Ojai Re-decorating and a Something's Gotta Give Rug

 This post is sort of a

what came first....the chicken or the egg?

or in this case it's what should come first... 

the rug or the furniture? 

a very often asked question 

so what is the easy answer?

hmmmm....I'm not really sure

anyway...

 I made the decision a few months back to start putting some of the furniture 

we have in the rented condo 

into the little Ojai ranch house...

  it was really interesting how many of the pieces

 seemed right at home here

 remember the beige condo photos?

this was the condo living room below

 I also started repeating the use of certain elements in the Ojai house,
like galvanized metal,

 barn wood and grays and reds

 and then there was that little touch of blue
that kept popping up

so I introduced a new blue item....

a nice rug...
and I'm not talking toupee here

 I have always wanted one of these rugs, 

similar to the one in Diane Keaton's liking room

 in the movie "Somethings Gotta  Give"

 Do you just love this room...or what!?

and that rug!!!!

so here is my take on the idea

very different in a little country house...
about a million miles away from the Hampton's

 so what do you think came first?  

the chicken or the egg....

do you buy the rug first and decorate around it?
or
let the room take shape and then buy your rug? 

hmmmm....?

Michael S Smith Style...my (zero) budget

Remember this little post here

love this fabric...lot's of ideas...fun stuff

Pretty good I think....

Comments?

A Simple Idea: family photos

"Simplicity is the essence of Happiness"

~Cedric Bledsoe

I have had a few things happen lately that have been a bit humbling.  

It has made me really think about simplifying my life  more and enjoying my family.

While I really enjoy this little blog project...most of the time...: )

sometimes I feel a pang of guilt when I post about a new lampshade or a trophy bath tub.

It seems pretty silly, really.

So I thought I would share a few simple, funny, family photos.  

No faucet ideas or furniture, no fabric, flowers or fruit.  

Just some things that make me smile.

My son David and his gorgeous girlfriend Gina.  Do these kids have the best teeth?

Millie/ball/Millie/ball....etc etc

I am finally here....almost naked no less, why am I doing this? AAARRGHHH!

Greg, Mr P Pebble at the helm of the 6 foot rubber yacht

Did I tell you that I golf...well yes, sort of.  I like hanging with the boys!

I Fish and fish and only catch a cold

 Mexico and margarita silly

Dad being Dad with a Grad

Brothers and Sisters

Grads

 golf carts and giggling

Did I tell you that when I get nervous I talk too much and laugh alot.

OK  

I'm much better and like this simple stuff

next post...probably another bathtub

Smile

kelley

A Family Room for friends and kids

Above our garage and at the very rear of our house in Corona Del Mar we have this great family room space.  It actually was an apartment at one point, so it has a separate entrance with a door bell.

The ceilings are really high so I added this huge double fan from a company called Fanimation.  They make wonderful fans with natural palm blades in a variety of finishes.  This model is about 5 feet wide and drops from the ceiling another 5 feet so you need some space if you choose this one.  

The ceilings are also sloped with interesting angles.  The poor guy who installed this fan was really challenged.  I think it took about 4 hours to put up.

I put a small desk here from West Elm, with big chunky lamps and Orkney chairs

I had the lampshades made with vintage french grain sacks.

The window coverings are really simple white twill and I added a bamboo valance to play off of the natural palm fan blades and the woven grass backs of the chairs.

The green armoire to the right is a reconfigured antique that houses a refrigerator and a microwave....In case we need some popcorn and a soda!

The two white couches were designed specifically for this space because of the odd shape of the room.  I used white denim and vintage feed sacks for the upholstery.  I just recently found the rug on Ebay.  It was from Williams Sonoma Home about a year ago and retailed for over $1000 dollars but I got it for $300!!!  And its NEW!

More fun signs!

The green wicker table is vintage and I cut the legs down just a bit, so it works as a coffee table.

The column came home with me from the Rose Bowl flea market one weekend and now is the perch for our pet seagull Harry

We really enjoy this family room and it makes a great spot for kids and friends.

Have a great week and thanks for stopping by!

~*~

kelley