The Kitchen and Family Room: The Reveal

Back in January I mentioned that we were going to begin decorating the house we moved in a little over a year ago.  There is SO much to do so we decided to take it room by room.  The first stop? The kitchen and family room.  These are the two rooms that we spend the most amount of time in so it made sense to start there.  

When I met with my designers from Hovie Interiors, I told them that I wanted a space that people never wanted to leave.  I want my guests to feel like they can kick off their shoes, pour a glass of wine and sit for hours.  I have a thing for The Redbury in LA and love how they mix patterns and textures to create an unexpected yet cozy feel.  And of course, it had to be practical too with three little ones running around.

They went BEYOND all expectations with what they put together.  I think they may have gone into my mind and pulled everything I love out.  I already shared with you the chandelier, which was the first purchase and kicked off what was such a great experience.  Here is a look and what we did.

Yes, Minnie Mouse insisted on taking a nap on the new couch

Family Room: Sofa: Room & Board with custom fabric 'total' / Chairs: Room & Board / Coffee Table: Planks USA (custom) / Rug: Crate and Barrel / Pillows: Custom and Vintage / Throw Blanket: Restoration Hardware / Family Photo: Photo by Savvy in San Francisco, canvas by Costco / Harper's Bazaar Print: All Posters / San Francisco Print: Etsy

The kitchen: Chandelier: Vintage / Barstools: Planks USA (custom) / Table: Comforts of Home (custom) / Rug: Ballard Designs

We are still looking for the perfect light to hang in the family room and need to order the bench for behind the couch but it feels amazing to have two rooms done in the house!  What's next?  This lovely room.

Our living room as been sitting empty since we moved in and I cannot wait to fill it, though we will be taking a breather for a little bit (keeping the hubby happy is a must).  Our designers already have so many fun ideas though!  Slowly but surely, this house is becoming a home.  In the meantime, I am thinking I should take advantage of the open space and throw a party, this being the dance room.  DJ in the corner and a dance floor to protect the wood.  Wouldn't that be perfect?!

P.S. Taking photos of rooms is SO hard!  I have a lot of respect for all home magazines now.

A Place to Eat

Now that we are unpacked and settled into the new place, we need a LOT of furniture.  There is no way we are going to be able to do this all at once so I am starting with the kitchen since it is almost done.  The one thing we desperately need is a new kitchen table.  The one we had broke (thank you Baby Girl) and I was not willing to buy a new one, knowing that we were moving.  A couple weeks ago I went to Comforts of Home, an Orange County based custom furniture store and came across this little floor model (sorry, iPhone quality).

Refurbished wood?  Check.  Bench seating on one side?  Check.  Can be made to fit 6 people?  Check.  This table was perfect.  Yes, we need to wait 4-6 weeks to get it, which means a few more meals at the dining room table (that thing has been used and abused by my kids), but it will be worth the wait.  I think it is going to look great in the new kitchen and being a family of 5, we will finally have a kitchen table we can ALL sit around comfortably.  To finish out the look, I ordered this rug (in the navy stripe) to sit underneath the table.

Ballard Designs Striped Braided Indoor/Outdoor Rug

And with these two purchases, the kitchen will be finished!  Next stop, the family room!  But for right now I will be taking a little bit of a furniture break, compliments of my financial advisor (aka. hubby).

Midnight in Paris

Have you seen this movie?

I am obsessed.

I watched it on the flight home from France (Remember that trip here, here, here, and here?) and at the time was hoping the plane would turn around and take me back.  The soundtrack is also incredible and I call it my musical xanax.

This movie and music remind me of just how much I just adore France.  I am inspired by French design, love French fashion, enjoy French wine and dream of living in the French countryside.  I may not be able to go there again right away, but there is plenty of items that can take me back for just a bit.

ASOS Bonjour Sweater

French Bistro Tray

Plain Patent Flats

Bouchard Pere and Fils Wine
One of our wine tasting stops in Beune.  Amazing.

Chanel No. 5

The uber-exciting Kid's (and Mom's) Day Out is TOMORROW at Bloomingdale's South Coast Plaza.  Click here for all the details and I hope to see you there!