Exterior Paint Inspiration

When Zach and I were on the home hunt, we knew we wanted to paint our future home gray. After inspections, we decided it need a few exterior repairs and therefore a paint job as well. So, that giaaaaaant project got moved up to this summer…asap. Days of prep….days, I’m telling ya. Then 3 solid days of manual labor…thank God for my father, who can do anything to a home that needs to happen. And randomly (or not if you know my family) had a spray paint machine. Alas, we saved a boat load of $$ and it was our first foray into home-ownereship. WOAH. Good thing we love the color because we ain’t doing that again! (But seriously, if you semi know what you’re doing, you can do it yourself!)

Back to the fun stuff. Pinterest, as usual, came to the rescue for inspiration.

We have an adorable bright red screen door that is going to get a fresh paint job as well. I wish I could remember where my inspiration for a high gloss black door came from, but here is a great photo of what the front & inside of our door will look like shortly (if all goes as planned this weekend)!

I’ll be back shortly with before photos of our house & paint samples! Can’t wait to share the afters…it looks like an entirely different home and truly feels like “ours” now.

Happy Wednesday!

Carpe Diem,

Mandy

Images via Pinterest 

Gettin’ Cozy.

Happy Valentine’s Day, friends!

Last weekend was spent in South Lake Tahoe mostly on the mountain, but equally as much cozied in front of our big fireplace. Since then, I’ve continued to crave the simple life of huddling up in front of a fireplace where your main priority is to do nothing at all. With good company. With a good glass of wine or a big cup of tea. Something about a fireplace takes me back to the simple, truly enjoyable things in life, away from being sucked into our smart phones, constantly needing to be in the loop.

I’ve rounded up some of my favorite fireplaces that I would happily plop in front of any day!

Clearly, I am drawn to crisp whites with natural elements such as brick, concrete and a rustic woods. I couldn’t resist sharing these two colorful fireplaces as well:

I love the use of colorful, bold tile in an otherwise traditional white setting. The Saguaro Hotel in Palm Springs is on my list of hotels to see, this fireplace being just a tiny glimpse of the color explosion that is the hotel. Not only is this fireplace chic, modern and invigorating, it’s also outdoors. Major bonus!

Who’s ready to spend Valentine’s day cuddled up in front of one of these babies? I am!

Hug those you love extra close today. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Carpe Diem,

Mandy

Images 1/2/3-anyone know?/4/5/6

Chandeliers

I know outdoor chandeliers are no new concept, but ever since I’ve started dreaming and scheming for a girlfriends outdoor vineyard wedding this summer, I’ve become slightly obsessed with the idea. The drama! The flair! The light!

I simply love the idea for events, but I also love the idea for dressing up a backyard too. As we’ve been on the house hunt, I will soon have my very own back yard for the first time e-v-e-r. I’m thinking it might need a chandelier. Let’s see if I can convince the Mr. on that one though!

This Ikea chandelier could do the trick. It is also ideal for outside because well, it’s 40 bucks and really won’t last more than one summer, let alone one impromptu rain storm. Here’s what I’m going for (I’ll take the house too…)

What do you think? Am I crazy? In my opinion, chandeliers are always a good idea. Champagne too.

Happy Thursday!

Carpe Diem,

Mandy

Image 1/2/3/4/5

High Point Market

Friends, I am leaving for High Point Market on Sunday. Words can not express how pumped I am to be attending the nations largest furniture mart for a buying trip.

As in, this is how **seriously stoked** I am….

LET’S DO THIS! Shopping is my cardio….

Hopefully I look like this….instead of the first-timer youngin’ that I truly am…

And this will be me by the end of the trip….

Follow us @vanillawood on Twitter (#hpmkt), Instagram and Facebook for daily updates! I’ll be back to the blog soon with lots of eye candy from High Point!

Carpe Diem,

Mandy

PS. Follow TrotterPup on Instgram for more photos of the precious pup above. It’ll surely brighten your day.

Fallin’ for Fall

I thought summer was busy, until September went by in the blink of an eye. Happy October everyone! We are quickly approaching my favorite season, despite the Indian Summer we’re having here in PDX. But, because of this wonderful weather we’re experiencing, I am still crossing items off my Summer To Do List!

Enjoy some fall inspiration today! I’m looking forward to cozy nights in, crisp sunny mornings and eating anything & everything with pumpkin in it. What about you?

Carpe Diem,

Mandy

Images: 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8

Lonny Mag: June/July 2012

Has everyone seen the new issue of Lonny magazine that just launched this week? After a brief sabbatical last year, I am so glad Lonny is back in action. As the industry’s leading interiors online magazine, it is always chock full of gorgeous homes. This 229 page issue is no different. These are a few of my favorite snapshots ranging from gorgeous tunics from Sheridan French to stunning Hampton vacation homes to luxurious international hotels to a home tour with Chance founder, Julia Leach. Plus an interview with Estee Stanley & Justin Timberlake about StyleMint. AND the list goes on from there.

Check it out here for oodles of inspiration. Prepare to drool.

Carpe Diem,

Mandy

Orange-licious

Ever since I was little & found out my older sister’s favorite color was orange, I immediately declared it mine too. It hasn’t really changed since then. I love how vibrant & positive this color is.

I dream of having an insanely bright room in my home someday.

By now, it’s obvious I love everything that House of Lolo carries. This dress is perfect for work-play transition, date night, a wedding, sunday brunch…yup, it’s perfect.

Camille Styles always knocks it out of the park when it comes to entertaining. I especially love the oranges in this moroccan theme table-scape. Such a simple, colorful & playful accent. Check out the Moroccan themed bridal shower I planned for my sister for more inspiration!

Can I just teleport myself into this tropical photograph, bikini and tan included?

Color-blocking at it’s extreme & finest.

Love the orange lips, orange brows, big curly brunette hair & faint pink tipped nails.

A blood orange margarita is probably my favorite cocktail. Oba is one of our favorite restaurants in Portland and has the best blood orange margaritas. It’s so good, we had our rehearsal dinner there (and it was delicious).

If anyone knows where to purchase this ridiculously awesome statement necklace, hook a sista up!

Can’t have a Monday color post without a positive quote to jump start this week! This quote is fairly self explanatory and I hope everyone adds a bit of adventure to their step today.

Carpe Diem,

Mandy

Green Perfection

After spotting these lamps in the sale aisle at Target, I’ve become obsessed with this emerald green color. Green has never been a dominate color in my life & I am rarely attracted to it, until now. I tried & tried to make these work in our new place, but they just didn’t seem at home. I may be slightly regretting it today….just look at ‘em!

I don’t think I can live another day without this emerald green sequin coat.

These green chairs are eclectic, yet chic in this space.

A drop-dead gorgeous dress in a head-turning color; bada bing, bada boom!  I look forward to House of Lolo’s Street Style series hitting my inbox every Monday morning; I am usually drooling by the first photo.

A NYC hidden gem. Talk about an oasis in the city. Perfection.

I’ll take the beach, the surf board, the vintage VW van, that dress & definitely the sexy moment, please.

How often do you sit ideal because you’re too afraid to step outside your comfort zone? But how exhilarating is it when you do? Totally worth it, right? This is a hard one to overcome because routine is easy, consistent and satisfying. Life though can be so much more if you let it.

Have a beautiful day!

Carpe Diem,

Mandy

Upgrade: Vintage Chairs

Before

We spotted these chairs a few weeks back at our favorite local vintage store, Lounge Lizard. Gorgeous lines, fantastic craftsmanship & superb quality; the upholstery just needed some tender loving. Per Mr.Riggar’s suggestion, we went with a faux-white leather (I knew I married him for a reason!) from Kravet’s Sta Kleen series. Sometimes a vintage piece just needs a simple upgrade! This was not a DIY, rather I took the chairs to a local upholsterer so he could work his magic instead of me butchering our pretty new chairs.

I’ve always loved the idea of fancy head-table chairs at a dining table & these can serve that purpose someday. They somehow always look stylish, yet eclectic. Until we move out of our cozy 700 sq.ft. apartment, I’ll drool over these dining vignettes instead. Gorgeous, right?

Carpe Diem,

Mandy

Images: 4,5,6

Happy Monday

Life has been very busy lately and I like it! It amazes me how many photos I take a day on my iphone without even blinking an eye. I don’t look at a calendar anymore to reference events, I typically check my photos. Sometimes I wish this gadget wasn’t attached to my hip 24/7, but other times I am grateful that I can document my life so easily with technology. I’ve always loved having photographs & now I can have them with the click of 2 buttons photographing my entire day. Anyone else an avid Instagram user?  Here are a few snapshots of inspirations & events lately. Enjoy!

Spring has officially sprung in Portland! Warm evenings, sunshine & people bustling about. Portland really is a wonderful city when the sun comes out. Myself & the rest of the population are crossing our fingers the weather will stick this time around.

I have accomplished one of my New Year’s resolutions of becoming a good wife: I perfected the chocolate chip cookie recipe! All you bakers can laugh at me, but refrigerating the dough is seriously the most important step. Chewy cookies for an entire week? Boom- wife points. Recipe found here.

I have many girlfriends who live all over the US right. This week, one was home from Chicago & another is in town temporarily after living in North Carolina before moving to San Francisco AND I had another surprise visit from a friend who used to live in New York and is now in Southern Oregon. Phew! Most of these fabulous ladies (and a few more) lived on the East Coast temporarily, which meant an East Coast adventure was due. Chicago, NYC, Boston & Charlotte in 10 days with a back-pack & this little lady. But more on that later!

Easter was spent enjoying 70 degree weather with some fresh flowers & mimosas (duh)! Not to mention, plenty of delicious food & some awesome quality time with the family.

After much debate mentioned here, I decided upon this gray/blue Moroccan Trellis rug for our living room. It finally arrived & boy am I glad I went with it! Our space needed some spice and this rug knocked it outta the park. It’s the little things in life, right?

Spotted this card and fell in love with this too-cute for words quote. Enjoy!

Carpe Diem,

Mandy