it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Got to wake up to a winter wonderland on Saturday morning. I suppose we can put the PS Ikea chairs away for the season (ya think?). I spent most of the weekend getting my ornaments ready for the tree. Last year it was decorated in an orange theme so I had to change all the ribbons on the ornaments to this year's color - grey and silver.

Vorstadt 14

If I ever make it to Zug, Switzerland, I am definitely staying here! I have seen this seriously stunning room on many, many blogs. I just saw it again recently at Merchant_4.

Oh look, there's an Arne Jacobsen AJ floor lamp taunting me. Someday. Someday soon would be even better.

about this room...
Located in the town of Zug, Switzerland at Vorstadt 14.
Originally a 15th century private residence - now a beautifully renovated hotel. It consists of only three units that they call: FACE, BRAIN and SOUL. SOUL (pictured) is the jaw-dropping penthouse and for me, really the best room of the entire hotel. BRAIN is the business suite which can be rented for several days or weeks. FACE is available for banquets, cocktail parties and other social events.

daily icon posted about it here too.

I love this

hotcoffeemodern.blogspot.com

five for friday

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

one year later

Today is my blog's one year anniversary!

I think I've stayed true to my very first post...

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

welcome to HousePet

It's true... I will never join facebook. This is going to be my way of sharing creative and inspiring ideas, crafty projects we're working on, pictures of Lottie, and various ramblings of all sorts. Welcome to HousePet!


I never thought that people I did not know in real life would read this blog. And boy was I wrong. It turns out that the majority of people that read HousePet are complete strangers. Some have left comments and introduced themselves while others in far away countries continue to lurk annonomously everyday... yes I do look at my stats! Does it freak me out? Yeah, a little. However I think I'm more bummed that some of my real life friends didn't catch on to the whole blog thing.

Throughout the year I stumbled across some great bloggers that are truly inspiring, funny, and full of creative DIY. And I found so many blogs that are full of inspiring photos, drool-worthy furniture and architecture, and brilliant design ideas. I reconnected with one of my dearest friends from way back through this blog and now have her back in my real life as well as through her blog. That in itself makes this whole thing worthwhile!

HousePet gave me the perfect reason to sit down and learn how to use our new camera and I think I've become a slightly better photographer along the way. At 40 I'm still trying to keep up with the kids and even started a second blog on tumblr. I know - crazy! It's amazing for a person like me who is so unskilled with computers and doesn't have photoshop!

2010 was a good shopping year for me at Etsy. I really enjoyed posting photos of my treasures here as well as giving props to the sellers. I do love to spread the word about the good humans amongst us and I was lucky to have had so many positive Etsy transactions. I also met some awesome local vintage sellers (Flatout Design and Hot Coffee!) this year. Ok, maybe they just met Mark in real life but I hope that changes in 2011.

It was fun to share our patio renovation here. Hopefully it inspired someone to work super hard to make their own yard look better :) In case you couldn't tell from the photos, this past summer I was on the shovelling rock and BudLite Lime diet and workout routine. This winter we plan to finish the basement reno and you guessed it, every step will be documented here.

I've enjoyed my first year of blogging and I'm looking forward to 2011. For the last couple of months, I've been thinking about making HousePet a private "invite only" type of blog however for every pro there is a con and I'm really on the fence. Do you have any thoughts on private blogs?

I could vacation here (in the summer)

Juvet Landscape Hotel

Located in Burtigard, Gudbrandsjuvet, Norway
Designed by Jensen and Skoven Architects

living room: changing things up

before...


and now after I moved some things around...





With all the same furnishings, how different can it really be!! I had the couch this way for the first couple of years that we lived here. Then I moved the couch in front of the window and it stayed there for 3 years. I liked the furniture the way it was but 3 years is a long time and I was bored with it! I'm still messing around in there but this is basically the new configuration. Lottie doesn't want to sit on the couch in its new location so I can probably lose the cheap ikea throw blanket. Or get a nicer one that I could actually use. I also think I want less orange stuff in the room... the chair and the big orange painting are enough. Some things on the mantle might have to change soon too. I definitely need new fireplace tools. We've had that log holder for about 6 or 7 years and it could be time for something different. I'll be adding a Christmas tree to the mix in about a week so I might have to put my complete living room make-over on hold until after the holidays.

Lottie update... she is now napping on both the couch and the orange chair. She just needed a couple of weeks to assimilate.

problem area...


Now I'm on the hunt for a small credenza to put in the entry way. I love these...


credenza photos from Amsterdam Modern