We reused what we already had for our front porch, and it looks pretty good out there right now. We’ve been sitting out there a lot though since I set it up, and it’s clear that what’s missing is a comfortable chair with arms and a back high enough to rest one’s head on. Everyone appreciates a comfy seat, yes? Like, maybe a hanging swing type of seat? 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 I like the idea of something that hangs from two ropes or chains, as I imagine less crashing into the house possibilities with the kids around. Serena & Lily has a hanging rattan chair that I’ve admired for a while, and now they have a wider double version too. Then while I was out walking in the neighborhood, I spotted a version in the window at Pier 1. Turns out, they have several “Swingasans” to choose from right now. Anthropologie has one too, but it’s a little too mod for me. Because yeah, turns out I’m kinda into seventies’ and eighties’ style wicker and rattan for the outside of the Victorian.
Peacock chairs are so trendy right now, but they really would work well here. There’s a house nearby with a set outside that has a his-and-hers vibe with different bases. There are plenty of new and vintage options online and locally to choose from. 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 (kid-sized!) I know, that second one above (the Handwoven Boline Chair) isn’t really a peacock chair, but it is pretty amazing. Or ZOMG, something like this, below, would be adorable! Actually, it wouldn’t really work out front — I just wanted to share this pretty picture, ha! Anyway, I saw a vintage set of these years ago, cheap, in Palm Springs. I doubt they pop up that often here in Chicago. More realistically, I still like these chairs that I blogged about several years ago. Here are a few similar styles. Only some have a high-back, but even just having a chair with arms would be an improvement over what we have now. 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 What do you like? A hanging rattan swing, peacock chair, or the more simplified style of the last set of chairs and benches?
I’m about to leave for a trip and won’t be back for a couple of weeks, so I’m going to take a little time to think it over.I have been loving the real time makeover journey with you guys, I hope you are loving it too! I am so excited to show you the first giant piece to this puzzle of granny awesomeness. The cornerstone if you will. A few weeks ago I was running blog errands and stopped at the DI (Utah’s Version of Goodwill). While going through my normal rounds my eye was drawn to a pretty awesome/trashed wicker étagère. It was super swirly and I liked it, not enough to invest the $20 in it but still…it started the wheels turning. If you know anything about me, it should be that I make design decisions very quickly. If I like something, I know right off the bat. And then the dominos are falling faster than I can explain and BAM the room design is done. During the 3 minute drive back to my house I came to the conclusion that I needed a swirly wicker headboard for my Master.
A quick google search when I got home confirmed that I did in fact need a swirly wicker headboard After this post you are going to need one too.This is one of those Life of Pi situations where its a crazy story but in the end you believe it, so God must be real. Ready to be a believer? Here are the things working against us. 1. My bed is king sized (most beds from that era are NOT). 2. Wicker is super fragile (frageeelay) and finding one intact after 30 years is about as hard as squeezing blood from a turnip. 3. I live in St. George UT, not Pensacola Florida. 4. I have NEVER seen one on Craigslist in all my Craigslist hunting days. Of course the first place that I look is CL. So I widen my search to include Vegas, Salt Lake, and Phoenix. This was going to be harder than I thought. I called my favorite second hand shop in St. George and put Diane on high alert for one. Then on a whim I called a consignment store that I never go to.
They had 2 twin size swirly wicker headboards. I am pretty sure I yelled in the phone “I WILL BE RIGHT THERE!” I RAN out my front door (insert 15 minutes of hyperventilating and yelling at every red light) and raced into the store. The lady took one look at my crazed eyes and said “You must be Mandi.” That’s what I like to call a first impression. She then said she will be right back, they had them stored in a different place in the store. After about 10 minutes (insert more hyperventilating) she came back empty handed because, SHE COULDNT FIND THEM. In my life at that exact moment, is the equivalent to finding El Dorado and forgetting to write down the GPS coordinates. It is just too much. I feel tears welling up as she goes to check with another employee to see if they had sold. This headboard has dictated the design of the entire bedroom. I HAVE to have one. Then like manna from heaven she walks out with them.Do you have goosebumps?
I know I did! Apparently they had been put on the truck to go who knows where (she really didnt know). The truck was literally getting ready to drive away when she went back to ask about them. That is what I call minute to win it, because 2 more minutes and they would have been out of my life forever. Now they are nestled snug in my garage, waiting for makeover Monday. Can you guess what I am going to do to them?My girl Emily at Jones Design Company is interviewing bloggers and giving away their favorite item! I am up today and IN LOVE with the prize I chose! Go over and check it out! Oh and while you are there check out her fireplace, it is out of this world!The couple actually builds some of their own furniture, which looks right at home with their vintage collection. And the best part? The overall aesthetic reflects their personalities as well as the local landscape of Austin, which is bursting with inspiring creatives and artisans like Fullerton. Scroll through to see how the design-savvy decorate in this vibrant city, as featured on The Everygirl.Approachability meets well-curated cool in Chelsea Fullerton's Austin, Texas, home.
As the founder of Go Forth Creative and a self-proclaimed Craigslist addict, Fullerton's home unsurprisingly exudes Southern hospitality with just the right dose of elevated, hip style. She and her husband strike this balance between laid-back and polished by mixing rustic finds with contemporary pieces. Approachability meets well-curated cool in Chelsea Fullerton's Austin, Texas, home. The couple actually builds some of their own furniture, which looks right at home with their vintage collection. Scroll through to see how the design-savvy decorate in this vibrant city, as featured on The Everygirl. A Laid-Back Living Room Courtesy of Sarah Natsumi for The EveryGirl As she tells The Everygirl, "Austin strikes the perfect balance between energy and calm," a quality that definitely comes across in her living space. The color palette she chose is incredibly approachable, decorating with bold neutrals instead of splashing the room with oversaturated brights.
The clean, masculine lines of the coffee table add a touch of refinement to tie it all together. Design Within Reach ($455)The right lighting can transform a room. This light fixture introduces some modern sophistication, dressing it up in just the right way. This little corner of Chelsea's living room is dangerously good. A perfect nook like this one is the only excuse we need to curl up on a sofa with a good book or conversation and never leave. The low-maintenance succulent and tall cactus round out the warmth of the wood and contrast nicely with the navy hue of the couch. And just look at that light. Anthropologie ($398)The rustic wood stool that doubles as a side table is understated, but it'll also add a ton of dimension to a room lacking that comfortable lived-in look. Raise your hand if you have a serious case of bathroom envy. The wire baskets give it a cool industrial feel and offer a great way to keep your linens organized. We also love any room that includes some greenery, no matter how small, so the plant in the corner is speaking volumes.