Decorating Project List

I know, I know I said I was taking a break from blogging. It's just that I'm getting antsy for a project. Hannah is starting to get back to a bedtime routine, which leaves me with a couple hours in the evening. Surfing around pinterest, (check out my pinterest at http://pinterest.com/hmartinez714/my-style-pinboard/ to see what I've been collecting) looking at all the pretty rooms only stirs my own decorating ideas. So here's my current idea list:

Dining room: -Bold rug. Considering Zebra. Call me crazy, but I think it'd add a flare of glam that I've been seeking in there. -Find a print/artwork for empty gold frame. -DIY lampshade light fixture on fan. (Can easily be changed back when we leave.)

Living room: -Chair makeover. Tossing around a couple ideas in my head. -Possibly paint sofa console white, if I paint chair white. Debating. -Hang a giant canvas over right wall, in place of candle holder. -Change out fireplace art. Thinking a starburst or antique mirror.

Breakfast nook: -Spray paint frame white. Frame wedding cake picture. -Chair cushions. -2 Barstools. Thinking metal to add some balance to the wood table.

Kitchen: -Photoshop artwork for 3 white frames. Frame chalkboards. Or a combination of both. -Some day buy a blue Kitchen Aid mixer (Wish List) -Green/blue rug

Entry: -Light fixture.

Hannah's room: -Paint over bird canvas with Alphabet and H is for Hannah - Make zoo cage (inspired by pinterest) for stuffed animals -Organize top of closet. Need a new keepsake box. -Possibly dye curtains pink.

Master: -Upholster bench -Reupholster vanity bench -Add molding to bookshelf. Spray paint bookshelf. -Possibly paint wall with bed a rich blue of some sorts.

Masterbath: -Add color to back of open shelf. Either with fabric or paint. -Trim mirrors with molding. Paint molding antique silver. -Organize top of closet with pretty keepsake boxes.

Some of these things I have planned all along, but took a decorating break to enjoy the summer. Others I've added to the list while living in the house as it is now. I'm certainly not in a rush to tackle them all, but like having a checklist.

Timeout

This summer there has been a lull in my posts. That's mostly because I've been debating whether to continue my blog. This has been a very busy summer. Keeping up the blog is just another thing to do. While I enjoyed the past year of blogging, I've decided I'm going to take an indefinite break. I started the blog at requests of friends. Living away from family, it turned into a great way for them to watch Hannah grow. I also came to appreciate our virtual scrapbook to look back on down the road. However being back in Ca and with more family on facebook now, I don't feel the need to blog as much. I didn't intentionally make our family photos the final post. Coincidentally it is, and it seems a very fitting way to end things for now. For family who have my Walgreen's photo account, I will start updating it again. I know I haven't uploaded since... February? If you need the pass code again or not sure what I'm talking about email or message me. And friends who still want to watch Hannah grow and see what we are up to, Facebook. Thank you for following our story and journey.

Impromptu Family Photos

It's time for our annual family portraits. Being short on time to either book a photographer or schedule an in store studio we opted to do them ourselves. Although my dad is not a photographer we figured he could manage to get 1 family photo and let our camera work its magic.

When we got to the beach it was cold and windy. My vision was quickly dying. Hair flying in my face and a shivering child should have been a recipe for disaster. I expected all our pictures to look like this. And many did.

But like I said we only needed 1 photo. Instead they came out something more like this...

So although our hair may not be perfect (jealous that Sergio doesn't have that problem) and Hannah may be making bear claws, we fared pretty well. But wait there is more...

Thank you Dad; you did well!

Dining Room

The statement of the dining room is our new table. I've been dreaming of a formal dining room. Sergio's only input was that he'd like a table that was distressed, heavy, solid, and looked like it belonged in a library. I was also in love with rustic and distressed tables, but had always pictured an elegant, sophisticated dining room. My new vision and goal became making a rustic table the centerpiece of an elegant room.

I instantly fell in love with this table. I loved the unique stain and the detailed legs. My mom and I found the table at a high end consignment store in Carlsbad Village. Normally this table retails for about $1500. I paid $495. If you remember the bench on our front porch, it goes with the table and was included in the $495. Since I wanted upholstered chairs, the bench was perfect for the porch.

Once I had picked out the table, it was a matter of finding everything else. I knew to get the elegance I wanted I'd have to either do dark or white furniture. Since the table was light itself and I already had the tall corner piece we chose dark.

I have a couple black and white photos from our SF trip that I may frame in the gold frame. I have two matching green boxes, that I painted. You can see one on the buffet. I'm still working on the other. I'd like to do a stencil design on it. Once it is done, I will stack it underneath the other.

Once we bought the blue chairs, I envisioned patterned curtains to add dimension. First I envisioned something bold, but with trial and error figured out that bold was too much. Others we tried clashed with the stripes on the chairs. And others took the room from light and airy to dark and drab. I was determined to find something that would not block light, but felt rich and sophisticated. Of all things, these are actually fabric shower curtains from Target. I liked the softness of the colors, and the design added elegance to the room. The shape of the pattern also mirrored the pattern of pillows in the living room, the table legs, and the wall candle holders. Such a small detail can bring rooms together with an open floor plan, while allowing the rooms to be different in design. I bought them with the intention of cutting the 2 panels in half and hemming the side, so I would have 4 panels. I may still cut them and place 2 of the panels in the corner. At this point I'm still undecided. To hang them I bought round drapery rings from the window treatment department. If you've never used them they just clip to the fabric, and the ring hangs around the curtain rod.

After I bought the table, the biggest dilemma was finding affordable upholstered chairs. In store they start at $100 each. And once again the quality is poor at the low end price. So to craigslist I turned. You probably wouldn't believe me if I told you I bought these chairs for $5 each. Yes I did! The catch was they did not look anything like they do now. I will definitely be doing a DIY before and after blog about these chairs. They were not tufted. There was fabric covering the legs. They also needed new support in the seat.

The last thing I want to add to the room is a rug. Since I could not do, bold curtains I'd like something bold on the floor to add layer, texture and contrast to all the browns and blues. At the same time I don't want the table leg to get lost in the rug design. I'm keeping my eye out for a rug I love.

Living Room

The heart of our home, our living room.

For the breakdown. We already owned most of what is in this room. I slowly started transforming our living room while we stilled lived in Virginia.

Immediately upon moving in I knew I wanted a sofa console/table. We also wanted something that would provide office storage.

We shopped and shopped, but I was determined to not settle. I came across this mid century buffet at a consignment furniture store in Encinitas. At first glance I thought I could easily paint it and add some knobs. The price was higher than I wanted to spend on a used piece, but being a solid piece it was comparable to something new of poor quality. So I was sold. When we placed it behind the couch, I was instantly in love with it as is, but still was undecided if I should make some changes. I looked inside the left drawer and found a furniture stamp. I did a little googling. Turns out this is an antique piece that goes for about $395, and I only paid $149. Not only was I thrilled to find this out, but I knew I would not be doing any DIY to this baby. I can see her every morning when I wake up from our bed, and honestly she makes me smile. (Yes she is a she and a piece of furniture makes me smile.)

The above is probably the most true to color of our couch. It always seems to photograph more of a funky rustic, bright red when it's really berry.

The end table was a quick project. I bought it 4 years ago at a thrift store for $5. 4 years later I finally got around to spray painting it black. Maybe I will post some before and afters. I bought the basket under it from TJ Maxx for dvd storage. Cheap and easy.

Originally we planned to have our dining room as our office, but realized we need a larger space to entertain. Instead we turned this corner into an office space. Which is why the sofa console needed to serve as storage.

I finally have my gallery wall. Two of the frames still need to be filled. Probably one piece of art to balance out the dog print, and a photo in the other. I love it. The desk I bought on craigslist for $50. I may reupholster the chair in a fun pattern.

I can't even begin to tell you how much I love our fireplace in comparison to our last house! The bricks are more red than appearing in the picture.

We swapped our love seat with my parents for their chair above. Just worked better for both of us. I may reupholster or paint it. Undecided at this point. I like that the wood balances out the color of the sofa table, but I think a coat of paint or new fabric will make it feel more fresh.

I bought the lamp from Home Goods. With no ceiling lights, this room was in desperate need of lighting.

As for the final to do list. I will be the first to admit the tv is way too big for the tv console. However I really don't want to buy anything new for the time being. In our last house, the fireplace was so large, you didn't notice as much. Now it sticks out like a sore thumb to me.

In place of the candle holder on the right wall we would like to blow up a huge canvas of a photo we took.

I also need to finish reupholstering the top of the ottoman, a project I started in VA.

I might also paint the tray sitting on it white.

Welcome

The night before our visitors arrived, that I mentioned in yesterday's post, I had just finished the house. There are some projects left to be done, but for now it is "done". To build the anticipation (or give me more to write about) I'll continue to unveil each room in separate posts.

Sharing the entry way is a bit difficult because from the front door you can see right into our open floor plan. I'd hate to post a picture that would be an immediate spoiler alert to my dining room, office nook, and peak of the living room. Instead here are some details.

Welcome.

I realized I haven't posted any outside pictures on the blog, so figured I'd begin with one. This was taken pre-move in day.

The outside front entrance before yesterday.

It has since been updated, but this was our progress up until then. I will share updated pictures though. As for our bench I just love it, especially the details on the legs. I had envisioned a bench here, but did not think I'd actually be able to get one so soon. I'll have to fill in the details in a later post. When I'm pulling weeds, or working in the garage Hannah loves to play in this area. We set up her castle or doll house on the bench. Oski loves to sunbath and people watch out here, too.

I bought this mat on clearance at Target. One con of these types of mats is everything sticks to them! Hopefully I can find a way to get the extra lent off. I suppose it's doing it's job though by keeping the dirt out.

Our new entry rug at the front door. HomeGoods purchase.

To the left outside our bedroom is a little welcome corner.

No new purchases here. Just a new arrangement, for a new house. The silhouette is of Hannah from her 1st Disneyland trip last fall. I'd like to put a family photo in the empty frame. Most likely one we took on our Berkeley bridge, in yesterday's post.

There are a few more details in the entrance, but they would give too much away. As for what still needs to be done to the entry, I'd like to replace the light fixture and buy a couple craft bins for the entry closet. Right now all my crafts are just sitting on the shelf. Like I said, most projects are as they come at this point.

And I apologize for any grammar or spellchecking, but there is a spider hovering on the ceiling. Priorities.

Martinez Familypalooza

These photos are a couple weeks old, but it's never too late to share. With Sergio's sister getting married, we had family visit us before the wedding. Then we continued North for the wedding and a few of our own adventures.

(*Disclaimer: Pictures are unedited, so they may not be looking their best.)

Auntie Emily and Hannah at Legoland.

Disneyland.

Pool time with Daddy at the hotel.

Natalia and Stephen's Wedding

The bride and groom. Sergio and his sister.

Hannah with her Auntie Emily and Great Aunt Bertha.

Hannah playing with Great Grandpa George.

Hannah dancing with Grandma Aase.

Sergio's sister with their mom and aunts.

My Girls.

Hannah's 1st Berkeley visit.

Future Cal bear walking under Sather Gate and looking at the Campanile.

Hannah picking flowers for me on Memorial Glade.

Our dorm where we met.

On our bridge where Sergio proposed to me.

The plaque on the bridge reads, "In memory of happy days on the campus and in appreciation of benefits received from their Alma mater..." Very fitting I would say.

Everything a future Cal Bear needs.

Father's Day in San Francisco

First brunch and a mini fishbowl reunion (missing 2 fishes).

Then an afternoon at the Golden Gate Bridge.

I did not intentionally dress Sergio and Hannah as twins for Father's Day. I didn't even realize they were till I looked at the photos.

Love Hannah's expression in the picture on the left. Just had to share it. By the way, if you double click pictures you can enlarge them individually.

Happy Father's Day 2011.