Outdoor Decorating for Spring

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With all of this wonderful & WARM spring weather we’re enjoying down here in Alabama, I’ve got outdoor spaces on my mind in a BIG way!  We’re working with a contractor these days to concept a pergola to be build over an existing brick patio in our backyard.  I love the current patio but the southern sun is just too hot with no shade once summer arrives!  So, of course, I turned to Pinterest from some backyard pergola inspiration and she did not disappoint!

Source: bhg.com via Katie on Pinterest
I was instantly drawn to the pergola above because the patio is almost exactly like our existing brick patio so it gave me an idea of how the design and the flooring would look together.
I’m loving the size of the one above and the little privacy fenced corners.  Wouldn’t those be beautiful with clematis and wisteria climbing the columns.

Source: squidoo.com via Katie on Pinterest

This last pergola is much more unique the the others….I love the arched top and the round columns.  Not matter what size and pergola style we end up choosing, I’ll definitely want one with round column posts to match the architecture of the rest of our home.
All that outdoor pergola inspiration got me on a whole backyard kick so please enjoy the rest of this outdoor inspiration photos I rounded up.
Source: houzz.com via Katie on Pinterest

Loving paver and grass checked patio….such whimsy!

Source: imgfave.com via Katie on Pinterest

And what about this beautiful blue stone outdoor fireplace with built-in bench seating and overhead pergola. Who would ever want to stay inside at this house?!

Source: tumblr.com via Katie on Pinterest

Bringing the indoors OUT!  Comfortable seating is key to a great outdoor space!  I’ll definitely be hanging similar outdoor drapes on our pergola.  Pull that back in the corners for a decorative touch, or close them to create a wall of fabric that turns an outdoor patio into it’s own room!

So it’s looks like there’s alot to do on my backyard agenda over the next month.  Tending to landscaping that I’m not familiar with (new house means new yard) and getting a colonial-ish whitewashed pergola built…..but the payoff will so be WORTH IT!

Tufted

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I’m so so close to being ready to give you all a room by room tour of our new (old) home in progress.  I hope to get lots of photos taken this weekend and reveal one room a week over the new few weeks.  In the meantime, I’m struggling with one last wall in my living room so you’re about to get a little bit of a sneak peek!

I purchased the most adorable linen tufted settee from a local shop here in Birmingham a few months ago to sit under window in our living room for additional seating space (we already have a large sofa and two chairs) but I had the space to add more seating and thought “why not?”.

I realize those pillows are WAY too big & they’ve been change out since.

There is just a tad bit more length to this wall beyond what’s in the photo.  I don’t want to clutter it with matching end tables, but it’s a little too much space just to leave empty.  I’ve been struggling with this wall for a while and then I stumbled upon this….

Target Golden Days Collection 

While searching for gold pouf options on Pinterested, I found this gold leather tufted pouf from Target.  I haven’t seen it in person, so I have some concerns about the quality and the texture of the upholstery, but I think it’s just adorable!  And different from the Moroccan poufs you see EVERYWHERE now.

I’m also a little concerned that if I place one on either side of the settee, there will be WAY too much tufting going on….but then again…is there really such a thing as TOO MUCH TUFT?!?!  I think I’ve come to the decision that I will order to and if the look at quality isn’t up to par, I’ll just return them….easy peasy, right!?

The Golden Days collection at Target has a few other super cute items (and some really horrid stuff as well). Here’s some more of the good stuff!

 

Happy Shopping!

Holiday Recap!

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It’s been quite a busy holiday season!  Besides the all the giving and receiving, we’ve been doing lots and lots of other stuff.  Here’s a quick photo snapshot of our last month!
Tons of cocktails….. 

and puppy snuggle time…..

family hiking….
nephew cuddling…
and goddaughter snuggle time….

My heart is full with family, friends, food, wine, and Mexican dominoes!  What a wonderful month!
Happy Holidays to you & yours!
~Katie

I got you Ryan Gosling for Christmas!

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Ok, we all know that’s not true.  Because if I had Ryan Gosling, I wouldn’t be sharing him, right?  I’d build this amazing lavish dungeon where I’d hold him captive for my own entertainment and keep it a secret from all the world….


But anyway, I did find this lovely image which I think will fill you all with Christmas cheer!


Enjoy!  See you on the flip side of Christmas!

~Katie

Two Words

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Color. Blocking.
Skirt- J Crew; Top- Tibi; Scarf- Banana Republic; Watch- Michael Kors
It’s my new obsession.
Given the fact that I went for years with a freakish fear of patterns, I’ve got alot of solid items in my closet and I’m loving that color blocking is back in vogue so I can put them all to good use.
What about you?  Are you digging this trend or am I crazy?
~ Katie

Christmas Living Room Sneak Peek!

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I just wanted to share a sneak peak of the Christmas tree in our living room!  I went with a gold & silver color scheme with a few pops of color.

We’ve yet to collect a large amount of Christmas decor for the house so the tree, the mantle, and the front door are about it.
I’ll be posting pics of the entire room in all it’s festive glory later this week!
On the horizon:
  • Living Room- complete but always in progress
  • Foyer- complete
  • Dining Room- complete but always in progress
  • Kitchen- complete

~Katie

Cincinnati Weekend!

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I just returned from a soulful weekend in Cincinnati.  I road-tripped it up there with a darling friend of mine who was headed up for her hometown baby shower (I’m hosting her Birmingham shower in a few weeks….and I’ll be posting a major amount of photos!) and she dropped me off with T, my best friend from college.  T lives in the most adorable historic building on this gorgeous street…



Friday night we hit up the local blues bar and were thoroughly entertained by not only the band, but several creepy older gentleman….no sir, my cell phone does not vibrate…


Moving on….


 Saturday we spent the beautiful morning at a Basset Hound Parade (peculiar, I know) and then headed out for lunch and a day of shopping at Findlay Market.  


We shopped for a while before sitting down to listen to this child play the violin with literally everything in his soul.  It was a perfect moment watching him.





Later we took a drive through the city, as it was my first visit there, while singing Dire Staits songs at the top of our lungs…  Not a pleasant experience for those who may have heard us.


Then we headed out on a party bus with some of T’s Cincy friends for a night of bar hopping.  In a last minute effort, we managed to find the only two adult costumes left at Big Lots and went as Blue Brothers (Sisters) that night.

It was a fun-filled weekend that spawned tons of new inside jokes.  I loved seeing T and I LOVED Cincinnati.  I most definitely will be planning another trip so I can bring the huzzby along!


Love you Cincy!

For sure as the cards will be fallin’

And chips in the pot pyramid, 

for a buck, Lady Luck will be calling

Whoah, the Cincinnati kid

I mean the Cincinnati kid

Whoah, the Cincinnati kid

Whoah, the Cincinnati kid

I’m talking about the Cincinnati kid

Everybody knows the Cincinnati kid

Have you heard about that the Cincinnati kid

~Ray Charles







~Katie

She Sheds Her Skin

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Exterior renovations began on the new abode today!  It looks a little like a haunted house right now, but soon enough it will be restored back to its originally beauty!  Here’s a before pic to refresh your memory…

Cotton Candy blue…ugh!
Here’s its current state as of lunch time today when I drove by to stalk the progress.  


Kind of spooky…

There’s just a small portion of the front siding left to be removed before they move on to sides and back .  Once the original heart pine siding is restored (nails and staples from siding have to be removed and their holes patched), it will get a fresh coat of Behr’s Bleached Linen, black shutters will go back up, and the new colonial columns will installed under the front stoop!

I can’t wait to drive up to the finished product!

PS-  I’ve been working on the master bedroom and it’s almost ready the reveal.  I’ll take some sneak peek shots to share with you later this week!

Ta ta!

~Katie
I

Falling Hard

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Not sure about your gusy but I absolutely LOVE this time of year.  The weather here in Bama is perfect, the beautiful old oaks in our new neighborhood are starting to change colors, tailgating is a weekly occasion, and the fashion is definitely my favorite of all seasons.
I plan on sipping lots of this….
http://www.starbucks.com/
 While enjoying one of these on our brick patio in our lovely new backyard with all my fabulous friends…
http://blog.thebarbequer.com
 While wearing something along the lines of this fall fashion combo- skinny jeans, boots, leopard print scarf, and cozy sweater….
http://katiegulas.polyvore.com/
 All while decorating the new house with beauties like this….
http://www.etsy.com/shop/twoinspireyou
Hope you are enjoying this beautiful fall weather as much as I am!
Before and after/progress photos of the new house are coming soon!  The master bedroom is almost finished!!
~Katie