!

Look at these beauties:

Understated elegance!

So chic!

This has ALL my favorites...turquoise, beams, big GREY doors!

My perfect room!

Incredibly CRISP...wouldn't you say?

Rustic Elegance...you KNOW I love this combo more than ANYTHING!

Gorgeous wide plank floors mirror the fabulous chunky exposed beams overhead!

{all images via Traditional Home & House Beautiful....and a few others that were nameless in my files}

BUT....

I saved the BEST for last!!

From an Interior Design Firm that NEVER. CEASES. TO. AMAZE:

Tracery Interiors

Y'all ready for this ??

A rustic Lake Martin vacation home that is ABSOLUTELY my DREAM come to life:

Isn't it just DREAMY?

Those gorgeous exposed beams may be FAR off in my house future,

but at least for this morning they've inspired me to make something ELSE pretty....

Show you soon!!

Enjoy your day :)

Anthropologie Inspired Lamp

2011-05-14T18:08:00.000-04:00

Today's thrifting adventure was all about LAMPS!

I need a matching set for the guest bedroom that's still

in progress.

I was OVER the MOON for this lamp from Anthropologie....

but with a price tag of $388, let's face it . . . it's never coming home with me!

EVER!

I couldn't find a glass base ANYWHERE {at least not at Goodwill or my favorite thrift store today},

but we did find:

A matching set of bases for $8 each!

Not perfect, but we can MAKE IT WORK for sure!

{might just hide those flowers on the backside}

First I coated them with a can of Krylon Fusion in white gloss

Picked up an inexpensive drum shade from Target

{$14 dollars, I think}

Now, here comes the FUN PART!

Pick up an old dictionary at Goodwill or your favorite thrift store....

add a little of this:

And start pasting !

Make it personal if you can...

we chose words like

LAKE

DOCK

LABRADOR

I'm sure no guest of ours will ever stop to read the lampshade, but JUST IN CASE...

we're making it relevant !

SO after those simple steps, here's what we ended up with:

**QUICK TIP....if you line the inside of the shade with white paper, it makes the light shine through more evenly....otherwise you see too much of the overlapping pages**

I still think I'd love a clear glass base....but for now, it's just the perfect touch to our guest room.

Not QUITE ready for the final reveal on that one yet... but can you guess what we're using as side tables?

I'll give you a hint....they were FREE!

Be back soon to give you the full tour of our latest room makeover....

Coastal Cottage Bedroom

2011-05-10T09:48:00.000-04:00

For those of you who MAY have thought our downstairs remodel was coming to a close....

SURPRISE!!

Here we go again....

This time it's the downstairs guest bedroom.

Up until this point, it's been used as a holding grounds of sorts for EVERYTHING that we THINK we may SOMEDAY use but NOT. QUITE. SURE!

Do you have those sorts of storage areas?

You know, the ones that hold just about everything you are on the verge of toting off to Goodwill in one giant truckload,

but can't quite FULLY commit to the idea.

That was us!

It was a mixture of Michael's bachelor pad classics and my single girl decorating

{I just couldn't imagine forcing that level of girly-ness on Michael! He's been such a good sport about the remodel, but some of those things were CLEARLY crossing the line!}

Gosh I wish I had taken a picture of that over-crowded room before I made it my mission to

de-clutter and make pretty!

I really am SO terribly awful at "before" pictures, because the projects seem to just start themselves {always after 10 pm} and before I know it, the room is well on it's way to recovery !

Here's one post clutter blurry phone picture...

but at least it gives you an idea of the dark and dingy that we started with:

CREAM colored EVERYTHING!

Carpet, floors, walls, ceiling AND trim....kinda felt like the inside of a manila envelope.

If we can all imagine together for a moment what THAT feels like ;)

Though you can hardly see it through those tiny windows, this room DOES have a lake view....

so I thought we'd try to brighten things up a bit and go for a

coastal cottage feel in here.

Though clearly this design I put together for a client couldn't work in this room. . .

CLEARLY we don't have the space OR the budget!

But it's sure fun to dream (even for someone else's house!)

And more Coastal Cottage bedroom LOVE:

We're not QUITE ready for a reveal yet (as in the room is still EMPTY!)

BUT here's some of the elements we're incorporating:

Benjamin Moore's Spring Mint on the walls

{as seen here in the Klotz home in the Hamptons}

And Benjamin Moore's Constellation {with a few pumps of white mixed in} for the ceilings:

Next up... WHITE PAINTED FLOORS

{I think that's almost EVERY room in our house now}

But THIS time.... I think we'll try stencils in the ceiling color

Actually these may have to come LATER depending on how brave I'm feeling this week!

To give the room some natural flavors and texture, possibly something like:

And of course...no room of ours would ever be complete without:

And...

If I'm ever going to post an "after" picture...I better get to work.

Hope to show you the end results SOON!

(hopefully before Friday....because we've actual GUESTS coming to use the guest room!}

Enjoy this gorgeous day!

A Map Quest

2011-05-06T09:11:00.000-04:00

I've always had a thing for maps....especially the vintage ones {of course!}

Those fabulous pale, muted colors are perfect accents;

while the maps themselves add a touch of historical charm.

{image via House Beautiful}

Even better than that...they can remind us where we've been and let us dream of where we're going!

Lucky for me...lately maps are everywhere in the decorating world.

Here are a few of my favorite ways to incorporate them into your home.

These topographical maps of Paris make quite a statement above this couch!

The simple framing lets the details of the map take center stage and draws the eye upward.

{image via Pinterest}

BRILLIANT idea for interior french doors!

{image unknown}

I love the idea of breaking one map up into several smaller frames.

This seems to add a great deal of visual interest and instantly turns one great map into a complete collection!

These gorgeous maps become the focal point of the room when accented with library lamps.

{which, by the way, are another obsession of mine of late}

I'm having a shoulda, coulda, woulda moment

and wishing I had installed these above our built-ins downstairs.

{This is the moment when Michael starts to worry about his crazy project-loving wife}

Next up: illuminated maps

{image via Southern Living}

What a fun way to add maps to a children's room?

Ok, moving on to those wonderful old fashioned pull-down maps that we remember from our school days:

{image via Kelly McGuill designs}

Look at that gorgeous aged patina !

Wonder if that aged look could be re-created on a newer version??

Hmm.....any ideas?

{image via Elle Decor}

{image via Angel at My Table blog}

The combination of the oversized map and the vintage lockers takes this workspace to

a WHOLE new level!

Now get ready for this GENIUS idea.....

{of course it's found an ad agency....the creativity of these men and women never ceases to amaze!}

MAPS. AS. BLINDS!

Are you having one of those "Why didn't I think of that moments" like me??

Gosh, that's good!

So you get my point??

Maps are PERFECT accents to any room!

The good news is, you can still find them for a steal if you're lucky.

Since no road trip would be complete without a little thrifting, Michael and I found this little gem at a store outside of Charleston.

It's FILLED with pages and pages of maps that would make gorgeous and SUPER inexpensive art!

I'm thinking of framing every state or country Michael and I visit together.

In the meantime, email me if you have a request of a state or country you'd like to purchase.

I'll frame some and add them to the shop soon!

http://crispinteriors.goodsie.com/

But first....I just CAN'T end without introducing y'all to our newest little addition

{who is sleeping soundly behind me right this second.}

Meet Huck....our 8 week old lab puppy!

We've had him for two days and

He's already completely and totally spoiled!

And WE are head over heels. . .

Nothin' in this world like a puppy face!

Enjoy your weekend!

Be back soon with lots of fun new treasures for the shop. . .

(and Huck)

From Dumpster to Diva: The Painted Chair

2011-04-29T14:16:00.001-04:00

Happy Friday!!

It's WAY to beautiful here to be blogging, so I just thought I'd share a quick bit of

DIY inspiration.

I first heard about the painted upholstery idea over at

Hyphen Interiors

Y'all have GOT to check out Kristy's stuff....she's absolutely fabulous!

I won't try to replicate her awesome tutorial, but if you click on the link above, she'll walk you through each and every step perfectly!

As soon as I read Kristy's post, I knew JUST the lucky chair to revive!

This little beauty was found in a DUMPSTER and was desperately in need of some TLC.

I fell in love with the tufts, the nail heads, the gorgeous antique woodwork, the elegant lines....

The only problem?? The color!

Though it might work for some, it would have stood out like a sore thumb in our house.

SO.... I used some white paint we had on hand, mixed it with textile medium and got to work:

I quickly realized I needed to tape up those gorgeous nail heads.

{That was the hardest part of the WHOLE thing}

The painting and sanding was the FUN PART!

It took quite a few coats (since I decided to go from pink to white).

Next time, I think I'll try sticking with a color that's closer to the original fabric.

{Should have thought of that before, huh?}

Ready for the after??

I really like the contrast between the deep color of the wood and the shiny glamour of a fresh coat of white! Just need to dress it up with the perfect little pillow.

Don't look TOO closely, I still have some touch- up spots to get to.

But overall, it was a super simple way to spice up an old forgotten chair

(for only about $15 dollars)

It's surprisingly comfy too....just feels like painted canvas.

I hope you'll check out

Hyphen Interiors

for the FULL tutorial :)

Enjoy your weekend!!

The Doorways of Charleston

2011-04-28T09:23:00.001-04:00

Charleston, South Carolina....

a city full of Southern charm, history, and,

of course, the architecture!

I always seem to notice something different each time I go....there's just SO much to take in.

This trip, I fell particularly in love with the DOORS in the historic district!

Some are regal and majestic others are quaint and charming; but they each seem to tell their own unique story about the homes behind them.

Michael and I were the "ultimate tourists"....riding around on our bikes for hours, cameras out, ooooing and ahhhing over every little detail. Kids in a candy shop!!

I thought I'd share a few of our favorites.....

A perfect orange door against a creamy grey wall . . . the wheels were churning while taking this picture.

"Could I ever pull this off at home?"

I think not...but it's the perfect Charleston look!

Must come back and admire it again soon!

THIS one...stopped me dead in my tracks. I did not want to leave this door!

Michael had to convince me to move it on along :)

But those COLORS......

These double doors seemed to go up for miles....

the drama of the deep blue and height was breathtaking!

More double doors with original tile work.

SUCH history here!

My eye was first drawn to the original letter box on this door.

And the panes in the glass and the large house numbers were perfect!

Don't you just wanna peek behind those curtains?

I don't know what it is about Charleston, but it makes me so nosy...

I feel like I just HAVE to know how these homes are decorated!

I love the stately elegance of this Victorian home near the water.

Wouldn't you just love to watch the original owners of this home walk down these steps all dressed in their Sunday best?

I am SURE it was a sight to be seen!

Here's a close-up of the doorknobs and escutcheon plates....

Look at that DETAIL!

Next up...barn door style!

Not sure that these are original, but they sure are fabulous!

I think this was Michael's favorite

Wouldn't this be a perfect wall for a photo shoot?

The aged walls against the fresh turquoise is such a CRISP contrast!

Now if only we could decide what color to paint our OWN front door, we'd be in business!

Be back soon with a fun new project that y'all might HAVE to try . . .

Enjoy today!

The Cowhide Trend

2011-04-26T11:09:00.000-04:00

Cowhide Rugs....

They are EVERYWHERE!

But, if you're anything like me, you may pause

{ever so slightly}

about the idea of a cowhide rug in your house.

I wasn't quite sure about this trend....

Until......

This little guy found a home in our newly renovated downstairs.

The moment I saw the contrast between the sleek concrete floors and the soft creaminess of the rug...

I WAS HOOKED!

It's a ROOM maker for sure!

Certainly not for everyone, I get it ! They do seem to work best in light and airy rooms where they lend a bit of rustic contrast to an otherwise purely elegant and sleek space.

Cowboy chic meets Rustic Elegance you might say!

Since I'm completely into the look right now, here are a few of my absolute favorites:

The sleekness of this room is PERFECT for this trend.

Cowhide in the bathroom? Why not !!

Here the rug brings this elegant room all together, adding an element of texture and sophistication.

Loving the rustic brown against the white plank floors!

{images via Decor Pad}

If you're a brave soul up for the challenge, here's some

shopping tips:

-Flea Markets {where we found ours}....these offer the most unique look for the best price.

If you don't stumble upon one there, try:

-West Elm: Brown and White

Neiman Marcus

Overstock

Happy Hunting!

{Pun completely intended}

When it all comes together...

2011-04-21T16:31:00.009-04:00

Don't you love those sparkling moments.....when everything finally just seems to fit?

I showed you the built-ins earlier this week.

{Thank you, thank you for all of your sweet comments!

You all are always blowing me away with your encouraging words.}

And you've even seem SOME of the fireplace before
{forgive my redundancy}

I just HAD to bring you full circle since this blog reads much like an HGTV show in SLOW motion lately!
I promise after this, I'll stop :)

Not much time to write today (I'm supposed to be packing for our Charleston getaway weekend)

BUT....a quick little before and after never hurt anybody :)

Short and sweet, but here we go:

BEFORE: (you've seen most of these)

And.......

AFTER:

(Lots of small details still to work on, but as I'm trying to learn lately. ..
perfect isn't always the goal!)

Our cozy little "nook" with old locker baskets underneath and an inspiration wall above filled with favorite quotes, old letters, and sweet vintage postcards.

I didn't trust myself with a stencil on the stairs, so we painted house numbers from Lowe's and nailed them to each step.

Worked like a charm!

What I haven't yet shown y'all is the space on the OTHER side of these steps.

Got GRAND plans for THAT .... stay tuned!

Happy Easter!

I hope this weekend will be a beautiful celebration for you all!

A Bookshelf Remade

2011-04-19T09:23:00.002-04:00

For our brand new readers....WELCOME!

We are thrilled you've found us at Crisp Interiors.

Let's catch you up with a quick rewind:

We are completely renovating downstairs {design on a dime style}.

The really great news? We are ~~completely~~ ALMOST done!

Since there is SO much to show you, I thought we'd take it in baby steps.

After all, that's kind of how it all came together....one project at a time until one day I woke up and all the little pieces of the puzzle FINALLY seemed to fit.

I think it's about time this little room shows it's stuff!

Today let's talk bookshelves {again}

Here's where we started:

First step:

Primed and primed and primed some more.

FINALLY we got the handy paint sprayer and it transformed to this:

(just excuse the carpet and bad lighting...we were very much "in process" here)

I LOVED the color we used for the back of the shelves:

Valspar's Alpine Valley

BUT, the color of the shelves and cabinets, just didn't do it for me.

It ended up looking "pinkish" and not at all the greyish-taupe that I had in mind.

SOO.... I re-worked the plan a bit and started over with

Benjamin Moore's Constellation

It was more blue than I originally wanted,

but it's the most peaceful and serene color I've EVER seen on the walls!

Just perfect for a lake house.

Brightened up the room a LOT!

NOW that Goldilocks found her JUST RIGHT color, the decorating fun began.

I love playing around with shelves.

There are so many ways to accessorize and mostly you don't need to run out and buy ANYTHING.

In fact, it's probably better if you didn't, since shelves are meant to display your most favorite things!

Take your time with this.

Don't just fill your bookshelves, dress them up, make them meaningful to you &

accentuate your unique style.

-Take inventory of your home,what pieces do you LOVE?

-Collect books, sculptures, vases, plants, art and just. start. playing.

-Forget the old rules of symmetry, matching colors, etc.

-Play with different arrangements, stacked books, and varying heights...

until you step back and

it feels good!

(you'll be able to tell, I promise)

Here are just a few of the pieces I started with

{I was going for a natural, rustic elegance}

An old fishing reel (a gift to us from my Dad) and an antique "K" stencil

An old book I made a collage in years ago paired with a vintage electric insulator

(Bargain hunters tip: if you ever see these at good prices, pick a few up....they're certainly a thing of the past and make excellent bookshelf decor or can be turned into pendant lights)

Driftwood HAD to make an appearance...it's my favorite!

It lends an extra boost of height and texture that makes things visually interesting.

Coupled with a vintage mason jar (with a sweet letter from my dad curled up inside)

And of COURSE, some of my favorite decorating book indulgences!

{just so happens that the colors of the books are the perfect accent!}

A gorgeous textured planter from Anthropologie.

I loved the color inside SO much that I couldn't imagine actually planting anything in it.

Solution: It's now hanging on the wall to show off its turquoise and take center stage!

Last but NEVER least....antique books!

I pick these up everywhere I go ! It's a constant treasure hunt.

(I must certainly be my mother's daughter)

These days, with the onset of electronic book readers and podcasts,

they seem even more precious somehow.

{You can't see it very well in this picture, but the book on the bottom is titled: "Young Folks at Home"

All about newly married couples making a home together in the 50's!

Fitting, I think!}

All of these treasures put together,

look a little something like this. . .

I love a good before and after, so here's a quick recap:

Next up: The fireplace gets a face lift and LOTS of other fun projects!

Enjoy today!

Organize it! {makeup edition}

2011-04-17T16:43:00.000-04:00

If you're anything like me, bathroom counter space is a precious, PRECIOUS commodity!

Especially in the morning when trying to

blow-dry,

straighten, brush,

wash,

moisturize

AND put your face on!

All of this before 7 am?? {and let's not even TALK about trying to make the bed}

Here's a quick and easy way to get that clutter off the counter tops and onto the walls
{because who REALLY needs wall space in the bathroom?}

What you'll need:
Makeup {that's the easy part, right?}

A thin sheet of metal like this from Home Depot or Lowe's {super cheap}:

Fabric of your choice {I used drop cloth, which I am SURE is a BIG surprise} wink, wink

Heavy duty magnets {$2.49 at Home Depot}

And a handy dandy glue gun

Here's the SUPER SIMPLE STEPS:

-Measure your wall

-Cut your metal to the appropriate size

-Wrap your fabric around the metal and glue {just like you'd wrap a present}

-Nail metal in place on the wall {or you could even use Velcro}

-Glue your magnets to your makeup

-Giggle and smile a LOT when it you put them up there and watch 'em stick :)

AND....WA-LA, you have a much cleaner more organized bathroom!!

{husbands all over America will be much happier!}

Here's where I started:

And after just 30 min. or so, here's where we ended up:

Happy Organizing!!

{P.S. I'm thinking Mason Jars hung on the wall for makeup BRUSH storage right below, YES??}

What are your favorite organizing tips these days? I need more...I'm on a ROLL!

New Life for an OLD Clock

2011-04-15T23:10:00.002-04:00

The Mora Clock...

They are today, I believe, as trendy as in their heyday {late 18th, early 19th century}

SUCH stunning decorative pieces that beautifully accent a room with their timeless elegance.

{images via Home & Design and Veranda}

Gorgeous, right?

Sooo...

Let's just say, I was DOUBTFUL when my mom and I first spotted this one.

These days, you see so many reproductions, it's become rare to spot a TRUE diamond in the rough.

{but we're talking my mom here......SO not hard for her in the LEAST!}

Let's start with the before {top to bottom for the FULL floral effect}:

(Don't worry...it's not the original paint job or I wouldn't have dared to touch the slightest thing)

**Before I let you drink in the after, I thought a quick history lesson on the Mora clock might just be in order**

The Scandinavian floor clock known as the "Mora Clock" started near the town of Mora, in central Sweden in the Province of Dalarna around 1750.

Bad weather and poor soil forced the farmers in the Mora area to look for other ways to supplement their income. The villagers of this area turned to traditional home crafts, building of wall clocks and tall case clocks. Each family specialized in a certain part: some made the brass clockworks, some painted the faces, while others built or painted the tall case clocks. Just like an assembly line, the workers became very skilled and did excellent work.

About 1000 Grandfather/Grandmother/Scandinavian Mora Clocks were built each year for 80 years - this craft flourished and the best of the best were sold to the very wealthy.

Since these clocks are handmade, they all have their own unique, whimsical charms!

This particular one is less curvy and shorter than most I've seen....but I'm still IN LOVE:

The original clock face reads:

Mils Fredrick A. Son

Mora

I especially love the bowed glass over the face.

and it still has the original inner workings.....

The weights are made of cast iron!

I just dry brushed a a coat of grey and a lighter shade of blue to get this creamy look.

Then quickly rubbed some stain over the whole thing to add depth.

It's no Sweden...but for now, this Mora has found a cozy little home right here :

The best part....it STILL keeps time!

{just working on making it chime again}

Speaking of time....gotta get to bed.

We've got a DECK to build tomorrow :)

{more on that later...} :)

A Makeover

2011-04-13T11:03:00.006-04:00

Remember when I told you I was saving my new favorite piece of furniture for a future reveal?

(probably you don't....because goodness knows we've been through two seasons since then!)

Well, as they say.... no time like the present! :)

Here's a peek at my MOST favorite room in the house {for now at least} and the lovely piece that I just can't get enough of.

For a minute I thought about adding her to the shop....but I think this beauty has officially been added to the D.N.S. list {Do Not Sell}. (I think Michael hates that list!)

This antique cane couch was a crazy good Craigslist deal!

I literally stalked the poor owner until she finally answered the phone.

Two hours later, the couch found a home in our garage.

....where she patiently waited.

FINALLY....

Two seasons later, she gets a well-deserved makeover!

The yellow velvet cushions were replaced with the inexpensive, always lovely canvas drop cloth and some clearance pillows that I picked up at Marshall's for a steal.

Next, I added a quick coat of Light French Grey and an ebony stain wash.

Since it still didn't look QUITE right, I dry-brushed some of Benjamin Moore's White Dove over the top.

I just love the way it brings out the details in the woodwork and just BEGS you to sit for a spell.

That couch + this view= best seat in the house

Enjoy your view today of all that God's blessed you with!

A new found love and Goodwill Hunting

2011-04-11T11:55:00.001-04:00

Happy Monday all ! I've been missing chatting with you lately....we've just been swarmed with projects. I HOPE to have the final downstairs reveal complete and ready to show y'all by the end of this week! (Cannot WAIT for that post!)

For now, though I have to share my new found love of this little can:

PURE genius! I had my doubts at first, but found it here:

Amazon Link

and decided to give it a whirl!

(It is kind of pricey at $10 for a small bottle...but WELL worth it!)

We've got loads of these old windows in the garage; and although they're great as-is (or with botanical prints behind them), I wanted to spice things up a bit this time.

Enter...Krylon Looking Glass Paint

After a few light coats (with only a minute dry time in between), this window was turned into a fabulous mirror!

JUST. LIKE. THAT.

Love a good project that only takes 10 minutes and 10 dollars!

Not a bad way to start the week off.

Clearly I was in the "thrifty" mode this morning, so I stopped by Goodwill to drop off some clothes (AND to do a little treasure hunting...)

Picked up these little beauties for $3 each!

(Ok, so maybe they aren't beauties just YET....but they're well on their way after a quick coat of primer)

Next...I'm thinking a high gloss white with a turquoise trellis patterned stencil.

(The trellis is my latest obsession)

I want to cover my walls, pillows, floors, AND tray tables in it!

But since that might be a BIT much, we'll take it one step at a time .....

{via Cutting Edge Stencils}

Enjoy today!

Linking up to this fun party:

Friday's Flea Market Finds

2011-04-01T19:32:00.002-04:00

I just LOVE a good flea market trip with my Mama on a Friday afternoon!

We had so much fun and fell in love with TONS of things...even got some fun new project ideas!

FIRST....let me show you what actually came home with us:

This soft blue enamelware pot.....

Don't need it...but LOVED the color!! Thought it would be perfect for storing all my cleaning supplies in one spot. (make me excited to clean?) Maybe, maybe??

NEXT...

My obsession with ladders continues. This one was just the perfect size for bathroom towels!

And then my FAVORITE find (that made the trip home with us, that is!) The sweetest turquoise aged mirror. Goodness knows I don't need another hanging mirror, so I am thinking it's the perfect centerpiece for flowers on our table this spring!

SO Anthroplogie-esque....don't ya think?

Last but not least:

Fingers crossed that these antique corbels work for the big huge mantel that has yet to be hung downstairs!

Some of these finds may end up in the shop soon! (I just can't resist buying things I don't need)

NOW...on to what had me captivated today!

It's the perfect color, it's got storage drawers, and it is so UNIQUE!

IN. Love.

Here she is in all her gorgeous glory:

A fabulous English map chest!

{what really got me was when the owner reminded me how PERFECT it would be to store my kids artwork one day. I almost wrote her a check right then and there!}

Thank goodness my mom was there to pull me along (probably hoping I would forget about it)

But clearly that approach did not work since I had to come home and show you guys right away!

OK just one more picture for good measure. Then I promise not another word about it....UNLESS I bring it home tomorrow!

It was a great day of treasure hunting!

Hope you gals have a fantastic weekend!

Tabletop Design Tool

2011-03-28T12:14:00.000-04:00

Ever have one of those moments where you just NEED to make something pretty??

I had one of those this morning. It's Monday AND it's dreary and rainy and COLD outside.

Clearly, something needed to happen!

If this is you today too....meet Anthropologie's Tabletop Design Tool

**warning: this could be addicting**

Super fun and easy {not to mention brilliant marketing!}

Makes me want to run over there right this second and pick up my design.

{Michael, don't worry...it hasn't come to that just yet!}

But it really is the perfect chance to mix/match and have fun without FULLY committing to your design.

Hope you have fun!
I'd love to see what designs you creative gals come up with!

Here's my first attempt at my *Spring tabletop*:

A Peek at the Fireplace

2011-03-27T18:35:00.000-04:00

It was a rainy and gloomy weekend outside here in Charlotte. But inside at the Knotts' house, things are looking MUCH brighter!

We are still FAR from done, but I thought I'd show you a few more in process shots

before the final reveal.

{I'm thinking we'll do an open house of sorts so you can see a little bit of our lakeside world}

For now, a fun transformation:

So here's where we started:
Painted pinkish brick (not bad, but not quite the look we are going for downstairs)

Next, Michael covered the bumpy brick with wood
{re-purposed wood from an old entertainment center)

The back porch became a second workshop....at least this one has a great view!

Next, we used liquid nails to cover the wood slats with something a bit more smooth and then added the detail work:

Here's where it all started coming together. (Probably squealing while taking this picture )

I love that moment when the vision in your head becomes a vision right before your very eyes!

Nothin' like it....

Little bit of paint, little bit of concrete, stone, and we've ALMOST got ourselves a new fireplace.

(Next step....pouring a concrete hearth. It might be good practice for those concrete counter tops I've been dreaming about!)

But just WAIT till you see the mantle we've got planned....it's rough, rustic, and looks like a giant piece of driftwood! If we can figure out how to make it stay put, it might just be a room changer :)

And OH MY GOODNESS....I can't wait to decorate that thing!

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend (maybe slightly more relaxing than ours)

Step into Spring with Trina Turk

2011-03-23T00:28:00.001-04:00

First of all, isn't Logan great?? If you missed her guest post on Friday, scroll on down to see her fabulous take on color.
I think even Miss Trina Turk herself would swoon over Logan's sassy, stylish home.

Which brings me to my latest obsession.... Trina Turk FOR. THE. HOME!!
These bright, bold feminine prints and shapes ooze of warm summer days, trips to the beach, and backyard BBQ's!! {CANNOT WAIT!}

The reason I'm so obsessed?? Well.... I've had my eye on THIS brand new project
(because OH MY WORD....we just don't have enough around here)....

{Image via Coastal Living}

I can't get over how fresh and fun these prints would make this bed swing!

Michael is handling the plans.

Naturally, I, on the other hand, can't stop thinking about how to ACCESSORIZE!

(Didn't promise we'd be breaking any gender role barriers here, did I??)

Vibrant and fun fabrics are a MUST. No neutrals this time... this post will hold me to it!
Enter: Trina Turk. (OK, probably not in real life because she's a TAD bit out of the pillow budget.) Dreaming here, just dreaming!

But seriously amazing, right?

Check out the entire line at:

http://www.modernchichome.com

I can't wait to show you all the finished project. (accessorized and all)

But for now....a little glimpse of how we brought colorful Spring inside today.

I had to stop for a minute and marvel at what a GREAT and creative God we serve!

Happy

Enjoy this beautiful season!

Without Further Adieu...the fabulous Logan Wolfram

2011-03-18T08:24:00.000-04:00

I love color.

I love the circus, Broadway shows, Dr. Seuss, and old fashioned lemonade stands. I love those rainbow swirly lollipops, and painted dishes, and old fashioned gumball machines... butterflies, flowers, Willy Wonka's candy land, and springtime in the South. Color is everywhere in everything, and when I'm at home, I like to be reminded of all the things that make me happy!

So when it comes to decorating my house...color is just the natural fit for... the natural me!

The thing about color though, is that just like Emily...it scares most people.

I'll never forget one time my mom wanted to paint her living room pink...a soft shade of it, but instead with one wrong color choice it looked more like....

<----THIS!

Eventually she got it right, but not without having to repaint the room a few times!

And therein lies what everyone is pretty much afraid of...

messing it up!

But with a few tips, you can be on your way to colorful bliss too!

My first word of advice when dealing with color is... .just pick something you love to start.

For example, in my house, I fell in love with this polkadot fabric and covered my sofa with it.

Well, that led then to a couple of chairs using colors that I pulled from the polkadot fabric. When using color you want to make sure that there's something in the room that can anchor it all together. For me there is usually at least one fabric that has most all of the colors that I'm using in the room. I call it my "anchor fabric" because in it... the whole room comes together.

But sometimes, the inspiration can come from something other than a fabric. Maybe it's a painting, or a piece of artwork, maybe even a tile you got in Spain?!? My biggest rule of thumb though, is that no matter what it is...

you

must

LOVE

IT!

So that's tip #1. Start with something you love!

Tip # 2 is...when choosing paint, do yourself a favor and get samples of several!!!

Most paint stores can mix you a small amount of a selected color for about $5 per color. If you're not exactly sure which shade or hue or tone is going to be right in your room...don't settle til you check out a few (and by that I mean maybe 3!) And when you get them, paint big ol sections of your wall (or large pieces of poster board...maybe 2x3 foot sections) with each of the colors. And don't just paint one wall either. Each wall will look different as the light from both your home and the outdoors will cast shadows and whatnot. So something that may look really grayish on one shadowy wall, could end up looking electric pale blue on a wall directly facing a window that gets morning sun! This brings me to Tip #3.

Tip #3 is...when you paint a few colors to choose from, give yourself couple of days to look at them. Morning light is brighter and harsher...afternoon light is more golden. So before you choose that lemongrass color you love, make sure that afternoon light isn't going to turn that soft color into something straight from Ghostbusters! Give yourself a little bit of time when choosing color...look at it at different times of day, and remember that if you love it the most at night...that's just ridiculous because you'll be sleeping all that time! So love it well....for most of the daylight hours!

Tip #4.... Just like with mixing all the whites and creams and neutrals that Emily does a bang-up job combining, you are gonna want to spread around the texture and pattern love with color as well. Color itself is interesting, but don't feel the need to overdo it on mixing in a million different patterns too if you're just getting your feet wet here! As a general rule I like to have a variety of patterns going though. Maybe a main fabric with a larger scale design with lots of color, then what is called a ditsy print...you know, a little dot or pattern that repeats over and over throughout the fabric, maybe a stripe as well, a wonderfully textured solid...do you get where I'm going here?

Let me show you some rooms here now that I LOVE about as much as I love Cadbury Easter Candy...ok, well maybe more...but in the end, a cream egg is much cheaper to get hold of!

All of the following are by a designer that I'm pretty much obsessed with named Mayme Baker out of Greenville, SC. She doesn't know I practically stalk her fabulous taste, but boy do I wish I could crawl into her color-lovin' brain and just soak up some of her leftover creativity! Just look at this eye candy!

Color, pattern, and texture abound! The woman does color beautifully!!!

Check out this room....

Gorgeousness oozing. I love how the ceiling color is brought back down to floor level with that fun shamrock shaped ottoman of the same color family! She anchors her colors with the fabric on that pair of club chairs, but injects more color using fun pops of the lime, and then aqua on the doorway mouldings.

<-----Or this one.

Notice the use of neutral chairs, but how the room is injected with lime green in the accessories, and coral in the pillows and bookshelf backing. The use of stripes on the candles, ottoman, and even the contrasting colors on the bookshelves create a cheerful and fun effect!

<----Here again...injecting fun pattern, color, and texture, but she uses a solid sofa to anchor the room. I'd be willing to bet money that what started this room was the fabric on the chairs, and probably those really awesome pieces of matching pottery. (So, even though the room is anchored with the large sofa, it's kept together by the pattern on the chairs and pillows.)

I love how this room has lots of neutrals, but the color injection is done in a few unexpected places. Check out the inside of that china cabinet that you can see just barely over the top of the sofa. And that orange pillow with the flower...take that away and the sofa could almost be any old plain sofa from....oh wait...don't miss the contrasting green welt and banding on the bottom of the skirt. Love how she takes something "plain-ish" and gives it life! She keeps the area under the table at the back rich looking with a persian rug, and the artwork and accessories add a softness back into the room as well. Genius I tell you!

So before I leave you to drool back through these pictures, let's recap!

Step 1. Love something
Step 2. Get paint samples
Step 3. Take time to love it, and your paint more
Step 4. Add Pattern, Texture, and more color!

And...a few fun colors that I just can't seem to get enough of!

Greens...

<----Benjamin Moore Pear Green

Benjamin Moore Dill Pickle---->

Blues/ Aquas...

Sherwin Williams Waterscape

and Tidewater ---->

<----Benjamin Moore Wyeth Blue

Pinks/ Reds/Corals

<----Sherwin Williams Begonia

Sherwin Williams Red Tomato ----->

<----Sherwin Williams Sockeye

Benjamin Moore Passion Fruit ---->

Happy Coloring everyone!!! Thanks for letting me stop by and hopefully you'll feel more empowered now to make your home as colorful as your personalities!

- Logan

Emily was leaving a fun quote on my site, so here's one for you all to enjoy!

"Love of beauty is Taste. The creation of beauty is Art." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Color Confession...

2011-03-11T11:13:00.000-05:00

Color scares me!

{Case in point...it took me three tries to pick my colors for those three little words right there! Clearly, I need help!}

Don't get me wrong, I gush over the color in other people's houses: blues, greens, corals, pinks.
LOVE them all... can't get enough!
When it comes to my own home...well, that's another story.

I think my "color commitment phobia" {as I like to call it} somehow stems from the insane idea that once it's painted it must stay that way for LIFE?
Or MAYBE it's a result of extreme color overload when I walk into Benjamin Moore.
KID IN A CANDY STORE moment. I could stare at those gorgeous hues for hours.
Unfortunately that's about ALL I do...dream a little, pick up at least 20 paint strips, picture them in my home with stars in my eyes, then drift sheepishly back to the wall of beige and white.

I walk in with the best and bravest intentions and walk out with a gallon of {you guessed it},

"White Dove" (pictured below in this dreamy bathroom)

(designer Jeffrey Bilhuber)

Quick plug for white here: this is really the greatest white out there (in my opinion).

Try it one day, but only AFTER conquering your fear of color {with me}.

OK....Back to Color:

Maybe it was the turquoise bookshelves we just painted or maybe it was House Beautiful's Latest {PINK} issue ; whatever it was...I'm slowly coming around. In fact, I cannot WAIT to add splashes of color to the downstairs. But keep in mind, this can be PRETTY scary for a neutral-loving girl like myself.

THIS is where my most creative and talented friend comes in:
Meet Logan:

If you haven't visited her blog yet, you MUST stop reading mine right this second and click below:

Life for Dessert Blog

She's just incredible! I've always admired her faith, her joy, her insane ability to make being a Mom look easy and FUN, and her willingness to be authentic and real with her readers. OH and one small little detail....her home is FANTASTIC. The minute you walk in, you feel instantly happier. She makes every INCH of that place sparkle with her personality!
The best part? She's letting us in on some of her secrets. . . all that creativity smashed together in ONE blog! It's my new favorite distraction!

I'm thrilled to announce that Logan will be our FIRST guest blogger next week to teach us all how to make choosing color simple and less overwhelming. I'll be a guest on hers as well talking about my ~~addiction to~~ LOVE of WHITE {So be on the lookout for yours truly over Logan's way soon}

As for those neutral paint colors that I go back to time after time, I won't leave you hanging. Here are some of my "go-to's" lately. I'll go into more depth next week with Logan.
But for now:

{Restoration Hardware: Silver Sage}

This is just one of those colors that turns into what you need it to. It looks completely different in every light, so try some sample boards first to see how it looks in your lighting.

This next one is great for a coastal, casual feel:

{Pratt and Lambert. Walls: Bone White/ Cabinetry: Minnow}

{Sherwin Williams Loggia}

Finally...a new favorite:

{Benjamin Moore's very CHIC Silver Fox}

And one last white for good measure:

Benjamin Moore's Grand Teton White: a great all-over neutral.

Ok, now that you're sufficiently overloaded with neutrals...get ready for some

COLOR!

----

What about you? What are your favorite "go-to" colors?

I always love finding new favorites!

Be Back Next week with LOGAN!!

In the meantime,