To paint or not to paint...Dining Room edition

My project list keeps growing and growing, mostly because I cannot seem to make up my mind.  The new dilemna is "To paint or not to paint"...

Dining Room:

Ok, this room i am certain I will paint or wallpaper, I just can't choose a color!  Right now it is primed white.

Here is what the lighting is like in the daytime (for the most part):

Here is the lighting in the evening:

The 9ft x 8ft dining room is completely open to our living room, which is yellow.  Do I paint it yellow to blend into the space, and differentiate it with unique window treatments?  It has almost no visual interest, so I'd love to add moulding. 
The yellow, red, or even a cream color would fit very well with the color scheme in my house.  But is that what I want- matchy matchy?   What if I introduce gray into the dining room, or an unexpected color like a deep turquiose or deep blue-gray?  Also, I have thought about wallpapering at least part of the walls.  Or maybe put a chair rail in at chair height or 3/4 of the way up the wall?  See, I just have too many ideas!
 

Yellow wall from living room.

Here are some rooms that inspire me in this small space.

{Thanks to Millwork Designs}

{Thanks to Frustario}

 

{Thanks to Home Design Software}

 {Thanks to Home Design Software}

{Thanks to Eva Design}

 {Thanks to House of Smiths}

{Thanks to Good Housekeeping}

 {Thanks to Good Housekeeping}

{Thanks to Stoneleigh Hotel}

The Oldest Oyster House in Boston.

{Thanks to Southern Living}

{Thanks to Good Housekeeping}

Realistically, my dining room will probably end up looking like this last photo (above) because I intend to do an L-shape storage bench underneath the windows.  I guess I still have way too many ideas to decide what to do right now, but any feedback designers would like to give is always appreciated! 

Greeting Cards and Book Tags

Awhile ago I found this scrapbook paper that I absolutely LOVED- only problem was it was a discontinued paper, so I only had access to two pages of it (thanks for those two pages, Christy!)  So, I made a few greeting cards from it, Amerige Avenue Style.  I only have one left, and I get so sad at the thought of giving it away.  The other day I realized that if I scan it into my computer at high resolution, then I will always have the card!  Here is the basic card (un-embellished).

The embellishments I have make it so much better, but I still love the simple version.  I love it so much, I made this image smaller and turned it into a Book Tag, which I am so excited about.

Also, I re-created the sheet of scrapbook paper using Paint. It took awhile to create since all I had left of the paper was what you see on the greeting card, but it was really relaxing to do so I didn't mind. 

What decorative paper/card/fabric do you love?  I would recommend doing a simple project like this so you can enjoy it all over your house!

Teapot Prints

 

For a long time now I have been  a teapot and teacup aficionado.  (See my collection in an older post, below.)  My first few teapots were given to me by friends and my hubby.  I guess they just knew my style well, because they hit the mark every time.  My style is more of the fun and whimsical teapots and cups, with an occasional chic design.  I love unique and playful handle and spouts with detailing or beautiful color combinations and patterns.  Several cartoon teapots and teacups are on here to show what I mean.  "Old lady" teapot styles are not really my type.  Delicate little flowers in pastel colors on bone white china are a bit too boring for me.  Here are some teapot inspired designs that bring a smile to my face.  Hope you enjoy!

Marks and Spencer Retro Teapot Storage Canisters

Adorable Teapot Knobs- my Aunt Donna has these in her kitchen on a special China cabinet.  I am thinking about getting a set myself- only $15 on ebay!

Anthropology Tea Towels are always charming!  (I will be posting the Cake towel in an upcoming post, so keep an eye out for it!)

Here are some Prints and Patterns: 


Fun Vintage Teapot Fabric from Cleolin's Flickr page:

Super Fun print in the Girlometry Collection by Martha Van Etten and Nerissa Tutiven

 

 

 

Design_ski's photostream print.

 

Iheartshop's I heart Tea.

How fun is this!  A Yellow Submarine Loose Leaf Tea Ball:

Finally, what better way to celebrate teapots than wearing a fabulous "tea time outfit".  I am so inspired by OnedrGirl's Tea Time Outfit- so cute and romantic.

I hope a little bit of the teapot love rubs off on anyone who visits this blog! 

Vintage Patterns and Prints

I have been working on restoring a vintage dresser from my generous friends- first Rebecca who gave it to Christy, and Christy who gave it to me.  (I had been lusting after it since I first saw it, but Christy had dibs.  And since I still kick myself for already passing up the amazing green couch from Des that eventually went to Katie, I decided I had better not pass this up!)   I am still deciding what color to paint it.  I am thinking white, light blue, bright red, shades of pink, green, or gray.   

What color do you think I should paint it (see below)?

(Take the Poll to the left!)

Light Blue

Light Apple Green

Strawberry

 Raspberry

 Red

 White/Cream

Anyway, no matter what color I paint the dresser I really want to have a fun vintage contact paper as the liner in each drawer.  There is something so fun about having campy design on the inside of something beautiful, even if I am the only one who knows it is there.  It reminds me of the campy (quite ridiculous) bathroom wallpaper in the cabin my Great Uncle Fred built, which I just returned from.  I find the wallpaper to be consistently entertaining, year after year, and hope that the new contact paper will be just as entertaining year after year.

Here are some of the Vintage Designs I am currently inspired by.  Some of them make me literally giggle out loud.  How can you not giggle at a campy Airstream Trailer cartoon?  (No pun intended.)  Love it!!!

Birch Fabrics has super fun textile collections. 
 The "Circa Go Beach Mod" collection is my favorite.

Also, Helen Dardik is a genius!

Here are some (well, okay, a lot!) of her fun, cute, and creative patterns:

This one is so great- "Don't forget to make today Awesome!"

She also has some great non-pattern drawings.  I seem to really like the ones with girls in them:

I this this is definitely my Favorite!  "Hello Sunshine!"  She is so cute!

Another favorite!  "Hey I took some pictures wanna see?"  "Sure."

The final one is also a favorite. :)

Still have not decided which pattern would be best.  Maybe a solid color on the bottom with one of the non-patterned prints?  Or maybe something different for each drawer?  Here is the paper I have in the bottom of my nightstand drawer, but I think I want something more campy and silly for this go 'round.  I'll post what I finally choose to use on a later post.