Bed knobs:
Sophie from Sophie Honeysuckle said that she wanted to see people's beds. Everyone (including Sophie) have probably seen my bed before, but here it is again.
Not sure if you can tell, but the accents (the toile, the coverlet and shams) are brown, with the duck egg blue. I really love the combination.
The phone is from Pottery Barn. I thought it looked sort of French 1930's. The bed is from Room and Board and is a four poster bed (these pictures don't really show that).
Bookcases:
This is one of the bookcases in our living room. The other bookcase is filled with my mystery stuff. I started organizing my magazines in this bookcase because they were all over the place. I tried to organize them in stacks, but all I got were a bunch of stacks - stacks on the floor, stacks on tables, or any surface that was handy. Now that they are in the bookcase they are so much easier to find, and they look so much better. Especially the Country Home magazines - love the the colors and patterns they use for the binding. The rocking chair is one my grandma refinished. She also made the needle point seat that is barely visible.
The bottles and little stand are from a post office - the stand use to have stampers hanging from it. I put individual flowers into the bottles sometimes. The chalk dog is one I got with my mom in Buffalo on an antiquing excursion. The colorful boxes hold greeting cards for every occasion. It's very handy to have cards around - and I love the colors and organization of the boxes. You can see the Country Home mags on the lower right - love all the colors.
Many of you have probably seen this picture too, but I thought I would include it since I showed the other bookcase. The bookcases are on either side of a window in the LR and are mirror images of each other except that they are filled with completely different things.
Displayed are all of my mystery DVD's, some of my Nancy Drew books, mystery games, old typewriter, magnifying glasses, old flashlight, Maltese Falcon replica, 1930's picture of Basil Rathbone playing Sherlock Holmes, and of course my deerstalker hat.
Brilliant new job:
You all have been so great to me with your many positive comments regarding my job change. I wanted to report back that I absolutely love my new job. My team is so great, very top notch. And my manager is wonderful. The change has been so dramatic that I sometimes can't believe that I didn't do something about it sooner. But, good or bad, we do get stuck in our routines, afraid of change because what if that change brings something worse. I happily get up every day for work now, and no longer have the "Sunday blues". So for anyone out there contemplating a job change, it just might be your best move yet. For me, stress has now been replaced with excitement. My commute is an hour less every day - that's approximately 240 hours a year of my life that I just got back. No longer do I have to think about laying off members of my staff and all the many other unpleasant things I had to do every day at work.
We just bought a new laptop for home so you will be seeing more of me. Blogging in the basement wasn't fun - I always felt I was missing out on something upstairs, and as a result, wasn't posting as often or visiting you as often. Now I can blog outside, in the kitchen, in the bedroom - where ever the mood strikes me. Much more convenient.
Thank you all for the visits - best wishes to you!!
Lovely arrangement.
Thank-you for the view.
xo
Robin
Posted by: Robin Sherwood | June 30, 2007 at 10:27 AM
Lovely arrangement.
Thank-you for the view.
xo
Robin
Posted by: Robin Sherwood | June 30, 2007 at 10:27 AM
Lovely arrangement.
Thank-you for the view.
xo
Robin
Posted by: Robin Sherwood | June 30, 2007 at 10:28 AM
Ooh Allison-what great photos!! I especially love the ones of your bookshelves, they look fabulous! I would love to curl up in one of your cosy armchairs and flick through all your lovely home magazines and mystery novels!! And, I have to say again that your bedroom is scrumptious-I love your colour combination, I would never have thought of choosing those colours, but they work so well don't they!! Duck egg blue is one of my favourite colours too.
I am so pleased that you love your new job,you must be so relieved that you made the right move! And the shorter journey makes it even better!!
Have a gorgeous (now much more work-related stressfree!!) weekend!!
Posted by: Sophiehoneysuckle | June 30, 2007 at 10:28 AM
Thanks for the peek (very inspiring)
Good to hear the new job is going well. Change can be hard but sometimes so worth it :0)
Posted by: Laurie Anne | June 30, 2007 at 11:27 AM
Thanks for sharing your home with us again. Your bedroom looks so restful -- I love the colors. And I'm a bookshelf "nut" so I enjoyed everything single thing on yours. My dream house will have a library room and the shelves will be full of wonderful books and things.
I'm glad your new job is going well and that it was a good change for you. I have wondered how you were doing. I made a similar positive change nearly two years ago and often wonder why I didn't do it much sooner.
I'll visit again soon. I check in often. Enjoy your laptop.
Posted by: Adrienne | June 30, 2007 at 11:52 AM
I love to see bookshelves filled with books and pretty things. A house without books is a dull house in my opinion! And congratulations on your new job; it's a scary thing leaving what you know. Although I love my current job I have been thinking that maybe it's time to move on, I do feel a little undervalued at times. No rush but I'll keep an eye on what else is out there. Glad to hear your job change was a good one.
Posted by: Gill | June 30, 2007 at 02:54 PM
Allison,
Glad your new job is going so well. YAY!!
Love seeing all of your wonderful things. Your shelves look great!
I posted my bed too!
Have a great Sunday!
Rosemary
Posted by: Rosemary | June 30, 2007 at 10:47 PM
I love your duvet or ? on the bed! Is that brown too? WHERE did you get it? I al in love with toile and just adore the stripes on it!
Posted by: Margie | June 30, 2007 at 11:40 PM
I'm so very pleased that you are hapy in your new job.
Posted by: carolyn | July 01, 2007 at 10:38 AM
Your bedroom is lovely! I am inspired by your bookshelves. My magazines are getting a little out of control right now so your post is the inspiration I needed. I feel a before and after project coming up for my blog! Glad your new job is going great and that you are not spending as much time on the road. Your area in the metro is getting pretty bad.
Posted by: Laurie | July 01, 2007 at 12:55 PM
I feel relieved for you!
I was waiting for that typewriter to appear in your photos, and it finally did :) Yesterday was my lucky day and because of you I spent $15! It even has the ribbon in it. Sooo heavy! But can you believe that price? I am going to insert an old letter which isn't typed but in handwriting...an old love letter written from a woman to a man...a marriage proposal!
Posted by: shabbyinthecity | July 01, 2007 at 03:37 PM
I am so happy to hear your job is going well. I had been watching for an update on it.
As usual, your pics are so pretty!
Posted by: Donna | July 01, 2007 at 03:54 PM
Good for your job! It's great when it works out. My new job is a great one...the hardest I have ever worked, but I am compensated well for it. Your photos are great. My bed is hardly ever made. Maybe when I get the room painted and the dust ruffle on, it will be better? Have a great week!
Posted by: GardenMomma | July 01, 2007 at 11:43 PM
Your bedroom really is stunning! And you are right, it is so easy to get "stuck" in our ways, change can be good!!
Laura
Posted by: Laura | July 02, 2007 at 12:00 AM
Glad you love the new job!!!!!!
Posted by: Gypsy Purple-Chamara | July 02, 2007 at 09:34 AM
Allison,
I am so, so happy for you. It is so wonderful that you found something you really like and have been able to shut out that not so great job experience. I love your bed and bookcases and the color combinations you use throughout your home. It certainly is cozy!
Karla
Posted by: Karla | July 02, 2007 at 02:55 PM
Glad you're happy with your new job. It makes a huge difference. Love your bedroom! I have black & white toile on mine and my walls are robins egg blue. So we have similar looks!
Manuela
Posted by: the feathered nest | July 02, 2007 at 05:47 PM
Your bookselves look great. I'd love to have build ins. Very pretty. Love your bedroom colors.
Happy 4th.
Posted by: Trudi M | July 02, 2007 at 09:49 PM
I always have a hard time with bookcases, mine always look cluttered. Thanks for the photos-it has inspired me to work on mine. LOVE the Nancy Drew books-I always loved her friend Honey.
Posted by: willzmom | July 03, 2007 at 08:56 AM
Allie, it's always fun to see pics of your bedroom & other areas of your home. You have such great taste in everything. Love those built-ins...I have built-in envy & would love some of those too. You have them accessorized so pretty.
Congrats on loving your new job too...that's great news!
Rhoda
Southern Hospitality
Posted by: Rhoda | July 03, 2007 at 01:46 PM
You have gorgeous built-ins. They must be so much fun to arrange and rearrange!
Posted by: Elizabeth | July 03, 2007 at 03:04 PM
Allison, your room is so pretty, and has so many lovely touches. I love your bookcases (you're so organized, too!).
I'm so glad to hear that you are much happier with your new job! That's the best news I've heard all week!
Andrea
Posted by: Southern Heart | July 03, 2007 at 07:26 PM
Hi Allie - enjoyed seeing pics of your lovely rooms again. I'm so happy that the new job is working out so well for you, you deserve to be happy and stress free.
Hope you will have time to visit me and share the pics of the recent trip to Canada - I had such a fun time as you will see!
Stay happy - best wishes,
Mary.
Posted by: Mary | July 03, 2007 at 09:28 PM
I love your bookcase! So cozy and homey. I always wanted a built-in bookcase but settled for a couple floor to ceiling ones from Costco. I wanted to paint them white.... and your's shows me how great they might just look! Thanks. Nancy
Posted by: Nancy | July 04, 2007 at 10:19 AM