Glimpse into My Master Closet...(Via Made By Girl)

Ahhh Monday again. Did you have a good weekend? I know some of you were snowed in with the storms, hopefully you're out & about today! The weather has been amazing here, couldn't ask for better!

On another note, this weekend we finished my MASTER CLOSET! Well, it's actually 98% finished. I'm still considering getting some LEOPARD print wallpaper for the section you can't see behind the doorway.

It's such a PLEASURE walking into my closet now, thanks to my dear husband, who made it all happen. I am in awe of his abilities & grateful to God for him! He bought the shoe shelves as plain wood at Home Depot and stained them to match the IKEA closet system. Brilliant!

above: AFTER (so happy)

below: BEFORE (so ugly)

It's all soooo exciting! I have plenty of storage now, with a bunch of large drawers and shelving for all my clothing & more. The shoe & handbag shelves are my favorite part....it feels like a mini BOUTIQUE every time I walk into this closet!  

When I first started the project, I was UNSURE which direction to head in.  However, I knew I wanted something GLAM..... you know, the chandelier, leopard print and shoes  stacked endlessly on display!  

So, tell me...what do you think so far?

(Click on pics for larger images)

above: those are just a portion of my handbags, the rest are in the IKEA shelving and behind the door.

I think I own 35 handbags. Is that a lot? How many do YOU OWN????
I ACTUALLY had more shoes and handbags.....but I donated them.  If I don't use it after a year I will usually just donate it.

above: My hanging clothes are to the right behind the closet door.
 

Chandelier is from a local antique shop

Ornate medallion is from Home Depot

Leopard Runner by Ballard Designs

Closet System by IKEA

-images by jen

Master Closet Runner Suggestions...(Via Made By Girl)

It's only Thursday & I'm already looking forward to the weekend. That's because we're finally going to BUY the SHOE shelving for my MASTER CLOSET! Most of you may recall me writing about my master closet in progress here.  

Well, now I'm ready to choose a runner for the closet.  And of course, I would LOVE your suggestions.....

I've narrowed it down to the 5 below & even though they're all from Ballard Designs, feel free to suggest something else you may have seen. I'll be HONEST, it would be nice to stay under $200...so please don't list runners that cost $350 - like my absolute fave here. 

I'll just end up crying......

My master closet below....as I mentioned before in this post. The UGLY white wire shelving will be removed to make way for shoe & handbag SHELVES! 

So, Please let me know your pick for a carpet runner...

Glimpse into My Weekend....(Via Made By Girl)

It's Monday again....and and what remains is a BIG mess in our kitchen. The contractor took all the cabinet doors/drawers from the kitchen as well as all the bathrooms. BUT, it should be done & painted this week! Woo hoo!  Then they'll be back for sanding & spraying this coming weekend...the part I'm dreading!

There will be DUST all over...LUCKILY, they said they'll be taping off the entire area. So, I guess it's take-out for a couple days....! Anyhow, I'm anxious to see how it will all turn out! For those of you wondering...my selection was Benjamin Moore's 'simply white' - I think it'll go pretty well with the other whites!

(click pics for larger images)

above: kitchen cabinets removed and taken by contractors to be lacquered. 

above: the Ballard chandelier hung by my guy, he did pretty darn good job because that thing was HEAVY!  Also, I was informed that Ballard is NO LONGER carrying this chandelier...I wonder why?!?! Anyhow, this is supposed to be the main dining area, but the ZGallerie table we ordered hasn't arrived yet!

below: I decided to hang the Jeannie Mills painting at the 2nd floor landing. I love looking at it every time I go up the stairs. 

 below: a little bit of BEAUTY in the midst of the mess in the kitchen.

below: a much needed break with Blintzes from Trader Joe's - ever had these before? They're DAIRY FREE and super good! I have them with melted dark chocolate and sometimes strawberries!

below: this is going to be our Christmas tree this year... we decided that we'll keep it SIMPLE. Of course, we'll be elevating it a bit and adding some ornaments!

below: a few decor items in the first floor powder room

images by jen

Kitchen Update & Other Things...(Via Made By Girl)

This WEEKEND will be FULL of doing things at home...for the most part!  First, my Ballard Designs chandelier arrived & it is HUGE!!!  I'm really crossing my fingers & hoping it will look good in the dining space. My ceilings are 10 feet high, so it should look ok right??!? Should be hung on Saturday.....

(click on pics for larger images)

NOW MY KITCHEN........after realizing how much TIME & EFFORT it was going to take to paint everything ourselves, we decided to HIRE a local company to get the cabinets professionally lacquered.  Either way, I'm having the HARDEST time picking out a white. Can you believe it?!?? We've narrowed it down to the colors you see below. 


My 1st choice is Benjamin Moore's Simply White. You can see a photo of a kitchen I found here painted in simply white. Originally, I had selected BM Cloud White but after getting the sample on a cabinet it was a bit on the yellow side! 

I REALLY want the color of the cabinets to go well with my counter tops (pictured below) & then we're more than likely selecting a white subway tile back splash or carrara marble tiles. Now, my whole house is actually painted in cloud white, so my questions are: 

• Should my cabinets be the same color as the walls (cloud white)in my home??
• How close should the cabinet color be to my counter tops?
• Do you think Simply white works for my kitchen? 
• Would subway tile or carrara marble look better? 

images by 

Let me know what you think, I will be reading all your comments, thank you!

New from Lonny Magazine....

Here's a great start to a new week with the newest issue of Lonny Magazine! In this issue we get a great look at Michelle's (editor in chief) new apartment! My favorite is the dining area! I've been wanting to re-upholster my current dining table chairs in a black & white STRIPED fabric and after seeing Michelle's I am sooo INSPIRED!  However, I would have to re-paint my chairs, they definitely need a bit of a PAINT face-lift.

If I'm feeling LAZY & don't want to take on the DIY, I can just buy the chairs ALREADY upholstered in a striped blk & white fabric directly from Ballard Designs.  Something to keep in mind...hmmm.  Ballard is great, I'm a big fan of their site, especially their chair collection. Have a great Monday and thanks to Michelle Adams once again for giving us all this eye-candy!

images lonny magazine