Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!

(pretend hits-pretend microphone) Is this thing on?

After months of being away and focusing solely on a little something called a wedding... I'm back! And excited to share everything that has been going on! what was Casa almost-Berlin is now officially Casa Berlin! Yahoo!

So many cool and exciting things to go over!! Wedding and honeymoon deets... a new puppy... continued improvements on our house, the holidays, and a really cool announcement about our wedding!! I can't wait!!

Until tomorrow peeps!

xoxo

Silvia Berlin (yay!!)

Oh Happy Days Are Here Again!

Internet the big day is October 22! Do you want me to start my married life happy as a clam, eating insane amounts of cheese, croisants and drinking gallons of champagne? If so, don't enter the Paris giveaway going on at Oh Happy Day.

 If you don't give a flying rat's ass about my marital happiness then enter here!

* Photo from here

Flipping Out

Until today, Ryan Brown was known to me only as Jeff's ex on Flipping Out. Well internet, it turns out he's nabed his own show on TLC and I stumbled upon these photos of his house from a story the LA Times ran in 2009.

I love his mix of different styles. His house looks comfortable and lived in. Something I aspire for in my own home. I love the elevated dinning room and the nautical touches throughout. The use of textures... (his daughter would go perfectly in my house too!)

The bead board ceilings... the dark hardwoods... sigh...

It's perfect.

You can visit his online store here
and his professional design company here

You can see the rest of his home here.

ummmmm.... Busy much?

*Photos via LA Times

TGIF: Blogger Sucks/ Mother's Day Table Setting

Awesome. Blogger deleted my inspirational (to me) post from Wednesaday.

I am really over blogger right now but equally ready for the weekend.

We plan on working on our front yard, hooray! I'll post photos as soon as that yard is worthy of them.

For now, enjoy a few poorly taken pictures of my table setting for the mother's day lunch we hosted on Sunday. I made the runners with outdoor fabric that was on sale at Joanns (a HUGE accomplishment for me as I'm not only left-handed and unable to cut in a straight line but I also can't sew and apparently I have a hard time ironing), the sea stars, shells, driftwood and capiz I've collected over the years, the iceberg roses are from our front yard and the hanging paper flowers are Martha Stewart (they were my favorite part of the day.) Btw, the table and benches were made by Bryan the day before- we still need to distress them a bit and apply a light stain/poly and they'll be all set to go!

Happy Friday!

* Photos via Bryan's iPhone

A Year Ago Today

A year ago today I posted this: (You can see that post here)

I am happy to report that there are a lot of great changes and things I have done that I am glad I did. I am happier and healthier. I have allowed my creative juices to flow, through this blog and in life. I changed carriers and have allowed myself the oportunity to want yet a different one. I am engaged to an amazing man that grills the best steaks I've ever eaten and knows just how to turn my frowns into smiles. We've purchased our first house, which is slowly turning into our lovely home. We will be getting married this year and embarking on the next stages of our lives together. It's been great.

 So, the question remains: A year from now what will I wish I had done today?

Slacker Much?

Forgive me internet for the neglect to my little blog. With all of the work on the new house, hosting little get-togethers with our friends and family and continued procrastination on our upcoming wedding things have just been a little out of hand. But... I'm back! Ooohhh... before I forget, I'm planning on going to design school. It's a little tough because I have to hold a fulltime job to be able to do the aforementioned things but I couldn't be more excited! This has always been a dream of mine... well, dream no more! :) More info on that as soon as I stop that procrastinating too!

Ta ta until tomorrow!

TGIF: Time for Family

It's forecasted to be 80 degrees + in San Clemente this weekend so... we will be having our first little family BBQ on Sunday. Our parents and Bryan's grandpa will be in the house and we're super excited. Saturday will be spent finishing the ceiling paint in the master and installing crown moulding throughout the house (we [read: Bryan] will be installing it himself... positive thoughts his way please!) I am really excited for everyone to see how far we've come in three short weeks.

Happy sunny weekend internet!

* Gratuitous photo of my beasties via my iPhone

A Kitchen in Progress

We've been hard at work on our house for about three weeks and we're slowly but surely seeing it transform into our home. Remember this photo from this post?

With a little time (2 weeks) and a little paint (1 million gallons) we've gone from the above to the below. We primed and painted the cabinets ( Killz Latex Primer and Valspar Bistro White), we installed new hardware and hinges, we removed the drop down flourescent lighting that used to be in the center of the kitchen and installed recessed lighting, we added the pendant over the sink. We've also painted the walls in the house (not pictured... I'll post an updated photo soon!)

We still have a ways to go, we'd like to pour cement counters in the near future, and change out the white appliances for stainless steel and in the more distant future we'll install hardwood floors throughout. But for now... this kitchen really makes me smile. Btw, how awesome is our fridge?!?!

A Place to Rest Your Head

Good lord internet we have been busy bees at the new Casa Berlin! Betweeen sanding and painting, and painting and painting and building new matles and chimney sweep appointments (does anyone else go into 'Chim Chimney' from Marry Poppins anytime chimney sweep is uttered? Oh. Just me?) I have had little time for anything else.

We are finally to a point where we can focus a little of our (read: MY) attention to decorating our new pad. This photo instantly struck me. I love white bedding, sparse furnishing ( in the bedroom), the pillows and the Imperial Trellis pattern on the panels. I'm in love.

*Image from La Dolce Vita via Jennifer Dyer

Blood Sweat and Tears

We have had the keys to our new abode for 10 days and a lot of work (refer to post title above) has already gone into that money pit. I have single handedly been working on giving the kitchen a 'lunch-hour facelift' [A ten-day lunch hour!] (one that doesn't require major surgery or major bucks.) I have done a lot of sanding, a lot of priming and the painting continues. All in all though, it's worth it. We spent our first night in the house on Saturday and it already feels like home. A sneak peak at what I've been working on:

Ok, the inside of the cabinets look green... but they're gray I promise! More to come!

For Japan With Love.

One day of scilence in memorium of the thousands that have lost their lives, families and homes.
 Donate here:  http://www.forjapanwithlove.com/



Supersize Me

Does anyone else love the big lamg and HUGE print in this room? Because I do! I do!

*Photo via House Beautiful

How Bad Can That Be?

I love to cook. I love a bright clean and nicely appointed kitchen where everything has and is in its place. Its no secret around Casa Berlin that I also love Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa. Everything about her, from her delicious foods to her perfect gardens (and that kitchen!) are my dream. I am really excited and antsy for the weekend to get here so that we can get to work on the new place. I want to chanell as much as I can of this in my new kitchen:

*Photos via House Beautiful

TGIF: A Great Weekend Ahead

We are closing on our new house today. It's exciting and a little nerve wracking but I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm excited to celebrate this new chapter in our lives with a great glass of wine tonight and am anxious and ready to dive into all of the plans we have for making our new house into our home.

Home is Where the Heart Is

Happy Weekend!

* Photo via Flickr

The Brightest Bulb

We are going to install a pendant over the kitchen sink. That much has been decided. Here are two fixtures out of hundreds that we've green lighted. We're obviously hard to please. Too hard?

Calhoun Glass Pendent $149.00 Pottery Barn
Kichler Lighting 2713 $108.00 Lighting Universe

Pillows Pillows Everywhere

I love throw pillows. On my bed, on my couch and on chairs. It's a great way to bring color and whimsy into any room.

From top to bottom:

Bijou- Dots $34.00 West Elm
Love Felt Pillow $38.00 Etsy
Pod Pillow $164.00-194.00 2Modern
 Hoot Pillow $25.00 CB2 ( no longer available) Damn!
Stewart the Owl $40.00 Etsy

C-Ment

Tons of ideas have been thrown around regarding inexpensive fixes for our new house. Last night we decided that cement countertops in the kitchen will be a cool ( and DIY) way to update our house asap. We're thinking something like this:

Our floors are terracotta tiles but we will paint the cabinets white and install hardware just like the ones in this photo (although we may go with a brushed stainless steel.) Yay? Nay?

*Photo via modern-decors.com

A Place to Relax

I want to be outside today, sitting in a comfy chair, with a chenille throw wrapped around me enjoying a good book and a glass of iced tea. These places will do.

* Photos via Architectural Digest and Lonny

TGIF: Come On In

Since we're certain we will be closing escrow on this house I thought it would be beyond embarissing fun to post the photos from the MLS that depict how it actually looks right now. All of the negatives aside, I am in love and I can't wait to make it my own. We'll be making a few changes to the place before we move just to update it enough to be able to live in it.  New paint throughout and new paint (and hardware) for all of the cabinets. We'll be removing all of the ceiling fans and installing can lights and crown moulding. Slowly, over the course of the next few years we will really tackle large remodeling projects like rehauling the kitchen and expanding the master bath, replacing all of the windows/sliders, building a jacuzzi in the courtyard and terracing the back slope. In the mean time, lets take a minute to peruse our new house.



Front courtyard



Living Room



Kitchen



Kitchen



Master Bedroom

Master Bath

2nd bedroom

3rd Bedroom



Guest Bath

Back Patio



Gratuitous View of the 11th hole!



Happy Weekend!

Dreaming of Wood

Our new house has standard 8 foot ceilings so we can't get too crazy but we're thinking we may install reclaimed wood planks on the ceiling in the master bedroom ( much like the first photo below.) However, I'm a little concerned that the addition of the planks will make the room feel small and claustrophobic. What are your thoughts?

* Photos Via: Interiorsdesign.tk, Charleston Home Magazine and stagetecture.com

Cocktails Anyone?

There is nothing I like more than  an adult beverage or two when I get home from work (you can see where we enjoy our cocktails now.) We currently keep bottles of vodka, rum and tequila in our freezer, just like our old college days. But now that I'm not afraid of my parents seeing bottles of booze in my house I want to showcase them in style. When I saw Emily's (of Cupcakes and Cashmere fame) industrial flea market find I knew I had to have one.

Not to stuffy but totally inviting! I'm now on the hunt for one of these used carts!

* Photos via Cupcakes and Cashmere