Counting the Days...181

What do I miss most about not being settled in at Betty?  The hosting and decorating!  I LOVED decorating Olin for the holidays and it's a little sad to drive around during this season, especially up here in New England.  All of our entertainment dishware and decor are still boxed and in storage!

I'm not trying to give DH a massive heart attack, but there are only 181 days until move in!!

Easter 2014 @ Dolce Olin

Curtain Call Update

I wish I could claim responsibility for picking out the winter/holiday curtains, but, I can't.  DH was all over this decision.  I've gotta give it to him, the fabric and color were perfect for Dolce Olin.  

Our grommet curtains were a little bit too perfect.  When the buyers put in an offer on our home, they added a contingency that the sale include our curtains! Do you think they knew they were DIY? 

In the end, I convinced DH to let the curtains go, but I can't say, 10 months later, that I don't miss them!  

I won't bore with you the DIY-details, you can find the directions here.  

DIY All The Way! 

The Perfect Winter Curtains

Dollars and Cents: 

10 panels took 3 days to sew and I ordered the panels at separate times in order to maximize the discount. 

Hardware: same

Fabric: Panels- 30 yards, with a coupon for a total $871.50 (No liner--Fabric is thick and keeps its shape.)

Sewing Machine: Already own one!

Misc: Thread and Grommets $80.00 after 50% off coupon
Savings: $1,298.50; Based on the quote we received for our Spring/Summer curtains, this project would likely have cost us an estimated $450 a window--labor and the heavy fabric.  Winner! 

Sneak Peak: DIY Grommet Curtains

Martha Stewart would definitely be proud.  After a failed no-sew attempt and having to purchase a sewing machine, I couldn't be happier with how my DIY grommet curtains turned out!

Here's a sneak peak!

Haven't decided on a length

Thanks for all of your input on which fabric to choose.  We went with the Secret Garden and I'm sure it won't disappoint!

Full recap soon!

They're Here!

Christmas has come early for the Dolce Olin household!  After seven months—yep, seven—we finally have a formal living room with all the basics—seating and coffee table.

There were many times when I questioned whether my inspiration board and design lay-out would mesh together, but now, having the pieces physically in the room, I can quit worrying and just trust my instincts. 

Warning!  This post is picture heavy, but I just couldn't choose a handful and you'll see why.

Is it possible to fall in love with furniture?

A shout out to Tweed Fridays

Our new reading area!  All that's missing is a table lamp and window drapes—and the desire to actually want to read.

I chose the chairs, but the fabric was all DH.  I think if he could have, he would have picked this fabric for every piece.  Adding patterned and colorful fabric is a great example of how you can mix traditional and modern.

Absolutely love the detail!  If you want your room to make a statement, I recommend pieces with lots, but subtle, details!  Details make a mass produced piece feel unique and expensive.

Isn't this piece sleek?  And it doesn't hurt that it's also super comfy!

Pet Friendly Fabric...hopefully

Love our oversized coffee table.  The tempered glass over the hand weaved wicker makes this the room's statement piece.

What furniture pieces are you in love with?  

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Minutes

DH can, at times, be the stereotypical guy-- hates chick flicks, avoids malls at all costs, and only buys flowers when he's done something wrong.  So when it came to planning our wedding I never imagined he'd be so involved in every aspect of the process.   I thought he was going to be the typical Fiancé and just nod his way through the process, oh was I WRONG!

From the photographer-- three quit after not sharing his vision-- to the cake--who would have thought a guy from New Mexico could tell the difference between butter cream and fondant-- to the rehearsal dinner --of course, he needed steak. DH not only had a vote on which vendor I chose, but he routinely took the lead and provided recommendations and feedback--constructive and plain criticism--to all of our vendors.  

So it shouldn't have been a surprise that DH would want to add his two cents when I proposed hanging a couple of our favorite photos. During my six month sabbatical overseas, DH found a new love, a love of photography.   When I asked him to pick his favorite photos he easily provided his top 64!  What I thought was going to be a simple "hammer nail in wall" project was delayed by  a few days of life or death photo selection of six photos to hang over our couch!

Lesson learned?  I need to pad our projected renovation timeline.

DH All Over It

Check back soon for the tutorial!

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

You just can't walk into a home furnishing store without getting giddy over one of these!!

Don't you just LOVE it?!

Not only is our home more than half empty and full of furniture we purchased for our respective first apartments out of college, our walls are bare!  Despite being in love with our gorgeous wedding photos, I don't think a home full of framed wedding photos of DH and I is the most creative route in home decor.

Sunflower mirror not to be confused with Sunburst
via decorpad.com

Whether you have a small space

Gorgeous but WAYYY out of my price range
via andgeorge.com

or enough space to add a sunburst cluster

via budgetbungalow.com

you can't go wrong with this mirror.  So imagine my surprise when I heard from other DIY'ers that they were able to turn a plain round mirror  into a sunburst mirror!  I'm going to have to spend a few extra bucks on upfront costs, I don't own a glue gun (shocking?!), but the goal is to successfully DIY a sunburst mirror I've been drooling over for less than $50!

Hopefully I'm able to report on a successful DIY project and not on how to glue your fingers together.