Alaska!

I'm leaving on vacation TONIGHT to head to the homestead of Alaska! I'll be gone for almost 3 whole weeks! I haven't been home for that long since Christmas '03! It'll be good to get out of town & I look forward to spending time with my mom, brother & friends. I'll be posting some photos (hopefully) while I'm away!

So farwell for now & see you soon!

~Nicole

Huntington Library in Pasadena California

For my 25th Birthday I celebrated by going to the Huntington Library with my good friend Jen. It is a beautiful place to go & I can hardly wait until I go back. Below are some beautiful photos that I took, I think they turned out great.

Can you see Jen??

Pretty fountain!


Fabulous Succulents

Lilly Pads - I spy with my eye a.... frog!

the bathroom

Since I switched rooms in the house, I also had to switch bathrooms. The bathroom is currently painted a lovely peach color with white accents. Not so appealing. I have been busy brainstorming over the last couple of weeks on what the new scheme should be. Let me start by saying that the tile in the shower is white as well as the countertop/ sink - which is a total blessing because in the masterbath the tile is a purply/ mauve color with a white countertop. Nightmare!!

I've been searching online for ideas and photos and I've also had to take into consideration what I already own that could go in there. I have left over Marshmellow White Semi-Gloss Paint from my bedroom doors & I have a couple of cute Orange accessories (locker style box & a tray) & an awesome contemporary acrylic art (from my favorite designer Mika- that I used to work with). With all that being said, we are going with White Walls, with a black high gloss cabinet (keeping the white top), with a Zebra Shower Curtain, Gold Accessories (toilet paper roll, towel bar, light switch cover, & outlet cover) as well as spray painting the fan cover grill & shower rod gold, two (2) round orange rugs (1 in front of the shower & 1 in front of the sink), a black trash can & toilet brush, my Orange contemporary art & many many hours shopping & putting the room together.

I get back from vacation on the 18th, so the 19th -21st I will be a busy bee!! Take a look at the great products that I've chosen!

Cool Contemporary Art - From Mika Irei Designer $Free$

Zebra Shower Curtain - Walmart $16.00 (1) curtain

Orange Round Bath Mats - Ikea $4.99 each

Brass (Gold) Toilet Paper Holder - The Home Depot $14.80 (Matching 24" Towel Bar - $18.56)

Bigger & Better

Notice the list of blog that inspire me on the left? Not only do I love what they post, but I love the idea behind their blogs. Young inspiring women who love design, DIY, great fabrics, lamps etc - and the let the world know thru their blogs. I started this blog with the intention of marking my progress of my own space (bedroom) but I'm going to be switching gears and blogging about everything design & doing more DIY projects.

My blog is called Nicole Alexandra Designs...

Again, I hope much more will come from my blogging experience, like I'm thinking of starting my own Etsy shop & selling furniture, crotched baby blankets, comfortors, etc - so hopefully by the end of the year, that will be up & running.

Also, I'm hoping to bring in some more followers. So tell your friends & soon this blog will be much more interesting!

-Nicole

*New Bedding*

I know it's the middle of summer & sweltering HOT in Bellflower, but I have been searching for a new duvet cover for my bed. Of course something that will work with the shabby-chic idea that I have working in my room. I was looking at Ikea (my favorite for inexpensive fun things that you can replace over & over!!) and these are a few things I found!!

What are your thoughts for my duvet cover?!?

Closet Fun

Closets always seem so plain to me. Then I thought, Maybe some cute decoration is in order! So I'm going to sponge paint a design on the back wall & on the inside of the closet doors with the left over dark blue paint I have left (since I barely use any of the gallon I bought) Here is the pattern I have, all I have to do is cut it out on some brown paper (lamenated with packing tape) & I should be able to sponge away!!

7/10/10 - Making Progress

Whew! I'm sure tired after a day like today, I was non-stop all day long. Made lots of progress on little things, but nothing is finished yet.

Here is a before shot of the un-painted light switch-plate & heater grill. So unattractive!!

Then I spray painted them GOLD!!!

I also took out all the old frames that I have & decided what to colors to paint them. I started on some of the gold spray paint, but am saving the white paint for next weekend. All these frames where given to me by a friend, so saved some money there, but they are all missing glass & some will need matte board. I also still have to create the art for them too, this project will probably take me a few months to complete.

I also had my neighbor install a ceiling fan for me! It took awhile, because the instructions weren't clear, but in the end he did a fantastic job & now its breezy and cool in my room!

BEFORE!

AFTER!

I remembered this old piece of art that I've bee storing in the garage. I think it is diffently one of my favorite things I own. I bought it when I was 18 in Ohio, when I went to visit one of my friend after i graduate from High School. Her mom took me out to the vintage & thrift stores in the area & I had a blast. Needless to say, I've missed it on my walls!!

then comes the art...

I think it's about time to start my custom art project. Mainly because I have most of what I need to make it. And since I'm not buying furniture for awhile, it will keep me entertained & move forward with my bedroo. When I get home tonight, I'll take photos of the frames that I'm going to paint & white-wash! They're going to be amazing!! Hopefully I have enough time to finish painting everything this weekend!

Bedside Lamp

A roommate gave me a base to this great ceramic table lamp. I just love the simpleness of the white with the decorative vase shape. Here is the photo I just took! Doesn't it pop off the dark blue wall nicely?? I planned that!! :)

I'm looking for an inexpensive lamp shade to go with it, but it has to have a bit of charactor. The one I'm in love with, from Jamie Young (www.jamieyoung.com - to the trade only) seems to not exist anymore, but beyond that, it was too expensive for me, at just over $100.00 (shade only!!)
While I was out shopping with my coworker, (see previous post) I found this amazing lamp shade, & it had all things that I was looking for in a lamp shade for my bedside lamp. Check it out!!

Not sure the price yet, still waiting for a quote, but I'm hoping that its less than $60.00 so I can justify buying it!! Wish me luck!

Shopping Trip - June 28th

The great thing about my job is that periodically we get to go out to furniture, fabric & accessory showrooms to look for new items to use on our current work projects. For me, I also look for ideas & pieces that I like that I can incorporate into my room! Usually I cannot afford any of the great pieces that I find when I go out, but I'm pretty resourcesful, so I'll find a way to get what I want, whether it's finding something similar cheaper, or doing it myself. Below are some great items that I found when I was out and about. The next step is finding them for less money or learing how to do it myself. I have lots of time for that, right??

I just love this 'N' made out of old tin scraps

How about this AMAZING birdcage, I wish my bedroom was larger so I could fit that into it! I just love it!

What about this wing chair upholstered in linen, don't you just want to sit & read a classic novel?

Candelsticks anyone?? Don't mind if I do!!
I wish I had the budget for a sunburst gold antique mirror like this one.

Shabby Chic = Bedroom

I like to browse thru many blogs to find great ideas, inspiration, & crafty ideas. I just found a great blog (http://christys-thriftydecorating.blogspot.com/2008/03/shabby-chic-decorating.html) that is precisely the look I'm going to for, for my space.

To define shabby chic to some of my friends is quite hard, but I think her defination is perfect- "So what is Shabby Chic anyway? Think casual, pastel colors, lot’s of white, vintage items, wrought iron, distressed furniture, colorful prints and worn out furniture. Originally created by Rachel Ashwell back in the 80’s, Shabby Chic has become a whole theme by itself. People love it and you now commonly see it in all the decorating magazines and shows. Rachel Ashwell came up with this design theme after spending countless hours at garage sales and thrift stores looking for furniture with clean lines."

And that is what I plan on doing; white furniture (bookcase), distressing (nightstand), wrought iron (bed frame), & colorful prints (custom art).

Anyway, more blogs that I love to come, I still have to figure out how to post links on my page of all the things I love, but in time I suppose.

Bedroom Before New Furniture

I haven't done anything else to my bedroom since I painted except move all my stuff into it. I am still in the process of downsizing all my processions because I feel that less is more! For now here is what my bed looks like in the room & my old bookcase againest the wall. It's fine for now, new furniture for the future!