Holiday Decorating with Lowe's

Happy Thanksgiving!! Tomorrow is Christmas decorating day for us. We're putting up our tree and hanging lights outside - the girls are unbelievably excited! <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Lowes_NYC_094.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/Lowes_NYC_094.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I got to practice my holiday decorating skills a couple weeks ago when <a href="http://www.lowes.com/Home-Decor/Holiday-Decorations/Christmas-Decorations/_/N-1z0wnx4/pl" target="_blank">Lowe's</a> invited me to come to New York for an event with a few other bloggers. We had SO much fun using products from Lowe's and a few other stores to decorate spaces in a mock house built in a giant loft space in Chelsea.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Lowes_NYC_097.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/Lowes_NYC_097.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><a name="more"></a><br />Each of us was asked to decorate one of the "rooms" in the house (with less than a day to execute most of it!), and I got to decorate the foyer space. There were a few logistical hiccups and some pieces I had selected for the room didn't arrive in time for the event, so it was a little more sparse than I would have liked, but I still really like the way the room turned out. Lowe's has a ton of great pieces in <a href="http://www.lowes.com/Home-Decor/Holiday-Decorations/Christmas-Decorations/_/N-1z0wnx4/pl" target="_blank">their holiday section</a> this year, as well as in their regular decor section, like these adorable <a href="http://www.lowes.com/pd_473332-48940-91952_1z0xhj5+1z10cb7__?productId=4711591&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar%7C1&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar%7C1%26page%3D1&facetInfo=Rectangular" target="_blank">suzani-style pillows</a>:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8840.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_8840.jpg" /></div><br />and these cool <a href="http://www.lowes.com/pd_394638-45353-TL1324_0__?productId=3745443" target="_blank">vessel lamps</a> that I filled with painted <a href="http://www.lowes.com/pd_496345-45813-V206-DXRK034A_0__?productId=50055007&Ntt=nutcracker&Ns=p_product_price|0&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_price%7C0%26Ntt%3Dnutcracker%26page%3D1&facetInfo=" target="_blank">nutcrackers</a>!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo zIMG_8462.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/zIMG_8462.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Lowes_NYC_101.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/Lowes_NYC_101.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />The Lowe's team helped me make frames out of gold ornaments for some oval shaped mirrors just by stringing the ornaments on a wire and gluing them down around the edges. Turned out cute, right?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8842.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_8842.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And on the front door, which was painted the prettiest shade of mustard yellow, we made a simple garland out of assorted Lowe's holiday decor. Lowe's has really gorgeous sparkly decorations in gold and silver tones that were bendable and easy to twist around each other for a quick garland.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Lowes_NYC_100.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/Lowes_NYC_100.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The silhouettes were paper cut-outs from textured paper I picked up at Paper Presentation (which is the best paper and party supply place in the city, btw). I thought the gold and silver foil Santa hats were fun. </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Lowes_NYC_099.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/Lowes_NYC_099.jpg" /></div><br />I think flowers are always a great way to decorate for an occasion or during the holiday season, and, really, I love any excuse to shop the flower district shops (Dutch Line and Jamali, both on 28th St, are my favorites). I went with flowers and leaves with sort of a wintery feel in color and texture. My favorites are the purple thistles.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8791.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_8791.jpg" /></div><br />I found the oil slick vases at Jamali and I love how they look on the lavender-gray mirrored console that the people at Lowe's made for me.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8804.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_8804.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8821.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_8821.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>I found this trophy also at Jamali and used it for a flower arrangement that I put on the little Saarinen table we used in the center of the foyer. I used a little snowflake bowl from Lowe's and a stamped silver platter to hold holiday cards.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8849.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_8849.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8830.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_8830.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8851.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_8851.jpg" /></div><br />The artichokes in the arrangements are so pretty and unexpected. I love adding big and unique elements like that, especially in bigger arrangements, to help flowers look less stuffy and formal.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8836.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_8836.jpg" /></div><br />My lovely friend Gabrielle from <a href="http://designmom.com/" target="_blank">Design Mom</a> decorated the front yard area. She was waiting here for the <a href="http://www.hgtv.com/kitchen-cousins/show/index.html" target="_blank">Kitchen Cousins</a> to be ready to film her interview segment and I made her strike a pose for me.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8814.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_8814.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The painted floors were a little dirty by this point in the evening (lots and lots of dirty footsteps from the rain), but I love the colors.  (You can't really tell from these photos, but the lines are actually a series of concentric rectangles.)</div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8857.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_8857.jpg" /></div><br />These ombre Christmas trees were my favorite project from the day though. Lowe's has really great ornaments this year in <a href="http://www.lowes.com/pd_483310-39449-AG1251_4294622473__?productId=50054573&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar%7C1&facetInfo=" target="_blank">all shades</a> of <a href="http://www.lowes.com/pd_476408-39449-AG1246_4294622473__?productId=50054549&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar%7C1&facetInfo=" target="_blank">white</a> and <a href="http://www.lowes.com/pd_477142-39449-AG1250_4294622473__?productId=50054557&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar%7C1%26page%3D2&facetInfo=" target="_blank">silver</a> that made for the perfect base for painting.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8860.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_8860.jpg" /></div><br />I picked out four or five paint colors in different shades of turquoise and teal, and had quarts made of each. Gloss stays on the best, but flat looks really pretty too.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8762.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_8762.jpg" /></div><br />My sweet sister- and brother-in-law let me crash their apartment to spread out a little and paint the ornaments. I separated the ornaments in equal size piles and made sure there were roughly the same number of each style of ornament in each pile.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8768.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_8768.jpg" /></div><br />I dipped the ornaments in the paint, but intentionally didn't dip the whole ornament on most of them. I stopped at varying levels so that they wouldn't look uniform.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8778.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_8778.jpg" /></div><br />I hung them up on those cheapie tension rods and let them drip dry for a few hours before the event.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8785.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_8785.jpg" /></div><br />Then I hung the ornaments from white to dark peacock blue on the two <a href="http://www.lowes.com/pd_476151-51600-LWP100949C1_4294622434__?productId=50055333&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar%7C1&facetInfo=" target="_blank">white trees</a> I placed in front of the windows in the space. I LOVE how this turned out and it was so easy!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8843.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_8843.jpg" /></div><br />I wanted to have the trees in big planters here, but they didn't arrive in time for the event. No problem, though - the look is a bit more modern without the planters or a tree skirt. :)<br /><div><br /></div><div>Ooh - and I almost forgot to mention the seven Moravian <a href="http://www.lowes.com/pd_477458-76407-5001_4294622482__?productId=50055889&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar%7C1%26page%3D3&facetInfo=" target="_blank">hanging stars</a> that we grouped over the Saarinen table. Aren't they gorgeous? They're made of thick white plastic instead of paper so should last for years and years of holiday decorating!</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8816.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_8816.jpg" /></div><br />Anyway, it was a fun event! A big thanks to Lowe's for inviting me to participate! I think I'm now sufficiently warmed up to tackle decorating my own house tomorrow. Just as soon as I sleep off all of the Thanksgiving food I ate today... :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Lowes_NYC_094.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/Lowes_NYC_094.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8827.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_8827.jpg" /><br /><br /><img alt=" photo Lowes_NYC_096.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/Lowes_NYC_096.jpg" /></div>

Holiday Decorating with Lowe's

Happy Thanksgiving!! Tomorrow is Christmas decorating day for us. We're putting up our tree and hanging lights outside - the girls are u...

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Give Away: $500 to eSaleRugs!

Oh what's that you say? You would like a beautiful Persian rug of your own to spruce up your home for the holidays? That's what I thought you said.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><img alt=" photo 500FROMESRLGN.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/500FROMESRLGN.jpg" /></i></div><br /><a href="http://esalerugs.com/" target="_blank">ESaleRugs</a> wants to give you $500 to shop for your own new/old rug (and if you're too impatient/nervous to wait for the give away to end, they're also having a 50% off sale right now, with free shipping - and they're throwing in free rug pads!). Here are some of my favorites currently available on the site. There are seriously too many good ones to put here, but here's a handful of them:<br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><img alt=" photo ESRLGN1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/ESRLGN1.jpg" /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://esalerugs.com/navy-blue-10-ft-runner-liliyan-persian-rug-110892629" target="_blank">1</a>  //  <a href="http://esalerugs.com/red-4x6-hamedan-persian-rug-110896815" target="_blank">2</a>  //  <a href="http://esalerugs.com/red-3x5-balouch-area-rug-22136792" target="_blank">3</a>  //  <a href="http://esalerugs.com/red-10-ft-runner-koliaei-persian-rug-110888990" target="_blank">4</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><img alt=" photo ESRLGN2.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/ESRLGN2.jpg" /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><a href="http://esalerugs.com/red-5x8-bidjar-persian-rug-110898035" target="_blank">1</a>  //  <a href="http://esalerugs.com/red-10-ft-runner-botemir-persian-rug-22135798" target="_blank">2</a>  //  <a href="http://esalerugs.com/orange-4x6-balouch-persian-rug-22139711" target="_blank">3</a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><img alt=" photo ESRLGN3.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/ESRLGN3.jpg" /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><a href="http://esalerugs.com/beige-4x6-ghashghaei-persian-rug-22141527" target="_blank">1</a>  //  <a href="http://esalerugs.com/peach-6x9-kurdish-berber-persian-rug-110895841" target="_blank">2</a>  //  <a href="http://esalerugs.com/navy-blue-10-ft-runner-bidjar-persian-rug-22112073" target="_blank">3</a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><img alt=" photo ESRLGN4.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/ESRLGN4.jpg" /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://esalerugs.com/red-4x6-balouch-persian-rug-22140235" target="_blank">1</a>  //  <a href="http://esalerugs.com/rust-red-10-ft-runner-balouch-persian-rug-22135649" target="_blank">2</a>  //  <a href="http://esalerugs.com/red-10-ft-runner-hamedan-persian-rug-110888332" target="_blank">3</a>  //  <a href="http://esalerugs.com/rust-red-13-ft-runner-tabriz-persian-rug-22134982" target="_blank">4</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><img alt=" photo ESRLGN5.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/ESRLGN5.jpg" /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><a href="http://esalerugs.com/navy-blue-10-ft-runner-hamedan-persian-rug-22135140" target="_blank">1</a>  //  <a href="http://esalerugs.com/peach-4x6-balouch-persian-rug-22140127" target="_blank">2</a>  //  <a href="http://esalerugs.com/red-4x6-balouch-persian-rug-22140097" target="_blank">3</a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><img alt=" photo ESRLGN6.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/ESRLGN6.jpg" /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><a href="http://esalerugs.com/red-4x6-zanjan-persian-rug-110896847" target="_blank">1</a>  //  <a href="http://esalerugs.com/red-3x5-balouch-area-rug-22136899" target="_blank">2</a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><img alt=" photo ESRLGN7.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/ESRLGN7.jpg" /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><a href="http://esalerugs.com/red-10-ft-runner-shiraz-persian-rug-22128735" target="_blank">1</a>  //  <a href="http://esalerugs.com/red-10-ft-runner-hamedan-persian-rug-110887197" target="_blank">2</a>  //  <a href="http://esalerugs.com/navy-blue-10-ft-runner-hamedan-persian-rug-22135639" target="_blank">3</a>  //  <a href="http://esalerugs.com/rust-red-4x6-hamedan-persian-rug-22135121" target="_blank">4</a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><img alt=" photo ESRLGN8.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/ESRLGN8.jpg" /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><a href="http://esalerugs.com/red-3x5-balouch-area-rug-22137723" target="_blank">1</a>  //  <a href="http://esalerugs.com/beige-4x6-ghashghaei-persian-rug-22141793" target="_blank">2</a>  //  <a href="http://esalerugs.com/red-3x5-kashkuli-gabbeh-persian-rug-22141938" target="_blank">3</a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><img alt=" photo ESRLGN9.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/ESRLGN9.jpg" /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><a href="http://esalerugs.com/red-4x6-balouch-persian-rug-22139845" target="_blank">1</a>  //  <a href="http://esalerugs.com/navy-blue-10-ft-runner-mehraban-persian-rug-22134570" target="_blank">2</a>  //  <a href="http://esalerugs.com/red-3x5-balouch-area-rug-22137617" target="_blank">3</a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><img alt=" photo ESRLGN11.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/ESRLGN11.jpg" /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><a href="http://esalerugs.com/navy-blue-10-ft-runner-bidjar-persian-rug-22103268" target="_blank">1</a>  //  <a href="http://esalerugs.com/navy-blue-10-ft-runner-hamedan-persian-rug-110899106" target="_blank">2</a>  //  <a href="http://esalerugs.com/navy-blue-13-ft-runner-sirjan-persian-rug-22114091" target="_blank">3</a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>To enter to win the $500 gift certificate, hop on over to <a href="http://esalerugs.com/" target="_blank">eSaleRugs</a> and check out their amazing selection of beautiful Persian, Oriental, Moroccan rugs and then leave a comment here with a link to your favorite rug. I'm turning off the comment registration for a few days so those of you who don't have to have an account can enter (I know that's been an issue for some of you in the past). If you aren't signed in though, please leave an email address in the comment so we can reach you if you are the winner!<br /><br />Contest ends next Tuesday night at midnight, the winner will be chosen at random and emailed. Good luck!<br /><br /><i style="text-align: center;">(rug pictured in top graphic available <a href="http://esalerugs.com/navy-blue-10-ft-runner-bidjar-persian-rug-22144412" target="_blank">here</a>)</i><br /><br /><i>This post is sponsored by eSaleRugs - and amazing resource for antique, vintage and even new rugs. Thank you for supporting LGN's sponsors.</i><br /><i></i>

Give Away: $500 to eSaleRugs!

Oh what's that you say? You would like a beautiful Persian rug of your own to spruce up your home for the holidays? That's what I th...

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Black Stairs and a New (Old) Rug

<center></center><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9774.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_9774.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">ugh! must find a new light fixture soon!!</span></i></div><br />Things are starting to shake out in our foyer! Some of you hyper-observant readers noticed the new black stairs peeking out in one of <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/11/newly-painted-doors-and-walls.html" target="_blank">the photos in this post</a> (or maybe you just saw <a href="http://instagram.com/p/gTNihTQW9c/" target="_blank">my teaser</a> on instagram). And, best of all, my favorite new rug from <a href="http://esalerugs.com/" target="_blank">eSaleRugs</a> arrived over the weekend. Happy Thanksgiving to me!! Isn't it gorgeous??<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9781.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_9781.jpg" /></div><br /><br /><a name="more"></a><br />So, about the stairs. I liked the gray paint color okay, but I kept wishing the color was darker, especially as I was <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/11/newly-painted-doors-and-walls.html" target="_blank">picking wall colors</a> and was leaning toward the Brushed Aluminum color, which is a little darker than I was originally planning. You can see my test color here on the wall under the railing by the vent. The gray on gray was a no-go. So I pulled out my gallon of Onyx that I've been using on doors and <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/11/finished-fireplace.html" target="_blank">the fireplace</a> and tried a little bit on the stairs. It was obviously the right choice. I asked the painters to add the stairs to the bid and they didn't charge me much more than the cost of paint (nice!). It made sense to get the stairs finished while the painters were here when this part of the house was sort of out of commission anyway. Also, I don't really regret <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/09/how-i-painted-my-stairs.html" target="_blank">all the work I did before</a> with the gray paint color because in the end it actually helped me lean more toward the darker gray on the walls. And most of all, all that filling and sanding needed to happen regardless. So you know, whatever. All's well that ends well.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9166.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_9166.jpg" /></div><br />And I really do love how the stairs turned out. The contrast is so pretty against the lighter walls and floors. And the railings are far and away less 80s to me in black.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9772.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_9772.jpg" /></div><br />The only downside is the dusty footprints have been killing me, so I moved up finding a runner on my to do list. <a href="http://instagram.com/p/gdjlMawW6d/" target="_blank">You might have seen</a> that I found this rug at Homegoods a week or two ago. I liked the colors and the small repeat on the pattern will make installation SO much easier, and will help to hide dirt, but I wasn't totally sure it was the right choice.<br /><br />Until I found a new old rug for the entry.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_1256.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/DSC_1256.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9769.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_9769.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_1243.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/DSC_1243.jpg" /></div><br />It's a 100 year-old Shiraz Persian rug from my favorite rug source, <a href="http://esalerugs.com/" target="_blank">eSaleRugs</a>. I've purchased half a dozen rugs from them in the past few years and every time I've been thrilled with the rugs in person. I got <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/09/making-wall-mural.html" target="_blank">Abbey's bedroom rug</a> from eSaleRugs, the runner I had <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/05/kitchen-rug.html" target="_blank">in the kitchen in our loft</a> and <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-garden-level-entry.html" target="_blank">the long rug</a> I kept in the garden level entry at the brownstone. They're like priceless little treasures to me. So unique and so beautiful (and all of them were so affordable - less than the cost of a new rug at West Elm). This rug is 4.5x9.5' and it cost about $350 with free shipping.<br /><br />I love how the dye colors are sort of all over the place. The reds and pinks and oranges in the medallions are so pretty! And that inky blue stripe in the black background? Be still my beating heart.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_1342.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/DSC_1342.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_1254.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/DSC_1254.jpg" /></div><br />The two rugs are perfect together, don't you think? I feel like an older patterned rug brings soul to a space and that's exactly what was missing here with the new runner.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9791.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_9791.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9784.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_9784.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_1398.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/DSC_1398.jpg" /></div><br />Anyway, I'm super happy with how things are starting to come together! We're going back up to my parents' on Wednesday for Thanksgiving, but we'll be back earlier in the weekend and I want to spend some of our down-time hanging art in here and in the living room. I think we'll have ourselves a comfy home just in time for Christmas. :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_1334.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/DSC_1334.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_1250.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/DSC_1250.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_1384.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/DSC_1384.jpg" /></div>

Black Stairs and a New (Old) Rug

ugh! must find a new light fixture soon!! Things are starting to shake out in our foyer! Some of you hyper-observant readers noticed the new...

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My Deco File (and a Domino Give Away!)

Happy Friday! Anyone else double-ready for the weekend? I think Mercury must be in retrograde or something. :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><center></center></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo ScreenShot2013-11-21at105605PM.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/ScreenShot2013-11-21at105605PM.png" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>The good news is my second story for Domino is live, <a href="http://domino.com/rainbow-connection" target="_blank">right here</a>! I talked a little bit about my new wall color and my approach for using color in big, but strategic, doses in my own home. I also shared some of my favorite colorful pieces from <a href="http://domino.com/shop/all" target="_blank">Domino's online shop</a>. They are selling so many beautiful, inspired products - it was hard to narrow down my favorites! (all of my favorites <a href="http://domino.com/user/JennyKomenda/saveditems" target="_blank">are saved here</a> though, in case you're up for some early holiday shopping this weekend!)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo dominorainbow.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/dominorainbow.jpg" /></div><br />Also, Domino is giving away a few $50 gift cards to LGN readers, which could really come in handy this time of year, right? Enter here on Rafflecopter!<br /><br /><a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d0bd884/" id="rc-d0bd884" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>

My Deco File (and a Domino Give Away!)

Happy Friday! Anyone else double-ready for the weekend? I think Mercury must be in retrograde or something. :) The good news is my second st...

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