map quest

This new craigslist dresser sat empty for several weeks. Mostly because I wanted to thoroughly clean it, inside and out, before filling it with the boys' clothes.

I had only quickly wiped it down when I brought it home, but I removed loads more dirt and grime with a mixture of warm water, vinegar and liquid dawn.

I was sort of on a roll, so I decided to line the drawers with old National Geographic maps I bought on the cheap on ebay years ago. (For awhile, those same maps lined the walls of Jonah and Owen's room, but I took them down when we repainted a few years ago.) 
Since the drawers have that curved front, I had to create a template with some brown kraft paper first, then traced that onto the maps and cut them out. 
I also used 505 adhesive spray to adhere the maps to the drawers. That way there will be no shifting, and the maps, which were previously folded, can lay perfectly smooth and flat. (Tip: spray the map, not the wood.) The spray is a temporary adhesive, so the maps can be removed easily. The whole process was trickier than you might think. (The spray glue was easy. The template cutting was the tricky part because each drawer is not exactly the same size. Slight discrepancies meant lots of trimming.)

I don't usually line my dresser drawers. I know some people do, but I have never really seen the need. Until now. It just seemed like the old drawers, though newly clean, needed a buffer before putting little boys' clothes in them. 

That was a good theory until I realized I was physically and mentally done with this project before getting to the big drawers on the bottom. They remain unlined. And full of clothes. 

Even after my big scrub-down, the dresser still probably needs a good drawer freshener. Maybe some cedar. Also painting is not out of the question. That's just on the back burner for now.

wingback win

I just bought this wingback chair over the weekend. Yes, it's another Craigslist find. It is from 1960, and in super condition! The cushioning is even in great shape, which means it's comfortable, and that's Mark's first and foremost furniture requirement. (A $50 price tag is a close second.)

We were going to store it in the garage until I could get it re-upholstered, but I wanted to see how it looked in the living room. I didn't say anything to the kids - just let them discover it on their own. Each one came in and was surprised, then sat down and loved it. I can't keep them off of it now. It kind of bothers me that I don't actually know where it's been for the last 53 years (I bought it through a Craigslist consignment dealer), and I'm letting my kids crawl all over it, but I do love having it in the house. I'm actually loving the pink too.

Unfortunately, Mark's third furniture requirement is no pink.

impulse craigslist purchase

Yesterday, I was looking for chairs on craigslist. I got side tracked and found this gem of a dresser. I quickly called and made an offer, lower than the asking price, and jumped in the car to go pick it up. In my excitement, I probably offered too much, because the owner took it without counter-offering, and offered to throw a matching headboard in for free. (I didn't take it). Oh well. I still love it. 

Now I'm trying to decide if I should paint the wood. Everything is in its original 1954 condition, including the contrasting white drawers, and gold legs and hardware; so those would all stay. But the rest of the wood/veneer dresser is just ok. If I do paint, I'm not even sure what color I'd use. Mark is suggesting I live with it for awhile to really be sure painting is the way to go. Any advice?

The owner told me this piece graced the cover of Drexel Furniture's 1954 catalog. He said he was a picker and he had done his research. I can't find any evidence of that, but I want to believe him. Just look at those concave top drawers.

Sidenote: Hank launched a grand fit when we moved his old dresser out, and this one in. He has a hard time with new anything. His old dresser is a 50+ year old hand-me-down, but lacks any character and has at least 12 layers of dirty white paint by its previous owners.

instagram living room

I am in limbo with our living room. (For reference, this is what the room used to look like.) We have recently made a lot of changes that I like, but I still have some ideas that haven't come to fruition.  Namely, new upholstered chairs, a rug for the entryway, and curtains. Maybe sheer roman shades too. Maybe a giant leaning mirror to the right of the piano (I found the perfect one at Ikea.)

I ordered the couch from Alice Lane and I am very happy with it.

We bought this glider when the twins were born. It was in the bedroom forever, and now it is sort of a place saver. There's just too much gray furniture in here now.

I found that brown and white basket at Target. The kids sometimes use it as a garbage can. It is not a garbage can.

This is the entry. I have purchased 3 rugs for this area, and returned 2. The 3rd is a gray and cream striped one from Crate and Barrel that has found a permanent home in the master bedroom. It just seemed like it would look too dirty, too quickly with dusty feet coming in and out the front door. You can click on my Pinterest link on my sidebar, and see all the other rugs I am considering, under home again. This side table is from overstock.

Here'e a rug I just discovered today and I really love it! I'm not convinced I would like it with my paint color. In fact, my rug judgment has failed me thus far, so I cannot be trusted. But it's just so pretty. And I wasn't even looking for a Native American-style rug. That's the beauty of pinterest. (thanks Abby and Brooke White).

 My sister gave me this temple artwork for Christmas. I love it.

And there you have it. More than you wanted to know about my living room.

monte

this chair is on my mind. wouldn't it be cute in charcoal?

for you jen

Some more shots of the room. Colorful, no? I just bought the blue pillows at Marshall's ($15) to try to tie the yellow couch in better. As Mark would say, "It's lipstick on a pig." But not specifically about this. Mark does not mind the yellow couch. I actually don't completely dislike it either, but I think it's too much for this room. (too big, too yellow, too faded, too ripped).

chairway to heaven

We* desperately** need*** some new living room chairs. These are my favorites from Room and Board. They are a bit steep, especially since we need*** two. And while I have seen similar shapes at less expensive stores, the fabrics are never as pretty, or the quality is likely not great. The best part is these chairs can be made with any of R&B's extensive fabric collection. But I am quite pleased that they come stocked and ready to go in the above fabrics. The Seymour chair also comes stocked in Million Spa which is a bluish version of the smoke above. Love love love.

*I use this term loosely. It could also mean "I."
**On a good day, husband would say "maybe" and "sort of"
***pine and yearn for

chair dreaming

I am loving the briar chair from cb2. I don't know if I have the gusto to order it online. Emily, did you visit cb2 while in Chicago? You did? Oh good. What did you think? Was it comfortable? Will it look nice in my family room? When will it be on sale, because $700 is a little high for cb2 don't you think?