the dirty details of MELROSE

After posting some beautiful detail images of bathrooms, I decided to snap a few pics of Melrose's dirty details. I was searching for a tray for our master bathroom and finally found this rustic, concrete stone to hold a few items. It fits perfectly on the comode (doesn't that sound better than saying toilet!?) and helps fill the negative space on this side of the bathroom. 

Our guest bathroom is much simpler, but I hope to add something else to this area - maybe an antique picture above!? I found these quaint ceramic jars at Scott's Antique Market and this tray at Anthropologie. I love the gold accents! I'll share more full pictures of the bathroom soon ... especially since I painted it Newburg green ...

BACKYARD PROJECT: update #3

Now that you have seen the construction of the fireplace and arbor, the last major overhaul of the backyard project was to remove all existing ground cover and lay new sod. I don't know whose bright idea it was to install our new sod when temperatures in Alabama are in the triple digits, but so be it. I just hope we can keep enough water on it to not dry out! Lets keep our fingers crossed. 

Down to the nitty gritty!

 tea olives along fence have been planted - these will eventually grow together to create a privacy hedge

plants and flowers have been lined up in the beds

gardenias along the back, hostas and lambs ear scattered along front, and a few peony plants in the front

And then ... 

No more pea gravel!

Now it's down to the furniture, lighting, and some odds and ends. Some of you that follow me on instagram may have seen a sneak peek, but I will post final pictures in the next few weeks - just waiting on a few items to call it complete! What do you think so far? Remember the before ...

SO much better, right!? I can't wait to enjoy our new yard! Thanks for following the progress - final post to come!

BACKYARD PROJECT: update #2

The pergola is up! What do you think? I wanted a basic pergola with just one tier of top slats and arched corner brackets to spice it up. I think the size is perfect. We centered it in front of the fireplace, but left a little of the patio uncovered so there is still room to pull some lounge chairs into the sun for those early (and late) summer months when you can actually stand the heat. Here's how it all went down:

Now we are on floor level - removing the current grass and pea gravel, planting, and laying new sod! It is slowly, but surely, coming together! I'll post another update asap. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

BACKYARD PROJECT: before

Melrose's backyard project has just kicked off and before I show you updates along the way, I wanted to share some before pictures and our final inspiration for the makeover. I know I have posted several inspiration posts over the past year, but I have finally narrowed it down. Here is what I am aiming for:

Now that you know what I have slated for design, here are some pictures of our current backyard so you can put it all together. It will all make sense now!

This picture is taken from standing at the back door off of the kitchen. I am standing on a tiny platform with stairs leading down to the yard (you can see it in other pictures). See all that gravel? Apparently the previous owners used to pull through the side gate (on right) and park back here. We do not use it for parking so all this gravel is being removed and sod is being laid. Can you say bocee ball court?

Same view, but from standing on ground level. Those two existing patios are screaming for some company. The arbor with confederate jasmine will be covering the large, stone patio and the fireplace will sit on the small, concrete pad. I am planning on having a dining set on the left side and a "lounger" on the right side in front of the fireplace.

Standing at the back of the stone patio facing what will be the fireplace. The fireplace should conceal a lot of the neighbor's yard and chain link fence. And, we are planting tea olives along the rest of the fence to create privacy. We are replacing all the current grass with new sod so it will look consistent and hopefully grow in the bare spots. Brandon loves to work in the yard so he is going to have a lot to keep him busy!

There are two large flower beds that we have not done a single thing with since moving in. We just left them 'b' since they needed the soil tilled up and new top soil laid. Too much for me to do! The landscapers are re-aligning the stone walls, making them even along the width of the yard, fixing the stairs, and planting a variety of evergreens and perennials. I decided to plant gardenias along the back for their greenery and lovely smell, then peonies for the cut flowers, and alternating lamb's ear and hostas in the front. I'm excited to finally see some life back here! And between the gardenias, confederate jasmine, and tea olives - the back yard should smell amazing!

Well, that is it! What do you think? I will share an update post asap! And if you follow me on instagram, you have probably all ready seen a sneak peek of the fireplace. We have had a few days of bad weather lately so it has set the project back a day or two, but it is all ready looking great - I can't wait to share the progress with you!

HANDWRITTEN ART

Melrose has an open, narrow wall before the hallway that is dying for a large piece of art. Ideally, I would love a chest for this space for extra storage, or a bench below a piece of art, but anything with depth would protrude into the doorway. Large pieces or original art can be so pricy, so I have been brainstorming a budget friendly idea for this space. I am really thinking about using my calligraphy and painting a large canvas with a special quote. 


Basically the only expense would be the canvas and paint. And, I actually like a lot of the stark white examples, so I would just need black paint and a thick brush. Here are some inspiration images that have sparked this idea.

handwritten quote by alanna cavanagh via the marion house book

alisa burke

via

nate berkus' home via kristen kerr

I quickly (the messier the better!) sketched out my quote and this is my plan:

"May love and laughter light your days, and warm your heart and home. May good and faithful friends be yours, wherever you may roam. May peace and plenty bless your world with joy that long endures. may all life's passing seasons bring the best to you and yours!"
AN OLD IRISH BLESSING

FRONT YARD MAKEOVER

Last weekend Brandon and I decided to overhaul the front yard and replace all the old wood chips with new cedar mulch. Since moving into Melrose we had done nothing more than maintaining the front yard by mowing, planting new flowers, trimming the bushes, etc. so it was time to replace the old ground cover. Most of the wood chips had become mixed with dirt and tree bark and it just looked "dirty". Brandon coaxed me into this full day project by agreeing if we conquer the front yard and make it look nice, then he will be more accepting of my backyard project! So of course, I was in! He didn't have to ask me twice!


Here is Melrose's old wood chips:

 No, that isn't an oversized, out-of-control weed (as Brandon referred to it) in front of our oak tree - it is my lantana that just sprouted its first blooms after this picture was snapped.

 check out our boom box providing our entertainment for the day!

Not only were the wood chips hideous, but the weeds and azaleas were out of control. Everything needed to be pulled, trimmed, or removed! Here is what we left Lowe's with that morning:

35 bags of cedar mulch and we used all but a few bags!

We chose cedar because apparently the scent is a natural insect repellant and in an old house you want to do anything to keep any pests out! It smells so pleasant, especially after a good rain, and slightly reminds me of a hamster cage. Ha. 

So, after five hours of raking (which I have a blister to prove it) and bagging we were ready to lay down the new mulch and it made such a difference! We are so happy with the results and it was definitely worth the long day. Hopefully all this mulch won't intermingle with the dirt too quickly!

What do you think? I really like how the cedar stands out and doesn't seem like dirt from the road. But after this long day of what I thought would just give me a little bit of tan and calorie loss, I ended up having to buy all these products due to a patch of poison ivy on the side of the house! Eek! I'm MUCH better now after I got a steroid shot, but I did look like Will Smith in Hitch for a few days after his allergic reaction ... 

MASTER BEDROOM: sources

Hi all! I have had some interest regarding a few "sources" for our master bedroom so I wanted to share the items in case you are wondering too!

1. THE OVERSIZED FRAMES: I bought these "assemble yourself" frames from our local Hobby Lobby months ago. I snagged them quickly because the gold is no longer sold and they were on sale for $2 each - but they still carry the black. If you don't have a Hobby Lobby in your city, these are very close to what I bought. I also used these same frames for our coral gallery wall in the den and the framed prints above my bar. I find them super easy and convient because you just buy the width and height desired for your picture - it makes framing odd sizes a breeze! I then got my matt board and glass cut from a local shop based on the size of the picture frame. 

2. THE "FAN-DELIER": I purchased it at a local fan shop - Dan's Fan City in Birmingham - and I know it sounds cheesy but it really is a neat store. The owners (and the website) basically walk you through "designing" your own fan from the motor to the blades, down to the the lighting attachment ... the options are endless! 

3. THE LAMPS: I had my mind set on these from the get go and were probably one of the first "new" items in the room. I knew I wanted mirrored lamps with a square shade and luckily I found these at Pier 1 imports. I wish they were still available because they were such a good price and can match any decor. 


If you are curious about any other items, don't hesitate to email me! Thanks again for all the sweet comments and interest in the room! 

INSPIRATION BOARD: melrose's guest bedroom

I know, I know ... you are thinking "Wow, KB just finished her master bedroom and she is all ready moving onto the guest bedroom!?" Well, I am. But I have been thinking about these rooms simultaneously and they are such a process to "complete" that it is fun to bounce back and forth between rooms. So, I have been gathering inspiration and items since I started the master and I am ready to move forward. 


For this guest bedroom, I wanted to do something different since the other guest bedroom is your typical set up with my great grandmother's bedroom suit (pictures to come!). Of course I resorted to pinterest to get my creative juices following and eventually found myself gravitating towards twin beds. This guest room is the smaller of the two so I thought twin beds would be nice for guests, we'd have the option to use one in a nursery, and for kids as they get older. Are you a fan of twin beds? Here are my favorite inspiration images of twin beds.

all image sources via my pinterest board

Way back when, these two pictures below were my inspiration for this room. I love the cream walls and the black iron bed in the first photo - this room influenced me to paint the walls elephant tusk by Benjamin Moore. And I really love the plaid and natural color tones in the second photo (a classic favorite by many I do believe). My final concept has not shifted too far from the photos, except for adding in the twin beds.

 via urban grace

via elle decor

This following photo is what really sold me on my color palette. I love the boldness of the black and white stripes against the natural mossy green and rustic brown tones. I think of it as a mix between the two original inspiration photos. So, my color palette is black, white, cream, olive green, caramel, and gold. I love using whites and creams in a room because of the contrast and variety they add.

Here is my "mock up" of the guest bedroom - top view and front view. Do you like my fake windows!? Ha. Unfortunately, that Wisteria dresser is no longer available so I am on the search for something similar and affordable! Any ideas?

I want to layer the cow hide on top of the jute rug for texture and the metallic gold speckles help add a little "glam" to the room! On the wall directly across from the small dresser with the two lamps will be a long dresser, but that is to be determined at the moment.

 Here are the items I hope to include in the room ... but I still need some accent pieces to decorate! Any suggestions!? 

ONE: twin quatrefoil iron beds

TWO: black and white striped duvet and pillow cases

THREE: plaid accent pillows

FOUR: ivory matelasse coverlet & sham

FIVE: gold curtain rod and rings

SIX: green velvet curtains

SEVEN: herringbone jute rug

EIGHT: beige and gold cow hide rug

NINE: cream ceramic lamp with black drum shade

So, that is my goal. What do you think? I do owe ya'll pictures of the other guest bedroom since I revealed that sneak ... so be on the lookout!