Looking for inspiration for little boy room

I'm consistently thinking about how to better rooms and get organized. One room I think about is my 5 yo son, Jackson's bedroom. He has this hutch/changing table that is suppose to convert to storage but it's huge. And, of course he can't reach the upper cabinets. I've been back and forth with built in drawers/shelves that flank the window in his room. And, a desk or a sitting bench to go under the window. Here's a few inspiring designs:

1. I think this one is my favorite. Looks so cozy! The drawers would serve as his dresser for clothes to eliminate the need for a space taking dresser.

2. I like this one too. Interesting to have open shelving under the sitting area. Could use it for easy to reach books or baskets for toys.

3. This one is more fancy and I'd simplify the lines. I'm more looking at the wood boarding above the window (I'm sure that has some name.) I think it makes the built in seem more of a unit but maybe a bit too much.

4. I like the book style shelves. I could do one side of the window in this style of shelving. But, will that carry to the teen years?

5. Obviously, this is way girlie. It's the only one I could find with a desk under the window instead of a sitting area.

What your favorite? Desk or sitting area? It'll be there FOREVER! I need it to carry though his needs now and future. Thoughts?

Planning a party....hooray!

I'm taking full advantage of my daughter's 3rd birthday on July 2nd! What an awesome time of year for a birthday...my son asks me often, "why does Julia get fireworks for her birthday?" Poor guy with the middle of harsh winter February birthday... although he was due on Valentine's day but he was just to coozy and stayed 6 extra days! But, onward to the party planning:)

Tomorrow I'm meeting up with some very special gals for dinner at Baker's Crust which just so happens to be at our super mall. So, I'm taking full advantage and going early for some much need party supplies. I plan on hitting Crate and Barrel for these:

Food tents, super cool save the environment plates, and party tub for adult beverages

Then, head to pottery barn for my drinking dispenser or 2

Looking forward to fun shopping and great dinner!

Blogging adds to my to-do list

I haven't been blogging lately. I think we all go through spells that just need to take a break so I did. I still find that I'm compelled to read my blog roll daily. I even get excited to see what everyone's doing. But, it does come at a cost! I usually spot things that I mentally filing into my to-do list. So, I thought I'd share that list...

1. Wine barrel planter. Centsational Girl is amazing!!! I don't know where she finds the time to do all the things she does but this one speaks to me! It's probably because I'm a fan of wine and flowers:) Can you believe she made this!

2. I can't really blame a certain blog but I'm going to stencil a back splash in my kitchen. I was going to tile but my husband is convinced that we'll redo our kitchen and layout in the next few years. So, why waste the money but why wait to make this the way you want them. Stenciling is my compromise. I'll use the existing deep tan wall color and then pull another lighter beige for the 2nd color. Here's a preview in blue.

3. Also, I going to stencil my downstairs 1/2 bath. It's a nice neutral that I just painted (it was a green color called thyme which I have upstairs). I'm debating on using a light tan as the second color so it's a soft look or go bold and use a dark brown. I worried about the dark brown because of the size of the bathroom. Here's a preview. I have the same print on my ottoman in the ajoining family room so I thought it'd pull things together. Yes, I'm obsessive!!

4. Ok, this isn't a project but more of a treasure hunt. I have a dining room with a large window and I'm looking for two corner cabinets to flank it. I'll have extra storage - bonus! and it'll help make the room cozy. Miss Mustard Seed has them in her dining room.

5. Beefing up the porch for party time:) I've move our old eat-in kitchen table to the porch and have bought a bench to accompany it. I found these retro cast iron chairs that I was going to sell. But once I painted them red, they're staying! Here's some must haves:

Pottery Barn

Fun chili pepper lights - this was actually my husband's added touch

Outdoor drink/food buffet. This ones from PB has the right look but I'll hopefully find a more rustic, cheaper piece.

So, that's my inspired to-do list. It's fun to have this kind of list! What's on your list?

Vintage vanity turned distressed desk with chair

I completely forgot a before of the chair but it was just boring brown with ugly fabric and now it's fabulous floral:) I like it pairs beautifully with the desk I distressed. The desk was an auction find and has and attachable trifold mirror to serve as a vanity.

Before

Before... I do love that nature distressed look.

After

After of that one side... looked amazing with the paint. Love me some chalk paint! Used old white chalk paint by Anne Sloan and sanded the top and stained it dark walnut. And, of course, clear wax on it all.

After with some dark wax to make the key holes and pulls look well used.

Paired with the chair

The pulls were amazing untouched.

For a finishing touch, I lined the drawers with decorative contact paper. This is in our space and it's looking for a home:)

Second Life Furnishings is open for business!!

It's official! Today, my friend, Deb and I opened our booth at Heritage Antiques on Staples Mill in VA. That's Deb and my daughter, Julia as we set up and tagged/priced all our goods. It's so exciting!!! Now, fingers crossed that we start selling stuff because we actually have enough things to fill a space 3x this size!

Yes, it's a bit cluttered but we have to get it in to sell. Our game plan is to rotate some things if stuffs not moving.

I'm in love with that white wing chair Deb reupholstered! She's amazing!! She's never been taught - just decided one day that she could do it and boy, can she!

I'm the painter. I get a little frustrated with fabric.

Wish us luck:)

Escape to Luckett's

It's been 2 weekends ago that my friend, Deb and I escaped for a night to go to the Luckett's Antiques Fair. It was really amazing to see all the different things that a variety of vendors have to offer. We weren't the only ones excited to go (as I first photo is the line waiting to get in).

We were some of the first to arrive so some vendor were still putting on the finishing touches. Above and below are pictures of Miss Mustard Seed's goods. She is by far my favorite blogger to read and get inspiration from.

After several hours at the fair, we headed to Leesburg for ice cream and hit a couple shops. What a gorgeous little historic town! I'll be back!