If I only had a dollar...

And felt like moving to Indiana.  I would buy this place in an instant and bring it back to its glory.  Are you kidding me - the clap board siding, the porticos, the long skinny windows, the perfect pitch of the roof...I could go on.  The proportions of this farmhouse are simply perfection.

If you are in the Jeffersonville area, you simply must go Here and never second guess your dollar investment. 

Then, get to work (it needs alot of it - what dream house doesnt??).  As with any house, I believe you should start with the kitchen.  Here are the ingredients:

Obdviously, the Shaw Farmhouse Sink would sit under a large bank of windows.

Topped off by the classic Kohler Antique wall mount faucet.  It just needs a rustic, homemade bar of beesewax soap.

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Groves Brickworks Tile from Waterworks in Butler Grey.  Because its amazingly textural and different than the expected white, machine made subway tile.

A creamy "mushroom" laquered finish on the shaker panel cabinetry.  And please 86 the upper cabinets.  A few open shelves if you must.  And run the tile to the ceiling.

Cool, natural concrete countertops on the perimeter cabinetry.

No island necessary.  Just this Farmhouse Table from Restoration Hardware.

With these barstools (Overstock) underneath.

And finally, three of these beauties over the table.

Dont even get me started on what I would do with the bathroom.  



Dream a Little Dream

To put it mildly, my life has been a series of dreams come true the past few years.  Okay, maybe that wasnt mild.  Its annoying, I know.

But truth be told, the big man has been in my court.  I met my best friend almost 7 years ago, I graduated from college 6 years ago, my sister gave me two of the most beautiful children as nephews 5 years ago, I got my dream job as an interior designer 4 years ago, my love graduated from law school and passed the bar 3 years ago, I was married on the most inspiring day almost 2 years ago, and this past year I gave birth to my angel.  Life is but a dream come true.

Now, in the midst of getting married, honeymooning and starting our family, we stumbled upon the money pit we call a house.  If your loyal to this blog (not sure who/why you would be - I was as loyal a blogger as Jude Law a husband) you will note our house hunt wasnt easy.  Like most house hunters we had specific requirements for our poor realtor;  we wanted a center hall colonial, at least 3 bedrooms, 2 story, with classic turn of the century details...turn of the 20th century that is.  We bought a 2 bedroom, mid-century  (that would be 1948), single story rambler. 

Why?  We decided to buy into the whole "ugliest house on the nicest street". 

In the last two years, we have:

-  Refinished the hardwood floors
-  Remodeled the bathroom
-  Remodeled the kitchen
-  Painted every damn inch
-  Spent only $15k doing so

In the future, we plan to:
-  Add a second baby
-  Add a second story

Thats the "Once Upon a Dream" that keeps me up at night.  We have big plans, a small budget, and a baby that is so darn cute, she makes it near impossible to dive into the tool box.  But, we are determined to make this monstrosity we call a home, the house that we will grow old in.

So, if you love interior design, babies, limestone, gravel pations, patinad materials, J. Crew, French Eclectic architecture, and crock pot recipes, we'll get along just fine.

Blog Under Construction

This sporadic blogger, lover of reading blogs, wishes she could keep a consistent blog, and dreamer of turning my blog into a money maker...is back!  And I have BIG plans for this little blog.  Stay tuned...not only has my name changed, but my life has too...in HUGE ways.  Wouldnt you like to know...

Oh Happy Day

                                   

On the morning of June 27th, 2009 I woke up on the fold-out sofa in the guest bedroom of my parents house, rubbed the sleep out of my eyes from the barely 4 hours that I got (largely due to the Tylenol PM I chocked down at midnight), and took a deep breath.  Finall, the day had come....I was going to be married by days end.

The morning was spent at my parents home - it's where I spent my summers as a child.  It is the most beautiful home I have ever known...and really the only consistent "home" as we moved around for most of my childhood.  All of my girlfriends and family was there and despite the nerves, it was like a grown up sleepover that never wanted to end.  I loved that morning.

After the ladies and I were all gussied up, we made our way to the church where I somehow managed to squeeze into that oh so beautiful dress. 

                                          

My sister/Matron of Honor/mother of the ringbearer/best friend....the list goes on....was also my florist.  She is amazing, I knew that going into the day, that she was the only one I would want to do my flowers.  She was hesitant: I was a bit demanding and perhaps some would call me a perfectionist (what bride isnt??), but in the end she agreed.  When I first caught a glimpse of my bouquet, I got tears in my eyes.  She blew me away. My flowers were single handendly the most beautiful aspect of my wedding.

Our wedding party was quite the crew.  They made the day so special for us, not to mention, they were all absolute beauties!

I paid a tremendous amount of energy and attention to the details of the day, not to mention on my get up.  From the vintage shoe clips in my hair, the soles of my shoes that I painted for my "something blue", to the belt my mother made out of her wedding dress, and the 37 year old veil of my mothers that I wore, I was determined to put meaning into every aspect of the bridal costume, if you will.

At every wedding I had been to before mine, I probably cried.  I'm  not sure why, but I always use to cry at weddings.  Then I had my own, and for the first time, I actually listened instead of just getting wrapped up in the couple's emotions.  For the first time, the words resonated...and I cried.  And now, when I go to weddings, I cry even harder.

We made our way to the reception...................

We waited for two years to have our reception at the Landmark Center.  It was worth the wait.

And the milkglass I collected for 10 years, was worth the work and every last penny...

We ate to our hearts delight and danced the night away well into the depths of that hot summer night.  We closed out the place with eggrolls and cream cheese wontons delivered hot for our well "lubricated" guests.

A wedding day: A LOT of planning, A LOT of details, A LOT of money.

But in the end, there are just no words for what that day meant to me.  Only A LOT of adjectives that could never measure up to the feelings I will carry with me forever.

**All photos done by the amazingly talented, Melissa Louise.

A Very Good Year....and Many More

  On Sunday, Andrew and I celebrated our first anniversary.  I updated my Facebook status, and I think it sums it up in a nutshell:

  "A year ago, I woke up to a dream of a wedding day and hit the husband jackpot.  If this past year is any indication of the next fifty or so, I am living a charmed fairy tale of a life with a partner I couldn't love more."

  You go into your marriage hearing every warning about the first year, "Good Luck", It will be the worst year of your marriage", "It's gonna be tough".  For every person that told me that, I have to wonder if they are still married or still HAPPILY married?  Our first year of marriage was bliss (cliche but true) and while I thought nothing could beat our wedding day, I have realized that every moment with my husband is a gift and with every bit of laughter, every argument, every hug where I bury my face into his neck - its those moments that beat our wedding day.  The seconds of life that remind me that we are the lucky ones.

  I started this blog to share my wedding plans with a group of strangers.  And while I certainly owe you all the fruits of those labors (promise...wedding photos coming soon), my life has taken on its identity.  And that identity has kicked wedding magazines to the curb and made way for Elle Decor and gasp, Fit Pregnancy.  

So, without further aduie...the new Mr. and Mrs.Gibbons. 

The Run Through

  Our Rehearsal and Rehearsal Dinner were almost as highly anticipated as the big day itself.  I just couldn't wait to be together with the closest people to us in an intimate setting.  What other time could we sit them down and lay out the cheesy "I love you's" and "you mean the world to me" stuff.  So we did, or really I did.

  We themed the Rehearsal Dinner around Andrew's Scottish heritage.  I wouldnt let him wear the kilt at our wedding( I know I know..I'm a terrible wife), so we honored the family plaid everywhere else.  From the invites, the menus, the place settings, the runners, the flowers, and our attire.  And since we were all dressed up and spent so much time making the event truly unique, we had our photographer join us as well. 

It was exactly what I dreamed of, but bettter.  The food was terrific, the plaid was preppy and perfect, and I am so happy I was able to thank everyone who means so much to us.  Our wedding was a union of the two of us, but we never would have found eachother if it weren't for those who joined us that night.  Through the toasts and tears, I can only hope that our loved ones got the message.