Old house, new life.

The big news is that we bought a house. Our very first house to be exact. We've been hard at work sprucing and painting and tiling and refinishing the last couple of months and it is all starting to come together. Now to the really fun part, furniture! 

Our little house had charm from the get go, but she definitely needed a makeover to hold her own in our historical neighborhood. I wanted to go with a fresher color palette and clean up the yard. We rebuilt the columns and pulled down the ivy that was taking over. 

Here is our little house getting ready for a brand new roof. 

Here is our little house now! It is amazing what pulling out some bushes and a few cans of paint can do. We're still in need of landscaping and plan on building a railing on either side of the front porch, but all in all, our house has a brand new look. 

And just because I know you will ask, here are the details on the house :

Built in the 1940s, lots of original features still intact

1900 square feet

4 bedrooms

2 bathrooms

House color is Martha Stewart Magnetite

Door color is Benjamin Moore Cloudy Sky

Get ready for some adventures in home renovation and lots of good before and afters!

marble

I just spent all day looking at marble for a very exciting project I've been working on. 

I can't wait to tell you all about it on Monday! It's been a very long couple of weeks 

and I am in much needed of relaxing weekend and some sleep. 

Have a happy weekend and enjoy the holiday! 

If burgers are on the menu this weekend, here is a recipe for the most amazing burger I have ever tasted. 

If you have ever been to the Shake Shack, you will know what I mean.

spots to shop-Etceteras

Another spot I visited on my trip to California sits right next to the Girard Avenue Collection. 

Etceteras is just as wonderfully styled and full of visual delights, both new and antique.  

Lots and lots of loveliness. Take a look for yourself:

fun outdoor pillows

Aren't these outdoor pillows from WS Home just perfect?

Seriously, they can do no wrong! 

Now to decide which color. I'm loving that orange geometric. 

Tips for decorating with fresh color palettes

My last segment on Studio 5 was about incorporating fresh colors into your home. In case you missed it you can view the segment here. 

Of course we all know that the days when maroon and hunter green were the go to colors for the home are long gone. Let's face it, we're not in the 80's anymore, but it can be hard to know where and how to start updating your look. Here are a few fresh color combos that will add a little spice to your life. 

The key these days is a good dose of something unexpected. You can have a relatively neutral room, but still incorporate a dose of color and make it sing. Try thinking outside the box when you're considering color combinations for a space. You might be surprised how something daring can really elevate a room. 

Green + Blue:

Fresh preppy and crisp. A true kelly green will play it safe, but if you're feeling bold, try pairing a limey shade of chartreuse in the mix.  

cc interiors

domino

yellow + green:

Young and fresh. More muted tones can create a very warm 

and earthy look. Bright ones scream happy and fun. 

cc interiors

cc interiors

orange +blue:

This combo is not for the faint of heart, but it can create a vibrant feeling in a room. For a more traditional look, try using varying shades of blue paired with a subtle orange or red. This match would be darling for a boy's room.

sara story

unknown

tobi fairley

Robyn Karp

pink + green:

Cute and fun. Be careful not to take this over the top or your room might start looking like a barbie commercial. Both these shades have a wide color range that can be adapted to suit the needs of the space. This combo can be fun or sophisticated depending what tones your use in your space. 

Palmer Weiss

cc interiors

robin's egg + red:

Classic and cool. The doses of each color will determine the impact, so this is a great option if you want to go a little subtler. 

Tobi Fairley

Ashley Whittaker

unknown

Anne Coyle

yellow + gray:

In case you haven't heard, grey is hot these days. 

A yellow takes it to a masculine and vibrant place. 

coastal living

unknown

design sponge

bargain tufted chair

I'm always looking for great chairs at an affordable price. 

Stylish ones can be hard to find.  I was so delighted to stumble upon this tufted option, 

The Plymouth Wellesly Chair  when I was doing some research for a client.

 Such a great price and it looks like it would cost much more

Of course I can't wait to use it for a client! 

Spots to shop-Girard Avenue Collection

One of my favorite stores sits on a darling little corner in the design district of La Jolla. While we were on our trip to California, I was lucky enough to pop in and snap some pretty shots to share with all of you. The Girard Avenue Collection is an antique mall of sorts, but any design junkie will love it for it's darling vignettes and wonderful one of a kind items. They seem to have mastered the perfect blend of organization and whimsy. And the staff couldn't be nicer.

The next time you are in Southern California, it is well worth a visit. 

When we lived in La Jolla I would pop in almost once a week just to see the changing displays.

If you're planning a visit, The Girard Avenue Collection is located at 7505 Girard Avenue in La Jolla, California.You can reach them by phone at 858-459-7765

Stay tuned tomorrow for another great store.