Sunday, June 23, 2013

Beach Style

It's summer! And this picky chick loves the beach cottage look.  We just returned from a South Carolina beach vacation and whenever I do I get inspired.  So during this season, my dessert cottage style always turns "beachy." It's simple to do but a little time consuming.  I switch out pillows, bring in the sand and shells, use one overwhelming beach color ( for things like jelly beans, blankets, vases, napkins, sea glass) and voila!  Turquoise is my summer color and it instantly brings a lightness to a room.  Not to mention it's soothing and oh so ocean chic!  The other thing you can do, that is so simple, is take pictures of your family during the season and then place the pictures in your theme color or style of frame.  The whole affair takes me less than half a day and it keeps me in the summer mood for 4 months!  Love love love it!  Here's what I mean...  





Decorating with Magazines


I do it all the time.  Of course, pending on the season and the colors.  Sometimes, those pictures are awesome - hello - that's what those guys get paid for! I throw a mag on my side table or coffee table and it not only adds a bit of color but something for a guest to do (yes, I know we now all carry smart phones and were never bored these days but... ya never know)!

Alright!  Let's get this beach party started!

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Fireplace remodel

So, as One Picky Chick... things aren't usually the way I want them until I get my hands on it!  We moved into a new house 2012 in Scottsdale, Arizona and we love it!  It's the home we hope to stay in for a very long time.  But when we bought it, it was so NOT RIGHT!  Which I love because I just saw it as a huge challenge! I call my style "desert cottage".  It's not typical of Arizona, but it's mine.

We started with a kitchen remodel, painted the majority of the house and put new dark wood floors in.  It looks fabulous.  But now, it's time to take on a new project.  Our fireplace.  Currently, it has a dated, southwestern type look.  It's not hideous but it's not my style. In another week,  we'll be yanking out the actual guts of the fireplace and putting a new one in, lopping off the mantel and attaching a more traditional looking shelf mantel plus demolishing the tile surrounding it and placing brick on the front hearth area.   It should help complete the look of the living room.  Here's the way it looks now.

SO we did this... but ooops!


The mantel is too small!  Fortunately my husband agreed and we're having another one made.  The new one will only be a few inches wider at the top but about 3 inches wider at the bottom. 
Ta-dah!


New Mantel


I know it looks similar but it's a subtle difference we thought worth it, but remember, I'm picky!
Project done.  Now on to other things.



Friday, June 14, 2013

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So I'm a woman. A former television journalist. A current household President. A wife. A mom. A decorator. An entertainer. An occasional party planner. And one picky chick! Everything I do, I want it to be perfect. But easy. Simple is key. Inexpensive is a must. It's exhausting. It may be difficult at times. But I continue to strive for it! And I think you can too!

© One Picky Chick. Made with love by The Dutch Lady Designs.