the Upside

I had never given any thought to this, but another way to add a flash of color to your outdoor space without the permanence of paint is a big, bright outdoor rug. Of course we’ve all seen doormats, but I’d never even considered that you could make a bigger rug for outside.

I found the site Outdoor Rugs Only via a banner ad on another site (Apartment Therapy, I believe). Turns out those things actually work. Ha! Now I love this pattern (I’d never put anything like this inside my house, but outside it makes me gleeful) but I can’t afford it. Booo. But it’s always good to get idea and find cheap alternatives. At least until I hit that powerball number!

It's Grillin' Time

I’m a Southerner. I worship at the alter of college football, I love baseball in the summer time. I sit on porches-front and back-and sip on sweet tea while watching the fireflies come out. Okay, maybe I saw that last one in a movie, but I could have done it! As part of my back patio makeover, I’m looking at small, table top grills. This is not an investment item. I don’t need it to be tricked out with the latest, greatest gadgets for grilling things. What I need it to do is allow me to cook a few burgers/hotdogs/cobs of corn on blamy nights when the mood strikes me.

I don’t do electric grills. I was raised with charcoal and flames and that’s how I intend to stay. I found a few, cost effective options that I’m going to go take a look at and see what suits me best. The bare-minimum, even for me, is the one I spotted online at Ace Hardware.

I can see why it’s $10.49. I have low standards, but even this looks a little too rustic for me.

My Outdoor Room

Shifting gears a bit from my obsession with my home office (see here, here, here, here, here…you get the point), I’m now focusing on warmer weather and my tiny and currently pathetic back patio. It is SAD SAD SAD! I’ve been scouring the internet for inspiring photos of outdoor spaces. I try to keep my search to small outdoor spaces, but sometimes I see things that are so grand I can’t help but gush!

Hello wonderful bamboo and sparkly lit outdoor dining space. I sort of heart you! I can definitely see some amazing GNO’s happening here when it gets warm.

Unfortunately this would never fit in the space I have. It makes me want to redo my parent’s back yard, but what good would that do me! I’d just be frustrated I didn’t live there. I did find some things that could work, like this.

I love, love, LOVE the colors and the fact that it’s seating and a bed! I even love the vines going up the back. Too bad this stuff is from West Elm and that just equals money to me. I’m definitely doing this makeover with second hand everything!

Classy Flea here I come! This should be interesting/horrendous/fun!

Dear Bedroom Gods,

This…please.

Sincerely yours,

Danielle from the Upside.

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I love looking at pictures of lovely home decor. I have sort of traditional and sort of quirky taste. I love looking at Pottery Barn rooms. I know that may make me sound so blah and staid and ‘typical’ but whatever.

Yet I also love going into Anthropologie stores and looking at their home goods. I have blogged about their stuff more than once. I am lame. I love the whimsy and the colors and the fantasy that they cultivate. There’s a mood that I always fall into when I go into one of their stores. It flares my imagination (which is quickly brought back down to earth when viewing the prices…oy).

But one thing I always ask myself when looking at living rooms and general living spaces (not bathrooms or kitchens) is “Where the hell does the tv go?”

Yes…The living room in every home I’ve ever visited or lived in has been set up around the tv. I know this makes me so uncool and un-hip (sorry hipsters, I can’t keep up with your no tv coolness), but I need cable. I love my HBO. I watch Big Love and Mad Men and 30 Rock and I don’t always like watching them on my hipster approved MacBook. In fact, I hate staring at my computer for hours upon hours and I don’t get how people do it.

This living room in lovely…BUT WHERE THE F_CK IS THE TV?!?!?!?

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This is pretty awesome. It’s the closest thing I’ve seen to what I want in a home office.

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I could get on board with this. I wouldn’t pick out the green color, but I like the brightness. I love the art on the walls. I’d definitely feel engaged in this office. It’s almost yummy!

That desk, though…What kind of desk doesn’t have drawers? I like the color, but it could be a side table or a display table. I’m thinking too much about this, aren’t I?

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Previous offices

Dream Offices Continued…

I couldn’t be tethered to a wall. I need to be able to move my desk around to face a window or just to be facing the open room. And I’m not so big on pink. But the cuteness and organization of this is pretty fierce!

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Previous designs here, here,

Another inspired home office! It’s not exactly my style, but I love the wall color and the rich, gold accents. The bookcase and the gold lamp…It all works!

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Previous Office Inspiration

lalanii:

meaghan-antoinette

I’m not overtly girly…frilly just doesn’t do it for me. BUT THIS IS A DREAM! Holy crap do I want this!

This room fills me with warmth. There’s something very cozy about it and I love it. I love that it’s obviously often filled with a family.

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Florist Measuring Cups

Plucked Measuring Spoons

ANTHROPOLOGIE OVERLOAD!!!!

These heavenly (though probably impractical) kitchen tools are divine! I am seriously considering marrying myself just so I can do a registry. It’s going to be full of fantastically whimsical items, such as these!

Florist Measuring Cups $36 (set of 4)

Plucked Measuring Spoons $24

You can also throw in these wonderfully quirky dish towels, this gorgeous pie dish and maybe some dessert plates to wrap it all up! I would love to make some pie, serve it on these plates and have a gab session with one of my girls! Um…I think my role model is Betty Crocker.