snapshots: our entry

backstory:  we planned on moving someday.  we lived near an excellent elementary school, so we had a little time before we had to figure out the rest.  but when our neighbors sold their (less updated) house in three days for a price we would be thrilled to get, we decided to bite the bullet.

we had a few criteria: we wanted to stay in east(ish) dallas, have our kids go to a good public school, and gain a little square footage.  oh yeah, we had to be able to afford our mortgage.  minor detail.

one month later, we accepted an offer on our house and found another on the same day.  our new house was ugly.  it smelled funny.  it had bad juju.  but since the previous homeowner was anxious to get rid of it due to some sad family circumstances, he accepted our first offer.  our house payment would stay the same(ish), but we would gain about 900 more sq. feet, a bedroom and a pool.  it was meant to be.  but boy did we have a lot of work ahead of us. 

we are lucky to be members of a family business that is condusive to remodeling.  we have access to some materials and labor that we wouldn't be able to afford otherwise.  that is why the sheer ugliness of this house didn't scare us away.  all we care about are the bones :)  and this house has good bones for sure.

our approach to decorating this house was so much different than our first home.  our first time around, we knew the colors we wanted and went for it.  this time, we had peices we wanted to work with and built our rooms from there.

  

here is a pinterest pic of my color inspiration for the entry:

 the color of our walls doesn't translate well in photos, but it is a really light minty blue/green that my dad made for the bathroom of the very first house i lived in post-college.  chris and i have taken this color with us since.  it is now in our entry and bedroom halls.

i got the mirror for 75% off at wisteria outlet flea market.  it was damaged to hell.  but my talented husband and pawpaw painted the areas where the missing inlay pieces were with nail polish.  yep, nail polish.  did i mention i never pay full price for anything?

 buddha (new): target

 light (new): lula b's.  cheap as hell.

 rug (new): ballard designs

hand (new): sample house

hi.

 i copied this blog for the black door idea.

 bedroom hall light fixtures (new to us): from nola, once belonged to my parents.

there it is.  first room reveal! 

have you ever copied blogs for design ideas?  pinterest?  it has changed the game, for sure.  i would love to hear about it!

love,

coco