Swooning Over ... Sarah's House & Sarah Richardson Design

If you are not watching Sarah's House on HGTV or reading Sarah Richardson's blog, it is high-time you started!  Sarah Richardson is the amazingly talented, Canadian designer who buys a home in need of some work and makes it her own with the help of Tommy, her assistant and Vito, her contractor.

from left: Tommy, Sarah, Vito

I love the personalities on the show, but most of all, I absolutely love the designs.  Sarah and Tommy come up with the most beautiful - and livable - spaces.  And the best part: they do so on a budget.  Sarah shops at IKEA and in flea markets and takes the viewers along for the ride.  She also shows her budget and how much she went over/under.   For anyone attempting renovations or redecorating projects, big or small, the show is a source of endless inspiration and encouragement.

There have been a few seasons of Sarah's House now, but my absolute favorite is the 2008 season where she renovated the 1970s back-split.  I just love what she did with the split-level layout.  A close second is her most recent season with her farmhouse.  Below are some of my favorite rooms that Sarah designed on her show.

Got any favorite spaces above?  I love that pink living room. Oh, and the yellow bathroom. And the gray master bedroom.  See? It's impossible to pick just one!

See you swoon,

What Would Jamie Wear: A Peak Into My Anthropologie Wishlist

Since I am on a What Would Jamie Wear rampage this week (I am just catching you all up since these have been scarce during the move), I though I would give you a peak into my wishlist for Anthro. I cannot begin to tell you how tempting it is to just click checkout and wait for my packages to arrive!

I hope you all enjoy! I am sure a lot of you have your own wishlists, which website keeps you coming back to add to your shopping bag?

Surging Springs Skirt

Pilcro Zip Pocker Slims

Martingale Boots

Diamante Blouse

Cordial Embrace Dress

Undercurrent Dress

Bromsgrover Blazer

Camber Dress

Next Year's Lily Top

See you swoon,

Home Swoon Home: Tips for Sellers

Having had my house on the market for over two months, I consider myself pretty well-versed in staging and selling.  Essentially, you are offering up your home on a silver platter to potential buyers.  Here are my tips to survive the process.

* Choose your real estate agent wisely.   In a buyer's market like the one we are in now, the right agent is absolutely key.  Find out how s/he negotiates; research the other homes s/he has listed; ask his/her strategies for marketing.  Don't worry about being aggressive or pushy: you are dealing with your home - a huge investment.

* Do a pre-sale inspection.  It is such a wise investment to have an inspector walk through your home and tell you the issues that will come up in a buyer's inspection.  This way, you can adjust your sales price and your bottom line and also have a realistic idea of what you will be facing from your buyer.  Definitely take advantage and make as many repairs as you can while you can.

* Keep the house showing ready every single day.  Yes, most buyers will give a day or two notice before a showing, but some do not.  In our case, around 4 pm one day, an agent drove by with her clients and asked for an immediate showing.  You just never know.

* Offer incentives.  A home warranty is an inexpensive (@$500) bonus to a buyer.  Another idea is to offer a bonus to an agent who gets in an accepted offer by a certain date.  Yes, you want to appeal to buyers, but you want to get the house on their agents' radars, too.

* Do an appraisal.  It is a good idea to have your own home appraised before the house goes up for sale.  Base your price on this amount and hand it on over to the buyers.  In a market where low-ball offers abound, having a black and white justification for your asking price is a sound idea.

* Talk to friends who have been through it.  One thing that made my selling experience a brighter one was knowing I could talk to a few friends who have been through the selling process.  It is incredibly stressful: more stressful than anything I have ever done in my life (this includes all schools, the Bar exam, childbirth, trials ...).  Talking to someone who's been there, done that and is a calm, reassuring, validating voice of support and reason helps tremendously.

There you go! Just a few tips from me on surviving the selling process. If you are selling, I wish you much luck and a quick and easy sale!

See you swoon,

What Would Jamie Wear: Cozy Sweaters

So now that I am all moved in and have had a chance to go through my wardrobe multiple times throughout the move I have realized that I have the worst winter wardrobe you could ever imagine! I am not sure what I have worn in the past or if the reason I am lacking in this area is due to the closet monster taking these items (he is similar to the sock monster for those of you wondering) but regardless I need to beef up for this season.

At this point in the morning I am sitting in my husband's sweatshirt, long pants, socks and a huge blanket with my coffee trying to keep warm. The 40 degree weather outside coupled with the fact that my husband is refusing to let me turn on the heat has me shopping for warm, comfy sweaters that are not just for sitting around the house but that are classic styles so I can wear them for a few years to come.

Here is what I plan to add to my arsenal so far, if any of you have suggestions on where we can look for sweaters this season we would love to hear! Where is yoru favorite sweater from?

Gap Cashmere Tunic (yes I know, short sleeves, but how cute with knee boots, tights and a belt!)

AE Cable Knit Wrap Cardigan

White & Warren Double Layer throw on Cardigan

Laurie B Exclusive Courtyard Shrug

Splendid Feather Wool Jersey Cardigan

See you swoon,

Swoon-Worthy Finds: Sherwin Williams Paints

I.  Love.  To.  Paint.

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not kidding and I'm not exaggerating  Truly, I love to paint.  I love the instant gratification of taking a room from deep red to pale taupe, or from turning a ho-hum piece of furniture into a gorgeous glossy white.  I also find it therapeutic and calming - I find it relaxing and (dare I say it?) fun.  It is especially fun if you paint with a friend - uninterrupted chat and gossip makes the time go even faster.

Being a paint connoisseur, I am brand loyal to Sherwin Williams paints.  Yes, it is more expensive than a gallon from one of the big box stores, but the quality is so much better.  You use less paint and it goes on easier, so one gallon goes a lot further.  Plus, the time value is worth a lot.  Sherwin Williams paints cover beautifully - usually in one or two coats.  What's better than that?

I spend more time than I care to admit flipping through my fan deck of Sherwin Williams colors (only about $10 at the store, but my man Warren at my local SW store gave me mine for free because I am there all.the.time).   Here are a few of my favorite shades, most of which I have in my home.

Oyster Bay 

Rarefied Air

Rice Grain

Sea Salt

Where do you fall on the great paint divide: love it or loathe it?
{note: Sherwin Williams has not paid or otherwise comped us for this post}

See you swoon,