One Room Challenge - Week Four - Progress?

Well, things are not turning out exactly like I was hoping they would but I'm praying that in the end, the overall look will work!  

Thanks for all of your votes on the green chair last week!  It made me change course but it also got me super excited about the room again!

Did I tell you that we aren't going to be able to upholster the walls like I thought we would?  It just doesn't make sense out in the country because of all of the critters and dust.  I'm super bummed about it but I think it will be ok.  I was so excited about the drama of our guests being wrapped up in a room of black and white check but I guess our almond walls will have to do!  

But this did work out:

I'm super excited because this piece is coming from Viyet!  Do you know Viyet yet?  It is super chic consignment opportunities that you will not want to miss!  You will love everything on the site almost as much as you will love the savings!!!!  Actually, if you go check the site out right now, you will see my living room at home on the home page!  Those dreamy yellow sofas were a Jan Showers pick.  We love Jan and she has helped Justin and I with several projects (and she is hosting a book signing for me at her showroom on Nov. 2nd from 1-3 - come on by!)  I'm going to set this piece up like a bar and fill it with some of my equestrian treasures.  I can hardly wait to tablescape this piece!

So, I fell in love with this mirror from Bassett Mirror Company and ordered a pair back when I was thinking that the walls would be upholstered and the accents would be red.  I thought this pop of blue would be an unexpected surprise but now that the we have almond walls and a green chair, I'm wondering if they will still work?  What do you think?  I'm so crazy about the color and the shape so even if they don't live in the living room, I think they will easily find a perfect space!

Oh...and did I tell you that the fabric for the ottoman is backordered?  We are not going to get it in time for our big reveal here but, not to worry, because

I ordered a pair of these x base benches from Lazarro Leather in lieu of the ottoman.  Once the ottoman does arrive, I think these can easily be moved in front of the windows for extra seating! 

And because I am in need of some major inspiration to keep me on track right now with all of the curve balls I've been thrown, I've put together a group of some of my favorite pins from my Pinterest Page. 

So, I hope you are enjoying the ride as much as I am!  This is the week that starts to get thrilling!  

I'm heading to the ranch with a moving truck for an install tomorrow and then a follow up install on Nov. 2nd. I can hardly wait!  Please check back in next week to see more progress (I hope!!!)

In the meantime, I hope you will check out the other bloggers in the ORC!

Apartment 34 | Arianna Belle | Because It’s Awesome | Coco+Kelley | Design Darling | 

Design Indulgence |Design Manifest | Christine Dovey | The English Room | Vanessa Francis | 

Hi Sugarplum | Honey We’re Home | Jojotastic | The Pink Clutch | The Pink Pagoda | 

Simplified Bee | Style Your Senses | A Thoughtful Place | The Zhush | TM by CIH

One Room Challenge: Week 2 - My Inspiration

Hi there!  Thanks for checking back in on our One Room Challenge Living Room Makeover!

I'm in Charleston getting ready for my book signing tomorrow but I'm still making progress at the ranch - I have to!  No rest for the weary with the ORC!

The photo above is our inspiration.  I am crazy about this room and, because the ranch is a space that my entire family enjoys, I felt like we needed a vote on the "look" for the space and this one won!

I love this photo too - the unpolished silver trophy cups and the black and white photo are so charming.

I found this black and white 1" check fabric marked down to $6/yard (yes - you read that right!) so I went ahead and bought tons of it!  Now I just need to get work on getting it up on the windows and walls!

I've also ordered this Derby Equestrian Side Table which I hope will be the perfect place to set my glass of wine when I sit down with a book - that scenario might have to wait until my children have grown but a girl can dream right? 

I've done a lot of ordering actually!  I also ordered these wonderful side chairs from World Market - a pair for $399!   I think they will be great on either side of the armoire that is already in the room and they are light enough that they can be picked up and moved around the room when there are more people gathered.

The other things I want in the room include a club fender (I'm on the hunt for one so please let me know if you have any resources!), 

equestrian paintings (I bought a big lot of paintings in Ireland in July - can't wait for their arrival!) 

 and a splash of color (still trying to decide on the accent color but I'm leaning towards red.)  What do you think?  (loving this look with the Zebra Rug!) 

I'm loving this mirror too!  

I hope you will follow along for the next four weeks leading up to our big reveals!

Here are links to the other participating blogs.  

Apartment 34

Arianna Belle

Because it’s Awesome

Coco+Kelley

Design Darling

Design Indulgence

Design Manifest

Christine Dovey

The English Room

Vanessa Francis

Hi Sugarplum

Honey We’re Home

Jojotastic

The Pink Clutch

The Pink Pagoda

Simplified Bee

Style Your Senses

A Thoughtful Place 

The Zhush

TM by CIH

By the way, I can't figure out who to credit for these inspirational photos.  Does anyone know?  I'd love to be able to provide the proper links and credits. I found these on Pinterest.

Black and White and Worn All Over

I've been looking for an outfit for fall that with do two things: hopefully mask my baby weight gain that I am trying hard to lose and be that go-to look that can be worn all over.  I think I found it at Moda Operandi.  I love the print and cut of the dress (hopefully it will disguise a few troubled spots) and I love the way a statement necklace draws the eye up!  

Ek Thongprasert on Moda Operandi

Michael Angel on Moda Operandi

Sergio Rossi

Our Black and White Night

I had so much fun working on my wonderful husband's fortieth birthday party.  He had so many ideas about the type of party he wanted to have so I was quite disappointed when he told me that he wanted to take a trip instead of have a party.  When our plans for a trip fell apart, I decided to surprise him and combine all of his ideas and tie them together with a Black and White theme. Here are a few of the highlights:

Our friend Lyssa enjoying the view from the terrace at the W.

Black and White flowers greeted the guests with a guest book and candle.

Our guest book table featured black and white photographs of Justin throughout his life.

One of Justin's original theme ideas was a Geisha Theme!  I hired this model to dress as a Geisha and ask the guests to write Justin a message in the guest book.

The Photo Stand was a hit and the props I set out really helped our guests loosen up for the pictures!

I interpreted Justin's idea of having birthday burgers in the backyard by having them made served as mini-burgers on modern sparkly silver trays. 

Justin suggested a break-dancing theme at one point too!  I had a break dancer escort his cake out and then he did an amazing performance!  He made Justin get out there with him.

The servers at the party wore black and white and aprons with childhood photos of Justin in black and white.

As our guests got off the elevator, they saw black and white photos of Justin "wallpapering" the walls.

My uncle and my dad had a lot of fun with the photo booth and props!

That is a sign that our guests had fun right?

Our amazing dj Lucy Wrubel kept the Monday night party going!