...because home doesn't happen overnight.
05.31.13 / Five Things

dresser 1

BAM. Five things on my dresser. But, first, let’s cut to the chase. I repainted our bedroom. I really, really, REALLY wanted to go for Benjamin Moore’s anchor gray – a dark, moody navy-gray. Alas, when it came down to it, our north-facing bedroom couldn’t handle it. It just would have been too dark. I’m not scared of dark walls {I have some in my mudroom and my daughter’s nursery} but I like them in rooms that receive a fair amount of natural light to begin with.

Instead, I opted for Benjamin Moore’s half moon crest. I first saw it in Orlando’s apartment. He described it as a warm gray but in our dim Ohio room it reads much cooler. Especially on wet and dreary days like today. {I have fantasies of moving to California just for the good natural light.} HH loves it. I like it. It really is the best wall color for this room which is infamous for casting strange dingy green shadows. Half moon crest is elusive and ever-changing. I like my paint colors that way. Sometimes it’s a cool gray, sometimes a warm gray, sometimes a blue-gray. My dream bedroom would have natural light flooding in all day but this is not my dream bedroom. I’m working with what I’ve got.

Enough talk of paint. Back to five things on my dresser…

dresser 2

Sources: Threshold gold decorative bowl // Robert Abbey Delta Lily lamp // Threshold decorative ball // Threshold glass & acacia server // Threshold square tabletop frame

I partnered with the good people at Target to bring you this tabletop styling.

photo-80

It all started with those industrial spheres. They were the literal balls that got the metaphorical ball rolling. I like decorative pieces that are sculptural. I bought the lamp per Emily’s recommendation. She is right. It has the perfect scale. I added a brass bowl to corral pens. {The plan is to convert this dresser into a workstation…stay tuned!} I planted a trio of jade plants in a dip server. A DIP SERVER! Call me crazy. It proves that, indeed, you can plant succulents in anything. On a whim, I drew a quirky little geometric piece of art and framed it up.

This little corner is the last thing I see before I fall asleep at night.

dresser 4

It melts me.

dresser 3

There are still finishing touches to put on this corner and the rest of the bedroom but it’s coming along! This weekend’s plans include hanging swing arm lamps on either side of the bed and installing hardware on the top dresser drawer so it can be used as a keyboard pull out.

dresser 5

This is my final post in the Threshold series. Maybe that makes some of you happy. But my honest hope for this series was to inspire you to tweak your home. Play around. Have fun. Try something new. Even if you have kids running around. Even if it’s just one corner or one table. Even if you end up not liking it and redo it. Even if you don’t buy any Threshold products.

That’s all.

This post brought to you by Threshold, a Target collection. The Threshold collection focuses on specialized design techniques including hand-painted accents and artisanal touches to make each piece unique yet affordable. What differentiates Target’s new Threshold collection is its unprecedented style coupled with its high quality and affordability. Thank you Tar-jay!

images: Dana Miller for House*Tweaking

42 Comments

31.May.2013

Love it! I really want those spheres. I love the Threshold collection. Sadly, there’s not much budget available for decorating right now.

31.May.2013

I love this, your style. You are amazing. Keep it coming.

31.May.2013

Happy one-year anniversary of move-in day at the Underdog!

31.May.2013

Love that picture of your kiddos! Precious.

31.May.2013

Love the metal orb from Target! It looks so chic!

31.May.2013

I think you have posted about your dresser before?? Can you point me to what you used to refinish it? I have an old desk with a similar look that needs some help!

31.May.2013

OMG. Beautiful. You are amazing and a such an inspiration. I love your blog.

31.May.2013

Looks fantastic! You have such a great eye for design.
Thanks for sharing and inspiring : )

I totally got that little wooden box with the brass chevron stripes. It was too good to pass up. Especially when you have a box fetish like I do… I go to box hoarders anonymous for that. Had a slip up there… ;)

Seriously, I love it all. You do such a nice job creating contrasts between the greenery and muted tones, sharp angles and round curves, geometric and organic, etc. yet everything just looks so lovely together. And that chair, it’s a beaut! Wait a minute, is that your Martha metallic paint project now on your wall? Sweet!

31.May.2013

I love it all, but especially love the glimpses of what looks like a wonderful chair!! Any details on that? :)

31.May.2013

More on that chair soon…I promise!

31.May.2013

Yep. That was my last minute project! And I have something else in mind for that wall too. Stay tuned…

31.May.2013

The dresser is vintage from craigslist. It was in pretty good condition when I got it. I just clean it with Bona and a microfiber cloth. Nothing special! I didn’t touch the brass pulls either. They have a natural patina that I don’t want to mess with.

31.May.2013

Aw, you remembered! Thanks.

31.May.2013

I’m bummed I didn’t get to see the anchor gray. I thought it would look faboosh.

31.May.2013

Love all of it and LOVE the chair! Can’t wait to hear more about it!

I love how it all comes together! That dresser is beautiful, as is the chair, wall color, and accessories!

31.May.2013

I really loved your Threshold posts. I love seeing how others style their dressers and tables, and I’d love to see more of it on your blog.

31.May.2013

I know! Me too.

I am surprised with the blueish gray wall color (not really sure why but didn’t expect to see it) but I love it! I love how it changes too. That little vignette is lovely. Can’t wait to see more. Where is that frame from? I know from IG that you painted some of it gold with martha paint but I love the look of the paint.

01.June.2013

I really enjoyed your Threshold series. I hope you bring us more Target posts. I like the combo of items on your dresser, and I especially like the photo of your adorable children.

01.June.2013

What a nice spot to look at right before bed.That bureau is awesome and I love the picture of your children. I have been following your blog since you first decided to downsize and although I am a lot older than you (my boys are 23 and 21) you have inspired my husband and I to take the plunge and downsize as well.I like the Target posts,looking forward to seeing more styling tips!

01.June.2013

I love this series! I like when the elements in design are accessible from the store around the corner. I have a hard time chunking a lot of $$ towards design elements although I love design. I just don’t have the money to invest. Your dresser looks fantastic!!

The wall color looks fantastic! I seriously want that chair–West Elm?

01.June.2013

Love the frame on the wall. Will you post a tutorial? I would love to do this as a Father’s Day gift!

01.June.2013

You got it – West Elm!

01.June.2013

I will discuss the frame in an upcoming post!

01.June.2013

The half moon crest is growing on me. It really does flatter our bedroom. It reminds me of an oxford blue button-up shirt – LOVE!

01.June.2013

Beautiful! Want to see more of that CHAIR!

02.June.2013

Yeah… if I can get our landlord to let me paint the house (we’ve got some crazy primary-colored walls right now which gives me headaches), I am definitely painting our bedroom or our living room this color!!! Your whole vignette is SO BEAUTIFUL! Thank you for the inspiration!

02.June.2013

beautiful! The gray-green paint color is lovely with the rich wood tones and metallic touches

Your little corner looks great! That dresser still makes me swoon, and that chair is to die for. I feel like this styling is very “you” and beautiful! :)

PS-Threshold stuff rocks my socks. I adore it all!!

03.June.2013

Been there on the dark paint color dreams – we were able to paint our bedroom a moody dark green, and it looks marvelous in the southern Missouri light, but if I had put that up in the north facing living room, it would have looked like a cave. I, too, settled for a nice blue for my north rooms. :)

Oh, and nice job on making these sponsored posts feel fun and not pushy. You’re towing a tricky line and doing a really good job of it.

03.June.2013

love it but best of all the photo above the dresser.. always look forward to checking out your blog..

03.June.2013

Great sponsored posts! I want you to keep posting and sharing your style – if that means some corporate influences – who cares! Plus Target is a great resource for low cost style.

How about next you partner with JoAnn or Hobby and start decor accents from scratch! :)

03.June.2013

I would love to get more crafty up in here!

03.June.2013

Honestly, I think the Threshold series has been win-win. Definitely it should be working for Target, b/c I think the line would have flown under my radar and the way you’ve styled them makes me totally want some of that collection for me! But, those pieces are definitely YOU and work easily with the look you’ve had since before the series – it doesn’t seem like a “sellout” in any sense. I don’t think you have to be apologetic for doing a sponsored series, especially when you’re so upfront about it!

03.June.2013

I cannot tell you how much I love what you did! I’ve got the decorative balls, but you really pulled it all together. Looks amazing! Thanks for the inspiration.

04.June.2013

LOVE your styling tips (and your home styling in general). They always inspire me!

I love everything in that photo. Everything

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