This Week in Pins

if you aren't on pinterest yet, then get on it! (and follow me @whim home)  it's like a warehouse of wonderful and inspiring things.  whatever you're into - there is something on pinterest for you.  i consistently find fantastic ideas to share and use myself.  here are my favorites from this week:

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i love christmas time.  love it.  always have.  i could watch elf every night and never get tired of it.  love. it.  so i am so excited about all the neat holiday decorating ideas on pinterest.  this idea is crafty and funky and could be translated into another decoration.  maybe spring paper topiaries or a summer wreath.  too cute!

i've seen this kitchen before and i'm not sure where it came from (i think house beautiful, but please correct me if you know better), but for some reason salvaged wood is so cozy and inviting.  and, to me, wood beams warm me up in the winter and are a stunning contrast to that frigid, but beautiful, tile.  this is my kitchen inspiration for our mountain home.  (that doesn't exist)

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i am always looking for smart storage ideas for clients and for myself!  i love this inexpensive way to store your favorite pumps.

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this christmas ornament idea is brought to you by the one and only miss martha stewart.  i haven't looked at the instructions in detail but i think you use a balloon and some glitter?  not sure, but i'm going to check it out- these are just lovely.

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during the holidays, i search for ways to not only decorate my home, but also make it more cozy for guests.  i love the idea of making my own hand scrubs.  i'm a stickler for ingredients and a firm believer in exfoliating.  this one is a keeper fo sho.  i'll play with different fragrances each season and my surplus of mason jars should keep things inexpensive.

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this isn't really my style, but i am always inspired by original ideas.  it gets my mind working and i thought this one was worth sharing.  it's very green and i love anything salvaged, so kudos to the guy or gal who thought of this.

an old classic.  rashida jones living room makeover from domino magazine.  i saw this on pinterest and shed a tear for my old friend domino mag.  it's amazing how current the decorating remains.  this is still very fresh and beautiful.  love it.

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this made me laugh and i had to share it.  i don't understand it, but i just can't get enough babies in wigs.  i am actively seeking a silly wig for miss lilly.  just 'cause.

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if you have never been to miss mustard seeds blog then go! now!! i saved this for last because she is fabulous and you will leave my blog for hers and never ever come back.  she did this diy, no sew tree skirt for hgtv.com and it has inspired me to change my entire christmas tree scheme this year.  i will be making it (with a sewing machine and my mama's help) and i'll have the big reveal in a week or so.  i will also be blogging about my christmas tree makeover on a shoestring budget.  so, stay tuned and happy pinning!

Design Idol: Windsor Smith

I have loved Windsor Smith since I saw her Los Angeles home featured in the August 2007 Domino Magazine.  The whimsy and femininity she adds to a space is right up my alley.  I was reminded of how much I like her when I recently saw her work in the October Veranda (Thanks, Carolyn!).  Smith's ability to make a room elegant and luxurious, but still inviting and comfortable is a gift I aspire to everyday.

Feast your eyes on Windsor Smith's work for the Veranda showhouse, aptly named, "The House of Windsor":

Four Design Books to Buy. Now.

the little miss and i generally head to the library at least once a week.  she enjoys seeing the kids and i am always amazed by the selection of art and design books.  after checking out a lot of the interior design and decorating books available, i realized that there isn't anything in them that i can't find on the internet.  there are lots of decorating books chock full of pictures, but few offer valuable words and suggestions.  a good design book inspires original ideas and gives the reader the confidence to take risks.  here are four of my favorites that do that and more.

1. i just checked this one out and it is fabulous!  it's full of beautiful pictures with explanations that inspire, not to mention PAGES of wonderful diy ideas. both the page and interior stylings are fantastic. i will be purchasing this one asap.
2. the novogratz are my favorite designing duo.  maybe my favorite designers period.  they have no formal interior design education (like myself) but their anything goes style and uncanny confidence is so invigorating and inspiring.  i actually felt like a more confident decorator after reading this book.  it reminded me not to think too hard.  just do what feels right and don't be afraid.
3. a classic.  i bought this one when it first came out and it's my go to for when i'm in a rut.  it's great for new and first time "decorators" because it takes you through the process one step at a time.  run, don't walk to pick this one up.
4. lili diallo is a domino magazine alum and she's my favorite stylist out there.  her ability to genuinely and seamlessly style dissimilar or mismatched objects is unbelievable.  this was another book that reminded me if you decorate with confidence, then anything goes.   

Simple Homemade Tomato Salsa

It's Saturday and that means football.  And, of course, a day of football means a day of football food.  This season, homemade salsa has become a Saturday staple.  It is an easy and healthy alternative to greasy snacks.

Simple Homemade Salsa

1-2 lbs tomatoes (I use Campari tomatoes when available, but have used plum tomatoes in the past)
1/2 onion (red or white)
1/8 to 1/4 cup parsley (or Cilantro.  I'm not a fan of cilantro and I never have it on hand, so I use parsley)
salt and pepper to taste
juice of one lemon wedge
dash of balsamic vinegar (or whatever vinegar you have on hand)

Roughly chop tomatoes and onions.  Dice parsley.  Combine all three.  Add salt and pepper and stir.  Add lemon juice and dash of vinegar.  Mix.  Add more salt and pepper to taste.

instagramtastic

i resisted the smart phone craze for many many moons.  i had the same LG from college and i [thought] i liked it that way.  i would tell people, "my phone makes and receives calls and that's why i have a phone, sooo... mission accomplished"  i thought of myself as a carrie bradshaw type.  resistant to change my old flip phone because it did everything i needed it to do.  and then i caught the iPhone bug.  it was as if my artsy friends had sneezed one too many times in my direction and suddenly i had to have an iPhone.  so i got one and i'm not going to lie...  it's been borderline life changing.  one of the amazing things i have so enjoyed on my new phone is a little app called Instagram (follow me!  whitneymcgregor).  it's kind of like twitter in pictures with the ability to alter the photos taken.  i put together my personal highlight reel as my salute to this fabulous application.  what can i say.  it's instagramtastic.

how to: silhouette in GIMP

B&A: Nightstands

Cravings

Lately, in my research and wanderings, I have been taking note of things I (currently) adore.  As usual, I've found inspiration EVERYWHERE, but this is the highlight reel...


Beautifully Designed Appliances
I've made a lot of trips to local home improvement stores in recent months.  I am now able to navigate these mega structures like a pro, but walking through the appliance department always leaves me wanting more.  Enter two companies making fabulous kitchen appliances: AGA and Smeg.  Here are the two pieces I am lusting after now:

AGA Legacy Stove in Vintage White

SMEG Refrigerator in Red

Valentino Aphrodite Bow Bag 
It needs no explanation.

Tassels.  Plain and fancy. 
I'm into tassels right now.  I picked up a black one at Mary Jo's Cloth Store in Charlotte last week and put it on my white IKEA Vinstra dresser.  Tassels kick things up a notch. 

Ted Baker 'Charry' Bow Acrylic Bangles 
I spotted these at Nordstrom last week and thought they were adorbs.  They have that sweet yet edgy thing going and I think I need one. 

Waverly/PKL Toile Orientale in Azalea 

I have had my eyes on this fabric for a while.  I admire the contrast of the classic print on an almost slubby linen fabric in a hot modern pink.

Dolce Vita Nariko Smoking Leopard Print Haircalf Loafers 
They remind me of my grandpa and I love them.  With a pair of cropped skinny jeans and an oversized top.  They will be mine.  Oh yes, they will be mine.

Anthropologie Ikat Mini Bowl
We picked up five of these last week for my Maman's kitchen redo.  The chartreuse will be beautiful with the gray cabinets. 

B&A: Stenciled Mirror

It never fails to amaze and excite me when people put treasures on the curb to be taken as trash.  I am not too proud to "dumpster dive" or rummage through other people's trash.  It's a blessing and a curse, but I see potential in [almost] anything.  On my way home from the grocery on Thursday, I spotted this little ditty at the curb.  I whipped my car around and loaded 'er up.  With only a small amount of spray paint and a bit of elbow grease, I turned trash into treasure.

before

after

I used a pressed board stencil that I found at an estate sale.  I simple cleaned the mirror with nail polish remover, laid it on a sheet, put the press board over it and sprayed away.

The Thing About Progress...

The countertops are in and the dishwasher is finally installed.  All we have left to do is paint the walls and ceiling, put up shelves, tile the floors and backsplash, and install lighting.  Hmph.  This still seems like a lot.  Thank goodness for progress.

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progress

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whim HOME Hits the Road

Both the BroFam dining room and the Mamasita's kitchen are coming along slowly but surely.  More on those to come...  For now, I wanted to share some brainstorming.  A couple of weeks ago I started a new project that I am particularly psyched out of my mind about (phrase a la ELF, the movie).  While I was up in Ohio at the end of August, I visited a long time family friend who just bought a new house in the Hyde Park area of Cincinnati.  I love Ohio and I love Cincy, particularly Hyde Park with all the curves and hills and charm.  The Reese home is lovely, brimming with potential, glamour and a mischievous sense of humor.  After a few hours of touring the home and sharing ideas, I had a new and very exciting project to focus on.  One of the many beautiful features of this home is a proper foyer with a staircase and a formal living room to the left.  We decided to start at the beginning and are in the first stage of design on the entryway.  Here are the idea boards I sent to Mrs. Reese for approval.  Much to my delight, she chose the first one. 

Mrs. Reese has an eye for unique thrift and estate finds.  It will be so exciting to see how this project evolves as we go.  More to come...  

Gemutlichkeit!

Just when we thought everything essential was almost complete in the kitchen, another hiccup.  The plumber CAME BACK to my client's (aka mama's) house yesterday to 1) install the sprayer for the faucet because the countertop guys forgot to drill a hole and 2) install the dishwasher because there was no electrical hookup when he came the first time.  The sprayer was installed and he set everything up to install the dishwasher without any problem.  He opened the box the dishwasher came in and Voila!  A huge ripple right down the middle.  It's at a point where I just had to laugh.  We'll have a completed kitchen around Christmas... Maybe.  So in the meantime, I am thinking positive and dreaming about my current favorite FINISHED kitchen.  It is by no means my inspiration for my client's kitchen from hell, but I love it. 
If Hansel and Gretel were a sassy Swedish ex-pat couple with a summer home in Minnesota, this would be it. 
Eat your heart out...

A Nightmare on Kitchen Street

At this point, we are just hoping that this kitchen project is completed before Christmas.  We started in April and you would think Murphy himself was the general contractor because it has been somewhat of a disaster.  It started pretty smooth and we thought that going through Home Depot would make it more convenient.  Wrong.  Communication between all of the subcontracted parties has been nonexistent.  The first screw up occurred when we received all of the cabinets only to find out that the guy who had measured the kitchen was three feet off on one wall.  Whoopsy daisy.  I understand a few inches, but three feet?  Really?  We then had to send back some of the cabinets and reorder others.  The woman at the Home Depot had the nerve to call my client (my mama :) ) and ask if she could bring back the cabinets that didn't work because they were pretty backed up.  Shphincter say what?  I wish this was the end of it.  On the first day of cabinet install (a month later) the worker cut his hand and had to end the job.  He didn't lose any limbs or phalanges, which is really all that matters, but he did put a screw right through the wall and into my mom's bedroom.  It's a lovely addition to her artwork.  This is just the start.  There is much much more and I won't go on.  I really hate to rant and rave.  I don't like to post anything negative on my blog because there is too much negative and I don't like to spread poison.  Please note that I am not angry or bitter.  We can laugh about this because in the whole scheme of things, it's really insignificant.  It's quite a story to tell-almost unbelievable at this point- and I am learning so much from all of this.  So anyway.  It's going to be beautiful when it's finished and I wanted to post some during pictures.  Things have since progressed- we now have running water- Great success! So... here she is... in all her topless glory.  (counter-top-less that is)

DURING

Stay tuned.  The next episode of A Nightmare on Kitchen Street should be a good one.  Ciao!

DIY: Wallpapered Cabinets

I've never been "afraid" of patterns.  My mom has sewn since I don't remember when and there has always been fabrics full of pattern and color around.  I would cover everything in my home with fabric and wallpaper if my roommate (husband) would allow it.  I love those Waverly ads that have the taxi cabs or newspaper bins covered in colorful fabrics with the caption "In a Waverly world..." 

Unfortunately, most people don't share my affinity for Toile de Juoy or my flare for florals.  So, while I can't decoupage my trash cans (or perhaps I could...?...), I can cover a small part of an otherwise unfun room in a pattern that makes me happy.

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AFTER

The laundry room is far from being done, but wallpapering the cabinets was a quick and easy Saturday job.  I found the wallpaper at a local store and purchased one double roll.  I could've probably used only the samples they gave me, but because this pattern had to be run a certain way, I had to purchase more.  I will use the remaining to wallpaper our Guest Bathroom.  Maybe.  I sort of love this wallpaper and might want to save it for our permanent house.  I digress. 
The paper did not have adhesive on the back so I went to the local hardware store and bought wallpaper paste and a small foam roller.  I removed the cabinets and sanded them a bit to rough them up, giving the adhesive more to work with.  I then cleaned them with rubbing alcohol and let them dry thoroughly.  When dry, I measured and cut the wall paper being sure that I knew top from bottom, so as to not put it on upside down.  I rolled the paste onto the wallpaper and carefull attached it to the cabinets.  Using a tool I purchased at the wallpaper shop, I flattened any kinks or bubbles.  I folded the paper around the edges, cut off extra and waited for it to dry.  It was a very simple process and if you've wallpapered before, it's a breeze.

B&A: Living Room

Oh where oh where has the Avarice gone, oh where oh where could she be?  With her nails cut short and her hair cut long, oh where oh where could she be?  That pretty much sums it up.  I've been wading in a sea of nursery rhymes and baby food puree.  While wearing my rose colored baby girl glasses, I have also been immersed in a kitchen remodel and trying to keep the inspiration flowing for the BroFam redo.  Life has been busy, but I am grateful.  No more time for the long winded days of old.  I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss the ol' bloggy blog blog.  So... for your viewing pleasure.  (Excuse the blurry pics, but you get the idea)

BEFORE

AFTER