I'm in love!

OK, a bit of an overstatement, but just trying to get in the Valentine's Day spirit. I found this picture cross-posted via multiple furniture and home decor blogs and it is the perfect piece for our living room. The size is about right, the color is perfect (our living room is teal and red), and the height is just enough to clear our baseboards and let heat escape out the bottom.

(Credit: Southern Living)

Unfortunately, it was only an "inspirational" picture to give readers decorating ideas and the cabinet is not for sale.

Here is what we have: an old Target wicker piece that actually was part of their bathroom decor line circa. 2004. It has served us well over the 6 years we've owned it. But I would love to get something a little more polished and with more doors so I can hide the clutter out of sight.

So keep your eyes pealed! It's hard to search on craiglist since "dresser" or "hall cabinet" or "entry furniture" type keywords are so broad. Finding a small piece with lots of storage space that stands at least 10 inches off the ground is tough. We're looking forward to garage sale season this spring, but in a meantime, holler if you see something!

An Aside for Valentine's Day

Eight days late, I'm finally getting around to my intended Valentine's post, which is a bit of a departure from the usual home repairs update. In keeping with the "love" theme of the holiday, I wanted to write a post about how much I love our house. Now, it's not perfect and can definitely stress me out (we broke yet another window, but more on that another time) but it is a place that truly makes me feel comfortable and happy. Seems like a good relationship. Not only to I enjoy being at home but I enjoy doing things at home that I never enjoyed doing in our old apartment. Sitting and looking out our window (especially during a snowfall), for example. Or better yet (at least for those friends and family members who get to taste the results): cooking and baking.

I never liked being in our old apartment kitchen. There was no sense in making any significant improvements and everything was as cheap as they come. But here, we are lucky enough to have an already-remodeled kitchen that is beautiful and a place I really love to spend time (which is good, since it's where my computer desk is). And so, on Valentine's Day and in honor of the holiday's spirit, here is the proof of that love--a first attempt at homemade pasta and tomato sauce. A whole Sunday afternoon spent in a kitchen:

 

  

  

(No pictures actually making the pasta--my hands were too full of flour!) Fortunately the results were as tasty as they were fun.