South On Broadway Has Moved // New URL!

It has been a glorious 3 years here on my blogger platform but I am so excited to share that my site has moved over to southonbroadwayblog.com. Come and check it out! 

Make sure you update your browser, favorites list, bloglovin' feed or however you might get to my blog so you don't miss out. All my previous posts and content have moved over and now you should too.

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Thank you blogger, it has been a hell-of-a-ride navigating the blogosphere with you!



south on broadway

Big News... Blog 2.0

Hi all. I feel like I need to re-introduce myself as I have been so absent here on the blog over the past week or so. Ugh, it is all for good reason... promise.

I am super excited about today's post and the hard work that has been going on over the past few months here at south on broadway. I mentioned months ago, april to be exact, that my blog was looking to get a face lift and finally after hours, weeks and the help of many tech-savvy friends, we are ready to go live!

(a little sneak peak of my new blog design)

I have a completely new blog design to debut that should not only be a nice upgrade after 2+ years with the current design but I am also switching over my hosting platform from blogger to wordpress. My plan in upgrading my blog was three-fold, I wanted to freshen up the design of my blog but I also wanted the capability to have more control over my content and I also wanted to put in place a way to have better engagement opportunities for my readers. Hopefully you will have an easier time navigating my site, searching for specific content and engaging with me! on my new 2.0 blog which I cannot wait to launch tomorrow!!!

So, starting tomorrow my blog url will be changing. You will no longer come to this web address to access my blog and I cannot wait for your feedback on the new site. I am still working out a few little quirks but  I cannot wait to share it with all of you. 

Come back here tomorrow and I will have a direct link to the new site! Happy monday lovely readers and as always, thank you for your support of this little blog of mine :)

Backyard Renovations // Inspiration Board

From the day we bought our house back in november 2014, we were itching for the warm weather to roll in. Why you ask? Well that would be to start working on yet another, back yard project. If you are new to the blog, ryan and I completely renovated and landscaped the backyard of our last home (see here) a couple years ago which was a major 180 when all the dust settled. We are back at it for our new home and have some big plans for our yard.

My goals are not out of control or unattainable... especially with how much my husband loves to get his hands' dirty and does the majority of the work on his own. In my idyllic backyard, I would like to have...

- both an entertaining and dining area

- a shaded patio 

- lighting that will bring ambiance as the sun goes down

- privacy from our neighbors

- lots of lush greenery and some hints of color

- a modern and streamlined feel

We have already planted 10 new shrubs/trees in the yard to break up the hard lines and I also purchased this new outdoor rug which looks lovely with the patio furniture we already own. I think the biggest impact for the space will be the pergola we are getting installed to increase the shade over the patio. The design we want is a bit more modern and minimalistic which I think will really give the yard a focal point. I am then hoping to add some mood lighting, a few potted plants to break up all the raw materials and then possibly a small dining area for al fresco meals. 

I cannot wait to share the progress. In the meantime, here is the inspiration board I am working off of for my backyard renovations.

(left to right:  modern pergola with dark stain  /  navy accents with whimsical lighting  /  vertical garden  /  glimmering strung bistro lighting  /  tree trunks wrapped with lights  /  potted plants with tons of texture  /  a small but cozy dining space  /  simple but inviting pergola)

Lighting // Inspiration Board

Yesterday I shared some snaps of our main living spaces and the lighting updates we have made since moving in last november. We are loving the way our living and dining rooms now feel with our canned lighting and upgraded pendants. Additionally, the task lighting that we changed out in our kitchen is not only much more appealing to look at but the light they provide is ten-fold from the original. 

Sadly, one area we still have not tackled is the lighting in either of our bathrooms. However, I would really like to improve them because they feel very builder-grade and generic. In my ideal world, where money, dimensions and electrical costs were not a factor, I would install scones to flank each of the bathroom mirrors but sadly that is not an option. The layout in both bathrooms cannot accommodate anything more than overhead or pendant lighting as both vanities are jammed against the walls. Ugh. Not my fav but not the end of the world.

I have been rounding up some lighting options in an inspiration board that would work above both the mirrors. Currently the bathroom fixtures are all brushed nickel but I love the brass trend that is everywhere on blogs and pinterest. When we decide to pull the trigger on lighting, my guess is it will be one of the following options.

(left to right: 1 lamps plus  /  2 schoolhouse electric  /  3  shades of light  /  4 cedar and moss /  5  all modern  /  6 all modern  /  7 lamps plus  /  8 lamps plus  /  9 schoolhouse electric  /  10 shades of light  /  ll crate and barrel  /  12 lamps plus  /  13 shades of light  /  14 shades of light  /  15 ikea)

Which ones do you like? I would love your opinions on what lighting strikes your fancy!

Housing Update // Lighting

Lighting is everything. It can make or break a photograph, completely update a room or change the perspective on nearly anything. Ryan and I have been in our new home for 6 months now (say what!?!?!) and I just realized that I have yet to share any details about it. 

(before: crate and barrel chandelier  /  after: west elm 5 jar chandelier)

The house we purchased was built in 1958 and has all the charm we adore… gorgeous built-ins, high baseboards, decorative accents and cove ceilings. Lucky for us, the seller kept all these awesome details but flipped the interior to include all the modern amenities of a new home. Essentially we have a brand new house within the footprint and exterior walls of the original structure. It has been awesome bringing in our belongings while also purchasing some new pieces to make this place feel like 'us'. However, one thing the seller did not put as much detail into was the lighting.

(before: ikea ceiling drum)

From the get-go, we knew that lighting would be a top priority after moving in. We had not even finished unpacking and I was already surfing the interwebs, scrolling pinterest and stopping into shops around town looking for inspiration. Now, don't get me wrong, the light fixtures in the house were not terrible or even dated, they just screamed 'big box store' and 'not our style'. Over the past several months, we have been working our way through the house, updating many of the light fixtures to not only improve the rooms visually, but to also install options which would provide better lighting overall.

(before: home depot brushed nickle mini pendant  /  after: west elm industrial pendant)

The updated lighting has made a vast improvement and we are both quite happy with the results. We are still working on plans for our 2 bathrooms which I will share inspiration boards for in tomorrow's post. Come back here tomorrow to see where we are at and maybe even weigh in on what lighting options you like best. 

Blogging Updates

This little blog of mine has been alive and kicking for 3 1/2 years now which is a little crazy (and a lot bit exciting!) to think about. My corner of the internet has been a labor of love that has honestly, given back to me ten times what I have probably written and created for you. 

South on broadway's inception came from my personal lack of focus and inspiration; I was at a low point with my job, wanting to find an activity or hobby to pour myself into and truly, just needed a change. My best friend beth got me into reading blogs right around this time and I fell in love, hard. I was inspired and could not get enough. Before I knew it, I was registering for a blogger account and spending countless hours trying to find my voice, writing content and creating a place that felt like me. 

(my blog header through the years... the bottom one is a sneak peak at some of the things I am working on currently)

Over the last 3 1/2 years I have had 2 site updates, written nearly 1,000 posts and have learned a lot through trial and error. I am a long way from being proficient or even successful in the blogosphere but I am quite proud of where things have evolved to. I am actually super excited to let you all know that I have been feverishly working away on some major updates around here that I cannot wait to go live in the very near future!

I cannot give too much away just yet but there are some serious changes happening in my world so, I hope you keep visiting my site to stay up to date on the fun. 

One Kings Lane // Reflect Your Style

One kings lane recently reached out to me about their 'reflect your style campaign' and I jumped on the opportunity to partner up. If you have not heard of one kings lane... you need to visit their site and sign up; you will then have access to their online curated collections of home decor that will help you find unique and beautiful pieces for your home. I am a huge fan of the site which makes this series even more fun to be a part of.

The 'reflect your style campaign' asked bloggers across the country to create gorgeous, personalized vanities featuring a statement mirror from one kings lane's latest collection. I love classic furniture with architectural details and I am a sucker for gold accents so, I wanted my mirror, the pièce de résistance of any vanity, to add a bit of earthiness and bring balance to the over all look. 

(sconces  /  desk  /  bench  /  tray)

No vanity is complete without a collection of beauty products but if you are like me, they can get a bit disorganized. I love using old flower vases to collect my eye-shadow pods + nail lacquers; they seem to look so much more organized and appealing than when they are tossed in a drawer. I also love corralling my perfumes and accessories in pretty trays, like this etched brass tray, currently available on one kings lane. Finally, to inject a bit of personal style (fitting for a vanity), I added a couple prints to hang as a gallery wall adjacent to the vanity.  

(only print  /  looking good print  /  love print  /  kisses print)

One kings lane will be choosing a handful of bloggers to feature in their 'reflect your style campaign' on their site in the coming weeks. I will do a link up once the post goes live for all you lovely readers to check out but in the mean time, jump on over and start shopping for your home at one kings lane!

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by one kings lane, however, all opinions expressed here are my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors who allow me to continue creating new content for South on Broadway!

In Need of a Couch

This past weekend my husband and I put on our scrubbiest of garb and headed to our basement to do some organizing. 70% of our basement is finished and zero percent is used for anything but storage. For owning a 'smaller' home, it blows my mind that we under-utilize our basement to such an extent. So, in an attempt to right our wrongs, we are on a quest to get this space in functioning form.

Our main focus this weekend was the den space. When we first moved in 4 1/2 years ago, we changed out all of the lighting and painted the walls with the intention of making this our designated movie-watching area. Sadly, we never put all the pieces together and countless items have migrated to our den in a never-ending holding pattern of chaos. Amongst the home decor items that are currently out of rotation upstairs, we have a few key pieces that would work in a den; my great grandmothers antique hutch, a small white chair, an old coffee table, a 5x6' rug and a tv that puts us 1 couch away from a functioning movie-watching-zone. However, before we could even think about furniture arrangements, we needed to organize the 'stuff' that was cluttering things up.

(1  /  2  /  3  /  4  /  5  /  6  /  7  /  8  /  9  /  10)

A couple hours of reorganizing our storage space (the 30% of unfinished basement) left us with a car-full of items for donation, a few boxes of junk to throw out and a consolidated storage area. The den is now clear of all randomness and after a good scrub down, we are ready to move some furniture around and make this space usable. The downside... we do not have any form of seating to bring in. I don't want to spend a lot of money (if any) and the stairs + landing into our basement are a bit on the narrow-side, so... my options are even more minuscule. In my dream world I would bring in a modular sectional with clean lines in a neutral color. I could pile up the couch with colorful pillows that would work with the artwork we hung up last night as well. However, in reality, I am not really sure what my options could be. 

Does anyone have an idea for my seating dilemma? Or how about a gorgeous couch you would like to give me out of the kindness in your heart? Yeah, I get it, I need to get creative but any suggestions you have I would gladly take.

10 Small Ways to Improve Your Kitchen

The winter months beg for home cooked meals; slow-cooked soups, roasted dishes and savory stews that warm you up from the inside. I love staying in this time of year and cooking delicious meals while in my pj's. I feel like I test out a lot more recipes in the winter and am constantly making a mess in the process, but hey... that's part of the fun in cooking. 

I recently read a great article on the kitchn that I want to follow a bit closer to help with my kitchen's efficiency. The 10 small ways to improve your kitchen in 2014 had some great tips to stay organized, keep your tools up-to-snuff and maximizing your space. Personally, I have a decent-sized kitchen but with a horrible layout which leaves me with very little counter space and tricky storage (I guess that is part of the charm in my 1922 house). So, I am hoping these tips will calm my nerves the next time I am making an ina garten recipe that calls for chopping, sautéing, boiling and cleaning chicken all at the same time.

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1. Label your pantry jars. When the pantry becomes easier to navigate, so does your life in the kitchen.

2. Reorganize your measuring spoons. If you have more than one set of measuring spoons, don't keep them all piled up together in the drawer divider. Instead, give the teaspoons and tablespoons their own little compartment. 

3. Oil your cutting boards. Considering they're such a major workhorse in the kitchen, it's worth it to take good care of them so they last a long time.

4. Clean your knives properly. Like the cutting boards above, we wouldn't be anywhere without our knives, so it's worth learning the proper way to clean and care for them.

(via)

5. Tiny kitchen? Maximize your counter space. if you find yourself frequently frustrated by your lack of adequate countertop space, there are diy solutions to add space such as cutting board burner covers.

6. Rethink (and maybe redo) your cookware storage. Pots, pans, cookie sheets...they're essential, but they take up a lot of room. If you're not satisfied with your current storage setup, find a new solution. 

7. Light it up! Lighting makes a huge difference. You can install under-cabinet lights or just bring in a swing-arm task lamp if nothing else. 

8. Don't be a refrigerator bag lady. I'm still not perfect, but life in the kitchen is so much better when I open my fridge and see properly washed, prepped, and packaged greens and vegetables. 

9. Buy a fire extinguisher. If you haven't done this, now is the time! 

(via)

10. Pick one thing to prettify. January is a great time to do something a little special for your kitchen such as a big clock to hang over the door, a pretty tea towel, or some nice-smelling dish soap.

Click here to read the full article including links for diys and additional info to get your kitchen ready for your next big meal.

Holiday Decor // Potted Trees

I love decorating for christmas. The day after thanksgiving I am not at the mall trying to find a great black friday deal. Instead, you can find me at home, pulling out all my holiday boxes and spending a couple hours making my house feel as festive as possible. I typically try to stay within a general color scheme (gold, silver, white and hints of red) to make things feel cohesive and not like christmas is spewing out of every shelf and corner of my home. 

(inspiration and design  /  fort lapin)

(hedge in france  /  dreamy whites)

This year I would love to incorporate a small potted pine into my holiday decor. I have found a ton of great inspiration on pinterest and have become obsessed with this look. Regardless if it is a natural wood box, a porcelain pot or even a glass vase, I just know I will be adding one into my house.

(ticking and toile  /  country life)

(mokkasin  /  emma's design blog)

What do you think? Are you loving the potted pine look?

Overhaul // Linen Closet

A goal I mentioned earlier this year was to find some time to reorganize my linen closet. Luckily, just a couple weeks ago, I finally was able to check this off my list. On a sunny saturday afternoon I took my very full, disheveled and dreary linen closet and turn it into a pristine and harmonized space.

To start, I took everything out and gave the shelves a nice scrub down then whipped out my paint brush to give each shelf a fresh coat of white paint. To add a little bit of surprise, I decided to grab a can of navy paint (which was used in my office) and I added some color to the back wall of the closet. It is a subtle detail but I love the outcome.

After going through all of my towels, sheets and extra blankets, I was able to consolidate everything into 4 main bins: bed linens, kitchen towels, bathroom towels and miscellaneous. In addition, I went through my mess of medicine and got rid of everything which was expired and/or not being used. I scored some great storage solutions at homegoods which helped to make everything unified. The end result... an organized closet with some unexpected charm.

West Elm // DIY Workshop Event

Last weekend west elm opened their doors, pulled out the craft supplies and brought in local bloggers for a diy workshop. The event was inspired by erica domesek's who is a style and diy expert and author of p.s. - ... your're invited. The idea behind the workshop was to take typical home accents and make them your own by infusing them with custom design. 

(my tray, book and scissors /  all the craft supplies set out for our workshop)

In the middle of west elm's showroom, a small group of ladies crafted away, creating custom designed lacquer trays with paint, metallic washi tape and hopes of designing something special. My sister-in-law krista joined me for this workshop and we each walked away with a unique tray to accessorize our home. We had such an awesome time customizing our trays, posting pictures to instagram (#pswestelm) and checking out the new fall line in the store.

(clockwise from top left:  krista and I with our finished trays  /  my tray and book + a signed note from the author  /  krista's used her tray to display her jewels and baubles  /  here is the whole group at west elm)

You can buy your own copy of p.s. - you're invited with the link below...

this post was not sponsored by west elm; these are just my thoughts which I wanted to share with you, my lovely readers after attending a west elm event.

Major Failure // Leather Shag Rug

You might remember my post from last week about a leather shag rug I found online and fell instantly in love with. If you want, you can read the post here. Well, I swooped that rug up in a mad dash and waited impatiently for it to arrive only to find out that my online shopping success came to a screeching halt. 

Yep, it was an epic fail of a purchase from the moment I unrolled it from the packaging. Not only was the shape all whompy (technical term :)) but the construction was very poor and the leather was raw and very uncomfortable under my feet. I bought a melon.

(via) Kim is crying about my rug, just like me! 

Needless to say, the rug was rolled up and shipped out. I would love to find something else to bring texture into the room and to ultimately replace the rug I currently have. If you have any suggestions, I would love to hear them. 

Latest Obsession // Leather Shag Rug

I am a huge fan of the online sale site joss and main. They have killer discounts on home furnishings and I feel like they, more often then not, curate collections that really match the style of my home. Last week I was perusing the site and saw this leather shag rug and I became instantly obsessed. The best part, it was so reasonably priced; like not just for a smaller size but for even a 5x7'. Rugs are traditionally crazy expensive but this one was so well priced, the choice was an easy one.

(rug  /  couch  /  floor pillow  /  side table  /  coffee table  /  clock  /  drum chandelier  /  bark tray  /  accent pillows)

I pulled the trigger and purchased this rug to replace the one I currently have in my living room. It has great colors throughout, grey, white and tan and it and I think it is going to bring some much needed texture to the room. Yes, it is not the most practical rug from a cleaning standpoint but for the price, I feel like it makes up for any spills or stains that might happen down the road.

Yes this is a horrible photoshop rendition on my part but at least it gives you an idea of how awesome (I hope) the rug will look. I will take some pictures once it arrives and give you all a little update too! 

Hallway Update

I have a small 'L' shaped hallway in my home that leads to a bedroom and our only bathroom for the house.  Since the day we moved in (3 1/2 years ago) I have hated the yellow-brown-baby-poo color of the hall.  Not only was the color bad, it made this space feel even smaller and darker than it already was.

Just like the rest of my home, there is a lot of character in this space; tall baseboards, the original 1922 doors and hardware, a built-in cabinet and a chair rail.  I wanted a color that would show off these details and also add some lightness to the space.  So, I spent my sunday morning painting and I could not be happier with the results.  

(before on left, after on right:  looking into the hall from the kitchen)

 

(from corner of 'L' hallway, closet on the left, bedroom in the middle, bathroom on the right)

(closet, bedroom and bathroom view towards ceiling)

For the color, I chose behr 'vintage linen' paint and primer in one.  I love flat paint so I decided to go with that for the finish.  I also took some great advice from emily a. clark and picked up this brush for all of the cutting-in and trim work.  This brush was amazing!  I did not have to tape any of the trim work... best $5 I have spent in a long time.  

(close-up of closet and bedroom doors with the original glass doorknobs)

(view from corner of 'L' hallway, there is another hallway closets to the kitchen on the left.  lots of storage in this little hall)

(view from bathroom towards the kitchen and living space)

I do need to do a couple of touch-ups and also repaint the trim to really finish off the space but I love the before and after.  What a huge difference this lighter linen color makes in the hallway.  I am toying with the idea of taking down the framed family photo and putting up a gallery wall but that might be a bit down the road.  Until then, I am just enjoying the change.

Design // I Wish My House Was This Cool

Have you ever walked into a house and fallen in love with the design but knew that it was a bit beyond your aesthetic?  Do you wish your home could have an alter-ego where your funked-out, sultry, ultra-modern or shabby chic self could shine proud for all to see?  I sure do.  I often times wish my house was cool enough to rock some of the great tongue-and-cheek items that are in stores right now.  There is something just so fun about a bold pillow that makes you do a double take but I struggle with items like these fitting into my current home design.

(clockwise from top left:  shower curtain  /  pillow  /  rug  /  sign  /  map  /  canvases  /  pillow)

Urban outfitters has really been putting out some great stuff lately.  Last week I posted about their killer blazers and they have done it again with their home accessories. I mean seriously, is that shower curtain not the coolest?  

2012 // Wrap Up

Today I am celebrating my Inaugural Blog Anniversary and I honestly cannot believe!  In the past 365 days I have put so much time, effort, thought and myself into creating a space to share with others and document my life as I go. 

I hope my blog is a place that you, my readers enjoy visiting, that I have created compelling content to keep bringing you back and most importantly, authentically shared myself through it all.  Below are some of my favorite posts from the last year.  I also want to say thank you to my readers… this blog has been something I am truly proud of and I am grateful I have had so much support from day one. 

My 30x30 remix series

Our farmer’s dinner back in October  

Rocco’s 1^st birthday

Our backyard renovation

My adorable niece’s love of my hamburgers

R & J artwork from our wedding  

I cannot get enough of this video  

One of my favorite restaurant reviews

Mental unloads 

Thankfulness… here, here, here and here

Blog Redesign... Up and Running!

OMG today is a good day for this little blog of mine.  If you remember a few weeks back, I won a free blog redesign from Blair at Design That Inspires.  I could not be more happy with the complete overhaul that has been done to my blog and the amazing work that Blair was able to create for me.  I truly am in awe of it all.  

Thank you again Blair!

Shades of Grey

I mentioned last week that I could not wait to share a home improvement project that was in the works.  Well, the project is complete and I am happy to reveal the new paint color of our living and dining rooms.  

(before:  cove ceiling  /  view from living room into dining)

(before:  living room  /  dining room)

Since we moved into our house 3 years ago, I have been itching to update the color of of these rooms.  I did like the coziness that the buttery-mustard-beige-brown color gave to the rooms but it just never felt like it matched our style.  

(after:  cove ceiling  /  living room)

(after:  living room  /  dining room)

We picked out a light grey that we thought would pop with our white trim.  After a couple coats and some meticulous time spent on the latter hand-painting the cove ceilings,  I am quite happy with the results.  The rooms feel bright and open and somewhat larger because of the lighter color.    Depending on the time of day the grey takes on different shades which is something I really enjoy.  Now, I just need to update a couple of our accessories to finish things off but you know... all in good time.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

I have some of the most fabulous news that I am so fortunate to share.  Blair from Design That Inspires chose me as the winner of a complimentary custom blog re-design!  

I have only been blogging for eleven months now (wow... that is actually quite some time now that I think of it) but I have been realizing there are quite a few changes I would like to make to this little blog I have.  

I cannot wait to see what Blair is able to create and to launch my new blog design sometime soon.  I am sure it is going to be fabulous as her work is amazing.  You should go check out her portfolio to see all the great work she has created.  They are definitely making the internet look better, one website at a time! 

OMG... I just cannot quit smiling because I am so excited!