Cote de Texas - Friend or Foe?

Cote de Texas is mostly definitely a Friend. But would she think I was a foe? Every single detail in our house was selected by her, because of her and always with her in my mind. I scoured every last post on Joni's blog. I bought most every book she referenced, I went to every store she mentioned. I was her Blogger STALKER can I call it Stogger. Yes I was her Stogger. I even stalked the houses she referenced and route she took in the morning to Starbucks, to get a better look at the houses she herself stalked. The information I collected over the last 2 years was invaluable. I am not ashamed that I lurked and stalked her blog endlessly, because now I have a beautiful house. I am sure I am one of many Stoggers that Joni must have. So here's to you Joni, I plan to get pickled tonight in celebration of my coming out of of the Stogger closet.

I sat down today to read her current post, she was discussing readers redos, photos and kitchens. I thought OMG - Joni designed my whole house even the down to the style of architecture and the landscape, It's time to tell her.

OPEN Letter to JONI: Because of you I felt empowered about lighting when I poured over the Visual Comfort (Circa Lighting) catalogue, I felt confident to ask questions when I walked into Brown, I felt knowledgeable and certain when I selected and designed the kitchen. I was always afraid to leave comments on your blog, I feel very much that I was stealing your ideas and thoughts and applying them every single day during our building process. I really tried to apply them as I thought you would.THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Living Room

Colors, Mantel and lighting selected based on Belgian influences

that is often discussed on Cote de Texas

Dining Room

Details used from Cote: Dark wide plank foors

Chalkboard off the kitchen

Kitchen

Kitchen View 2

I plan to spend the next 9 months completing the decorating process. I will also post many more room photos, you will see.............I absorbed it all, all that Cote de Texas had to say...Thank YOU.

NIghtmare or Dream?

Wow has it really been a year since I sat down and wrote an update: I intended to faithfully write weekly and was very excited to do this. I can remember the first time I received a comment, I was a scared to respond and never did. Little did I know the nightmare ahead.........

Our house is finished but not fully decorated. That is my next project: to decorate the house. Things you must know to understand the lack of interest and quite frankly my lack of enthusiasm for the whole project for the last year ( I call it the NIGHTMARE).

January 2009 - found out our Builder would barely be able to finish the project.

February 2009 - Financial Market in extreme downturn - Banks not very friendly regarding converting construction loans to mortgages. House appraises for $350K less than originally thought.

March 2009 - Move in, Builder files bankruptcy and leaves subs unpaid in the six figure amount.

April 2009 - Need lots of Cash and Aspirin and the occasional large ( Very Large) glass of wine.

May 2009 - Construction loan due - hired attorney, cleared liens after large amount of cash is spent.

June 2009 - No money left for decorating.