My Top 5 Office Chairs

We're in the middle of designing our new office {my office at work, that it} and I've been having so much fun looking at and picking out our new furniture.  I've come across some good options, so I wanted to be sure to share them them.  Whether it's your work office or home office--or perhaps you're looking to update your dining room chairs--these are all great options to consider.

Mid Century Chair

I am in love with this chair, with its mid century legs and fun curves.  This chair comes in a set of 2 and a couple fun colors too!  Best part is, the price is just right!

Saddle Office Chair

Another favorite--the stripes are what gets me with this chair.

Modern Anywhere Chair

Target is just killing it with their clean, modern lines...this chair definitely hits the mark for me.

Molded Evie Chair

While not as comfortable, these are super modern, easy to clean, and stylish.  Perfect for the conference room.

NILS Armchair

If mid century is not your thing, you might love this comfy option.  I really like the clean lines.

Do you have a favorite?

xo natasha

Crazy for Credenzas

As some of you may recall, we're evolving our living room...not only for practical reasons {hello babyhood!} but also because some elements are just plain ugly.

Case in point...

This monstrosity of a media center.  

Scary right?  I mean, there is just nothing appealing about it!  Not to mention, it's completely unsafe for our climbing maniac of a toddler.

We're fortunate enough to be inheriting a new tv from our inlaws, which is finally forcing allowing us to find a pretty replacement.  We plan to move the electronics to an adjacent room, which allows us to have more of a dresser...or credenza for a media console.

I've always been drawn to mid century pieces and now I'm dreaming of finding the perfect one...

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There's just something so perfectly balanced about these pieces...they're classic yet retro and masculine yet fashion forward.  I love them!  I actually had my heart set on this version from West Elm, but alas, it's ONE inch too wide.  Le sigh...

If you know of a furniture store worth checking out {that ships!} let me know in the comments below!

xo natasha

Our New Ottoman!

Remember my previous living room?

We had a pretty massive coffee table {read: hard baby bumper} in the middle of our sectional.  It really wasn't functional as it was so large that it was hard to maneuver around...and then of course, there was the baby who hit that corner more times than I care to admit to!

As you can tell above, I'm attracted to neutrals, so I was in a real predicament when it came to figuring out what color to choose for the ottoman:

Well, I'm happy to reveal that I finally made a decision and pulled the trigger when West Elm was having a recent sale!

And we went with...

None of the above!!  Surprise!  But West Elm recently introduced the upholstered tufted ottoman in one, ready to order color and that made my decision super easy!

The color is actually called "pine" but it's a dark teal in person and blends in perfectly with my existing decor and is dark enough to hide any stains or smudges from a 16 month old toddler!  ;)

I tried to get a couple different angles so you can see the rich color...keep in mind these are taken with my iPhone {bad blogger!} and later in the day.  The square shape allows for a lot more space and actually fits into the shape of our sectional well.  It's well made and was super easy to put together.

And keeping it real...you can see our dining room play room in the background!

So what do you think?!  Did we make the right decision?  

Next on the list is to turn the wall behind the couch into a gallery wall and we're even considering painting the wall an accent color.  Any suggestions on color?

xo natasha

PS...It looks like the ottoman is back on sale...definitely worth considering if you're looking for a great ottoman.

The Ottoman: Which Color Would You Choose?

So I got the fabric swatches in from West Elm and now I'm more confused than ever.  I could honestly see all four colors fitting into our living room.  I snapped a couple quick shots of my living room and was hoping to get your opinion.

Which color would you choose?

We currently have a dark wood coffee table that matches a lot of the other furniture in the room.  See the side table behind the couch and the woven baskets to the right.

The couch we currently have is a beige color in mico suede.  Super easy to clean and has worn well {for the most part...don't mind the slouchy pillows}. 

The silver sage actually matches the accent pillows perfectly....but is that a dumb move to match to something like an accent pillow?  What if I change my mind down the road on these pillows?

I also think the bone would be waaaay too hard to keep clean between bare feet and grimy toddler hands.

Obviously brown would work well but is that too safe of a choice?  Will it look super blah in there?  Should I be taking more of a risk?  And how do we feel about velvet during the summer?

Thoughts and opinions welcome!

Clearly you can see the predicament I'm in!  I can't wait to hear your thoughts.

xo natasha

PS...if you're on the hunt for a new ottoman like me, you can check out my latest ideabook where I found a tons of great options.

Lulu & Georgia Sale!

For those of you not familiar...you must check out the new online shop, Lulu & Georgia!

The shop carries tons of goodies, like rugs, pillows, furniture, and more!

Here are some of my favorite items:

Flame Ikat Pillows

Copenhagen Tray

Chinoiserie Console Table

I'm in love with the pretty textiles and bold pops of color!

And today only, Lulu & Georgia is offering 26% off everything in their store...pretty awesome, right?  I guess it's time to tackle that Christmas list!  ;)

Happy Shopping!!

xo natasha

Help! Crib Crisis!

Friends!  I need your help!  The hubs and I are in a bit of a pickle...we can't decide which crib to purchase for Baby Schue.  As I'm sure many of you can imagine, there are tons and tons...and TONS of options!  Everything from traditional to sleek & modern.  Stylish to eco-friendly and everything in between. 

I always thought I would go for a white and traditional crib, but when we found out we were having a boy, I thought it might be too feminine.  I've really come around to the modern design and how many of them are two-toned.  Which brings us to our dilemma...which one to pick.  I would love to get your opinion, whether it's from personal experience with one of these cribs or purely because of aesthetics.

This is the MUU All Slat Ray Crib...it retails for $795.  I love the modern look and the two-toned wood.  It's taller than most modern cribs at 37.5 inches and made from solid maple.  It doesn't mention whether the white paint is non-toxic.  I love the sleek design and the hint of wood tone at the bottom.  It almost has a retro feeling.

This is the Babyletto Mercer 3 in 1 Convertible Crib, which retails for $359.  It also has the modern lines and the two-toned woods.  There is an additional drawer at the bottom, which I've read is kind of flimsy, so it wouldn't be used for any heavy duty storage.  Babyletto is known for being baby-friendly with all of its non-toxic finishes and so forth.  The downside about the crib is how short it is...only 35" tall.

Update...kind of in love with this similar looking crib by Baby Mod.  

Next up is the Netto CUB 2.0 Sleeper Crib, which I found for $695.  I actually like this one a lot!  It comes in a darker walnut finish, but appears to be $200 more, which is just not gonna cut it.  What do you think of the beech finish?  Again, love that the finish is non-toxic, and it measures at 41"...though other sites show it measuring in at 36" tall.  

Last, we all know how hard it is to teach old dogs new tricks.  This is the Lolly & Me crib, which is the least expensive option at $299.99, and of course the most traditional.  Despite it's more traditional look and low price point, this crib appears to have all the same toxic-free finishes of the modern options.  The only thing it's missing is the two-tone wood, but maybe it's more versatile for children down the way.  And it's also the tallest of the 4, measuring in at 43" tall.

Alright, so give it to me straight.  Which one is your favorite?  Do you have a favorite that I'm missing?  I definitely appreciate your input!

xo natasha

iHeart Ikea!

Happy Monday!

We got the chance to assemble our new Ikea Hemnes dresser over the weekend and I can't say enough great things about it!

First, it is MUCH wider than I anticipated, which works out great for the corner is sits in.  It's very sturdy and substantial.  Ryan would have preferred a method that allows it to be screwed together and/or glued for reinforcement, but I think that's what you tend to get with Ikea.  I say, for the price, you just can't beat it.  

Here's the precious dresser...also Ikea and something Ryan has had since college....it's lasted a great deal longer than we expected!

Pretty awful...I know!

 

As you can see...the back paneling was coming apart...definitely time for a change.

Love that the drawers are lined with these cheery yellow stripes!

Before...and after!  See what I mean about the difference in width?  The white also really opens up our room, which is another plus!  :)

What do you think about Ikea furniture?  Any good finds I should know about??

xo natasha

The Hutch::Newly Styled

First, I have to confess my utmost respect for anyone who knows how to properly use a camera.  I, unfortunately, am not one of them.  But I try and appreciate all of you who are so kind {and those that have given my tips...extra thanks!} about my photos skills.  I've learned a lot and hope to learn more!

With that in mind...I wanted to show your our "styled" kitchen hutch.  When you last saw it here, it was rushed and not put together.  I've finally gotten my groove on with the styling and hope I got the right light to give it justice.

I decided to stick with a black, gray/silver, and white theme.  I think it's worked out well!

The white plate we received for our wedding really pops with the gray wallpaper, don't you think?

 Here is the white cake stand I found at a local antique store...I also had fun incorporating the mercury glass.

I love my polka dot Kate Spade vase and of course my Gwyn Cookbook!

And here you can see how the hutch picks up the black and gray specks in the granite.

Just as a reminder...one more before & after.

Some of you have asked where we got the wallpaper...how we painted...what paint we used, etc.  Here are some answers for you:

Wallpaper: Allen + Roth Spanish Tile from Lowes found here.

Paint: Valspar Semi-Gloss Black {available at Lowes}

We followed Just a Girl's tutorial.  It's amazing and the best part?  NO SANDING!  That's right baby...a huge time saver!  The foam rollers are also a genius idea.

It took us about 2 weekends total.  We cleaned and primed the first weekend and the hit it with the black the second weekend.  I highly recommend light brush strokes...that may have been the only place we went wrong.  It takes time and patience.  If you do see areas that have excessive paint that has dried...simply sand it down and repaint.

Thanks again for all your support during this project!  I'm really happy with how it turned out and hope this post does it justice!  :)

xo natasha

P.S. Be sure to check out my guest post on what I'm Lovin' right now...it involves sequins and clog inspired boots!  {click below}