StilettoPeel's Profile

If you are not opposed to a few large pots -- or even the window boxes on the fence, consider honeysuckle. Train it to grow up along that top trellis. It spreads quickly and gets bushy. I had it growing under my deck and it climbed all the way up and looked like a bush affixed to my railing -- 8ft. (have to check it's hardiness in your zone, but worth a look -- and it smells great).

I love all the nooks and shelves. The room works and feels like a real child's space and not a designer space where a child is only allowed to sleep. My kids love to collect treasures. It's important for them to surround themselves with "their" special things and have places to put everything away. The under-desk nook is perfect. I may try that with my kiddos when we rearrange rooms. Thank you for the idea! My boys have the print shop drawers full of lego mini figures and tiny creations. Love seeing yours too.

We love it. My children do too. For my twins' first Christmas, Santa held each one in an arm and the babies reached across his beard and held hands. It totally looks posed, but it wasn't. Each year, we put a wallet sized photo of the children with Santa in little frames on the tree. The kids get excited about looking through all the old photos with Santa. They've only started to get a little skeptical and wonder why Santa looks different each year. My youngest (4) concluded that he (himself) looks much different than the year before, so that is why Santa does. ha! I've done it since they were babies and hope they humor me with these photos for a long, long time.

My kids love these tracks. They used them when they were very little -- and my 4 year old still enjoys playing with the tracks:
http://www.magiccabin.com/click-clack-track_p990239_s2003_d1101_c2104.html

I adore any of the creative play items at Magic Cabin. I stear clear of plastic toys --- the wooden blocks and stackable rainbows are gifts that last and get played with for years. Oh, and my daughter LOVES the ($14) butterfly and lady bug wings. Enjoy!

Try the hammered metal spray paints. I've used the hammered metal bronze to fix up an old radiator. It looked great. I do like the idea of turning them into a table. It's hard to appreciate lions guarding the path unless they are really integrated into the landscape, otherwise they usually look like grandma left them behind when she moved. I think they are great pieces. I kind of like the chippy paint on them now, maybe add a some more colors, sand them off and bring them to a metalsmith to add a leg to turn them into 1 or 2 tables. Have fun with them (and definitely keep 'em around)!

Hi -- your entry has so much potential! Lots of simple ideas, that should be reasonably affordable and done as you go.

Window boxes across the front -- flowing vines and pops of red or orange (mums for the fall?). Maybe a matching box on the window to the left of the door too. Leave the white trim around .

Paint the front door. I am leaning toward matte black - to accent black window boxes under the windows.

Paint the steps. White is very clean. Put a pot of flowers on the second step. A matte black pot.

Get a great welcome mat. Something fun with a pop of color.

Consider new a new railings with banisters.

Get a fabulous porch light. Something with character. I'd love to see something like: http://remodelista.com/img/sub/barnlightelectricsconce81.jpg

New house numbers. Stack them vertically to the right of the door. Larger than what you have now. Make a statement with them. Select the same metal finish as your new porch light. If you want to make an investment, consider a custom placque with your address on it. I'd hang it on the door. Something like this: http://www.signaturehardware.com/product5682

Add an iron bracket to the left of the door (pointing toward the left of the picture not out), close to the roof line. Get a great hanging basket of flowers, ones that really flow and hang. For the holidays, I add a grapevine ball and white lights to give my empty baskets some life.

I am sure someone will kick me on AT, but I think wreaths are very welcoming. Not something funky, something natural and simple - just below the window on the door.

I'd like to see you do more with your landscape too. Get rid of that giant bush to the left of the steps. It's just a mound of unfriendly green. It's hard to tell what kind of sunlight you have, but a perrenial English garden would soften your entrance. Soft informal plants, taller closer to the house, and smaller as you get closer to the path.

Hope this helps. I'd love to see your "after" pictures.

My young sons are begging for bunks. I haven't found a set that I love - yet. My brothers had them when I was young and it was so very cool to be the kid on the top bunk. Thanks for this post!

I have never met a child, unless he was very tall, to outgrow a twin bed. Most universities have twins in the dorms (slightly longer twins, I believe). I'm 5'8 and had a twin until I finished grad school (I did not realize how deprived I must have been! ha! ;)

nataliyaK, I'm not insensitive, I just don't think this is the place to talk about bedrest, and buying tunnels or books to help with bedrest. I spent 3 weeks on bedrest at home and another 2 months on bedrest in the hospital, so yeah, I know how it goes, and NO, I would never go to AT for this kind of information.

If the article were written from the perspective of how making accessibility changes helped the mother, then it might be appropriate. After the Porn post, I suspect AT is paying attention to editorial comments ~~ right, AT? :)

I want to neutralize the black & white contrast by adding a softer, textured background tile. I'd look for a marble tile, mostly soft greys with some brown/tan tones in it. That will soften the counter/cabinets and tie in your flooring. I am feeling the smaller subway tiles too.

Here are a few examples I found:

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z306/november1117/backsplashandkidsart004.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tzeuhPTBu9o/TYZbJnldpsI/AAAAAAAAFSI/mmKjtL_LLkU/bs19.jpg

http://lifeinkitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Subway-Tiles.jpg

This one is a little different, but I like it for your space: http://www.classictileny.com/productgallery.php?catid=35&pagename=&subcatId=1885

ALSO Consider:
- Under cabinet lighting
- bronze / black cabinet pulls
- Find a great painted pottery plate to hang above your sink. Even a cool tile or piece of funky artwork. I feel like that space is yelling for something fun. For example, I have this great angel from etsy: http://www.etsy.com/listing/61709475/new-york-angel
It is VERY heavy, but if I were to hang it with my backsplash, I could mount it to the studs. :)
- Maybe a natural jute rug with a black border, again tying the floor to the counter
- It's hard to see your window, but if there is a little bit of budget, go for a custom roman shade in a great fabric. Something that suits your style and this color palette. No budget for a shade? Maybe hang a funky tiered basket from the ceiling and fill it with fruits or plants.
- Tie in the brick red with some pottery on the top of your cabinets. I like the idea of some natural/sand colored pieces and a large brick red basket (spray paint)

...hope this helps... thanks for the 10 minute mental break from work! Enjoy & Congrats!

Keep your eye on Overstock.com, they tend to have trunks like that from time to time for good prices. These aren't a perfect match, but inspiring enough to keep checking back for new styles.

Not exactly those, but 3 for $129: http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Distressed-Wood-Trunks-Set-of-3/6190851/product.html?rcmndsrc=2

Check out these Union Jack trunks: http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/UK-Flag-Trunks-Set-of-3/6100919/product.html only $121 for 3, not bad, could be fun depending on the decor.

Good luck!