Another Ann Sloan Makeover: Before & After

                                         I love myself a good furniture makeover!

 Finding time to paint when you have a little baby is difficult, but made me enjoy painting this piece even more! We were in need of some more storage in our home and this small dresser sits perfectly in our living room. I used a mixture of Ann Sloan's French Linen and Miss Mustard Seed's Grain Sack. I distressed the top and sides of the dresser. I switched out the wood knobs for brass knobs. I love the way it came out. Hope you enjoy!

Partying over at The Scoop

Savvy Southern Style

This is How We Roll

Miss Mustard Seed

Thoughts from Alice

Starting Fresh in NY

A friend once told me..."There is no better feeling than being a New Yorker."

I didn't get it. What was so special about living in New York?

I lived in New Jersey for the past twenty years and did not understand how a "New Yorker" could have such adoration for their home state that rested only twenty minutes from where I resided. I slowly learned what my friend was talking about.

In 2013, I was faced with some "life changes" that forced me to begin looking for my first apartment. I was young, scared, and worried about how I was going to pay my rent and bills, but I was never so ready for the challenge. I wanted to leave my New Jersey past behind and begin my this new chapter of my life as a "New Yorker".

Apartment/House hunting can be a complete headache! I was strapped for time with a busy lifestyle and my apartment hunting was solely done online. How was I going to find a trustworthy real estate agent? Will the apartment look the same in person as it did online? Hundreds of questions started taking over my mind. I look back now and wish I had known about Compass. Compass is a well organized website that is full of New York City neighborhood knowledge (click HERE for Compass neighborhood guide). The website's clean lined silhouette allows for an easy visual and feel for what each neighborhood has to offer. Compass would have helped lessen my anxiety about all that I did NOT know about New York, plus their photos are fantastic!

Moving from a decently large home in New Jersey to a small apartment in New York brought about some spatial challenges. I had so many "things" that I wanted to bring with me, but no place to put it! I had to get creative. I was forced to think "outside of the box". I found storage solutions in the most random places, but it worked. I re-purposed items so my belongings would have more than one function. My home décor became more than just a pretty piece to fancy up my new place....and I loved it. I loved every square inch of my new home and it brought out my creative side!

I now know what being a "New Yorker" feels like. The adventure that lies around me is exhilarating. The history that remains in every building one walks past is astonishing and the feeling of "home" has never felt so right.

 I am so thrilled to be able to share this new chapter in New York with my new husband and precious baby girl.

Here are some solutions for decorating in small space living:

The kitchen table also functioned as a desk.

Baskets are a great way to store blankets and dog leashes :)

Apartment living rarely allows for a yard so get creative with displaying flowers and plants.

I use old luggage as seasonal clothing storage and as a great side table!

Vintage cups work great for office supplies!

Happy Day!
Alison

Glamour Organization

Part of my New Year's resolution (as I am sure many of you feel the same way) is to get organized! I feel that the past year has been taken over by so many wonderful life changes, but has left our physical world around us in unorganized chaos. A baby brings many new items to your home and leaves you with little time to organize your own belongings. So....with the hour that my princess gets her beauty rest, I get to some beauty organization. I'm going to call it Glamour Organization.

I have organization ADD, just as bad as I have decorating ADD. When I think of where to begin, I jump from room to room and closet to closet and unable to focus on one area at a time. I thought it would be best to categorize my organization strategy. I began with my earrings that I wear on a daily basis. I purchased this old worn bowl from Brimfield Flea Market years ago. I found it hiding in my closet and I thought it would be the perfect size to hold my earrings and wedding rings.

Next, I turned to my sunglass collection. Do you think I have a problem here??? I have about 5 more pairs in my car! This glass box used to house my jewelry and now the perfect space for my shades.

The next organization project was my baby Brie's headbands. I found that by the end of the week, there were headbands everywhere....in every drawer, on the floor, and tangled in a ball. I had another jewelry holder that would be perfect for her room. Here is how the headband arrangement turned out.

Here is some Glamour Organization  at its best...or at least my best :)

Next category is my paint/paintbrushes organization! I found these glass jars in our storage closet and have the perfect pile of mess to organize with these gems.

I have the itch to tackle a really great piece of furniture with some new MMS milk paint. I think some organization will give me some great motivation.

Enjoy this day.

xo

Alison

Partying over at The Dedicated House & The Scoop: Cedar Hill Farmhouse



Before & After: Living Room Tour

If you are an apartment renter, you know you have to make the most use of your space. Luckily, we found a very spacious apartment, large enough to be a small home. I still had to choose wisely with decorating and find ways to create more storage. Here is the living room section of our home. This room is one large open space with the kitchen and the dining room. Those Before & After's will be in separate posts. For now, I focused more on the details of the living room.
I hope you enjoy this space as much as we do :)         

                                               

Before

                                      

After

                              
                               

He is NEVER not with me.

Mackenzie Childs Coasters. My favorite thing in the living room & also matches my teapot shown here..One of my Favorite Things

I put a candle inside of one of my favorite pots. I love how the candle glows in the dark.



I purchased this bird's nest art at Brimfield for $1. I cut it to make it fit my favorite frame.

Coat/ Dog Leash hooks at the entranceway

A quick reminder every time I enter and leave our home.

The first purchase for the room. I LOVE old barns and knew it would be a great focal point for the room. Still need to get a better frame, but this works for now.

Partying over at Cedar Hill Farmhouse,  Savvy Southern Style, Organized 31, & Liz Marie Blog