this (new) house

It's funny how when you're so used to sharing what's going on in your life over the internet, it can feel really strange when you have to hold something back. For the last few weeks, there's been something I haven't been able to tell you -- being painfully superstitious, I didn't want to say anything until we were certain.

But... we bought a house!

One of the reasons that Chad and I moved to Houston was the amazingly beautiful houses that you can buy for the same price here as, oh, say, a junior one bedroom in the far reaches of Brooklyn. After the bar exam, we pretty much devoted every weekend to stopping by open houses, scouring real estate websites and eventually... found our dream house!

Now, keep your fingers crossed for us, because although most of the big steps are past us, we don't have the keys just yet. But I'm so excited to show it to you guys as soon as we're settled in! (I'm going to have my own separate shoe closet, if you can believe it!)

For now, though, I'm focusing on decorating. Like many couples, Chad's and my furniture is sort of a mish-mash of things I bought, things he bought, things my parents bought us, and a lot of it is old enough that my taste has changed pretty substantially since we picked it out. (You can see some of it on Glitter Guide's feature on our NY apartment a few months ago!)

But now that we're increasing our living space by a lot, I figure it's the right time to settle on a design style. My gut is leaning toward contemporary, but I'm a sucker for odd and eclectic pieces -- I want everything to feel like it makes sense together, but not get too bogged down in a single theme or style. So in that vein, I've been picking up some pieces I love over the last few weeks, and wanted to share them with you guys!

Wish us luck -- I am so excited!!!

Clockwise, from top left: (1) Bookshelf, $111 from Target, for our front entryway; (2) Paper Mache Rhino head, $68 from Anthropologie, for our family room; (3) Runner (Rug), $99 from Gilt Home, for our front hallway; (4) Union Jack Barstools, $148 for both from Overstock.com, for our bar area; (5) Ceramic Elephant, $99 from Z Gallerie, for our living room; (6) Space Chair, $790 from Modani, for our living room or bedroom; (7) Vase, $69 from Gilt Home, for our front hallway.