Home for the Holidays..

For those who know me, winter is my favorite season and Christmas is my favorite holiday! There is just something about about the season and the holiday that brings out the best in people. Something about the cold fresh air, the warm soft sweaters, the crunching snow and picking a Christmas tree that makes me happy! I love the smell of pine in the home and decorating for the holidays. So I’ve decided to make the next few posts about decorating and preparing for the holidays!

Do you have any crafty holiday ideas? Feel  free to share them with us.

Mayah’s Dresser

Do you remember the antique dresser that I found on Craigslist and wanted to use it in Mayah’s Nursery? Well, guys it’s finally done! It came out exactly how I imagined. It took me forever to complete due to  lack of time, but it was well worth the wait! What do you think?

I know the pictures are not the best quality but I think the dresser came out perfect!
BTW I found a Jenny Lind crib for $30 dollars! I can’t wait to share the finish product with you guys!

IKEA Catalogue 2012

So I just got my IKEA catalogue, and I am excited with the fabulous items I see! They have really great design ideas for apartment living and tools to make the best out of every nook and cranny. Though many designers and decorators snub their noses at IKEA, I think it’s a great store. 

Because of the great prices IKEA has to offer, it allows for those of us on a budget, the opportunity to get great items without breaking the bank.

If I have any complaints about IKEA it would be only one, the layout of the store! Come on guys, I cannot be the only one who feels like a mouse in a maze with no way out. When I go there, I always get this sense of anxiety.                 

 

The store is telling me to follow the set out path, but my brain is screaming, “no Ikea store! I want to take a second look at those lamps!” Other than that, IKEA gets two thumbs up from me.

Anyone out there in agreement with me?

Honestly, I think a great designer should be able to work with things of all price ranges, but that’s a topic for another day.   

Here are my IKEA top picks:

Jonsbo Barby Table Lamp                             Skruvsta    Anno Vacker

Rock A Bye Baby

The day I found out I was pregnant, I immediately started planning what my baby’s nursery would look like. Of course I didn’t know what the sex of the baby was, but it really didn’t matter. I knew that among many things, I had to have a swivel rocker. My original thought was to buy one, but after seeing the thousand dollar price tag for a costumed upholstered rocker, I said bye..bye to my swivel rocker dreams.

Luckily while searching on Freecycle, I found a post for a swivel rocker. The chair, though not in perfect condition, has possibilities.

All it needs is a little TLC. So here I am, currently spending my week attempting to reupholster this chair, never mind  the fact that I have never reupholstered anything. But hey, nothing is impossible for DIY MOM! (this is the part where the theme song for Mighty Mouse comes on). Wish me luck!

A Nursery for my Little One

So now that we have moved into a larger apartment, I finally have a dedicated room for my little one's nursery. I can't beging to explain how excited I am about this! The first thing I needed was inspiration. So off I went in search of it. I looked in magazines, books..friends, but no luck. Finally I decided to hit my favorite blogs and found it.  I fell in love with Joni's nursery from Lay Baby Lay. This is actually her daugthers nursery. Isn't it adorable!

I love the dresser. This sent me on a hunt to find a dresser for Mayah's nursery. I love searching Craigslist and lucked out and found this beautiful dresser for $30 dollars...a steal!

Can't wait to sand it and paint it, it's going to be perfect.

A Call to the Creative Maven In You!

Hi I am Madeline, welcome to my blog.

Let me tell you a little about me. I am a single mom, I have beautiful and amazing one year old..well, I may be a tad partial. I have a large Caribbean family that keeps me entertained, a great office job that tends to be very flexible. I have a fairly busy schedule and I am usually on the run, but when I finally do get some “ME” time, I do what I really love to do. Design. I am passionate about all things design.  

Having gone to school for interior design and not being able to do something with it, feels like a total waste to me. Friends and family are always coming to me for advice and help with their home decor, and are always telling me how I should put my skills to good use.  This has inspired me to start this blog. When I am able to turn something that no one seems to want into something amazing, I feel I have achieved my purpose. Some things, just need a second chance.  

So how bout it bloggers, I am sure I am not the only one with the need to create. Do you have a room you have redesigned? Furniture you have made over?  Feel free to post.