Don’t worry Davis family, Lucy is in good hands.

Since looking into them, I’ve fallen in love. I think their mission is right on and aligns with the way I try to approach design:

Interiority Complex provides creative, affordable and eco-friendly design services and products. We believe that creating a beautiful space shouldn’t break the bank, or the environment.

For those who aren’t sold on staging – The Interiority Complex states that 90% of the average population can’t visualize the potential of a room. For some of us, this statistic is hard to believe – It was for me when I first heard it! But I reason that it’s only because those of us  interested in homes can already see the possibilities of a blank state. In fact, for most of us, the blank canvas is more exciting. Below are a few pictures of our house when we purchased it. Although the house wasn’t staged, the previous owners did lighten, brighten and de-clutter.

The Living Room…

…And Dining Room (and Will!):

Staging can become large and exhausting, but I like the way The Interiority Complex lists out their simple staging tips and videos! I would apply them even if you weren’t on the market. It’s just simple, common-sense and could be applied before the holidays when guests and family are coming over:

• Lighten & Brighten
• Clean & De-Clutter
• Landscape & Trim
• Plumbing & Electrical Repairs
• Paint Interior & Exterior Walls

Still working on the art of de-cluttering, but here we are now…

I also appreciated their take on outdoor staging – Take a look at how you can improve your curb appeal.

Check them out and if you like them you can subscribe to their emails – I get them and love ‘em!

They add life to any room without taking over and they just look lovely and more sophisticated than I.

I also love tulips, hydrangeas, and stock. As soon as they really start opening up, I plan on splitting the bouquet and adding little vases around the house.

Just a thirty minute drive and it was mine. It has done some very nice things for our living room and although I’m concnered about it’s size, I think as the room evolves, it will have more space to breathe.

I’m enjoy the stain of the wood, that it’s sturdy and wonderfully symmetric. I like the glass inlay and even though it’s probably too large for the room,  I like it’s bigness.

So even though we’re looking at the guest room – keep in mind, this is going to be housing our king, platform bed. Don’t mind the dual toned walls… We’re still figuring out paint colors.

I would like to go ahead and hang the rod and put up the curtains I purchased (both rod/panels for around $40 at Tuesday Morning – I feel all of 87 when I talk about Tuesday Morning, but it really is a hidden treasure) but I think I need to dial up my patience only because I’m not sure when the king bed is in the room that it’s going to interrupt the natural width of the window and panels.

In the picture above,  you can see the wall that the  bathroom entrance will be on, and I want to make sure there is plenty of walking room between the bed, the curtains and the doorway.  Just fun home thoughts to ponder…

In the meantime, I’m loving the bedding, the sisal rug that was one of our first joint purchases after our wedding (Crate & Barrel Outlet), the sweet bed I’ve had since I was a little girl, the mod lamp that came from my secret treasure, Tuesday Morning… The room is looking good. I’m still on the hunt of a pair of cheap, matching side tables. Nothing me and my spray paint couldn’t handle though.

Once the room was mine, all mine I went on the hunt for affordable bedding – oh, and a bed to put it on. My goal was to spend no more than $100 on the room.

In-expensive mattresses are hard because you don’t want to go 2nd hand. I can’t think of anything worse than a 2nd hand mattress – unless it comes from a friend, rather a clean friend. After Will told me to chill and that a mattress will find us, not the opposite, I found out that our friend Monica was storing a queen mattress in Austin while they were away in Vancouver for the year – Note to self, listen to cheap husband more often. Instead of having it stored away, we thought we’d put it to use! Rodenbusch 1, pocket book, 0.

Once we had the bed and the rails, I went on the hunt with every coupon known to man and headed to my favorite retailers – Tuesday Morning, Bed Bath and Beyond, JC Penny’s, Pottery Barn Outlet. However, all my usual suspects had failed me. Apparently this recession has put the power back in the hands of the discount retailer. So I thought It’d take a gander at Macy’s of all places and I found the most beautiful Martha Stewart bed in a bag, originally $225 – now only$59.

That’s right… I said “bed in a bag.” I love quality linens, and they typically aren’t found stuffed in a plastic bag. But in all honestly, it’s nice! Thank you, Martha! It’s hard to tell in the picture, but the bag included 2 euro shams, 2 standards, a bed skirt (not shown) and a comforter. The paisley was a bit much for the olive/khaki walls, so I left it folded at the end of the bed. The white down comforter came from TJ Maxx ($18) and the sheets from Tuesday Morning ($24).  I don’t count these in final total only because these were items I purchased long ago… so like not real money.

With my $30 something dollars left, I have big hopes for either a headboard or a mirror. Speaking of potentially cheap mirrors, did you know that Aaron Brother’s has a 40% – 50% coupon on their site at all times? Mmmm… good finds..

…Not 1950’s ranches. When we moved in, we removed the texas star and the texas ceiling fans, and the texas light fixtures – it all went away. Right after we signed on the house I was found ripping this off the side of our house (A fine fraternity item, but not good with the rustic shutters and Austin stone):

The we sold a pair of these on Craigslist in record time – Should have asked for more because these went fast:

I also painted the sutters and front door a deep navy in an effort to rid myself of the rustic cedar – below is the before to give you an idea – keep in mind that just to the left is a wrought iron gate with (you guessed it) Texas stars front and center:

Just this weekend I went wreath shopping. I feel that things can get real country, real fast when it comes to wreaths. I fell in love with a wreath that I spotted on a family friend’s door. It was metal painted white, minimalist leaves and flowers. I loved it because it could work year round, it would last forever and it looked clean, not too much going on.

I found this at Tuesday Morning for $19. Not sure if it’s a winner – If you look closely you can see that the price tag is still on it! I needed an overnight test drive before I committed. I like it – It does what I need it to do for our front door, but I could use a larger diameter. I could also use a new front door too! I have dreams of a modern, horizontal, 5 lite front door, stained dark to almost look like metal. Until then, I think a wreath will keep me classy.

Anyone know a classy place to get a wreath in central Texas? Online?

Last Thanksgiving at 11:59 pm, I found myself with hundreds of shoppers waiting in line to go into the Pottery Barn Outlet in San Marcos. I had dreams of dancing sofas in my head, while Will was wondering where to get the free pajamas he had been promised – something about showing up in your pajamas then getting a free pair from the outlet… don’t ask. Finally the time was right and the doors opened. I had dolled out the dutys – Will was on the hunt for a media center and my sister-in-law was on the hunt for a rug I had spotted the week prior. Within 2 minutes of the doors opening, she had spotted the rug and snagged the ticket – thank you, Stacia!

I was so pleased! It was still expensive but nothing compared to the original 1400 something price tag. I loved it and put it in our dining room for months. Just recently, I started to realize how busy it was and how it might actually be doing more harm than good. I replaced it this past week with a delightful $40 find from Craigslist.

I think it’s transformed our dining room from a buzy bohemian mess to… to.. to something else! I don’t know what to call it, but it’s soothing, it’s proportional, it matches and it just works.

Before:

Getting there – Right now, we’re a little too country…

Experimenting with paint and one very large mirror:

After:

So what to do with that beautiful rug?? It’s a crewel Williams and Sonoma rug… it’s just gorgeous. I will try it in a bedroom before I opt to sell it. I hate to see it leave me because it really was a steal.

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