In a decorating frenzy!

I've been on vacation since December 17th, and in that time have finally started tackling some projects around the apartment like getting a new entertainment center to replace the 10 year old, (broken) pressboard unit I had. I'm not quite done, but I think I've got a plan.

I upgraded to a 42" flat panel TV since they don't sell anything deep enough for an old TV anymore, and I've decided to get the Hemnes TV stand and bookshelves to put it on. Here's my rough attempt to put pictures of the pieces together:

The whole thing only costs $434, which is about $2000 less than the first set I was looking at over at Crate & Barrel.

I've taped the height and width of the bookcases out on my wall with masking tape and they're large, but I think they'll give the wall a real focal point and add a sense of balance that's currently missing.

I have one nice large bookcase now, but I'll need to move that to make room. That's OK, though. It's always felt off balance with a hulking entertainment center and such a tall bookcase next to it, but only on one side. This should provide the same storage but in a much more attractive form.

It'll also force me to do some book cleanout. Some will be given away, some will be moved to an IKEA Billy bookcase in the office, and the bookcase itself will go to my mom. She has a much bigger house that can take such a wide bookcase without it being unbalanced.

I'm going to get the TV stand tomorrow and will pick up the bookcases once I convince an SUV-driving friend to play cargo-van for me. Will update with pictures once it's all put together! I'll probably paint, too, but that'll be a project for another time. Stay tuned - I'm hosting a few friends for NYE so it'll definitely be at least partly up in the next 2 days.

Back to blogging

My last post was September 27th...wow. That's mostly because of two things I've been on 7 different business trips since then which hasn't left time for much else - blogging, decorating, anything worth blogging about. But that's changing. I just finished my last trip for 2010 and I will soon have some time to start enjoying the things that I like to blog about here.

The one thing (sadly!) that I have been able to do was shop, so I have some fun new clothes and things that I'm loving. I'm going to try to take pics of some snazzy new winter dresses and other outfits as I wear them to work in the next couple of weeks. Then during my 2 week vacation I'm using birthday money to finally replace my 10 year old, horribly broken entertainment center (and possibly the old CRT TV that sits on it). I somehow think that project will end up involving cans of paint in the living room, as well, so perhaps I'll have some new decor pictures to post.

I'm still not sure if anyone even reads this blog, but if you do thanks for your patience these last few months. I'm glad to be getting back to doing the things I really enjoy.