Company Spotlight - Biscuit Home

Have you guys heard of the online site Biscuit Home?  I just recently discovered their store and have quickly become a fan.  They have everything from accessories to decor to baby toys.  The favorite for me though is their bedding.

One thing they offer something that many other stores don't carry, unique and stylish crib sheets.

Hand painted faux bois?!  I would LOVE to use that in a little man's nursery.  Constellations, lilac blooms and don't even get me started on the amazing colors in the Jenny floral sheet...sigh.  I need a nursery to design ASAP.

Aside from the crib sheets, they also make pillows, regular sheets and duvets in the all of the above prints.  And to help you build your own bedding set, they offer pillows, sheets and duvets with border trim in nearly every color of the rainbow so you can easily find the perfect match for your needs.  Here are just a few:

The pillows come in all different shapes and sizes--boudoir, standard sham and Euro sham.  Each is made of 350 thread-count 100% cotton sateen and made in the USA.  Are you sold yet?

No?  One more awesome thing about this company (based out of Houston, Texas) is that they have signature prints as well. Look at this one called Marfa (a nod to the Texas town).

Pretty cute, huh?  And just because I love stripes, I have to show you these Powell stripe pillows too (also offered in crib sheets or a duvet).

So good.  TGIF!

And don't forget to enter our giveaway on Facebook for a FREE E-Design board!

Five cheery rooms to brighten your day

It is rainy and gloomy today here on the Gulf Coast. To help brighten our day, here are five cheery rooms that I am currently obsessing over. Enjoy!

ONE

It is hard to tell from the image below, but the canopy around this bed was created by using ceiling mounted curtain rods. Clever, huh? I love how they used a mix of patterns and pops of bold colors against a white backdrop.

TWO

I adore this kitchen and may have featured it before. All the natural light, the warm exposed beams against the white ceiling, the domed hood, beautiful tiled wall, and vintage chandelier work together to make this kitchen so cozy.

THREE

This bright and organized laundry room would take the chore out of doing laundry.

FOUR

Can we all agree that this emerald bed is freakin amazing!? I just want to roll around on it like how a dog takes to grass.

In case you need a visual :)

FIVE

So, this last one technically is not a room but a super cute patio. What isn't there to love?  This Woodward patio set is a great example of how a fresh coat of paint and fun textiles can breathe new life into a vintage piece of furniture.

Well, here is hoping for sunshine tomorrow!

Later, lovelies.

teak shower floors

I feel like I spend all of my time in the shower cleaning it. We recently moved into a new home, and new construction (as we all know) likes to take shortcuts. One of those is using fiberglass shower inserts instead of tile. Ours is a humble middle-class home, but I've seen it even in larger, more expensive homes. It makes sense: it eliminates a greater possibility of moisture leaking through to the walls, its inexpensive, and very easy/quick to install. But it's also not super attractive and--as I'm learning--it's a giant pain in the rear to clean!! I mean really. Our magic eraser stays permanently in our shower. 

So, for our next house (years down the line), I've been looking into some creative shower materials that are both pretty and low(er) maintenance.

And then I thought "I bet people have teak shower floors!" So I got on Houzz (my go-to for just about everything) and sure enough, there are a lot of teak shower floors being done out there. Teak is an exotic hardwood that naturally withstands frequent exposure to water without treatment. Most wood patio furniture is teak. 

And they are relatively simple. As long as you have a shower curb (meaning you step over a lip into your shower) or a recessed shower pan, you could do it. And if you don't, you could probably create a curb with a little more work. Then you would just have a custom shower floor mat built (or cut one yourself) and lay it on top of your waterproof drain pan. (I hope you all follow me--I try not to get caught up in too much "designer jargon"). 

Take a look at some of these examples (most of them are very modern spaces, but there is no reason you couldn't have a teak shower floor in a traditional space).

Most designers have a love-hate relationship with red. It can be overpowering. I tend to fall on the love side of red more often and I kind of really like this bathroom. I don't think I would have done the wallpaper on the ceiling, but hey. It's still a cool space. Take a look at the whole bath transformation if you are intrigued.

I'll just move on in to this house, thank you very much.

One thing to keep in mind with teak is it's still a wood. It ages like regular wood, and exposure to harsh chemicals may stain your teak or damage it's natural water-shedding properties. Definitely do your research and talk to an expert to find out how to care for your teak. I would personally stay away from shower products containing oils, parabens, silicone, etc (but I do that anyway, since I've currently been falling down several "crunchy" all-natural rabbit holes). 

And here is a great representation of how teak ages. So although it has a beautiful warmth on installation, don't expect it to last!

Do you have any teak in your home? How have you liked it? I once had a teak bath mat in front of my shower. But then I took in an abandoned wiener dog in my neighborhood and he ate it. Chewed it into a thousand pieces. And I never got another one. But I loved it!

Have a great week everyone! And keep dogs away from teak bath mats...

DIY - Buffet Turned Media Console

Is it just me or is it hard to find a good-looking media console these days?  You know, one that isn't run-of-the-mill.  One that has some character AND function.  Something like this captured from the Bijou & Boheme home tour at Style Me Pretty.  Just gorgeous.

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Or one like this featured on Apartment Therapy.  Isn't she a beauty?  

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Sadly, all of the ones I find myself swooning over in catalogs don't quite fit into the budget of my long-running house to do list.  That is when I turn to my good friend, Mr. Craigslist.

So much is good about the media console above.  The sleek, high-gloss black finish, the golden details, the "open" cabinets for easy remote use.  I want.  I want.  And Craigslist came to the rescue when I spotted this guy, coming in at $245.  After a few adjustments I think he could really turn into something special.  His bones are good, and he's got good lines.  The rest is in the details...

Brass pulls /// Metal Sheet /// Krylon Leafing Gold Paint Pen

 

Steps needed to achieve the look:

1. Cut out holes center of cabinet doors to apply metal sheet backing (step 4)

2. Sand, prime and paint furniture in high gloss black paint

3. Embellish with painted gold trim accents and new drop bail pulls

4.  Attach metal sheets (painted gold or brass to match hardware) inside painted buffet doors

5.  Enjoy!

A Mid-Century facelift

Sometimes it takes an outside eye to help visualize the potential your home has. Here is a curb appeal facelift we did for a client who was interested in purchasing this outdated, mid-century home. He knew it had good bones but needed help with envisioning how to improve the overall look of the exterior. We were able to give him a visual representation showing how a few improvements could transform this unadorned, outdated home into a stunner. 

For this facelift, the mid-century modern homes commonly found on the west coast were the source of inspiration.

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To achieve this look, we gave this girl a new set of contemporary doors and modern brushed nickel address numbers. Replaced the sliding doors with matching windows and added Ipe shiplap siding for a sleek look. People often underestimate the effects of good landscaping. We replaced the existing landscaping with plants that are more structured, having straight lines and geometric forms.

Here is the final look

and a side-by-side comparison

If you need help with ways to improve the look of your home's exterior,  contact us. We would love to help.

rebuilding

Happy Monday, friends! 

It was hard to come up with a post this morning. If you read our post on Pensacola, or are a local, then you know that our city has had some major flooding to deal with. On Saturday I made a trip into a couple of the neighborhoods most affected with an organization called Project Hope (please see this link if you have an interest in helping out--the need is still very great). It was one of the most unreal things I've ever witnessed. I felt like I was touring a movie set. Homes had either been abandoned completely, or were totally emptied as families sat in their yard sifting through what may have been salvaged. One lady sat in the shade trying to dry out mounds family photos. Another woman I met had to leave her home with her three young children in rushing waist-deep water, in the middle of the night, in a storm that was producing hundreds of lightning strikes per minute. 

I cannot imagine.

So forgive me if any topic I can possibly come up with seems small and insignificant this morning. 

I did, however, after much searching, find this article on a family that re-built their home in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. 

Here is a before and after photo. 

And here's the link where you can see the transformation of inside of the home, as well. 

I will say that this probably isn't the typical case of a homeowner who faces natural disaster and restores their home, especially in New Orleans, where many homes still sit abandoned, years later. I don't like to assume someone's financial status, because I don't know these people or their story, but I do know that most were not as fortunate. Even still, it's gives a little hope to see so much restored after so much was lost. You would never know their home was damaged so badly.

Count your blessings, folks. I know I'm counting mine.

OH! And on a sunnier note, Happy Cinco De Mayo! Have a margarita and some guacamole. I remember being pregnant and craving margaritas the whole time (I guess the salty-sour-sweet is what I craved). I tried virgin margaritas and they were disgusting--worse than no margarita. The one thing I finally found that fit the bill was a real fruit juice lime popsicle with sea salt (when you're pregnant and desperate you'll try anything). So to my pregnant friends--including 3A's own Jessica who's baby girl is due in a couple of short months--just an idea :)  You might like it!

Until next time...