What to do with all the pictures?

If you want to keep a clean look in your home, but you want to have a family pictures around, consider doing a stylish picture wall. A couple tips. Have a unifying theme either the pictures or the frames. Arranging the pictures can be a challenge. A good layout idea is to arrange the pictures in the shape of an upside down lower case “e”. Laying out the pictures on the floor can help determine the best layout, take a picture and use it as a guide. My friend Lisa got me a great tool for hanging pictures. The “Hang and Level” tool marks where to put your nail and has a built-in level. Check it out at http://hangandlevel.com, a great investment for only $20. Once you have the pictures level use small sticky dots to adhere the frames to the wall and then you will not need to adjust every time someone slams a door.

Think Outside the Bag!

Just because it is called a “Bed in a Bag”, does not mean you must use everything in the bag. Sometimes a bed in a bag can be an inexpensive option and may have the colors you are looking for. In this case the client bought a new bed and the set was included with the purchase. She was not a big fan of the set, but she liked the colors and it went nicely with the rod iron bed. I added some color to the walls and different texture with new pillows, woven shades, velvet curtains and a chocolate blanket. I found the swing arm lamps at Home Depot they were a good price and just what I was looking for, except they had basic white shades. I changed the shades for $15 each and they are a much better fit for the room Just adding new shades makes the lamps look like they are from a designer store. The Lesson of the day – Don’t be limited to what you are given!

The Ordinary Bathroom turned Extraordinary!

Do you have a plain “builder’s grade” bathroom in your home? Little changes can make a big difference. A quick and easy custom upgrade is to use molding to frame the mirror. Candles are always a great addition to a bathroom! Add color with towels, rugs or even art. In this room I found this great red vase in the owners collection and just added $2 worth of yellow flowers. This makeover can be done with little money and little time.

Merry Christmas!

You do not need to go out and buy new decorations every year to keep your décor fresh. Shop at home! Try moving items around in your home. Do not feel that you must leave something where it has been every year. Start with the most important rooms and use your favorite things, so that you can look at them everyday. In this case I was able to use some items from the dining room and some from the storage closet to make an impact in a very visible space above the fireplace. Cost $0

Giving function and style to a bare nook!

Lots of homes have nooks and sometimes they can be a challenge to make them work for you. Make the nook fit! If the nook is off the bathroom then fill with items you want next to the bathroom, pretty soaps and towels, etc. In this case the nook was between the kitchen and the dining room. Define the Space! She wanted a wine area and he wanted a coffee area. The compromise was a combo beverage center to fit both desires. To add functionality I cut down floating shelves to slide into the nook. I attached wine glass holders on the underside of one shelf for wine glass storage that doubles as art. Give the space style! The new terracotta paint color gives the space immediate character. Magazine holders are a pretty way to store not so pretty cooking magazines. Adding art gives the space definition and style. The family pictures are nice from the before picture, but I truly believe that defining spaces will help give your home better flow. Kitchen related items go in the Kitchen, Bath things in the Bathroom and Family pictures go in the Family Room.

Hard to find comfort in a large space.

Today’s Family rooms are large and can be a challenge to decorate. The solution most use is to push all the furniture against the walls. The problem with the “Everything Against the Wall” design tactic is that no one wants to come in and sit down. The best solution is to define a focal point and arrange furniture accordingly. In most homes this is the fireplace or the TV. If you have both you have a bigger challenge. Look to the floor; use a rug or an ottoman to arrange your furniture around and create an inviting space. Save your back, go to HGTV and use the room planner to determine where everything will fit.

Guest Room on a Dime!

From White to Right! This basement guest room was a blank slate with white walls, wooden blinds and a queen bed. The owner had purchased this great bedding and really wanted a room to compliment the colors in the bedding. The goal was to create a warm inviting space that would welcome overnight guests and to do it on a budget. The first step was to find a paint color, this warm Dellwood Sand color was a great compliment to the bedding. The curtains and the headboard fabric are 3 table linens and were a total of $40. The headboard is made from plywood and 4-inch foam. I cut the foam and wood into 12 x 24 inch rectangles and tried to mimic the pattern of the bedding. Bargins! The side table was on super clearance for $40 and the 2 lamps were only $12! Total Room Cost = $250