Dreams Dashed.

As I previously noted, I'm still looking for the perfect shower curtain for the guest bathroom. I actually had the perfect one thought up in my head once my husband suggested a solid blue curtain. Rather than solid (because let's be honest, that's just boring), I imagined a ruffled curtain that beautifully ombred from lighter to darker blue. I then googled it to see if it existed and I actually found it!! From Anthropologie of course. BUT -- it was from last year and is now literally sold out everywhere including ebay, amazon, or any other sites available. I'm so sad now...it's PERFECT!

I also read on several people's blog that they didn't want to pay over $100 on it so they made their own DIY versions of the curtain. Example:

Anthropologie ruffle in yellow

Anthropologie ruffle in blue

The latter one the person actually individually dyed the strips. Don't think I'll have the patience or skill to do that. The former yellow version she just bought 9 varying yellow strips of fabric. Maybe I can do that. I'll have to wipe the thick layer of dust off my sewing machine and relearn how to use it first. 

Another item of desire that I most likely won't buy is Restoration Hardware's Cloche with Babies. Man I want that cloche!! But it's $400!!! So ridiculous...

Fresh Paint.

It has been a long time coming, but I finally was able to finish the painting of our living/dining room with the help of some wonderful friends. It's the perfect taupe (technically, Cheyenne Rock). Here are the pictures of the living room from the process to the finished look:

We just pushed everything into the middle of the room and covered it all up.

And completed with everything moved back into place!

This is going to be our art wall. We've already collected many photos we want to put up, 

but just have to find the right frames. 

I haven't decided if I want to go simple and classic with all the same frames and thick matting,

or if I a more eclectic collection of frames.

Now just for fun, let's look at some OLD pictures of the space:

Wow the place looked awful before. But to be fair, I was only 19 years old and had no idea what I was doing. I'm so glad I finally have been able to redo the place. It even feels bigger even though I have more furniture in this room now!

One of the ladder shelves is in the family room and the other one I put in the entry way. I've been wanting a ladder for shoes for awhile now anyway, so this was perfect!

I also rearranged our master bedroom a bit and have been slowly bringing new elements to it. Now that the dining/living room is complete, it's just down to the bedrooms. It's been much easier to redo the guest bedroom, so our room will likely have to wait. However, below is an evolution of my books and that corner of the room behind the door:

 And this is the couch across from the armchair.

I also got new cushion covers for the other loveseat in the room:

I bought this shower curtain from West Elm (on the left) to replace the other one (on the right), but it's still now quite right. Sigh, looks like I'll have to keep looking. There seems to be too much white, says my husband. I'll start looking for a more blue dominant pattern.

At least the guest bedroom bed and table are finally set up and usable! 

Now I'm just looking for better bed sheet and duvet cover set. I'm figuring out the wall decor as well, in term of framed art and wall of bookshelves lining up to the ceiling.

Last quick note. Finally used this espresso maker and made a delicious iced cafe au lait. My new summer treat.