A little of this, a little of that

We’re having a rough day over at the Coleman casa.  It started with a not-so-great night of sleeping (read: Hadley was up 3 times), continued with a massive blowout that resulted in an early bath and multiple loads of laundry, which lead to the bouncy seat not being available for naptime, which meant a 25 minute morning nap and an afternoon filled with a screaming, over-tired baby.  My, how things have changed from the days of attending “required” happy hours in Austin when I worked in advertising.  I wouldn’t give up staying home with my baby girl for anything in the world, but I do have to keep it real.  It’s not always (or hardly ever) a glamorous job.  However, Hadley is down for the count right now, so while I’ve got a precious few minutes, I decided to spend some time looking at design inspiration.  [Sidenote: why is it that the second you type: ‘I’ve got a few minutes’ it’s like clockwork that your child will wake up screaming? I mean… it happens every. time.  I guess I should stop typing that.] 

Anyways, One of the things I love most about reading blogs is the incredible amount of inspiration you can find from others out there.  There are a million and one ideas and so many creative bloggers – you could spend days just searching the pictures out there.  Every time the seasons change, I get the itch to change something in our home.  I usually change up the mantle with the seasons, but ours is already looking pretty “springy” so I’m really wanting to change the console table in our entry-way.  And not just with accessories.  If only I had longer guaranteed naps, I would bust out some paint cans and get to work. 

In the meantime, I’ll share some of my favorite inspiration with you right now…

First of all, I am dying to paint some horizontal stripes in our foyer/entry way.  Our foyer is round and I think the stripes would add the perfect accent in there.  Here’s the foyer right now…

And here’s my inspiration… (so sorry I don’t have sources on all of these – if you know where I found them, please share so I can give credit!)

I love the one below, but I think there’s a little too much contrast for Matt to get on board.  I am thinking about painting our console table white like the one below, though…

I love how fresh and clean this office looks!

Second, I would love it if Matt would let me paint our kitchen cabinets.  Because this isn’t our “forever home” he doesn’t want to make that investment, especially since painted cabinets aren’t for everyone.  I will do everything I can to make sure I can get my painted cabinets in our next home, though!  Here’s some of my favorite kitchen inspiration…

This is obviously a “dream” kitchen and not a reality, but doesn’t it offer some amazing inspiration?  I’m just drooling over the pendant lights, beadboard ceiling, crown molding and glass paneled cabinets…

This one from Cote De Texas is SO gorgeous… I love the striped rug in there and how the island looks like a piece of furniture. 

I recently discovered Honey We’re Home and fell in love with her blog AND her kitchen…

Again, with the beadboard ceilings and hardwoods.  This one is from For The Love of a House…

Excuse the poor lighting in this one, but I took this one in a model home near our house.  I love the molding on the vent hood and the way they added “feet” to the bottoms of the cabinets to make them look like furniture. 

Another favorite from Isabella & Max rooms.  I love the beveled edges on the subway tile backsplash!

And another favorite from a blog I just discovered, A Thoughtful Place.  She used the same subway tile as Isabella & Max.  I also love the under-cabinet lighting.  Yet another thing on my “must have” list for our next kitchen!

And last, but not least, The Lettered Cottage kitchen makeover.  I love the way the gray cabinets anchor the space.

So that’s what I’m dreaming about while my little one is dreaming away.  Maybe someday I’ll actually have time again to start working on our own home design?