my quest for a modern front door...

We've been in our house for a little over 2 years. We've since done quite a bit of work on the inside....but the exterior of our home is still a work in progress....we still need to paint, new roof (eventually), exterior lighting...but on TOP of our list was a front door. 

Doesn't seem like it would be that difficult to find a front door that fit our aesthetic...which happens to be simple, clean and modern?? Keeping in mind that we didn't want anything TOO modern, but modern enough to update the "look" of the front of our house to something that reflects the style on the inside. 

Well, surprisingly,  it was terribly difficult!! We first went to all the major home improvement stores and looked through countless catalogs....and came up with nothing. Then we went to specific "door stores" and asked for quotes on someone building a custom door based on our sketches...and they were able to do it, but for a pricetag that was WAY out of our budget. Then we found this company online called Crestview Doors and they sold these nice window kits that we could use to DIY and achieve a similar look to what we were going for. However, after we added up the cost for the double paned glass and sidelights and a solid wood door....we were way out of our budget again.

Dang...we were frustrated.

Here are my inspiration photos:.

                                                     

Here is a photo of our very sad and peeling front door that was taken this past summer:

After months of searching....we found "a guy" (who happens to be a carpenter and is dating my sister) and after looking at my sketches...told me he could build me a door, from scratch...exactly like I wanted. Exactly.

And best of all...within our budget.

He's been hard at work and it's nearly complete.

Here are a few pics of the custom door and sidelights as it stands today (in our basement).

Only 7 or 8 coats of stain away from being installed! I have a feeling it's one of those projects

 that will definitely be worth the wait!

p.s. If you are in the market for a modern door, I'm happy to say that "I've got a guy". Email me and I may share him with you ( as soon as he's done with mine, of course).

wendy + tyler = blue lily photography

I had such an amazing night on Friday that I was smiling for 45 minutes straight. What was so great? Well...here's a little background for you:

Although my husband and I have been together for 16 years, we got married when our oldest son was 7. Our wedding day was amazing...but the photographer/pictures were NOT. Makes me sad just thinking about it. Fast forward 8 years of marriage and two more children later and our "picture" situation hasn't improved (meaning we've NEVER had a family portrait). Never....until Friday night. Let me tell you...that this portrait session that we had with husband and wife team (Wendy + Tyler) of Blue Lily Photography was WELL WORTH the wait. We shot it at Humboldt Park in Chicago and I can't stop smiling with the anticipation of seeing the final images. Why am I so dang excited...and I haven't even seem them yet?? Well...take a look at their work here and you'll see what I mean.

They travel all over the country (world, actually)and if you're on the ball (& follow their blog), you might be lucky enough to score an appointment. I highly, highly recommend them. I only wish they lived closer because I'm sure we'd become fast friends....they are just THAT awesome.

(I don't think you are supposed to do this but I totally stole this photo from blue lily's twitter page)

oh my! hand made goodness....

I met my friend,Sara, last year via email and we quickly hit it off! She ran a small business, had a little boy the same age as my middle son AND lived in the same town as me! How lucky I was to find her.

Since then, we have gotten together several times to bounce ideas off of one another and just "get away" from work for a few hours (even though we usually talk about it the entire time we're together). It's SO refreshing to have someone that you can confide in who speaks the "same language" as you....business language, that is.

I feel that I've done a fairly good job of educating myself on the ins and outs of running a small business...I've learned a lot through trial and error and have depended on my strong work ethic and sincere passion for what I'm doing to get me through. Sara is pretty much the same way...but has been generous enough to share some of her greatest small business tips on her blog for the past several years and built up quite a following of people looking to her for inspiration and advice.

This winter, we met for coffee and she unveiled her new idea for a blog that would be "a community for independent business owners and the hip parents that support them." All I could say was GENIUS and that I would L O V E to help in any way I could....so she put me on board as a monthly contributor.

Sure enough...two months later Oh my!Handmade Goodness is done....and it is done EXTREMELY WELL. I love it and just know it will be a huge success. Take a minute to check it out and let us know what you think!

a exclusive CRAVEable discount and giveaway...

Black Friday is quickly approaching. I don't know about you, but I don't dig crowds, lines and craziness...especially when I'm toting three boys along with me. Our friends at CRAVE blogged yesterday about exclusive local (Chicago) deals for the day...many of which can be enjoyed by shopping online and in your own home.

We included a special discount AND giveaway with each purchase. I wanted to pass this along to you as well.

Be sure to check out this and the other great deals here. (Some businesses are offering up to 50% off!)

1st edition of the chicago : crave guide

This post is a little delayed...but hey! Better late than never! Last Monday, Brooke and I attended the Chicago CRAVE guide book launch party to celebrate the very first edition of this awesome book. I've mentioned the CRAVE company before as they are an inspiring organization that promotes and supports women entrepreneurs....gotta love that, right?

Well...the books didn't make it in time for the actual party but that didn't stop us from having an awesome time. The super talented and sweet Michele, did a great job organizing the event that was held downtown at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio(also included in book). It is so uplifting and inspiring to be surrounded by women who share the same energy and passion for running their own business as we do. It was a great night and we are truly, truly honored to be featured in the FIRST edition of this book in Chicago. What a treat.

We snuck out a few minutes early to head down the street to NAHA for dinner. NAHA is another woman owned Chicago business that is also included in the CRAVE guide book.... and for the record, the halibut was the bomb.

Here's a few pics from the night. The quality stinks...but you get the basic idea.

and the winner is.......

Last week, while on twitter....I saw that Chicago Magazine was asking readers to submit flickr photos into their Home + Garden section for a contest. So, seeing as though I already had Parker's room photos in a folder on flickr....I sent some over...and GUESS WHAT?? I won!. They picked my little bean's room as their "flickr friday" pick. They said "Our staff loved this fun and sophisticated kid’s room posted by le papier boutique. The decals are a cool and non-permanent way to add interest to a tyke’s digs." I don't get a prize, per say, but the fact that THE coolest magazine in Chicago likes my decorating style is PRIZE ENOUGH for me....thank you v e r y m u c h.

Thanks Chicago Magazine...you are ALWAYS one of my favorites.

it appears that we are CRAVEable!

There is an organization that I've recently fallen in love with and I found them via twitter. For those of you small business owners reluctant to join team twitter, get over it! I have already seen the benefits in the two short weeks that I've been tweeting or twittering, or whatever you call it!

So, back to my point...I've recently fallen in love with CRAVE. Crave is a multifaceted organization that offers three diverse and helpful resources for professional women and small business owners in the Chicago area (in addition to other key cities across the country SanFrancisco, Boston, Atlanta, Portland, etc.)
The three main components to CRAVE are below:
CRAVEparty
CRAVEguides
CRAVEbusiness

I went to a CRAVEbusiness coffee chat last week outlining some helpful social media tips for small business owners and met some super women...one of them being Michele Kravetz from CRAVEchicago. We got to talking about the FIRST Chicago Edition of the CRAVEguide. After a few conversations, mixed with a little luck on my part, I was offered a spot in their book. The CRAVEguide "celebrates stylish entrepreneurs by showcasing the most creative, interesting and gutsiest proprietors from cities all over the world. This fall CRAVEchicago will launch it's own guide: The Urban Girl’s Manifesto, a unique and stylish guidebook for Chicago living complete with real-life examples of amazing women around the City who will help satisfy your next craving."

So, OH MY GOSH...am I excited. This is such an honor for me and I hope it will help get a lot of exposure to name your design for Brooke and I! woo hoo!

Here is a sneak peek into the guide at my layout in the book. The books will be in circulation for two years starting this Fall and available to purchase through Amazon.com, Barnes & Nobles and other hot spots around the Chi!

tweet tweet twitter : you got me.

My sister and I went to this great networking event last night hosted by the bump. It was really nice to meet other business owners in the Chicago area who are all marketing to mommies. It was held downtown at The Catalyst Ranch.(This meeting space/loft is amazing and another story in itself).

Anyhow...I met this bubbly little lady named Lisa who designs and sells these great day planners for mom/baby. We got to talking about the whole social media "thing" and she single handedly conviced me to start twittering. I have been avoiding this like the plague...but I guess it's time I give in! I mean if your favorite mom/pop pizza joint can twitter...there's really no excuse for us not to!

So, head on over to my twitter page and won't you please follow me? (I currently look extremely lame with my ONE following friend... the girl got me into this mess) I decided to make my twitter name "designfiles". Why you ask? Well....although name your design is my newest business venture baby...I actually have 3 separate businesses that I own and I wanted to chronicle all of my design adventures in one spot. If you've been reading my blog you know that I also run a custom design studio as well as designing an exclusive brand of stationery for the tinyprints family of sites.

So...now, I have to go and figure out how the heck to use this thing....tweet, tweet!

thankful thursday : 2

Well...it's another Thursday. The week has flown by! With school starting and a great influx of orders for us, Brooke and I have been B U S Y.

I've been looking forward to this post all week. I am so glad I'm doing these "thankful Thursdays"...especially this week.

You see, I always love my mom, but she has been especially on my mind since just celebrated a birthday this weekend. I won't tell you how old she is, but I can guarantee you that once you see how amazing she looks... you would be shocked if I told you her real age. She is beautiful and wonderful and has taught me so much about being a great mother. She and my dad (who are still happily married) managed to successfully raise five happy, healthy and successful daughters.

My mom with my oldest son, Devon, this summer at a family wedding.


She came over for dinner last night and when I watched her with my dad (who is equally as wonderful) interact with my boys....it filled my heart with so much gladness. My boys are so lucky to have a Nana who adores them and I am so lucky to have a mom that has always been my biggest fan, my counselor, my teacher and my friend.

Thanks Mommy...you are the best and I am especially thankful for you on this Thursday (and everyday).

p.s. If you live in the Chicago area and need an interior designer or custom window treatments...you'd be a fool not to contact my mom...she is a rock star when it comes to design.

going "green" with sprout home

My husband and I were downtown (Chicago) a few weekends ago and we made a pit stop at sprout home. We were looking for some modern plant life for our home....

you see, we tried the local nurseries and garden shops around our home and when we asked them to show us some "modern and unique" house plants...they looked at us kind of funny. I don't know....is that a silly question?? I mean, some plants just make you want to go over and touch them to see if they are real...and that's what we wanted!

So, as soon as we walked into this modern plant palace I knew we'd find JUST what we wanted. I mean their philosophy is as plain as day on the front of their homepage "Sprout Home believes that a modern aesthetic can live in the home and also in the garden..."

We picked up a few gems for our house...my favorite being these freak of nature "air plants" or tillandsias. You can read more about them here...but they are MY kind of plant...no soil needed! They live off the moisture in the air and look super in our house. We also picked up a lipstick plant...the leaves look like they are woven together...have you ever seen anything like this?

These are sitting on our counter that opens from the kitchen to the great room.

A closeup of the lipstick plant leaves.



A set of three little air plants in vases from ikea..on one of our kitchen counters.


sprout home has two locations : Chicago and Brooklyn.....if you're ever in the area, check them out.