Purpose and Perfection

Primary Colors

2012-03-04T20:50:00.000-06:00

Today's June Steckler Image Challenge is Primary Colors and I have enjoyed seeing all the pictures that have been posted so far! My favorite bracelet right now is a beaded bracelet from Noonday Collection and I absolutely looove all the colors. It goes with just about everything I wear and is so bright and cheerful that it is impossible to wear it without absorbing the cheeriness.

Wearing a bracelet with bright colors is a lot like how I decorate. I usually avoid primary colors on walls but absolutely love using them in art and accessories.

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In this room, the designer made modest color choices on the wall but used bold colors in furnishings and accessories.

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I love how the pale blue walls are brought to life with the yellow and red accents.

I have to put in a room that I think looks great in the picture but in reality would give me a horrible headache. This designer chose to use the bold color on the walls and use neutral furnishings. I like bright colors but a whole room in this yellow is too much for me!

If you just aren't sure how to inject some color in your house without overdoing it, you may want to consider this interesting piece of furniture! Someone saw my bracelet and made it a couch.

it actually available!

Image Challenge- Composition

2012-03-03T19:56:00.001-06:00

Day 3 of the image challenge is Composition. The flowers my husband got me for our 12th anniversary were the perfect model and behaved very well for our photo shoot.

I did take a picture for day 2 - preparation- but it was of a pot of simmering leek soup. Ok, I'll post it even though it is completely boring! Looks really healthy, doesn't it?

Thinking about composition makes me wonder if I need to change my banner photo. Simplify!

Image Challenge

2012-03-01T22:56:00.000-06:00

I have the privilege of being a stay at home mom and I cherish this blessing. But, I can get so caught up in the day to day happenings that I forget about doing the things I enjoy. I am usually taking care of the house, playing soccer in the backyard or pretending to be Princess Leia while my boys defend the universe. I quickly check facebook a couple times a day so I can tell myself I'm a good friend; I scan a couple blogs in a week so I can feel like I know what's going on in the design world; I watch 20 minutes of the news and pretend I'm informed. But really, I think about my kids A LOT. I probably talk about them way too much to other people, too!

Last year I tried doing a craft challenge per week with Ironcraft and I really enjoyed it but lost all my steam after a month. This year- apparently I get in a rut in the winter and feel the need to be creative- I am going to attempt an image challenge a day with June Steckler Art. I'm not really a photographer and thankfully the challenge isn't just limited to photos. I think it will be a great way to keep me feeling creative while I fold mountains of laundry! Really, do the boys have to get so muddy every single day???

March 1 challenge: Line

I'm pretty sure there are little creatures that live in this amazing looking tree that come out at night and pull out all the grass in the yard.

Organized and Fabulous

2011-12-02T08:53:00.001-06:00

I am so excited to post After pictures of the office I recently finished! When my client first asked for help, she told me she would shudder and close the door when she walked past the office because it was such a mess and the paint color was just plain wrong.

You can almost tell that there is an amazing fireplace in this room with a gorgeous tile surround. The paint color, though, was so bright that it dominated the entire space. Instead of a file cabinet, there were 6 or 7 small file boxes and several other insufficient shelves filled the room but didn't help with the storage problems.

This room gets so much light that with the sunlight bouncing off the walls this color was overwhelming. My client still wanted a green color in the room and I had an idea that I thought would be great~ without detracting from the beauty of the fireplace.

The foundation of this room was organization. Getting this closet organized and functional was incredibly important! Thankfully with The Container Store in town, I was able to get a great closet system in place that provides plenty of storage and more than enough function.

A file cabinet now takes the place of all the small file containers that cluttered the room. I kept 1 for the legal size documents but as you can see, there is plenty of room for it on the shelf and there is no need for it to take up floor space. Everything is labeled and easy to find.

The fireplace in this room is gorgeous and was our color inspiration.

I chose a much more grey version of the tiles and picked a neutral taupish grey for the lower portion of the walls. I chose a desk with a glass top so it isn't too bulky in this small room but it does provide more than twice the amount of surface space.

The mantle is kept simple with 1 piece of artwork, mercury glass votive holders and some personal accessories.

A cohesive color scheme keeps the room from feeling cluttered.

The fabulous cabinet from Nadeau houses cds, dvds, records and medical binders. Who says a printer stand has to be ugly?

A relaxing reading chair that was once covered in files and tucked in a corner now has the perfect home and I'd say the room is done!

From Chaos and Kindergarten colors

To sleek, sophisticated and functional

To see more about the closet organization from this project, click HERE

If you've got a room that is covered in storage containers yet no organization in sight, contact me and we can transform your home into a functional beautiful space.

the nitty gritty

2011-11-22T22:34:00.001-06:00

I absolutely LOVE decorating and organizing for clients and I really love posting the Before and After photos of projects. What I don't usually show is the work I do that no one ever sees. It's the work that helps the room actually function well but it's the part that is never photographed.

I'm not posting the After pictures yet because I'm not quite finished with the office yet but here are the Before and During pictures.

This is the closet before I started sorting and organizing. I have to admit that even I feel a little bit overwhelmed the first time I see a mess. Thankfully, my brain quickly formulates a plan and my smile is soon genuine. :-)

Instead of spending hours and hours at my client's house sorting through all the cords, cables and wires that had taken over the office closet, I dragged it all home. I did this so I could watch tv while I worked and also so I could ask my husband what the heck everything was! (He's a pretty stellar guy)

After hours of holding up a cable and asking, "What's this?" I might be able to identify a power supply cable, a usb cable, an audio cable and a bunch of other stuff. Maybe.

Everything is labeled, bagged and stored for easy access. The closet looks great and I can't wait to show you pictures of the finished product!!

To see the completed project, click HERE

Need organizing or decorating help? Contact me to schedule a consultation!

My Green Door

2011-09-30T12:52:00.000-05:00

I posted a while back about trying to decide on a color for my shutters and front door. You can see that post Here. I really wanted to use green but the color green I was drawn to just didn't seem right for the shutters. SO, I painted the shutters black (paint I already had in the garage) and painted the door green. This way, I can change the door color as the mood strikes me and the shutters stay their crisp, practical black.
Here is a quick reminder of the Before-

Faded burgundy shutters and door, dirty gutters and windows. The place was depressing!

I used the color Grassland from Lowe's. Once we got up on the ladder to take the shutters down we washed the windows and gutters so the house looks squeaky clean now, which definitely needed to happen!

Now to finish off the landscaping on the left side of the house and it'll be my perfect little cottage.... until I decide to change something else! Total cost for this makeover was $15.

Need to make some changes but don't have much budget? I absolutely love those kinds of projects! Let the creativity begin....

Feeling crafty

2011-09-28T15:27:00.001-05:00

Can I do a whole blog post about glitter? Yes, yes I can. :-) Last YEAR my sister-in-law, who's craftiness you can see here, gave me a glitter craft by Martha Stewart and I never even opened it. Then, last week, in a desperate attempt to avoid falling sleep AND to avoid housework I pulled it out of the closet and felt like a kid. A very sparkly kid.

These colors are puuurhfect for my house!

It was Glitter by Number! Super easy but I did have to use my handy dandy Swiss Army Knife to pull the minuscule stickers off. As I was squinting at the tiny numbers and feeling very clumsy I thought of the Seinfeld episode where Jerry says, "She's got Man Hands!" Yep, that's how tiny the stickers were.

1 number peeled off at a time, glitter added, and voila!

Almost dooone...

As you can see, each glitter was numbered so it was a craft that even children could understand and enjoy!

I'm pretty sure Michael's has glass frames that I can slide these into and hang up on the wall. I'll post a picture of that when I get it done!

Want to make your home a better reflection of you? Contact me and we can make it happen!

bring on the pets!

2011-08-25T16:33:00.000-05:00

Can it be true? Can pet accessories be totally awesome?? Yes! Here are just a few that have caught my fancy.

This "Fish Hotel" from Crate and Barrel is just fabulous!

This is a stylish cat bed from Wag.com. Almost looks like a magazine holder to me.

This water dish is from Poshpuppyboutique and it looks like a hip table-top water fountain!

This gorgeous dog bed from Touhleh.com says, "Yes, I'm a dog bed but I've got more style than your sofa pillows."

This amazing antique birdhouse is available at 1stdibs.com. I would buy this any day even without a bird!

Obviously our homes don't have to be overrun with ugly pet accessories. Thankfully we can now welcome pets into our home AND inject some extra style in the necessities!

Cottage Style

2011-08-11T16:11:00.000-05:00

Inspired by our trip to the beach I figured Cottage Style would be a great stop in my Find Your Style series! Yes, it's been a while since I wrote about Hollywood Glam but we'll ignore that fact and move on to a light breezy style that has fun while being functional and relaxing.

Cottage Style can mean so many different things because each coastal region (even the Great Lakes) has its own style. I'm going to focus on Southern beach cottage style for today, though. Light and airy but not afraid of tropical colors and definitely NOT afraid of nautical accessories!

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Could this be your style? No need to leave Cottage Style at the beach- give me a call and we can turn your home into the kind of relaxing retreat you daydream about!

redone yet again!

2011-07-10T18:01:00.001-05:00

I moved around A LOT when I was younger and I can see just how it affects me as an adult. I need to rearrange my furniture ALL the time and I like to redecorate as often as I can.
In the past 6 months my dining room has been transformed several times. From this-

to this-

to now!

It really is endless but that's the fun, right? riiiight?? :)

Favorite things

2011-07-09T22:24:00.000-05:00

"Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes, snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes..."

I love for every room to have a favorite thing. They are the details in the room that just light up my face every single time I see them. Right now, I am choosing glass knobs for the cabinet in my bathroom and have found some amazing knobs that are serious contenders to be my favorite thing for that room!

sweetheartgallery

This glass knob is classic and beautiful

anthropologie

Anthropolgie has amazing crushed glass coasters, too. I love the color and texture of this one!

Out of the Blue Design Studios

This knob reminds me of all the glass paperweights my dad collects-- Dust Catchers is what my mom calls them! This would be a great way to have the craftsmanship of the paperweights but on a smaller scale and maybe not so much dust.

Daisy Mae Designs

These vintage map knobs are just too cool! I could choose my current city or a city I feel particularly attached too. Not sure if I would choose Budapest or Nashville. A very personal detail no matter what your choice!

Tracy Glover

I could wear these as earrings! They are so delicate and would be such an understated amazing little detail to add to the room.

Favorite things don't have to cost a fortune and are a great way to inject personality and joy to your home! I'll take pictures of my favorites throughout the house and do another post.

time to freshen up!

2011-07-05T15:08:00.000-05:00

I have a little white ranch house with faded burgundy shutters and door. Sounds awesome, right? It's been that way for 4 years and it is time for a change!!! I just can't decide what I want to do, though. I love houses that have bold dramatic colors but the practical side of me shies away from them for my own home. With a huge driveway repair coming up I need to leave the house white and just pick a paint color for the shutters and door. Sounds simple. Only....it's not!

Here is my house as it currently stands- in need of fresh paint on the shutters and a good pressure washing. What I know for certain is that I don't want another dark color on the door. I want it to be welcoming and cheerful!

Here are some of my favorite options.

---White with green shutters-

---Blue shutters---

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---yellow shutters---

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I also like white with grey shutters!

Yeah, I know this is an interior but I really love the grey against the white!

what to do what to do??? Any brilliant suggestions?

Like flies to honey

2011-07-02T14:40:00.001-05:00

2 1/2 years ago a fun, fabulous couple asked me to pick colors for their new home that was ALL off-white. They were drawn to earthy colors but not afraid be bold. I chose a color palette with calming greens, grey blues, a beige as our neutral, deep browns and a fabulous burnt orange. The house looked amazing and once they moved in their furniture and accessories, the house was stylish and inviting!
Recently they decided to downsize and our initial planning and hard work paid off! There was a bidding war and the house sold in under 3 weeks. Making the right decisions early on makes a huge difference when you want to sell your house later!

I suggested that they paint gallery squares on the wall to bring the height of the room lower and make it cozy and inviting. They did just that and it turned out great!

Everyone who went through the house raved and raved about the colors. Like flies to honey! Can't wait to help them with their new house!

Sweetly simple

2011-05-02T22:27:00.003-05:00

I recently had the opportunity to create a special room for 2 little girls (big sis is 14 months and little sis will arrive in June). We started with a tiny nursery......

and a spare room that was just quietly waiting for its moment to shine.

Since 2 little girls would be sharing the room it was crucial to have furniture that offered excellent storage for current organizational needs and that would be just as practical in 5 years. Take out the toddler bed and crib and you've got plenty of room for bunk beds and plenty of room to grow!

The Dottie bedding from the Company Store was the perfect starting point! It set the tone for the whole room and it was such a joy to obsess over this room for the past few weeks. I love the Morgan bookcase and bench from Pottery Barn. Durable, practical and pretty- what more could a girl want?

I opted to remove the closet door and paint the closet a complementary color so the fun didn't have to end. Toys are housed in the closet right now but as the girls get older and need more room for clothes they can transition the toys into the bins on the bookcase.

Right now the bins on the bookcase are full of burp cloths, receiving blankets, washcloths, towels and bedding. Two plastic bins on the top shelf hold shoes. It is organized but still flexible to accommodate changing needs.

Precious pictures over the crib just make me smile. That little girl is too cute!

Simple shelves over the dresser provide easy access to diapers, wipes, ointments and meds. Easy for mom and dad to reach but out of reach of little ones.

Two of my favorite details in the room are the ruffles on the curtains (sewn by yours truly, amazingly enough!) and the chandelier! The little things have the chance to take center stage when the bones of the room are in perfect balance and fade into the background... smiling smugly to themselves because they know that there would be no center stage without the stage.

I think she likes it!

Do you have a decorating dilemma that you would rather not spend valuable brain space on? Let me help! I love obsessing over organizing and decorating and would be more than thrilled to save you the mental energy.

living room update!

2011-03-30T22:39:00.000-05:00

As you know, I have been searching for the right artwork over my couch. I was trying to be cheap and create my own artwork but since I'm not an artist I was not accomplishing my vision. You may remember, the room look like this

Not bad but the circle artwork just felt too bright to me and the size was almost exactly the same size as a bamboo mirror I have hanging up on the next wall. I wasn't in a rush to find something but it was definitely in the back of my mind. Then, a couple weeks ago I was out shopping for something to wear to my sister's wedding when I happened upon a couple art prints. They are supposed to be hung vertically but I immediately saw that they would be fabulous hung horizontally over my couch. Here we are now!

I hung them right next to each other like one big art piece and flipped one upside down to vary up the pattern. I found pillows at Kohl's that are pretty much the same color as the middle paint stripe and they have circles in varying sizes. Not quite sure if I'm going to keep them so the tags are still on until I make up my mind. Love my artwork, though!

bridal hair accessory

2011-03-14T21:22:00.000-05:00

My younger sister is getting married! I'm so thrilled for her and can't wait to go to the wedding this weekend.

Last month she asked if I would make hair clips for her because (in her own words), "You are good at that sort of thing." Me? Augh! The pressure! I don't know how to make hair clips so -of course- I agreed and then recommended she order something from Etsy and then I felt guilty so I put something together today. I haven't actually seen the wedding dress besides what Sis sent me from her cell phone so I don't know if the hair clips are going to work but at least I did what I said I would do!

I found a gorgeous ribbon at JoAnn and cut it at about 10 inches in length. Turned it into a rosette and added a fabulous brooch in the middle. I think it's awesome, but it IS my first bridal hair accessory so I'm going easy on myself. :)

I took this picture in bright sunlight but the ribbon is a nice soft white, not a stark crisp white.

Sis's plan is to curl her hair and pull it back on each side. I think the clips will be a wonderful romantic detail!

A bookshelf makeover

2011-02-27T14:36:00.000-06:00

This isn't going to be a jaw-dropping before and after but I always like to see and share pictures of makeovers -however small they may be!

My friends gave me a couple bookshelves when I created a design plan for their office/gear room. The bookshelves are handmade and although very sturdy, they weren't very cute. I always imagined I would paint them fun colors but didn't get around to it....until I noticed that their daughter might benefit from a bookshelf in her room! I was very open and honest that I was going to re-gift the bookshelf, hoping that that would make it less tacky. (remember that next time you get a hideous sweater at Christmas....tactfully re-gift it as coasters! ha ha!) I painted the bookshelf for their daughter and it is perfectly adorable in her bedroom.

Not much of a looker, bless its heart. I sanded down the interior and exterior of the bookshelf to break down some of the glossy poly that covered the shelf so the paint would adhere better.

Next, I primed the interior of the bookshelf and then painted with semi-gloss Great Green (sherwin williams). Since there is a lip around the front of the bookshelf it was easier to keep the line between the two colors nice and tidy. Creating a line between two paint colors can be tricky so I lucked out!

For the exterior I used Silky White in the Behr paint and primer in one. Two coats of poly and we are ready to go!

Some books and accessories and it is ready for use. Now that my original vision has been realized for one of the bookshelves I need to apply some elbow grease and get the other one done for my son's room. I just love how a little paint can give furniture a new lease on life!

Little L's nursery

2011-02-24T09:23:00.002-06:00

Before my second son was even born I knew he was going to be busy (he was a wiggle worm!) and that he would need a fun nursery to match his energy. Once again, though, small house proportions meant it would be too easy to overwhelm and dominate with a bright color so I chose... white. :) Filled it in with a deep pumpkin color and fun bedding.

Almost everything was in my older son's room when he was a baby. The Ikea crib, Ikea shelves, garage sale dresser (repainted) and the rocking chair.

I made the mobile using paper lanterns, a knitting hoop and fishing twine. I wasn't super pleased with my first attempt that you see in the first picture so I re-worked it by painting the large white lantern and hanging the smaller lanterns in a different pattern.

The stripes are actually NOT painted, they are peel n' stick stripes that I picked up on clearance at Lowe's. It is a super easy way to bring some fun into the room without making a big painting commitment.

My son is 2 now and it's almost time for a big boy bed! I think I'll bring more yellow into the room when we make the transition because his disposition is so sunny! It just seems like the perfect color for him.

My living room

2011-02-23T13:28:00.004-06:00

My living room is the first room people see when they enter my home. I wish I had fabulous flooring to go with the first impression but that is a project that is WAY down on the list of things to get done. Recently I repainted the living room, de-cluttered and am still working on the final touches.

The stripes are painted with Sherwin Williams colors Antique White, Kilim Beige and Nomadic Desert. I wanted neutral but not boring. The stripes keep it interesting but don't dominate the room.

I'm really struggling with the artwork over the couch. You can see the progression here. I've been looking at aerial pictures online and think I may choose a picture with interesting lines and get it printed. I reserve the right to change my mind on that, though! Next, fabric for pillows! I've been stewing about that for a while so we'll see if I ever make up my mind...

In a small house it's easy to over accessorize and make it feel cluttered. I prefer to focus on a few large accessories and add just a few smaller ones here and there.

My bedroom

2011-02-23T12:16:00.000-06:00

Our bedroom is tiny. I don't spend much time in it so I guess I don't really need a big room but the size did present a challenge when it came to placing furniture! I arranged the room several ways before I decided to use trickery to make it look good.

The curtains cover most of that wall and they hide the fact that the bed and window are not centered. The window is centered on the wall but the bed is centered on the usable wall space. As you can see below, there is a door that has to be taken into consideration!

A soft gray is a sophisticated background for the cream/black color scheme. I love the metallics throughout and always smile when I see the bright whimsical bench that is the pop of color I need. Small spaces don't have to be boring!

Near and Dear

2011-02-21T09:55:00.000-06:00

As I welcome myself back to blogland after a hiatus brought on by sick kids, I am excited to share one of my favorite projects of all time. A room re-do for the sweetest Grandma I've ever met! My husband's Grandma to be exact and it was a surprise re-do while she was in Branson seeing her favorite singer, (besides my husband, of course) Daniel O'Donnell.

Grandma lives in a small 2 bedroom house but one of those bedrooms wasn't even usable. It was dark, dated, dirty, full of stuff and poor embarrassed Grandma kept the door closed at all times. After a renovation that -thank the Lord- brought her washer and dryer out of the basement we decided it was time to do something about that room!

After the renovation the wall was left as you see it.

The To Do list for the room was pretty long but we jumped in and in 1 weekend got it done. We ripped up flooring, shoveled out the carpet pad (yup, that's how old it was), paid someone else to install new carpet, tore down the ceiling, installed a new ceiling and painted. Lots of painting!

I was about 4 months pregnant at the time of our surprise re-do so I wasn't allowed to paint but I kept myself busy doing the sewing, cleaning the rest of the house and bossing everyone around. :)

We primed the walls with tinted primer and since there were 2 types of paneling we filled in some of the deeper grooves on half the room before doing the top coats of paint. My wonderful sis-in-law, Melodie did most of the painting and did a fabulous job!

Grandma had some gorgeous furniture that we were able to bring to life by lightening and brightening the room. I love the finished product and it's one of those rare instances when I get to see the "after" again and again. Also, blue is her most favorite color in all the world and she said she loves to leave the door open now so she can enjoy her pretty room.

I gave the guests more privacy by hanging longer cafe curtains in the windows AND still gave Grandma plenty of room to see out the top.

Her beautiful hand painted pottery is featured in the nook. A lovely tribute to the wonderful creative woman she is.

Her amazing antique organ finally stands out instead of blending in with old paneling! (We had wrapped the door in streamers and bows for her arrival :))

Sweet Grandma, home from Branson, shocked and amazed that her grandkids love her so much to spend their time and money making her house a little prettier. It is a wonderful memory for all of us!

Iron craft challenge 6: Winter

2011-02-09T08:06:00.001-06:00

When I think of winter I think of staying inside bundled up under cozy blankets, reading a good book and sipping a mug of hot tea. If I had my druthers I would stay that way all winter- only venturing out to buy more tea and get more books from the library. I am a winter hibernator! Skiing? Ugh, no. Sledding with the kids? Only if I must.

I like to be warm!

So, when the iron craft challenge was posted I immediately thought of warms drinks. You know me! How to make that thought into a craft, though? I decided to make a Drink Station inspired by winter.

Step 1: Off to a good start, huh? Don't worry, I have a vision for these amazingly awful 30 yr old prints from the thrift store. $2 is right up my alley!

Step 2: I took the cardboard print out of one of the frames and placed my hooks.

Step 3: I used decoupage to cover the frame in pretty paper. I liked the added interest of the red in the middle and you'll see what I chose for the backing!

Step 4: I painted the second frame but left the artwork intact. There is a much brighter future here so don't lose heart. (my apologies if you like the cardboard artwork)

Step 5: I added my hooks, backer, snow/glitter and a bird to the first frame (seems fitting that my space- heater is discretely sitting in the background!). Finally, added my cups and hung it up!

Step 6: I painted over the print in the second frame with chalkboard paint. Just about ready....!

Step 7: I used picture wire to string curtain clips that can hold a variety of beverage options across the message board. ( all that's lacking is a place for some whiskey)

Voila! Add a little message and the drink station is ready!

Iron craft challenge

2011-02-07T13:08:00.000-06:00

In order to keep the creativity flowing while I spend my days laughing with my children I have decided to take up crafting. theironcraft blog has weekly challenges that keep me crafting and keep me creative. This week the craft inspiration is WINTER so I'm working on my creation. Every time I make something I think, "Someone with better crafting skills could make this look a LOT better than me," but I keep working anyway. I'll post pictures on Wednesday and that reminds me, I need to get to work! eeks!

Also, later this week I'll post a link to a friend's blog. Matt asked me to guest write for him and I have been stressing for months over it. It's done and I hope you enjoy it!

Think outside the box

2011-02-04T13:12:00.001-06:00

I heard the phrase "migratory furniture" recently and laughed so hard because, I must admit, my furniture migrates pretty regularly and it soothes my soul. Sometimes it is simply the realization that the couch would look much better on the other side of the room and sometimes it is the need to shake things up a bit. This is my first winter cooped up with 2 young and very active boys so as the cold drags on I've been unable to ignore the need to lighten and brighten my surroundings. AND, not spend money.

Yesterday as I was sitting at the table in the dining room I looked out onto the deck and felt sorry for the table out there. Stuck in the cold with no one to enjoy its style. I looked at the big black table in front of me and realized I could make a huge impact with very little effort and NO money!

The glass-top table takes up so much less room, it reflects a ton of light and the room feels so much livelier without the big black table dominating the room. (plus, I get to sit closer to my family at meal times)

Side note: my buffet used to look like THIS but I decided to change it up a bit. I used a strip of grass-cloth wallpaper that I bought for about $5 and taped it to the doors. Much better! I like modern lines but love natural textures so this solution marries the two preferences perfectly. And, yes, those are cheap Ikea chairs with washable cushions for my kids. Sometimes practicality has to win over style. Maybe when they move out I'll bring in my other 2 animal print chairs!

Now my old table is in the garage with no one to enjoy its style but, well, life is rough sometimes. Feeling the need for change? Don't bother rushing to the store; Just try rearranging a few things and thinking outside the box! Happy migration!

A Mistletoe Valentine

2011-02-02T14:58:00.002-06:00

Here's a fun little Valentine craft. It's also one I actually made myself! Believe it or not...

My friend Amanda mentioned a craft challenge at theironcraft.blogspot.com/and suggested I join the ranks of those trying to be creative and crafty! So, this week's challenge is to make a Valentine and I decided to make a Mistletoe Valentine. Fun and easy (how I think ALL crafts should be... but not all ladies -wink!)

I also entered this in a contest Valentine's Day Challenge so please leave comments! They are my "votes" and I need votes to win!

I started out by cutting out 6 large hearts and tried to keep them as close to the same size as possible. Anyone can do this part!

Next, I decorated each heart and strung some ribbon through each end.

this one says "meant to be" and "all you need is love"

This project is perfect for indecisive people! You basically get to make 6 Valentine's cards for 1 person!

Knot all the ribbons together and what do you get?

The cutest most adorable Mistletoe Valentine. Think my hubby will like it? ;)

disclaimer: Usually I roll eyes at Valentine's day but I'm feeling the need to embrace any chances at creativity. Happy crafting!

Valentine's Day inspired crafts

2011-02-01T11:34:00.001-06:00

Well, it's February. Time for pink, red, hearts, chocolate, candy, paper doilies and love. Lots of love. I found some super cute craft ideas to get this month kick-started!

This crayon heart sun-catcher is just what we need to brighten up the dreary days of winter. Click here to view directions for making this adorable craft.

This craft is fun and easy! Click here for directions.

I got excited when I saw this one. Definitely going to have a bouquet of these for the boys on Valentine's Day! Click here for directions.

I saw this idea on a blog and thought it was chic, clever and SO simple! Not so much a craft for the kids but it would still be fun to create! The link to the creator of this idea wasn't working but I'm pretty sure it's just a heart wrapped in twine. Might be a little time consuming but well worth it!

BUT, if you are like me and want to keep it super simple just cut out hearts from fun colored scrap paper, get out some glitter, find some stickers and have some fun!

This is my friend, Vanessa's daughter. Click here to see her highly amusing blog! Fun and easy and a great way to start the heart obsessed month! (fyi, glitter defies the suction of vacuum cleaners!

Happy Crafting!

10 great closet ideas!

2011-01-26T11:20:00.001-06:00

Closets are such a challenge! It's easy to ignore them because the door closes and no one sees the stacks, the clutter, the mess... Am I right, or am I right?

I'm sure you've all read that a closet is a great place to squeeze in a home office. Not actually very easy to visualize when you are standing there in front of the clutter! Here is a great idea to help you re-think your closet space. Even the doors have been given a new life.

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Here, a closet was turned into a bright and functional locker room. I love the colors and easy access!

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I am drooling over this craft closet! Everything is so easy to see, reach and put away. Love it.

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A closet for 2 little boys has to start with sensible planning. It looks great and is so straight forward that they can keep it looking that way.

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Here is another great home office eked out of a closet. It is so crisp and bright I could probably spend hours sitting there...

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I put this closet in only because most of us will never in our lives even SEE a closet this extravagant (or that many shoes outside a shoe store). This is Mariah Carey's closet. Nice huh?

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Ok, back to the practical world. :)

This closet is great for a little girl. There is room to hang dresses AND shorter garments. It seems like it's usually one or the other, doesn't it? I love the purple painted inside the closet, don't you?

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This closet gives some great pointers for organization. Group like things together; Pants, shirts, purses, all grouped together is one of the easiest ways to get started organizing. I personally don't have enough closet space to give my hand bags so much breathing room but this closet is sleek, simple and organized.

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This is a great coat closet idea! Have you ever had a closet with the awkward shelving on the sides that you just never knew what to do with? This is a fabulous example of how to make that space usable.

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Is this an amazing pantry or what? Like I mentioned with the clothing closet... grouping things together is the best way to organize. Even with the pantry.

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I hope you find some inspiration for those little clutter collectors also known as closets! Good luck and if you want an in home consultation and design plan contact me! I would love to hear from you.

one canvas so many possibilities

2011-01-18T18:49:00.001-06:00

Ok, so it's not really a canvas...it's a large piece of drywall. I'm such a cheapskate that I wander the house looking for something I can be creative with instead of heading to Michael's to buy the item that would most logically fit my project. I also don't really consider myself to be much of an artist so I don't think what I do warrants a real canvas!

My first attempt at making wall art for the living room was too dark and heavy for me.

My second attempt (after the room redo) was too light compared to the other pieces in the room. As you can see, there is a large mirror in the room with a very thick frame. The artwork was nice but better suited for a more whimsical space.

My third attempt may not be my last but I'll probably live with it for a while. (I need to hurry up and get those pillow covers sewn! I love how they brighten the room.)

The wonderful thing about creating your own artwork is that you can try and try again!

Old Hollywood Glam

2010-11-12T08:57:00.001-06:00

Are you trying to figure out your style? I'm starting a series to help you learn more about the styles out there so you can pick your favorite!

Today we begin with Old Hollywood Glam. It is all about glamor here- no unfinished pine going on in these rooms.! Metallics, luxurious fabrics, mirrors, jewel tones, graphic prints and extravagant statement pieces. Let's look at some pictures to get a better idea.

This first room pretty much sums it all up. The huge mirror on the wall is an impressive statement, the couch and chairs are luxurious and the color on the walls looks like there is a metallic glaze on it. Fur pillows/throw finish it off impressively.

This room is a quieter version of Hollywood Glam. The dark floors offer a crisp contrast to the white bedding. The headboard is tufted, the side tables are mirrored, the lamps are gorgeous and the green accent color is keeps it lively.

This living room has it all. The creams and beiges, oversized lamps, opulent furniture, metallics and even some otherworldly statues by the well stocked bar.

This last picture shows a bedroom done in Old Hollywood Glam style and everything in this room is a statement piece! The bed, the paint color, the artwork, the lighting, the bedding...everything is a statement!

So, is Old Hollywood Glam your style? If not, stay tuned....

murals

2010-11-04T12:29:00.001-05:00

A mural is such a fun addition to a kid's bedroom. I just love them! The tricky thing is picking something that they won't outgrow quickly.
The mural is this room was so so so precious but not very appealing to a 4 yr old little boy who wanted a "big boy" room. He absolutely loves Thomas and all things train related but do we want Thomas up on the wall for years? Big fat NO! Goodbye bunnies and hello retro rails!

This train almost takes up the entire wall of the bedroom! It is cool and sleek without playing too much into the temporary Thomas phase. We found this image on-line then used a projector to get the image onto the wall. Lots of tracing followed by meticulous painting and we have a great finished product!

Here is a mural that I had a professional artist do in a playroom. I designed the mural but had to commission someone who is far more talented at painting than I am!

Devon (Simply Artistic) did a great job making a mural of just silhouettes come to life.

Like I said, I love murals and the creativity they bring to a room!

as luck would have it

2010-10-22T22:04:00.002-05:00

I had been searching for a good deal on solid wood dining room chairs-with a cushion seat- for MONTHS and finally stumbled across my diamonds in the rough in rural Indiana. Leaving my mother-in-law's house we drove past a house having a garage sale and I could see 4 chairs balanced precariously on a hill so we made a quick U turn and I braved a ferocious Pitt Bull to get a closer look. Perfect. I bought all 4 chairs for $20 dollars! I still squeal when I think about what an amazing deal I got!

I also got more than I bargained for. The crackle finish on the chairs would not be sanded down so I had to resort to toxic paint stripper. Ug. What a messy dangerous job! Can I just say that it is never as easy as the can tells you it will be!

Finally, the chairs have realized their potential and I love them. It's amazing what a little elbow grease can do!

Here are 2 of the chairs in my dining room. Yes, I make my kids sit in cheap Ikea chairs with washable cushions. Hey, it's better than using plastic seat covers!

side note: the buffet is an Ikea buffet that looks fine as is but I wanted to give it a little more character. I found a sheet of grass-cloth wallpaper and taped it to the doors (yes, taped..that way, I can change my mind and have very little work to do!).

Master bedroom update

2010-10-19T21:28:00.001-05:00

To me, the master bedroom should never be ignored but it is usually the last room in the home to get attention since it is rarely seen by company. The master bedroom should reflect the personality of the couple and be a refuge at the end of a long day.

Before:
Colors from the mid 90's and over the top floral curtains were just too painful for the home owners.

After: The home owners love earth tones so we got rid of the old and brought in the new.

Having never decorated for someone who is 6'5" I found myself having to negotiate with the husband the placement of artwork and accessories. Above the bed? The trickiest placement of all, for sure, but we compromised so it's high enough that he doesn't bump his head and low enough so his 5'4" wife can see what's on the shelves.

The home owners love the accent wall! It's actually the same color as the chair but looks brighter with the flash. We brought in the earth tones they love, streamlined the curtains, simplified accessories and they finally have a room that reflects who they are.

What does your bedroom say about you?

a tale of two tables

2010-10-11T11:02:00.000-05:00

I absolutely LOVE the Svala table and chairs for kids from Ikea!

It is a blank canvas that can be personalized in ANY way. Here are two examples of ways I have painted the tables/chairs

the medallion in the middle of the tables is an abstract of the home- owner's last name. Can you see Miller?

This is perfect for little boys! They love choosing which mode of transportation to sit by - learning to associate the word with the picture is an educational bonus.

So fun and easy to personalize these tables and chairs! Who's next??

Passion for Playrooms!

2010-10-10T21:31:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I'm a big nerd and enjoy designing playrooms! I also like washing dishes (you wouldn't guess it if you saw my kitchen, though). Strange, I know, but think of it this way... you get to see results quickly!

Before: 3 kiddos means many toys, means many messes, means hard to keep clean, means HELP!

Even I felt a little overwhelmed walking into this room and I know how to break a project down into manageable tasks! Any previous attempts at organization in this room had, unfortunately, failed- despite good intentions. A large tv armoire was packed with books, toys and a very small tv. It took up way too much space visually and wasn't a practical storage solution. The other storage solutions were bins that were too large so if one little car was wanted, the whole bin was dumped out. Time to rethink the room completely!

After: We used storage systems from Ikea (one of my favorite stores) to divide the room into play zones. This half of the room has kitchen, dolls and dress ups. The Trofast benches are easy to assemble, easy to configure to fit the room and easy for kids to use.

This half of the room houses the outdoor toys - in another Trofast bench- and the art corner. The storage unit they already had is perfect for art supplies. The bins are just the right size for markers, crayons, coloring books, play-dough, paints, etc.

The middle of the room showcases artwork from each of the children, houses books, dvds and more toys. This is the Expedit from Ikea and two more flank each side. Each toy bin is labeled so the children can clean up after themselves... and believe it or not, they do!

With a little more planning and a lot of sorting, any playroom can be a great place for the whole family to hang out and you won't have to lock the door when company is coming over.
Send me pictures of your playrooms and I'll help you make some changes that could make a big difference!

A touch of Whimsy

2010-10-09T16:09:00.001-05:00

This is actually my own bedroom! It is really small but it is filled with details that I love.

One of my favorites is a thrift-store find that I transformed by painting and reupholstering. Before: this little bench was not living up to its colorful potential. I knew it could be the perfect addition to my black/cream/grey bedroom.

I love the unexpected burst of color and pattern! It makes me smile every time I see it.

It is so easy to transform pieces of furniture with paint and fabric. See if you can find something in your home that needs a new lease on life!

Playroom- fun and functional

2010-10-08T13:21:00.000-05:00

Playrooms can get out of control pretty quickly and need a good organizational plan. Choosing the paint color is also really really important! It needs to be fun but you don't want it to over-stimulate the kids, which will create a negative atmosphere instead of a fun comfortable place to play.

Before: The play room didn't have any color or adequate toy storage.

After:

I slaved over the stripe in this huge room! Imagine starting in one corner, using a laser level to tape off a line but somehow ending up 2 inches off from the original starting point. The colors I chose are appealing to kids and adults so no one dreads hanging out. Fun but not overwhelming.

A fun project for me that created a fun play environment for a fabulous family!

innovative thinking

2010-10-06T19:58:00.000-05:00

Green is such a common phrase nowadays. Most of us are very aware of what it means to be eco friendly, but would you be willing to take it all the way? Here are some homes that are made out of shipping containers and recycled materials!

These homes just blow me away! What creativity!

A long lost living room

2010-10-05T15:08:00.000-05:00

The main living room in this big ol' house was lacking warmth and style. The built-ins were the wrong scale for the room and didn't provide enough storage or function. The color was too mauve and the carpet had speed bumps. It was hard to arrange this room since the fireplace and tv were on opposite walls but both were used regularly.
Before:

During: The carpet came up, the old fireplace came out, we installed a vent free unit and a new paint color went on the walls.

During: The custom cabinetry went in. This was a test in my self-confidence for sure! I designed the cabinetry and gave the design to a very talented carpenter. After he looked it over he kept saying, "I've never seen anything like this...are you sure this is what you want?" I stuck to my guns and think it turned out very well.

The mantle doubles as component storage and hidden hinges hide the fact that the front is actually two doors

The area under the stairs now has TONS of storage for movies, cds, books and photo boxes.

After: Gorgeous flooring, custom cabinetry, lots of storage and lots of style. What more could a living room want?

Before: We even took out the wall of the dining room to open it up to the rest of the house.

After:

A house with a view

2010-10-04T15:57:00.000-05:00

The first time I visited this home I paused for several seconds by my car just to take in the view. Gorgeous! Once I got inside, though, it was a different story. I could tell the home-owners had beautiful furniture and accessories but they needed help putting it all in the right places.

Before: When you enter the home the dining room is immediately on your right separated from the entry by columns. It was dark and over furnished. I gave the home-owners quite a To Do list but they were receptive and got it all done!

What should be the formal sitting room greeted you when you turned to your left. The clutter is a big No No when putting your house on the market. Buyers need more help visualizing actually living in your home.

After: A little bit of wallpaper removal and some paint can go a long way! The dining room feels inviting and about twice as big (we took out several small tables and a very large grandfather clock). It is now a proper first impression.

The formal sitting room is now a sitting room! We used furniture from other rooms in the house to pull this together. Sweet and simple. We also took down the large formal drapes since they were way too overpowering.

Before: The family room seemed worn out and the custom drapes blocked way too much of the view.

After: I simplified the decor, had all the drapes taken down and re-worked the furniture arrangement.

Before: The kitchen was well on its way too being market ready but once again... too many curtains.

After: A new bask-splash and some accessories finished it off

Before: The hallway bathroom had a busy and shiny wallpaper

After: We had the wallpaper taken down and now buyers won't see "project" when they see the bathroom

Before: The master bedroom looked really good but had too many pictures and heavy drapes that darkened the room and made the colors of the wallpaper too defined.

After: We took down the drapes and simplified accessories

Before: Master bathroom

After: I wasn't able to get the wallpaper down but by streamlining accessories I was able to give the bathroom the feel of a spa.

Before: The office was cram packed with furniture. Can you tell there is a large window in here?

After: I moved the chair and ottoman to the family room, put the large filing cabinet in a niche, moved the desk and voila! The room is bright, airy and spacious!

Before: The bonus room was a hodge-podge of stuff

After: We took out the air mattress and the table and chairs. The room still has a purpose but buyers won't be distracted by too many functions.

Before: The guest room. Over furnished and outdated.

After: I took out the un-needed furniture, brought in accessories that were the right scale and I updated the bedding but kept it neutral. Subtle changes that make a great difference! ( didn't know until after I uploaded the pictures that my camera lens needed to be cleaned!)

The homeowners were so pleased with the finished product and I can't wait for their home to go on the market!

Ok, here's a picture of the view I've been raving about!

creative color

2010-09-26T23:01:00.000-05:00

Getting to decorate a kid's room is always fun and challenging. You want it to be fun but not something that would be overstimulating. You want it to reflect their personality but also give them room to grow. And, you want them to love it!

Before: A new house, a new bedroom... time to make it feel like home for a precious 3 yr old. A frilly out dated valance said it all. This room hadn't been touched since the 80's!

After: The little girl had picked out her own bedding, which was bright and very colorful. I didn't want to paint the room a bright color as well so I decided that a focal wall would work best. It is fun, energetic and colorful but isn't so loud that it is overwhelming.

I painted the walls a soft white that would be the perfect backdrop for more colors and for the artwork she is sure to add as she gets older.

The carpet had to stay the same but with more color throughout the room it sort of fades away and lets everything else shine.

For some reason, the little girl was really scared of her closet doors but her parents didn't want to take them down so I tried to make the doorway a little more fun and a lot more colorful for her. The beads were a success and the saloon doors don't even bother her anymore.

downsizing and moving on

2010-09-25T09:54:00.000-05:00

Staging this house was so fun! There wasn't a lot of furniture because the homeowner has slowly been donating her belongings so it would be easier to downsize but we still had plenty to work with. Thanks Kristie for helping me out on this staging project! Kristie has a staging business and she is absolutely fabulous!

Before: The furniture in the living room was too spread out and the accessories on the mantle were too small.

After: We found a much larger piece of artwork for the mantle and kept the accessories simple. We took out the large recliner, moved the couch up about 4 feet and brought in 2 wing back chairs that help create a cozy sitting area.

Before: The dining room was dark and oppressive.

After: We took out the red drapes but left the valance. That move alone brightened the room considerably! We also took down the iron artwork and put up pictures that brought in more contrast. We took the leaf out of the table so the dining room would seem bigger and used the captains chairs in other rooms in the house.

Before: The kitchen was pretty but it lacked that Something Special to catch the eye of buyers.

After: We brought in a table and chairs for the eating area, cleared clutter off counters and brought in stylish but simple accessories for the glass cabinet.

Before: Once again, heavy curtains overpowered the room.

After: We didn't want to leave the homeowner without privacy so we tucked the drapes back as far as they would go instead of taking them down. Brought in one of the chairs from the dining room and now the room is balanced and welcoming.

I am so impressed with the small personal touches Kristie remembers to add. She is the bed staging pro!

Before: The guest suite in the walk-out basement didn't say Come stay awhile!

After: We rearranged the furniture and took off the dated bedding. Simple changes that made a BIG difference.

Before: The guest bathroom had one small flower on the wall. That needed to go!

After: Just switching out the artwork made a big difference here.

Most of the remaining rooms in the house were empty but now the ones with furniture look good!

simple southwestern

2010-09-24T13:47:00.000-05:00

My clients needed a LOT of help. They needed help picking paint colors, arranging furniture, organizing clutter and most of all they needed help turning their home into a place that reflected them! The entire downstairs was on our To Do list.

Before: The living room and dining room were the very first thing people saw when they walked in. It was out-dated and the toys and drum set had taken over. The fireplace surround was hideous and brought too much attention to itself... and not in a good way!

After: We tore down the fireplace tile and pine. We installed a vent free fireplace and because of that we were able to put to good use the former chimney. We also got a great storage system from Pottery Barn that helped us organize all the toys. We picked a warm paint color that would be a good back drop for their artwork and southwestern accent colors.

In the dining room we painted a terracotta color on the walls and put up a fabulous cornice board. We also took out the large hutch since it was full of dishes they never used and we brought in an amazing chandelier that combines simple lines and a southwestern feel.

Before: This is the hallway bathroom/laundry room. Do I have to say anything??

After: Well, obviously we took down the wallpaper! Re-tiled the floor and created a custom built/tiled vanity. New lighting, new faucet and a custom roman shade (with the same fabric as the dining room cornice) finished off the room. I absolutely LOVE this bathroom!

Before: This kitchen had no personality whatsoever! bland bland bland....oh, and cluttered. It was not a place the home owners enjoyed spending any time.

After: I searched high and low for a counter top solution that was in our budget. We finally decided on a laminate that had a neutral updated color. We tiled the backsplash and added a custom cafe curtain over the sink. Once again, the wallpaper came down. We used the same paint color as the living room so there would be flow throughout the entire downstairs.

We turned a screened- in porch into a sun room/drum room but I never got pictures because the home owners were doing the work on their own and weren't quite finished when everything else was done. It was a great experience and a challenging one. I learned a LOT and really enjoyed myself!

Let's Get Staging (part 2)

2010-09-23T22:18:00.000-05:00

As I learn my way around the blogging world I've decided to break some of my posts into 2 so I don't have quite as much to put together!

THE BEDROOMS

Before: The master bedroom of this house was also the office but the furniture layout gave absolutely no separation of the two. It was a large room but the space wasn't used very well.

After: We rearranged furniture (separating the office area from the sleeping area), changed the bedding, added curtains and took out the outdated over sized headboard.

Before: It's great for kids to have hobbies and interests and for their rooms to reflect that but when your home is on the market it is best to scale back and represent those passions simply. This room was really small and seemed even smaller because you would trip over the bed when you walked in the room. Time to rearrange!

After: Once again, we rearranged furniture and added curtains. We also took down the horse border and the 1 small piece of artwork on the walls. It is better to have bare walls than something that is too small and awkwardly placed.

Before: This bedroom was so sad and bland! Clutter on the floors had to go and some life had to be brought in so buyers can imagine their children being at home there.

After: We brought in a headboard for the bed, cheerful but neutral bedding, artwork and changed the floor plan. We even brought in an armoire from the living room (unfortunately, I didn't get a picture from the other side of the room so you can see it) to give her more storage and with the new layout, it works perfectly!

So, you can see that with space planning and simple changes a huge impact can be made in your home! I love how much we were able to do without spending much money.

Let's Get Staging! (part 1)

2010-09-21T20:49:00.000-05:00

This was my first solo staging project. The family was absolutely wonderful but had NO budget so we had to be creative. Thankfully craigslist and spray paint can solve many issues!

Before: First Impressions are incredibly important when your home is on the market. A room that is overcrowded yet under accessorized is not the impression you want to make.

After: We hung up artwork, took out the large coffee table, removed the large armoire and updated accessories.

Before: A large tv cabinet greeted prospective buyers when they entered the home. I know, it's really hard to arrange furniture in the long living rooms of most ranch style homes but when your home is on the market you have to reconsider furniture placement.

After: We moved a buffet from the dining room to replace the tv cabinet. We needed something that didn't block the line of vision and something that would create an entryway.

Before: The dining room was crowded yet bland. It was a tight squeeze on all sides of the table.

After: We rearranged the furniture, replaced the lighting ($40 on craigslist and some spray paint), and brought in some simple accessories. We also rearranged the dishes in the hutch so they would be more noticeable yet not too busy.

Before: The golden oak cabinets and the brass knobs made the kitchen feel so outdated!

After: We painted the kitchen, updated the knobs on the cabinets and brought in a valance to tie colors together. Sometimes too much beige is really negative...even in a house on the market so we had to bring in some color!

2010-06-10T09:48:00.000-05:00

I decided to separate my personal blog from my business/crafting blog. I'll try to move posts from the other to this one. I have several projects in the works!