5 Spring Decor Idea's

Spring is coming,  and it is time to start dusting off the glue gun and get your spring decor on. Here is a collection of some of my favorite spring interiors with links to products and D-I-Y's for obtaining the same looks in your own home. One of the things I love most about Spring, is how easy it is to decorate for.  

ComfyDwelling.com

I am in love with these soft blue vases with pink tulips. Tulips are a spring essential, and I love how they look.  They add color, and brighten up a space.  Tulips are also available in a wide variety of colors, so you have quite a few options to coordinate with your space.  Yellow, white, pink, even orange, purple, or red.  You can mix and match colors or go with all the same colors.  

Now to create this look.  I found similar vases here, here,  and here. You can purchase tulips at your local grocery store.  I don't recommend buying flowers online, but if you must, you can find them here.  This is a quick and simple arrangement that can be done on a mantle, hearth, entry table, or anywhere else in the house.  This is a low skill project that doesn't require any special equipment (like that glue gun!)  Just a few simple notes: I typically like doing these arrangements in odd numbers, three or five vases, etc. Also, you don't have to fill all the vases with flowers. Note how this arrangement has two of the four vases filled with flowers.

ComfyDweling.com

This next image, much like the first one, is easy and obtainable in many areas of your home.  From the mantle to the entry table, even the front porch.  This vignette features a few items: 

• Old window frame, or this message board
• Chalkboard
• Tulips and greenery
• Tin Planter
• Burlap Table Runner
• And don't forget the cute bunny. 

This vignette is easy to make look great. Notice again, there are three vases, (I love them in odd numbers!).  Two one one side, and one on the other.  The bunny helps even out the vignette with the centered greenery in a tin planter, the chalk board, and the antique window. 

Dreamy Whites

This lovely table setting is perfect for Spring. The white ceramics are beautiful, and the lilac's are even better. Here are some of the items you will need to duplicate this space:

• Enamel Pitcher
• Lilac's  
• Antique Lavender Bottles
• Mason Jars

This table setting is very easy to duplicate. I have always believed that when you don't force a table setting, it looks natural. Less can definitely be more, and don't try to force it.  If you notice this setting, there is room to breathe.  There isn't so much on the table that you can still actually see the table.  Fill those mason jars with lemon aid, and your ready for a Sunday Spring Brunch.  Add some macaroons or petite fours, and your golden!

FrugalHomeMaker.com

Now for the DIY's. 

One spring item that I love, is this amazing DIY tulip wreath that is not only easy to put together, but inexpensive, and will brighten up and liven up your front door.  Some of the item's you will need for this tutorial are: 

• Grapevine Wreathe
• Silk Tulips
• Burlap Bow  

Follow along with the tutorial, and you will have a great wreathe to grace the front door and welcome your guests.  (Including the Easter Bunny!)  If you don't want to use only tulips, then shop around Michael's or Hobby Lobby and find a spring assortment that will make you happy. Hydrangeas, lilac's, lilies, any spring bloom will look great. 

This next DIY is fabulous. It includes Mason Jars.  How can you go wrong with Mason Jars? Painted Mason Jars are a big trend right now.  Forth this DIY, you will need the following: 

• Mason Jars
• Acrylic Craft Paint
• Hydrangeas
• Paint Brushes
• Free Printables

Now, be sure to follow along the tutorial.  This tutorial has you paint the interior of the mason jar, but you can also paint the exterior and sand some areas for a more shabby chic distressed look. If you go that route, I would recommend Chalk Paint. 

Happy Spring and Happy Decorating!

Don't be Afraid of Bold Colors!

Ok, so my last post was about crisp grey colors that are exploding in popularity.  So this one, I am going to completely contradict myself and go in the opposite direction.  I am going with another collection of colors in the Sherwin Williams 2014 Color Forecast, Intrinsic! Bright colors that can be used as wall colors, or even accent or accessory colors.

Sherwin Williams SW 6841 Dynamo

Sherwin Williams SW 6788 Capri

Sherwin Williams SW 6382 Ceremonial Gold

Now, I bet your thinking, "Oh my, those are bright colors!"  Well, they look great.  Even together they add fun flair to any space.  The scene to the left shows a living room with all three colors on the walls and ceiling.

Now, don't get me wrong, I am not advocating going out and painting this room....unless you really do love it, but I think that bright colors can add to a space.  Don't be afraid of color!  To the left, you can see the same room painted with only one of the colors, and a more neutral lighter color on the walls.  That bright pop of "Dynamo" on the center wall creates personality in the space.  (And just in case your wondering, the new wall color is Sherwin Williams SW 6156 Ramie)

Now, if you are renting, you could easily paint one wall and enjoy the space, and just paint it back before you leave.  I know the accent wall has been a bit overdone, however it is still a super easy way to add to any space.

Ceramic Stool $290

You don't have to use these colors just in your space, I am sure you have seen them raiding the racks at your local clothing store.  There are also a large selection of brightly colored accessories, lighting fixtures, mirrors, and other materials you can accessorize your space with.

Felt Flower Pillow $15

Color isn't the enemy!  There are books, shows, and a ton of resources available to give you inspiration and ideas for using color in your decor.  Like this great article on using color in an open floor plan.  Or this article by Paul Anatier on when to use warm or cool hues.

So what are you waiting for, welcome color into your space!

Some New Trends in Color

Contemporary Dining Room by
Tracy Miller/Miller Greene Design Studio

I keep seeing a new trend in wall colors.  This color isn't so much a color, but a lack of color.  As much as I love brightly colored spaces, I love these cool crisp walls.  They add a certain element of luxury and sophistication.  They look even better with crisp white moldings, and as the above picture shows, dark rich woods.  The space pictured above is painted in Sherwin Williams SW 0077 Classic French Grey, which is part of the 2014 color forecast "Reasoned."

Traditional Bathroom by
Castle Building & Remodeling

With even just a slight tint of color, these soft grey's are refreshing.  Just like the bathroom pictured here.  Another one of the 2014 color forecast colors, Sherwin Williams SW 7660 Earl Grey is an amazing color.  One I considered painting my own home.  (I got veto'd, my husband wanted a warmer taupe).  

This bathroom takes two of the forecast colors, a crisp clean white and Earl Grey, and pairs them beautifully.  With a Calcatta Oro marble floor, this bathroom truly is breathtakingly beautiful.  This space, like the above space, would also look great with a darker floor.  This color would also be great in a kitchen with darker wood cabinets and a Cararra Marble counter top.  

Looking for more inspiration?  Check out the "50 Shades of Grey" article on Houzz.com, or view more pictures below!  

50 Shades of Gray

A Style Defined: Moroccan

Home Office by Laura U, Inc

I love Moroccan Design.  I love the vibrant colors, the attention to detail, and the comfortable looking spaces.  My husband on the other hand, not so much. Morocco is on the North West edges of Africa, bordered by the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

Morocco has a diverse history, including many different inhabitants including Islamic, Berbers, French, Spanish, and Arabic.  This contrast in strong cultures has fused together to create this diverse and beautiful design style.  

Some of the things you will generally see in Moroccan inspired spaces include tiled floors layered with rugs, luxurious fabrics, metallic finishes, carved painted woods, and a lot of geometric patterns.  This style often includes bold colors, like purple, teal, yellow, and fuchsia along side more muted colors like white.  

The Moroccan also comes with a collection of great accessories.  Often, you will find great lanterns in metallic finishes, including Mercury Glass, which is ever so popular these days.  From beautifully sculpted vases, to ornate lighting fixtures, such as these great pendant lights by Viva Terra.  They are punched through, which creates a lovely mosaic of light on the walls while they create a soft glow in the room.  These particular lights come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and start at around $150.

Another popular item often found in a Moroccan style space are poufs.  This great seating option is sometimes considered a staple.  I personally have seen these also in some great metallic finishes, but also bold colors and prints, like the ones pictured here, by Graham and Green.  The fabrics and materials also have a wide variety of textures, creating both visual interest, as well as tactile.

Another staple of the Moroccan design stile is of course, the patterns. The patterns can be on anything.  From the fabrics adorning windows, (or Poufs!) to the tile on the floors or walls, pattern is essential.  The patterns can be simple in colors, or can be just as vibrant as the walls, it doesn't really matter either way.

This Mediterranean tile by SomerTile is a prime display of some of the great patterns you can find in this design style.  This mosaic would be greatly suited for a kitchen backsplash, bathroom walls, or any great Moroccan styled space.

There are a lot of resources out there today to find great products and inspirational images to get started on making over a room with Mediterranean flair.  Of course there is always Houzz.com, where most of these pictures came from, as well as Pinterest.com and a good old fashioned Google search.

Moroccan is not only a style, it is a culture, rich with diversity.  I would love to do a room in this style one day, but until then, I guess it's just finding great products and blogging about them.  

Floating Shelves

This eclectic kitchen was designed by
Tamar Schechner

Many times, a new trend surfaces, and it is either loved or hated, with little room for indifference.  This is true when talking about floating shelves.  Some love the open minimalistic feel of an open shelf in their kitchen or bathroom.  They love the casual appearance of a floating shelf being used as a picture rail.  Others, however, don't want all of their items on display, and out in the open to collect dust, fearing having to clean their dishes before each use, or having yet another ledge in the living room to remove dog or cat hair.  So where do you stand on this trend? 

I believe that this trend is yet another versatile trend, and has it's place in the design world.  While like many trends, this one shouldn't be over used in every space, it is a great look for most spaces.   Floating shelves, when styled properly and accessorized creatively and smartly, are a great accent for any space.  If you pile too much onto the shelf, you do have more to dust (and who wants that?) or the shelf could look overly cluttered.  When it comes to the floating and open shelf, less is more.

This eclectic living room was designed by
Michelle Hinckley 

Styling, or staging, a floating shelf is difficult.  There is a fine line between a bare shelf, and an overloaded shelf.  When stylizing your shelf, be sure to have fun, and try a few things.  This picture rail to the left shows various sizes of photo frames, alternating large and small.  The balance is perfect, and by using the same color frames and mat's, you keep the minimalist feel of the shelves.  By showing various sizes of frames, and orientations of the photographs, you welcome in eclectic design.

Traditional Kitchen designed by
Jane Ellison

Floating shelves aren't just for the contemporary space.  When the addition of corbels or shelf supports are used, they can lend themselves to more traditional designs and chic spaces.  The thicker floating shelves are typically more contemporary, but still look great in most spaces. This traditional kitchen uses multiple cabinetry finishes to add to the traditional feel.  They keep the shelves simple by keeping only white dishes on the shelves.  The shelves are utilitarian by having stacks of dishes, and less displayed features, keeping a comfortable, lived in design.  

If you are looking to stylize floating shelves, take a look through the ideabook below.

Floating Shelves

It's Time for a Jubilee

I have a new color obsession, and the more I watch HGTV, the more I see it.  It's a sleek gray, with a tint of blue.  It's light, crisp, and remarkably pleasing to the eye.  The color is Sherwin Williams Jubilee, SW 6248.  The crisp gray colors in this pallet are great for any space, and lend themselves well to most decors.

Click here to see the rest of this color card. 

The Pallet

Upholstered Headboards

 I have been wanting to make an upholstered headboard, and thought it would be a great idea for a blog post, on how to make one.  But upon researching how to make one, I found a million online tutorials, and decided that there were just too many, why add one more.  I also found an excellent tutorial, that I would never be able to top, so I figured I would share it with some photographs for inspiration.

Do-It-Yourself Simple Tufted Headboard on Centsational Girl  

Her tutorial is complete with photographs and by far one of the best tutorials on the web.  Now that you have the resource to making your own amazing tufted headboard, here are some great inspirational photo's of some headboards you can easily make.  Also, be sure to check out Houzz.com's 13 Designs for Upholstered Headboards.  This article discusses purchasing an upholstered headboard, but it gives some great idea's and inspiration for the D-I-Yer.

Source: Centsationalgirl.com via Pinterest

Via Design Sponge Spaces on Houzz.com

This contemporary Headboard is designed by
Los Angeles Interior Designer Annette English 

One of my favorite designs, by
Dallas Interior Designer Emily Johnston Larkin

This amazingly whimsical headboard was designed by
New York Interior Designer Tara Seawright

This unique design was created by
Richmond Interior Designer Kirsten Nease Designs. 

This traditional design features a fun printed bed upholstery with solid bedding.
This design is by: Pacific Family Homes in Los Angeles. 

Adding Pink

Pink is a color typically seen in little girls rooms. While preparing for the arrival of my new family member, I noticed my house is slowly being taken over by the color pink, and it's greatly growing on me. Below is an IdeaBook from houzz.com of several inspiring interiors and products that will work great in any space to add a pop of pink. Enjoy!

Using Pink

Houzz- Kitchen Remodel, Bathroom Remodel and More »

Browse Window Treatments on Houzz- For Example:

Cellular Shades · Curtain Poles · Curtains · Roller Blinds · Roman Blinds · Venetian Blinds · Vertical Blinds · Window Blinds ·

A Little Girls Room

As many of my readers know, I am currently expecting my first little one.  I decided to create a moodboard that showcases some of the finishes I am doing in her room, and a post about her room. I am really excited about how great it is turning out.

Shop This Look Here

This bedroom is designed based off the "Mod Pop Pod Monkey" neutral nursery theme that I found at Babies R Us.  It is a modern looking monkey theme that can easily go for boys and girls.  I figured this would be a good theme since I am having a girl now, and plan on having a number two.....someday, so now the theme will work for both.

This bedding set, which includes a bumper, quilt, fitted sheet, and crib skirt
Available from Babies R Us for $149.99 

Little Boutique Girl Monkey Night Light
Available from Babies R Us for $14.99

Below are the paint colors that I ended up going with.  I was going to do pink and green paint, but ended up going with a taupe color, which is throughout the rest of the house, and chocolate trim to match the furniture.  The decor of the room has enough green to give the room the pink and green feel that I wanted.

Kashmir Pink 150E-2 by Behr available at The Home Depot
This is the color on the top half of the walls.  

Mesa Taupe, UL130-16 by Behr Premium Ultra  available at The Home Depot
This is the color on the bottom half of the walls.  

Thick Chocolate, 750B-7 by Behr Premium Ultra  available at The Home Depot
This is the color of the trim including Chair Rail.  

Flooring goes in tomorrow, so I will definitely be posting pictures once everything is done.  I am so excited to see what the finished product is.  As a designer, you always have an idea, but once it is finally installed, it is always a little different.  

Color Trends 2012: Jump into Spring with Color

With the Spring season just around the corner, it's time to start thinking about those design trends that are welcoming to the warmer weather, and bring the outdoors in.  This years trends include lots of bold colors, prints, and vibrant statements.  Here are some great products available from various nation wide retail shops to give your space a face lift without having to make too many permanent changes.

The Overdyed Terai Chair by Anthropologie  is priced from around $200 each, is a great piece, and there are four great colors to choose from, including Orange, Purple, Turquoise, and Citrine. 

Also from Anthropologie, the Orlina Bedding Set  features bold colors and prints, including some lovely floral print that are perfect for this years trends.  This set starts at $58 to $368

The Zing Green Table Lamp by Crate and Barrell shows a great pop of a bright green color  that will work as a great accent piece.  This lamp is priced from about $80.  

The Iznik Dhurrie are great area rugs available from West Elm feature a Turkish Tile Motif into a modern latticework made of wool and cotton.  There are multiple sizes and colors available, and start at around $50 

These great lanterns and serving ware available from Pier One Imports are great indoor and outdoor products to add some color to your existing space.  

More tableware from Pier One Imports

Color Trends in Purple

I do love me some good purple interiors.  Here are some items to give you inspiration, and get you started with your new purple space.   In it's darker form, this royal color is rich and dramatic, and add's a luxurious feel to any space.   Purple can be an excellent accent color, and can give your color scheme depth.  Lighter shades of purple can bring the same qualities of rest and relaxation as various shades of blue, and won't result in a cold or chilly feel as blue can.  Complimentary color to purple is orange, however analogous colors include Blue and Red. 

The Rosette Quilt by Anthropologie in Purple is a beautifully crafted and a great look for your space.  Priced from $248  This quilt has other available colors and accessories for mixing and matching. 

The Vintage Flock Purple Wallpaper by Graham & Brown starts at $85/roll and features a classic touch and a modern twist.  This product is also available in five other colors.   

BEHR Ultra Exotic Purple #660B-7 is a great dark purple to use as the main color, or an accent color in your space. 

Another color from BEHR Ultra, Purple Cream #670C-3 

Orchids are always a great way to add pop's of color, if your not fully committed to painting the room. 

The DECOLAV Translucense Above-Counter Round Glass Vessel Sink is more than just a vessel lavatory, it's a conversation starter.  Priced from $367

Now we can't forget lighting.  This 1-Light Pendant by Illumine in Brushed Nickle with Purple Swirl Glass is a great accent to a kitchen or any other space. 

Over the Top Childrens Rooms

As many of you know, I am about to enter the world of mommy-hood, and as a designer and new mom, that nursery needs to be suitable for my little one, and my portfolio!  Of course I have surfed the net for great theme's and inspiration, and I have found a lot of crazy over the top children's rooms, that are a great inspiration for any parent.

Children's rooms aren't just for sleeping, they are for playing, and inspiring creativity.  A place to call their own, and a place to flourish.  From sleeping, to playing, to inspiring creativity, the child's room is a great place to start.  Below are some fun spaces, that accomplish fun and play and creativity.  

This room from MOCO Designs, inspires the play with a slide and rock climbing wall.  While the wall isn't the safest thing for the kids, it's still a fun idea.  The slide would be a fun way to escape a bunk bed, or even as an alternative route into a finished basement.  

This amazing bed, by Amy Wolf Interiors, LLC shows one of my favorite ideas for kids rooms.  A raised bed with a place to play and be a kid under.  This bunk bed shows the idea of a slide as a way to vacate the bed, inspiring fun and play.  When the child grows older, the bed can even be raised, and a desk area can be placed under.  This idea maximizes floor space, which is good in smaller rooms. 

This room, inspired by Cinderella, is a beautiful and inspiring room for any little princess.  

And now for the truly over the top!  How about a pirate ship for your little pirate?  This is an amazing design by Steve Kuhl, that any kid would love to call their own.  [I think most parents would love to call it their own also!] 

Another well done and over the top design fit for any princess.  

Or how about this indoor tree house?  

Now that you have a little inspiration for a great kids room, it's time to go create that amazing inspiring space.