Eatin' Pretty

There’s nothing as iconic as children’s art, and while I think we are still a year or two away from the rotating “my kid did this” art galleries I love so much,

room by Susanna Salk

idea by Ohdeeoh

our budding young artist is definitely supplying enough masterpieces to assist in our (wait for it . . . ) dining room re-do. The main living/dining/entryway room of our house has, for the most part, remained untouched since we first painted and setup house almost five years ago . . . really, where has the time gone?! . . . and seeing that both our lifestyle and taste have grown, we decided it was time for a makeover.

Since there is no project more exciting to me than a home makeover I am deliriously happy about the tasks to come and will be sure to keep you posted every step of the way. With our new design mantra in mind, livable-kidable chic, I'm already working on project numero uno, integrating Jackson’s finger paintings into an art piece for the dining room.

Wanting to use items we already have, in hopes of reclaiming my self-imposed title of "recessionista", I collected a stack of Ikea frames from the attic, my son’s artwork, and the burlap left over from his farm party. The plan is to take a painting by Jackson and with the magic of Photoshop, make multiple versions, all in a slightly different, yet complimentary, color pallet. Each painting will then be framed in a matching mat and frames and hung in a grouping of three to six frames . . . I'm obviously still working out the details. Here is the source of my inspiration, found at West Elm.

Once the artwork is complete, the challenge will be finding the perfect (petite sized) pieces that complement each other perfectly in the modern-cottage-vintage-eclectic dining room I soooo desire. All while not breaking the bank and fitting into our tiny little space. Oh, and I have no plans on parting with my chocolate & cream zebra rug or the petite farmhouse table with distressed white chairs already living in the space. Simply put, this could be a process. . .

Here are some sneak peaks into my very schizophrenic inspiration files.

such an ahhhh color palate & I love the use of the chandelier, not to mention the ceiling . . .

white chairs, dark floor, tall moldings, need I say more?

I just love it, though my version would be less formal, more funk . . .

the use of natural elements and the cozy-worldly feel it gives . . .

Have any ideas for our livable-kidable, modern-cottage-vintage-eclectic makeover? I’d love to hear them!

rooms by: Cottage Living, HGTV, and West Elm.