Wall mural in progress!

Old Coke crate I found at an antique sale. Great place to store books!

No Pottery Barn reproductions here, folks!

My favorite item in the room--an Italian army blanket (an eBay score!)

An old sign we had lying around, belonged to my husband's father

The rustier, the better! A metal basket contains some toys.

An old globe, also belonged to my husband's father.

Hope to show you the finished product soon!!

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Armommy's Placemat

My son is sick today, so we are stuck at home.  Perfect opportunity for me to go crazy blog!  So I’m back with the June edition of my Etsy finds.  And boy, do I have some good stuff to show you.  And just FYI–I do not receive free products or compensation for these reviews (although I would TOTALLY be open to it!)

First up is Armommy.  If you have small children, you should really head over to their shop and buy everything.  They have those beautiful personlized placemats, shown in the above photo.  They also have these things called smibs–a cross between a smock and a bib.  If you’ve ever had a child spew chocolate milk out of his mouth AND nose…then you will understand the brillance of this invention.

The Smib--this kid just looks like trouble, no?

They also have wonderful things like reusable snack bags, beautiful invitations, sewing lables, and The Bumper.  I would talk more about it, but I’m afraid they might think I’m stalking them.  Which I’m not.  I only stack PW….and Sarah Richardson.  Promise.  But check Armommy out, you’ll be glad you did!

Plum Cushion

Next we have Plum Cushion.  Plum makes beautiful pillows out of fancy designer fabrics.  Right now she has the likes of Kelly Wearstler, Trina Turk, and Schumacher fabrics.  Swoon!  A bit pricey, but well worth it, I say.

StarlitNestGifts

Now onto Starlit Nest Gifts.  I am really into quilts right now.  Especially these vintage-inspired, look-so-cozy types like StarlitNestGifts has in her shop.   It almost makes me wish for a rainy day that I can cuddle up and watch old movies.  Anyone want to watch my kids while I do that?  Great, thanks!

TomKat Studios

You guys, I have saved the best for last.  My son has a birthday coming up, and so I have been scouring the world wide web looking for ideas.  And wow, did I find some at TomKat Studios.  She creates dessert tables like none other.  In the next couple of weeks, I will post my son’s birthday party.  And please don’t laugh at my attempts at copying TomKat Studios.  And please don’t leave my site and never come back because TomKat is so great.  I’ve lost you already, haven’t I?  Well, if you’re still here, than I’ll tell you that she creates invites, cupcake toppers, food labels, stickers, and most of them you can PRINT FROM HOME!!!!  Geez.

Another Fab Find from TomKat

Thanks for joining me for this month’s Etsy finds!!  Happy shopping everyone!

We moved in this house back in August, and have since spent all our money energy on the upper level.  Poor, poor walk-out basement has been neglected.  Also, my son thinks the basement is his toy haven–and any furniture turns into an imaginary motor speedway, so I’m not too thrilled to put anything down here than can be damaged by hot wheels.

But when pewter+sage announced the inspiration for their Mood Board Monday, I was beyond thrilled to see the new PATCH NYC collection at West Elm was the star.  I love these prints, and I’ve been picturing that charcoal blue as a great color scheme for my basement family room.

So here are photos of what my family room looks like now: (YUCK!)

Quite the blank slate, no?

And here is my mood board for the space:

I wanted to keep this room clean, simple, calming, and an eclectic mix.  Since we’ll already have toys to the side of the room, I really didn’t want to add much accessory clutter.  (Me? No clutter?  Shocking.)  And, again, as you all know, we aren’t painting the walls right now.  The sofa is relatively new and doesn’t have kids’ puke on it is in good condition, the leather chair is new, and they are both staying.  So here we have it:

1.  The inspiration.  PATCH NYC Butterfly Wall Art.  I intend on hanging a mixture of art and family photos above the sectional in a collage-type fashion (see third photo above).

2.  Classical Symmetry Orange Print from Crate and Barrel.  I love love LOVE the contrast of orange with the gray from the inspiration piece.  This symmetry print will be hung on the collage wall.

3.  I love a good oversized mat.  These Pottery Barn frames would hold family photos (it is a family room, after all) and be interspersed throughout the collage.

4.  This lamp from Lamps Plus.  It’s tall.  I like it.  ‘Nuff said.   I would put this, along with the table under it on both sides of the sofa.

5.  Oh no.  I can’t remember where this table came from.  Well, I picked it because I wanted to incorporate the dark wood tones, but I liked the modern metal legs.  Since I’m really trying to get an eclectic mix of traditional/modern, this works nicely.

6.  I am so in love with this rug from West Elm.

7.  And this coffee table from Crate & Barrel adds great texture.

8.  You can’t see from the photos, but our family room has those lovely builder grade flush-mount lighting fixtures that I lovingly refer to as “boob lights.”  They HAVE TO GO.  I’m replacing them with these two lovely pendants from Lamps Plus.

9.  Pillows from Jonathan Adler and ConranUSA.

10.  Another inspiration print from PATCH NYC.

11.  Lovely couch pillow from ABC Carpet & Home.

12.  There’s a large blank wall behind that leather chair.  Sorry, I couldn’t fit it in the picture.  But it’s large.  And bare.  You get the picture.  I would anchor it with this fantastic piece made from reclaimed wood from Hudson Goods.

13.  Don’t you just love Etsy?  I searched for orange lamp, and got hundreds of entries, but I just couldn’t resist this fun vintage number from ObjetPetita.

14.  And a beautiful photo from Williams Sonoma Home to top it all off.

There you have it–my eclectic family room!  Thanks PATCH NYC and pewter+sage!

Whew, I’m exhausted!  I think I need to go get one of those vanilla bean scones from Starbucks.  Did you see how the Pioneer Woman recreated them??

]]> http://sarahbohldesigns.com/?feed=rss2&p=218 6 http://sarahbohldesigns.com/?p=209 http://sarahbohldesigns.com/?p=209#comments Sat, 03 Apr 2010 18:09:49 +0000 Sarah http://sarahbohldesigns.com/?p=209

Here are some of my favorite Etsy finds of late:

vol25 prints (pictured above)

thewheatfield prints (I have their “you are my sunshine” print in my daughter’s nursery)

Scott Lane Photography

Roundabout DesignsNot only is it beautiful and unique, it’s perfect for Autism Awareness Month (which is this month!)

Happy Shopping!  Support Handmade!

House Beautiful

You may think that burlap is found only in potato sack races…but it has quickly become a popular material in home decor.  And rightfully so!  It’s such an amazing way to add texture to a room without spending a lot of moolah (I think it’s $3/yd at most craft stores).  And with the trend now to decorate more naturally, it has been made into everything from curtains to bedding to accessories.  How fabulous are the burlap drapes in the photo above?

Coastal Living

Combined with linen, this burlap bedding looks so natural and cozy, and really compliments the white walls and accessories.

Pottery Barn

These topiaries could have looked formal in silver julep cups, but the burlap wrapped around the base gives them such a rustic, casual feel.

In my own home, I backed some simple frames (no glass) with burlap, and nailed these silver Anthropologie letter inside (they are the first initials of everyone in our family, not some silly made-up word!).  When I get tired of the letters (I change my mind frequently), I can trade the letters out for my son’s drawings, and have insta-art!  Or during the holidays, I can put wreaths inside…the possibilities are endless!

How do you like to use burlap?

]]> http://sarahbohldesigns.com/?feed=rss2&p=192 2 http://sarahbohldesigns.com/?p=158 http://sarahbohldesigns.com/?p=158#comments Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:50:12 +0000 Sarah http://sarahbohldesigns.com/?p=158 Let’s ignore how completely un-original that headline is, and move on with the pictures of my house this holiday season!  This is our first year in this house, which meant coming up with a new decorating plan, and trying to fill empty walls!

Try to ignore the ceiling fan chain and the top of my laptop peeking out!

spray painted pine cones are the cheapest decorations around!

don’t ask me why, but I hate tree toppers!  I like big, poofy bows instead!

Instead of the traditional foil paper, I wrap all my poinsettias in burlap!

Thanks for stopping by!

Disclaimer:  I’m writing this post without the help of my trusty photographer.  So please excuse the poor photo quality!

There aren’t many times that my husband puts his foot down–he generally puts up with my crazy decorating ideas.  But after painting every room in our previous house (all by himself), the idea of painting walls in our NEW house was enough to make him object.

So, my challenge–how can I add some visual interest to my contractor-beige walls?  My first project in this challenge is our master bedroom.

Enter Etsy.com shop ByrdieGraphics…and the very creative vinyl wall decals they have come up with.  I had some experience with the company Uppercase Living, and love the idea of sticking something semi-permanent on your wall (not to mention it’s cheaper than painting!).

So, I bravely ordered 12 of the irongate wall pattern in a charcoal gray.  When they arrived in the mail (very quickly, I may add), I was a little scared.  But I followed the wonderful directions they provided, and about 2 hours later, I had a beautiful pattern on my walls!  The only difficult part was, I think, measuring the wall and figuring out the placement of each graphic.  I’m no John Nash, nor a (insert most patient person here), so I had my husband help me place and level each graphic.  This took about an hour, and then the actual application process took another hour.

Seriously, if you follow their directions, they are very VERY easy to put on the wall.

So here’s what our master bedroom looked like when we first moved in…BORING:

And here’s what it looks like now:

I’m far from finished in this room, but I think it’s a good start!!  I hope to replace my current side tables with some mirrored night stands, and then add some other finishing touches.

And a big congrats to Shanna for winning last week’s giveaway!  She won 2 hours of design service, and I’m excited to work with her!

Now on to figure out what to do with the rest of the walls in my house…

Come on in!  Welcome to the open house of Sarah Bohl Designs!  I’m so excited to share what I’m about, what I’ve been working on, and what I’m inspired by!

To celebrate this big event, I am presenting you, Dear Reader, with a fabulous giveaway!  Here’s what you can win:

1.  TWO HOURS of design services by yours truly.  This can be used anytime until November 2010.  (For folks in the Cape/Jackson/Sikeston area only, please).

Here’s how you can enter to win:

1.  Jump over to Portfolio page, and pick which image you like the best.

2.  Tell me (by commenting on this post) which image you chose.  Please include your email when you comment (this will not be published), and please specify if you live the Cape/Jackson/Sikeston area.  I will draw a winner at random on NOVEMBER 20th.

photo by Grace of Coastline

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love a good monogram.  I think I have a “B” or something similar in every room of my house.  I had most of my son’s clothes embroidered with his monogram until I realized that I could never reuse them or give/sell them (duh!).

I have always enjoyed typography….as a little girl, I was always drawing my name in different “fonts,” while other kids were drawing houses, dogs, or flowers.  I suppose that’s where my fascination with monogramming comes from.  It’s also a wonderfully easy (and cheap!) way to dress up ordinary things.  When my son was 6 months old, I had his name stitched on 6 white onesies.  He received more compliments for those onesies then any kind of fancy-schmancy smocked outfit I would put him in.

Have an inexpensive, plain blanket or throw?  Put a monogram on it, and it instantly will add a glamour factor to your bedroom or sofa.

photo courtesy of The Shabby Nest

Wendy over at The Shabby Nest gave her sons’ headboards some real personality with these felt monograms.  I’m trying to figure out how I can incorporate this idea in my house as well!

photo courtesy of alexandra ferguson

How stunning is this pillow from alexandra ferguson? This is going on my wish list PRONTO!  Wouldn’t it just dress up a little slipper chair so nicely?

How do you like to use monogramming or initials in your design?

(Want to win the burlap runner in the top photo?  Of course you do, it’s fabulous!  Head over to one of my favorite blogs, The Lettered Cottage to enter to win.  And hey, if you don’t win, you can always buy it!)

Photo courtesy of David Strom Photography

I definitely have a love/hate relationship with my house.  It’s your typical story:  we were “just starting out,” had very little money, and decided to buy a 1920′s bungalow that had a lot of “potential.”  I spent so many hours removing wallpaper that it’s not even funny.  Trying to hang things on plaster walls make me want to scream.  But at the end of the day, I’m so proud of all the work we did ourselves. I really think it was a sort of rite-of-passage.

Our half-bath renovation is what I’m most proud of, as well as the biggest project we did.  Here’s a before photo:

Ugh, just looking at that pink Victorian wallpaper makes me sick!  And that countertop was that gross gold-sparkly disaster.  You can understand why we ripped out this bathroom as soon as we moved in!

Since our house was built in the 1920′s, we wanted to have our bathroom fit the rest of the house, so we decided on an art-deco type style with some modern touches.  We picked out some white hexagon floor tile and 3×6 white subway tile, a new pedastal sink, and some new lights and a new toilet-paper-holder-thingy.  My husband had never actually done this type of thing before, but he was such a pro and put in the new drywall, tiled everything, and installed the new sink and lights.  We also painted it a pretty gold color (be sure the paint the ceiling in small spaces, it really helps), and I found an awesome mirror for 1/2 off at Hobby Lobby.  The sunflower photo gives it some attitude, as well as that Dash + Albert rug.  I am SO happy with the way it turned out–even though it took a VERY long time to complete.

So happy, in fact, that I’m including this in Remodeling Guy’s Spring Remodeling Round-Up!  Please hop over to his site and check out the other wonderful entries.