Baked in Birmingham

Inspiration: Chalkboard Wall

The last few months Zack and I have been doing some pretty serious DIY in our little house. New wall colors, new dark wood floors, new color schemes…overall just going for something brighter and more sophisticated. The green walls were tormenting my very being and the blue-brown color combo of last decade + all the FREAKING BIRDS! GONE!!! With the market being the way it is, we’ve accepted the fact that we’ll probably be in our house through kiddo #1, so it’s time to bite the bullet and make it more up-t0-date!

We’ve got a lot of work behind us, but there’s still plenty more ahead. This weekend will mainly be hardwood installation, but I’m finally going to have my way with the study. It used to be Zack’s man room, but with us both being in there now, I want to give us a fun workspace where we can sit at our computers, get inspired, be creative, and laugh at people who still use the Curlz MT font.

Before and after photos soon, but here is my #1 inspiration for now: a chalkboard wall. I am obsessed with chalkboard surfaces. Oh the potential that it has…to be able to draw freely on the wall without repercussion! The other 3 walls will be gray, so the black wall with the white chalk should look really crisp and monochromatic. Our chairs are orange, so you can imagine how awesome that pop of color will be…

Top photo: Dana Tanamachi via 100 Layer Cake.

Middle left: Emily Henson Interiors

Middle right: found via random Google search that brought me here.

Second from bottom: via Apartment Therapy

Bottom left: via Desire to Inspire

Bottom right: via Your Home Only Better

Let’s get inspired, shall we?

My great friend and partner in style, Kamin Williams, has the cutest clothes, accessories, blog, personality…and home! She’s one of the photogs here at work, and she does amazing freelance too, whether it’s weddings, engagements, children, interiors – you name it! So I would definitely recommend giving her a ring if you need some pretty pictures taken.

I thought you might be equally inspired as I was by her beautiful home in the ‘burbs of Birmingham. Her house is about 100 years old, and I love how she kept the vintage quality while still modernizing it to fit her own design aesthetic. Love ya, K!

Her adorable, bright sunny kitchen! I love that she flawlessly pulled off yellow and red without making it look like a certain fast food restaurant!

One of the 4 fireplaces in her cottage; this one is in the kitchen. Her new husband, Cory (who is my best friend, by the way, right Cory?) insisted that he have his DMB poster somewhere. Again, kudos to K for making it work!

It’s all in the details!

Love her living room! Isn’t that huge tree branch the coolest? I had one in my house, but my husband threw it away. Thanks.

Living room fireplace, bedecked in monograms and all sorts of lovelies!

Fireplace #3 in her guest room/work room. Vintage 1960s sewing machine. It’s so awesome it hurts.

Ok now that we’re all nice and inspired, let’s go home and decorate!

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

I have been seeing this vase everywhere. All the time. For about 3 years now. I think I first saw it in Domino (RIP). Today I found it here. I love it more and more every time I see it. It’s so tongue-&-cheek and I think it’d look simply smashing on my coffee table, minus the fake red roses.

BUY ME BUY ME!!

Please forgive the shameless plug, but Zack and I are selling our sweet little townhome. Please buy it!! We created a blog to give you the whole scoop, which you can check out here, and we’re having an open house this Sunday from 2-4. Please stop by!!

Pretty Pantry

This is from the February issue of Country Home magazine, which is ceasing production after their April issue (AAH!). This story is in one of my all-time favorites. Check out that desktop organizer-turned-tea caddy and the old school trash bins-turned-pet food containers! So clever. Hopefully I’ll be able to work something like this in our next home. You could also just take an old painted bookcase and hinge a simple homemade wood frame + chicken wire and you’d be in business. Don’t forget to check out the CH website before it shuts down later this spring!

Home Office on the tiniest of budgets.

I’ve noticed lately that shelter magazines everywhere are doing features of home offices and studies. Always one to be inspired, I recently put the finishing touches on my own little office that’s in my guest bedroom. 

Desk: parents’ basement. Lamp: thrift store. Lamp shade: given to me at work. Kitchen scale-turned-clutter coraller: found it in Italy. Mint julep cup pencil holder: Michael’s craft store. Bulletin boards: foam core with old patterns affixed with spray adhesive. Memo/Mouse pad: TJ Maxx. Computer: inherited from the husband. Chair: Cottage Living prop sale. Total cost of Malinda’s home office: about $30 (minus the plane ticket to Rome). 

Acero Studios

I found these adorable dishes from Acero Studios while surfing etsy.com today.. Cheeky graphics meets househould function=Heaven. I will definitely have to get some pieces (soon)!! And yes, that’s a covered vegetable dish! AAAH!!