Happy New Year!!!

Since we're not doing anything very exciting or glamorous for this New Year's Eve, I thought I'd compile a group of pretties that scream "New Year's Eve" to me...  Tables I'd love to sit at...  Things I'd love to wear...

The perfect black crystal chandelier for New Year's Eve...

Aren't these black and white chinoiserie plates gorgeous??? 

If I had some place to go other than the living room, I'd love to wear this fun cocktail ring (from here)

And how amazing is this wallpapered closet?!!!   (from Houzz)... 

I could see putting on my "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" dress in there...

Seriously I'm in love with that dress.  (And don't have it btw) but there are so many places online you can find who sell a version of it:

...  But in reality I'll be at home in my pjs...

Enjoying one of these with my husband:

Celebrating this:

Happy New Year!!!  Thank you so much for your support & friendship. You've all been so amazing & your comments & emails mean so much to me.  Have fun & be safe tonight!!!!

xoxo,

lauren

ps-  a little heads up on what's to come in our house this next year:  ORGANIZATION!!  We're hitting the closets, laundry room & work spaces, and are on a mission to make them functional and pretty.  Can't wait!!!

design Kitchen and Kitchen Set

Modern LIFE-change requires a fundamental change. Currently, the family homes in the middle of the city's increasingly difficult to find a kitchen full of black soot and sticky floors.

Therefore, no wonder if the current split in two kitchens, kitchen, wet and dry kitchen, which has a different function. The kitchen is usually combined with a living room or dining room is often referred to as the kitchen pantry or dry. This room is usually equipped with modern kitchen equipment. Meanwhile, wet kitchen used for cooking. Wet kitchen is more widely used to heat the food before serving or used to cook something practical, that if using the spices they had half-finished. Therefore, now the middle of the kitchen design trend in line with the times.

http://architectaria.com

Ferrari World Theme Park

Abu Dhabi is probably tired of Dubai always stealing the thunder as the star of the United Arab Emirates, but that may change with the construction of a F1 spec race track and a Ferrari-based theme park set to open in 2010.

Dubbed 'Ferrari World Abu Dhabi', the new holiday destination will be the world's first Ferrari theme park and the largest attraction of its kind.

The theme park will feature an iconic sleek red roof that's said to be directly inspired by the classic double curve side profile of the Ferrari GT body, spanning 2,152,782 square feet and carrying the largest Ferrari logo ever created.

There will be a number of attractions, including rides for children of all ages and the world's fastest rollercoaster, travelling at speeds exceeding 124 mph. Another ride will rocket passengers through the roof and to a height of 203 feet to simulate the G-forces experienced by drivers in an F1 car.

The site is located on Yas Island on the North East side of Abu Dhabi's mainland, which is about a 10-minute drive from Abu Dhabi International Airport and 50 minutes from Yas Marina Circuit, which will host the inaugural Abu Dhabi GP later this year.

Futuristic Workspace Looks Like a Dinosaur Egg

Do you like to block the world out completely when you're working at your desk? Copenhagen-based design team GamFratesi has created a prototype for a sleek, dinosaur egg-like work environment that they call Rewrite. It reminds me of those cubicles they had at my grad school library, except they're a lot nicer-looking.

GamFratesi

Interior Design Tips

Interior Design Tips: Home Decoration with Picture Frames

Read on to find out how to choose the best picture frame for your home decor.

Whether enclosing a precious work of art or a prized family photograph, a picture frame is a design element not to be overlooked. A carefully chosen frame adds to the aesthetics and overall harmony of a well-decorated room, while a bad frame can ruin the entire effect of the artwork.

Before shopping for frames, visit art galleries and museums in your area to see how different frames are used to enhance photographs and paintings. Browse decorating books and magazines to see framed pictures displayed in homes. Next, consider the type of picture and the style in which the room is decorated to determine what type of frame would best fit.

Above all, the frame must complement the image it holds. When searching for a frame, keep in mind the painting or photo and find a frame that will enhance it. For example, an ornate gold frame looks wonderful with a traditional oil painting, while a natural wood frame suits a painting of a lush forest, and a soft blue frame could be used to accentuate a color from the picture it encloses.

The size and shape of the frame also make an impact on the art. A small picture can have greater presence matted in a larger, elaborate frame. A frame with thick sides can also keep a small painting from going unnoticed, while a large painting is often set off to best effect by a plain, thin frame.

The decorating style and function of the room where the picture will be hung must also be considered when choosing a frame. For a child's bedroom or playroom, frames in primary colors or those featuring cartoon characters often work best. A spare, modern room calls for sleek contemporary frames. Old-fashioned gold colored frames or beautifully carved wood ones complement a traditional home, while simple, natural wood frames look great in rooms decorated in the country style. Also consider the wall where the painting will hang. A white frame against a white wall can get lost, where a green frame will stand out. If the painting will be hung on busy wallpaper, make sure the frame contrasts with the background.

The frame must fit the artwork for which it is meant. If framing an oil painting on stretcher bars, make sure the frame is deep enough to accommodate the bars. If using a metal frame on a large picture, see that it is strong and will not buckle.

If you are hanging a collection of photos or prints together, use similar frames to visually link them. The frames could be all of the same style, or perhaps different shapes and sizes, but all in the same color. These frames should be simple in order to focus attention on the pictures.

You can find photo frames in most home decorating shops, and many arts and crafts supply stores sell frames for paintings and photos. Professional framing shops naturally have a great selection of frames, and the employees, who have handled hundreds of pictures, can offer expert advice for choosing a frame. Alternatively, check out thrift shops for old pictures in great frames. The picture can always be discarded. You can also buy inexpensive wooden frames and spruce them up with paint.

http://architectaria.com

Visit our Design Center

Our mission is to build quality homes & semi custom homes with design, style, and great value while providing our clients with exceptional service while building throughout Appleton, the entire Fox Valley, Oshkosh, and Green Bay area.

Our future rests on the philosophy developed in our past of building quality homes with inovative design, delivered on time, and within budget.

Midwest Design Homes has
earned a reputation for excellence
and is recognized as one of the premier custom and semi custom
home builders in the Fox Valley.

Because we are committed to making the process fun, easy & convenient, we can offer a Turnkey (Turn key) construction program on many of our Semi-Custom Model Homes.

We have designers to walk
you through all of your building selections at no additional costs
to the homeowner. We can help
  you make your dreams a reality.

We are committed to quality construction, customer service, customer satisfaction, and a tradition of excellence. And to show our dedication to quality, all our homes
are Energy Star Certified and
Green Built Certified.

http://midwestdesignhomes.com/

Interior Design Tips: How to Decorate Your Interior Without Spending a Cent!

In the current world financial situation, money no longer grows on trees! Did it ever?

Money is a lot harder to come by, people are afraid of losing their jobs, worried about their financial future and less likely to be committing to making major changes to their home interiors, but that doesn't mean we have to sit back and put up with the status quo. We can have fun and change our interiors without having to spend a cent. We just need to get a little creative! Here are some ideas on how you can make your home feel like it has had a makeover without spending a cent.

1. Shift furniture into different rooms, it's amazing how a change of environment can make a piece of furniture look completely different.

2. Rearrange your artwork on the walls, reposition mirrors - these help change the light in your room and depending on where you place them, can make a room feel larger.

http://architectaria.com

New Baby!

Well our "new baby" BOY finally came!   His name is Justin Alexander and he was born on December 22nd.  

We had a huge snowstorm here last weekend so we took Christian (our 2 yr old) to my parents' house just in case I went into labor. 

On Sunday night I started having regular (but not painful) contractions.  I didn't call the doctor until the next night when they were a couple of minutes apart (STILL not painful) and she told me to go on in to the hospital just in case.  SO we went in & yes I was having contractions but still wasn't at a point where I should stay, so we went home.  The next day (the roads had cleared up finally!)and although I was still having contractions, (going on 40+ hours--- seriously???)   we went to get Christian from my mom's to take him home.  (We'd missed him like crazy and I was giving up on ever going into real labor :)  And of course my water broke.  My first thought was "not the sofa!!!" and ran as fast as I could off of my mom's velvet sofa & off the rug & onto the hardwood. 

We said our goodbyes (again) to Christian and off we went back to the hospital.  They gave me a good ol' dose of pitocin and off we went into the real hard labor.  Justin was born at around 11 that night and it was such a smooth delivery.  He weighed 6 lbs 13 oz and is healthy healthy healthy!! :)

I feel GREAT and really couldn't have had an easier delivery and am so thankful.  I'm SO ready to jump & dance around but am being good & am going to wait until I'm supposed to.  (less than 2 weeks! wahooooo)

We came home from the hospital on Christmas Eve and I could NOT believe how big my little Christian seemed!!!!  He got to meet his brother & so far has been really sweet.  He gives him kisses and checks on him when he cries & generally ignores him most of the time.  :)  We had an awesome Christmas Day with just us & it was so crazy to look around and see that there are now 4 of us.  2 boys.  (Well, really 3 and I'm totally outnumbered.)  WOW. 

So for now, we're hibernating.   (It's pretty much what we like to do when we have a baby. ;)  I'll keep you posted & will try to muster up some design-related posts soon!! :)  Hope you all had a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and thank you all SO much for your kind emails & well-wishes.  It was really fun (and took my mind off things) at the hospital when my blackberry would ding and I'd get a sweet wish from one of you.  :)  I really appreciate it.

Right now we're in that sleep-deprived but lovey-dovey wonderful stage of life after a new baby.  He really is a little angel and we couldn't be happier.  We're so thankful to have such a healthy little boy and are taking each day (no hour!) one at a time...

xoxo,

lauren

home interior decorating painting pictures

modern home interior decorating

minimalist home interior decorating

best home interior decorating

home interior decorating painting picture

trend of home interior decorating

interior designs living room picture ideas

interior designs living room idea

designs living room picture

modern living room interior designs

minimalist living room interior designs

virtual living room interior designs

Painting a Bathroom

Painting rooms in a house requires a lot of planning and prep work. All rooms in the house are not alike. The bathroom seems to be the most challenging room to tackle. This particular room has so many nooks and crannies that you have to have a plan in order to make it look seamless. Read on to find the steps you need to make your bathroom paint job look like a professional has done the work.

Step 1. You should take off the bathroom with your painters tape. Take the tape around all of the surfaces that you do not wish to be painted. Make sure to tape off the ceiling as well. Press the tape firmly as not to have the paint bleeds.

Step 2. Shake the paint bucket and then stir the paint with the stirrer. Make sure that the paint is completely mixed before you use it. Pour a small amount of paint onto the painters tray. Go ahead and dip the tip of the brush into the paint until completely submerged. Be careful not to get the paint past the brushes bristles.

Step 3. You are now ready to begin to outline the room. This is the most difficult task. Use the smaller paint brush to get close to the ceiling, the toilet, the sink, the shower, and the other areas that you are outlining. Do your best not to touch these surfaces with the brush. If the surface was touched, don't panic. Do your best to remove the paint while it is still wet. After the outlining is finished then you can go over the remaining larger areas with your roller. This will cover more quickly.

Step 4. After the outlining is finished then you can go over the remaining larger areas with your roller. This will cover more quickly. Dip your roller into the paint in the painters tray. Roll the roller until completely covered with paint. Transfer the roller onto the wall from the painters tray.

Step 5. You are now almost finished. Now all that is left is your touch ups. You may want to leave the room and come back with fresh eyes. This way when you walk back into the room you can see if you have missed any areas. Take either your brush or your roller and go over the bare areas. Wait for the paint to dry. Pull off the tape and voila! you have yourself a freshly painted bathroom.

Tips and warning:
- Pay the extra money for brand name paint. It covers better.
- Take the time to take everything off of the walls and ceilings before you get started.
- Wear clothes that can get paint on them.

Ten Things I Can't Live Without At La Dolce Vita

The beautiful Paloma of La Dolce Vita has asked me to join in on her "Ten Things I Can't Live Without" series.  You can check it out here

Right now I'm at the hospital for Baby #2.  And my husband will keep you posted!  Have a very Merry Christmas!!!!! 

xoxoxo

Lauren (David typing)

Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies in the Kitchen!

This year we had so much fun baking Christmas cookies!  Christian is at an age (2 1/2) where he loves helping & doing projects.  Our kitchen's working really well for us...

...  and as you can see from the pics below, Christian was THRILLED   to help bake cookies for our friends. (when we were rolling the cookies into balls he couldn't stop giggling)

 

Here he is below with the peanut butter cookies all laid out in nice rows, waiting patiently after being told he STILL can't eat them...

And finally, our work paid off!!!  (We have a HUGE stock of Hershey bars in the pantry from s'more season leftover so we used chocolate bar pieces instead of hershey kisses.)  And mm mm mm!!  We gave out the cookies to family friends and of course had to keep a few for ourselves ;)  It's the little simple things about Christmas that make it so special & fun. 

We had a huge snowstorm here in Northern Virginia this weekend & school's been cancelled, so my husband is totally OFF for Christmas now!!  Still no baby but I'll keep you posted!!  Wishing you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS & Happy Holidays!!!

xoxo,

lauren

free interior storm windows design

modern interior storm windows

interior storm windows design

classic interior storm windows

department interior storm windows

Wreaths To Love

The entry above is perfection to me. A moss Christmas wreath?!! All that white!!!The urns!! Ok & the lantern & the garland. I just love it all. (Martha) If I had this type of house I would SO go there!! This year, I've been pretty slack wreath-wise (our entry, below)... There's a plain Home Depot wreath on our front door and at one point I had intentions of doing something special to it... and not that I've ever really not been slack actually... because the most I've ever done is added a ribbon to a wreath, but I always have better intentions for my wreaths.


It's not happening this year, but maybe for NEXT year! I was just browsing around online & looking at wreaths and found so many pretty ones & wanted to share. They all seem rather doable if you actually set aside the time to make them & one day when there are less renovation projects, I will. This perfectly simple & natural wreath featured in Country Living is by Minna Mercke Schmidt who has a BEAUTIFUL blog here. (She got everythign for the wreath from her own yard... ok honestly, I MIGHT add some things to my wreath now... this is just too pretty.)


And now here are a bunch of wreaths from Martha Stewart. Below is a perfectly traditional silver fir and holly wreath with a big red bow. It's just so classic & I could see it with white or burlap too.

Below, using 3 wreaths on a ribbon makes such a statement! So easy to do and it really is a show-stopper! (All I'd need to add is more ribbon & pick up 2 more HD wreaths!! EXCEPT I don't have the extra wide ribbon or the wreaths at home... which means it's probably not happening this year... )

Ok and I love this sweet gum one below. (I didn't know that's what the "prickly things" were called until today.) They're everywhere & I'd even love it unpainted. But you could spray them any color & this would be awesome... It would be fun to collect the prickly things with the kids too.

And below is a simple & ruggedly elegant pinecone wreath. The snow sprinkled on it is so pretty too. This would be easy to make, again if you only set aside the time to do it. (I think we will have to start Christmas prep in the summer next year??!!)

Oh and I just LOVE this mistletoe wreath below!! It's misshapen & looks so homey to me...

This is a beauty with golden cedar laced in the center... Again it would be really easy to grab a cheapie wreath from a place like Home Depot & embellish it with things from your own yard...

Below is a gorgeous eucalyptus & fir wreath. (Imagine the smell!! :) It looks like it might be over my head but who knows? It really is just stunning.

I could SO handle this one below. The cranberry string would be so easy to wrap around a standard wreath... THIS i can do.

Ok, and this wreath chandy below is just amazing. I love it over the drink station. This would be AWESOME for a party.

This one seems pretty out of my league too but just had to show it. A carnation wreath! And picture a poinsettia one! Definitely for an occasion & you'd have to be okay with them not lasting long... (I don't know if it would be worth it to me.)

And finally the wreath that launched a thousand blog posts! Eddie Ross's vintage Christmas Ball wreath!!Did you see his ornament wreath challenge? So beautiful & so much fun & MAYBE next year will be my year...

...At this point, if NEXT year really is "the year" I will be swimming in wreaths!! haha But aim high, and even if I only do one that would be an improvement on this year, right??

Merry Christmas!!!

xoxo,

lauren