JourneyChic - a quest for easy, affordable style

Two Lights Are Better Than One

January 26, 2012 By JourneyChic 3 Comments

Sea Gull Lighting Pemberton Vanity Light

Our half-bath (aka powder room) went through a major transformation in 2010, going from a bland, builder-basic box to a rich blue ode to the ocean. It was one of many crazy-good ideas I had when I was pregnant (see below - I am not just weirdly fat). First we made some repairs, painted, and replaced the hardware and faucet. Then we made a valance for the window, and finally trimmed the mirror and hung art on the walls. All of these changes were wonderful and made this tiny room one of my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: bathroom, our house

Rocking Chair Rehab

January 23, 2012 By JourneyChic 7 Comments

Happy Monday, everyone! I'm happy to share a Goodwill project with you today. Unlike so many decor and DIY bloggers, I don't visit my local Goodwill store very often. When I do, I never find anything worth spending money on; just bad timing, I guess. That is, until I spotted a cute little rocking chair in the window of Goodwill one day. I brought it home for $15 - a good deal for sure, but it needed some repairs. Wood glue secured the wobbly spindles, but there were deep screw holes that I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: diy, nursery and kid spaces

Cheap Chic: Ikat On the Table

January 20, 2012 By JourneyChic 3 Comments

I know I posted about ikat last Friday (in the form of cool ikat shower curtains) but when this set of dinnerware is just too pretty not to share. It would be pricey to buy a few place settings, but a single mug ($), bowl ($8) or plate ($10 and $12) would be nice, inexpensive treats. Use the cereal bowl to corral jewelry on your nightstand, and the plate as a catch-all on your console. The nesting bowls and cloth napkins would make very nice hostess gifts. It looks like we'll finally get … [Read more...]

Filed Under: accessories, cheap chic

The Modern Mary Jane

January 18, 2012 By JourneyChic 6 Comments

It's no secret that I love heels; the secret is that heels don't like me. Perhaps I was more adept at wearing them before I got pregnant and opted for a collection of cute flats and flip-flops for my swollen feet, but now I look ridiculous when I wear them as I teeter in my 4" stilettos down the sidewalk. There was an embarrassing incident recently that left me in near tears. For my birthday dinner (a rare child-free night on the town) I ordered a fabulous pair of leopard-print peep toe pumps … [Read more...]

Filed Under: fashion

The Garage: Final Frontier of Organization

January 17, 2012 By JourneyChic 2 Comments

A major organizational project for our home in 2012 is the garage. The fact that we live in Boston and have a garage - let along a two-car garage - is an anomaly and a luxury. It's also a the primary storage facility in our home since we don't have an attic or basement. Since we moved to our home in the fall of 2008, we've accumulated a lot of stuff. Last spring we eliminated a lot of junk by having a yard sale with a neighbor, but some of it remains. The biggest obstacles to organizing our … [Read more...]

Filed Under: organization

Dry Sink Changing Table

January 16, 2012 By JourneyChic 4 Comments

When my friend Georgia posted pictures on Facebook of her adorable baby boy's new changing table, I just had to share. While many people opt to put changing pads on the dresser (like we did) or buy a separate changing table, Georgia's mom had he clever idea to use an antique dry sink instead. Check it out! The changing pad fits nicely into the sink area, but Georgia points out that dry sink sizes can vary greatly. She found a 16" x 30" changing pad that fits quite well, but most changing … [Read more...]

Filed Under: nursery and kid spaces

Cheap Chic: Ikat Shower Curtains

January 13, 2012 By JourneyChic 2 Comments

I'm not yet over ikat, are you? If we were in the market for a new shower curtain, I'd pick one of these ikat options from World Market. Both are just $29.99 and would add chic global flair to a basic bath. purple ikat shower curtain blue ikat shower curtain … [Read more...]

Filed Under: bathroom, cheap chic