Living Room Update

Decorative Pillow

Aside from ticking stripes, there's another pattern that's hot hot hot this season- Ikat! This fun print is defined as a fabric in which the yarns have been tie-dyed before weaving

In a Room

Texture Close-Up

One of my birthday gifts this year was a gorgeous rug from Pottery Barn. I'd been eying this rug for awhile, and Mr. SE made it happen. The neutral tones, and natural fibers really compliment our living room. I love how the color looks against our warm wood floors and dark brown couches. The texture is chunky and thick, and it looks great layered with the leather of our sofa and love seat.

To add with the room update, I'd been crushing major on a new lamp. Our table lamp was oiled bronze and narrow, with an outdated shade. My mother in law gave me a gift certificate to HomeGoods, and the old lamp is now history! Our new lamp has a gorgeous gourd shape, and a classic drum shade in linen. The gourd is white w/a gold overlay.

Because the main pieces of our room are neutral, I can really punch up the fun with decorative accents. One of my favorite ways to add color to a room is through throw pillows. They're inexpensive, and easy to change around. Luckily, my mom is quite the seamstress and recently sewed us fantastic designs for almost every room. Obsessed doesn't cover it.

I'm head over heels with Ikat pillows right now. I love how beachy, summery, and fun they are. In shades of blue and tan, they're so soothing. Here are some of my favorites.

A Pair of Pillows Packs a Punch

Vivid Ikat Pillow

Bright and Cheerful

Bright and Cheerful

What do you think? Are you on the graphic pattern bandwagon too (quatrefoil, chevron, ikat, trellis)?

Mom Cave

(Pottery Barn, le sigh)

Meet my dream desk. Now that the wedding is over, Mr. SE and I are settling into life as a married couple. Life that includes trying to cook healthy meals and turning our new house into a home. Our master bedroom, living room, and kitchen are perfection. Now I'm focused on the guest bedroom, office, and our bonus room. The bonus room will be a real kick to the wallet (hello projection screen and sectional), so I'm working on the office for now.

I've seen a lot of features online lately describing "mom caves", and that's exactly what I have pictured for this room. I'm thinking a crisp, white desk and a corner with a large armchair and a standing lamp. Nothing fancy. Some wispy curtains, and this room will be perfection. I'm looking forward to having a place where I can read and relax.

Do you have a special reading nook in your place? And what do you think of the "mom cave" idea? The man cave has really taken off, and I'm sure that's what our bonus room will end up being. So what's wrong with having a room for the lady of the house to relax in?

(Centsational Girl)

West Elm

The lovely Budget Savvy Bride, of whom I am lucky enough to call a real life friend, and I were recently sharing our love for West Elm. As fate may have it, we've ended up choosing very similar decorating styles in our homes. When Mr. SE and I signed up for mail-forwarding we started receiving lots of new catalogues offering discounts from various home decorating stores. West Elm has really caught my eye- it's calming colors, organic fibers, and at a price less than Pottery Barn make it hard to pass up.

This is the first room featured in their new catalogue. It's so relaxing and serene. I'd love to settle into this daybed with a great book! Doesn't this room make all your worries go away? *le sigh*

True Life: I'm in Love With A Plate

Dear Pottery Barn,

Please still have this pattern available when we start to register. It's traditional, yet modern, and makes me happy all over.

Fondly,
Sarah