The Jealous Armoire

So we're really down to the wire here... in 2 days I find out if I get to keep the Su Casa dresser from the Test It Blog It Win It contest.  In the meantime, another piece of furniture in our house is feeling a little jilted.

The armoire has been banished to the basement and he isn't happy about it.

Right now, the Su Casa dresser, who can do no wrong, is in our bedroom

Ahhh, so beautiful.  I will miss it so much if I don't win it.

The kids have even taken a liking to it

Perfect for forts, right?

That poor armoire in the basement is on it's last leg anyway.  I bought it for $15 at Goodwill and refinished it.  He isn't holding up as well as I had hoped, especially since the move.

If you're interested in helping me win the dresser, be sure to click on the this Su Casa link or go to their facebook page and tell them The Creative Imperative sent you!

Thanks so much for your support throughout this competition.  I know it was a departure from my usual content and I appreciate you sticking with me!

Blessings,

Jamie

Art in Your Home

I've really enjoyed seeing some of the Su Casa furniture the other bloggers in the test it blog it win it contest have been blogging about.

I know you've seen a lot of this dresser in the last month...

 let's take a look at some of the other amazing pieces that are out on test runs with bloggers.

The Baltimore Chop has been recording his experience with a sofa through the Couch Chronicles.

He found his sofa at Su Casa's sister store, Pad.

Then there is the Iskow Family and their sectional.  These people are hilarious!  Here Jamie is cleaning under her sectional.  This is just before she begins writing about losing her baby underneath the sofa...

And one more from them:  this video about a man who doesn't know how to sit down..  I couldn't stop laughing!!!

Oh my gosh, the chairs that look what mom made chose.  Gorgeous!  I adore the nailhead trim on them.

And the bed that It's a Potter Life has in their home... so sophisticated!

Wandering Lili chose a dining table... love those chairs!

Love Feast Table decided on a sectional... this looks perfect for her family!

Maggie from Life as a Wife has a beautiful table from Su Casa.  Those chairs are so stylish yet they still look comfortable.

And how fun is this fabric on the chair that Jenny from Meet the Fockels chose?

I dare you to find fabric options that cool at another furniture store!

I hope this gives you an idea of just how amazing Su Casa's furniture is.

This must be why Su Casa is hosting this competition.  They want to spread news of the stories, the experience, the professionalism, the relationships fostered by their store.  I love the environment they've created in their showroom; I feel blessed I was able to bring a bit of that environment home with me for a while.  When all is said and done, Su Casa gave me the opportunity to live amongst art.  People have thought some of that "art" from Su Casa (the corner frame from this post) was so cool, it has been pinned over 83,000 times on Pinterest!

Here are the rest of my posts if you'd like to follow the dresser on it's journey over the course of the last month.

Su Casa dresser posts

Hopefully this is just the beginning!  Your comments and clicks on this Su Casa link can help me get to keep it.  You could also stop by Su Casa's facebook page and like them.  Be sure to mention The Creative Imperative sent you!

Thanks for following me on this journey.  I'll let you know if I get to keep it; the winner will be announced July 1.

Blessings,

Jamie

Help Me Style My Dresser...

I am terrible at styling areas like mantels, tables and dressers.  I find myself fussing over the area, but I am rarely satisfied with how it looks.


Here are three of the arrangements I've had on the Su Casa dresser since it has been in the new house.

Look number one:  old-timey

I really like the use of our family heirlooms in this one.  The tray (which desperately needs polishing) is from my grandmother.  The pewter pitcher and silver jewelry box are from my husband's family.  My mother-in-law kindly had the jewelry box sealed before she gave it to me so that I wouldn't need to ever polish it.  Now THAT is a gift! 

Number two:  stacked books

I love the use of color in this one.

I wanted even more stacked books, but I ran out of energy hauling these up from downstairs.

Number three:  minimal

Have you noticed yet that all of the artwork is leaning against the wall in these photos?  I know leaning is a huge trend right now, but I'd rather put the art on the wall.  I just don't have the guts to put holes in the new walls since I don't know if I've won this dresser yet.

I am impressed by what a chameleon this piece of furniture is turning out to be.  It is so versatile in how it looks great against different color walls and with  different styles of accessories ranging from mod to vintage.

Which is your favorite?  Do you have any suggestions?  Help me out by letting me know in the comments.


Thanks so much for stopping by!
Blessings,
Jamie

This post is linked here:  Today's Creative Blog Blue Cricket Design Kurtz Corner Mommy by Day Crafter by Night Cherished Bliss Lines Across My Face Southern Lovely Bear Rabbit Bear French Country Cottage Craft Junkie Too DIY Home Sweet Home Saved by Love Domestically Speaking Funky Junk Interiors Homemaker on a Dime Eisy Morgan The Answer is Chocolate Making the World Cuter Craft-O-Maniac lolly jane 504 Main I Heart Naptime Singing Three Little Birds mad in crafts House of Hepworths Somewhat Simple Chic on a Shoestring Keeping it Simple Be Different Act Normal Sew Can Do Sew Chatty Pinkapotamus The Girl Creative Flamingo Toes Tatertots and Jello Sisters of the Wild West Reasons to Skip the Housework Giggles Glitz and Glam Tip JunkieThe Trendy Treehouse Ladybug Blessings Night Owl Crafting Tea Rose Home My Girlish Whims Allie Makes Gluesticks Thrifty 101 Momnivores Dilemma A Little Knick Knack Miss Mustard Seed Freckled Laundry kojo designs A vision to remember Primitive and Proper 733 Rook no 17 Home Stories A to Z Naptime Crafters Whipperberry delightful order blissful and domestic elizabeth and co diy by design gingersnap crafts>my repurposed life

Help Me Choose a Wall Color

I love looking at paint colors... I could spend hours flipping through fan decks.  With all of the blank walls in this new townhouse, I'm spending even more time than usual daydreaming about color.

I can't believe I've never used the Sherwin Williams Paint Color Visualizer before now!  I'm currently deciding what color to use in our master bedroom.  Here are some of the colors I tried

SW ponder

SW midnight

SW less brown

SW interesting aqua

SW sensuous gray

SW mink

I love how the variations in the Su Casa dresser are highlighted in different ways, depending on the color behind it.  I know that I shouldn't be decorating around a piece of furniture that I might not be able to keep, but I think it is a great jump off point.  The bed and window treatments will be solid white, so just about any color will work with those fixed elements in the room.

So, spill it!  What's your favorite?  Let me know in the comments or on my facebook page!

Blessings,

Jamie

This post is linked here:  Today's Creative Blog Blue Cricket Design Kurtz Corner Mommy by Day Crafter by Night Cherished Bliss Lines Across My Face Southern Lovely Bear Rabbit Bear French Country Cottage Craft Junkie Too DIY Home Sweet Home Saved by Love Domestically Speaking Funky Junk Interiors Homemaker on a Dime Eisy Morgan The Answer is Chocolate Making the World Cuter Craft-O-Maniac lolly jane 504 Main I Heart Naptime Singing Three Little Birds mad in crafts House of Hepworths Somewhat Simple Chic on a Shoestring Keeping it Simple Be Different Act Normal Sew Can Do Sew Chatty Pinkapotamus The Girl Creative Flamingo Toes Tatertots and Jello Sisters of the Wild West Reasons to Skip the Housework Giggles Glitz and Glam Tip JunkieThe Trendy Treehouse Ladybug Blessings Night Owl Crafting Tea Rose Home My Girlish Whims Allie Makes Gluesticks Thrifty 101 Momnivores Dilemma A Little Knick Knack Miss Mustard Seed Freckled Laundry kojo designs A vision to remember Primitive and Proper 733 Rook no 17 Home Stories A to Z Naptime Crafters Whipperberry delightful order blissful and domestic elizabeth and co diy by design gingersnap crafts>my repurposed life

New Dresser, New House {and a winner!}

First, we have a winner for the subway art giveaway:  Random.org chose comment #7:  Lauren @ Tennessee Honey.  Congrats Lauren!


Now, on to the post...


The dresser from Su Casa made it to the new house safe and sound.  I was pretty worried about putting it on a moving truck, so a friend put it in the back of his pickup for us.

I talked my husband into putting our TV from downstairs on the dresser, just to show you how nice it looks.

And remember that secret compartment?

Ta-da!  It's perfect for the DVD player.

The cords fit neatly through the hole in the back.

Then close the door when it is not in use.

I just love this thing.  It is perfect in the new bedroom with the high ceilings (not to mention we don't have another dresser!).  I really hope I win it and get to keep it.

I can't wait to get some color on the walls and fix the "draperies".  I use that term loosely...

Yeah, we're classy around here.  Hopefully I'll have time to pull out the sewing machine and remedy this tomorrow.

What do you think of the dresser with the TV on it?  It looked like this at the other house

Let me know in the comments!  Thanks for stopping by.

Blessings,

Jamie

This post is linked here:  Today's Creative Blog Blue Cricket Design Kurtz Corner Mommy by Day Crafter by Night Cherished Bliss Lines Across My Face Southern Lovely Bear Rabbit Bear French Country Cottage Craft Junkie Too DIY Home Sweet Home Saved by Love Domestically Speaking Funky Junk Interiors Homemaker on a Dime Eisy Morgan The Answer is Chocolate Making the World Cuter Craft-O-Maniac lolly jane 504 Main I Heart Naptime Singing Three Little Birds mad in crafts House of Hepworths Somewhat Simple Chic on a Shoestring Keeping it Simple Be Different Act Normal Sew Can Do Sew Chatty Pinkapotamus The Girl Creative Flamingo Toes Tatertots and Jello Sisters of the Wild West Reasons to Skip the Housework Giggles Glitz and Glam Tip JunkieThe Trendy Treehouse Ladybug Blessings Night Owl Crafting Tea Rose Home My Girlish Whims Allie Makes Gluesticks Thrifty 101 Momnivores Dilemma A Little Knick Knack Miss Mustard Seed Freckled Laundry kojo designs A vision to remember Primitive and Proper 733 Rook no 17 Home Stories A to Z Naptime Crafters Whipperberry delightful order blissful and domestic elizabeth and co diy by design gingersnap crafts>my repurposed life

How to Style a Dresser (With Limited Resources)

I LOVE this dresser from Su Casa.  I really can't wait to see it in the new house.  But I needed to make it look nice for it's few days in the current house

I shopped the house, but came up pretty short.  Why?  Well, because everything is here...

I really wanted to anchor the books and vase with a tray.  Too bad, all the trays are packed for the move.  Or how about displaying that beautiful heirloom pitcher we have?  Nope, packed.

My sweet neighbors let me clip a few hydrangeas from their yard, so that definitely helped.

And I did still have these old paperbacks lying around.

I also took the canvases that used to be behind my bed and brightened them up a little with some ceiling white paint.  I wanted the whites in them to be a little brighter and the finish on the old paintings was glossier than I liked.

Hanging a canvas, large photo, or mirror over the dresser helps to designate the area as a focal point in the room.  It also works as a layer with all the other elements on the dresser.  I'm thinking a flat screen would be nice on/above it as well (wink wink hint hint to Mr Creative Imperative)

Before I go, I want to show you my favorite feature on the dresser

Take a look at that middle drawer.  Yes, it is a drawer, but it's also...

a secret DVD player/media compartment with a door that flips open!  Awesome, right?  There's even a hole in the back for the cord.  Now this thing is screaming to have a TV paired with it.  This piece is so versatile and would make a beautiful media console in a family room.

Here's one more look

What do you think?  Let me know in the comments! 

If you'd like to read more about my experience with this dresser from Su Casa, you can click here or here.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Blessings,

Jamie

featured here:

This post is linked here:  Today's Creative Blog Blue Cricket Design Kurtz Corner Mommy by Day Crafter by Night Cherished Bliss Lines Across My Face Southern Lovely Bear Rabbit Bear French Country Cottage Craft Junkie Too DIY Home Sweet Home Saved by Love Domestically Speaking Funky Junk Interiors Homemaker on a Dime Eisy Morgan The Answer is Chocolate Making the World Cuter Craft-O-Maniac lolly jane 504 Main I Heart Naptime Singing Three Little Birds mad in crafts House of Hepworths Somewhat Simple Chic on a Shoestring Keeping it Simple Be Different Act Normal Sew Can Do Sew Chatty Pinkapotamus The Girl Creative Flamingo Toes Tatertots and Jello Sisters of the Wild West Reasons to Skip the Housework Giggles Glitz and Glam Tip JunkieThe Trendy Treehouse Ladybug Blessings Night Owl Crafting Tea Rose Home My Girlish Whims Allie Makes Gluesticks Thrifty 101 Momnivores Dilemma A Little Knick Knack Miss Mustard Seed Freckled Laundry kojo designs A vision to remember Primitive and Proper 733 Rook no 17 Home Stories A to Z Naptime Crafters Whipperberry delightful order blissful and domestic elizabeth and co diy by design gingersnap crafts>my repurposed life