Fall Project

I am relishing every moment of this beautiful summer (that we all in the northeast earned every moment of...) However, when I do think of Fall I think a new project is in order. Our "media" room (ok the large ugly recliner and flat screen tv room) needs a facelift. Primarily of the awfully bland ceiling and wall FLAT paint the previous homeowner, a housepainter, used in this room. What we do have going for us is the great hardwood floor, an 8x10 Pottery Barn Bridget rug in shades of porcelain blue, expresso and ivory and good windows (although window treatmeants are a whole notha' post!) There are also faux beams running the length of the room and I'm not sure whether to hide them or accentuate them....not a fan of the lodge/cabin look. OH...and every wall has an opening, there is not an "accent" wall, so we really can be adventurous! Any ideas? I am not opposed to color or prints, in fact I love them, I just don't want to compete with the rug.....it cost enough where I'd like to get a few years out of it before I start yearning for another.....

Ocean Gate & House

In 1998, I purchased a 1915 2-bedroom bungalow in Ocean Gate, NJ (OG). It was the perfect home for a then single 25yo with a good downpayment and hardly any income(!). It had a 1-bedroom cottage in the rear that was renting for $500 per month. Adorable house with great possibility; a waterview in the rear and a block to the beach. Lived/loved there for 11 years and you don't know what you have til' it's gone....

Now that we are living in "the city", I miss the small-town charm and convenience of OG. Everyone truly does know each other in a small town....neighbors were like family; postal workers, market employees and and the bartenders knew your name and served up what you needed before you knew what you needed. In the summer it was "Shangri-La-ic"...fireworks, flags, sea grass, horse & buggy rides, barbecues, ice cream from the market, quiet afternoons reading on the porch and beers in the driveway. In the winter it was cold and gray (in a good way), cozy and candles burning, and there was always the Anchor Inn on a snowday.

With time my family grew and being practical, we could not stay in the town that is the best kept secret along the whole coast of this state. I cannot even bring myself to drive through right now and its been a year....I may never be able to go by the Ocean Gate house ever again.

I take comfort that the current owners have done good things with the place(or so I've heard), things I could not attempt or afford. So in the meantime, I will continue to thrive in the suburbs; appreciate my square footage, pool, closets, dishwasher....all of the things I so desperately needed...or so I thought.

Brennan's Room

Brennan Dennis was born on October 20th, 2010, the most amazing day of my life. Prior to Brennan's birth, Hubby and I had a very stressful year of selling our old home (still miss it) and purchasing our new one (living with grandma, dealing with crooked mortgage brokers, etc...). We finally moved into our dream home on August 10, 2010. Lucky for me, Brennan's room was a mess and had to be rehabbed from scratch....yay~PROJECT!

God, how I wish I had taken before pics of the odd dark grey-paneled walls and turquoise carpet and funky ceiling fan built into the ceiling drywall..........BUT I didn't, so I can only hope the description will suffice!

I knew that Brennan's room was going to be Bungalow Gold from Eddie Bauer/Lowes, inspired by our Ocean Gate bedroom and my favorite color EVER. It's just got good karma....and I have since convinced my bff to paint her master with it....

Along with the giraffe pillows from Pier 1 which I thought were a steal (they weren't) and my beloved Country Curtains (Moire Plaid in Ginger), I hope I have created a room that will see Brennan through his formidable years....or until I move him and his brother in together to create an inspired guest room! Not for a little while anywhile ;)

Also have to give a large shout-out to My Baby's Crib in Howell, NJ, for providing a less chaotic place to plan and purchase Brennan's furniture and the super-comfy rocker. Last but not least......the rattan giraffe (CHEAP!!) from the most random of places, Bob's Discount Furniture in Woodbridge!

The bedroom photo from the Ocean Gate house was the color inspiration for Brennan's room and others!