You know by now that I love incorporating pink into my decorating.  Nothing over the top….but love the color when used against the backdrop of a more muted palate.

Kerry Howard

I’ve seen the turquoise version of the above Currey & Co. chandelier many times but I will be honest…..I would never in a million years thought of using the pink version in a kitchen like this.  I cannot say the whole style here is mine….but I think the chandelier is fresh and playful and adds to the space.

What do you think?  Honest opinions always welcomed!

PS– I received a ton of emails about the soft sisal product I blogged about yesterday.  I will do a better post dedicated to it but it is offered by a trade-only carpet store here in Dallas and it is their own patented design.  It is actually called “Soft Sisal®” and they now have “Soft Seagrass®” and is available in 15 designs and colors.  This isn’t a wool/sisal blend….it is just manufactured differently to make it softer.  My rep explained it to me and I probably am butchering the process but it is something about weaving it back through the loom alters the feel and durability.  If you want more info let me know and I will see what I can do.  They’ll ship out of Dallas.

My poor living room is neglected.  It is one of the first rooms you see when you walk into the house and it desperately needs some attention.  It seems that everything I have wanted for this room is on back-order.

First, to refresh your memory or if you are new here.  Here are the “Before” shots.

Not a ton was done in this room during the remodel.  The floors were re-done, the built-in bookshelves were removed and the walls to the foyer (third shot above) and to the family room (middle photo) were opened to provide better flow.  Of course, we painted which made a huge difference and sold the heavy furniture in the room.

Here is the room today.  Nothing like deciding to do a blog post when it is gloomy outside–and relying on overhead lights.  Note the painter’s tape on walls marking mirrors, etc.  This is about as real as it gets.  (Do you spy a helper?)

The chests flanking the fireplace are new and the sofa is staying.  The Niermann Weeks chairs will stay but are being recovered.  I am doing a large natural fiber rug in the room and have been staring at these samples for TOO long.  I think I’ve made a decision.  There is a company here in Dallas that does “soft sisal” which is a modified sisal that is woven in a way that it is much softer and a by product is that it is much more stain resistant than regular sisal.  I am pretty excited about this product.

I popped over to Dallas Market Center last week to peek at a cocktail table (Global Views) I’d been eyeing and really liked it in person.

A sofa table I’d also been eyeing there was nice but I decided it wasn’t right for our room so I am back to the drawing board.  In any case, I recently pulled all of my inspiration for the room into an Ideabook on Houzz.  Check it out and let me know what you think.

I am sure by now you are well aware that Lulu DK has recently teamed up with Schumacher, launching a children’s collection of fabrics.  See the line here.  The line is wonderful and I’d venture to say that we’ll see the fabrics being used in adult spaces as well.

When I first saw this collection in the Schumacher showroom, I knew I wanted to somehow use the butterfly fabric in Maddie’s room.  She is enamored with these creatures these days.  I ordered a sample (they were out) and forgot about it until it arrived last week.  Here is a photo I snapped of the sample propped up on her bed.  We are going to do a Euro sham using the fabric.  She loves it!

I think it is cute.

What do you think?

We have had a ridiculously lazy weekend but we did take time out yesterday to do a 5 mile walk with the kids in honor of those who have given their lives so that we may be free.  Chris and I were joking that this was our version of Rolling Thunder.  This was Chris walking with the kids to the park on the Katy Trail in Dallas where the opening ceremonies were about to begin.

As we enjoy this first official weekend of summer, we are grateful for those who have made our freedom possible!

Can you believe that summer is knocking at the door?  Maddie finished school yesterday…..it was sad….she had such incredible, nurturing teachers this year and the best classmates and moms, for that matter.  But, I have to say I am excited for a more relaxed schedule and the pool opening around here (Dallas is already feeling like summer, for sure.)

We have been working on the curb appeal of our house slowly but surely.  Last weekend we found two big pots to match our front door and planted them.  The flowers are yet to come but we may have missed the blooming season.  It is lots of trailing rosemary and lavendar….plus another variation of rosemary.  I cannot complain about the contents since I sat at home with my coffee last Sunday while Harry napped and Maddie and my husband went off in search of plants.  Hard to see here but we potted and hung three ferns on the front porch too.

The front is getting there.  Our landscapers are trimming trees, re-grading our lawn in some places and re-sodding the bald patches in a little over a week…and some finishing stone border work down near the sidewalk and then it should be “done.”

A couple of weeks ago our porch swing arrived.  It has a nice deep seat and I love it.

We are having a cushion made out of a Christopher Farr Cloth outdoor fabric, remember the one below?  Need some throw pillows…I am thinking of pulling some charcoal in here to pull from the shutters.  If only Quadrille Zig-Zag came in charcoal I’d do it.  But, not sure my budget for the porch is robust enough for custom colors!

So, what does any of this have to do with this weekend?  Well, we also have a pair of chairs and a little side table that are going on the porch.  They are getting painted this weekend and the cushions are being re-done with the above fabric once it arrives.  (Side table in my car still as I took it to Benjamin Moore to get advice on how to paint.  I am NOT a DIY goddess for sure).

We also plan to take the kids to the pool that opens on Saturday and do some yard work and BBQ-ing in the back yard.  That’s about it….I am so excited about a long weekend with no REAL plans.  How often does that happen?

Hope you have a safe and wonderful weekend.

Ok, this is a frivolous post….I will admit.  But, two of my favorites married into the perfect sandal…..I had to get excited.  So please humor me here.

My warm weather staple is a pair of Jack Rogers sandals.  Usually white….

 This year, I have been contemplating adding a monogrammed version to my closet…

But then I heard that Jack Rogers just came out with two new styles using Quadrille Fabrics.  Why didn’t I know this before Mother’s Day?!?

What is not to love here?