Friday, May 29, 2009

Home { Decor }

So when I get an idea for something it tends to quickly turn into an obsession and I find it hard to focus on anything else. My current obsession: decorating my future home.

As most of you know the Mr. and I are on the hunt for our first home. Exciting! And frustrating. Such a roller coaster. And if anyone tells you it's a buyers market...they are lying to you. At least here in San Diego - for our price range - homes are being snatched up above asking price AND these buyers are paying in CASH! Yup - I would call it an investors market. And Rich and I are the little fish up against a bunch {school?} of sharks.

Ok but enough of that. I turn to home decorating websites, blogs and HGTV to help me keep my eye on the prize. So I thought I would start sharing some of my ideas and inspirations with you all and would love to hear your feedback. And hopefully someday {in the not too distant future} I will be showing you my before and afters and offering a little advice of my own.

So my current favorite blog is Apartment Therapy, even though we won't be living in an apartment {however a condo may be our only option} I imagine our first home will be anything but large. So AT is great for decorating small spaces and they offer great how-tos as well as designing on a budget. Check check and check!

And the room in the house I'm most looking forward to decorating? The kitchen! It really is where Rich and I spend most of our time as we love to cook. So I've compiled some images of things I would love to see in my future kitchen. I apologize I don't have photo credits for these images but most if not all were found on Apartment Therapy.



White, white and more white. In fact - I want my entire home to be white. Unfortunately that won't happen since we have a black dog; but after living in a condo with east facing windows on only one side, and having to turn the lights on in the kitchen in the middle of the day to just be able to see what you're doing, I want light! And windows and lots and lots of white cabinets. I also love the contrast of the dark wood floors in this image. Of course this kitchen is probably three times the size of what our kitchen will be; but a girl can dream, right? And I dream BIG.



Back splashes make me happy. And {of course} white back splashes make me even happier. I love the brick style of this white back splash. So crisp and clean.



All that white will require a pop of color - I'm kind of loving the blue but am sold on my white black splash so how about painting the walls? Either this blue or maybe a celery? Also I love those natural window treatments.



And last but not least - I love the idea of having a built in bench for extra storage and seating. And maybe even add in a table for a little breakfast nook or diner style dining?

So, how am I doing? Please share your thoughts, ideas, suggestions. Also if you know of any other good design blogs please let me know since I am new to this and will need all the help I can get!

Oh and thank you for all your kind words yesterday about the prissy comment ;) XOXO!


9 comments:

Melissa Moore said...

Shelby, I have found your blog through others of course and just would like to say that on a daily basis it makes me smile. All of the pictures you post (yours and others) always make my day. I just had to comment on this post because these kitchen photos are making me want to redo my own. Love all the white. -Melissa

Shelby said...

Aww thank Melissa! So sweet ;) XOXO

nelya said...

Firstly, I just wanted to say, you have a lovely blog and your photography is beautiful. I just happened across it today and I'm so glad I did.

I love the kitchens you featured. The one with the eye-catching blue backsplash has been a favorite for some time. But my favorite is the last shot with the built-in seating. Oh my, swoon! It would look fantastic juxtaposed against a Saarinen tulip table. In fact, I loved it so much I re-posted it on my own blog, linking back to yours, of course.

Good luck with your home search. So exciting!

Anonymous said...

I love the 3rd one down with the blue back splash. I know the house hunt sucks but it will all be worth it once you find your home.

Shelby said...

Thanks NKP! So sweet - I'm off to check out your blog

Thanks Lynnie - can't wait for you to come visit when its all said and done

Brandi said...

I love your ideas so far! And apartment therapy is a great place to get more. I love being in the kitchen so the only thing that would worry me is all that white. As gorgeous as it is, I wonder how clean I would be able to keep things - using them all the time. Another great website to try is this one: http://www.housebeautiful.com/pictures/ It lets you search their image database.

P.S. I love your blog. I'm a regular reader!

Blyth Family Blog said...

So my style of kitchen! I'm obsessed with decorating my next house too...the one we build, in like 5 more years!!
Hope you find a house!!!
Miss you.

Jaclyn Z. Reiss said...

AH MAH GAH...I am dying over those kitchens. TOTAL dream space...love the inspiration - HAPPY HOUSE HUNTING! Fingers are crossed for you...

Christine Hall said...

White is a good choice! It looks so clean and fresh! Plus you can add any color to it when you get sick of it. I do like that blue though. Very pretty!