Home is where the heart is.

We have tried to create some sort of a "cozy homey" atmosphere in our recent residency. Luckily we have been up-graded. Ahhh yes, and you thought that the Super 8 was pretty standard. No my friends..it definitely does have its perks. We are one of the 4 lucky winners of a "mini-suite."

This being that there is sort of a half wall..separating the bedroom with the living space. I immediately evoked my mother ( the interior designer) upon entry..trying to whip up some sort of livable arrangement with the standard hotel givens.

ie...

• desk and "office chair"



• awkward ( yet, incredibly comfortable...cant believe I am even admitting that!) Lazy-Boy



• bedroom table and chairs ( i think this was supposed to simulate a mini dining room..which definitely leads to my confusion as to why it was in the bedroom in the first place.)



• microwave and mini fridge



• armoire( with no hangers???)



• TV stand/ dresser



• Sort of coffee/inn table with the token decorative lamp

I mean..these are the bare essentials. I have absolutely no design elements to work with. ( except for the Elk and Antelope artwork in the "foyer"...but that is another story all together.) So first thing is 1st, discard the icky bed spread. You know what I am talking about. Usually some sort of scratchy poly bend with an obnoxiously loud floral or geometric print. I think they were hoping to take away from the drabness that these kind of rooms omit..but somehow a forest of flowers just doesn't do it for me. Anyway..this was immediately stuffed behind the hangerless armoire ( which i dragged across the room bymyself, thank you very much) With the toss of a Rebbecca Taylor cardi as a psuedo-pillow cover, I think the bedroom is livable.

Now for the living room...or the kitchen/bar/dining area/family/gym/closet/office room. This was quite the challenge. I flip flopped everything hoping that it made a little more sense. The dining room set now serves as a kitchen counter. (Its funny enough that the husband and I only have each other to dine with...we decided we will hold the romantic dinners for 2 'till we have a more appropriate venue!) The office chair swivels..an added plus. This is quite fabulous..I can now type away in my "home office" and with the quick tinker of my toes swivel around to enjoy a glass of wine and catch a little prime time TV. Hey, no effort there, huh! By laying out our he and she mags, which he never reads,( In Style for me..Men's Health for him) I have created a tranquil reading nook. It says.."someone lives here, this is home, cant you see this is where we go to catch up on the times??" Unfortunately the tops of both the microwave/fridge box and TV stand have become the bar and pantry. There is just no other storage. It's fine..I can stare at all our products and fester over the food that I am trying not to munch on all day. No biggie.

With the purchase of a Wal Mart throw and a couple of wine bottles that double as vases..its pretty darn do-able. Certainly not my entry in the next issue of Architectural Digest, but it works for now.

I am thinking about posting some of the few wedding pics I have here around the room...but something tells me that's creepy. Maybe I need to stop while I'm ahead and not a total lunatic.