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A Little House Update

Wednesday, December 5th, 2012

As we are preparing to break ground (or, walls) January 2nd for our kitchen I have done a few little things around the house to make it look a bit better- one of which is painting me up some new nightstands! One my amazing clients (whose home I CANNOT wait to show you) offered up her old Williams Sonoma Home nightstands to me when her new ones arrived. Clearly she remembered me drooling over them and mentioning how I’d coveted them for years- especially since they stopped making them.

They needed a little love though, with some water marks and cracking. Plus I wanted them in white. So after getting some quotes to have them refinished ( a small fortune) I decided to try myself first since I had nothing to lose. I could always have them professionally redone if I screwed up (which was likely since I am NO DIY-er).

After sanding and spraying primer on these bad boys I went in for the kill… and made a GREAT choice by going with Valspar’s gloss white spray paint. AMAZING. No drips, awesome coverage and perfect color. Go get yourself some if you are planning to paint anything- the color selection is fantastic too!

TA-DA! I didn’t care about painting the pavement because we are tearing it up come spring to put in a new paaaaattttiiiiooooo!!!!!! (said in Oprah’s Favorite Things voice). I bought some spray poly to finish them off and made the mistake of not checking with fab DIY ninjas like Jenny Komenda first and bought the wrong kind- even though it said CLEAR, it turned yellow immediately. So i had to sand it off and repaint another coat and then use the LGN approved Polycrylic. Phew.

Now that they are in place I LOVE LOVE them. The tiered structure is perfect for someone like me who has candles, Kindles, books, earrings and lots of crap to place bedside. New mercury glass lamps via Homegoods too.

Man, I need new bedding. And a bigger rug.

Are you so curious about my little tray though?

BAM! The new item for the Erin Gates for Jill Rosenwald line- tiny trays with monograms! :)

**And the picture Andrew posted on Match.com that got me to click on him. Thank you internets.

And fresh outta the kiln the morning, MUGS TOO! Available in tan and black colorways! Email me to order erin@eringatesdesign.com!

Posted in DIY, my life, My Renovation | 31 Comments »

Another Maine Weekend…

Monday, November 12th, 2012

This past weekend Andrew I went up to Kennebunkport, Maine again, which is now feeling like our second home (minus the whole actually having a second home there thing). I was part of a holiday workshop at the lovely White Barn Inn and got to craft, bake and drink (a lot) with some lovely ladies all while in the comfort of this historic and cozy place. Take a peek…

Our lovely room complete with Pretty Woman sized tub and a two sided fireplace. A gorgeous little welcome from the innkeeper.

We got to go into the famed kitchen of the inn to learn to bake stollen with the sous chef and pastry chef. Every time we looked up our champagne glasses were refilled- as if there was a sneaky champagne ninja quietly operating. The day continued with me giving some holiday decorating tips and helping everyone craft preserved moss wreaths… glue guns + 4 glasses of champagne= FUN!

We had an awesome cocktail class to top off the day and learned to make the MOST incredible chocolate martini ever (and I don’t even like chocolate martinis!) It was seriously delicious and would be the perfect thing to serve as a dessert drink at a party! The recipe is at the bottom of this post so keep scrolling baby. And one of the most wonderful parts of the restaurant at the White Barn (besides the impeccable service and food) is the display they always have done outside the large windows. This season it was particularly awesome.

Back in the room we found MORE CHAMPAGNE. Oh boy. So I thought bubbles and bubbles would be a perfect pre-dinner activity…. and then our four course meal. I don’t think I’ve ever been so full. My DVF dress was straining to keep itself together.

We stopped in town for some coffee and enough time to snap a pic of the cool decor outside a shop and then went to my favorite place in Kennebunk, Snug Harbor Farm to peruse the plants, wares and animals…

The best thing I picked up there for myself was this little fox portrait (wearing a striped tee!!!) done by Juan Estrella framed oh-so-perfectly. I found he has an Etsy shop with all varieties of animals. ALL WEARING STRIPED SHIRTS!!!

MINI HORSES!!!!!! Oh, and this dog bed I really wanted for the boys.

How pretty are these chickens (roosters?)

OK, now for that drink. Bottoms up!

Posted in my life, trips | 17 Comments »

Renovation Update: Living Room Inspiration

Wednesday, October 24th, 2012

As the temperature drops and I spend more time inside I am aching to nest and start decorating even though every last cent I have is earmarked for our amazing kitchen renovation which starts in the next month or two. As I said before designing for myself is SO hard, but I’ve committed to making this home a study in neutrals as to keep it feeling light, calm and cozy. I spent a good chunk of the week in LA speaking to women about designing their homes and repeatedly told them that the most important thing is to have patience and wait and save for ONLY things you absolutely love. Of course picking up super affordable basics is a big part of design on a budget, but make sure that there are lots of pieces with character and patina layers with those items. I need to take this advice MYSELF and wait for things like a lucite and brass coffee table like the one below. I also have been obsessed with the Mitchell Gold Major chair in leather with stain brass since it came out and so I think that might be something I start sacking away for.

sofa/ rug/ chair/ side table/ floor lamp/ tulip table/ coffee table/ art/ sconces

blanket/ pillow fabric/ candle/ shades/ tray

Proof that vintage pieces that you fall in love with don’t have to be pricey- this console was $75 at a estate sale YEARS ago and I still love it. I’ve painted the interior cubbies two colors so far and am about to change it again to a grassy green and find a finish carpenter to make wine racks on the inside to store a few bottles. I’ve been stumped as to what to put in those little cubbies forever and finally have found a great purpose! This area will be great once drapes are up- I am LOVING my Ballard Designs/ Suzanne Kasler antlers I put up on either side too.

Benjamin Moore Forest Moss

And I can’t believe I’m doing this after I was like, a zillion percent sure this was going to be my sofa for the next 10 years but I am selling my navy velvet sofa. Our new home HAS to have a sectional with chaise or else Andrew and I might kill each other. The dogs take up 75% of the sofa and so my 6’4″ husband and I are relegated to basically sitting on the arms crunched up and pissy. Email me erin@eringatesdesign.com if you are interested. Pick up ONLY.