Rachel Ashwell

I think it's pretty clear from the title of this blog that I'm a little enamored with decorating. Ok.... a lot enamored. I get more excited when I see my Pottery Barn catalogs than I do when I see clothing magazines. I just wish we could settle somewhere and buy a place of our own. Then I could really have fun!

Today I was (still) contemplating my plans for Sadie's room and decided I should make a post about the designer who inspired the plans in my head. Her name is Rachel Ashwell. She is the creative genius behind the brand Simply Shabby Chic. Target sells bedding, bath items, and other household goods based on her line.

I love, love, love her work. If I could have an entire house decorated in her style, it would be heaven. (Of course, Ben wouldn't agree. This is not a very manly decorating style!) I flipped through one of her coffee table books at the store and decided that was how I wanted my girls' bedrooms to look.

                                                  

The image  above is from Rachel Ashwell's website www.shabbychic.com. While I can't possibly afford this particular bed, or that amazing (probably genuine vintage) chandelier, I think this is the atmosphere I'm going for.

Thus the desire for a white wrought iron bed, and mirrors and crystal details. We also purchased a small chandelier to hang over her bed. Here it is, in stock photo form. (we unfortunately cannot hang it in our current apartment.)

I guess it's a good thing I have daughters....I wouldn't know what to do with a boy!

A Bed for Sadie

"Mirror mirror on the wall, I am my mother after all...."

After a spirited childhood and stormy adolescence filled with vows that I would NEVER be like my mother, the inevitable has happened. I am my mother. And I'm thrilled!  I inherited everything from her love of interior design to her flair for cooking. (Although, to be fair, I should say that I haven't quite reached her level of culinary mastery. Yet.)  I find myself thinking like her in everything I do. That includes decorating my home. So. On that note....

Sadie needs a bed!!! Her sister will be here in November and she'll have to give up her current furniture. I'm glad that she's two and can't argue with me about this. For beds, I have my eye on two white wrought iron styles. One is slightly pricier, and one is local. I just can't pick the one I want!

                                         

This one  is from Pottery Barn Kids, and I think it's adorable! The only drawback I see is that it's a little more expensive than the one in my local furniture store, and from the reviews on the PBK site, it seems to be more cream/yellow than white. Not sure how that will fit into my plans for her room. 

       

This bed is from my local store, Darby's Big Furniture. It is a little less expensive than the Pottery Barn bed and it is true white. Added bonus: it has crystal finials on the bed posts! In all honesty I think I'm leaning more toward this one, but I'm still not completely sure. 

What do you think?? 

Getting My Feet Wet

Today is Monday. Good day to start, right? The baseball game is on and Ben is on the floor with Sadie, our two year old. Mommy is free for the moment!

I'm 21 weeks pregnant today, and I think the nesting has really kicked in. In a big way. I cleaned like a crazy woman and finally got serious about decorating this little apartment. If we have to be here at least until November, might as well make it feel like home. Ben put up the curtain rods while I pressed the travel worn drapes...something I wouldn't have done before. (I have a lazy streak a mile wide..I will be the first to admit it!) I've got the mirrors, pictures, and other wall adornments propped where I want them to hang, and Ben's job tomorrow will be to hang those for me.

All this cleaning made me realize I need a lot of organizing "stuff." So here is my list, to be checked off at some point this week:

~Hooks for the back of our bathroom doors
~Shower hooks for Sadie's bathroom
~Pledge (things get filthy in moving trucks)
~Some sort of hamper for Sadie's bath toys (the little pouch in the tub isn't cutting it anymore)
~Storage system for the play room (containing the plastic fruits and veggies and felt cupcakes is a chore)
~A magic cleaning fairy (Ok I'm kidding)

Looks like I'm going to be busy this week! That's fine by me, I like to be busy. Makes life in this little map dot  town a little easier. I guess I didn't have much to say for my first entry...hopefully I haven't bored you too much!  Later posts will be more exciting: I've got plans for crafting projects and decorating ideas, as well as more family stuff. Thanks for reading!