Wednesday, January 7, 2009

A Little More To Say

Before Christmas fades into the past too much I wanted to say a couple more things about it. Every year I take my Christmas stuff down on New Year's Day. And if you know how much I love Christmas, you can probably guess what a hard day this day could potentially be for me. The only thing that gets me through the mourning process that would otherwise accompany putting all the Christmas stuff away is the joy of reorganizing, rearranging furniture again, and putting up any new decor stuff that I (hopefully) got. Right after Christmas, Brian finished a second book shelf to match the one he built me for my birthday, so I was in need of a new family room arrangement to accomodate my new bookshelves and the table I got for my birthday. Yeah, baby. I LOVE rearranging furniture. I have loved it since I was a little girl on Prince Lane. My room was small back then--with two twin beds, a dresser and a small shelf--so you wouldn't think there would be many rearranging possibilities, but I rearranged alright. Oh, yes I did. And I continue to do so. So anyway, this is how the room looks now. You may notice the red berry wreath and boughs that I've left up. I just love the red so much. I figure it is still appropriate for the remaining winter season. Plus, Brooke said I could leave it up all year, so I may just do that. After all, green is the second most dominant color in the room (aside from brown, of course)and red IS the compliment to green. So anyway...




















And I'm sure many of you have seen this shelf in the Pottery Barn catalog for two hundred bones (as my younger, cooler siblings would say.)


Lucky for me, Brian can build it for free with scrap wood and I can paint it red (it looks a lot pinker in the pics than it really is.) I don't have the hooks for it yet, but I'll be getting them ...sometime after February 24th. I love shelves with hooks because they are so functional. Some day I am going to have these kinds of shelves in the kids' bathroom. That way I won't have to worry about the kids not haning their towels up nicely on the towel bars. Wouldn't that be excellent?








And lastly, my sister made me this fabulous quilt. I love it. It goes well with the colors in my room and I can't wait to frame it. (Sarah sewed a dowell loop onto the back of it, but I would rather mat and frame it.) I love the variety it adds.

So I survived the "big Christmas take-down" just fine.








Aaannndd, that's not all I have to say. I also have to say that my kids are very talented artists. See?




12 comments:

Tara said...

I love your style and your home is the perfect combination of looking fabulous but being comfy and cozy too.

ksdavis6 said...

Looks wonderful Ann. I am proud of you and your new years resolutions, it is hard not to buy stuff especially when it is on sale, but you can do it. Just be like me and don't go into any stores that will tempt you beyond what you can control. that solves all of my problems.

Chris & Stephanie said...

Hi Ann! I saw your blog off of someones a long time ago and added you to my blog so that I'd remember to come back and say hi (nice run-on, huh?)! Well, I stink at checking in - and even more-so at leaving comments!!
Anyway, your family is so adorable and your decorating is amazing!! Come do my home!! ;o)
Glad to see you all look so happy! My mom loves visiting teaching you!
Take care!!

Stephanie (Latham) Zahlmann

Adventures in Healing said...

Ann...I LOVE it so much I almost cried. You've always had a gift for decorating too- as evidenced by the transformation you made happen at your mom's.

Audge said...

Holy freak I can't wait to be a high roller so I can have a gorgeous home.

Her Royal Highness said...

I covet the Pottery Barn shelf. My birthday is in March & the baby is due in February - will Brian make me a shelf too? PLEEEEEEZE!

I love your decor!!!

Heather said...

Can I move into your house? It looks like a model home or can you just come and pay for mine to look as awesome as your does?!

Amy said...

I just love the vacuum lines....oh the things that please me!

Rachel McEwen said...

Hi Ann. First off I think your house looks so great. I just love the colors and I can't believe how talented brian is.. and how lucky you are to have him to build things! Where did you get the b and a letters? they are darling!

To add the "blog list" (that is what it is called) you sign in and then go to customize. from there go to add a gadget. and then it is the very top link called "blog list" you will have to reenter every address and private addresses don't work with it. \

thank you for remembering my birthday. i did have a wonderful day!!

Asia said...

All of those decorating pictures were from Pottery Barn, right? I just can't believe how talented you are!!!! I mean, I always assumed it took an army of creatively trained people to make rooms look like that. And even then I thought they must be too pretty to live in. But you have proven me wrong. You have single-handedly created a most fabulous home with incredible eye catchers. When your kids are grown, perhaps you should consider doing it for a living. Pottery Barn could save a lot of money hiring you and getting rid of their army of room designers.

Heidi :) :) ;) said...

I love the way your room looks! I have never seen it in person, but I am impressed. Maybe you can come over and help me with my house. :)

Lila said...

You have so much talent! And Brian too. How sweet that he would make that shelf for you. It is really cute. I also love that quilt!