Purple

When we think of the colors of fall, we usually think of bright, deep shades of orange paired with greens and golds.  My favorite fall color though is purple--call it plum if you prefer!  I think it is such a nice compliment to the more traditional fall colors.  It can be a struggle to work purple into your home without it seeming juvenile, though.  Here are a few photos featuring perfect examples of how to bring a beautiful purple into your home and maintain a chic and sophisticated feel to the room.

{All images via decorpad.com}

Baby Margo

I've been MIA for some time now.  More on that later, but I couldn't wait any longer to share our baby girl with all of you. 

Margo Cate joined us on August 7, 2012 weighing in at 7lbs., 4 ozs and 19 3/4 inches long.  She will be 10 weeks old tomorrow and is such a blessing.  She keeps us very busy, and we love every minute of it!

Newborn photos are by Erin Woolsey of EE Photography!

My baby brain seems to finally be going away and my creative juices are starting to flow again.  Hopefully, I'll be back to regular blogging very soon!

The Starting Point and a Sneak Peak

One of my big projects lately is the nursery.  Rather than share it step-by-step, I thought I would wait until it's almost finished before I share.  I wanted to show you the starting point, though.  This is one of our upstairs guest rooms that I really used more for my own personal room.  It held all of my sewing stuff, old college and law school stuff, and just about anything else that didn't have a home anywhere else in our house.  And, as you can obviously see, I never really got around to decorating it~

I wanted to share a sneak peak of what we have going so far, though~

I've tried to break my decorating up into two phases: Phase 1 being furniture and large items, Phase 2 being accessories and the finishing touches.  As of Saturday, our chair is ordered and we're on to Phase 2...but if you read the blog regularly, you know that's where I struggle.  I'm excited about this struggle, though!

I have a few DIY projects planned for the nursery, as well.  I'll share them as I tackle them in the next few weeks!

Backyard Updates

Time seems to be flying by.  I thought I'd recently posted, but then I noticed that it's been almost 3 weeks!  Ooops!

Our first big project of 2012 was our back patio cover.  This is where we started on demo day~

When we first looked at our house (almost 3 years ago), it was one of those moments when we just thought, "Wow!  A covered patio.  Awesome!" and didn't really look at the detail of it.  The first time it rained, though, we realized it leaked all of the way through.  Some choice words may have been uttered at that moment...   

Then we realized it seemed to be done differently than other awnings.  It was basically rigged together by people who didn't really know what they were doing.  Last spring when we had the bad hail damage, we had all of the roofing contractors give us their opinion on it.  It was confirmed.  It was crap.  And it wasn't something we could fix (professionally or DIY).  It would have to be replaced.  New large patio roofs are not cheap. 

Then this became noticable~

Yep.  It was falling in on us.  After we simmered on all of that info for a few months, we started the estimate process and got things going.

Always talk to multiple contractors and get bids when doing a project.  Check sources like the Better Business Bureau website and Angie's List.  We chose the third contractor we interviewed.  The company had great reviews and a great book of work.  It's worth sharing, though, that our first contractor's bid was 100% higher than our end cost and our second contractor's bid was over 50% higher than our end cost.  That's why it's good to get multiple bids, folks!

The old roof came down and the new roof went up in a matter of about 6 hours.  It turned out that those old ugly white prom columns weren't bolted to the ground or the roof.  One big blow to one of them and the whole thing would have caved in...

Here is where we ended up~

Much better!  I'm toying with having them restain it a darker brown.  I think that would look better with our house.  What do you think?

We also still have to have the electric rehung.  I haven't decided if I want lights or fans.  I would love to do some hanging pendant lights, but the wind in Texas is fierce so I'm not sure that would work. 

Next up we had to relandscape the back flower bed...it sort of got fried last summer.  Hopefully, I can get pictures of it up early next week.

Happy Weekend!

Fun and Funky Bedding

When I'm shopping online for bedding, I usually start with sources like Pottery Barn, West Elm and The Company Store.  I always forget to check out what Garnet Hill has to offer in their Bedding & Home Collection!  They have a great selection of sheets, quilts, comforters, towels and rugs.  They carry a great neutral line by Eileen Fisher and a fun, beachy line by Lilly Pulitzer.

Here are a few of my favorites that I found on their website recently.  I think this would all be great to add a fun punch of color to a space~

Elementary Comforter and Sham

Mini-Print Percale Bedding

Garnet Hill Beach Towel Collection

Printed Canvas Storage Bins

They also have lots of great neutrals and classic pieces!

Have you ever bought anything from the Garnet Hill Bedding & Home Collection?  Does it have a good quality?  Would you recommend it?

My Biggest Project Yet

As much as I love design and blogging, I'm soon going to have to share my time.  I am excited to let you guys know that our family is growing!  We're expecting a baby girl in early August.  And, yes, nursery plans are already in full swing.  I'll be sharing more of them in the coming weeks. 

While I've actually felt pretty good so far (we're almost 19 weeks), it hasn't come without its issues.  I'm a nervous mom-to-be.  So for all of you that are the praying kind, I'd appreciate if you'd remember us from time to time during this journey.

Hopefully, my brain will kick back into blog mode soon.  I know I've been a slacker!

My Fiddle Leaf Fig vol. 2

We went from this~

To this~

I really don't know what happened.  We watered them properly and they got great filtered sunlight.  Granted, they were from Home Depot, not a nursery, and they were cheap.  The leaves did have some dead spots on them when we brought them home.  Eric thinks they were doomed from the start.  I'm so disappointed...to the extent that I obviously can't bear to just throw the wretched things out.  Has anyone else completely failed to keep a plant alive?  Any pointers?

I was just checking out some of the recent additions to decorpad.com and came across a new-to-me designer: Sally Wheat.  Sally is a young talent based out of Houston.  I hope to see more of her work in the future!  Here are some of my favorites~

You know I love those Amanda Talley prints above the fireplace!

And, my favorite room... 

Some of the same fabrics as my living room and love the layered rugs!  If only I was so chic!

And, that's the chandelier that I've been eyeing for my dining room for months now. 

If only I could save up the extra money to buy it!

Back from Vacation! St. John, USVI

Last week my brother, my husband and I spent a week in St. John in the US Virgin Islands.  We also made our way over to Tortola, Norman Island and Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands.  Here are some pictures of the highlights of our trip.  We stayed at the Grande Bay Condos on Cruz Bay, but I forgot to take pictures of them!  It was a great week and nice to soak up some sun.

Trunk Bay, St. John, USVI

Road Town, Tortola, BVI

The Caves, Norman Island, BVI

Pirates Bight, Norman Island, BVI

The Willy T--a floating bar and restaurant

Not my boat...  it was insane.  Our boat captain estimated that it's probably worth $40-50 Million.

Soggy Dollar Bar, Jost Van Dyke, BVI

Bordeaux Mountain over looking Coral Bay, St. John, USVI

Maho Bay, St. John, USVI

Maho Bay, St. John, USVI

Trunk Bay, St. John, USVI

Cruz Bay, St. John, USVI (our condo is in the center)

Curl up by the fireplace

After returning from a very warm vacation, these 30 degree temperatures in Dallas are quite chilly!  Makes me want to curl up in front of the fireplace.  Here are a few I wouldn't mind having in my home~

{all images via decorpad.com}