House Tour Thief

Our little trip to Chicago was short and sweet, and since our return, it feels like our peaceful summer has come to an abrupt halt! This week has been insanely busy, and I don't think I'll be catching my breath until the middle of next week - when school begins. I really missed blogging the last few days, but took a very necessary break. I am super excited about sharing my teacup collection with you next week, and hopefully a few reader collections will soon be appearing in my inbox!

Now, about my stolen house tour...

I ran across Jerusalem's sweet blog a while back, and have been wanting to share the house tour that she prepared for Cookie - with you all. So, for those of you who follow my little life or Cookie's nesting blog - I apologize for the house tour repeat, but it is SO worth sharing with the rest of you! I would encourage you all to check out Jerusalem's blog and etsy shop.



I love how she uses vintage maps throughout her home, and did you notice the hangers she used to display art, in the photo on the right?!



There are five things I would like to point out from this particular photo - the dress, the vintage hankies on the lampshade, the pink luggage rack, the vintage typewriter, and the map. Great finds, Jerusalem!



Don't you love the banner on the fireplace? You can purchase similar items from her etsy shop.



I love the red door against the delicious wall color. It reminds me of this.



LOVE the globes and hot air balloon display!



I really like the map, candlesticks, lamp, window treatment, and bench.



Hooray for mismatched chairs!



I want that cute "BAKE" sign hanging in the window.



Great use of color! I'm adoring the display on the right. So pickin' cute!



It feels like there is a lot of love in this post, but I LOVE layers of bedding and pillows. Her master bedroom looks so inviting.



Look at her boys' room! The window treatments are fabulous, along with more layered bedding, and great pendants. This is a boys' room I will definitely keep on file! Click here to see the original tour.

Images: my little life / nesting

Peekin' On Pickin' - Alexis and Evan's Place

I remember meeting Alexis for the first time at freshman orientation in design school. We ended up sitting near each other while registering for classes, so we chatted a bit, and basically scheduled all the same courses. We were a little apprehensive about starting up at a new campus, so we met over the summer break to take a little tour. I quickly found out that I had met a fantastic shopping partner, a great study buddy, and a wonderful friend.

Alexis and I had a lot of laughs over gigantic pizza slices from Pazzo's, shopping excursions where we tried on hideous jumpsuits just for kicks, and all around great conversations about everything from our quirky professors, to the men in our lives, and just about anything else that good friends discuss.

Now, Alexis is working as a Designer in Lexington, and she is married to her high school sweetheart! They make an adorable couple, and I'm so excited to share their fabulous home with you today. Go ahead. Take a peek! But seriously, pleeeeeeease don't forget to sign the Guestbook (a.k.a. Comments). Just take the time to point out one or two things that you enjoyed seeing, or just gush about her china collection with me...I'm lovin' it!


Well, here we are - in the living room! I love her big comfy pillows on the sofa, and I recognize those beautiful window treatments from her Christmas photo last year.


You know, I have been on a "mismatched chair kick" lately - so I enjoyed seeing her setup around the dining table. Since they're both black, the look is unified - but I love the variety in shape. (By the way - "unity" and "variety" are two of the design principles Alexis and I memorized together!)


Great chair!

I love the mirror, and I'm never opposed to fresh flowers!

Okay, I LOVE the story behind this china. Her mom started her on the collection when she turned 21, and the pattern just happens to be named "Alexis", by Noritake. It was discontinued around the 1930's, and Alexis is still collecting pieces as they become available. Isn't it beeeautiful?! She also received "Alexis" glassware by Fostoria for her 21st Birthday (discontinued between 1909 and 1925). I love pieces with a story, and antiques with a history! I would love to keep this idea in mind for Kalia, but I highly doubt there will ever be a pattern with her name - unless I design it myself!

Gorgeous china cabinet. Gorgeous china.

This is her wedding china - "Pearl Innocence" by Lenox. Ahhhh, I love china!

Ta-da! The guestroom. Pretty bed and bedding!

Well, I'm a sucker for damask. Love the shower curtain... Hey! Does this remind you of Rebekka's window treatments?!

Welcome to the Master Bedroom - another damask lover's paradise!

Cute bench! I would totally use that to put on my shoes.

Many thanks to Alexis for taking the time to share these photos. It was quite an enjoyable tour!

Peekin' On Pickin' - Angela's Place

After starting off as a Psychology major at one school, I transferred to another to study Interior Design - and that's where I met Angela. We took our very first Freshman Design Studio together...where we spent about 4 hours, two or three days a week, slaving over projects. Angela and I are just kindred spirits - and it didn't take us long to hit it off in class.

Before our second year of school, the apartment right next door to Angela opened up, and she convinced me to jump on it - so we became neighbors. We just loved having our very own places to decorate, but a best friend living right next door. It was like having a roommate, without actually having to compromise on anything! We would always come home from dates, and run to the other's door to chat...or gripe about projects and professors after class...or help each other out in order to meet deadlines...or just be together while working on our projects and watching Anne of Green Gables, or The Sound of Music. Sometimes we dream about going back to our "apartment days" again, because we got to hang out all the time, and those apartments were so darn cute!

Even after I got married and moved out, we kept up at least a weekly visit. Every Tuesday she would come to my place, and we would have a girls' night. I really miss those times.

Now, Angela is actually living in the house right next to our old apartments, and her place is like a miniature museum, or Antiques shop! There are so many pieces of art and trinkets to look at - it's just fascinating. I'm so glad she was willing to welcome us in for a house tour. I hope you enjoy your visit, and please don't forget to sign the Guestbook! (a.k.a. Comments)


Welcome to the living room!

The picture in front of her fireplace is my absolute favorite. A photo doesn't do it justice...the colors are so vibrant, and it's just a unique piece.

You get a little sneak peek into the dining room on this one. The cabinet in the corner is full of antique finds and trinkets.

Aren't her chairs unique? You can't really see much of her buffet in this photo, but I'm in love with it. I already claimed it, if she ever decides to part with the piece.

Well, I know that I said the matador picture is my favorite, but I think the Huldah Cherry paintings would have to trump it. I remember the day that Angela received her first Huldah Cherry...she called me over to see it, and told me that I would absolutely fall in love. Oh, did I ever! If her big one ever goes missing...you'll know where to find it! I found some at a flea market, and couldn't pass them up. I thought about giving them to Angela as a gift, but just couldn't part with them! Now they're in Kalia's room, and I have started my own collection.

I really like the wallpaper in this room. Oh, and this is kind of a bonus room right off the kitchen. The dining room is on the other side of the kitchen.

Diggin' the circus poster!

You can tell she loves color - all of her rooms are so vibrant. I have to take credit for finding the cute little Asian lamps on each side of the bed. I saw them at an Antiques shop, and they just screamed "Angela"! I believe her bedding is from Anthropologie. She actually has a couple sets from Anthro.

I love the color of blue on this cabinet.

Here is her little cigar box display. I love the art!

This is my room! Well, this is where I stay when I visit, anyway.

Another unique cabinet!

I think this is in her foyer.

A little corner of the kitchen...and a view of the back door.

Here's the office. Check out the size of that lamp! I was with her for that purchase, and we could hardly get the shade through the door to take it home! I love the black desk, and the rug.

Angela has big plans for this mirror...there is a loft apartment above her Antiques Store, and this is going to have its place there, someday. Hopefully, we'll have another tour in the future - of this fabulous loft!

Peekin' On Pickin' - Rebekka and Manley's Place

Rebekka was my very first College roommate, and is just one of the coolest people I have ever known. Shortly after we received our rooming assignment, we were e-mailing back and forth about how we wanted to decorate our little dorm "cell", and let me tell you - it was an incredible space! At least we thought so, at the time. I suppose it's not difficult to improve a room with yellowish-white concrete walls and hideous metal closet doors! We had some good times in that room.

Rebekka taught me some important life lessons, such as how to create the perfect sweet and salty combo by adding M&M's to a bag of popcorn. The candies melt so nicely on the inside, but the little colored shells keep them from melting in your hand. I haven't eaten plain popcorn since Freshman year! She also introduced me to some great music. I think I was able to teach her a thing or two as well...like how to make a s'more in the microwave. I am also responsible for introducing her to the snow plow. I am quite familiar with them, being from Chicago and all, while she is a Southern gal from Birmingham, where snow plow sightings are apparently not so common.

Rebekka transferred to another College for Sophomore year, and somehow, I always imagined that she would become a painter, or graphic designer. She is indeed an artist, but her canvas is the kitchen. She found herself in Culinary School, and is working as a personal chef in Nashville.

I have never been able to see Rebekka's place in Tennessee, but I knew her well enough to know that it would be cute - and I was absolutely right! I asked her to share a few photos for a house tour. If you stop in for a visit, please sign the Guestbook! (a.k.a. Comments) Thanks for dropping by - y'all!


Beautiful. I LOVE the window treatments!


Diggin' the gold chair and the birdcage. Good idea, Rebekka! I love the color of the artwork.


What a cute dining space! I'm sure you could have guessed that I adore the chandelier.


Great choice in paint color, and towels. I believe we saw the cute tiles at Maggie's place too!


Loving the twin beds, table, wall color...


Pretty bedding! I wouldn't mind being a guest in this room.


Great Master bedroom! The drapes are elegant, as is the wall color with the bedding. I think the headboard is Domino-esque! (Domino was my favorite magazine, but is no longer being published. Darn the economy!)


Isn't that a great photo collage? Awwww...I see at least one of Rebekka and Manley! I like the lighting too.


Lovin' the piggy bank!

Thanks to Rebekka for contributing to my 100th blog post. Happy Hundred!

Peekin' on Pickin' - Miss Kate's Place

Well, I don't actually know Miss Kate personally, but I found photos of her house on flickr, and asked permission to share a few. She is the owner of The Flying Cupcake, AND Girly Chic Boutique in Indianapolis. I just adore her vintage style, and thought you would enjoy a mini house tour today. I would really appreciate it if you would kindly sign the "Guestbook" before you leave! (a.k.a. Comments) And now for the tour...


I LOVE how she painted the pink and white checkerboard floor, don't you?!


Lovin' the wallpaper.


As the caption for this photo on flickr, Miss Kate said that her boyfriend often looks at this rack and asks "why?" I personally enjoyed seeing her vintage prom dresses!


I LOVE the pink and white dollhouse. I feel inspired to give my black, white, and gray dollhouse a makeover!


I want the white sofa.


Don't you love this corner?!