house to your HOME

I've Moved!

2009-12-13T20:00:00.000-08:00

You don't have to do anything just wait and you will automatically go to my new blog at www.housetoyourhome.com. Thanks!

Resource Friday

2009-12-10T19:59:00.000-08:00

Everytime I go to Cincinnati I always have to make a stop at West Elm. Love this store and I hope one day Indy will finally open one!

I think this hanging capiz pendant light is really cool. I think it would look so cool in a foyer with large ceilings, totally dramatic!

These cast metal animals are super cute and remind me a bit of something Jonathan Adler might do but a heck of alot cheaper. My favorite is the rabbit and he's only $26.00!

Finally, here's some cool Lutz & Patmos honeycomb pillows that look like a great winter sweater. They are only $54.00 and a great way to spruce up your couch for the winter!

Happy Friday and Happy Shopping!

Friday's Inspiration

2009-12-10T19:50:00.001-08:00

This is another room done by Kishani Perera. Of course I love the ikat pillows on the couch, I've only mentioned my obsession with the fabric like a million times but what I like most about this home office is the inspiration board. It takes me back to whenI was a teenager and had a wall devoted to clippings from my mom's home magazines and of course hotties like Corey Hart! Yea, I was a teenager in the '80s!

Thursday's Inspiration

2009-12-10T04:57:00.000-08:00

It's all about the fireplaces today! Do you know why? Because its our own fireplace that is heating our house this morning, it seems that our furnace is like what's with this cold weather and has decided not to work so well. (It's 60 in our house right now!) Looks like its a call to the furnace guy! Yea, cause that's exactly what I was hoping for right before Christmas!

Send good kharma our way!

Christmas Inside

2009-12-09T09:45:00.000-08:00

I don't do alot of Christmas decorating. I'll be honest I'm just not a fan of decorating the inside of my house for Christmas, I mean its just alot of stuff to store for 11 months out of the year! I tend to keep things simple and to use things that have meaning or a story behind it.

The first Christmas tradition is that my daughter and I always buy a Christmas ornament for the tree each year. This year we actually got 4.

Sloan picked out this wooden bird from Silver in the City. A cool little shop on Mass Avenue near downtown Indy.

Go figure I picked out a handmade owl from Silver in the City. Cute eh!

Then the next 2 were my daughter's idea, its an H and N for our baby girls we lost this summer, who are obviously still very much in our hearts.

Our tree is a collection of our yearly ornament tradition, handmade ornaments my daughter made at school and 11 ornaments with Sloan's photo in it for each year to reflect her age! We always get a real tree every year even though each year I think we should buy an artificial one when Christmas is over but by then I'm done with Christmas!

The kitchen is pretty simple, I hang my Williams Sonoma red and green towels on the stove. Here's a secret, I've been using WS towels when I was young and broke and the only thing I could afford in the store were the towels. I decorated the table with our Williams Sonoma hot chocolate mugs and I bring out my Granny Kaye's salad bowl and fill it with my Christmas cookie cutters, then on the window I put pinecones in my pots and glued some berries on them.

In my dining room I put my Christmas dishes in the hutch and line the back of the hutch with some Christmas fabric, change out the chandelier candles to red and set the table with my dishes and some sparkly pinecones Sloan made for me more then 5 years ago.

The last room I did was the living room, of course that's where the tree is but I also decorated the mantle with fresh evergreen and our stockings and some candles, a side table with our advent Calendar that is my daughter's favorite part of Christmas and a snowman I painted last year at the local pottery place and a Santa key that my daughter thought Santa used in a previous house when we had no fireplace.

I really think its the personal stuff that makes the holidays mean something and the very reason I started this blog, its about making your house into a home!

Oh wait, I have to show off my husband's handy work outside with his lights! Great job honey!!

Wednesday's Inspiration

2009-12-08T19:27:00.000-08:00

With my bathrooms being showcased at The DIY Showoff yesterday I have bathroom's on the brain so I went through my design files and came up with my favorite bathroom at the moment. Its actually Molly Sims bathroom and was designed by Kishani Perera. I'm so doing a room in black in my next house! I love the punches of purple too!

The DIY Show Off Showed Off My Bathrooms!

2009-12-08T17:52:00.001-08:00

I just wanted to give a big thank you to Roeshel who featured my 2 bathrooms on her blog today! Totally made my day! Her blog is called The DIY Show Off and you all should totally go check it out! She has lots of postings on her own home remodeling projects as well as her readers!

Homemade is Best!

2009-12-08T14:12:00.000-08:00

My daughter's school is lucky enough to have a kiln so every so often she comes home with a new craft. Recently she came home with the flower that is in the photo below. The instructions were to draw a flower and then to reproduce it in clay. She made 2 of them, one for her and one for me. (Kinda like how I Christmas shop, one for them and one for me!) The flower in the photo is Sloan's to match her bedroom! She made me a blue one that I currently have on my bedside table that holds my earrings! I guarantee you can't find these at Pottery Barn!

What's the best homemade gift you've ever received?

Tuesday's Inspiration

2009-12-08T05:31:00.000-08:00

I love both of these photos today! I am a sucker for any and all things pretty and I'm one of those people who enjoys wrapping presents! Just ask my daughter, we spent almost an hour at the craft store picking out just the right paper for my gifts this year!

(photos Nice Package)

Which makes me wonder, do you spend time making your presents look pretty or do you think, why bother they are just going to rip it off and throw it away anyways???

Monday's Inspiration

2009-12-07T06:00:00.000-08:00

This weekend we finished up decorating the inside of the house and Drew put the lights up outside. I'm glad Drew got the lights up yesterday because we woke up to a blanket of snow this morning!

This table was done by Eddie Ross! I love him! He can set a table like no one's business!

So let me ask you do you decorate your table for Christmas?

Resource Friday

2009-12-04T06:23:00.000-08:00

Today we're shopping at Garnet Hill. And I'm sooo not talking about Garnet Hill because I'm hoping for lots of Christmas gifts from my hubby! (Hint...hint!) Me make a list and bookmark the catalog and happened to leave it in Drew's office?? Never!!! These items aren't on my Christmas list but I do want to show off some great things for the home.

The first is the gustav hand knotted wool rug that is $898.00. The colors are beautiful!

Second is the simple rustic bench at $598.00. The name speaks for itself because I love how simple the lines are.

I actually bought the 3rd item! It's an owl pillow cover for $48.00. I know I said I wouldn't buy anything else owl related but I didn't have any owls for Christmas. Ok, except for some ornaments! I mean how cute are these pillows! I got the one in black!

Wait how did this photo get on here? I love everything thing in this photo and I want it all, I love the Orla Kiely wallet, the dress and yes I adore the coat!

Happy Friday and Happy Shopping!

Friday's Inspiration

2009-12-04T05:35:00.000-08:00

Thom Filicia is awesome! I love his style and I love this room. Love the chandelier and love how the ceiling is painting a color other then white.

Outdoor Christmas Decorating

2009-12-03T11:48:00.000-08:00

I finished my part of the Christmas decorating today, on Saturday Drew will put up our lights and we'll be officially done. I'm also hoping the rest of inside of the house will be done too.

The first photo are 2 wreaths made of plain live wreaths, grapevine wreaths and then Christmas ornaments that I attached.

Then is a basket I put on my table on my side patio. I just used garland and I got out my handy glue gun and glued red ornaments and placed it in the basket.

This is the finished side patio.

At the front of the house besides the swag on the door I put together an urn and dressed up my favorite owl (a gift from my daughter and Drew).

A close up of the urn. It turned out to be a pain, it kept falling over so I had to re do it and place bricks inside of it so it will stay in place. There is just a mixture of Christmas greenery, pinecones, ornaments, twigs and berries in it.

The finished front door.

Bring on the lights!

Thursday's Inspiration

2009-12-03T09:17:00.000-08:00

I have been searching for a nativity scene for years and they are either too cheesy or too expensive. I finally find one and I love it but..

go figure it's sold out! Isn't it only December 3rd? Oh well hopefully next year Pottery Barn will have it again! Of course I probably should still go to Pottery Barn this weekend just to make sure!

Help Me Decide

2009-12-02T08:55:00.000-08:00

I am thinking about offering my design services and I am trying to come up with a name for my "company", so please help me out and vote. Its anonymous so go over to the right and just click!

I appreciate all your help!

Wednesday's Inspiration

2009-12-02T06:26:00.000-08:00

The meaning of a picture is worth a thousand words!

(Photo Southern Living)

How beautiful is this?

Tuesday's Inspiration

2009-12-01T05:08:00.000-08:00

I'm finishing up on the outside decorating today so my inspiration is all things outside that are sparkly and pretty. I'm also doing a project similar to the one in my inspiration photo today. (Ok not really but there is an urn involved.) I can only hope mine turns out half as good as Martha's! (Ok, Martha's assistants!)

(Photo by Martha Stewart)

Small Start to My Outdoor Christmas Decorating

2009-11-30T13:13:00.000-08:00

I feel like I'm already behind, because everywhere I look (our neighborhood) and everywhere I read (facebook and my favorite design blogs and twitter) everyone has all their Christmas decorations up. I don't even have my Thanksgiving stuff put away yet. I did however get a few things done outside these last few days.

The first is my swag on the front door. I just bought a plain swag and dressed it with ornaments, and berries and some various winter foliage. You can save money if you put it together yourself and I think the end result is always better then buying one already done from a store.

The next one is a close up of one of my window boxes. Again, I basically threw a little of this and a lot of that into the containers. There is winter foliage, eucalyptus, berries, ornaments and some yard art that I bought from the Enchanted Garden.

The last photo is both of my window boxes.

Hopefully I can finish up with the other projects in the next few days and then convince my husband to get the lights up. I have 2 more wreaths, garland to string and a container to put together for in front of the front door, so come back!

Monday's Inspiration

2009-11-30T05:29:00.000-08:00

(Photo from Southern Living)

This photo is from Southern Living. I chose it because I'm decorating the outside of my house this week. If only my house looked like this one!

My plan is to finish decorating the outside of our house this week, and the inside of the house next week, but honestly my brain is all over the place. I went shopping this weekend for supplies for the outside and I kept putting decorations for inside the house in my basket. Twice I pulled everything from my basket back onto the shelves and told myself to stop and focus on the outside and the list!

Time to go untangle the lights! Which brings me to the age old question, white lights or colored lights?

Resource Friday!

2009-11-27T06:23:00.001-08:00

Black Friday and Resource Friday! Can we say shopping?? Today I'm talking about Anthropologie! This is actually what I'd call my dream job, meaning either designing their killer window displays and stores or traveling the world as a buyer for the store, you know a full-time shopper!

First up is the cascara coffee table at $598.00. I think its unique, has great lines and would make a fun statement in the living room.

Next is the crystal votive that is priced $38.00-$58.00. I'm totally into any and all things rock right now and if you're going to pick a rock why not pick a sparkly one?

Anthropologie has great knobs for your cabinets and furniture. Its a great way to add your own special and unique touch to a piece. I love this calico frog knob for $12.00!

Last we have the piped diamonds tote at $248.00 and the handbasket bag at $258.00. Oh wait!! That's not shopping for your home that's what's on my Christmas wish list!! How'd those get on here? Honey, if your reading...

Happy Shopping & Happy Friday!

Friday's Inspiration

2009-11-26T21:44:00.001-08:00

I love this bedroom, unfortunately I don't know the designer or the source. I love the colors black and yellow together. I also love a canopy bed, it reminds me of when I was a little girl in my 1970's gilded canopy bed with the baby blue polyester canopy! I like the mix of patterns and stripes and how it all works to make the room inviting and comfortable.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T21:32:00.000-08:00

(Photo from Martha Stewart, but of course!)

Its been a rough year but I still have so much to be thankful for. I love my family and friends very much and without them I couldn't get through the hard stuff! I hope everyone enjoys their Thanksgiving!!

Eat lots and be thankful!

Stairs

2009-11-25T06:05:00.000-08:00

A month or so ago I posted a photo about ideas for stairs. I needed to re-do my stairs, the before photo doesn't look too bad but our stairs were pretty banged up and it was going to be to be too much work for me to strip and stain the stairs so I decided to paint the risers. I used linen paint by Restoration Hardware, I painted the both the walls and the risers. For Thanksgiving I added some canning jars with leaves attached to them and I simply put some tea candles in them to add a little sparkle!

Wednesday's Inspiration

2009-11-24T20:18:00.000-08:00

Candice Olsen designed this room. Personally I think, her rooms are always great, I love the colors she uses they are seem so calm and soothing. I love rooms in attic spaces, I love how the walls slant, it just feels nice and cozy, but its also a hard room to design. This looks like a room you want to spend alot of time in on a cold winter day.

New Reading Material

2009-11-24T04:50:00.000-08:00

From time to time I stumble upon a new design blog I like and thought I'd share it, I mean we all can use one more design blog to read while we're on our "break" at work right? This one is called In The Loop and is put together by CB2. It of course plugs their products but they do give some helpful advice on entertaining and design.

(Photo from In The Loop CB2)

Do you have a favorite design blog? If so please share!!

Tuesday's Inspiration

2009-11-23T10:13:00.000-08:00

(photo from House Beautiful)

This is my idea of designer dream heaven! A Brunschwig and Fils showroom showcasing my favorite current pattern Ikat!

Do you have a favorite fabric or pattern?

Thanksgiving Table

2009-11-23T08:45:00.000-08:00

We're hosting Thanksgiving this year and are counting down the days to the food! Its the one time of the year where I don't feel guilty for eating too much, which obviously makes it my favorite holiday of the year! I finished decorating the table today and I thought I'd show you the process.

Below is the before. We don't normally have the table set but we have our house on market (any buyers out there?) and I wanted the table to look inviting.

Next, I opened the table up to make for more seating. My husband and I love our dining room table. We live in an old house and the dining room is only 10 x 13, so we had to find a clever table. We usually have the table set up to sit 4 but on special occasions the table flips open to sit 6-8. The nice thing about it is there is no leaves to store. (Crate and Barrel stopped carrying this table a year ago.)

Then I plan on paper what I want to do. Decorating brainstorming! I make a list and get to shopping for my supplies! My inspiration was my china.

The chandelier is from Ikea but I added shades from Ballards to make it look a little more traditional. I added grapevine wreaths and gold berries to the candle part of the chandelier for some Thanksgiving bling.

Next comes the table setting. My china is from Williams Sonoma Home. They are my high end for the design. I have been collecting the china over the last few years when I would have some extra money. Unfortunately even though WS promised me the pattern would never go out of production, 6 months ago what do you know the pattern is out of production. Luckily I'm only missing a few pieces and am hoping to pick them up on Ebay. I used my regular white cloth napkins but put a piece of burlap over it to give it some texture and simply placed a brown ribbon and feather in the middle.

I also used the burlap as a center runner going down the table. The burlap was purchased for $2.49 a yard. I frayed the ends and a $5.00 table runner sure beats the $50.00 one at Pottery Barn!

Next is the wine markers. They are just gift tags with stickers from Martha Stewart's line and brown ribbon I found on clearance for 29 cents!

On the back of the chair I once again used grapevine wreaths and glued peacock feathers and a piece of pumpkin potpourri in the middle, strung the same brown ribbon I used for the napkin holders and attached it to the back of the chairs.

Finally looking at the end result you'll see I used a silver tray and put walnuts in it, placed pumpkins and gourds I sprayed copper on a glass cake stand. I used my rule of using high end (my china) and low end (virtually everything else) and something sentimental (my grandma's candlesticks) to pull together the look.

Let's hope my turkey turns out as nice as the table!

Monday's Inspiration

2009-11-23T04:59:00.000-08:00

(photo source unknown)

This photo came from my hardrive (photos of ideas and rooms I love) and unfortunately I do not know who the designer/owner of the photo is. I posted the photo because I'm jealous! This is probably an area of my house that isn't as organized as I would like it to be.

I love how the books are organized by color and the baskets and toy break up all the books, so there's not too much. It would be a great way to get your children involved in the cleaning up too, they could clean and learn about putting the books back where all the purple, green and red ones go! I might have to put this on my to do list!

What area of your house do you wish were more organized?

Resource Friday!

2009-11-19T21:02:00.000-08:00

Time to go shopping! Today it's Ballard Design. Love this store! Its got everything from kitchen to bath to furniture to fabric by the yard and everything in between.

Below is an ikat pillow that is a bit pricey at $149.00 but I love it. I'm currently obsessed with all things ikat!

Next is the montego mirror that is $119.00. Ballard has beautiful mirrors!

Finally something fun, the turtle stool at only $45.00!

Happy Friday!!

Friday's Inspiration

2009-11-19T20:47:00.000-08:00

Friday's photo comes from Jenny of the Little Green Notebook. You can read about the dining room makeover on her blog where she explains in detail how she put the room togethe. There are lots I like about the room, the mirror, the way she used a loveseat for seating and the clock painted blue over to the left of the room. She is incredibly talented.

Getting ready for Thanksgiving

2009-11-19T15:23:00.001-08:00

I'm hosting Thanksgiving this year and I've been trying to come up with some ideas for decorating the house for. I'm thinking about using natural materials, pinecones, leaves, corks and I even have some ideas using some veggies for the centerpiece. I want to keep it simple and am looking forward to using my fancy china!

Do you decorate for Thanksgiving?

Thursday's Inspiration

2009-11-18T19:12:00.000-08:00

I know this isn't a "picture" of a room but I think it is beautiful, in fact I'm quite jealous of Michelle from A Schematic Life. She is an amazing illustrator and I wish I only had 1/4 of her talent. In fact the drawing portion as an interior design student makes me break out in a sweat, honestly I have a hard time drawing a three dimensional box! Her talents inspire me to work harder though!

What inspires you?

The Color Purple

2009-11-18T12:38:00.000-08:00

The color purple is supposed to represent royalty, romance and it's been said that it helps spark creativity. They may or may not be true what I can attest to is that lots of teenage girls like the color! Here are some examples of purple done right in the bedroom.

(photo from House Beautiful)

(photo from southern accents, another magazine that has closed its door)

(photo from Google image)

Do you think you have to be a teenage girl to have a purple room?

Wednesday's Inspiration

2009-11-18T05:10:00.000-08:00

Kelly Wearstler is for sure one my favorite interior designers. I absolutely love her style and her willingness to take her designs as far as it can go. You may think this isn't your style or its too much but you can't say its boring! This is her office and I personally love it. I love the vintage chandelier, her desk chair and the colors of the walls. It also wouldn't be me if I didn't point out I love how they put her hermes handbag in the photo shoot!

When I pick photos for my design files I don't have to love everything about it, (although I love everything in this particular one) I can just like certain elements so can you pick out something you like about this room?

Getting Ready for Christmas?!

2009-11-17T13:05:00.001-08:00

I know! I know! We haven't even eaten our Thanksgiving turkey yet but here I am posting about Christmas! To be honest I'm not a big lover of Christmas decorating and I keep it pretty minimal in our house. I put up a tree, decorate the mantel and maybe put a centerpiece on the table. I do however like to decorate the outside of our house.

I went home this weekend to visit with my mother-in-law/best friend (yep you read it right, I'm one of the lucky one's who has an amazing mother-in-law!) She asked me if I wanted to go to The Artful Gardens with her on Saturday morning for a class they were having on outdoor Christmas decorating. Well count me in! The store's website is still under construction but the store is located at 611 Indiana Avenue in Crown Point, IN. If you're ever in the area you have to stop in. The store is actually a small house but they still have alot to chose from.

We paid $5.00 for the class and learned how to design a urn for the front door, window boxes, a wreath for the front door, and a centerpiece for the table. The instructor was hilarious and his eye for design was incredible. He was one of those types who can throw things together in 5 seconds and it looked like something Martha Stewart put together herself, ok maybe I should compare him to Eddie Ross instead since I'm talking about a man!

After the demonstration we were able to shop around on the back patio and what do you know they had everything we needed to complete all the projects we just saw! Imagine that! You should of seen those women buying that store up, cha ching!!

This photo below is the back of the house where they have various lawn art for sale. I have always loved those bottle sculptures!

When you were done shopping they brought you into the house to pay and what do you know, there were about a million cute things in the store to buy! A few of the rooms were already decorated for Christmas but the others had great gift ideas for any occasion.

I'm glad I went to the demonstration, although my pocket book took a punch, but its the first time in years that I'm looking forward to decorating for Christmas!

Tuesday's Inspiration

2009-11-17T09:07:00.001-08:00

I thought I'd try a new feature on h2urHOME and post daily photos of rooms that have inspired me through the years that I've stored away in my hard drive. Unfortunately, I won't always know the designer but if I do I'll let you know and if I don't know the designer and you do please feel free to let me know.

Today's photo is designed by Nate Berkus. We all know him from Oprah and honestly who doesn't love Nate? I love virtually every room he designs. It seems most of his spaces have a organic feel to them and I really love how he always incorporates the owner into the design. There is always something special in the room to make the room feel like home.

I Love Monday's!

2009-11-16T10:40:00.000-08:00

Ok maybe it's just this Monday that has got me so excited. I was reading through my favorite blogs this afternoon and was I surprised to see my basement re-do on one of my must read blogs, Better After! Its a really fun blog that showcases readers before and after pics. I always come up with new ideas whenever I read Lindsey's postings!

Thanks Lindsey for posting my pics, although that 1st one is sure hard to look at!

I always say Happy Friday but today is for sure a Happy Monday!

Resource Friday

2009-11-13T05:46:00.000-08:00

Friday is pay day for most of us and what do we girls like to do on payday? We like to shop! I thought I'd start a weekly postings on some of my favorite places to shop for my home. Do I get paid to toot their horn? No way! But I do think its fun to share with people great places to find beautiful things!

My first resource I'm excited to talk about is Urban Outfitters! Did you think they only sold clothes for teenagers and adults in their early 20's? No way! Their home stuff is awesome and what's even better their prices are great!

The first product is a metal accordian table that cost a measly $60.00! I'm sure you've seen this table at other stores for 5 times the price! Steal!!

This tufted headboard is $300.00 and I'm thinking it might be time to redesign my own bedroom!

Speaking of my bedroom, I actually have the next item. Its the haruki slat bench for $225.00. Its one of my favorite pieces in my house. Right now it's at the foot of my bed but this bench could easily be used as a coffee table.

Finally, having an obsession with chairs, I'm loving this charcoal dolce chair for $200.00. Can I sniff out a bargain or what? Love the style and love the color!

Happy Shopping & Happy Friday!!

Yellow Kitchens

2009-11-12T09:46:00.002-08:00

Its been said that the color you paint your room can make you feel a certain way. Well there's been studies done that supposedly proves that a yellow kitchen helps stimulate and aids in digestion (although I never seem to have a problem eating regardless of the color) and it is also known to be a motivating color, and who couldn't use the extra help getting motivated in the morning?!

(Photo from Better Homes and Gardens)

(Photo from Country Living.com)

(Photo from House to Home U.K.)

I think all these kitchens are yummy but what do you think, do you think there's any truth to a paint color making you feel a certain way?

Can You Tell The Difference?

2009-11-11T10:03:00.000-08:00

One is the original Eames Molded Plastic Rocker and it's retail price is $479.00. The other is a knock off and cost only $153.99.

If you were a serious collector the real deal is a great piece to have but if you just think its a fun chair then I say go for the lesser price one so you can buy another cool piece for your room!

(The first photo is the real deal and you can find the chair at Design Within Reach.)

The second photo is the price saver from Overstock.com.)

A Tough Decision

2009-11-10T17:21:00.000-08:00

We put our house on the market recently and to be honest with you we're really not sure what we are going to do if it sells. We decided to sell the house for a few reasons but mostly because it was never our intention for this house to be a long term home for us. Drew, my husband bought the house before we got married and it was always in our plan to fix it up and then buy "our" house.

Well... to say we've had a bad year is putting it mildly, we dealt with a lawsuit that was about as frivolous as they come, a serious illness with a beloved family member and we lost our baby girls when they were born prematurely the end of July. At this point we both feel like we just needed a fresh start a new beginning.

We know the market is slow and its not essential that the house sells quickly or even sells at all it almost just feels good knowing were moving towards doing something to make our new beginning.

So once and if the house sells we have a tough decision and that's, do we build a home or do we fix up an old house?

A new house would be great, it would be clean and it would be done except the finishing touches, the kind that comes from living in the home and letting the design progress. I also like that the house will be warm in the winter and cold in the summer, old house are a pain to heat and cool. What worries me though is the resale, I just don't think it'll would pay financially like the old houses I have sold. Then there is the character, new houses are seriously lacking in that department.

An old house... well it speaks for itself, there is nothing like one, the character of an old house is the best. I love the woodwork and the arches and old fireplaces and stained glass windows in them. I like that you can gut the place and update the home and turn around and make a huge profit. What I don't like is old houses never seem clean and there is always something to do or to fix. I mean who likes spending big bucks on central air or a new roof?

So I ask all of you....new house or old house and why??

The Ugliest Room in the House

2009-11-09T11:34:00.001-08:00

This is what happens when you put in a new front door, new french doors, new fireplace, gut and remodel a bathroom, finish a basement, re-do 2 different set of stairs and put in a privacy fence all within the last three months!

Cleaning up the most hated room in the house took almost 6 hours and what stinks most? Its still an ugly room! My advice is something I should've followed, clean up as you go!!

Design Philosophy

2009-11-06T08:40:00.001-08:00

Its no secret that I like to mix things up, meaning splurging on things I love and saving money on other things. Interior design is alot like fashion, its smart to spend alot of money on that black pencil skirt but probably a little silly to spend a fortune on last summer's gladiator sandals!

My breakfast area probably doesn't look this cute everyday but its currently staged because we've decided to put our house on the market. This area for the most is made up of bargains. The space is small but I wanted a round table so I needed one with leaves so the leaf could be laid down against the window wall. I got the table from Walmart for $5.00 in the clearance area because there were some parts missing for the chairs that went with it. It was an ugly oak table that I just sanded down and painted a creamy white. The chairs within the missing pieces didn't matter to me because I didn't need them and I'd already bought chairs for the space. That's where my splurge came in. I have always loved these chairs. They are made from recycled aluminum with wood seats. (I have an obsession with chairs actually!) You can find them at Design Within Reach. They are pretty pricey but I did manage to only pay half that price. I'd like to think my chairs are like the trusty pencil skirt I mentioned above. A classic and timeless chair that won't go out of style next season and something I won't get bored with.

THe top of the table consists of bargains, white plates from Ikea an Orla Kiely placemat from Target, a tray and tea set I bought 19 years ago from Pier One and tea towels from Crate and Barrel and then what every table needs and another rule of mine, some fresh flowers!

Happy Friday!

Inspirational Books

2009-11-05T09:01:00.000-08:00

No, I'm not talking about those types of inspirational books to help you become a better person, save your marriage or look great in 30 days, I'm talking about MY inspirational books!

I have been clipping photos out of magazines since I was teenager and even as a teenager I clipped out rooms that I thought were pretty and amazing. When other girls had photos of Corey Hart and that guy from Winger on their wall I had photos of a bedroom or a piece of furniture I liked.

About 8 years ago I started putting my clippings in a book but soon I realized I had alot of books and they weren't in any sort of order so I recently organized my books according to rooms. (Ex. Bathroom, Dining Room, Home Office, etc.)

This shelf unit in the photo below is down in my studio behind the curtain. As you can see I like to use the label maker!! You can also see my group of inspirational books.

Everytime I start a room I always go to my books for a little inspiration or a starting point. I also from time to time go through the books and edit rooms that are maybe past its day.

So the next time you start a room you don't have to go nuts like I do but go to Barnes and Nobles and buy a magazine or two, Tear out pictures of a paint color you like or the faucet you'd kill for or the tile you'd die to have. I guarantee when you are done pulling photos you'll notice you'll have a very good idea of your sense of style and your direction for the room!

Bin Obsession?

2009-11-04T05:29:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I talked about how I went to Midland Antiques and came home with some locker bins and it hit me that I think I may have a bin obsession. I used two of the locker bins in my television to hold DVDs and the other one to hold design magazines in my office that need to be looked over.

As I was taking the photos it hit me I have bins in virtually every room in my house to store one thing or another.

There are 2 in my kitchen to hold plastics and aluminum cans.

There is one in my closet to hold my cashmere sweaters.

There are two in the bathroom, one to hold our medicine and vitamins and the other to hold my curling irons and blow dryers.

Three in the linen closet to hold extra shampoo and toiletries , first aid kit and pedicure and manicure stuff.

Two in my daughter's bedroom that hold her pez collection and oddly shaped books.

Finally there are 6 in the hall closet that hold everyone's mittens, gloves, hats and small umbrellas.

So clearly I AM bin obsessed but I am a bin obsessed woman who knows where everything is!

Monthly Trip to Midland Antiques

2009-11-03T11:15:00.000-08:00

I was downtown today so I stopped at Midland Antiques Mall for a little looksy! This is my favorite antique shop in Indianapolis. They have 2 locations, one downtown Indianapolis and the other one is up north in Carmel. They have everything in this place and always have whatever is current in the design magazines.

I like to walk the mall and take photos of the items that catch my eye. Sometimes I save the photos for inspiration for a later design and sometimes its a way to remember what I've seen so I can go back to the booth before I leave and pick up the item to buy.

Here are a few snapshots of the items that caught my eye. The first photo is right when you walk into the place, I love the screen itself and also the color.

I love the mirror in the photo below, I love its scale and I can only imagine the impact it would bring to the room, either on the floor or above a beautiful buffet. I think the chair is awfully pretty too, how great would that be next to your dressing table!

I love this horse lamp, with a different shade of course. I imagine a large cream colored one, with gold leaf inside of it. I think this would look great just about anywhere, the living room, a study or even the dining room.

The last photo just makes me smile and takes me back to when I was a child at the park. I'm not sure if its safe to use but it sure is sweet!

Today I got away cheap, I purchased 3 old wire locker bins and tomorrow I'll show you where I put them!

Turquoise

2009-11-02T10:44:00.000-08:00

What color am in I love with lately??? Turquoise!! I'm currently trying to figure out which of my rooms will I do in this color. I have a habit of clipping photos off the internet and saving them for inspiration and here are some of my favorite turquoise rooms. Unfortunately I do not know the designers who did the room but I do know I think all the rooms are amazing!!

So besides swooning over the photos keep in mind if you see a room you like online make sure you save it for future inspiration!

Kitchen/Bathroom

2009-10-29T17:52:00.000-07:00

Here's some other photos of my bathroom and kitchen that I have previously posted on.

I'm keeping my post short today, I'm going to the fabric store today to pick out some new upholstery for my grandmother's chair! I hope everyone has a fun Halloween weekend!!

The Loft

2009-10-29T04:42:00.000-07:00

This is a room on the 2nd floor of our house. This is my getaway room. The reason I like this room the best? It has no television which means I never have to worry about my husband or daughter coming upstairs and hanging out up here. This is my favorite room to take a Sunday afternoon nap or to catch up on with a new design magazine or book.

The sectional and leather chair are from World Market, the tables are from Martha Stewart and the wicker chaise lounge you can barely see and the lighting are from Ikea and the pillows and throws and most of the accent pieces are from Restoration Hardware and Williams-Sonoma Home.

I think every girl needs a room where no one wants to hang out in except you! Make sure to hide the good cookies there too!

My House

2009-10-28T07:20:00.000-07:00

This is the house I have lived in for the last 4 years. I have a love/hate relationship with it, I love it because I think the exterior is different then most homes, its also quaint and comfy and has so much character. My hate comes into play because its an older house and there is always something that needs fixed. When I moved into the house my husband had lived here for a year and had lawn chairs in the living room and a banquet table in his office. The house has changed just a bit since then!

This is my favorite time of the year and when I like the outside of our house the most. I like that the ivy on the house is starting to fade and my mums are in bloom. There is no doubt we have made our house into a very nice home.

Another View of the Basement

2009-10-27T14:23:00.000-07:00

This photo is a follow up from yesterday's posting. Now that I'm more comfortable being on the floor that's finally dry I took another photo at another angle.

My Living Room

2009-10-27T11:40:00.001-07:00

My living room is a combination of about every store you can think of. The paint on the wall is linen by Restoration Hardware, the rug from Walmart, the couch, ZGallerie, the coffee table, Crate and Barrel, the tv cabinet, Martha Stewart, the chair, Pier One,

the curtains, lamps and small table are fromTarget and the cd cabinet and black side table are from World Market, The screen is an antique bought from an auction over 10 years ago and most of the items around the room are made by my daughter or given to me from my grandmother or gifts from the people I love.

The fireplace was resurfaced with slate this summer and done for a bargain using large slate off the shelf from Lowe's and then cut smaller. The room has happened over time and like always is a mix of high and low priced items. I think the key to a good room is to take your time and let the room come together. I think when you do that you end up with a comfortable room that means something to you!

LOVE!!

2009-10-26T17:44:00.001-07:00

Its funky I know and it probably won't float everyone's boat but I think this chandelier is simply to die for!

I was at my realtor/friend's home last night and when I walked into the entrance of his home he had this chandelier hanging in his foyer and I think my heart actually skipped a beat!

(This dining room was styled by Lili Diallo.)

Oh Yea!

2009-10-26T09:14:00.001-07:00

Am I excited?? You have no idea! We worked our butts off this weekend and I'm telling you I could barely get out of bed this morning. Why am I so excited? This is the first house that I have owned that I have crossed off all my mental to do list/projects. Could I sink in another $50,000.00 into the house? Absolutely, but whenever I move into a house the instant I even think about buying the house I have a whole idea in my head on everything I want to do.

This is the last big project on the house that we completed this weekend. The first was the staircase going down to the basement. We live in a very old house house and we had a very old and ugly basement.

The fix was simple, a little paint and some vinyl tiles. I still would like to paint the banister going down the stairs but for the moment this will do and is a big improvement!

I can't believe I am posting this photo but I'm going to let you see what our basement looked like for years. It was the catch all room and a place where we put everything while we remodeled the rest of our house. (Ok so we stored things in our garage too!) This is the reason why I have always hated basements! It was so ugly, bad paneling, vinyl tile that was popping up all over the place and a cheesy bar at the end of the room.

We were on a major, major budget (what's new!) and we only spent $150.00 on the room and basically painted the whole darn thing. The ceiling tiles were torn down which left the exposed wood which we decided to paint black. It gives the illusion that the ceiling is much higher then what it really is. We tore out the nasty bar and we primed and painted both the walls and the floors. I know there's some footprints on the floor but I want to wait until the paint can dry for a few days before I wipe them up, I just really wanted to show the room off. (The room had dust everywhere!!) We decided not to put anything on the floor because if it rains really super bad there are a few spots that have gotten wet in the past and we wanted to play it safe.

Like I said there are still a few minor things here and there that I'd look to finish up but for now I think I'm going to sleep for the next 2 days!

Guess What We Did This Weekend?

2009-10-25T10:29:00.001-07:00

We've been busy and the to-do list is so close to being checked off, come back tomorrow and see what we've done!

Basement Bathroom Remodel

2009-10-22T21:53:00.001-07:00

Drew bought our current home prior to me moving in with him so of course I have to give him a little grief because when he was looking at houses this bathroom was actually considered a bathroom! I don't know about the rest of you but would you even wash your hands in there?

Or take a nice refreshing shower?

Well we finally remodeled the space this summer and are very happy with the results. We used basic ceramic square tiles on the floor and subway tile in the shower area. The sink is mounted to the wall to save on space. We used brushed stainless steel fixtures and everything was bought right off the shelf, to save some dough. The paint is light gray. The shower curtain is from Crate and Barrel (Marimekko-Lahtimaja).

This is our shower stall now, the fixture is hanging from the ceiling so it feels like its raining!

I would have to say that this falls into the category of biggest improvement so far on our house!

Trends

2009-10-22T00:23:00.001-07:00

Fashion and interior design go hand in hand. For instance the color gray is showing up all over the place from sweaters to paint.

I recently found this great lighting fixture at Urban Outfitters. I seriously love this!

It reminds me of the long layered metal necklaces that are also popping up all over the place!

My Sanctuary

2009-10-22T00:04:00.000-07:00

Scary basement? Why yes it is, but it was the only space we had left in my house that I could claim for myself. I needed a place to work on my design boards and a place to paint. My awesome husband painted the room for me from top to bottom and I used a little of this and a little of that to finish the room off.

Below is what a little paint can do.

The only thing I bought for the room was the fabric to cover the large shelving unit and the orange Herman Miller desk chair. The two items cost me less then $10.00!

The large shelving unit was left by the previous homeowners and I store everything in it, paint, markers, canvases and even my sewing machine. This area is my favorite, everything is in plastic bins and labeled. Its my OCD dream room come true!

The greatest part of this room is because it barely cost anything I don't mind it getting dirty so its a fun space to do crafts with Sloan.

I highly encourage every girl to have a little corner in her house all to herself!

Its Better When There Is A Story Behind It

2009-10-21T23:47:00.000-07:00

I feel like I haven't bought a knick knack in ages but I can't seem to buy something unless the piece means something to me. I think when it means something to you it makes your house a true home and sets you apart from the rest. I have items from my grandmother, things from my mom, gifts from Sloan or Drew and even gifts from myself. Here are two of my favorite things.

The first is a monkey I bought at Midland Antiques. I love monkeys, I mean who doesn't? I used to call Sloan a monkey when she was a baby. This piece is always a good conversation piece when we have friends over, especially when we have a tea light in the small container. He is actually quite creepy. So creepy in fact Drew, Sloan and I tend to move the monkey all throughout the house to surprise one another. We've put it in each other's bed, on the bathroom floor when someone is showering. The scariest place was on Drew's chair. What made it so scary is that the monkey fell out of the chair and we're not really sure how it fell. We actually call him the murder monkey. Weird...yes, but a great silly memory.

The second photo is Sloan's hand print that she gave to me when she was five years old. We've lived in 3 different places since then and it has always hung in my kitchen. The reason it's in my kitchen...my mom hung my hand print in her kitchen when I was a little girl.

So the next time you are picking things to decorate your house remember pick something you love and that mean something to you.

Artwork

2009-10-21T23:36:00.000-07:00

This is a painting I did a few years ago for Drew. He has it hanging in his office now. I used regular household paint to do it. I simply used the paint I used to paint his office and added black and white. He says, its his favorite gift from me, and I'm going to pretend to believe it.

I'm Totally Stealing This Idea!

2009-10-16T11:29:00.000-07:00

My daughter, Sloan has been collecting Pez dispensers for as long as I can remember and I've never been able to come up with an idea on how to display them so they have sat in a pink bin in her bookshelf for years. Well one of my favorite blogs, Apartment Therapy has come to the rescue.

The photo is from an Apartment Therapy home tour of a woman named Amy, who has a fearless way of decorating with color and displaying her collectibles. The photo below is how she displays her Pez collection, on the wall with simple blue poster putty. My daughter flipped when I showed her the picture, so I suppose my to do list has just become a bit longer!

A Look Back on the Kitchen

2009-10-15T17:34:00.000-07:00

I've been organizing my house photos and came across my kitchen remodel from a few years ago and thought I'd post them. This was my first time I ever did a complete gut of a room and am really proud of how it turned out. It's a small space but it is quite efficient, the perfect work triangle and even though its small its easy for Drew and I to work in there at the same time.

I saved money by using stock cabinets and using simple subway tile as the backsplash. My middle range picks were the LG hi-mac countertops, School House Electric Lighting and the cork flooring on the floor. I splurged on my window treatments and my appliances especially my stove.

I think its important when doing a remodel to stay true to your house and the best compliment I have received is that the kitchen looks like its always been there.

Pleasant Surprise

2009-10-13T11:37:00.001-07:00

As you all know I have a few birds in my house and for the last few years I've been on the owl bandwagon. So it was pretty cool when I was at my mom's house last week and she told me she had something for me from my grandma. My grandmother died over 10 years ago so I had no idea what it could be. Of course I was hoping for the blue bird sugar bowl or the flowered mixing bowls but instead and surprisingly it was something cooler. My mom gave me the owl pictured below. My grandma and I were not alike when it came to decorating or the way we took care of our house. My grandma rarely changed her decor and was a pack rat that would buy things (lots of things) just in case or if they were on sale. I never saw this owl in her house and I'm assuming it was packed away upstairs just in case.

I'm glad just in case turned out to be me!

Blech

2009-10-12T14:40:00.001-07:00

Here's one of those projects I've been putting off for the last 4 years. Its the staircase to our upstairs loft and bedroom area. I was trying to come up with a clever idea but have decided to just be safe and clean it up and paint it. I'm hoping to be done in the next couple days. The area is prepped and cleaned (boring) and so tomorrow I'll start the painting. Come back to see the final results!

Farewell Summer!

2009-10-11T08:34:00.000-07:00

I have mentioned it more then once but I am really sad to see summer come to an end. I feel like we barely had any warm days to sit on our porch and enjoy the weather and we didn't get to the pool one time. So as everyone else is excited about cashmere sweaters and new boots I'm totally bummed to have to put away my outdoor furniture and flip flops for the next 7 or 8 months.

Not Always Pretty

2009-10-08T09:22:00.000-07:00

Just because these pictures won't make it to the pages on any design magazines doesn't mean I'm not equally as proud of our latest accomplishment. Cleaning the garage!! This project has taken 4 years to complete and this garage has served us well. It has held alot of my belongings when I first moved in here with Drew, then it held old dishwashers and refrigerators and stoves and the countless excess junk from all our home remodeling projects.

This garage project was one of my summer projects that I have happily checked off the to do list. Everything now has a home and is organized. If you look all like items (tools, toys, car items, etc.) are together. I think our cars will be the happiest because now they finally have a home!

Master Bedroom

2009-10-07T18:43:00.000-07:00

This is our finished master bedroom. Like I have previously mentioned its outside of how I have normally decorated a room. I wanted the room to be a bit more modern then what I have usually done and I wanted more color.

We needed storage, lots of storage and that's what we got with room to spare. Unfortunately I still have to store seasonal clothes in tubs and change them out for winter and summer but I suppose that's what happens when you're living in an older house.

Its pretty obvious that most of our things came from Ikea but we also shopped at West Elm, Jonathan Adler, CB2, Crate & Barrel, Urban Outfitter, Pottery Barn and Midland Antiques. I think what I like most about the room is that its so organized and I made good use of the space.

Perhaps I Got Ahead of Myself

2009-10-05T13:28:00.000-07:00

Guess what? Putting together a new blog is harder then what I thought, perhaps it might take longer then a weekend....I should've guessed when there are books (big books) on how to operate this new system I'm switching to.

Stay tuned!

Give me till Monday...

2009-10-02T13:13:00.000-07:00

I've decided to change to wordpress and say good bye to blogspot so I have been working on my new design and will have it up by Monday. Come here on Monday and I will have a link to show you the new house to your Home. I'll post photos of my master bedroom at that time. In the meantime, if you miss Domino magazine (like me) check out Lonny an online magazine with the same vibe. Its really cool!

Master Bedroom

2009-10-01T11:16:00.001-07:00

When we originally moved into the house our bedroom was downstairs but we decided we would move upstairs into the loft area because the room was much bigger. This is the room before we did anything. Its your basic beige empty room.

At the time I used paint and furniture that we already owned and did a quick makeover. The room was nice but not functional. There is only a very small closet that doesn't even begin to work for just my clothes. We lived with this room for a few years but then decided to make the room more functional and I also decided to go outside of "my box" and try to design a room that I normally would not of done.

Here's what the room looked like as it started to come together. I did keep brown in the room because virtually everyone of my rooms has brown in it and I like the house to have a flow to it. Stay tuned tomorrow to see the finish result!

Put Your Ideas In Front of You

2009-09-30T17:14:00.000-07:00

Before I do a room re-do I cut out items that I think would look good in the room and tack them to a cork board. Having a picture in my head can sometimes be very different then what it actually is when I see it with my own two eyes laid out in front of me! Once I have everything clipped out I wait a few days and then look over it again, and its usually then where I edit by taking away or adding something to the room.

Don't forget to measure your room and the furniture going in the room. I usually just lay the room out on graph paper and takes barely anytime at all.

Stay tune for tomorrow where I post how the room turned out.

A Look Again at Sloan's Tween Room

2009-09-29T16:51:00.000-07:00

This is my 11 year old daughter's bedroom I did about a year ago. This was a budget makeover, as much of my projects usually are. Her room was originally painted pink and I didn't really have the time nor did I really want to re-paint all four walls so I decided just to do an accent wall in chocolate brown.

The comforter was one of those inexpensive bed in a bag that was on clearance at Target. I actually did the painting on the wall myself with the left over paint from the room. I spray painted her chandelier hot pink and added some beading. The Audrey Hepburn poster wasn't even framed, I just tacked it on the wall with some decorative thumb tacks.

I posted her room on HGTV's Rate My Space awhile back and was so surprised to get such nice comments and since I've posted it, its gotten over 100,000 hits and is still one of the most viewed girls rooms on the site, which is proof that a couple hundred bucks can make a room look great!

1 minute change up

2009-09-28T10:08:00.001-07:00

You don't need alot of time or alot of money to create change, there's always simple cheap easy things. In the summer I fill my hurricane in my living room with either glass stones, sand or shells and in the fall I fill the same hurricane with either pine cones, leaves or like I did this year fragrant spiced pumpkins.

Be Brave

2009-09-25T04:59:00.000-07:00

Wallpaper has been making a coming back for a few years and its not the same wallpaper our parents were using. Say good-bye to small flowers and ivy or god forbid borders. The patterns are much more bold and the graphics are pretty colorful and fun. Everyone I tell that wallpaper is making a comeback immediately says to me, I will never wallpaper a room again!

The great thing about wallpaper this time around though is that you don't have to do an entire room you can do an accent wall or a bookshelf or the top of a table. I ran across this cool product called Grippiks that is already designed to fit your Ikea furniture you said you were only going to keep for a year or two (its been 5) before you bought grown up furniture. What's a better place to throw on some color and pattern but a cheap piece of furniture you planned on getting rid of anyways?

Of course you don't need to buy this product you can easily use wallpaper, wrapping paper or scrap book paper. I don't think it matters what you use it just matters you start putting some pop into your room and banish the beige!

(All photos are from Grippiks)

Gray?

2009-09-24T16:23:00.000-07:00

The new hot color in decorating for about a season has been gray. I actually painted our newly remodeled bathroom gray and I love it. Its really a great neutral color and works great with cobalt blue or yellow.

But what about the rest of you...what do you think about using gray as a paint color for one of your rooms?

I Love

2009-09-23T15:59:00.001-07:00

I read alot of design blogs and gather photos along the way that inspire me and give me ideas for my own house. Unfortunately I don't remember what site I got this photo from but I have always loved it. I have a set of wood stairs in my house that I have always found quite boring.

If I were brave and motivated I would do this to my stairs. I imagine it looking quite lovely with candles up every other stair during a party at night!

Know What Works

2009-09-22T12:33:00.000-07:00

I have a color scheme in my house, I use browns, light yellows, muted creams, greens and black, this way most everything I buy for my house can be used in various rooms. Most everything in my house has been used in one room and then another. Its also good to know your style. I have owned this screen for over 10 years and its been used in my bedroom, dining room and currently my living room. When you know your style, have a neutral backdrop and use what you love I guarantee it will work for you.

Mix High and Low Pieces

2009-09-21T08:39:00.000-07:00

Yes I know the bathroom before was pretty awesome, well awesome if it was 1989! We knew we had to do something but as always didn't have a ton of money to spend. My secret, its about mixing it up. I always splurge on hardware, fixtures and countertops.

I saved money by using materials that did not have to be specially ordered, painting existing cabinets and decorating from budget friendly stores like Target and the clearance section at Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware. My rule is usually, don't buy it unless its on sale!

Another tip to make it seem like you spent alot of money on your bathroom is to buy expensive soaps from speciality stores and put them in your budget friendly silver tray you picked up at the antique store!

In the end a room is the same as getting dressed, you don't have to spend alot of money on your black t-shirt but throw in some great accessories and your outfit will look like a million bucks. With clothes and with your home I think its all about the bling!

Everything Has A Home

2009-09-18T10:45:00.003-07:00

In my house I've learned the best way to keep things organized is to have a place for everything. I'd like to think my kitchen is pretty organized and the two items I use the most to make sure everything has a place is a porcelain bird for my wedding ring and the silver tray where we all keep our keys.

Pull It Together With Some Color

2009-09-17T04:43:00.000-07:00

I think a fun way to showcase some of your items is to group them according by color. Your objects don't even have to be similar or a particular type of collection but if they are all the same color it will come together for you.

The photos are of an antique store called Da Barn (sorry they don't have a website) in New Buffalo, Michigan. This is one of my favorite stores and whenever I go there I want to buy everything and I'm assuming its because they display everything so cool!

So the next time you want to arrange a bookshelf try covering all your books in orange paper or how about spray painting some unused knick knacks that have been in a box in your basement pink and displaying them on a shelf.

The whole point of color is to have fun with it!

Black Thumb

2009-09-16T10:12:00.001-07:00

I love flowers and plants but truth be told I always kill my plants no matter how much I tend to them. So, instead of just leaving the pots empty in my kitchen above my sink I decided to put pumpkins on top to get ready for fall. The pot in the middle has a tealight in it that lights up the area at night.

Wish me luck that I don't kill the pumpkins!

Wish List

2009-09-15T13:43:00.000-07:00

I think I have own more pillows then most people in their lifetime. To me it is the easiest way to update a room and to express yourself without spending a ton of money. I'm in the middle of finishing my basement and I have had my eyes on these pillows from Jonathan Adler for over a year.

The pillows are more then I usually spend but I try and justify it with the fact its cheaper then buying a new couch every year and sometimes buying what you really, really love makes the design come together that much more! The great thing is you can go for something completely trendy and not feel bad when it goes out of style, plus its an instant update for a tired looking room!

Lighting Hints for the Kitchen

2009-09-14T08:18:00.001-07:00

If your kitchen has fluorescent lighting try painting the ceiling a pale pastel color, it will soften the room. Another trick is if your cabinets don't reach all the way to the ceiling try putting up white small Christmas lights on the top it'll make the room glow!

Use A Piece of Furniture In A New Way

2009-09-10T09:59:00.001-07:00

I have owned this secretary since I was 24 years old, in fact it was what I considered to be the first piece of antique furniture I bought all by myself for a whopping $135.00! In the '90's I used the piece in my very overly decorated living room and now I use it in my dining room to hold important things like our wine! I think the piece would look great in a bathroom too holding towels and pretty soaps.

Group Same Objects Together

2009-09-10T09:22:00.001-07:00

I collect birds and I didn't even know I did. I believe it started with the small blue glass bird you see in the cabinet my mom bought me when I was in high school. I think one day I just noticed I had alot of little birds around the house so I decided to put them in my kitchen cupboard together. The beauty of it is now the birds look like a collection and makes more of a statement grouped together. Its like I totally planned it!

So look around your house you might be surprised you may be like me and have a collection and not even realize it!

Use Objects That Mean Something To You

2009-09-09T16:08:00.000-07:00

I try to use things throughout my house that has sentimental value and that rings true for what is on my coffee table. I love using books in my design and I have alot of my design books all through my house. It seems like whenever we have company someone always ends up picking up one of the books and looking at the cool photos. The other things on my coffee table is a container of marbles that Sloan was obsessed with when she was three years old, a container of dice that I played with at my grandma's house when I was little, a tin that my grandma used to store her buttons in and the candle holder and stones in the holder was probably one of the first purchases I ever made for my apartment back in the day.

I think when you use pieces you love that have meaning behind them, it makes your house a home and whether it matches your decor or not it just always seems to fit!

Paint Your Front Door

2009-09-08T10:55:00.000-07:00

When we first moved into our house everything was brown and as you can see the screen door is very dated.

We painted the door green and put in a new screen door and I already think it makes a big difference. The next steps will be painting the trim and doing some landscaping.

Keep in mind you don't have to do everything all at once, just a few small things can make a big difference!

Frame Cool Stationary

2009-09-04T06:42:00.000-07:00

I have been using stationary as artwork on my walls for years, especially back in the day when I couldn't afford real art. The great thing about it is you don't feel bad for getting rid of it when you've grown tired of looking at it. I currently am a little fixated on mid-century design and I got just a bit excited when I ran across this Charley Harper stationary (on clearance) at Anthropologie.

Another idea is when I visit art museums I always go to the gift shop and check out their postcards. Once I get bored with my Charley Harper prints I plan to exchange them for some cool Barnett Newmann postcards I picked up.

No Budget For Flowers?

2009-09-03T06:07:00.000-07:00

Go outside and I'm sure there is lots of greenery right outside your front door. I have a few small vases that I like to put leaves and flowers in. I think simple is key, one leaf or one flower. Some other things I like to do is collect branches for large vases and fall leaves and pinecones for the bowl on my dining room table.

I've always been a big believer that you don't need a bankroll of cash to have a beautiful house, perhaps just an eye for the small little touches that make a home special.

What You'll Find In My Purse

2009-09-02T06:09:00.000-07:00

I always carry a small notebook and measuring tape in my purse. I use the notebook for lots of different things, I keep the dimensions of my rooms in it, items I'm on the look out for and I will use it to sketch a space or a pattern I run across. I don't know how many times the notebook has saved me when I'm at Ikea and I can't remember what size a wall is! The notebook is great to have around whenever an inspiring moment may strike, which is usually when I'm waiting for my daughter after school!

Put Flowers Into Your Grocery Budget

2009-09-01T11:02:00.000-07:00

Flowers are one of the easiest and cheapest ways to spruce up a room. I buy flowers almost weekly for my living room and display them in a hand made vase I made with my daughter. Flowers bring life into a room and make it extra personal by placing them in something that means something to our family.

I Think I May Have Found My Hobby

2009-08-31T09:23:00.000-07:00

Drew, my husband has lots of hobbies and is never lost for something to do. He recently went to a convention for one of his hobbies and truth be told I was a bit upset about the time this particular hobby took up. His reply, you need a hobby for yourself Laurie.

I went to the craft store yesterday and honestly I did not see anything there that I was interested in doing, nothing I was willing to put the time and money into and get the reward from it like I do with I complete something on my home. Hobbies are expensive and usually requires buying lots of stuff. I'm just not a lots of stuff kind of person. (I'd rather go to someone's house and organize what they have.) A plan came to mind, why not write about my home!

I am a wife, a mother, I was a paralegal for over 15 years until I quit to go to school to be an interior designer. I planned to take this year off because I was pregnant with twins, unfortunately due to complications my girls did not make it which has left me with no school, no job and not much to do while my family is away besides clean and work on my house. In my mind I thought this was a bad thing but truth be told my home is my hobby.

I have lived in my home for over four years and it has changed quite a bit. When I first moved in only my husband lived here and the house was a bit creepy and was decorated with patio furniture in the living room. Since that time we've worked very hard on our place and its still not even close to being done. I'm a big believer that a house should evolve over time and you should let it speak to you when deciding what to do to it.

The biggest compliment I get is that our place is so comfy and it is a home not just a house. I thought I'd take my time off as an opportunity to write about what I have done and make it a point to get some much needed things done to the house during this time off.

I don't think you have to spend alot of money to get the results you are looking for and I think if you break it down and do small things everyday, before you know it you can put your personal style into your place and before you know it your house will be your home!

I hope you enjoy!