Paint it Black -- or Nothing at All.

The day I stop scraping paint from under my fingernails, off my floor, and out of my eardrums, is the day I meet my land baron and we buy a mansion that's move-in ready. Someone please remind me that when I do find my fixer-up dream house, I should only buy it if I have enough money to pay some one to fix it up for me. I am on the brink of being finished (painting) in my little apartment -- only the steps left to go -- and I am thrilled. I always say to myself that I love painting... then 4 months into it, I realize this is so not true. 

Anyway. It looks great! You'd never believe it was the same place, and pictures really don't do it justice. There are still some little details needed to make my "office nook" perfecto, but that's the fun part. I know this much is true: the rustic "barn red" is forever gone from this place and it couldn't have happened fast enough.

Before:

Yes, that is green shag carpet! "Vintage" from the 50s. Oh lawd.

During: 

After (well, in the dark):

More paint than you can imagine to cover that mess.

I need to do an entire 'before and after' post to show my little place, but honestly, I can't take a photo that will show  you just how different it is. This place was cave cricket, stank-nasty, concrete central. Now, well, it's still got cave crickets (though not as many, thanks to Abita), but it actually looks....nice. I'll get around to it one day, don't you worry. 

Next up: find a pedestal table for my "dining room." And a barstool for this nook because I'm feeling like a hermit with that tiny chair. Onward and upward, right?!

xoxo, Hannah

The Old College Try

So I've been feeling kind of 'meh' with this blog lately. I mean, I have a million beautiful images stored up, a thousand dreamy rooms I want to share, and I just can't seem to find my mojo. Ok, so I've been dealing with a lot of bullshit and simultaneously going on many a gorgeous getaway. Good for me. But--this blog has gone rouge. It's getting a little ridiculous. Maybe because I feel like everything I post gets stolen and posted *ahem* elsewhere, copy-cat style, I feel like 'eff it'. If someone wants to live my life, go for it! I don't blame ya.

But in the meantime, I wanna get back to some fucking beautiful rooms, emo poetry, and occasional random posts. Huzzah!

Peep.this.

I'm all for bright colors, but there's something about this melon-colored goodness and the old-school silhouette that really get my teeth chattering. Plus, I love the Ikea lamp pendant thingies that have been painted turquoise. Thank you for that.

So, this weekend, I toured the most fabulous house in all of DC, complete with rooftop deck, transom windows, and skylights galore!! I died. And I imagine these boots chillen at the entryway.



Speaking of Deli, we're on the hunt for the perfect desk. I want it long, hard, thick, and heavy. Who wouldn't? We're gonna paint it with goopy goodness and make it the most magical desk in all  the land!



Simplest.headboard.evah.

love.



See, a iMac makes everything better. Plus, squares of wallpaper hung willy-nilly make for delicious scenery, yessir.

All right all right all right all right. I know this is an Urban Barfitters couch. But I want to love it. I want to touch it. I could cat nap on this piece until the end of time! The rest of the room...well...we'll get there.

Giant mirror? Squishy couch? Lemongrass paint? Orchids orchids? STRIPES? I think we're done here.

Ok. I'm getting my shit together. Well, today at least. Tomorrow--can't make no promises.

It's Thursday, it's Thursday, gotta get down on Thursday! Plus, woke up with this in my head, so you know I'm feelin' right.

You Know It's A Good Day When...

...you're given free rein of the Staples catalog. Muah ha ha
Will anyone notice if I order a $400 humidifier for my cube? A leather-bound notebook? An automatic digital coin sorter??? We shall see...

Also--I have a chocolate frog sitting on my desk from Harry Potter World. Pretty pumped about that. Plus, I'm sipping green tea out of my classy new coffee mug thanks to the fantastic J.Johnson, got my girl Grace on the iPod, a good book to read, and I'm rocking a sweet pencil skirt.

It's like I'm not even at work, really.
Blah.
xxx

Golden Slumbers + More

All this gloomy blah blah weather has got me in my usual January funk...I'm craving warm, delicious colors and bright yellows...golden hues and hints of glittery goodness. I guess the good thing is I'm not in the beloved (but frigid) Blacksburg, where I truly would be freezing my arse off.

This weekend I have the following (potential) plans:

- Go to Eastern Market and snoop around their thrifty/flea things

- Pop my RCC cherry and take a dip at the indoor pool

- Sand  my little pink table that I picked up at the Y last year and paint it some sort of tealy, greenish, seafomy color.

Sounds good to me! In the meantime, I will continue to stare at these cozy photos...summoning the sun one blog post at a time.

An upholstered desk chair = butt heaven.

This bed is so super cute I can't stand it. It started out an old blah boring white, and now look how fab it is! Perfect for lounging on weekends and snuggling with a cat. Or three cats. Meow.

My favorite part about this room is that it's teeny tiny but still fabulous. Literally a bed room. Holla to the matching bedside tables and sweet-as-punch polka dot headboard.

This house reminds me of a luxe country cottage/mansion somewhere where I should probs be living. Wallpaper, armoire, Burberry-eque jacket, green ploppy chair, hardwoods--done and done.

Introducing the most terrifyingly awesome wine cellar that ever existed!!! It's like walking into wine hell/heaven! Mega creepy, but pretty much to die for.

And finally....ready for Spring already. So. Ready. 

Freezing,

Hannah

Lemme Upgrade Ya

Sooo, this weekend my mama came up to the hell-hole of NOVA to get her thrift on at The Big Flea in Chantilly. She came up Saturday night in a blaze of glory and we immediately drove to Ikea to drool and dream and splurge until our hearts were content.

I got an ironing board. And a lamp. And two new pillowcases for my bed. And a coffee jar. Holla. Moms got a trashcan, bathroom floor rug, and some wine glasses.

We are beyond easily amused.

Yesterday we spent the entire day being flea bags. We started out the day by me thinking I'd forgotten our $2-off tickets at home, only to discover that they were sitting in my car...the entire day. FML. Whatever, I made it though with some saweet new Pyrex mixing bowls to add to my new collection (thanks to Mama Parrish and her Christmas contribution).

*These are not my bowls, per say. See below, STAT!*

Tragedy Alert: I am missing one of the bowls! I've hunted on eBay, but I'm not good at that shit, plus I'm cheap, so if any of you fools stumble upon a turquoise Pyrex mixing bowl (I think it's the 1.5 qt one), throw me a bone and pick it up!

I also got a baby pipe tobacco tin that I'm using to store my chapstick:

"Edgeworth Extra High-Grade Sliced Pipe Tobacco"

Larus & Bro. Co. Richmond, VA U.S.A

"To the consumers of high-grade tobaccos...we desire to call your special attention to EDGEWORTH TOBACCO. It is the best combination that can be made, only finest selections of leaf being used. Every box of it is guaranteed not to burn the tongue and to give satisfaction. We will cheerfully refund money to any dissatisfied customers."

Also, picked up a badass bent fork key chain holder thingy to rock my work ID, solidifying my role as coolest coworker in the land. Duh.

Then we saw the usual junk that we figured we could craft and upgrade by about 3,000% on the cool-o-meter:

Mom bought some (unintentional) potentially racially offensive artwork that she thought was cool and historic or something. You can't hold her back.  

Then, we drove home, gorged on Potbellies, watched the Beyonce DVD because I just can't get enough, and crashed. Sads to see her leave, but twas a good weekend fo sho.

Get yo-self a case of the Mondays!

Yes to the Yes

Feeling le tired. Probably because I got up to watch the creepy awesome solar (lunar?) eclipse. Go me! 

Wanting some blue, grey, tan, white, gold, shimmery lovin. Here is some to keep your ticker ticking. Your motor running. Your brain twitching. Ok bye.

Grey sky eyes.

Closet doors as headboard = genius love

Obvi the fairest of them all.



Sigh, wallpaper.

Tub heaven.

Sigh, sky light.

Sparkle tile...all the rage.

Nook + cranny.

Want to touch the silkiness...



...and we're done.
au revoir

Playing Ketchup

Sooo, I've been crazy crazy busy at work for the last couple weeks and have been collecting tons of delicious pictures to post for you. Hold on to your hats--here are some of my favs...

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Best brunch seat in the hizzouse

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Kitchen love. Love the teal, love the yellow, love the red stove, love love the little cafe curtain a la window

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Would probs die happy if I had windows/shutters like this.
And that couch. Yummm...
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Dreamy dream escape.

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Look at the ceiling!! It's like a clean version of Ms. Havisham's house.

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This would be nice in my beach cottage.

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Table love.

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Ok, seriously, WHO LIVES HERE??

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Easy peasy bedside table. Recently I've seen a ton of glass/Lucite nesting tables and I'm about to be all over them like ham.

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Headboard love.

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So there ya have it. Short, sweet, to da point.

Ugh, it's hump day...but only two days till Codiak lovin' and bridesmaid dress shopping with some of my life-long lovers! Yesss!

Peace out.

Whilst Working...

...I ran into these delicious images of some pretty sweet desks.
If only my cubicle could rival these bad boys...

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Secret armoire desk. Top notch, especially the orange phone. Ring-a-ding brilliant.

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Love the wallpaper. Love the round mirror. Love the turquoise accent pieces and the little baby second shelf on the left.

Hate the weird cone statue thing. wtf?

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Pink inspiration board of goodness. And I spy a horse photo. Bonus points!

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This weeping willow thing would sit on my desk and delight my senses till death.

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I think I really just like the painted white floors here. Yum.

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Cultured British map? Check. Spindly white chair? Check and check.

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Sooo much going on...but I love it. LIVE WHAT YOU LOVE, duh. Plus, the pillows/lamp/chair are amazeballs.

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I'm becoming a tiny bit obsessed with random collections of framed things. I especially love the fish in this one. And the bust. And of course, I lovvveeee the flowers and blue vase. Perfecto!

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Aaaaand this is what my chair will look like. Classy with a capital C.

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But really, truly, this is where I wish my office was. Swinging in the trees. Lovelovelovelovelovelovelove.
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Humptidy Dump Day...T-2.5 days till Codiak lovin' and the beach weekend....!