7 Awesome Dark Exteriors

One item on the "house" to do list is painting its exterior.   With so many hues and color combinations to choose from, I'm finding myself drawn to very dark shades of grey, green and even black.  Plants and many elements, such as wood and metal, stand out against dark canvases and provide dramatic contrasts.   Take a look at 7 very inspiring exterior images:

How awesome is that orange door?  It wouldn't have the same effect if the exterior of the house were light, now would it?!?

Click here to find out what color I hope to paint our house.

1./2./3./4./5./6./7.

Moving Mode: A Family Wall Before And After

Hanging our framed photograph collection of friends and family in the new house really made the space feel like home.  As I hung each photo, my emotions took over:  memories of family events, friends' weddings, younger days and people no longer with us.  Having a designated space for family pictures, i.e. either on a wall, resting on easels atop a console,  is a very nice way to take in memories at a glance.  I'm looking forward to adding more photos as we explore new places, meet new friends and host old ones already dear to us.  Below are some before and after shots of our new family wall and a sneak peek at the one we had in Cambridge.

'Til Monday: Donut Lessons

 While standing in front of a donut case last Sunday with three children who excitedly announced their picks and fought over their choices, I started losing my patience.  At some point I realized  there was someone waiting behind us, so I quickly motioned my kids out of the way without actually accomplishing what we set out to do that morning:  to get donuts for breakfast.   The man kindly said:  "Take your time, enjoy your children and the moment.  My youngest just left for college and one doesn't realize how quickly they grow up until they're gone."   I've heard this said before but for some reason the message really resonated with me that morning.  Maybe because it came from a man or maybe because our move has me feeling sentimental,  either way,  it was a true, strong statement.  With our twins entering 1st grade and Zoe in kindergarten,  childhood days are fleeting and I don't want to miss, forget or regret any times spent together.  So here's to living in the moment and eating lots and lots of donuts!

If you're a donut lover (like us) and a baker (unlike me) try baking these or these.  Enjoy!

Moving Mode: An Inspired Doorbell Gong

The glass walls and doors that surround the courtyard which makes our mid-century house so unique pose a bit of a problem when receiving guests.  With no designated front door or doorbell, visitors can feel confused and the hosts startled.  We needed to provide a way for guests to announce themselves before they appeared in our kitchen, so we decided to hang a gong at the front gate.  Perfectly suited for our Asian inspired entryway and loud enough for us to hear across the courtyard, our new inspired doorbell gong makes for a dramatic entrance.  Take a look:

Here's to hearing your gong hits soon!

Room Inspiration: Vintage Moroccan Rugs

This week's room inspiration was inspired by my most recent obsession:  vintage Moroccan rugs.  Take a look at how a teen's bedroom comes together with unique color combinations, patterns and style.

1. Cambridge Bed

2. Ryan Bedding

3. Jensen Wood Turntable

4. Brigitta Nightstand

5.  Vintage Moroccan Rug

6. Sliced Pointelle Booties

7.  Barovier Glass Flower Flush Mount Light