Merrimon-Wynne Grand Opening

We went to the Merrimon-Wynne grand opening event on Friday night.  After a 6 month renovation, this gorgeous historic home is Raleigh's latest event venue and it sure doesn't disappoint.  Jodi did an absolutely wonderful job and the house and grounds are stunning. I have a feeling this will be the go-to spot for weddings and other events this year and for many years to come.

My brother-in-law, Jason, and his future bride, Marie, are having their rehearsal dinner there in May and we have some other friends getting married there the very next night. 

I was blown away by the flower arrangements

Jason & Marie

Such a jokester

Some of our sweet friends SHOCKED us with a little couples baby party last night.  I don't have any pictures yet, but it was such a fun surprise - neither of us had any idea!

XO,

Whit

Our beloved first home in Oakwood for RENT!

$200 if you can help me rent our house.  Available for move in Nov 1 after we freshly paint some of the interior.

The house is 1800 sq ft, 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms with spacious kitchen, dining room and den.  Charming Oakwood home with fabulous wrap around porch and white picket fence.  5 minute walk to downtown and Glenwood Ave.  Big bonus  is driveway in back with off-street parking (rare in Oakwood!).  Fully renovated kitchen and bathrooms with granite countertops and SS appliances.  Master has large walk-in closet which includes a window.  Master bath has double vanities and tub shower.  Guest bathroom has glass walk in shower and single pedestal vanity.  Guest bedroom also has double doors for another good size closet that's so rare in historic homes.  Basement and attic provide additional storage space.  Tiled mudroom off back entry with separate laundry room attached (washer and dryer included!).  Pets can be considered with pet deposit.

The little dog that photobombed a lot of my old pics is not included, but I would throw in the den rug (black and floral).

Let me know if you'd like any other details and if you or anyone you know would like to take a look.  We absolutely loved living in this house and looking at these pictures makes me miss it!

You can comment below or send me an email whitney.c.otto@gmail.com.

XO,

Whit

Our Oakwood Bathrooms & Bathroom Dreaming

I haven't done anything to our upstairs bathrooms, hence why they have never made an appearance on the blog.  They were redone prior to us moving in.  I have a few friends in the midst of totally gutting theirs and it got me thinking -- ours may not be exactly my dream bathrooms, but they do incorporate some things I love: black & white tile, soothing & clean paint color, bead board and some cheerful art.  Best of all- they didn't cost us anything extra and for a 100+-year-old house, we are so fortunate that they didn't require any work.

I could use some new monogrammed linens to spruce them up!

My mother-in-law purchased these whimsical  dogs for her laundry room and then changed directions.  I think they could be darling in a nursery or kids' bath one day.

I actually shower in the guest shower since it's much bigger than the tub shower in the master.

The pedastal sinks in both bathrooms are pretty, but they allow for NO storage.  In full disclosure, this was right after Vivian came...they don't usually look like this!

Now for the dreaming part of this post...

It may not be super practical, but how gorgeous is this bathroom?  Love the chandelier, exposed tub, giant gold mirror, french chair and glass & metal shelf.

via Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine

Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles bathroom, traditional bathroom beautiful bathroom

via House Beautiful

via Country Living

clawfoot tub

Designer Betty Lou Phillips has several bathrooms that incorporate: marble, chandelier & cleanness of the gray and white palette.

via Betty Lou Phillips

marble bathroom, chandelier in bathroom, gorgeous bathroom

via Betty Lou Phillips

monsieur and madame tile, french bathroom, carerra marble bathroom

via Betty Lou Phillips

I love interesting wallpaper in a bathroom, too.

via Betty Lou Phillips

gold and white wallpaper

via Elizabeth Dinkel

green wallpaper in bathroom, marble subway tile

XO,

Whit

New Year, New House??

Well, for now we are settling for a freshly stripped, primed and painted Gray Lady.

Here is the house soon after Josh purchased it.  Over the last few years the paint has looked HORRIBLE. 100 years of paint needed to be sanded down to the wooden boards -- quite the project.

This is how we left it when we headed to Charlotte before Christmas (primed).

We wanted to keep it gray, but a cleaner looking, less brown gray.  See the difference in the before and after color on the right?

Here she is in her freshly painted glory (now we just need to get the porch back in order and remove the lovely dead geraniums!).

The paint really changes colors at different points in the day-- here it is this morning

Of course now we need a new tin roof over the porch.  The joys of home ownership never end. :)

Have a great weekend!!  We are excited to be in Raleigh with very little plans.

XO,

Whit

April Weekend

We are blessed to have so many friends getting married this year!  We headed to New Bern this weekend for Parker & Drew's wedding.  It was on her parent's property and was gorgeous (the weather held out!!).

I am such a sucker for father / daughter dances.  Parker & her dad were so sweet.



Other couples

Myers & Milt; Lake & Barbara

Josh & I

And friends

(note to self -- use self tanner or get some sun!)

Then we came home to some destruction in Oakwood.  We are lucky that it was only a few trees and limbs down in our yard and thankfully our house and cars were fine. (Mom- these pics are for you!)

We also came home to a dog who wanted a Bojangles biscuit.  She braved the storm on her own (then Bailey came and rescued her) so we figured she deserved it. :)

Off to Columbus for work and then another fun wedding this weekend (in Chapel Hill).

Sorry if this post was a total snoozefest!  I wanted to use it to show my sweet mom some pics.

XO,

Whit