Enjoying the ride...room by room- August 1, 2010

We are embarking on a journey...a ride of sorts...not unlike those carnival roller coasters where you are sure to be thrilled as well as a little scared with all the ups and downs and unexpected twists and turns...we are buying a new home...mind you, it is not our first home...in fact it is the third one we have bought together...but something about this one feels different...it is newer (we have always lived in old homes), it is one story (we have always had two) and it is in Florida (we have always lived in Arkansas)...different for sure but a place where I know we can make wonderful memories not only for my husband and me but for our two precious girls...we will be moving in the end of August but that has only made me more excited to get this process started...speaking of the process....I want to really enjoy the process...slow down and savor it...and "enjoy the ride"

If you have ever seen HGTV's Sarah's House, you know that in thirty minutes you can watch her turn a room from scary to divine...I know it is the magic of television but it gave me the inspiration to really begin this makeover of our new home "room by room" instead of trying to do a little here and a little there...

Because we live in Florida and the outside is such a big part of our daily lives, we will be starting on the loggia and pool area.  We are lucky that the home has a great pool area...a BIG reason we picked this one to be sure- so we have great bones to start with...

I have culled some pictures from magazines for inspiration and have found a few of the pieces to start putting it all together...first came the fabric, a remnant and then a few more coordinating pieces from Garden Ridge- total spent $31- with this I have already made some great pillows.   We will be using our fourth bedroom as a playroom so all the old guestroom pillows can be used (they coordinate perfectly) and those that cannot have already been recovered with the new fabric...

I had also been searching for some blue and white garden stools with no luck...on the way home from our "fabric day" I spied an Oriental grocery store...stopped in and for a fraction of what I found online I was now the proud owner of two new garden stools for a total of $75...

A few weeks later, we were shopping at World Market and noticed that an almost identical patio set from the inspiration picture consisting of a wrought iron love seat and two chairs complete with cushions was marked down as clearance...I spoke with the manager, really to find out if there were additional pieces, and she offered me an additional $50 off because they were already assembled (I think my husband would have PAID to have them assembled so this was a real coup!) So for $211, we brought home a patio set...these are now set up in the foyer, where I can play with the pillows and the garden stools and await their new home...

"Now I really need a table in front of this little love seat," I thought to myself...the garden stools might become casualties of our children's pool horseplay if left in front of the loveseat rather than to the side..."What to do????"  I remembered in the attic a leftover piece of beautiful Venentian Gold granite from our kitchen remodel in Little Rock...A visit to Hobby Lobby for a very sturdy clearance patio table that will serve as the base for the little granite slab and "Voila!" we have a WONDERFUL new coffee table (or more likely cocktail table since we are on the loggia!)...total cost $21...I do need to attach the pieces together...tomorrow....

One last note...I have been searching for literally months to find barstools...I had no idea how expensive these can be!  Each and every day I have searched Craigslist to find ones that invoke a coastal style...made of bamboo or banana leaf or seagrass...once I got close...I found some great ones but someone beat me to them...well, not this time, I found two this week down in St Augustine that were PERFECT!  In fact, they were a step up from the ones that I had picked out for myself at World Market that were just too expensive...Can you say yippee??!!!!

A few more items on the loggia wishlist and I will be sure to keep you posted on my progress and post pictures when I figure out how! 
Wishlist
- two chaises for reading to my daughters poolside- a favorite activity
- large table to seat at least six
- two large black urns for the planter by the pool
- console with closed storage for beach towels
- outdoor lamp (clear glass) on timer
- and for my DH...a tv to watch football outside this fall
- and a grill (saw some FAB ones in candy apple red....wouldn't that make dinner taste even better?)

Looking at this wishlist and thinking about our budget...I better enjoy the ride because it is going to be a long one!  Fun for sure, but not quick!

Enjoying the ride,
Kristen