Last Minute Father's Day Present: Framed Ties

<div>Hello from the road! I'm in Virginia with my sister and sister in law, having a little girls trip today. The weather is fantastic, the food has been delicious and my cheeks are burning from all the laughter. </div><div><br /></div><div>Just wanted to pop in and share this idea in case you are scrambling for a last-minute Father's Day present. I saw these framed neckties at a vintage shop in Brooklyn last week and thought the idea was so cool. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_3801-1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/IMG_3801-1.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/02/rock-walks-and-remembering-grandpa.html" target="_blank">When my Grandpa passed away</a> earlier this year, some of us took a few of Grandpa's ties to keep (he always had cool ties). I picked one out for Michael and he wears it sometimes, but now I'm kicking myself for not taking a few more to put in a shadow box. <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/stevenandchris/2011/09/diy-shadow-box-art.html" target="_blank">These guys</a> had a similar idea and used IKEA's deep Ribba frames to display a bowtie collection.</div><center></center><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2245-thumb-600x400-125070.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/IMG_2245-thumb-600x400-125070.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you use those specimen pins with the hooked ends then you don't even need to glue/potentially ruin the ties. I love easy-to-do and special gift ideas like this. Happy Father's Day to my guy readers! :) </div>

Last Minute Father's Day Present: Framed Ties

Hello from the road! I'm in Virginia with my sister and sister in law, having a little girls trip today. The weather is fantastic, the f...

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Hanging Out at the Samsung House

<!-- BANNER #1 --><script src="http://thirdparty.fmpub.net/placement/560506?fleur_de_sel=[timestamp]" type="text/javascript"></script><!-- BANNER #1 --><i>Brought to you by Samsung. <a href="http://r1.fmpub.net/?r=http%3A%2F%2Fad.doubleclick.net%2Fclk%3B272741875%3B98564152%3Bw%3Bpc%3D%5BTPAS_ID%5D&k4=6509&k5=560506">Click here</a> to learn more about Samsung Home Appliances.</i><br /><br />Wednesday night was SO fun. Samsung is hosting a showhouse on West Broadway and Broome here in New York and they invited me to swing by for a cocktail party to see and report on their new appliances, and also to meet up with the designer of the show house, Hilary Farr, from HGTV's Love It or List It. (geek out!)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0441copycopy.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/DSC_0441copycopy.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0487.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/DSC_0487.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: start;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo HilaryJenny.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/HilaryJenny.jpg" /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(Hilary is the queen of cool - how could she not be with that beautiful accent!? And me, well, this is my signature "straight from the airport" hair and "just finishing an awkward joke" smile)</i></div><br />Check out what a beautiful job Hilary and her team did with the giant show house. They miraculously turned a cold white box of a retail space into a modern, fresh, homey space.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0401.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/DSC_0401.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0402.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/DSC_0402.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There was some serious moulding action happening and I was inspired.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 0DSC_0409.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/0DSC_0409.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo oDSC_0450.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/oDSC_0450.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">At the beginning of the evening Hilary talked about how investing in pretty appliances makes it easier to live in more open-concept spaces. Plus, seriously, who wouldn't want to do more household chores when your kitchen and laundry rooms are sleek and modern?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0474.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/DSC_0474.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>I agreed with Hilary when she talked about how the kitchen is the heart of the home and that appliances, in both form and function, matter more than ever. She said that what she loves most about Samsung's appliances is they are (literally) state of the art, but they're also very affordable when compared to other high end appliances. I loved this new range below. It's the Slide-in Flex Duo Oven Electric Range with no back panel - so no more covering up all that beautiful backsplash tile!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0396.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/DSC_0396.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0478.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/DSC_0478.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Also, that oven? They invented this sort of slide in shield called a Smart Divider that makes this a double oven! Like, you can operate it at two different temperatures above and below the shield! I thought that was so smart.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4607.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/IMG_4607.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0393.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/DSC_0393.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Upstairs in the showroom, I got to see firsthand how well-designed these appliances are. I admit that I wasn't totally up to speed on refrigerator technology until last night, but seriously, these new models are down right amazing. Everything that sort of bugged me about my past refrigerators, they're solving it at Samsung. They have separate cooling systems for the fridge and the freezer sections, it's called Twin Cooling Plus technology, which means the produce stays fresher longer and the frozen foods don't get a bit of freezer burn. Also no more freezer-smelling air in the fridge with the separate air systems. (yes and YES!)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0347.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/DSC_0347.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4614.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/IMG_4614.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />This four door has a built-in sparkling water dispenser!! What the what!? Also, it makes up to 10 pounds of ice <i>a day.</i> I'm a beverage-lover and a party-thrower, so this fridge was absolutely whispering my name.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 2DSC_0346.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/2DSC_0346.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0365.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/DSC_0365.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Also just under the french door sits this genius drawer that's perfectly sized and placed for kid snacks.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 4DSC_0363.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/4DSC_0363.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>The other fridge I was completely drooling over was the T9000, Samsung's Convertible French Door Refridgerator. Check out those super sleek handles on the four doors. Almost an Art Deco look to them, right? Right on trend with the Gatsby craze.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4601.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/IMG_4601.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 4DSC_0370.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/4DSC_0370.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But beyond the beautiful look, this fridge has some serious technology to back it up. You can reconfigure each side of the bottom doors. So if you want two sides to be at freezer temp, or if you want to use the space to chill beverages for a party, or if you have a big family and you want all four compartments to be fridge space, you can change the settings on the digital screen in about five seconds flat.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4599.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/IMG_4599.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>They really have thought of everything. The seller of our house in Arizona just recently put in new appliances, but now I'm thinking about selling at least the fridge to get my hands on one of these new beauties. I might not be able to go another day without that sparkling water dispenser! :)

Hanging Out at the Samsung House

Brought to you by Samsung. Click here to learn more about Samsung Home Appliances. Wednesday night was SO fun. Samsung is hosting a showhou...

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FLOR Summer Sale

Oh! Just saw that <a href="http://www.flor.com/" target="_blank">FLOR</a> is having their annual summer sale right now (through the end of June it looks like) where everything is a whopping 25% off. I've been dreaming of <a href="http://www.flor.com/vintage-vibe-cream.html" target="_blank">the Vintage Vibe tiles</a> since popping in their Atlantic Ave store a couple weeks ago and completely falling for the small scale Moroccan-inspired pattern. (and it looks like <a href="http://www.simplygrove.com/flor-in-my-home/" target="_blank">Kirsten</a> used these in her living room recently, so you know they must be chic!)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 21-1385-01-11.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/21-1385-01-11.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />With this sale going on, I'm so, so tempted to make our first rug purchase for the new house. I think it would be the perfect choice for the family room that's right off the kitchen (working on floor plans right now to share!). If the last two homes we've lived in have been any indication of our future, the rug nearest the kitchen sees the most spills.  :) It would be a dream to be able to totally replace the tiles in the areas of greatest offense.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo ScreenShot2013-06-13at113212PM.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/ScreenShot2013-06-13at113212PM.png" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />That was my favorite part of <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/11/flame-stitch-flor-tiles.html" target="_blank">Abbey's entry project</a> using <a href="http://www.flor.com/" target="_blank">FLOR tiles</a>. Depending on the pattern you want, they can be a bit of an investment, but they hold up SO well. And I know <a href="http://www.designscouting.com/" target="_blank">Abbey's</a> been able to reuse her carpet tiles in her newest apartment, so they must travel well too.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 2AbbeyEntry2.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/2AbbeyEntry2.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div>

FLOR Summer Sale

Oh! Just saw that FLOR is having their annual summer sale right now (through the end of June it looks like) where everything is a whopping ...

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Valley House Tour: The Exterior

Guys, I'm not much for tears, but this week has been a cry-fest for me. So many highs and lows!<br /><br />It's a weird thing to share (even just parts of) your life with the internet. For a lot of reasons I was nervous to tell you guys the news about our move. I worried I would let you down or something (probably because a big part of me (the adventurous part) is a little let down that we're leaving). But, wow. Thank you from the heart of my heart for being so kind and generous and supportive about this decision we've made. You've lifted an enormous burden off my shoulders and have helped me focus on the "highs" that will come with this move.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 1DSC_0347.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/1DSC_0347.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />When we found out Michael got this new job, we thought we had until the end of the summer before his start date. We only recently found out that they need him to start much sooner, so July 1 it is! Suddenly an entire summer's worth of east coast-based work has to be crammed into just a few short weeks. It's going to get a little hairy over here, balancing all that with preparations for the move. I'm still planning to post every day as usual, but I hope you won't mind if I have to miss a day or two here and there.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0738.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/DSC_0738.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0721.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/DSC_0721.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />In the next couple weeks, while we're packing up our life here, I'd love to show you photos of the house in its "before" state and talk about my plans for renovating after we close. Michael and I have been calling it the Valley house, since it's situated in a pretty little valley of orange groves (and Phoenix is often called the Valley - especially by my parents, who live three hours north of Phoenix). We probably will just call it "home" from now on, but I thought it would be helpful for tagging purposes on the blog. :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 1DSC_0342.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/1DSC_0342.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>A little about the house: It was built in the mid-eighties. Five bedrooms plus an office, four baths. All those eaves and gables make it look bigger than it is probably, but there's no denying it's a big house. Probably bigger than we need right now, but every single room has a legit purpose for daily use, which was so important to us. Arizona real estate costs a fraction of what we've been saving for here in New York, so when we were house hunting we had to keep ourselves in check a little bit and not get too excited about how comparatively affordable it all was. Plus, I think we could stay in this house for the long haul (says the girl that's moved five times in six years), so we're okay with it being a little bigger than we maybe need right this second.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 1DSC_0346.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/1DSC_0346.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We were also looking at another house that was so beautiful, you guys. It was, like, perfection. But it was quite a bit more expensive than this house and it really didn't need too much work. And where's the fun in that? I love that we can put our stamp on this home and not feel too guilty about undoing what someone else already did (not to mention we'd be double paying for the renovations that way).</div><br />Also, we debated where to live in Phoenix a lot, but ultimately we decided one of the biggest reasons we are moving back home is to be near family (hello! never paying for a babysitter again!), so it made sense to live <i>near </i>family. I know some of you know where this house is, and I'd really love it if you didn't post about the location in the comments, just to help me to continue to feel comfortable about posting photos, etc. Thanks!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0719.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/DSC_0719.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />So, let's talk about the exterior of the house, which is a bit...tricky. Since the house is only thirty years old, I'm not having any internal struggles about removing some of the original gingerbread mouldings, etc.<br /><br />The shake roof is getting some repair work done by the seller this week, but the inspector thinks the whole thing will need to be replaced in 5-7 years (which we took account of in our offer price). I think we'll do something other than shake when the time comes. The harsh AZ sun really does a number on those shingles!<br /><br />But the shake stays for now anyway. I think I'll like it better when the house gets a paint job. I'm thinking a warm, creamy gray on the body of the house with a wash on the brick face in the same color. Dark charcoal or black on the trim.<br /><br />All of the gingerbread and those scepter-like finials (?!) will be removed. I actually love the look of this short fence on the porch (just needs new paint), but I want to frame out the turned posts and take off some of the faux balcony situation above the front door.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 1DSC_0725copy.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/1DSC_0725copy.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0727.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/DSC_0727.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 1DSC_0348.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/1DSC_0348.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Speaking of the front door, I seriously dig the crazy big, weird overhang moulding. The oval leaded glass needs to go, stat, and I'd love it if we could do taller double doors. While I love the look of solid doors, but the light from the current glass panes is nice on the inside. Need to figure that one out a little more.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 1DSC_0351.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/1DSC_0351.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Also, the landscaping is getting my side eye. I know the previous owner put a lot of money and thought into it, but it's not at all my style. I would love to eventually rip it all out and level it for a flat lawn for the kids to run around on with neighborhood friends (of which there are a-plenty! yay!).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0716.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/DSC_0716.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0740.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/DSC_0740.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Also. There's a wishing well. No words there. Other than maybe "scorpion lair"?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0717.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/DSC_0717.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Obviously (and this goes for all my plans for the house) we're going to take our time with the big decisions/projects. I usually do approach the expensive undertakings in two phases (phase 1 usually involves painting it to make it livable and phase 2 is a little more invasive. There's going to be a but more of the phase 2 happening in this house from the get go, but as always, there will be plenty of the "make it work" phase 1 mentality.) It doesn't hurt to plan and dream in the meantime, right?<br /><br />So now, what would you do with this exterior?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 1DSC_0350.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/1DSC_0350.jpg" /></div>

Valley House Tour: The Exterior

Guys, I'm not much for tears, but this week has been a cry-fest for me. So many highs and lows! It's a weird thing to share (even ju...

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Big News

There's been some craziness in the Komenda household the past couple of weeks. It feels SO good to finally get to share some news with you all. We're leaving New York this month and moving back to Arizona.<br /><br />I'm sure you can imagine our mix of feelings about the move. I keep telling people that we're 50% devastated and 50% ecstatic. Part of me thought we would make New York our forever home. We've loved it SO much, despite it being expensive and a somewhat tricky place to raise kids. But Arizona is home for both me and Michael, so when he was offered a complete dream job a few weeks ago, we felt like we couldn't walk away. I wish we could have waited a year or two longer, but after lots of long talks, lists and contemplating, we know this is the right time for us to move and put down roots.<br /><br />This is actually a great time for me to move my business too. I've recently wrapped up a few long term projects and I think I'll probably take some time off client work for the rest of the summer while we get settled. (If you're looking for an interiors job in the Phoenix area though, I'm hiring - email me). <br /><br />And in the VERY exciting news category: We bought a house! I've been waiting eight years to say that again, and it feels so, so good. Being both a DIY blogger and a renter has been a little tricky to say the least. And now, no more landlords! Hallelujah.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4585.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/IMG_4585.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />We found a perfect-for-us house with lots of potential. It has just the right layout and is in a great neighborhood with really great schools and a short commute for Michael. The exterior of the house is pretty strange (especially for Arizona) with its shake roof and gingerbread mouldings. It's an understatement to say this house needs work, but that just happens to be my speciality. She'll be pretty inside and out when we're done with her. And there's at least a decent chance I'll be bringing my Dremel saw with me to the closing so there won't be any time wasted with those gingerbread details. Yuck.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4580.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/IMG_4580.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Anyway, crazy right!? There are lots of high emotions about buying (and renovating) a big house, leaving New York and all our friends here, starting all over again with new jobs and new schools... but at my core, I feel peaceful about it all, which helps me feel like this is right for us. Thanks for continuing to follow along on this next chapter. Pretty weird to think this will be the fifth house I'll decorate and share with you on LGN. Hopefully there won't be another one for a good long while. :) <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4572.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/IMG_4572.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div>

Big News

There's been some craziness in the Komenda household the past couple of weeks. It feels SO good to finally get to share some news with y...

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