{Vermont Living-before&afters}

As many of you know, I've recently moved to Vermont. As part of my contract I get a three-bedroom house, fully furnished. The great thing is, I arrived with my small suitcase directly from London and was able to sleep in a bed with sheets, watch telly from a couch, and use the kitchen without having to unpack or purchase anything. The negative side of things is that the place isn't really my style, & I haven't been able to pick & choose furniture, decor etc... Since I'm only here for 2 years and since I know I'll be moving most likely to a new city at the end, I don't want to accumulate too much. At the same time, I want a place I can call 'home' & that I feel comfy entertaining in. So compromises & creativity are the order of the day. Plus, on a budget. My parents always taught us to be resourceful, and here's an attempt at resourcefulness...
BEFORE: The living room was un-interesting and the brown wood & brown 70s fireplace dominated the space. If I was living here permanently, I'd probably paint the wood out white, but for now, I've put my bunting obsession to good use:

I bought a few little antiques from the local antique store: some cute little tea-cups, a plate etc... I put up some photos of my newest nephew, old books, and vintage postcards. In addition, I asked for profile pictures of my four sisters, and I made silhouettes of the 5 Clark sisters, set them on pretty patterned backgrounds, and put them in pink frames to play with contrasts against the dark wood: 

{the 5 girls in chronological order}

{1}

{2}

{3}

{4}

{5}

{I bought some pretty fabric, cut out triangles, sewed them to some ribbon & made pretty bunting}

{tea cups}

{before: rather dull & office-furniture looking}

On this side of the living room, I switched the two chairs for the couch & added some fun lanterns & home-made pompoms (& oh took out the fake tree).

I've also become slightly obsessed with antlers/deer. More on that later, but I had bought this gorgeous toile paper at the V&A while I was in London, so I just cut out the elegant silhouettes of deer & put two up above the fireplace and one above the telly:

I'd like to get some accented throw pillows & put up new curtains to make the place complete, but all in time....more to come for sure!
xo
L

{bunting obsession}

{via bird+birch}

For those of you following me on pinterest, you'll realise I'm slightly obsessed with bunting (I have a whole board dedicated to it). In fact, I can't quite get enough of it. I bought this oh-so-cute bunting from Sass&belle--perhaps my favourite shop in London:

I could spend hours in their shop--but their website is pretty delicious too!
Anyway, I've hung this lovely British bunting in my bedroom...and now I've started thinking about decorating my fireplace (which is not-so-nice--very 70s in a bad sense) with bunting. I've got some fabric and am just trying to figure out how to hang it (since I'm lacking a sewing machine). I've got plenty of more before & afters to do (particularly because I'm not yet in the 'after' stage) but you can see how simple bunting & a changing of a coverlet & curtains can transform a space:

{my bedroom before & after}

In the mean time, I've been googling bunting & pinteresting bunting...and there's so much lovely bunting out there! Par exemple:

{from ashley ann photography}

{via all sorts}

{via sis boom}

{I found this on pinterest but the original url is no longer working unfortunately. so I can't give credit where credit is due}

{from antiquitea}

{Lovely way to make any space feel like an occasion. via unabashed bliss. check out her directions on how to make bunting here}

I also really like the looks of these ribbon tendrils and loose cloth as bunting. Adds a bit more of a rustic detail: 

{via snippet & ink}

{I just think this is simply gorgeous. & the italian blog from where it comes is simply bellissima: valdirose}

With my obsession for bunting, an interest in other types of garlandy, pom-pom & what-have-you decorations has developped. I'm currently loving this amazing 'coffee filter garland' made by Pam Garrison (she's got instructions on her site). So simple yet so elegant:

I could say (& show) a million more things & images on bunting & pom-poms as it has become an obsession but here are just two more of my favourite examples:

{from opulent couturier}

{via maison boheme}

Stay tuned for more!