Customized Topographic Moving Announcements with Coordinates

I just wanted to say a heartfelt "thank you" to the readers who nominated this blog for Apartment Therapy's Homies.  I am truly touched, especially in light of the fact that I really left you hanging with the lakehouse during the fall, and things have only just picked up again. 

To carve out more time, I offloaded the task of notifying our friends and family of our move to my pal Erica, of Wicked Bride.  She tweaked the design of her own moving announcement (adding orange text for Hubby, plus our cell phone numbers) and sent me customized moving announcements, complete with our actual coordinates!  It took two seconds to slip them each into an envelope, scrawl on an address, and mail them away to the folks left totally in the dark about our whereabouts.  It could not have been easier. 

It would have been even easier had Szuka not found my roll of stick-on stamps and eaten $10 worth before gumming another $15.  My Mom's consoling words as I tried to salvage some of the drier ones: "be thankful they aren't the kind you have to lick".
  

This is obviously not our contact information, but you get the idea. 

If you'd like your own announcements, you can order these printable topographic moving announcements in Erica's Wicked Bride Etsy shop (she also has printing options). 

Jaw Dropping Den + Workspace Makeover

While I'm tearing things apart at the lakehouse, my friend Erica has just put the finishing touches on her press room/den and it looks gorgeous.  She and her Hubby took the room to its studs and rebuilt a beautiful and airy space with hand-scraped floors, tons of storage, a stunning white porcelain tile fireplace surround, and a bevvy of DIY accessories, furniture and art.  Here are a few of my favorite photos, but head over to Erica's blog, Wicked Bride, to see more photos and get the full scoop on this year-long makeover.

The painting below is an Erica original.  I love the sheen and pops of turquoise (of course).  Check out her post for a more detailed shot of the texture.  Because this room is in her basement, Erica used a wall of mirrored Ikea cabinets to reflect light and add some much needed storage.

The fireplace is a total knock-out, and I love how Erica styled it with an eye catching mirror, which has lots of beautiful texture and reflects even more light around the room, and a meaningful sculpture.

When I last visited Erica the chair by the fireplace was teal, which was gorgeous but just not what Erica wanted.  She scored the black fabric for a great price and paid to have the chair reupholstered which was expensive, but worth it, because now she has a piece that is totally her style.  I can totally relate.  Even though some items were a splurge, I think it's really clever that the core pieces in this room: the sofa, the rug, the fireplace, the chair, are all neutral but she's thrown in colour in the pillows, artwork and accessories.  These neutral pieces will work in the space for a long time and Erica can easily give the room an inexpensive mini-makeover down the road by swapping out a few accessories or introducing new colours.

Will you even believe me when I tell you that this is the "before"?

Don't forget to check out the rest of the photos here.

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