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Most people can do extraordinary things if they have the confidence or take the risks. Yet most people don’t. They sit in front of the telly and treat life as if it goes on forever.

- Philip Andrew Adams

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White Deck

This summer has been lovely. Pleasant weather, outdoor activities, and home projects make sitting at a computer not so appealing, so I've handled the desire to scan in favorites by just not finding them - I have a pile of unread magazines that is reaching a foot in height...

We are repainting our deck and just finished the first coat. After applying some of the chosen white (oh so white) paint I started having second thoughts about changing the look of our porch so drastically. A quick google and flickr search for images renewed my confidence, and a few rooms from this house increased my love of light rooms. I'll never be an all-white gal, (I love my blues, browns, and dark accents too much) but I do appreciate the look.

The most unexpected but logical bonus to a white deck? The back of our house faces North and leaves our sunless kitchen, eating, and family room areas dark and gray even with lots of large windows. The white deck and a little sunlight have easily doubled the light inside the back our home and I could not be more pleased. It also seems to extend the indoor areas into the outdoors because the white of the deck keeps your eyes going rather than cutting them off at the dark deck.

I'm still a bit nervous about how much I'll like the white after the second-coat is on and my pots and bistro tables are back up, but I think I'm going to love it.

T hates that our master bathroom (which needs a major overhaul) has a dressing table. I'm trying to find examples that show him that this can be a good thing.

Creative Walls

It would be a lot of fun to paint a room this way.

scanned via a Vogue Living ad

Map Window Shadew

I never would have thought of putting a map on a roller shade kit...

scanned via BHG May 09 issue

Lollipop Stands

These might be worth making.

Made by Mosey - Clouds Mobile

So completely lovely.

(Hand stitched by a mother, and available here.)

See more from Made by Mosey here, and shop here.

Sanseveria

I have a thing for garden pots, and these potted Sanseveria are making that "thing" a bigger thing.

via Garden Design 09

A few more...

A few more images by Philip Harvey that grabbed me.

via Desire to Inspire

Sea Glass

This bathroom makes me think of the ocean and my Mother.

image by Philip Harvey via dti

DIY Bird Mobile

Isn't this mobile stunning? A bright and colorful bird mobile might be just what the corner of my daughter's soon-to-be-yellow room needs. Read more about the how-to here and here, and see the bird pattern here.

Clean and Simple

This kitchen appeals to the minimalist in me.

scanned via Met Home

Wall of Bookshelves

This might be the perfect set-up.

via desire to inspire

More Bertoia Barstools...

via House Beautiful

Baby Claire

I'll put up a few more soon...

Gravel Walkways and "Planted" Pools

In a future home I think I would forgo concrete in favor of gravel.
This is also a way I would break a backyard up into separate spaces.

I'm loving the grasses hanging over the edge of this pool. They make what could have been a "blah" pool setting so natural.

scanned via April 09 Garden Design

Window Panel Chalkboard Calender

This chalkboard calender would be great as the kids get older and busier.

A bit about it:

"Tell us about the unique chalkboard/calendar. Is it custom?

Funnily enough, we found this wooden frame at a church rummage sale for $5 when we lived in NY. My husband didn't see the potential, but I promised I would think of something great to do with it. A few months later, I was looking for a big family calendar and ended up painting a piece of masonite board with chalkboard paint and fit it into the frame. It is one of my favorite things in the house. It helps keep us running smoothly."

I'm not much of a bug person, but this is a great way of displaying a bug or any other collection in progress. It would remind me to keep on searching and collecting.

via

Simplify

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The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.

-Hans Hoffman

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Light Blue Walls

{These splashes of green are surprisingly perfect}

The main area painting is done and I love the fresh feel it brought to the home. We went with Sherwin-Williams' Glimmer in a satin finish, and while it turned out a tiny bit more colorful than planned, I am in love with the look.

These are some torn out pages we used as we searched for the color that would give us the look we were going for.

scanned via Met Home?, O at Home, BHG, Home Depot ad

A work in progress...

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Dost thou love life?
Then do not squander time,
for that is the stuff life is made of.

Benjamin Franklin

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Vertical Gardens

Every time I see them I fall more and more in love with vertical gardens.

scanned via Garden Design April 09

Cottage Garden

The structure throughout this cottage garden makes it so appealing.

We have finally finished a front yard overhaul and I have realized more than ever just how much you have to enjoy gardening if you want to have a truly incredible yard. Fortunately I am also realizing that gardening grows on you, and the more you do it, the more you know, and the easier and more fun it gets.

Scanned via April 09 BHG

Bookshelves

I could stare at books and bookshelves all day.

Don't you love checking out the titles?

via dti

Ava

These lovely lips that refused to stay up have really grown on me.

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When nothing is done, nothing is left undone.

LaoTzu

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Updated and Remodeled Eichler

This family took some creative license with the update and expansion of their Eichler home and I think it is a tasteful blend of old and new.

(At first glance I thought that the table was a pull-out table, similar to this one. It isn't, but it could be a convenient feature.)

See more images here and read about this house here.

Snowy Mountain View

T misses the mountains. With this view I do to.

via dti

Fire Pole

My son would go crazy over this.

(I just showed him the picture and after staring wide-eyed for a minute he informed that he wanted a bed just like that.)

via cookie

Cork Walls + Flying Books

Setting cork into the wainscoting in this Craftsman bungalow was brilliant.
This might be the best idea ever for displaying daily art projects.

The flying books in this reading corner make me happy.

See more of this house here, and see how to make your own cork wall here.

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A two-year old is kind of like having a blender, but you don't have a top for it.

-Jerry Seinfield

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I think the word "child" could be traded for "two-year old."

Happy Earth Day

image via a cup of jo

Eichler

A friend has an opportunity to buy an Eichler home, and while I realize that these images are the "afters" to what would be their"befores," I can't help but be a bit too jealous.





This sunken kitchen made me think of the one from this house, although of course I didn't scan that part of the home in.

all images images via here