Going Into the Closet

You know what's very easy to NOT do? Take some super grim-looking before shots of a closet that you plan to overhaul. I totally forgot to take a picture of what this closet looked like behind those doors a few days ago. But, I'm sure you can picture it: lots of plastic boxes full of crap, piles of computer cables, and some art supplies scattered around. It is the office closet afterall - our catch-all closet that had everything but clothes in it.

So, since Mom was in town, I decided to take advantage of her great ideas and organizational skillz and put her to work! Hah. I'd had this idea brewing in my brain for a while now: I needed a desk. Not a computer desk or a work desk, but a Mari desk. One where I could create artwork, write letters, etc. But, most importantly, one that I would not have to clean each time I used it. A tall order, I know. That's probably why I have no before pictures - because I didn't think I could pull off my plan! I wanted to turn the office closet into a space where I could close the doors and hide the clutter that a creative space would surely have. And that, ladies and gents, is what we did!

It's a closet desk!

Basically, we took two nightstands (circa "I don't know when") with drawers and stuck them in the closet facing each other. Then my dad and Ryan went to Lowe's and bought a beautiful wooden "shelf" (for only $35). They cut it to fit and we stuck it on top of the tables. It ended up being a bit short, so we propped it up on some 2x4's and voila: desk in a closet!

Beautiful drawers (lol)

The perfect space for creating!

Paint Box

So, there you have it! It really was an incredible transformation (sorry you couldn't enjoy it as much without that darn before pic...). And I can't wait to get in there and start creating!

~ Mari

Spring Montage

It's time for a montage (I'm channelling the amazing song from Team American, World Police). It's spring. I took photos. That is all.

Knock-Out Roses in front yard

I just had to bring some inside!

Easter Table

Trapped!

Baker's Rack

Springtime Goodies

End montage.

~ Mari

Oh Pottery Barn...

... how I covet the beautiful things that you sell. For some reason my Pottery Barn catalog got lost in the mail. I'm not happy about it. But, luckily, the world wide web has helped me through my ordeal. Though it isn't the same as paging through the beauty that is a Pottery Barn catalog, their website has some great new goodies for Spring.

You know about my small obsession with birds, nests, and all things aviary.

Apparently Pottery Barn shares my feelings.

Pottery Barn's new thing is "found" items (aka "stuff that we found in estate sales or antique stores that we are now passing off as our own"). How awesome are these old pharmacy bottles?

Yeah. I love them.

Again - I love me some birdies.

I picture this on our coffee table.

Sigh. I love this stuff. Maybe one day I'll be able to afford it. :)

~ Mari

Dining Room :: Before & After

Yeah... our dining room started out as a pretty sad storage area for Ryan's ab-lounge (that he never used....ever.). Then we got a table...



But, it was still lacking, you know, chairs (and a lot of other stuff). So, when my parents came down this past weekend, they brought chairs (thank you Auntie Marilyn & Uncle Michael) and an awesome antique hutch (found in a Port Royal, SC antique store) with them! And here is what mom and I came up with:

Yay! We can eat in there now! :)

See our wedding "guestbook" canvas there on the right? The perfect spot for it! Wahoo!

Ooooo... look inside at all that dish storage! So ridiculously exciting!

Hmmm... that little twig ball looks oddly familiar... could it be because it was my bouquet in my wedding? Indeed it twas! ;)

I'm so happy with how it came out! Thanks for looking!

~ Mari

Springtime in Middle GA

There she is! Can I just tell you how ridiculously exciting it is to have your own yard? I never quite understood why people would work SO hard planting things until I did it myself. It's so satisfying! I can't take credit for those gorgeous rose bushes in the photos (thank you, previous owner), but I will post pictures later of the things that I did plant.


I can't wait to get down there and spend some quality time in our yard and on our porch! It won't be long now... the wedding is in TEN days! I can't believe it myself. I'm crazy excited! So, if the posts slow down (or stop) for a bit, don't fret! I'm just becoming wed! ;)

~ Mari

In the Mood for a Before & After?

I was too. Even though Ryan and I tackled the breakfast room a while back, I realized I never put any photos of the magical transformation on my blog. So, here they are!

Here is our yawner of a breakfast room BEFORE:

And here is the AFTER!

With a few coats of a mustardy-yellow paint, a cute (and very inexpensive) table and chairs from American Signature furniture, and some accessories and such... we turned our breakfast room into a fun place that one might want to devour some delicious creations!

I can't wait to get down there and do some more befor & after-ing! :) Heck... I can't wait to get down there and enjoy the house - period! Not much longer, now... only 24 days! Ahhhh! :)

~ Mari

Stuff Envy

I'm not sure if anyone else has this habit, but I check Anthropologie.com religiously for life inspiration. Not only do they have beautiful "stuff" (that I envy - hence the post name), they also have beautiful ideas and artsy inspiration of things to do with your own stuff (that probably costs 1/2 of what their stuff costs). I guess you could say that I use them. I doubt they'll mind - they don't put those gorgeous photos on their website, produce stunning catalogs (that are more like photography books), or decorate their stores with such meticulous care just so people will buy "stuff." It's all part of the "Anthro Experience."

For example, I want to live within the photograph above. That Italian bed is gorgeous and the bedding is so different and soft-looking. Mmmm.... me like.

And how about the chair below? Possibly the coolest chair to exist, right?


Even their welcome mats are cool! (And this one is semi-affordable: $42) I love the scalloped edge! So clever... again, I'm having major bouts of "stuff envy" at the moment...

Anyway, I just needed some inspiration and thought I would share! If you don't check Anthropologie.com as often as I do, it's probably a good thing for your wallet (because you might be tempted to buy things! Ahhh!).

~ Mari