Pearls Poppies Pinkies Up: rugs

One thing I will always regret: passing up the opportunity to buy a large textile on our travels to Peru this past winter. My suitcase space was limited, as it always is at the end of travels-- and although I did bring home a scarf made from hand dyed alpaca wool and two very unique textile headwraps, a little piece of my heart sighs every time I see Peruvian textiles in home design. Yes, *sigh*. How I would have loved to bring a patterned rug, throw, or even a piece large enough for a wall hanging back home with me. C'este la vie! I suppose a trip back to Machu Pichu will have to happen again. The artisan markets were heaven by the way. I could spend a whole months worth of a trip purely hiking Inca ruins and digging through textiles (you can read more about that trip at Darling Magazine online- HERE).

Mix and match comes with the territory of bargain hunting. My style really is a collection of lucky sale finds at otherwise pricey stores like Pottery Barn and Anthropologie, mixed with inexpensive yet classic finds from Ikea, garage sale hunting, craigslist, thrifting, Ross, and Home Goods. Whenever we travel I like to pick up something for our home, adding something functional and unique. We do have some really nice things we got as wedding gifts too, and those things are special because each time I use them I think of the person who gifted it. The kitchen is a perfect example of mixing and matching, taking what you already have, and coming up with cute ways to arrange and set everything up. Pinterest has a way of making me want to start from scratch and do a whole new design and color feel, but I like to challenge myself to figure out ways to use what I already have, or DIY it for cheap, and style on a dime. Our kitchen doesn't have one set color theme, because it is a collection of things from the past to now (Yes, I even thrifted for house items before I had my own home....you should ask my mom about the closet situation I had during my teen to young college years. At one point there may have been lamps, artwork, kitchenware, and linens stored up in there. Dowry? Hope chest? Quite possibly my version). This kitchen has already doubled as my project area and makeshift dance studio. It is also our dining area for when we have guests. I spend a lot of time in this room, so I want it to feel pretty, bright, yet functional. It is so much bigger than my last kitchen! (disclaimer: lots of photos in this one.)

Mexican hutch: Garage sale

Soon to be made over stools: Craigslist

Cushions: Home Goods

Rug: $10, Urban Outfitters Sale

Antique cake pedistool: Wedding gift from Caitlin

Match stick cup: $2 votive from Anthropologie, diy

Spoon rest: Find from our Mexican travels

Egg timer and Russian doll cups: Anthropologie gifts

Dog treat containers: Thrifted jars and diy paint touches

Cork Board assembly and inspiration here.

Table with expandable leaf, Chairs, cushions, step stool: Trusty Ikea (I'm in need of a fitting table cloth or runner, and that stool could use some sprucing up!)

That fish bottle opener I found, yet again, on sale at Anthro. I gave it to Matt for Christmas one year and it is maybe one of my favorite things in the kitchen.

Repurposed pottery made by Matt, and Ikea.

Anthropologie Pure and Good Hand Duo (gift, but I would have splurged, because you can refill it with inexpensive soap and lotion. Money saver in the long run.)

Turtles: From my grandmother