Catch Up

The past two weeks have been non-stop. Between traveling for work, having company at the house, and having a sick baby that led to taking her to the emergency room last night, I haven't had too much time to blog. But I have missed y'all! Here is what I have been up to…

My parents came in town last weekend so Gray and I went out for a little afternoon date. A Sunday afternoon movie followed by a healthy dose of skee ball competition at one of our favorite old brunch spots. (I won, and not because he let me!)

We have been traveling a lot for work, so I've been soaking up every second with Tilley-Gray. She was a little fussy last week, but I thought it was just a phase she was going through. Friday night, right before putting her down for bed, we found a hard lump right behind her ear. It was big enough to scare us to death, so we took her straight to the emergency room. It turned out to be an infected lymphnode, which was effecting her breathing, so it was a good thing we took her straight there. She is recovering and starting to get back to her smiley little self.

Poplin & Queen was featured in the latest Focus on the Coast with a kitchen we designed.
I love how it turned out!

If you have emailed me in the past several weeks and I haven't gotten back to you, I'm so sorry! Since HGTV Magazine came out, my inbox has been flooded with emails and I'm slowly getting through them all. Your support and kind words have been so sweet!

Feeling Greige

 My house and closet are both full of color and I have never been much of a neutral person, but this weekend, Gray and I stumbled across a house, and we both instantly fell in love.  It had gorgeous walnut floors, pine planked walls in the living room, and a kitchen that had the most perfect color of greige cabinets. The house wasn't quite finished, and I instantly started dreaming up a design that was full of neutrals. 

Marble counter tops with warm cabinets.

A feminine sitting room with plenty of places to curl up.

Exposed beam ceilings, lanterns, and linen slip covered furniture.

My love of color hasn't changed, but I can see why a home of neutrals can be so appealing. 

Could you live in a grey home or do you prefer lots of color? I'd love to hear!

Slim Aarons + Weekend Plans

I forgot how much I loved Slim Aarons until Shannon brought one of his photos to hang on our office gallery wall today.  He never used a stylist or a make-up artist, but instead made his career out of what he called "photographing attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places." "I knew everyone," he said in an interview with The (London) Independent in 2002. 

If only our lives were that elegant.

Maybe not Slim Aarons worthy, but you can find us on the beach with a few of our great friends enjoying the 75 degree weather we will be having this weekend. If you are on Wrightsville Beach, just look for the 15 kids under age 3 and you will find us! Gorgeous in a different kind of way.

I hope you all have a great weekend!

xoxo

All Photos by Slim Aarons

HGTV Magazine: photos + details

  Today is the day! The HGTV magazine with our little bungalow is finally on stands! They came to shoot our house back in May, and now I'm delighted to share the pictures and details with you. Oh, I can hardly believe this day has finally arrived - Enjoy! 

House Color: Gingham Blue #27-29 from Pratt & Lambert

Front Door: Royal Breeze from Behr

 Sofa: Dumpster Find/ Covered in pebbled white leather with black lacquer trim

Turquoise Chair: Vintage/ Covered in turquoise indoor/outdoor fabric

X Benches: Vintage / Covered in Bengal Bazaar Teal by Kelly Wearstler (available through P&Q)

Floor Lamp: Stray Dog Designs (found here)

Garden Stool: Target (similar here)

Floral Pillows: Urban Outfitters (sold out, similar here)

Pink Ikat Pillows: Etsy

Rug: Carpet Smart

Drapes: Custom French Pleat in Cheddar Silk
Drapery Hardware: Custom (similar here)

Built in Bookshelves: Designed by me/ Built by my talented grandfather, Roger Maines, and Gray

Clip Lights: Purchased at Merci in Paris

Cabinet Hardware: Lucite from Bird Hardware

Art Work: Abigail Lea

Lamp: Home Goods (similar here)

Small Art Work: 20 x 200

Faux Python Tray: Furbish Studio

Ice Bucket: World Market

Kitchen Backsplash: Marble Subway Tile / Lowes

Rolling Kitchen Island: Kmart (similar here)

Bar Stools: World Market (on sale!)

Owl Cookie Jar: Anthropologie

Cast Iron Pot: Staub La Cocotte

Roman Shade: The Shade Store

Pendant Light: Robert Abbey (available through my company, Poplin & Queen)

Dining Table: Vintage Karges

End Chairs: Vintage covered in striped fabric

Cane Chairs: Vintage covered in white vinyl

Rug: Basket Weave Jute RugWorld Market

China: Kate Spade

Flower Vase: Soup Bowl from West Elm

Glassware: Stemless wine glasses from West Elm

Light Fixture: Sputnik (similar here)

Twin Beds: Vintage (similar here)

Coverlet: Garnett Hill

Duvet: Pottery Barn (on sale!)

Pillows: Schumacher (available through Poplin & Queen)

Art Work: Cuban American artist  Mario Sanchez

Chest: Made by my grandfather, Roger Maines

Lamp: Milk Glass Lamp with White Shade (similar here)

Rug: Pottery Barn (similar here)

Wallpaper: Imperial Trellis / Kelly Wearstler (available through Poplin & Queen)

Desk: West Elm

Desk Chair: World Market

Drapery: Hot House Fabric, Lewis & Sheron Textiles

Drapery Rod: West Elm (similar here)

Crib: Dwell Studio

Crib Bedding: Auggie Home 

Glider: Serena & Lily

Rug: Overstock

Chest: Ikea

Overlays: My Overlays

Animal Heads: Anthropologie

Elephant Lamp: Home Goods (similar here)

Animal Bookends: Serena & Lily

Several of you have asked where you can find the magazine. It should be out everywhere by tomorrow at Barnes & Noble, Home Depot, Lowe's, and grocery stores. Thank you for all of your sweet comments and emails. They have made my day!

xoxo

HGTV Magazine

Last night, Gray and I poured over the latest issue of HGTV Magazine. After months of waiting, we saw  our first little house featured in a national magazine. I'm thrilled, flattered, and humbled by it all. 

A lot of people have asked me what it was like to have a magazine come and photograph our house. Gray and I were both pretty nervous, especially with Tilley-Gray only being 5 months old when it happened. The team of people they sent could not have been nicer. Jen Berno, David Land, and Liz Demos (who's book just came out!) were so delightful that I was sad to see them go. 

I'll scan in the photos and post them as soon as I can, but for now, this is the first (of six!) pages.

Happy New Year!

Christmas, New Year's, and finally a new year. 2012 was a good one, but I sure am excited about 2013.

We ended 2012 a lot like we started it. Lots of traveling and family time. Over nine days, we drove 1200 miles. We had a few bumps in the road, literally. Gray's 10 year old Tahoe had a little car trouble, and five hours and $1,000 later, we were back on the road home. As awful as it is to break down hours from home on Christmas Eve, the officers and tow truck company were so sweet and took great care of us. When I was worried about putting a car seat in a tow truck, the officer offered to take (a screaming) Tilley-Gray and me in his car to the shop. How nice is that? Our bank account a little bruised, but we got through it and made it to Gray's parents in time for dinner. Our own Christmas miracle.

Gray loading the car seat into the state trooper's car

Tilley-Gray had a great Christmas, and was spoiled by her grandparents with lots of toys. She especially loves her new chair from Land of Nod. I didn't know what she would do with it, but she is pretty pumped up about having her own chair.

To start the year, I read a book called My One Word that was written by the pastor of the church I attend, Port City Community Church. It's an easy read and one that I encourage you all to read. Instead of making a long list of resolutions, this forces clarity by focusing on only one word.  I would love to hear if you read it and what you think. The book just came out in December and has an amazing website where people around the world are sharing their "one word" and how they plan on using it. I haven't chosen mine yet, but have made a list. I will let you know as soon as I do!

I promise to be back more often with regular blog post. I hope you all had a great holiday!

Happy New Year!