House of Earnest

July 13, 2011

On My Radar: Raw Art Letterpress – Quotable and Personalized Prints

Last week I stumbled upon Raw Art Letterpress and spent hours looking through every single print. I could immediately think of several people for whom I wanted to buy one – myself included! I went ahead and settled on two prints, one for my brother’s graduation and one for myself (to go on the amazing built-ins that will soon grace my master bedroom).

Colette Urquhart is the artist behind the imperfect perfection of these prints and made up the ‘raw art letterpress’ process back in 2009. She hand cuts all of the plates & every letter with love from recycled materials.

And now for the SUPER EXCITING GIVE-A-WAY news!! Today, I am giving ONE LUCKY READER the opportunity to win a print from Raw Art Letterpress!! Choose from one of the many fabulous quotes or one of the amazing personalized prints!

There are TWO ways to enter!

1. Head on over to Colette’s store at Raw Art Letterpress, then come on back here and leave a comment about which print is your favorite and why. So simple!

2. ‘Like’ House of Earnest of Facebook HERE and leave your comment about which print from Raw Art Letterpress is your favorite!

The winner will be picked at random and announced Wednesday, July 20th! Enjoy, and good luck!

Have a BEAUTIFUL Wednesday!

11 Comments

July 12, 2011

Fresh Finds: Take Five! Hydrangeas, Sunflowers, Snapdragons, Mini Roses, and Button Mums

in fresh finds with 2 Comments

If you regularly follow H of E, you know how I love flowers (but who doesn’t, right?). I went to the store this weekend to pick up some groceries and also walked out with FIVE different varieties of flowers – all of which I couldn’t live without.

*actual story is that I just picked up the hydrangea, roses, snapdragon, and mums at first. Then waiting in the check-out, the sunflowers were beckoning me from afar so I ran and snatched them too!

Regardless, my goal is always to make arrangements that are prettier and cheaper than what you would pick up at your local grocery store by buying individual varieties instead of the store arranged bouquets. This week I picked up some beautiful ones, and I feel that all of the warm tones work so well together. My goal was to make FOUR arrangements out of the blooms I brought home – one for each main common room (kitchen, living room, bathroom) as well as my office!

Hydrangea make a great addition to a home arrangement because they take up a lot of space, and in white are a good match for any color scheme. I was instantly attracted to the purple in the snapdragon and button mums, added the roses in to add dimension to those purple tones (but keep it in the same color family).

Those bright yellow sunflowers brought the entire display to a whole new level. That added pop of yellow is what you see first, followed by the levels and layers of pinks and purples.

*all photos by house of earnest

Do you like the arrangements this week? What are your thoughts on making arrangements yourself at home? Do you regularly bring fresh flowers into your home? Please share!

Have a BRIGHT Tuesday!

P.S. The House of Earnest GIVEAWAY will be posted tomorrow!! Stay Excited!!!

P.P.S. You can have more access to behind the scenes photos and live updates by ‘liking’ House of Earnest on Facebook! Click HERE!

2 Comments

July 11, 2011

Before & After: A Stylish Compromise

in before & after, Home Decor with 13 Comments

So, my master bedroom is somewhat of a thorn in my side. It looks the same as it did when I moved in (aside from new linens which I switch up regularly so I don’t get too restless). It has strange angles, a weird jut-out from the downstairs fireplace/chimney and a wall of windows opposite the bed which are 100 yrs old, drafty and let in every bit of road noise.

Just as our renovations of this old house begin to move upstairs, I want to get started on the bedroom ASAP! My list of desired renovations includes pulling up the carpet, re-staining the wood floors, repainting, adding built-in shelving to those two recesses and of course new window treatments and furniture. I really really want the head of the bed to be rotated up against that jut-out in the wall, allowing my built-ins to serve as dimension behind the (future) headboard, with side tables layered out in front.

*see my two drawings (which may or may not have been penned in an exceptionally boring meeting) here and here

As I spout off project after project that I’ve hoping to complete in record time, my husband reminds me of the value of patience and mapping out plans. Does the bed fit in the spot that seems so perfect in my head? Do those two wall recesses need built-ins or can we do shelving systems? He has spent a couple of weeks (months) pleading with me to first adjust the room layout in order to see if I even like the bed on that wall prior to purchasing large sums of lumber for shelving.

So – long story short, I decided to emulate the look I wanted using only furniture and decor that I already own. This would give me a good idea of whether or not I like the new layout enough to jump full steam into a renovation based on that layout.

I moved the bed, moved the existing college-days shelving to the south recess, layered some side tables to the north recess and decorated both inlets. This give me an idea of the eclectic, curated look that my dream built-ins would achieve.

A chair in the corner serves as a place to tie shoelaces and the ample space on either side of the bed allows me to enter and exit without disturbing my husband.

I think it was a pretty good compromise. So far, I think it is a wonderful change and although I love the bed here, we’ll sleep on it for a few nights before jumping head-long into building those shelves (and getting rid of those mini blinds for goodness sake)!

What are your thoughts? Do you like the change?

Have a FANTASTIC Monday! I hope your week is off to a great start!

P.S. My FIRST EVER giveaway will be popping up this week, and it is FABULOUS - so stay tuned!!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

13 Comments

July 8, 2011

Friday Faves 7.8

in friday favorites with 0 Comments

*photos from top left: no. 1 ivory chunky throw $265 – serenaandlily.com; no. 2 cuff occasional table – curreycodealers.com; no. 3 cheese markers $10 – crateandbarrel; no. 4 wasp needlepoint pillow $165 – jonathan adler; no. 5 pink table linens – madelineweinrib.com

I’m feeling like cozying up on the couch with a blanket, some wine, cheese, and a couple girlfriends on this rainy summer day. I hope you have a WONDERFULLY un-rainy friday and weekend!

0 Comments

July 7, 2011

An American Style in France

in Home Decor with 2 Comments

The only word I have to describe this home is DRAMA. Everything is supersized, the windows, the couches, the light fixtures, and the views. This beautiful Normandy home, by architect Alexandre Danan (of European Design Office Consulting), is absolutely spectacular. Even with all of its massive, white contemporary charm, there is something comfy about it too. I am not sure if it is the prarie green pastures outside, or the mix of French and American styles designed by Deborah Hess (which happens fairly often on Normandy’s coast) but something in this house strikes a chord with me.

Oversized couches seem inviting for a lounge with family in front of the fire. Two smaller dining tables keep the dining area casual, fun, and quirky. Pale grey oak floors look as if they’re meant to be lived on.

*photos by jean-francois jaussaud for lux productions

From every room and every angle the thing that really pops out is the amount of white used in this home. Normally such a clean palette could be overbearing, but wood floors, hammered gold pendants, and lush green views warm up all that white.

I would venture to say that this house is a dramatic masterpiece, but since it is a country home that feels so comfortable, that is almost a contradiction. What do you think? Dramatic masterpiece? Comfortable country home?

I’m excited to be back in action after my long weekend relaxing, and I’m even more excited to have another weekend so soon! I have a few projects lined up that I am super excited about, and super excited to show to you all!!

Have a FANTASTIC Thursday!

2 Comments

July 6, 2011

Hidden Treasures: Craigslist Cane Chairs

in before & after, Home Decor with 0 Comments

Hello Everyone! Beginning today, house of earnest* will have previous guest blogger, Lacey Anne to write a regular contributing post dedicated to her amazing hidden treasures which she finds and refurbishes. I am so excited to have her sharing her finds with us on a regular basis, and I hope you’re pumped up for it too! Stop by the first Wednesday of each month to hear about her newest hidden treasure and what went into making it beautiful! – erin

One of my most recent Craigslist finds is such a treasure. I can hardly still believe it. On a Friday afternoon a few weeks ago, I came across a post titled “chairs $25.” I have an unhealthy obsession with chairs. I would fill my house with them if my husband wouldn’t kill me, but now I am allowed some discretion because we are still furnishing our home. So, I clicked. And behold:

The fact that these Chippendales were selling for $25 made me crazed. I called the seller immediately to schedule the pick-up, at whatever time worked for her. I was ready to leave work immediately if necessary. I successfully sealed the deal, picked them up at 8:30 the next morning, and gave them a face lift that same day since I was so beside myself at my good fortune.

Steal, I tell you, they were a steal. Knowing was pricing for similar chairs can be, I am one happy girl. And I love my man Craig, once again. He always comes through. You won’t believe the treasure I’ll share next month. I might have magical powers.

Any amazing Craigslist finds out there to rival this one!?

Have a wonderful day!

0 Comments

July 5, 2011

White Wooden Floors – Bad or Brilliant?

in on my radar with 0 Comments

I’m loving this room today from stylizimo, maybe because it looks so serene and I feel like I could use a nice quiet space… Or maybe because the white painted wooden floors make the room almost exclusively white.

White floors have been on my radar for some time now. They pop up on all of the Scandinavian blogs and magazines I read and I’m thinking about trying them in my guest bedroom this summer. If they work out well, I’ll consider it also for my master bedroom, but what are your thoughts?

I’ll be driving back to Ohio today from my brief poolside escape from reality. I hope you all have a MAGNIFICENT Tuesday!

0 Comments

July 4, 2011

Try This at Home: Fun & Festive Forth with DIY Poms

in easy entertaining, try this at home with 0 Comments

Celebrate in festive style this Forth of July with red white and blue tissue paper poms! They are reminiscent of the fireworks displays that fill the skies this weekend and the are super easy to whip up for either a big planned soiree or an impromptu get together with friends.

String them together for pom pom garland or hang individually, they’re a cute, festive pop to your gathering. Make them at home with this quick and easy ‘How-To’.

Have a FABULOUSLY FESTIVE Forth of July!

0 Comments

July 1, 2011

Friday Faves 7.1

in friday favorites with 0 Comments

photos from top left: no. 1 Jonathan Adler Positano Pillows $98 and $68, no. 2 magalerie $28, no. 3 wall flower art at jayson home and garden $45-$85, no. 4 Distortion candlesticks by paul loebach for areaware €26, no. 5 paris city map from made by girl $55, no. 6 a stones throw away wallpaper Oh Joy! for Hygge&West $125/roll

Have a FANTASTIC Friday and WONDERFUL holiday weekend! See you Monday with some festive fun DIYs!

0 Comments

June 30, 2011

Soapbox: Imperial No. 9 Design

in soapbox: things I love and you should too with 1 Comment

Imperial it is… The Mondrian Hotel in Soho recently opened a sustainable seafood restaurant called Imperial no. 9 and it looks fabulous! At first glance, it is hard to see anything other than the fully glass ceiling of the expansive space, but let your eyes wander down and you’ll notice all the amazing greenery, those striking blue chairs, and the dramatic chandeliers.

The space was designed by Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz, a designer whose residential work I also love to pour over. Do you love it?

Stunning views from the street at sure to lure in a crowd!

Ummmm – have I mentioned how much I love apothecary jars? Love them.

Crystal chandeliers sparkle in both the abundant natural light by day, and the beautiful spot lighting by night. These are just the perfect accent to all of the lush greenery.