Next decision stop: Coffee Table

via Ikea*

We currently have the above coffee table from Ikea in our living room. It came with the Dude when we moved in together and I've disliked it since our meeting. Now I have a great reason to finally get a new coffee table ... the dog's toys get stuck under the table and he will dig at the carpet until one of us retrieves it. Also, the dog slams his head on the edge of the table.

Thank you dog- we have to get a new coffee table and rug because of you.

In this post, you get a glimpse of the living room and coffee table.

So, here's my coffee table wish list:

• No or very little hang-over on the table top for dog safety
• "Light and airy" (the current table is too "heavy" for the space)
• Could have a bottom shelf but not too low
• A durable top because "someone" forgets to use coasters and we put our feet up on the table
• In the $200-ish range would be awesome
• Could be glass or wood
• Could be rustic with modern lines

Anything else I should add to the wish list or do you have a coffee table suggestion that meets the criteria?

I'm hoping to make a decision soon and have the new table and rug set up in two weeks (I said it here, so I have to make it happen!).

*Looks like they recently discontinued the coffee table. Also, we found some lucky friends that are moving to the area that love the table and will give it a new home.

Hi.

Pilot and Daisy - August 6, 2010

I took a bit of a blogging break because we've been busy with preparing for houseguests, dog sitting, doggie play dates, and stuff...bleh.

Hope to get back into the swing of things! I still need to pick a new rug and a new coffee table (more on that later).

Oh, and why is this summer so stupidly hot?

I hate drywall dust

Yeah, I know...waahh!

We lived with a hole in the downstairs bathroom ceiling for over a year until we could replace the roof (need to find photo documentation). It was a classy hole too. We put some pots and pans in the rafters to collect the water from the roof leak and put up some plastic sheeting. After we got the new roof, we lived with a light purple piece of drywall on the ceiling (a left over piece that was cut out of the upstairs bedroom wall to make the built-ins).

We've been putting off finishing off the ceiling because of the stupid drywall spackle dust.

Yesterday, we tackled the project through a grin-and-bear it method. We acknowledged it was going to be a disaster to clean up, that white ghost foot prints would be tracked through the house and the dog might look like he had bad dandruff.

Primer is up... now time to find that can of bathroom paint.

Sorry for the bad iPhone pictures. Sometimes it's just too hard to find the real camera!

Before



After



Some how my car was also covered in drywall dust.

Carpet Karma

Last Monday the dog got sick. Really sick. On my jute carpet.

So instead of a natural fiber carpet for the family room, I'm now looking at Indoor/Outdoor carpet options.


Sawgrass Mills - Explosion, Aqua


Sawgrass Mills - Tribeca, Spruce


Sawgrass Mills - Watermark, Spruce


Sawgrass Mills - Peacock, Aqua

What I like about Sawgrass Mills rugs - they are similar to cotton and are a little more plush compared to other outdoor rugs.

Also, there are the lovely Dash and Albert rugs to consider too.


Dash and Albert - Diamond Light Blue/Ivory Indoor/Outdoor


Dash and Albert - Diamond Khaki/White Indoor/Outdoor

Do you have any rug favorites or dogs vs. carpet advice?

The sofa that could solve the world's problems

I love love love this sofa from Wisteria, but the description on their website is kind of lame.

• Diamond pattern symbolizing unity
• Each one is unique
• Cotton and wood construction

Oh, well! I still really like it and wish I could find some space in my house for it to live.

I'm it

I've been tagged by the lovely Rambling Renovators with 5 questions! Here goes....

1. What inspired you to blog? What is your favourite blog?

As I mentioned a few posts ago, friends encouraged me to start a blog years ago, but I'm lazy and just got around to starting Just Over The River last year. For me- I blog to have a record of our house projects, use as an inspiration platform and discussion for future diy and decorating projects and to offer up a bit of a creative outlet.

My favorite blog would have to be Design*Sponge. It provides a constant source of inspiration.

2. If there was a fire in your house, and you only had time to grab 4 things (excluding your family!), what would they be?

I picked a little more than 4 items...this was hard!

• Documents (house things and wallet): If I just dealt with a fire the last thing I want to do is trying to figure out how to get replacement paperwork, credit cards and license.
• Picture album from my childhood
• Grandmother's ski pin collection
• A few of my great-grandmother's doilies
• My first Steiff bear, Dorma

3. If you could live somewhere else in the world, where would it be?Why?

I've thought of this one since my high school days. I'd live on Lisa Island. This island would have mountains for skiing but also waves for surfing. Temperatures would be mild off of the mountain (no 100 degree days). I would also settle for Switzerland.

4. If money were no object, what would your dream house look like?

It would be a simple modern cabin in the woods with amazing views.


5. Name something you wish you had more time for.

I really enjoy making things. Having more time to create for my self and friends would be a dream. I'd also love to have some time to take horse back riding lessons and restore an Airstream trailer.

---------------

I'm going to use some of the similar "rules" as Rambling Renovators:

Tagees-

a) Post your answer to the 5 questions on your blog.
b) Ask 5 questions (can be your own or some repeats).
c) Tag a few other bloggers.
d) After you post your answers, come back and comment with a link to your post.

Questions (I'm using some repeats!)-
1. What was your inspiration to first start blogging?
2. If there was a fire in your house, and you only had time to grab 4 things (excluding your family), what would they be?
3. If you were "forced" to take on another residence would it be a houseboat, a farm estate, a city apartment, a seaside home, or a one room cabin in the woods?
4. If money was no object, what would be the next house or decor project that you would tackle be and describe!
5. Name something you wish you had more time for.

I'm tagging:
Eva at the fourth door
Elizabeth at Peacock Feathers
Sara at Russet Street Reno
the lovely Holyoke Home
Laurendy at Laurendy Home

Have fun!

Sisal Rug = Chic?

I've been trying to come up with affordable, large and hard wearing rug choices for our living/family/tv room.

All my searches led back to some sort of natural fiber rug. Then I remembered that all of Lee Kleinhelter's places always had sisal rugs. See, sisal can be chic!

Cottage Living November/December 2008







Cottage Living October 2006






Image via Design*Sponge

Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles - January 2010






Images via Pieces, Inc.

Any thoughts on natural fiber rugs? Love them or hate them?