1 Nightmare of a Nightstand

>> Thursday, December 31, 2009

Next up on the Rehabilitation Station to-do list, this curious case. Rescued from the side of the road—a polite was of staying picked out of a stranger’s trash—this nightstand desperately needs to ditch the mint chocolate chip look. We can help with that! 

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We still have a smidge of a secret up our sleeve and this little partner fits right into our master plan. What’s that? You want in on the scoop? All in good time, my friend.

-Cara

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1 Redesigned to Sell: Living Room

>> Wednesday, December 30, 2009

As Realtors, Eric and I know firsthand that preparing a home for sale can be overwhelming at times. Whether planning to sell in one month or five years, there are always little things you can do to make your home more appealing to buyers.

Take for example this living room. A cozy spot just screaming with potential…

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Ready for the game plan? Here we go…

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1. Freshen up with paint. We’ve said it once, and we’ll say it again. The quickest, and most likely least expensive, way to change the look of any room is to get down and dirty with a paint brush. For this room, I would love to see a warm, neutral color on the walls. 

The fireplace is looking a bit charred in places and a coat of white paint would not only make the room feel fresh and clean but larger as well.

While we have our paint cans out, let’s cruise on over to the fantastic built ins. By painting the wall behind the shelves one shade darker than the rest of the walls, we’ll add visual interest and draw the eye to this area.

All paint colors above by Valspar.

2. When selling a home, take the TV down from the mantle. Not only can you use this space to cozy up a room with a great mirror or piece of art, like the mirror and flat wood shelf shown above from Target, but in many instances when a TV is mounted to the wall, it then becomes a ”fixture” and a buyer may get the impression that the TV comes with the house. Go ahead and avoid a sticky situation in advance and find a temporary spot for the tube.

3. Declutter, declutter, and declutter again. To make a room feel as open as possible, take a look around and do your best to eliminate unnecessary objects taking up valuable square footage. The speakers in this room provide an excellent example of distracting space fillers. Go ahead and pack these babies up until you get settled in the new place.

4. Last but not least, cut down on personal items. While you want guests to admire photos of your recent family vacation, you want buyers to envision themselves living in your home. This can be difficult when photos of the current residents on their wedding day are scattered about. Use shelves and built ins to display a few decorative items such as books, vases and other home accents.


A few extras never hurt anyone…

Rug: West Elm

  Pillows: Target & Pier 1 Floor Lamp: Bed, Bath & Beyond



With just a few sprucing steps, this living room is primed and ready for a speedy sale at a higher price.

-Cara

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0 A Big Thanks to All You Pals & Gals…

>> Tuesday, December 29, 2009

…that nominated Live the Home Life for the 2009 Apartment Therapy Homies Awards.



We made it into the top 10% of all blogs nominated! While this doesn't put us in the finals, we are super stoked to be handed such an honor, being so new to the blog world and all.
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Now comes the tough decision. It’s time to vote for one of six over-the-moon-amazing blogs up for the award. Who to choose?!

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Voting begins Wednesday, December 30 at noon (EST). Click here to cast yours!

-Eric & Cara

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1 Double Trouble

I lovingly refer to this old-rundown-yet-oh-so-pinchably-handsome window as space filler on the cheap…

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What a fantastic green guy Apartment Therapy dug up! I currently have window-as-space-filler envy…

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-Cara

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0 Just Sold: 5720 N Country Club

Congratulations to Kim & Keith on the purchase of their new home in the Heights!

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-Eric

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1 ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas…

>> Monday, December 28, 2009

imageAnd all through the house.

Not a creature was stirring
except for poor Ralph.

White curtains were hung
‘round the windows with care.

But Ralph’s belly was rumbling,
and he didn’t care…

I bet by now you’re catching the drift of our little Christmas Eve adventure. We’ll just say that Ralph definitely lived up to his name when he, umm, Ralphed all over a curtain panel.

Maybe he caught a bug? Or just got a wee bit too excited about the Christmas toys to come? It’s anyone’s guess, but one thing was for sure: we had a dirty panel to scrub down.

Now, I know curtains are notorious for shrinking in the wash, but finding a drycleaner open on Christmas is a rare feat. I read all of the online product reviews and how-tos, but my stubborn side convinced the I’m-warning-you side that these curtains would not shrink.

After scrubbing, washing, line drying and ironing, my I’m-warning-you side quickly morphed into my I-told-you-so side…

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This shorty panel will soon find itself a nice new home behind the sofa, and if you are wondering if Ralph still received his presents after his untidy incident…


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You betcha. Spoiled. Rotten.

-Cara

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0 Party Time: A Very Purple New Year

>> Sunday, December 27, 2009

Thanks to Head of the Table for putting together this fabulous New Year’s tabletop. After Christmas comes and goes, we may all be willing to part with green and red for a bit. This little diddy of purple inspiration is just the ticket…

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-Cara

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1 Let’s Make a Deal: The Surveyor Floor Lamp

>> Saturday, December 26, 2009

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  Jayson Home & Garden $895.00   Wisteria $249.00


-Cara

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0 Gotta Have It: Floor Lamps

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Horchow
Bare Branch Floor Lamp  $975.00
Anthropologie
Fruiteria Floor Lamp  $398.00
   
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West Elm
Modern Floor Lamp  $229.00
Pottery Barn
Accordion Floor Lamp  $399.00



-Cara

Click here to nominate LTHL!

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0 Merry Christmas!

>> Friday, December 25, 2009

We hope your holiday is more like this…

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and less like this…

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We hope you have a wonderful Christmas and are able to enjoy time with family and friends at home, wherever home may be.



-Eric & Cara

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0 The Homies 2009 Nominations: Day 3

>> Thursday, December 24, 2009

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Hello friends,

 



This is your pal, Ralph the Elf, asking you to vote for Live the Home Life in Apartment Therapy’s 2009 Homies awards honoring home blogs. Just between you and me, I don’t usually dress like this, but Santa is coming tonight and I’m hoping for a few new toys.

Well, I have to go make sure June isn’t stealing the bones I buried behind the couch, but be sure to vote for Live the Home Life. Merry Christmas!

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-Ralph

Click here to nominate LTHL!

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0 Holiday Giveaway: Part Trois Winner!

image Thank you to everyone who entered the Holiday Giveaway: Part Trois for Nate Berkus’s inspiration packed book, Home Rules. We always love reading your comments.

Congrats to Ali who was randomly* selected as the big winner!

  I would love this book. Wow, a great book to read by a glowing fireplace during the holidays! Merry Christmas! I love reading your blog, and I too love decorating our 1st home!

It’s all yours, Ali!

Merry Christmas Eve to everyone, and we can’t wait for our next giveaway. The first for 2010!

-Eric & Cara

*Winning comment selected by random.org.

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1 Digging Out of a Mini-Rut

Ever get the feeling that what used to seem right, doesn’t any longer? I know you have felt my pain. Take for example Eric’s days of bachelorhood. Many single-guy appropriate decor choices that once were permissible, do not always qualify for married life. Case in point: Our now fabulous-if-I-do-say-so-myself TV console table (for the back story, click here and after story, click here).

We are semi-newlyweds after all, and every now and then I stumble across a bachelor no-no that I wouldn’t mind seeing go by the wayside. Let’s pay a visit to our coffee table gear. 

Pictures 1601But first! Want to see the stud I fell hard for? Check out this college fro… 


Oh. Yes. I know you are as mesmerized by those curly locks as I was, but we must stay on track.

When

Eric was a technically single college guy,

this bowl adorned with wicker whatcha-m-call-‘ems was pretty impressive…

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Currently, however, I was ready for a bit of table top tweaking, and last night seemed like a good night to dig ourselves out of a mini-bachelorhood rut. After scrounging up a few accessories, we were in business!

We hung onto the wicker balls as well as a stainless bowl—another bachelorhood purchase—to keep Eric’s manliness alive. I preferred a few inspirational decor books and a piece of coral from a recent trip to Mexico. I’d appreciate if you kept our sea life swindling a secret from customs…



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More often than not, newlyweds are challenged to combine the likes/dislikes of both husband and wife. Fortunately it’s not one way or the highway and both Eric & I can usually come to terms on our home style choices. Coffee table in point!

-Cara

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0 The Homies 2009 Nominations: Day 2

>> Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Alright! We are so thankful to all of you that already nominated Live the Home Life for the Apartment Therapy 2009 Homies awards honoring home blogs. Surprisingly, this little blog of ours is holding its own! The big guns are stomping us into the ground of course, but among smaller blogs, I think we can make this happen!

Nominations aren’t over yet! If you haven’t already put in your two cents, head on over to Apartment Therapy and pick your favorites…we hope LTHL will make your short list.

Click here to nominate LTHL! 

-Eric & Cara

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0 Homemade With Love

Don’t you just love handmade gifts? Knowing that the giver spent the time it took to whip up the gift thinking about the givee puts a happy feeling in my heart. Don’t be fooled. It is no easy task! The time, energy and skill required of a handmade gift makes the checkout line at Target a bit more tolerable in my book.

Imagine my delight when I was presented with the most adorable homemade gift I’ve seen in a long time. A big thank you to my aunt for this little treat…

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How stinkin’ cute is that?! I had to put this culinary number to work, so break and bake cookies were in order. Did you think I would make from scratch and risk covering my pretty new apron in flour? I think not…

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The pups of course were along for the ride. However, no sweets for these nuggets. Ralph & June prefer their veggies…
 

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In case you are playing the roll of hostess this holiday, you too may need a fancy apron of your own. Check out these cute as pie aprons from Etsy, store bought pie of course…

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-Cara

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