Pure Style Challenge: Reinvent The Not-Quite Right

I've mentioned before how much I love interior designer Lauren Liess's blog, Pure Style Home. This year, she's taken on a great project: Each week, she challenges her readers to follow her in undertaking a home improvement project. One of the first she did was a coat closet makeover, and as soon as I saw her made-over closet, I was hooked. Mine now features the same look - basket on the top shelf, warmies corralled in an an over-the-door shoe organizer, and coordinated wood hangers. I haven't painted the inside yet... But it's not out of the question.

This week, the challenge is "Reinvent or freshen up something in your home that isn't quite right. {even if it's already beautiful}"

One of the few problem areas left in our home was the living room. We had a carpet in there that, while nice, just wasn't working. It's the Crate and Barrel Palmer rug, and we got it as a stopgap measure at an outlet store, knowing the size probably wasn't right.


It wasn't. The gap between the couch and the coffee table drove us nuts, and the navy blue showed absolutely every piece of lint and garbage. It needed vacuuming near-daily (OK, daily). Plus, it was constantly shedding threads, as if the cats were pulling them out, and left navy blue lint everywhere. Altogether a bad call.

When I read Lauren's challenge for the week, my mind went immediately to that wrong rug, and then, I found this guy on sale.



We've got a West Elm rug in another room, so we knew we liked their natural fibers and construction. I couldn't find it nearby, so I held my breath and ordered it online. It was delivered in 2 days, and we are so, so happy with it!


What do you think? Improvement? Functionally, absolutely - the 8x10 is the perfect size. And I think the color's a much better fit, and the weave is much more sophisticated than the old one. Thanks for the kick in the pants, Lauren - we love our new look!

The Unexpected

Last night, I turned to my iPhone during itch-induced insomnia, and pulled up my blog to see if anyone had fresh updates for me to distract myself with. One of my favorites that hadn't been updated in a while, Decorated Life, had one, and I eagerly clicked over to see what was going on with Robin, a young interior decorator who I first heard about from her work at Domino.

To all those who follow Robin's blog,
I am Holly Sillau, Robin's mom. It pains me to write that my beautiful daughter passed away 3 weeks ago. Thank you to all of you for your support of Robin. She was a wonderful person and will live in my heart forever.

I was stunned, of course. I mean, I never knew her, never even commented on her blog. But I was taken with her style and her sense of humor. I Googled her a bit and it looked like she just got engaged, and had so much going for her, professionally. I wish her family and friends peace and comfort as they mourn this dynamic lady.

A Rustic Wreath

One of my favorite blogs is Pure Style Home. The author, Lauren Liess, is a talented interior designer, with a clean aesthetic that really appeals to me. Her style is definitely more sophisticated than mine, but I take a lot of inspiration from her incorporation of natural elements into her home.

She posted today about wreaths, and featured this one from Martha Stewart, which is the one I loosely emulated for the wreath on our door.


She mentioned that it looked like it might be over her head. I was so excited to comment that I, a only very slightly crafty person, found it totally doable, and offered to post a photo of mine. Then I went outside to take a few pictures.


Ok, so it doesn't look much like Martha's. But I like it! It's rustic and a little wild, and you can't really tell, but the silver beads look kind of like always-lit lights.


The real star, as far as I'm concerned, is the glittery faux eucalyptus, which will definitely reappear in Christmas future. Cam quickly dubbed it "sparklyptus." So, anyway, Lauren if you happen to read this, I'm sorry my wreath doesn't exactly live up to my enthusiastic response! But we love it anyway, and I bet you could do a much more faithful interpretation of Martha's, if you ever choose to.


I just couldn't part without one more shot of Sweeney under the tree. What a cutie.