Cool Ceiling Solutions: Armstrong Residential Ceilings

**Please note: This is a sponsored post paid for by Armstrong Residential Ceilings.  All opinions about how cool the product looks are my own.**

Ever see a room like the one below that has vast potential but is in need of a major pick-me-up? As in this case, perhaps the ceiling of a formerly beautiful space has suffered from water damage.  Or, perhaps you move into a house with a dreaded drop ceiling in the basement and you desperately need a basement ceiling solution.

Armstrong - the renowned name behind the popular residential and commercial flooring lines - has recently released a residential ceiling line with a wide variety of attractive, affordable, and easy-to-install ceiling and backsplash solutions for homeowners.

You may ask, so how could Armstrong Residential Ceilings help me fix a ceiling problem like the one shown in the photo above?  Here's how...with a ceiling solution just like the one shown below.

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Wouldn't a coffered ceiling similar to the one installed in this gorgeous kitchen be the perfect solution for the formal office space featured above?  It's called the Easy Elegance Coffer Ceiling - made up of 24"x24" ceiling tiles installed in a standard ceiling suspension system/grid.

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It would take the office from dowdy and drab to sophisticated and chic, providing great architectural detail that adds such character to the space.  The coffered look would also look divine in a formal dining or living space.  I just love the charm it adds to any space!

If you like the coffered look but are feeling a little more bold and/or appreciate a more modern look, you could opt to install Armstrong's Easy Elegance Coffer Ceiling tiles in black as shown in the dramatic formal living space below.

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Isn't it fabulous?  It would also look great in the above office - it's a far more daring choice but I absolutely love it.

Depending on your needs and style preferences, Armstrong also offers tin backsplash options, wood ceiling options, and beadboard ceiling options...all of which are easy to install like the coffered tiles I showcased above.

After being introduced to Armstrong Residential Ceilings, I'm officially planning ahead for a few ceiling projects in the next home I own...whenever that may be.

Come Fly Away with Me Nursery Reveal!

Hi Friends!  We're back from our trip and I'm more than excited to share our European travel adventures with you, but before I delve into that later this week, I wanted to show you an (almost complete) nursery reveal that I've been working on with my dear friend for the last few months.

Here's what our room Inspiration Board looked like:

We used the Inspiration Board as a blueprint for the direction of the room.  It kept us focused on the right colors, accessories, fabrics, prints, etc. while we were shopping and crafting for the room.  It was such a handy tool to keep us on track - I highly recommend one if you are thinking about decorating a room.  {Click here} for more info on a personalized Inspiration Board for your space!

Without further ado, here is the room BEFORE:

And, here it is AFTER:

(bedding from Land of Nod, prints by Gathered Nest Designs on Etsy, rug from Target)

(pillows, side table, shelf and bin from Homegoods, curtains from West Elm, pouf from Pier1)

(I love the DIY paper flag garland above the dresser!)

(lamp from Target, white lace-top bowl from Ikea, cage chalk board and birds from Homegoods)

(dresser is vintage, spray painted Satin Gray by Krylon Fusion)

(dresser pulls on top drawers made from braided lace trim between polka dot knobs from Groupdealz)

(pouf from Pier1, side table and pillows from Homegoods, rocking bird from West Elm, mirror is vintage)

(shelf and accessories from Homegoods, gray window frame is vintage)

(chandelier from Ikea)

(bedding from Land of Nod, rug from Target, pouf from Pier1)

(prints by Gathered Nest Designs on Etsy, fixed-up version of bird cage mobile from Ikea, paper poufs from A.C. Moore)

(curtains from West Elm, lamp and pictures from Homegoods)

(pouf from Pier1, rug from Target)

We have just one more project to get done - a DIY bird mobile similar to the one pictured on the inspiration board shown at the top of the post.  A friend painstakingly made the sweet little birds for us by hand, so we look forward to it coming together (and hope to share with you soon!).  Hope you enjoy the nursery as much as we do!  It's almost as beautiful as little Emery Rose...

A Neutral Bath

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Isn't that photo like a breath of fresh air?  (yes, I know it's a bathroom - ha ha ha - but stick with me)

It's from an amazing home that belongs to D.C.-based interior designer Lauren Liess who happens to have an amazing blog as well.  Everything is so textured and tasteful, neutral but not at all bland.  I would like to give her a call if I ever built my own home...

Here's why I like it so much:

1) Those sconces  - Love the chain pulls, the brass with the black, the contemporary shade on the more traditional fixture...the scale is perfect for making them a true statement in the bathroom

2) The vanity - The vintage look of the weather-worn dresser with antique cup pulls, and all as a vanity??  Crazy good.

3) The mirror - I admittedly have a thing for simple mirrors with metal edges, and I love that this one is rectangular but with rounded corners.

4) The wall-mount faucet - The perfect mix of old and new...the faucet itself looks vintage but the way it's been mounted from a white stone (marble??) backslash is so modern and cool.

5) The tile - The white classic subway tiles with dark grout in the shower, check!!  Dark slate subway tiles on the floor, check check!

6) The herringbone rug - I don't think I will ever tire of a classic herringbone pattern, especially in black and cream.

7) The stool - nothing adds texture to a simple neutral bath more than a well-placed vintage wood stool.  The patina adds such authenticity to the design.

What about you...do you like this bathroom as much as I do?  What are your favorite features?

If you think the bathroom looks good, you should see the kitchen before & after.  It will make you want a full house tour.  Lauren has mad skills!

Ikea Play Kitchen and Table/Chairs Upcycle

A sweet friend of mine did an amazing up-cycle of two basic Ikea pieces for her daughter's first birthday.  So, I simply had to ask her if I could share them with you!  Here they are:

First, she took the basic Ikea DUKTIG Mini-kitchen and transformed it into a colorful and unique custom kitchen with some paint and fabric.

Then she decked out an Ikea LATT Children's Table and Chairs to create the perfect dining set to match the ever-so-cute kitchen.

Aren't they adorable?  They're inspiring me to do some sort of up-cycle project this spring.  Well done Cristina!!

Adding a little "LOVE"

See something new in our master bedroom??

I'll give you a clue if you didn't pick up on the "LOVE" in the post title...it sort of mimics the motif of our heart art on the other side of the room.  (In both color and theme)

There it is.  Under the lovely wedding photo of the dashing young couple...which was taken almost 8 years ago!!

I downloaded the "LOVE" print (for free!) from one of my favorite blogs - Sarah M. Dorsey Designs.  Sarah is super talented and sorta famous, at least as far as I'm concerned, because she won Creating With the Stars last year.  For those of you who don't know what that is...it's an annual DIY contest sponsored by another great blog - East Coast Creative.  Essentially it's a gauntlet of projects that select few bloggers go through each year to determine who is the most creative of them all!  They win prizes and such, but even more important, they earn major recognition in the DIY blog world.

If you'd like to download this free printable from Sarah's blog, you can find it {here}.  Thank you Sarah for your generosity in sharing free printable with us and for adding some more beautiful coral hues to our master bedroom!

And We're Off!!

It's hard to believe that by the time many of you read this post, we'll be in Paris!  For the next two weeks, we'll be in Europe to explore a few countries and visit some dear friends who live in Germany and will be serving as our resident tour guides.  It's like a dream come true!

I look forward to sharing our travel photos and details with you upon our return, but in the mean time check out some of the places we're planning to visit while we're there.

Paris, France...

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Brussels, Belgium...

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Bruges, Belgium...

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Dusseldorf, Germany...

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Aachen, Germany...

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Amsterdam, Netherlands...

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Dublin, Ireland...

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Wicklow Mountains National Park, Ireland...

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We're a little excited to say the least!  This should be the trip of a lifetime and we're so very blessed to get to do this as a family.  

There will be a few posts while I'm gone, but I'll be back to share more with you soon.  Until then...

Easy Homemade Chicken Pot Pie

I found this recipe for Chicken Pot Pie in an AllRecipes.com mailer/advertisement, and it had me at "pot pie".  To be honest, I've never met a pot pie that I didn't love.  I had never tried making my own mainly because there are so many good pre-made pot pie options like Marie Calendar's frozen pot pies, Costco's "handmade" refrigerated pot pies, etc.  To be super honest, pot pies just always seemed to be too tedious to make at home.  Until now... (enter angels singing a heavenly chorus)

This is so good, you could totally make it for guests and get a standing ovation (if you have guests like that...)

Ingredients:
1 lb boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2" cubes
1 cup thinly sliced carrots
1 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/3 cup chopped onion
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp celery seed
1 3/4 cup chicken broth
2/3 cup milk
2 unbaked frozen pie crusts, placed in refrigerator overnight to defrost (or you can make your own crust if you're hard core)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

2. In large saucepan, combine chicken, carrots, peas, and celery.  Add warm water to cover and boil for 10-15 min (until chicken cooked through).  Remove from heat, drain, and set aside. (Note: I prepared this the day before and just refrigerated it until the next day to save some prep time)

3. In same saucepan, over medium heat, cook onion in butter until soft and translucent.  Stir in flour, salt, pepper, and celery seed.  Then slowly stir in chicken broth and milk - alternating liquids until their both all in.  Simmer over medium-low heat, stirring very frequently, until thick.  Remove from heat and set aside.

4. Place 1 pie crust in a pie plate (I kept my bottom crust in the foil pie pan that it came in, but placed that inside a glass pie plate to prevent overflow) and spoon chicken mixture from step 2 into it.  Then pour hot broth mixture from step 3 over the filling.  Cover with second pie crust, inverted on top of the pie.  Seal crust edges by pressing down around the pie with your fingers.  (You may cut away any extra crust, but I piled my pie high with filling so the entire second pie crust was needed)

5. Make several small slits in the top of the pie to allow steam to escape.  Place pie plate on baking sheet to prevent overflow, then bake in preheated oven for 30-35 min or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly.

6. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.  Slice in and enjoy!

 Never looks as pretty as I'd like it to on the plate, but dang it tastes so good!

Let me know what you think of this recipe if you decide to give it a whirl.  It definitely deserves the 5-star review it has from AllRecipes.com.  It seems to be pretty fail-safe too.  (knock on wood for next time...)

Splurge vs. Save: Pretty Plates Edition

For those of you serving an Easter meal this weekend, how about some pretty springtime plates to wow your guests?  I've seen the trend of dipped plates all over the place this season, and I can't help but love their simple but graphic and colorful look.

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Wouldn't they be beautiful paired with white dishes and serving pieces?  If you go for the "save" version make sure to find a Bed, Bath, & Beyond coupon online or laying around...they even take expired ones!!

Ever Have One of Those Days?

(Free Printable via here!)

Well, instead of blogging during my little one's nap today, I took a nap with her.  Not my plan, but we both totally needed it...she was exhausted from skipping a nap yesterday and I was exhausted from dealing with a tired toddler. What can I say?  The nap was a win-win situation!

Hope you all have a happy weekend!  We'll be enjoying some spring sunshine and warmer temps FINALLY...I hope.