designed: plaster walls

After we finished the floors, we moved on to the walls. This is my first time living in a house with plaster walls, and they crack... a lot... 

I tried hanging a piece of art on the wall right when we moved in and the hole just kept getting bigger and bigger... and then I quit. Turns out I was using the wrong kind of nail. Plaster nails are sharper and another trick I learned is to put a thumbprint of oil ( I used olive oil because its what I had on hand ) on the wall and then a piece of tape over the oil where you want to put the nail. That works pretty well, fyi

Anyway, we hired a handy man to patch all the cracks; the cracks I made and the ones that were already there. Here is our Mr. Fix It working away... it twas a DUSTY DUSTY mess of job. 

 Here are some of the paint colors I'm considering for the inside and outside of the house. For the living and dining rooms I went with Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter on the walls, Benjamin Moore White Dove on the ceiling and Decorators White on the trim. I want to use an inky navy for the front door, and grey for the lower part of the house outside. The greens are possible kitchen colors and the blue is for the bathroom... I think, unless I change my mind again...

That's all for today chickadees. xoxo Lea Hart

designed: hardwood floors

Before we moved in, we decided the carpet had to go. The day the previous tenants moved out, we started pulling up the wall to wall and prayed that the floor would be in decent condition. Here is what the place looked like just after we thew all the old carpet into the porch.

 It was pretty easy to do. The time consuming part was pulling up like a million little staples... but its pretty mindless and with some good tunes and cold beers, its not too bad.

 I swept up and they cleaned up pretty nicely. They were actually in excellent condition! There were 2 small spots that had very minimal water damage, and the boards were simply replaced. Now these puppies are ready to get stripped and stained.

 So, one of the perks of being an Interior Designer, is that we work with the best trades people. Premier Floors is one such gem, and they sent over a crew of guys, the sanded down the whole first floor and called me to come over when it was time to pick a color. I wanted to go dark, but not too dark. I didn't want the floors to look dated in a few years. I also wanted some drama. So I went with the stain on the top right. Rich Walnut. This is our test patch in the Dining Room.

And now... Taaa Daaaa! Don't they look beyond gorgeous?!?!? I love love love them. I think they make the room look so much bigger and richer...and walnutier...
BEHOLD the Living Room

and the Dining Room... pretty much a blank slate...

before...

after... soo muuuuuch better, right? 

Moral of this little story? Fear not the dark stains, because they look freaking awesome. 

xoxo y'all

the New House Saga

And so it begins...
We moved into our new house last week! I've been obsessing about it since we moved from NYC. Its a great house in an amazing location. Arlington is where its at, just check this out 
It's a bit different from Bushwick, eh? Moving from a small apartment in NYC to a 2 story house is going to be a crazy, fun, time consuming, awesome adventure.


Before we even moved in we took up the wall to wall carpeting. This is what the house looked like pre-move in. Sorry for the blurry photo, I'm standing with my back to the front door looking into the Dining Room and beyond into the Kitchen.

This is from our Dining Room and the archway leads to the Bathroom and 2 almost identical Bedrooms on either side. And randomly, there was a Tide bottle left behind...the small door next to the Tide leads down to an unfinished basement where the laundry is.

 Bedroom #1 - currently the storage room

 
 Another view from Bedroom #1, notice the tiiiiiny closet...

Bedroom #2 - kinda hard to tell the difference... We are actually using this room as our Master Bedroom. It's not the biggest bedroom but we don't have a TV in this room or any other distractions, so its going to be our cozy moody (with the new paint colors) little cocoon. The main reason why we didn't pick the largest bedroom with the en suite bathroom, is because we wanted to make that whole are our home offices.

This is the upstairs Office. Its actually a converted attic space with 3 different sections under the eaves. The left side is M's domain. We are going to build in an 8 foot long desk with moveable storage solutions underneath. I thought this was the best use of a narrow, probably otherwise unused, area. The stairs lead down to the Kitchen.

This is the middle section of the Office, we are going to put a sofa and chair up here. The small doors lead to a large, short closet.

This picture is pretty bad too, but this area is my office. I'll have my giant antique drafting table and I've already started to "merchandise" my shelves into my very own paper store! Eeek!

I'll save the bathrooms and Kitchen for tomorrow. If you want to see my ideas for the house check out my Pintrest NEW HOUSE IDEAS board.

xo Lea

entertained: Yelle

J'avoir l'obsession de Yelle! So obsessed with Ce Jeu, or "This Game"  :)

catchy, eh? 


xoxo Lea

loved: settling in and the fam

So we have been in Virginia for a little over six months. It has been quite a change form NYC. I miss the big apple, but I wouldn't change it. Life a little further South is pretty good.

I got to meet my sweet little Selah recently as well. That little girl is just so smiley and happy. I think she has her Mother's temperament. She has this adorable thing she does, she tilts her head sideways when she is looking at you...                       

I gotta say, it was love at first sight. Je t'adore. 

Since we are on the topic of the little loves of my life... look how big my Ethan has gotten! He is all boy, but he has such a sensitive caring heart. He loves his Mama and Daddy and his sister and the new Baby in the way! Love you, E-man.

And then there is Gabi, well this little little one... well she is a girl after my own heart. She is a loud crazy redhead, who loves cheetos and cats, sparkly things and "whip gloss". She is my love.

I guess I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the "other" children... two of my sisters have blessed our family with these these awesome little humans, but some of us have little ones of the four legged variety. Not quite the same, but we love these little monsters. 

There are some other kids who are pretty special to us too... 

I guess I just felt like spreading the love today. My mom once said, when my sisters and I were growing up and fighting like sister often do, that we should be nicer to each other, because when we grow up we will be each others best friends. Well, Mom, you were right....  ;) 

When I take the time to think about all the ways my life is blessed, all I can think is 

God is good 

and 

Love is a BIG Deal.  

xoxo, Lea Hart

Happy Valentine's Day

Source: carrieandersonphoto.blogspot.com via Lea on Pinterest

12 by 2012

close, but no cigar...I've always wanted to work that phrase in.
So, lets see how far I've gotten on my list of goals...

1) organize my Etsy shop -  epic fail. nothing. I really need to get it organized, but in my defense, I'm changing my name and rephotographing my work... so its a veeery slow work in progress.

2) host housewarming party! - we did, and it was super fun, y'all. 

3) meet my adorable new niece - FRIDAY! I cannot wait! I mean just look at how adorable cute this one is! Her Mama took this one- she is telling her blankie a secret... 

4) be a regular blogger, at LEAST once a week - well, I got really busy over the holidays? Yeah, I'm back on the wagon again.

5) go all out decorating for the holidays this year, because I haven't had a front door or a porch to decorate in years!   The house looked pretty... but next year will be bigger and better

6) sponsor a child through Bright Point for Children if you want to read about my sister's trip to Cambodia this summer it might inspire you to sponsor a child in need too - M and I sponsored a little girl from Mexico, she is such a cutie! And we are still wanting to host a "NIGHT IN" to raise money to help support an organization that is helping to feed these kids!  

7) start the LOVE IS A BIG DEAL project   God planted the seed for this amazing idea and I can't wait to spread the LOVE y'all.  ok I think I'm a little scared to start this and I need a little push here... yeah... still needing that push. I listened online to This One Thing from Buckhead Church, my old church in Atlanta, a few weeks ago and it really resonated with me. So, perhaps this is my great work. I need to remind myself that this is what God wants me to focus on. And... LOVE is a big deal

9) find a new church - we have been attending Grace Community Church and we both really like it! Let me know if you want to come with us sometime!

10) learn how to make my Mom's date nut bread for Christmas - I did it! And its pretty easy and so delicious. I will post the recipe for y'all too.

11) explore our Nation's Capital, my new hometown! - I've been to a few MORE fun places, but there is lots more to see! 

12) plan honeymoon + update M and my passports - We are thinking two mini honeymoons. The beach for a few days like next month and then Paris in the Fall! AHHHHH PARIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Source: hannahsdore.tumblr.com via Hannah on Pinterest

xo Lea

designed: Holiday Pinspiration

Pinspiration- I'm pretty sure thats a word... I seem to be daily Pintrest-inspired, especially now that its officially Christmas time.  Shhhh, don't tell my sisters, I've been "cheating" and listening to my Pandora Christmas stations for a while now! And so my holiday pins have really started add up. I'd love for y'all to look at all the pretties on my boards, but I think this right now I going to show you the ones I think I'm going to actually do this year. Like this one, I just want to put these little guys everywhere.

Source: weheartit.com via Lea on Pinterest

I love the way this little present is packaged, simple and natural, with a bit of shine. I usually wrap all my presents in kraft paper but I like the contrast either way.

Source: google.nl via Lea on Pinterest

These are totally going to be on the porch, en masse. I'm thinking 3 or 5... :)

Source: nedesignbuild.com via Lea on Pinterest

I love this table setting, and I've got tons of pinecones!

Source: redredcompletelyred.blogspot.com via Lea on Pinterest

I've already started on this for the stairs in the front hall. I'm not using a bunch of colors, just a glittery silver and a steely colored satin ribbon. Its gonna be so cool. I'll show y'all when I'm finished.

Source: junkgardengirl.blogspot.com via Lea on Pinterest

And lastly, since this is a reality based Christmas decor post and my unlimited time/budget dream... I think I will try to make these too.

Source: projectwedding.com via Lea on Pinterest

If I manage to do all these I will be a happy camper and our home will be warm and sparkly for the Holidays. Cheers!
xoxo Lea Hart