Easter Tablescapes

Easter Sunday is just around the corner (April 4), so I spent some time this weekend working on a design for my Easter dinner table. This is the first time I will be hosting the Easter meal as an adult, so I am really geting into it! If you’re considering creating an Easter tablescape, here is some inspiration to get you started:

(Quick and Simple)

(Country Living)

(Family Circle)

(Pottery Barn Kids)

(Southern Living)

(via Flickr Images - Torie Jayne)

Spring Greens

Spring has sprung here in upstate NY. The weather has been unusually warm all week and as a result, signs of life are popping up everywhere! On my walk in to work this monring I saw some tiny crocus sprouting in a flowerbed, and could hear birds chirping away on windowsills. The sun has also brough out the undredressed college students who have been walking around in shorts and t-shirts – it’s not THAT warm yet, kids!
The other night I felt like cooking something seasonal and was inspired to make Ina Garten’s Spring Green Risotto. It includes many of my favorite ingredients, like asparagus and parmesan, with some I’ve never cooked with before, like fresh fennel. Three hours of shopping, prepping and cooking later, my materpiece was finally finished. I took my first bite and savored the flavor of…lemon. It tasted like lemon risotto. Even though I followed the recipe exactly, something was’t right. I was able to correct it a bit by adding more salt, pepper and parmesan, but I don’t think I’ll be making this recipe again any time soon. Needless to say, if you love lemon, this risotto is for you! And I still love Ina Garten.
In honor of spring, here are some lovely examples of fresh green used in a variety of cozy homes:

Gorgous kitchen island with marble top and fresh green base cabinets (Coastal Living)

This is one of my favorite bathroom pictures ever. What an awesome sink! (Country Living)

Lime green looks fresh and inviting in this traditional-with-a-touch-of-modern living room (Real Simple)

I love the look of the antique green glass peeking out from behind the cupboard doors (Country Living)

WHat a great spot to people watch - and even the owners are wearing green! (Tree Hugger)

Live smaller; live better

I am a big fan of Jay Schafer and his Tubleweed Tiny House Company. Jay founded the company in 2000, after having made the decision to inhabit only 89 square feet 3 years before. His philosophy is that one should “not maintain a lot of unused or unusable space.” I could agree more, though I think my personal “ideal sized” home is somewhere in the 800 suare-foot range. Thankfully, Tumbleweek makes and sells plans for homes anywhere from 40 – 950 square feet. Below are a few of my favorites. Learn more by visiting http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/.

The Harbinger: 297 sq ft; 1br (loft), 1 bath

Inside the Fencl; 130 sq ft, 1br (loft), 1 bath

The B-53; 743 sq ft (with 2 br, 1 1/2 baths), or 837 sq ft with 3rd br

Craigslist Real Estate: Cozy Ithaca Cape

I keep a very close eye on the real estate listing in my town, even though we are not looking to move any time in the near future. Sometimes the best listings can be found on Craigslist, like this little gem:

Cape exterior: Great colors - I love the red door

Living room: I confess I've always wanted a fireplace with little square windows on either side. All it needs are some built-in bookcases underneath!

Dining Room: How great is that rounded doorway?

For more information, and to see the full slideshow, click here.

The Cabot Cove Cottages

One of my favorite cottage stories comes courtesy of Coastal Living Magazine. The Cabot Cove Cottages in Kennebunkport, ME, epitomize the term “cozy coastal cottage.” This group of cottages was built in the 1950s, and had fallen into disrepair over the past few decades. 16 designers took it upon themselves to make over each cottage, creating “a magical village, on a modest budget.”

Cabot Cove Cottages

The Float In Cottage: I love the nautical detailing; the porthole, brass fixtures, sailboat model and lantern on the ledge.

Sweet Dreams Cottage: This feminine design features a mostly white palette with touches of pink and green pastels. I especially love the green china hutch.

Sweet Dreams Cottage: This petite yellow dresser also serves as a nightstand, and fits the small space perfectly.

Harbor Cottage: Classic beachy design in blue and white. This just may be my favorite cottage of all!

See the full slideshow at coastalliving.com!

My Cozy Home: Kitchen Makeover on a Budget

We moved into our house in May 2008. In the nearly two years we’ve lived here, we’ve changed all of the rooms – at least in the cosmetic sense. One of our largest projects was the kitchen makeover, which we completed last February:

Kitchen before: Note the dated (but sturdy) cabinetry, original 1950s lighting, badly executed open shelving, and dingy walls. At this point we had at least replaced the original brown appliances!

During: Paiting the cabinets. We had to remove all of the doors, clean, sand and prime the cabinets inside and out.

During: We turned our dining room into a cabinet painting space! Each piece needed two coats of primer and four coats of white paint.

After: Freshly painted cabinets with new hardware and trim/moulding.

After: Pale blue paint on the walls brightens the space. The updated lighting adds cottage charm.

After: We were able to keep the butcher block counters, flooring, sink and faucet. This saved us a lot of time and money.

Exploring Polyvore

According to their website, Polyvore is “an easy-to-use virtual styling tool lets people mix and match products from any online store to create their own fashion collections called ‘sets’.” I thought that sounded like a lot of fun, so I went about creating my own fantasy living room set. Create your own Polyvore sets at polyvore.com!

Reading Nooks

Today is March 1. In many parts of the country, Spring is fast approaching, but in Upstate NY, winter usually lasts until mid-April/early May. When the chilly March winds howl, nothing is more comforting than curling up in a warm spot and reading a good book. Here are a few of my favorite reading nooks:

Unpainted paneling adds warmth to this nook. (Coastal Living)

This tiny nook is made more substantial by a floral cushion, and pillow in a matching color. The butterfly art on the wall makes the small space feel more like its own room. (Southern Living)

This cozy spot is large enough to serve a dual purpose as a guest bed. (Coastal Living)

The tiny windows in this loft nook allow sunshine to illuminate the space. (Coastal Living)