Empire Chests

We recently did a little bedroom switch up. Michael and I are downstairs on the <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-garden-level-entry.html" target="_blank">garden</a> <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/12/diy-stair-runner.html" target="_blank">level</a> now and Heather is up in the <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/06/black-walls-in-our-bedroom.html" target="_blank">smaller bedroom</a>, by the <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/10/art-for-girls-room.html" target="_blank">kids room</a>. We were having trouble fitting all our clothes in the tiny 8x13 room. And with Michael and I both working late nights downstairs and with the kids sleeping through the night consistently, it just made sense to switch. While Heather was out of town last week, I redid her room as a Christmas surprise and it turned out pretty great. I'm excited to share. We went really dark with the walls (not quite black).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/633966058_o.jpg" /></div><br />Our new room downstairs is getting overhauled too. The sticking point has been finding a pair of matching dressers with really specific dimensions that would work with a weird bump out in the room. It was hard to make any design decisions before figuring out the dresser situation. After more than a month of searching, I found these birdseye maple (scratch that - apparently the chests are crotch mahogany!) Empire style chests from the 30s at an auction house in New Jersey. The dimensions are *perfect* and I love the look. Success!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/633965963_o.jpg" /></div><br />Now on to the rest of the room! Wouldn't a dark gray, like BM Anchor Gray be pretty with the wood? Chunky white moulding. White shades maybe. Not sure about the bedding. I have some hotel bedding <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/01/good-hotel-bedding.html" target="_blank">like this</a> but black embroidery that might be great with some fun shams (<a href="http://shopninespace.com/pipe-stitch-sheet-set-8" target="_blank">these sheets</a> are a steal and have a similar look if you're in the market). Maybe a natural fiber on the floors?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/empirewithgray.jpg" /></div><br />What do you have going on this weekend? Are you still wiped out from the holidays or are you ready to take 2013 by storm? Depending on how you're feeling I hope it's a productive or restful weekend! xx

Empire Chests

We recently did a little bedroom switch up. Michael and I are downstairs on the garden level now and Heather is up in the smaller bedroom ...

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Baker Sofa Upholstery

I've been meaning to share photos of the new upholstery on <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/09/a-new-old-sofa.html" target="_blank">our vintage Baker sofa</a> <i>forever!</i><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/DSC_0102.jpg" /></div><br />I had started work on doing the upholstery myself, but the <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/10/diy-wire-console-table-or-how-i-got.html" target="_blank">tetanus side-effects</a> really wiped me out for those first two months or so. We ended up buying a car this year (did I mention that earlier?), so one day in October when my resolve and spirits were both low, I loaded up the sofa and took a little day trip down to <a href="http://www.jensensfurnitureworkroom.com/" target="_blank">my trusty upholsterers</a> back in Maryland. It takes about three hours to drive there, but I stopped along the way to do some antiquing and Amish-food-eating with my sister, so it was a fun day trip.  :)<br /><br />Jensen's only charges $525 for a sofa job (about a third the price of my upholsterer here in the city!), but I still felt a little guilty for not upholstering the sofa myself, especially since <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/09/a-new-old-sofa.html" target="_blank">I mentioned here</a> that I would. I have to say though, it was worth every penny to free up that time and energy when things were a little rocky, health-wise. (<i>If you're looking for an in-depth upholstery tutorial, I did a whole series here: <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/06/reupholstering-chair-part-1-stripping.html" target="_blank">Part 1</a>, <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-to-reupholster-chair-part-2.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a>, <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-to-reupholster-chair-part-3.html" target="_blank">Part 3</a>, <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-to-upholster-chair-part-4-sewing.html" target="_blank">Part 4</a>, <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/07/how-to-reupholster-chair-part-5-sewing.html" target="_blank">Part 5</a>)</i><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_6760.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/2IMG_8352-1.jpg" /></div><br />I ended up doing the <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/10/sofa-fabric.html" target="_blank">contrasting welt we talked about</a> and I really love it. I found four yards of this dark teal (almost black) Sunbrella fabric at Home Fabrics in Arizona for about $4 a yard. They have this store in California, Utah and Nevada too, I think, and it is a <i>treasure trove</i>!!! I save about half my suitcase for hauling my finds home to NY each trip we take.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_8587.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_8594.jpg" /></div><br />I'm so glad I found that Sunbrella. I know it will hold up really well and I think the color is great with the <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/10/sofa-fabric.html" target="_blank">pretty green velvet</a> I scored at JEM here in the city.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_3761.jpg" /></div><br />We've had the sofa back for about eight weeks now and it has taken kid spills like a boss.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/2DSC_0098.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/DSC_0120.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/DSC_0102.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">More living room photos and projects coming! Lots to post about here, but there's still <i>lots</i> left to do in the room. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>PS Some links for the projects/items seen here:</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/05/kitchen-rug.html" target="_blank">Persian rug</a>  //  <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/06/new-lr-rug-progess.html" target="_blank">Jute rug</a>  //  <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/10/how-to-bind-two-natural-fiber-rugs.html" target="_blank">Binding the jute rug </a> //  <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/10/turning-vintage-side-tables-into.html" target="_blank">Pillow fabric</a>  //  <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/04/i-changed-my-mind.html" target="_blank">Scrolly mirror </a> //  <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/01/buttery-soft-camel-leather.html" target="_blank">Chesterfield tufted sofa</a>  //  <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/08/cleaning-up-our-wooden-doors.html" target="_blank">Refinished sliding glass doors</a>  //  <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/10/coffee-table-makeover.html" target="_blank">Gilded coffee table</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Like LGN on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Little-Green-Notebook/307982329249091" target="_blank">FB</a> // Follow me on <a href="https://twitter.com/jennykomenda" target="_blank">twitter </a> // Instagram: @jennykomenda</i></div></div>

Baker Sofa Upholstery

I've been meaning to share photos of the new upholstery on our vintage Baker sofa forever! I had started work on doing the upholstery m...

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Welcome, 2013!

Hi friends! How was your holiday break? I feel rested and pumped for the new year - I have hopes it will be our family's best yet.<br /><div><br /></div><div>I've been thinking a lot about resolutions lately. Normally I'm all about making elaborate lists. Unfailingly, the long lists are forgotten pretty quickly (you know how that goes). So this year I only have one broad and easy-to-remember resolution: to live a less busy life. I want to drill down on the important things rather than getting distracted with opportunities, slow down, find more beauty in the creation process and find more ways to laugh with and show love to my family. I want to blog better and smarter, and focus on what works for me here on LGN. Busy is now a four-letter word to me!</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm working on editing photos of our living room to share tomorrow, but for now here are some snippets from our Christmas and New Years. We stayed in New York this year and my sister Heather and Michael's brother and his wife all left to go to Arizona for the week, so it was just us for Christmas day. We missed the party a little bit I think, but there's something peaceful about going solo as a family for the holidays.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_0185_zps9ac698ad.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This year I finally gave in to the reality that I have an allergy to real Christmas trees. I decided that if we had to have a fake tree, that it would be mega-fake! So we went with white. I loved the white, and found I was really only missing the smell of a fresh tree. We burned lots of <a href="http://www.archipelago-usa.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductName=Black%20Forest%20Soy%20Candle" target="_blank">this candle</a> to replicate some of the piney scent and now I think I'll be burning it all winter. It's down right intoxicating!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_0371.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The girls and I went a little tape-happy with the gift packages this year! Neon and gold duct tape is <i>awesome. </i></div><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_0344_zpscbfda913.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We celebrated Evelyn's birthday on Christmas Eve and told her all about how she was our special little angel, <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-evie-miracle.html" target="_blank">born under the tree</a> three years ago.</div><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_0346_zps02acfba8.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">For New Years we trekked up to Westchester to celebrate with good friends. My darling friend <a href="http://www.lunchpailsandlipstick.com/p/about.html" target="_blank">Jenna</a> had a kid's craft table set up for making party hats.</div><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_0347_zpsf8a6b722.jpg" /></div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_0306_zps90fba7ad.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We stayed up far too late that night. :)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_0349_zpsce8914f0.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then, what better outing than Times Square on New Years morning? (worst idea ever). Evie absolutely could not contain herself when she saw the so-called Hello Kitty. Aren't these the most frightening costumes you've ever seen? Triple yikes.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_0343_zps0adeb01c.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Here's to a healthy, happy and slowed-down year! And as always, thanks for all the love and support that you show me here. I have the best job in the world. :) See you tomorrow. xo</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>PS Follow me on Facebook <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Little-Green-Notebook/307982329249091" target="_blank">here</a> and on twitter and Instagram at @jennykomenda.</i></div></div>

Welcome, 2013!

Hi friends! How was your holiday break? I feel rested and pumped for the new year - I have hopes it will be our family's best yet. I...

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