My Favorite Nook: Happy Hodgepodge Craft Room

I dare you to look at the rows of colorful bunting hung in this craft room and not smile!  Happiness courtesy of today's favorite nook from The Rosy Life.



What she said about it: "This nook is my craft/laundry room.  The washer/dryer are out of view in the picture but this room is multi-purposeful!  This room is located on the side of the house by the kitchen and pantry so it's nicely tucked away, separate from the bedrooms.  It's my favorite nook in the house! 

I think the words that describe it best are a "happy hodgepodge".  :) I love crafting of all kinds-sewing, painting,

paper crafts, photography, and upcycled decorating projects.  This room houses my favorite supplies, bright colors and fabrics, pictures, cards, and mementos that bring a smile to my face.  It's busting at the seams with as much happy inspiration as I can fit!  Just a peek into the room brightens my mood and gets my inspiration flowing."

Read all about it on: The Rosy Life

Take Away Design Tip: Look up! This room is long and narrow with limited wall space. I set or hung pictures, lamps, books, and knick-knacks at varying heights in the room to create many places for my eyes to wander.  

My Favorite Nook: Couch Corner

I think we can all relate to our favorite nook being that perfectly molded spot on the couch but this favorite nook from the blogger behind My Friend Staci is especially fun because its personality packed.



What she had to say: "My "nook" is more like the corner of my couch. In a cookie-cutter, 800-square foot apartment, there are not a lot of architectural details (read: NONE) that lend themselves to the creation of a real nook. I'm trying to keep an open layout so the place feels as spacious as possible.
Even so, I find myself in one particular place more often than not. The corner of my couch (a 1960's original passed down from my grandmother in Illinois) is where I spend a ton of my time. I use a desktop Mac for photo editing, but until I get a more comfortable desk chair, this is the destination for the bulk of my writing and working on my laptop. The vintage coffee table is where I put my feet up (I am not ashamed to admit) and the vintage navajo rug is one my parents received as a wedding gift! I love being surrounded by these items. I use my husband's acoustic drum for a side table and home for my bottomless cup of coffee; I have a John Derian milk crate (from Target) to corral some reading materials and headphones (my neighbor's TV is directly on the other side of the wall, and they love playing Call of Duty!). This vantage point also gives me a nice panorama of the whole apartment, including my gallery wall which makes me smile.While it might not be Pinterest's version of a favorite nook--it's not a windowseat or tucked into an eave--this is my "happy place!" "

Read all about it at: My Friend Staci

Take Away Design Tip: Using passed down pieces from loved ones thoughtfully can make any space that much more special.

Favorite Nook: Blue and beautiful boy's room

Today's nook has a vintage map AND a handsome baby boy in it so of course I'm going to love it.  The sweetest little nursery from the NewlyWoodwards is featured today.



What she had to say about it:  My favorite nook is in a corner my son's nursery where our old wooden rocker sits. The rocker was what my own mom rocked me in as a baby. And this is one of the most-frequented spots in our house since Henry was born in May. It's where I feed him, rock him, and watch him play. It's also where my husband and I relax and unwind at the end of the day with our son.

While I love the nook on its own, I especially love the view from my perch on the wooden rocker. I can see the entire nursery that we labored over for months preparing for Henry's arrival. It's a really happy space, filled with bright colors and happy patterns and special projects. It's probably a bit busy for some, but I love all the elements and it truly makes me smile every day. I love to see the fabrics and the artwork and the toys and the books.

It also is a happy reminder of all we have to be thankful for. Sometimes I feel like pinching myself.

Read all about it on: Newlywoodwards

Take Away Design Tip: You can still have a classic look and feel to a child's space without resorting to traditional baby furniture - go with pieces that suits your style!

My Favorite Nook: Hot Cocoa Corner

If its cold outside, this is the favorite nook for you.  Melaine of My Sweet Savannah has an entire dedicated nook to enjoying a steaming cup of hot chocolate.  Gimme, gimme.



What she had to say: "Our nook is in our kitchen. I have it set up as a coffee/hot cocoa bar most of the year. It works out great because the nook also houses the microwave, so it makes it really convenient when making a beverage. 

Read all about it on: My Sweet Savannah 

Take Away Design Tip: Keep like things together for a collected look. 

My Favorite Nook: Comfy Reading Corner

Today' favorite nook looks so warm and inviting to this sleep deprived mama that I just want to curl up and take a long snooze at her house.  Welcome Laurie of House to Your Home.

What she had to say about it: "It's in my son Cooper's room and it's where I've spent the majority of my time these last 3 months.  It's always going to be a space I'll remember getting to know my baby in!  I've read, nursed, snuggled and watched alot of Netflix in that corner!

I knew I'd be spending alot of time in this little area so I made sure I had a super comfortable chair a reading light with a very low watt in it so I wouldn't wake up my son but I'd be able to see him in the middle of the night and a small table for books and water and of course a blanket in case it got cold.  I also put an extension cord on the outlet behind the chair because I wanted to make sure I'd be able to plug in my computer, phone or kindle if I had to.  It was all about not having to get up if I didn't need to!"

Read all about it at: House to Your Home

Take Away Design Tip: Find the right piece of furniture for you needs even if its not the traditional piece.

My Favorite Nook: Sunny Snuggle Spot

Today's favorite nook is a great example of clean and simple design that can be striking at the same time.  Amy of Modern Chemistry shares a space she made just to enjoy her beautiful daughter Jane.

What she had to say: "This little nook is tucked away in a corner of our daughter's nursery. The oddly-shaped room has a little spot under the window that perfectly fits an XL twin bed. So we bought a simple bed frame and some bright bedding and made it into a perfect snuggle spot! I love spending time with our little one here. We read, play, and sometimes even nap. The window faces south so it is bright and sunny. There is a lot of laughter in this corner! And when our baby was having some sleep troubles early on, I was very grateful to have this soft spot to crash in the middle of the night!"

Read all about it on: Modern Chemistry

Take Away Design Tip: Don't underestimate the transforming power of white paint! The former owners had painted this room a purple color that we lived with for a while, but it had to go. I felt very strongly about painting the walls white (this is Moonlight White by Benjamin Moore) and the change it made was incredible.  

My Favorite Nook: A Wonderful Window Seat

Today's favorite nook owner needs no introduction - she is none other than Kate aka Centsataional Girl. Who isn't smitten with her beautiful spaces?  She recently finished her study and its just fabulous.



What she had to say about it: "I always wanted a window seat in our home so we fashioned one out of IKEA refrigerator cabinets.  Now it's where the kids do their afternoon reading or sit to work on puzzles or art."

Read all about it on: Centsational Girl

Take Away Design Tip: Ready made pieces with a little trim and a lot of style can mimic custom made millwork for a fraction of the cost.

My Favorite Nook: An Artful Entrance

Today's favorite nook is the landing space of a blogger I've been following for ages, Life Begins at Thirty, Right?  The beautiful art, use of space and graphic rug just makes me want to come over and stay awhile.

What she said about it: "My favourite nook is our front entrance. It is a very narrow space and we recently repainted it white and added a long, narrow console table to make the most of the space. It is my favourite because it home to the fabulous giant scissors print by Alanna Cavanagh and it (hopefully) encourages guests to step out of the tiny vestibule into our home.

Read all about it on: Life Begins at Thirty, Right?

Take Away Design tip: Make the most of the space that is available. We used to have a small, half-moon table in the front hall that made the entryway feel cramped and blah. The new console table actually has the same depth as the old table, but the shape of it really makes the narrow hallway feel more spacious.

My Favorite Nook: Faux Bois Wall

Today's nook showcases a fun faux bois wall treatment that totally makes this little girls room  unique from Primitive & Proper.

What she had to say: "This nook is in  corner of my daughter's room.  We have a Cape Cod style home, so there are lots of dormer window nooks.  Her room is in the back of the house, so she has a little nook where the roofline is pitched.  It is my favorite nook, because (I love faux bois so much! and) because it is a special little nook just for her- very magical and fairytale like with the mirror.  She often sits here to color, read, write, or just play in her mirror.  (She is 6).  I love that this corner can be something so special for her!"

Read all about it on: Primitive & Proper (and she shared the DIY on the paint technique at Remodelholic)

Take away design tip:  Scale matters! Think about what the best use of that space could be, and find pieces that will fit.  

My Favorite Nook: Stylish Music Room / Library

Today's favorite nook is a beautifully styled room from Back on Festive Road that combines this homeowners love of two subjects - books and music.  Just lovely!

What she said about it: "This room does dual duty as a library/music room.  My house was built in 1907 and this room would originally have been known as the parlor.  This room is my favorite because it is the last room that I decorated!  It's also special as it's where my kids create and play wonderful music.  I also love sitting in my chair reading (which I picked up for a screaming deal from Anthropologie) while sipping a G & T.

It's quite a difficult room to decorate because it has a corner fireplace, two massive pocket doors, a wall of windows, and just one long wall.  After 15 years of living in the house I finally realized what to do with the long wall; I hacked some Ikea Billy bookshelves together to make a floor to ceiling bookcase.  This helped ground the space and make it more functional.  I arranged some of the books by subject and some by color so as to not visually clutter that side of the room."

Read all about it on: Back on Festive Road

Take away design tip: Practical spaces can be beautiful - don't settle for less.

My Favorite Nook: Playhouse Under the Stairs

Today's favorite nook is the most adorable space from one of the best DIY bloggers out there, Jen of Rambling Renovators.



What she had to say about it: "My favorite nook in our house is a teeny tiny space I can barely fit into - its the little playhouse we created under the basement stairs for our 3 year old daughter Chloe. We originally planned to turn this area into additional storage but then realized it would be much more fun to make it into a secret hideaway. I imagined what I would love if I was a little girl and poured all of those ideas into this one wee space. From the scalloped awning I sewed, to the stenciling which took me days to complete, and the miniature 3D boxwood hedge her father made, everything in this nook was handmade and crafted with love. In decorating this space, I learned that good design doesn't have to happen on a grand scale. Little touches can add up to a big impact and with a bit of effort, the most uninteresting spaces can become magical. I remember playing under the stairs when I was a child and I hope my daughter creates her own fond memories in this little nook."

Read all about it on: Rambling Renovators.

Take Away Design Tip: No space is too small to make fabulous!

My Favorite Nook is back!

Thanks to some lovely blogger friends who volunteered to let us into the favorite corners of their homes, My Favorite Nook guest series is back.  Yea!

Here is a tiny peek at what's in store:

Stop over at their blogs to say hi to old favorites or mingle to make some new friends.

Rambling Renovators  /   Back on Festive Road  /    Primitive & Proper

Life Begins at Thirty, Right?  /   Centsational Girl   

Modern Chemistry  / House to Your Home  /   My Sweet Savannah   

NewlyWoodwards  /  My Friend Staci  /  The Rosy Life

What a difference a year makes...

One year ago today we were soaking in the experience of the lantern festival in Taiwan.  Before the big nighttime release, we joined the crowd to send our own wishes skyward: health, luck and a dragon baby (according to the Chinese zodiac, this past year was the year of the dragon which happens to be a a lucky one).



One year later, our wish is one month old.





What a difference a year makes!

Click here to read more about our trip to Taiwan or like Brooklyn Limestone on facebook to see more of our adventures in parenting.

Quick Project: Baby Laundry Bag

I'd been meaning to do this for a while but you know how it goes.  So between naps I printed the design up on tshirt transfer paper and ironed it onto a canvas bag that is just the right size for baby laundry right now.  When her laundry starts mixing with ours, I'll use this bag to cart around toys or another baby essentials.




Not many things on my to-do list can be accomplished in less than an hour but hooray for the things that can.  Somehow makes me feel more accomplished in my sleep deprived state.

A few more of my favorite projects from 2012

What better time to revisit the past than Groundhog's Day week?  (Am I the only person who wishes groundhog day were more a fun holiday?  Maybe we could all burn our New Years resolutions or make snowmen to celebrate?)  Anywho, following this post, here are a few more of my favorite projects in 2012...

A whale chalkboard for our shore kitchen...


A vintage coffee can tiered tray:


And my DIY face vases:


What were your favorites?

Color My Room: Keep the beige or go with gray?

Shhhh!  Don't tell Mr. Limestone but I've been itching to repaint our shore living room with a more dramatic driftwood gray tone. I don't dislike the color I have now but I think I'm ready for a change.

So when MyColortopia rolled out a new tool on their site that lets you upload a photo and virtually paint your room, I had to try it out. (Normally I would use photoshop to do the same thing but this tool is a lot easier.)  It's aptly called Color My Room and its perfect for mentally trying a color on for size without getting hands dirty.

I uploaded my photo, selected the areas to be painted and the tool gave me an idea of what it would look like...



So what do you think?  Keep the airy beige or go with the moody grey?

I tried a few gray tones before liking this one, Wild Truffle, best. Now the real question is whether it looks like anything like this in person. Wild Truffle looks a bit more green on the swatch than gray but maybe its one of those colors that look different on the wall (gray is such a tough nut to crack!). I know better than anyone to never trust a computer screen or paint swatch.  Decisions, decisions.

disclosure: I write for MyColortopia but all of the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.