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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DIY Autumnal Garland

The year after I moved away for college, my parents moved about 2.5 hours north of Phoenix. The small town that they moved to was the place we had visited every summer and Thanksgiving for most of my childhood. It was where my dad grew up and where my grandparents had always lived. It's a <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/02/rock-walks-and-remembering-grandpa.html" target="_blank">special little place</a> in the high desert, and the drive up there from the Valley takes you through all sorts of beautiful Arizona scenery.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9399.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_9399.jpg" /></div><br />Michael had to work over Veteran's Day weekend (boo) so I decided to take the girls up to visit my parents. The weather was perfect and the sky was that perfect color of winter blue. I've always loved the desert, but I think I can appreciate its unique beauty even more after living on the east coast for a decade. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9423.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_9423.jpg" /></div><br />On the way back home, the girls and I decided to collect samples of some of the plants and foliage along the road back down to Phoenix. We found everything from sage to juniper (with pretty little blue berries!) to gorgeous maple leaves in every shade from red to yellow.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9410.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_9410.jpg" /></div><br />I was surprised that we were able to collect something from every color in the rainbow in less than two hours of driving. How could I resist making an ombre garland with all those pretty colors?<br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0878.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/DSC_0878.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo wDSC_1044.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/wDSC_1044.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's the easy how-to:<a name="more"></a></div><br />I've made a few wreaths with evergreen boughs before and the concept is very similar for a garland. It couldn't be simpler or much less expensive (it was actually free for me since I had the floral supplies on hand already).<br /><br />To make a similar garland, you'll need a good collection of leaves and plants. Try to find plants that are either already pretty dry or that will dry out well (flowers usually do not dry that well). It can get a little messy, so try organizing everything on a canvas drop cloth to make clean up easy.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo nDSC_0745.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/nDSC_0745.jpg" /></div><br />Here are a few things I used:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0775.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/DSC_0775.jpg" /></div><center></center><br />You'll for sure want two thicknesses of floral wire, wire clippers and floral shears. The Dried Material Preservative (available at craft stores) is optional, but is actually pretty helpful for keeping the brittle, dry plants more soft and pliable. And actually I've been giving my garland a light misting with this stuff every few days, just to give it a little more life.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9519.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_9519.jpg" /></div><br />So, I would say the trickiest part here is figuring out the flow of the garland. I wanted mine to have a gradient or ombre look, so it took a little planning to get the right plants with the right color in the right area of the swag so there was a good balance to the thing. I knew I wanted the juniper berries in the middle though, and the red leaves in the corners and the white grass at the ends, so then it was just a matter of filling in the rest.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9523.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_9523.jpg" /></div><br />Once all your foliage is ready to go, and you have a good sense of how long your finished garland will be (mine is about 15 ft long), measure out three equal lengths of thick floral wire and then braid the wire. It doesn't have to be perfect at all - and don't stress if the wires get a little tangled. The idea is you want a thicker but still pliable surface to tie the flowers to.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo mDSC_0771.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/mDSC_0771.jpg" /></div><br />I used two of those stick-on hooks (in black, to match my fireplace) in the corners of the mantle. I looped the braided wire around the hook and sort of pinched it to help the wire stay put. If you want the finished garland to swoop down a little in the center, let the wire sag just a bit here, but not too much. The weight of the foliage will pull it down several more inches.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9538.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_9538.jpg" /></div><br />Then it's time to start layering on the foliage. The most important part is to start at the bottom and layer on top of each little bundle and work your way to the center.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9528.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_9528.jpg" /></div><br />To make each bundle, you just layer the foliage in your hand in a pretty way so that there are no gaps or blunt lines. And then you hold the bundle up against the braided wire and wrap it three or four times with the smaller gauge floral wire, just around the base of the bundle, mostly. For the lighter foliage, I used gold wire and for the greenery I pulled out my dark green wire.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9531.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_9531.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9544.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_9544.jpg" /></div><br />Once I finished layering on one half of the garland, I started at the bottom of the other side, trying to copy the layout exactly. When both halves are finished, you should be left with two mirror-image symmetrical swags. I think it would look a little funny if you don't have a center piece that is sort of bunched up and less layered looking. So I made a little end cap for the very center out of more juniper bush. I used floral tape to sort of bunch and fan out some shorter pieces, and then attached it with wire just like with the other bundles.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9503.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_9503.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_1013.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/DSC_1013.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Also, and I didn't end up needing to do so here, but if you've lost a lot of leaves in the process, you can strategically hot glue a few leaves back on to help fill things out a bit.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0997.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/DSC_0997.jpg" /></div><br />Finally, you can sort of bend and tug at the wire to get it to look right and you're done! It's easy and fun and only takes an hour or two. My garland has been up for about a week and a half and I think it'll still look great for Thanksgiving next week! The only plant that's shed at all is the soft gray sagebrush in the middle, and it's not been bad at all.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0984.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/DSC_0984.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0854.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/DSC_0854.jpg" /></div><br />I'm already dreaming of ideas for a winter palette of all blues and greens and grays for my next garland. Maybe a double swag!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0844.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/DSC_0844.jpg" /></div>

DIY Autumnal Garland

The year after I moved away for college, my parents moved about 2.5 hours north of Phoenix. The small town that they moved to was the place ...

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My Fall Mantel (and a Give Away!)

<center></center>I am SO excited to partner again with <a href="http://www.glade.com/en" target="_blank">Glade<span style="background-color: white; color: #00256d; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 22.25px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.25px;">®</span></span></a> to bring you this post on how I'm bringing fall decor into my home this year with decor and scent! There is such an emotional connection to scent (all it takes me is half a whiff of Dior J'adore perfume to be transported to high school!). Where could it be more important to be making these emotional scent connections than in our homes? Introducing seasonal scents at this time of the year is such a key (and simple!) part of getting your home holiday-ready.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0984.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/DSC_0984.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />About five minutes after we finished our new fireplace surround, I was itching to style it with all sorts of pretty seasonal accessories. But in the end I kept it pretty restrained on the mantel so that the autumnal garland could be th<span style="font-family: inherit;">e star (DIY tutorial coming tomorrow!). Though the votives, the small succulent plants and the <a href="http://www.glade.com/en/products/sprays/sense-and-spray-automatic-freshener-with-new-360-design" style="background-color: white; color: #00256d; line-height: 22.25px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Glade® Sense and Spray® Automatic Freshener</a> play important supporting</span> characters. There is a little color here, but mostly I wanted the mantel to be about texture.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><center></center><br /><img alt=" photo DSC_1028copy.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/DSC_1028copy.jpg" /></div><br />I put two fresheners on the mantel for symmetry. I have the <a href="http://www.glade.com/en/fragrances/outdoor/cashmere-woods" target="_blank">Cashmere Woods</a> scent in both fresheners and they are making our large, high-ceilinged living room smell <i>heavenly</i>! Now it looks and smells like fall in here (a far cry from <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/09/more-fireplace-demo-and-plans.html" target="_blank">where we were just a few short weeks ago</a>!).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo xDSC_0851.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/xDSC_0851.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Here's a breakdown of how I styled our new mantel for fall, including a huge give away from <a href="http://www.glade.com/en" target="_blank">Glade</a><a href="http://www.glade.com/en" style="background-color: white; color: #00256d; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.25px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">®</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #7f7f7f; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.25px;"> </span>to help your make over your own home for the holidays!<br /><a name="more"></a><br />I think one of the best styling tips I could ever give is to elevate items you want to stand out or to make look more special. On a little pedestal, even an air freshener looks beautiful and sculptural! (well, it helps if your air freshener is as beautiful as Glade's Sense and Spray!)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo GladeandLGN.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/GladeandLGN.jpg" /></div><br />To make these pedestals for my fresheners, I stopped into the hardware store and found these little wooden post caps for a few dollars each.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9472.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_9472.jpg" /></div><br />I quickly spray painted them with this Aubergine color from Rustoleum - the perfect unexpected fall color.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9493.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_9493.jpg" /></div><br />I could have sanded the wood down a little more, but I liked the wood grain pattern and thought it would be pretty peeking through the paint. I think it looks cool and I'm glad I kept it!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0920.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/DSC_0920.jpg" /></div><br />The citron boxes the succulent planters are sitting on are just stationary packaging I picked up at Target (the boxes are actually really nice though - no noticeable seams on the corners)! Use what you got, right? :) The mercury glass planters are larger votive holders, also from Target.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9480.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_9480.jpg" /></div><br />The orangey mercury glass votives I lined up in the center of the mantel were clearance finds at Michaels from a few weeks ago. The color on these votives is seriously phenomenal - I'm loving them and wish I could had bought more to keep on hand for parties.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0997.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/DSC_0997.jpg" /></div><br />The herringbone basket we're using for spare firewood is also a recent Target purchase (from the bath section). The little black tufted stool in front of the firebox is from Homegoods and the rug I'm trying in here for now is <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/04/new-living-room-rug.html" target="_blank">the same rug</a> we had in our brownstone living room. I like how the neutral elements in the space (the rug, the floors, the fireplace and walls) all help the colorful accessories pop. This room was made for holiday decorating! :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0878.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/DSC_0878.jpg" /></div><br />Now, for the fun part! Glade is kindly offering a beautiful give away package to a lucky LGN reader to help them bring a little seasonal flair into their home. Simply leave a comment on this post to enter to win a beautiful gray basket filled with a gorgeous striped throw, a deck of inspiration images and color palettes, a <a href="http://www.glade.com/en/products/sprays/sense-and-spray-automatic-freshener-with-new-360-design" style="background-color: white; color: #00256d; line-height: 22.25px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Glade® Sense and Spray® Automatic Freshener</a>, an Apple Cinnamon scent refill, and a $200 Visa gift card!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><center></center><br /><img alt=" photo GLADEGIVEAWAY-2.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/GLADEGIVEAWAY-2.jpg" /></div><br />Contest ends on Tuesday, November 26 at midnight PST. Winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email. Best of luck!

My Fall Mantel (and a Give Away!)

I am SO excited to partner again with Glade ®  to bring you this post on how I'm bringing fall decor into my home this year with decor a...

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Finished Fireplace!

The stone fabricators came last Friday and installed the four pieces of black Fossil Shell Limestone around our existing firebox!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9426.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_9426.jpg" /></div><br />I love the way it adds some movement and texture to the fireplace.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9451.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_9451.jpg" /></div><br />Here's right after it got installed, but before I gave everything a good scrub. You can see how the installers did a really great job of seaming the four separate pieces.<br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo fireplace.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/fireplace.jpg" /></div><br />I love how the fossil shell pattern is more concentrated in the upper right and the lower left corners. It feels balanced and not too crazy.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9471.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_9471.jpg" /></div><br />We installed the tv and mushroom sconces over the weekend and later today I'm going to tackle the dust on the floors (again!). I've also been doing a little decorating, which makes me feel like I can breathe again! We live in a house! With seating! Life is good. :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9463.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_9463.jpg" /></div><br />I will take some of the after photos today to share with you. The painters came on Saturday and did some touch ups needed on the sided of the fireplace surround, and I also wiped down the firebox and a lot of the soot marks went away. I had planned to paint it black with the special paint for firebrick, but I like the contrast of the lighter gray brick. I think I'll leave it as is for now.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9454.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/IMG_9454.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After photos coming right up! Back to cleaning and unpacking!</div>

Finished Fireplace!

The stone fabricators came last Friday and installed the four pieces of black Fossil Shell Limestone around our existing firebox! I love the...

Read more »