all time favorite store

               Yes, this is still part of the living room update I told you about here and here,
                                          I'm just including a bonus a shopping tip.
                            Hands down my all time favorite store is.....Home Goods!
                         

(inside scoop for denverites: the westminster store is bigger & better than tech center because

it was initially designed as a Home Goods, whereas the other is an expanded TJ Maxx)

                             So, what did I find that I couldn't pass up? No, not the princess.
                                    

                                        This silky soft, 8 x 10 rug for $200 - add to cart!

                              I've had it for several months and it has held up beautifully,
               even with that weird kind of mud that miraculously tracks through the house,
                                         and no one knows where it came from,
                   but looks suspiciously like paw prints, soccer cleats and garden shoes!
                                   I'm sure you have no idea what I'm talking about.
 
    The garage sale chair in the photo and my first attempt at re-upholstering is up tomorrow.

gallery wall

I've always loved the look of gallery walls and having the reminder of family photos and special memories.
        In keeping with my living room plan here for a neutral space, with a little glamour
                                         this is what I've come up with (so far).

                    If you follow these three steps you can create one in your favorite style!
                                               ~ some symmetry
                                               ~ a cohesive element to give it some unity
                                               ~ something unique, personal or fun

                                                                                                                     

                        ~ gold frames, large mats, gold & white color scheme unify the look
                        ~ hanging a large photo from a hook (or so it seems) is my unique twist
                        ~ a couple of shelving pieces with a treasure from my sweet great aunt

                   

Did you notice the painted wall in lieu of a white mat?

And, my lovely thermostat - no where in sight,

it's behind the frame leaning against the wall.

                                          

                     

                   You may have noticed there's still room at the bottom for a couple more frames,

                                 it's on my list and you'll be the first to know when I cross it off! 

                                

                                     



easiest deck update

This was our sad deck, faded pillows, broken glass from a storm - before an infusion of pillows! I've always made new ones every year, we never bring them in so by the end of the season, well...you see. This year I decided to use outdoor fabric (who would have thought!).
                                           

Fabric on sale at Hancock's and some old pillows used as forms.

Looking better, but yikes it needs something to break up all that pattern.

  This is it, solid with a fun detail.

You can have one of your own, check out Emily's easy tutorial,

 the flower detail will take you no time!

If you really want to be impressed check out her yard before and after here!

quiet peaceful mornings, coffee, paper, birds singing

~ only in our dreams and blog photos ~ 

dinner on the deck

We're still trying to make the most of the quickly fading summer evenings, and had friends over for dinner on the weekend, here are some simple ideas from our table setting.

The vases are Starbucks Frappuccino bottles with a single stem and some greenery from a shrub in our yard. The salad plates were a Pottery Barn find a few years ago.  I'd been looking for napkins to coordinate but couldn't find anything, however, I did spy a tablecloth for $12 and cut it into 8 napkins!   

                               Starbucks Frappuccino bottles and mason jars for water.
                              

See the green pillow with a flower in the background - tomorrow, the the scoop on how you can make one, it is soooo easy! 

 And, a before and after of the deck, with the easiest update ever - pillows!

 **Please ignore the rag in the background. A few days ago I told mr. simple I thought I saw a little mouse.  Yep, it's his idea of a mouse trap! I'm sure you're all hoping for a dinner invite soon. :)