Last week, I shared our styled Expedit bookshelf from our living room and I promised y'all I would start to share little decorated corners of our house. So, here ya go! 

This space is the dresser in our master bedroom, ironically another Ikea piece of furniture. David and I added the huge gold mirror above the dresser which seriously makes me smile every time I see it. It's like the two pieces were made for each other... but aren't too matchy matchy. I love.

On top of the dresser, we've got a David side and a Michelle side. On my side rests my jewelry tray (a Target finds years ago), one of my favorite framed photos of HDawg and my absolute favorite lamp from HomeGoods. It previously sat on my desk at work, but when I quit my job, it finally got to come home with me. I may or may not kiss it goodnight every day, I seriously love it so much. On David's side sits a copper tray that holds all of David's junk (also from Target, and yes, I emptied it out before taking these photos), some greenery in vintagey vases we picked up in North Carolina a few years ago and the DIY sign language art I made him a few years ago.

So that's another corner of our little house! Do you have any corners of your house that make you smile?

Hi friends! Hope y'all are having a great week so far.

When we first moved into our rental house, I shared that I was having trouble decorating the built-in bookshelves in our living room. Besides the Expedit in our office, I've never had a big shelving unit to decorate. It's a little daunting, that's for sure. And since we're renters, we're left without options like painting or papering the back of the shelves.

After a couple of months of pulling inspiration from Pinterest, all of you and some of my favorite decor magazines, I decided last weekend that it was high time I stock up those empty shelves. 

Here's what I've got so far. I can't say that I'm thrilled with it, but I know it's an evolving process depending on the season, my whim and whatever new decor I whip out. Want some detail shots?

I like this side of the built-in because the other side has an uneven shelf. My Type A self prefers the symmetry of the right side... ahh.

See what I mean? For some reason, it looks like they took a shelf out of the left side. It's wonky! And hard to decorate. Basically I had to pull a plant in to help fill up the space so it didn't look so awkward! If we weren't renters, I would permanently hang something in the back of this shelf instead of just leaning it up against the shelving. That would look super cute! But for us renters, it will just be Mr. Plant to the rescue.

I think I love the little chicken + mirror shelf the best. Simple and sweet. The mirror is a vintage piece passed down from David's grandfather. Don't you love it?! And before you think I've gone all country kitsch on you, we've got a personal thing for chickens around our house, so we tend to decorate with them here and there : )

I'm so in love with that rustic wooden vase I picked up from Target awhile back. I think it really contrasts well against the pretty floral china, don't you? At least that was the thought!

I tried to ground the unit with lots of pops of black, balanced throughout the shelves.

 

Like I said, I'm not in love with what I've done so far, but I know it's a start. I think I just need to keep adding junk to the shelves, don't you? Weigh in with any advice you have in the comments, por favor! Goodness knows I need it.

Earlier this week, I shared with y'all that I'm having a little trouble decorating the built-in bookshelves in my new living room. Sure, there's the obvious... books. But what about accessories? Picture frames? Tchotckes? I think it's one of those "the possibilities are endless" kind of things... I don't even know where to start. Good thing it's 2013 and we can call on Pinterest for help.

Say hello to these really bomb-styled shelves (that's a technical term). I've been jotting down mental notes and learning from these inspiring spaces. Aren't they amazing?