Yea, I know. The above photo of our dining room definitely does NOT make a statement. Well, maybe the statement that it makes is that it just looks blah. Trust me, I've known that it has looked like blah for a long time and ya know what? We finally did something about it! I know that I've mentioned several times the items that I would like to add to our dining room space and I'm pretty sure I've even shown you the examples of the items too.
We still have a little bit to go before I can say that I've checked off the dining room on my list but I'm thinking we're getting closer to the end result. Okay, okay I'll stop rambling and tell you what we did. We added the light fixture from West Elm! The one that I have been eye'ing longingly for some time now and still have no idea why we didn't get it sooner? Really, there is no good reason why we didn't get it sooner. But we did it, we finally got the darn thing!
Here are some Before shots of the dining room/dining space. It's not technically a traditional dining room since it's in the same space as the kitchen but it is used as a dining room and not an eat-in kitchen.
Before
After
I must admit that I am in love with our dining room. I wasn't really liking it since the space above the table was so vast and empty. But now with the addition of the new chandelier (I call it the statement necklace of the room), I don't want to leave the space. It really fills the space up with warmth and glamour. It is technically a modern light fixture and to place it in a modestly shabby chic space seems a bit jarring, but I love the contrast of the sleek and shiny with the warm and organic textures and colors already in the room.
What do you guys think??
{This room will continue to get worked on, but I just had to share with you this new addition!}
Hmm, yea it's been awhile and although I want to apologize for my long absence (yet again) I don't want to sound like a broken record with my apologies, but I am going to apologize anyways. You guys are such loyal readers and I am sorry! I can't help it, life's been busy and tiring and I haven't had time for much else. But I do have something or rather someone that I would like to share with you all.
I, like most of you, watch the HGTV channel a lot. Actually, a lot probably doesn't even begin to describe how much I am programmed to watch that channel. It's like my fingers automatically go to the numbers 6-6-5 on my remote. Anyways, I noticed awhile back a commercial for a new show with this really stylish woman as the host/designer. It wasn't until recently that I started watching this new show, and I can now say that I am hooked. I honestly don't know why it took me so long to start watching it religiously. Well, maybe its because I initially thought that the woman hosting and designing seemed a bit pretentious in some ways. But now I know that I made incorrect assumptions based on snippets of the episode - snippets that were taken out of context.
Well, this woman, Sarah Richardson, is AMAZING. Her show, Sarah's House, is really fun to watch and her designs are incredible. She thinks of every little detail, her choices are spot-on, and she explains why she chooses everything. I like it when designers explain themselves because it gives me a better understanding of how I should be choosing things for my own house.
Okay, enough of me yapping away about HGTV and Sarah Richardson, let me just show you images of her designs instead. I'm pretty sure you'd rather see that then read about my feelings towards her.
Grand, but still approachable since the seating looks so cush and comfy.
Can I just tell you how much I adore the railings?
The light fixture and lamps have me loving this room.
The color combo of green and brown with that really modern chandelier is so fresh.
Umm, hmm how do I say this without annoying you all? I believe this is another dream kitchen of mine.
The kind of cottage kitchen I want to cook in.
The pop of color that the shower curtain provides is all that this bathroom needs. Nothing else.
Glam wallpaper with anything tufted and upholstered (and in velvet no less) is a dream in my book.
Elegantly casual and chic, and with plenty of seating!
Chic digs for a tiny tot.
A great little nook to read your favorite novels in.
I'm starting to think that our living room needs a daybed just like the one above.
Have you all seen the Meryl Streep movie, It's Complicated with Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin? Well, if you haven't already please go and watch it. Watch it because my dream house is in it. It really is my dream house in my dream location. I watched it Saturday night because I was in the mood for a chick-flick (poor Steve watched it too!) and little did I know that the house Meryl Streep's character lives in would woo me over, more so than the actual movie!
Don't get me wrong, the movie was quite entertaining, a bit long at some parts but overall entertaining. But the house...the house was absolutely everything that I could've dreamed up of. Okay, maybe I should say that it is one of my dream homes since we all know that I love lots of different kinds of houses. This in particular really spoke to me though because there was something so comfy and casual, yet really elegant about it. There are a lot of rustic elements to it that remind me of a French countryside home even though the roof of the house is made up of Spanish tiles.
The photos below from Traditional Home give you an idea of what the house looks like, but they really do not show you nearly enough of it so please, please go watch it so you too can enjoy that beautiful home they used as the set of the movie. I promise, you will not be disappointed.
Absolutely idyllic. And the mature tree with the swinging bench really seals the deal.
Wide plank wood floors are the way to my heart. And that goes double for archways too.
Furniture that is slipcovered is so unpretentious, which I love. Plenty of seating, and the shapes of the chairs are perfect for relaxing.
Hmm, the harder question would be is what don't I like about this kitchen? Here's what I do like: white marble topped island, black-paned windows, pots and pans hanging above the stove, the dining table and chairs, the window treatment, the list really could go so I'll stop right here. You get the point.
The thing I love about this house is that nothing seems really grandeur or over-the-top. It's simple living at its best. I mean, there aren't any cabinets but the way the plates and bowls are exposed let me know that this house is all about easy living.
And the easy living continues into the bedroom. This just makes me want to plop right on the bed to a good book with my dog right by my side.
The gold mirror adds that bit of girly, glamour that I so often crave. And claw-foot tubs are absolutely romantic, how could you not want one?
We've all needed a little help here, including yours truly, and this year is no exception. Sure, I've always fallen back on giving jewelry as a gift on Mother's Day but I figure why not change it up this year and give her something she can enjoy in her home? I always tell myself each year that I'll plan ahead and start looking for gifts early on and I did tell that to myself this year. But alas, my efforts just weren't enough which is why I am still on the hunt for the right Mother's Day gift.
Hopefully, most of you are ahead of the game and are set for Sunday but if you're not, don't fret. I've compiled a list of gifts that I think will make any mom smile and if not, then you can blame me for the terrible gift idea.
Here are just a few things that I think would be great gifts to give any mom out there.
All photos are owned by Proper Hunt LLC unless stated otherwise. Please email me and cite Proper Hunt if you'd like to use any of the photos taken by me. Thank you!
What I'm Fancying
I'm loving this new Leopard print from Caitlin McGauley.
Shh, don't tell Emma but I kind of want these Altus pugs.
The simple yet sweet design of this round jute rug makes it perfect for summer.
Michael Aram 'Lemonwood' Soy Wax Candle
