5 Straighten Up

With a Saturday dedicated to accessorizing the new place (and continually cleaning up construction dust) we had to think fast when a droopy curtain rod came our way. Somewhere along the many moves of our young adult lives, apparently important pieces to this curtain rod were lost along the way.

No worries. We weren’t giving up on this one yet. Mainly because we didn’t feel like making the trip across town to pick up a new one at Target,

With the help of a couple of nails, we were in business. First, find a spot on the rod in need of a little additional support. Hammer the nail just far enough to provide sturdy support but also be sure to leave enough of a ledge for the rod to sit…




Use the top of the curtain panel to cover up the potential eye sore…



Much better!



-Cara

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6 Breakfast of Champions

Riddle me this. What breakfast food can you have without milk? The answer, my friends, is none. At least not in my small little world. Oatmeal? Not gonna happen. Cereal? Don’t think so.

With a massive void in our kitchen where a refrigerator should be but is not currently, breakfast pickings around these parts are slim.

As a gal who doesn’t ever skip breakfast, this was a big deal. Since we’ve taken up our new residence, Starbuck’s oatmeal and Community Bakery bagels have been holding me over until lunch. But yesterday morning, I was tired of outsourcing my first meal of each day. All I wanted was to enjoy a nice home cooked breakfast like any other gal: in my robe with zero makeup.

Enter the Ramen. Yes. You know where this is going…



My first “home cooked” meal in the new casa was a big bowl of Ramen noodles…for breakfast.



I loved every slurpy second of it.

     
-Cara

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3 Just Sold: 6601 Kenwood

Congrats to Justin & Hannah on the purchase of their first home!

 

It was an honor to help you find your first place and we know it will serve you well for years to come!

-Eric

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8 A Little Wilkerson Dialogue

More from the fun house…


Eric: (Groan) I can’t believe how much more we have to do around this place. I really didn’t think we had that much stuff.  I. Do. Not. Want. To. Move. Again. EVER

Cara: Yeah, right. You know good and well we will want to move again in a year or so.

Eric: No this time I mean it. No more moving.

Cara: (Deep in thought/Eric knows something strange is about to come out of my mouth) I think moving is like childbirth for us.

Eric: (Blank stare—I lost him at childbirth)

Cara: You know how Moms always say that the reason they have more than just one little nugget is because once you hold the little guy you forget about how frighteningly awful the experience was…

Eric: (Blank stare continues…)

Cara: Moving is our childbirth. (Proud of myself for such a brilliant analogy)

Eric: …

Cara: Now be sure and save those boxes since we will be moving again next year.


-Cara

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10 Tie Rack, Take Two

It’s always fun, and a little perplexing, to discover what previous owners leave behind once they scoot on out of dodge. Although nothing compares to Kelly’s find over at Tearing Up Houses, we’ve had our share of interesting encounters.

Take for instance this belt/tie rack that was graciously left for us in the master closet. Circa 1968, it was on its way to the trash can while I was unpacking a Ziploc bag full of jewelry…

 
BUT after tightening a few screws and shifting slightly to the right (my side of the closet. Eric has other plans for his bling…kidding), I was pretty happy with my new jewelry station.



-Cara

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3 Life Lessons from the Construction Site

1. Pretty nails (the kind you grow on your fingers, not the kind you smash with a hammer) and construction sites do not go hand in hand.

2. Old toilets cannot handle massive amounts of toilet paper like fancy new ones can.

3. If you leave the cable man unattended, he might be tempted to drill holes in your recently refinished hardwood floors. We may or may not have a voodoo doll with his name on it. Only kidding…sort of.

-Cara

We’ll be back bearing pictures tomorrow!

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2 Casa Moxie’s Cre8tive Challenge

I’ve been a bad blog friend. With the big move consuming my life, I’ve failed to properly promote Casa Moxie’s Cre8tive Challenge until now BUT it’s not too late to enter! See below…

Casa Moxie is excited to be hosting the Cre8tive Design Challenge. Live the Home Life, along with three other fellow design bloggers, will be creating design solutions for your rooms that are in need of help. Once we have a few photos submitted, we will select one photo per month, and one of you lucky readers will be selected. The photo of the month will have a mood board designed for it by three different design bloggers! Find your desperate interiors and send your picture over to cre8tive@casamoxie.com with the subject line: "Cre8tive Design Challenge". The first deadline for photos is February 28th, 2010.

I know all of you have a room or two you are dying to spruce up (I know we do!), so be sure to enter and good luck!

-Cara

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4 Little Loves

We’ve had the most fun over the past few weeks learning our new house. For better or worse (and there have been a few “worse” moments), it’s the little details that we didn’t initially notice but discovered once we finally got down to the nitty gritty that remind us of why we were drawn to the house in the first place.

Here are a few of the little loves that captured my home loving heart.

This lovely little light fixture greets you as your enter the home. Eric was not a huge fan at first, but I think it’s (secretly) growing on him. However, it won’t stay in it’s original location for long. We have another plan in mind for this little lady…

 

The built-in shoe racks in both bedroom closets were an added perk considering a home of this age and well-kept-but-over-the-top-grandma-feel came well before Elfa closet systems…

 

We all know good and well that the pink bathroom has to go as soon as our pocketbooks allow, but I think the original fixtures are pretty charming…




-Cara

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5 Check it out…

I'm in hardwood heaven! Enjoy a few before and afters as I continue hauling boxes across town. Please pardon the dust…






 




Not an ounce of scary green carpet remains in this abode and that, my friends, is a great feeling.

-Cara

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1 Hello blogger…

   
- Wee Birdy: When Eric saw these bird portraits over my shoulder he lost it. Put an animal in clothing and he turns into a pile of giggles.
- Design Esquire: A delightful makeover for a charming chair duo.
-

Lovely Clusters: I am craving springtime in the worst way and these bedrooms were just the fix I needed.

- Brooklyn Limestone: Fantastic dining room before & after. Love the light fixture idea!
- Knock Off Wood: Plans for Pottery Barn’s Bedford secretary hutch.


-Cara

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5 Quick Question: What kind of pack rat are you?

All this week, I’ve been staring at boxes. Boxes in the living room. Boxes in the bedroom. Boxes in the office. Boxes. We kick off the big move on Monday and that means we have another full week of boxes waiting for us.

What’s your moving strategy? Do you push forward and knock it all out at once? Do you take your time arranging until everything feels just right? Are boxes still piled in your garage from a move five years ago? We want to know everything!

-Cara

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6 Post of Note: Design Sponge

Lovely before and after brought to us by the delightful Design Sponge…

-Cara

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2 Just Listed: 7501 Kingwood

This fabulous 4 bedroom/3 bath home was taken to the studs in 2005 and extensively remodeled. With an open layout, this house has restored hardwood floors, recessed lighting throughout, built-in surround sound, a wood burning fireplace, and so much storage! The kitchen boasts top of the line stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, and custom cabinetry. Don't miss the fantastic view of the valley, two-tier deck, and the privacy that this home has to offer. Enjoy being in the trees and watching the deer walk in the yard.

Price: $439,900

Click here for more information and photos of this wonderful home!

-Eric

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6 Mike Said No

When word floated through the grapevine that our floors were stained and smothered with the first coat of polyurethane, I rushed over to sneak a peak…but Mike the hardwoods man said no. Mike’s orders were expected but a buzz kill nonetheless. I obeyed.


I was able to bend my neck around the corner to catch a glimpse of the dining room. Glorious!

-Cara

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3 An Unlikely Friendship

I’m veering away from the home side of life to bring you something very special today. On a recent expedition to find the perfect wedding dress for my sister, we encountered this little friend. Notice anything…

Look closely…

It’s a little mouse and big cat best friend combo pack! We couldn’t believe our eyes and thought surely the cat was about to pounce on his lunch. Not the case. They continued to bask in the sun long after we were forced to pull ourselves away from this unlikely friendship.

 

-Cara

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4 Progress is Beautiful

This rehabilitation train is rolling right along. Good thing, since we are moving in T minus 7 days! A quick update on the front of the house before we break into the good stuff. The awful rot iron has been replaced with lovely new columns…

 
Never before have we been so happy to clutter up a carport. Adios carpet…

         
…hello hardwoods! I’ve been dreaming of you. Sanded and just about ready for staining, I am glad that Eric was the only unfortunate soul that had to witness my happy dance.

 
Next came time to lock in a stain of choice. The first two options were a bit more ashy than the look we were going for. What do you think? Did we make the right decision?
   

-Cara

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1 Just Listed: 1220 Kavanaugh in Hillcrest

A beautiful home in Historic Hillcrest! Extensively remodeled, this 3 bedroom/2.5 bath home features beautiful hardwoods floors, two fireplaces, custom built-ins, plantation shutters and new crown moulding throughout the home. Gutted to the studs, the kitchen boasts custom cabinetry with full extension drawers, top of the line appliances, travertine backsplash and silestone countertops. Don’t miss the master suite with large walk-in closet and remodeled bath with a jetted tub and steamer shower door!

Price: $475,000
 

        
Click here for more photos and information on this beautiful home!

-Eric & Cara

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