I really appreciate you all giving me your input on my black and white vs. bright color dilemma the other day!  Everyone seemed to lean towards color.  I was really leaning towards black and white, but the color kept calling to me too.  So I decided to walk around JoAnn's the other day.  (BTW - home decor fabrics are all 50% off - including clearance and markdown fabrics!)

So - as I wandered - I found that in person and physically touching the fabric, that the black and white prints didn't really speak to me as much as the colors did.  I must have picked up 10-15 sample pieces.  I then sat down and laid each one out one by one.  Over 50% of the pieces I picked up were green - I figured that was a pretty good indication of what what I needed to do in the space.  So you wanna peek and what I found and what I am planning?

I am excited about it because my plan will allow me to "change up" the look over time!  But we will get more into that later.  For now, I do need a few other accessories to finalize this area once I get the table and chairs made over this weekend. 

I think I need a good rug - perhaps like one of these from Overstock.com.

6'7" Rug - $73.79

6'7" Rug - $83.69

And some table accessories ... I really think I want to get some round placemats.  I don't know why - but that is what I want!  I think I am also going to play around with some other ideas as I get the room built!

Crate & Barrel Maisie Placemat in Lime - $5.95

Ikea Panna Place Mat - $1.99

And then to tie in the Kitchen to the Dining area I think I might have to add some of these cute dishtowels and oven mitts and do a little more of the black and white there.

Target Dwell Studios Set for $19.99

Target 7pc Dish Towel Set - $19.99

So that is what I am dreaming up over here.  Stay tuned - I hope to have a big reveal on Monday!  Since I am tying in my dining area and kitchen I am wondering - do you try to do the same or do you decorate both spaces like they are two separate areas?

We went back to VA this weekend to work on our "summer" home (aka the house we can't sell).  If your new to the blog, you can read up on the situation.  We did some yard clean up (which can take a bit when you have over 2 acers) and I painted the porch and did some work in the flower beds.  I finished by late Saturday afternoon, stood back and saw the garden I had planned for over three years finally come together.  It was a little sad to know I had to leave it. 

I wanted to take pictures to share with you guys - but seeing how I am pretty open with how the house is technically vacant I didn't want to give too many details about what it looks like!  We had several people out to look over the weekend so we are hopeful that something will come out of that.  We have had more people out this spring - same feedback, house is great, price is great - it just is too far out for us to drive.  Sigh - you guys keep your fingers crossed for us. 

We drove back the 10 hour drive Sunday and I had six little petunias that didn't have a place for in our garden. So I brought them here.  I found this cute planter at Joann's for $10.  (They are having one heck of a sale this week!)  I would also like to point out that I realize we have only been here a month, but I never noticed that there is a child's hand print on the brick by our front door until now.  How odd...

I added a grapevine wreath to my springy sign too.  I feel like it completes it a little more. 

So that was my weekend.  Bittersweet and exhausting ... but it was fun to dig in the dirt and plant some beautiful flowers.  Anyone else work in the garden this weekend?

Well - we are pretty much in and unpacked by now.  The only area to finish up is the guest room/my craft room.  And to figure out where to put all my decorative accents - but we will deal with that later.  In the mean time, now that we are in and I have the "space" set up with furniture I am trying to decide what to do with each area.  I am starting off with the Dining Area - see a picture below. 

I really do like the paint color and since it is one big "great room" that connects the kitchen, living room and dining room I am going to leave that be.  The dinette set was one of the "free" furniture pieces that we got from a friend.  I know I want to do some sort of large art on the wall back there, perhaps add a rug, get some cute table accents, and of course recover those seat cushions.  Here is a close up of the chair and the cushion.

I am also not sure if I love this mottled gray finish, I think you need to click on the picture to see it.  It is kinda that hammered silver black faux finish thing.  Potentially - this whole thing will get spray painted jet black. 

Here are some of my inspirational pics that I am going to try to steal some ideas from as I transform the space!

Photo via House Beautiful

 

So don't you just love this - it is so classy and elegant.  I think I will need a nice sized centerpiece like this one on the round table.

Photo via House Beautiful 

 

I really like how the chairs pop here!  I am thinking about doing a brighter color or pattern on the chairs rather than the ho-hum beige that is on them now.

Photo via House Beautiful

On the other hand - I love the black and white prints here.  I think I REALLY want to do a Black and White kitchen (to go with my Bird Prints!) and I think a Black and White Dinette to match would be cute!

eclectic dining room design by new york interior designer American & International Designs, Inc.

But then again - that cute pop of color is intriguing!  I love how playful and fun this space is!

traditional dining room design by new york architect SchappacherWhite Ltd.

But then there is that Black and White look that is so cute!   I think this print is adorable!

I am torn!  What do you think - pop of color or black and white? 

Linking this up with the Inspired by Party with Melissa @ The Inspired Room