Vintage Christmas Mantel 2011

So I still envision making a cute glittery banner to hang in front of the silver beads, but to be honest, I'm not sure if I'm gonna make that happen.

A few weeks ago I got the fresh garland from Home Depot (for 5 bucks!), but it's getting pretty brittle.  I have been spraying water on it with a squirt gun.  Anyboday got any other ideas for keeping it fresh?



If only I could find the energy to put up the OUTSIDE decorations......

All About Ottomans

Image via Country Living

I have been searching for months now for the perfect Craigslist coffee table to turn into an ottoman.  My list of requirements was strict.  The table had to be burly enough to withstand kids using it as a diving board onto the sofa, and big enough to meet the space requirements for the space.  I finally found what I had been looking for...........and he cost only 20 bucks!



Meet Otto.  Otto the Ottoman.  When I brought him home, there were lots of very loud protests.  "It stinks!  It's so ugly!  Get rid of it!  Take it back!"

I admit, he is still just a big nasty 1970's coffee table, but he is destined for greatness.  I am still deciding on which fabric to use (Bryan has suggested vinyl?!#??which won't be happening), but it does have to be durable, stain resistant and still great looking. 

 I have long loved this ottoman in Kate Winslet's house from the movie "The Holiday".  I am debating button tufting or no button tufting for my coffe table makeover.  I am just not sure if my upholstering skills are quite strong enough to endure tufting.  But this is a REALLY great looking ottoman.

 

Lands End for Sears

If you don't feel like you are up to the whole search Craigslist for months, buy supplies, learn how to upholster route, there are MANY good and affordable off the shelf options. 

I first saw this K-Mart storage ottoman on 6th Street Design School. I have been looking for an ottoman for a client's kitchen/great room makeover, and I thought this would be perfect for her small space. She has decided to skip the ottoman, but I still think it is a GREAT deal. Right now it is only $79! You can pick one up here.

Image via Ballard Designs

The Ballard Designs Storage Bench (shown above) looks incredibly similar to the K-Mart one, but starting at around $400, the K-Mart bench is just a fraction of the price.  

Anyway, I will post way more pictures and a "HOW-TO" tutorial on "how to turn your crappy 1970's coffee table into an ottoman" as soon as I have finished.  Hopefully it won't be too long, but I am also working on:

1. finishing the laundry room
2. painting a vintage lamp
3. decorating for Christmas
4. finishing my gallery wall
5. my office makeover
6. clien'ts great room makeover
7. client/friend's bathroom remodel

Oh, and look for an AWESOME giveaway next week (my first one by the way), and you WON'T want to miss it!

 

Park City Heaven

I love Park City.  I really do.  I wish I could live there.  I know it might not be as "kid friendly" as where we live now.  And I know that there a lot of part time residents, which makes it a little difficult to be neighborly.  Still, I love it.

Occasionally I peruse the real estate listings there.  And of course I don't look at anything that would actually be in my budget.  If I am going to pretend real estate shop in Park City, I am going to do it with a pretend budget. 

Most of the time I find the design in Park City too literal........giant log furniture and light fixtures encrusted with moose and bears.   That's why I love it when I find a well done Park City home.  Rustic AND refined.  It's completely possible to have a beautiful mountain home that doesn't feel like an episode of Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman.  To view more pictures of this home, (yes there are more), view the real estate listing here.

Enjoy!