Around the House...

I'm posting just a few photos of what I've been working on lately. To you all you expert interior designers out there, how do you decide when your work is finished? We still have a million projects left to do (Chin's office isn't even unpacked yet), but eventually when things start to wind down, how will I say, "my work here is done?" 

Regardless, I'm having a blast working on our little space that has quickly become home for us. If you refer back to the "Before" pictures I took, it really does look like an entirely different place altogether. 

We're planning on hosting a housewarming party (mainly just because I haven't thrown a real, Pingree party for months now) sometime in March, and I'm hoping to have all the rooms in our tiny house put together by then. I'll probably do a virtual tour sometime around then as well. But here are just a few shots of what's coming together so far:

My office:

It's a little hard to tell, but I painted the room the softest version of blush pink I could find, called "Pink Sea Salt (by Martha Stewart)." The wall gallery is still coming together, but I tried to find prints that reflected my personal style and my wanderlust tendencies. The rug is an old rug my dad found in Morocco about 10 years ago. My parents never use it and let us borrow it for a while. I love it. The desk was about as cheap as they come from Target, and the chair was going to be thrown out at my dad's office, and so he brought it home to see if we wanted it. So overall, a pretty inexpensive way to decorate!

My clothing rack has proven to not only be decorative but extremely functional as well. I put all my favorite pieces on there and now I know exactly where something is when I'm in a rush. 

I made this garland for a bridal shower a while back, and somehow it made it all the way to NY from UT. We couldn't get our down duvet back, but don't worry the homemade tulle garland is safe!

The Living Room:
Probably my favorite room of the house as of late, mostly because of the architectural charm it possesses. I didn't picture it, but it has wood beam barn ceilings and scalloped trim, and it was too pretty to paint. We call the style of our living room "The London Look," because my dream in life is to live in the UK and we wanted to bring a little bit of it here to Upstate NY. I've been keeping with the color scheme of poppy red, charcoal, cream, tan, and touches of black. It sounds a little dreary but I think the colors add a bit of modernity to the gingerbread style of our house. 

This horsehead lamp was on clearance at West Elm over the summer, the books were found for 50 cents each at a barn sale, and the bowl was a clearance Target find last fall.

Our couch is (still) being reupholstered, so our comfy T.J. Maxx chair has been our only place to really sit in our living room. We have some Pier 1 director's chairs not pictured, but they're not the most comfortable and Chin and I find ourselves sneaking into the big chair whenever possible. Our rug was 75% off at Rugs USA over Black Friday weekend this past year (we're obsessed with it), the queen of hearts pillow was a T.J. Maxx find, and the side table (on clearance) and the floor pouf were both Target finds.

 

We used Ikea $10 lack tables as our coffee table (they were the perfect size and color!), and the coasters and candles are from Ikea as well. My Grandpa made me the gold box for Christmas last year.




Our entryway is tiny, but I love the faux oil lamp that came with the house. Literally, it's bolted into that nook. It's not going anywhere. 

The Dining Room:
It doesn't really have a set color scheme, but we decided on a delicately light grey color for the walls for a neutral tone. Our farmhouse table is really the star of the room, we refinished it ourselves and absolutely love it (plus it has a leaf that can fit 10 people around it!). It was found at a local consignment store. The fabric chairs were on clearance at Home Goods and the wooden chairs were $5 each on the side of the road (originally from Pier 1). The chandelier is from Ikea.

Kitchen Details:
The kitchen has required a lot of work, and is still in the process of being remodeled. So far though, we really enjoy it. Our breakfast nook is great for breakfast, lunch, and leftover dinners. I painted the table (found at a local consignment) white with gold colorblocking, and my grandpa refinished the top of it for me. The chairs were found at a barn sale and still need to be painted. 

This cart used to be a holder for tools at a mechanics shop, and we found it at a barn sale for $15. My Grandpa (who really is a superstar if you can't tell by now) cleaned it up, painted it, and built a wood top for it that's removable. So I can use it as a work space/island in the kitchen, or take the wood top off and use it as a cart for serving/parties in the dining room or living room!

Hope you enjoyed some of the details of our place as it comes slowly together. I'll get a full tour up once I feel like it's complete (which may be never!). :)

My Temporary Home

One of the most common questions that I get asked now that I'm temporarily husbandless in Provo, is "where are you living?" And then people freak out and worry that I'm living alone or with rando single roommates or living in a van down by the river or something.

Basically it's hilarious, because I would never do any of those things unless I actually was physically forced to. 

So the answer is... I'm living with my sister, Maren. Her and her husband and their baby (which you know has been fun for me as an aunt to get to see her all the time!) live about 20 minutes away from campus, and were really kind to let me stay in their guest room in their newly-finished basement in their home. The basement, besides my guest room and the bathroom, is filled almost to the ceiling with all of me and Chin's things. Like seriously I still haven't found the rest of my shoes/clothes because they're packed somewhere in that huge pile (And I keep getting stressed every time I try and dig and look for them). 

So basically I have the whole basement to myself (all my crap and me), which has been so nice. I get to eat dinner with my family, spend time with them, have lots of sister time with Mares, and still have my own little sanctuary to myself.

I feel really lucky to have this situation-- it's made life a ton easier during this big transition.

After I leave, Maren will just keep the room as a guest room for when people come to visit, and so basically she had free reign to decorate it how she wanted it. I told her that I liked the colors mint, coral, and aquas, and away she went. There's still a lot to do (like put up the headboard, hang the mirror and pictures and put in baseboards), but for now I love my room, and I love coming home to it.

I thought I'd share a few pictures of what she's done with it so far:

 

 My bed: Maren made a couple pillows and she also made the quilt at the bottom (which is the best blanket ever), we got the euro shams on clearance at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, and used my bed spread from my old bed at my parents' home.

My dresser: Maren painted an old dresser she found and added the fun knobs, and I love it! We still need to hang the mirror and the pictures, but I think they're both really fun.

It's a little hard to see here, but I love my night stand. The night stand is from Amazon, and we put it together ourselves. The lamp is from Target clearance, so is the alarm clock, and the candle is French Baguette (my room smells like a bakery 24/7 and I'm in love).

Maren made these cafe curtains which add a really nice touch. We still need to buy a different curtain rod, but that's a project for another day.

 

Annnnddd my closet. I love having so much closet space and not having to share any (i'm awful)!

I still can't find over half my shoes and all my winter clothes, but for now this collection will do! 

And that's it for now. Maybe when we get a few more things put up I'll share a few more pictures. :)

DIY: State Love Canvases

So I'll admit it. I might have a lot bit of pride when it comes to my home state.

I think it's because I've always loved where I grew up in New York, and there's just something about coming home that can comfort you when you really need it.

And maybe it's because I don't get to go home very often, and so I find myself longing for the clean air, green hills, and far away family that Upstate New York has to offer me.

So when Ali showed me this craft she found to show our home-state love, I immediately loved the idea, and we quickly set to work on making canvases of our home states as well as our husbands'.

And I loved how they turned out. I went with a neutral gray color because I'm boring like that, and Ali picked colorful background to match her vibrant and fun apartment. And while NY was tedious to draw and Colorado is LITERALLY a square, I loved how they turned out. We put hearts where our home towns are and I put mine right next to each other with our metal ampersand in between.

Did I mention this craft is beyond inexpensive? Ali and I split the cost and I think it cost us about $10 total for 4 canvases, four acrylic paints, and a pack of paintbrushes.

DIY State Love Canvases

inspired by lolly jane boutique

You will need: 

Canvas (we used one for our home state and one for our husbands'), any size. We liked 8"x10"

Acrylic Paint, any color you like, with a color for your "hometown heart"

Paint brushes

1. Google a large map of your home state, comparing the size so that it will fit onto your canvas, then print out your map and cut out the outline of it.

2. Tape your cut-out map outline onto your canvas and trace the outline with a pencil. Remove the outline.

3. With one paint color, paint around the outline of your map, leaving the state white (or you could do vice versa). I recommend doing a couple coats of paint so there are no streaks.

4. Let dry, then paint a small heart on the map where your hometown is, let dry completely, then hang out place anywhere you like!

5. Repeat with another canvas if you like.

So there you have it! One of my favorite crafts I've ever done, that's super quick, easy, and inexpensive.

Plus, I love how they look on our bookshelf. You can't beat a craft that looks like something you could buy in a store!

Day 8: Make an Easy Valentine's Table

A few weeks ago, I had some of my girl friends over for dinner. I've gotten really close with them over these last two semesters, and it just seems natural now to weekly have them over for some get-together. 

It wasn't even February yet and I still decided that for some reason I needed to incorporate as much pink and red as possible (can you be addicted to a holiday? I know you guys hate me). 

I used all my resources on hand, and ended up making a relatively festive table that was easy to do.

I thought it would be fun to share some quick and simple ideas for you, just in case you break out the silverware for a Valentine's Day dinner party!

 

The cupid napkins were made by my mother... But do you know how simple it is to make your own napkins? Sewing a square is easy, and JoAnn's or Ikea has lots of great Valentine's Day fabric.  

On bottom, I used a burlap tablecloth, and then the pink heart table cloth and the checkered table runner were both made by my mother. Gosh that women. But they are easy to make! It's like making a really big napkin.

For a little switch up of dinner goblets, buy mason jars at your local thrift store (I bought 20 at D.I. for $3!) and use them for your drinks. You can tie a little twine or yarn around, and I used left over paper gray and red striped straws from a baby shower (bought off etsy for super cheap!).

Pink striped dessert napkins may not seem like a cute decoration for your table, but sitting in a silver napkin holder, it added a fun whimsical feel to the table.

The main focal point was my red lantern from Ikea, purchased last year. It added a little bit of a modern vibe, and once the candles were lit, it added a perfect glow to the evening.

The final product!

However you decide to decorate your Valentine's Day table, make sure it reflects your style. And remember, you don't have to spend a fortune to make it look pretty!

When I Can't Make Up My Mind

So remember that post when I showed you my Christmas decorations for this year?

Well I changed them. Already. And it is only December 7th.

Not completely, but I was feeling like I really wanted something new and special to add to our decor this year since we'll be here for more than two weeks to enjoy them.

Last weekend I spent mostly with my mother, and she helped me come up with some more ideas of how to decorate that were inexpensive but added a little bit more sophistication and fun to our home.

In my previous post you'll remember that my mantle was a hot mess. It was too small to have those huge stockings sitting on them, but too big for just a small nativity scene. It looked a little ridiculous. My sister had some leftover garland that she let me use, and I think with the little stockings it makes my mantle look so much better! What do you think?

Not a whole lot changed here... except for some added glitter! I found these sparkly little numbers at Hobby Lobby, and they added so much more flare than my old green candles. 

Our nativity now sits on our side table, with a jinglybell candle holder found at Z-Gallerie for three dollars.

I also changed up my tree! My mom helped me make book page ornaments (which were super easy and found on Pinterest!), cascading ribbon, and a few more ornaments to turn my color scheme from green, aqua, and red to gold, silver, green and touches of classic red.

An easy tree topper. I'd still like to find a real one, but a bow will do for now.

A refurbished tree much classier than the last.

What do you think of my changes? Be honest!

Also, don't forget: today is the LAST DAY to enter the amazing photoshoot giveaway! 

I'll announce the winner tomorrow so make to enter!

Trimming the Tree

With November quickly disappearing on us (where did this past month go? seriously.), we took down our very limited Thanksgiving decorations, and decided to move onto Christmas. This year we're going to be in Utah for Christmas, so I decided to put a little bit more effort into the Christmas decorations, since we'll actually be here to enjoy them. 

So on Monday night, up went the tree and all its trimmings, the table is set, and the little decorating details are a plenty.

We haven't had a dinner party yet for the Christmas season, so our table is relatively low key for now. I used a cream tablecloth, a Christmas patterned/burlap table runner made by my mother, and crystal votives surrounded by pine cone and holly garland.

Don't you love these awesome Santa-faced napkin rings too? They go so well with the red place mat and green napkins, and I think they are so festive. I got them at a home boutique in Denver a few weeks ago.

Mini stockings hang from our mantle, not too far from our tree. My mom and I picked them up at Old Navy years ago, but I think they would be pretty easy to make?

This perfect little nativity set goes perfect on our mantle, and was a gift from my mother-in-law. purchased here.

vintagey lace stockings: yes please.

My sister made me this perfectly framed subway art last year, and i've been waiting 12 months to put it up! I seriously love it. I think it ties everything together in our house, and adds one more holiday touch.

And our good old tree. Yes it's white, and a little bit retro... But I love it! I think it's so funky and always a good conversation piece. Plus, it brightens up our apartment like crazy and brings out the ornaments and makes the colors on the tree pop. As much as I like all things classic, I love the feel of this tree.

Have you started to decorate for Christmas?

What do you think of our decorations?

p.s. I'm so excited to announce a giveaway that's coming up soon with my dear friend Ali, so stay tuned this week! 

DIY halloween mantle

i'm not sure how much of a DIY post this is, but we'll call it that anyways.

what i really want to talk about is why Hobby Lobby closes at 8 PM IN A COLLEGE TOWN.

dumbos.

here's the story:

i've been wanting a mantle for a long time. i feel like most real homes (which we will probably never have until we're like 50) have a beautiful mantle above a cozy fireplace in their living room. which we have none of. i saw a beautiful black mantle at Hobby Lobby last saturday, and i was dying to have it. i finally decided to take the plunge and invest in a mantle, but when i drove to Hobby Lobby last night at 8:30, they were closed.

talk about disappointing.

i went to Michael's thinking for some reason that they might sell something similar, and then i found an unfinished wood one.

it was about 30 dollars cheaper than buying the finished mantle at H.B., so i decided to go for it.

i already had black spray paint so it quickly became

CRAFT TIME in the ping ping household.

poor christian, it was 11 p.m. before i even started putting the mantle up.

here's what i did/used:

1 wooden mantle from Michael's

black matte finish spray paint (i put 2 coats on)

for my decorations:

i used a carafe and a mason jar filled with caramel and original candy corn. i tied them with festive ribbon and put on restickable  halloween labels. 

 a little black crow found at the dollar store last halloween, and decorative mini pumpkins found at our local grocery store.

 my mother-in-law sent us the cute sequiny witch, and i put all of these together, and voila!

 a lot bit cheaper than buying a finished mantle, and a little bit more festive in the Pingree household today.

easter preparations

with the weather getting nicer and Easter approaching, we've been doing some decorating to get ready.

we're also hosting a graduation brunch for Alex, Chin's brother, who graduates from BYU on Thursday.

my mom sent me this beautiful vintage tablecloth from the 1950's. you should see it in person. the colors are so vibrant and fun, and i love the vintage roses and ribbons that border the tablecloth.

isn't the detailing beautiful? along with the tablecloth she sent me she also sent three little chick egg cups. they're also vintage and match perfectly with the tablecloth. i can't wait to decorate some easter eggs and put them in their holder!

these napkins are the finishing touch for me. they tie everything together and add a funky little flare that keeps that old-fashioned look intact. made by my mother (i'm telling you she's the brains of this operation), they match the dusty blue found on the tablecloth.

when i was sick this weekend, my sister-in-law Laura dropped off these itty bitty grape hyacinth. the bottle she put them in is perfect, and the hyacinth are so pretty and cute! thanks laura :)

 laura is also co-planning Alex's brunch, and she came across an amazing "bunny ears" napkin tutorial. i was so excited, i whipped some up just now! they were surprisingly easy to create and will be great for our brunch. fabulous idea laura! to view the tutorial click here.

anybody planning anything fun for easter? any cute decorations you are extra proud of?

i would love to hear about them!