any suggestions?

ok, Tamera got moved out about 10 days ago. I've been setting up the 'home office'. I need some ideas about arrangements/painting the walls and decor! Suggestions on fabrics for my cane back chair, the bottom 1/4 of the drapes, etc... The walls are currently painted 'atmospheric blue' from Restoration Hardware. It's one of Tamera's favorite colors, it's pretty, but it's just too 'cool' for me. The rest of the house is a golden tan...almost peanut butter color. Sounds yukky, but I really like it.

I have thought about doing horizontal stripes in tone on tone color (not too much contrast b/w 2 paint colors). This is a pix from The Lettered Cottage and where I first saw 'striped' walls.

William prefers vertical stripes. He has a vote, of course, but this is really 'a girl's office' (ie. 'my' office). I'm loving having a place to keep all our home files, my lactation books and resources and now real estate resources and files.

So, taking all opinions and advice. I know it looks kinda boring, so give me what you've got!

his and hers

I'm not sure when my love affair with lamps started. I think it was really a long time ago when I was a teenager. My bedroom had a small 'nook' for a desk and a little 'club' chair. My parents hung one of those rattan type round lamps from a chain just over my desk and chair area. It was yellow and it gave off the prettiest light in the evenings. I really like recessed lighting, halogen bulbs, and tiny night lights.

We really like to read at night and the lamps we had on those little bedside cubes just were not tall enough to shed any light on our books. I practically had to lean out over the bed with my book to get it under the light to read. That, plus my reading glasses placed on the tip of my nose, made for very uncomfortable reading.

JCPennys.com to the rescue. I have been really pleased with my online purchases from JCP. These 2 wall lamps were on sale for 1/2 price. I was actually surprised at the quality of the shades. You really can't tell how nice they are from these pictures. I certainly couldn't tell when I ordered them. So,

HERS:
and HIS:

I'd like to find those little metal brackets that will hold the 'wiring' in place, but for now, it's just so nice to read and not fall out of bed.

Can you hear it???

I know!!! WE can't either. Here's the story. Our old GE washing machine decided it was done with washing yesterday. Just had it.
So, we headed out to Lowe's and Home Depot to make a selection. I really was planning on getting another top loader. I assure you, I am not into fancy appliances. The whole time we've been married we have never even had to buy a refrigerator due to generous family members just giving us their older but still 'good' ones. BUT, when the salesmen at 2 places told me that the front loader uses 1/3 of the water and really, really spins clothes out well and also rinses much more thoroughly, I decided to rethink this issue. This little Samsung was originally a floor model with a few minor scratches...greatly reduced and still w/in the 'top' of what we would pay for a top loader, so we bought it. The truly amazing thing about it so far is how little noise it makes. I had to just sit and watch it for almost the whole cycle. William came to find me and joined me in the fun.

Here she is! Cute, huh?