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Friday, October 1, 2010

A Little Parisian/Tuscan Apartment In Chicago!


This summer our daughter Liz (that's her on the right) moved into her first apartment, in Chicago. Liz loves all things French, and even went to France a few years ago. Her roommate Amy spent a month in Italy this summer. So they put their heads together and came up with a Parisian/Tuscan style for their apartment.

When you walk in their door, you're in the kitchen. I found this little chalkboard for $1.

Here is where they dine. Love that checkerboard floor!

Liz, looking for something to eat!


The girls bought very little for this apartment. Most everything was found in our attic or at Amy's grandmother's house. Liz saw that Paris plate at Hobby Lobby and just had to splurge!

A little vignette atop the stove. I must mention at this point that Liz did all of the decorating. She's pretty lucky that Amy doesn't care about decorating, so she was able to do as she pleased!

I don't know what to say about this shot except, will you get a load at all those shot glasses?!! And who drank all that wine?!!

They both like to take pictures of food, and were going to somehow put these in a frame. I was thinking of just surrounding the pictures with a big old chippy frame. What do you think? The bench is from our attic.

More of the kitchen. Amy loves that pillar, and it reminds her of Rome. I'm just glad I had it sitting in the attic!

This is on top of the fridge. Italian and French cookbooks, and an old ball pitcher from the attic.

Wouldn't this guy look great standing behind that pitcher? I keep threatening to put him there, but they think he's too Country. HELLO, he's standing amongst a bunch of grapes, which makes you think of wine and Italy, right?! Anyway, he's about two feet tall, and I think he would look amazing up there, but who am I?


Here we are in the living room. Liz found that mirror in the attic. It was white and chippy, and she brushed some black paint over it, leaving some of the white showing. On either side of the mirror are a Rome poster and a Paris one. Those pillows are from Linda at A LA CARTE's CSN giveaway. Thank you Linda!

Another shot of the extremely uncomfortable futon with a garage sale cushion and our old trunk, now used as a coffee table.

The clock came from Goodwill. I carried that thing around the store for 15 minutes, just to make sure it really worked!

I made the curtains, recovered the chair and made the little cushion on it.

I love Liz's idea of using ribbon to tie the curtains together. And it adds some much needed color to the room.

The little table was from our attic, as was the lamp, which was gold and I spraypainted it black. At this point, you're probably wondering what I don't have in my attic! Let's just say that I've been through a few decorating styles here, and it's all up in that attic! The globe is also from Linda's giveaway.

Here's a peek into Liz's bedroom there on the right. I think she would want you to know that if she lived alone, the whole apartment would be pink, like her bedroom!

Liz's bedroom door, with a Hobby Lobby poster on it.

The big city can be a cold place, but these two college girls are making their little apartment a pretty, cozy home, with very little money. I still need to make curtains for the kitchen. Liz is thinking maybe a mustardy yellow, with black ribbon ties. I think it's a great idea, because they definitely need more color! And they want a toasty burgundy chenille throw for the back of the futon, so that will also help. I can't tell you how proud I am of Lizzy, for using her imagination, creativity, garage sale finds, and ridding her poor mother of lots of junk in the attic to make her apartment her very own!

8 comments:

Protector of Vintage said...

What a lovely apartment and your blog banner is so cute!! Have a nice weekend.

Maureen said...

They've done a great job! I agree with you about the frame for the food photo. A substantial one would fill up the wall nicely.

It's fun to shop your own house and the cost is perfect!

Linda @ A La Carte said...

What a cute apartment! I love how they have combined their two loves into one cute place. I would like to shop your attic also, but maybe not so much left now. Really Liz did a wonderful job and you helped a lot. It's fun isn't it. I am glad the CSN gift card helped with a few decorative touches in the apt.
Tres Belle!!

Anonymous said...

I have a little table like yours - from the attic - and I picked it up from a yard sale. What do you think this little table was used for? With the two sides that lift up? It just baffles me.

Sherrie said...

I am waiting for my daughter to move out and take with her all the things we have been accumulating as well. She has a definite sense of her own style, but I am glad that she loves vintage just like her mama. Whenever I redecorate my house, I too go shopping in my attic. I am glad that I keep more than I take away. Your daughter and roomie did a great job.

Sweet Bee Cottage said...

Your daughter has some great style! How sweet of her to let you blog about her first place. It's always so much fun to come by here. Still lovin' what you did with your cabinet.

Unknown said...

Oh wait a minute! Before I talk Tuscan, I have to talk Peter Rabbit. That's my book! I have the very same one Carol. We are a match made in heaven for sure! It was one of my very favorite books of all time.

The girls have made a haven for themselves. You must be so proud of them and their quest to decorate and make their home a first home.

I laughed at the wine and shot glasses. My daughter did the same thing. I think they are trophies!

Cheers, we've all been there and done that! Just for fun, when your daughter comes home you should decorate a corner with your shot glasses. She'll might think you went over the edge!

Celestial Charms said...

Wow, arent't they clever. My first apartment never came close to looking as beautiful as that. Love it!
Maureen