Favorite Projects of 2010

As we come to an end in 2010, I thought I'd look back at a few of my favorite projects that we completed in 2010 here at Tea Party.

Our biggest, but probablly the most rewarding...our kitchen remodel, which only cost around $700, but was completed with some sweat and tears.

An ottoman that we built from scratch, inspired by a Restoration Hardware find.

And lastly, a long work in progress, Teagan's big girl room.

 Wishing you all a blessed and happy New Year! I am so thankful to all of my readers and I can't wait to see what 2011 brings!!

New Love List

Have you seen some of the new items that Ballard Designs is carrying? I can think of so many places to use any of these...

Looks like their jumping on the chesterfield sofa bandwagon...georgous as always.

Loving this new fabric, which they used for a duvet set here, french grain sack seems to be becoming a classic...and with such neutral colors, this could go with so many color variations...

This new fabric...the classic blue and paisley, but with so many colors, you could accent so much from this. Creamy white, yellows, greens and rich browns...yummy!

A burlap covered bulletin board with nail head trim. I just finished a project similar to this for my new office space, so I'll be sharing that with a tutorial shortly.

What are you loving from the new Ballard Designs collection as they bring in the new year?

Classic and Refined

That's what the furniture company calls this collection..."Classy, refined and comfortable. That's the style. Offers detailed stitching and extra deep seating. Whether you've had a hard day on the range or in the office..." I'm not usually such a cleche person with these sort of things, but because it seems to fit the bill of our home and family so much, I would have to agree.
Remember the creamy white sectional we ordered last year? The one I just got designing around in our family room? Well, it's heading down the road. Not that I don't love the look of the creamy white and the sectional with the large ottoman gave us such ample lounging space, but I am going to go against the grain and state that "I do not love slipcovers"...They are such a chore to keep clean. Oh yes, I hear the "their so simple, you just remove and launder"...but I am tired of laundering them so often and if you don't, they just start to look dingy and dirty. Especially when you have 2 dogs and a toddler that will have some remaining chocolate cookie on her hand and voila!...it's dirty again. First I'd have to admit that removing and putting slips on and off is not a 5 minute thing. Either is the laundering, because you never want to fully dry them or they may shrink or change shape.  I'm too neurotic or just plain lazy, but this sofa has been the worst upkeep I've ever had on any of our furniture. But most of all, I'd like to point out that since I got the slipcovered sofa, when people enter my home and sit down, they all have this "am I going to ruin it" look on their face...not the atmosphere I want my home to have.  I am NOT against white however, I still love our creamy kitchen cabinets and snuggle in oh so lovely in our white duvet and bedding. But, onto leather it is...

I searched high and low for the sofa I wanted (since Restoration Hardware's $4,000 pricetag for my ultimate dream chesterfield was out of the question) and finally concluded with this one. I love the brown leather tone, the stitching and it's oh so comfortable. Yes, it is real leather, but it has a coating on it you can't see or feel, that protects the leather from stains and your body oils that may discolor. We in fact know someone who has had this exact sofa for going on 6 years now, and it has held up beautifully.  I wanted something classic, that would go with us through the years...and my different design tastes.  And no we didn't get the complete set (a designer's nightmare if you want character), just the sofa and recliner for dear hubby and to make a great reading nook. The remainder of the seating will be brought in using different pieces and fabrics.


I can't wait to redesign the family room...ONCE AGAIN...this time with more of a classic, library feel...ultimately fit for this family. 

Office Organizing

That's what I've been busy doing on my vacation time. I started to convert a one bedroom office to consist only in the corner nook off the dining room. Baby #2 has called for its own room and space. The desk has been refinished (pictures soon I promise) and most of it has been completed. The chair has yet to be reupholstered, but that wasn't top of the priority list. But I am really pleased with how its coming along. Although I wish for a space like pictured here, it just isn't feasible anymore with that bedroom needing a different use.  But I can use what I have to work with...

May Your Holidays Be Bright

May your home be filled with the love and laughter of loved ones... and may your home be filled with the love of Christ during this holiday time of year.

I'm checking out for a few days to celebrate Christmas with my loved ones, some far and some near. 

May you and your loved ones have a very Merry Christmas!

Images via Southern Living

Dining Table & Pics

Today my new dining table is *supposed* to be delivered today, but because we are having mountain snow storm warnings again, we'll see if this really comes in. I am so excited to work some new chairs into this table...the ones pictures were a little much for me, not to mention I'm not a fan of matchy matchy.

Counting down to Christmas!...

Dining Room Update

So the new dining table has been ordered, but as usual, has been pushed back in shipping. That's ok though, since I still haven't decided what dining chairs to pair with it. I am so torn, because I would really love some comfortable, plush seating, but with a toddler and a (ahem) husband, this just is not very realistic if I want low maintenance and for it to stay nice for a while. My dear hubby would really like leather, but they are such an added cost, I keep steering away from them for the momemt.

So how about you, what dining chairs do you have at your table?

In the meantime, I'm loving some inspiration...

Images via John Saladino, Southern Living, Zolden Interiors

Lonny Inspiration

I'm sure most of you have had a chance to see the new Lonny December Edition that came out last week. If not, be sure to check it out, it has some great inspiration and this month I was especially inspired by the JCrew store feature. Although my husband is far from JCrew, I was in love with their philosophy of natural, refined rustic masculinity that they use to design their store fronts for the men's line. This is the direction I have been wanting to go with for the nursery of our up and coming #2. The colors, the texture...it's speaking to me.

A mix of wood, greyish background, simple frames with unually framed items, masculine light fixtures...

Grey scale of colors, mixed with natural wood tones, leather and texture, texture, texture!

 You really can find inspiration anywhere, whether it be from a magazine article, fashion or right our your front door. Look around and see what and where you are drawn to...this may surprise you...but it will give you some inspiration to bring into your home and because it was your natural instinct to be drawn to it...you will love being surrounded by it in your home.



Its A ....!

Since Miss T was born 8 weeks early, they've put me on high risk pregnancy this time around. Another words, their just making me go through the hoops to see if there is any reason I went early last time and to see if there is any way they may be able to prevent it this next time around.

So because of this, a 4D ultrasound was taken vs. the average 2D.  Here's an AMAZING picture of our little one at 20 weeks, weighing 12 oz.!

You can see its facial features starting to form and its arms are up along side of the head on both sides.

And it was more than willing to show us...

It's A Boy!!

Now off to start designing the nursery around a boy!!



Desk Project

Since we'll need what is the now office for the nursery for the new baby, my office will be moved to the corner nook in the dining room. While I was trying to find a desk small enough to fit into this space (and am extrememly sad I can't use my current West Elm parsons desk) I really was trying to be cost effective about this as possible. Since my parents just relocated to South Padre Island, my mom no longer had use for her sewing machine desk. So, I decided to paint it the same color as the above shelving and kitchen cabinets, to create a more custom built in design. Here's a sneek of what the desk looked like before, with the after coming soon...

Adding Trim to Curtain Panels

Remember when I was all excited about getting my new ironing board cover and mentioned that I was adding some trim to my curtain panels? I did finish them, and here is the finished product...

I know that last picture is terrible lighting, but I couldn't get it to be any better, even with camera adjustments while it was facing the direct light from the window. I originally made these panels from painter's drop cloth. They are such a perfect weight, color and they insulate well, but I thought they needed a little more. I purchased some grosgrain ribbon from Joann's and for a couple of dollars, I succeeded in updating the existing panels. I used the iron on hemming tape so it was EASY to attach!

Metal Finish Sunburst Mirror Tutorial

Thank you for the great comments and emails on the living room redesign! I wanted to share the metal finish that was applied to the sunburst mirrors. After Janell over at Isabella & Max Rooms shared her tutorial for her metal looking letters, I decided to attempt this on the sunburst mirrors (Homegoods to the rescue again)!

The light golden wood finish had to be changed...

First, a coat of black paint was put on...

Then some metallic paint from Ralph Lauren was painted on and ragged in to look "aged"...

And the finished project...

I love how the wood already had the indentions, they made it easy to add the depth. The only think I did different, was not adding the burnt orange/brown coloring at the end. I didn't have any on hand and I thought I can always add it later if needed. Right now, I'm letting them sit on the wall as is and see how they feel.  Let me know if you have any questions!

Family Room Redesign

I finally wrapped up the family room redesign this weekend. Well, as far as wrapped up or completed can be in a decorator's home :).  We are toying with the idea of going to leather furniture, which would be a better fit for our lifestyle, but are just not sure when the finances will be for this. I'm ordering a new dining table this month, so that will be first priority. And then off to the nursery for baby #2! So after tweeking a few things, adding building some DIY items (tutorials coming up soon) and waiting for some things to arrive in the mail...here it is...

The lighting in this shot is terrible, but the natural lighting couldn't be helped, even with other adjustments to the camera...

See the picture on the left? That was my husband and I's first home when we were first married...the bunkhouse...



Hope you all had a great holiday weekend!

Linking up to these fabulous sites: The DIY Showoff, Somewhat Simple Remodelaholic The Shabby Nest Thrifty Decor Chick