Posts

Use What You Have

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Do you have some mix match vases or other figures and you don’t know what to do with them? Instead of buying new things just transform what you have. This DIY project found at Style Me Pretty was intended for a wedding, but can be used as a table centerpiece. All you need is your items of course, and a bottle of spray paint.

  1. Make sure your items are clean and dry.
  2. Lightly coat each and allow time to dry
  3. Repeat step 2 until desired shade is reached.
  4. Fill with flowers and arrange closely together on your table.

After your seemingly pricey DIY project is complete, all you have to do is field raves from your guests.

Before DIY vases

Before

After DIY vase

After

Island Style

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Typically you can find kitchen islands in majority of today’s newer homes. Many people are even remodeling and adding islands to their kitchens. With the high demand, islands can be found to match every personality and design theme. If you prefer intricate crown molding, you can have what is already displayed throughout your home incorporated into your island. It can be simple, detailed, modern, rustic and whatever else imaginable. You can even have your island flow into a bar, seating area or  have extra cabinetry for storage. With the endless options, here are a few unique island styles we like.

Kitchen Island

Yellow and Gray Combo?

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You may think using gray to decorate will make your room dark and gloomy, but it doesn’t. Mix in some yellow and both colors pop. The brightness of yellow paired with the starkness of gray contrast amazingly. If you aren’t into extremely bright yellow, go for a darker shade. Check these pictures out for ideas on how to incorporate gray and yellow in your home.

Gray and Yellow Living Room

Gray and Yellow Bedroom

Décor Double Take: Mr. & Mrs. Smith

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Another great movie and home Mr and Mrs Smith with our friends Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Who knew where they would go from here? But how about this house? Although the exterior seems very colonial and has southern charm,  when you open the door, a bit of the city and urban flair rings loud and clear.  I think the production crew did a great job reflecting the actors personality in this home.  It’s swanky and upscale. Just take a closer look at the living room and dining room. The light fixtures set the tone for a contemporary, transitional, risky performance–not always expected in such a true colonial, but they pulled it together beautifully. Just another movie where I had a hard time keeping my eyes off the wonderful “design” of the home.
If you are looking for more about the decor in Mr. & Mrs. Smith, also check out this post by Hooked on Houses.

Difficult Spaces: The Hallway

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The hallway can be a challenge to decorate. Often they are long and narrow, which makes placing furniture difficult–if not impossible. A great way to make the most of your hallway is to use it as a gallery. The long lines of the hallway make it an ideal space to display family photos or your favorite artwork. Not sure how to place the photographs? Consider a grid-style configuration like the one in the photo below. Also, by placing photos in the same style of frame, the viewer is drawn to what’s in the frame instead of the frame itself. Who wouldn’t stop to look at the photographs when walking through this hallway?

Jennifer Aniston’s Stylish Platform Bed

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Sometimes I run across something so interesting that I can’t wait to share it with you, and this is one of those moments. A friend who follows this blog sent this to me and this bed is such a beauty. This is Jennifer Aniston’s very-own platform bed, just was featured in the March issue of Architectural Digest. Isn’t it great?

What really makes this bedroom so great are those oversized lamps and the tile headboard. The bed is enormous, so you would have to have a large enough bedroom to accommodate such a large piece of furniture, but it sure makes a stunning focal point. A bedroom like this is clean and sleek, without the look of old-fashioned “matching” furniture. It’s just another way to think about the bedroom as a true haven!

Janine

Making the Bedroom a Haven

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Ah, the bedroom. It should be a place to regroup from a challenging day at work, a place that promotes sleep, and a place the exudes comfort. A haven. Is this how you would describe your bedroom? If not, what is getting in the way? Are you constantly stepping on the kids’ toys when you get out of bed in the morning? Is the laundry taking over your floors? Do you need to replace those scratchy linens? All of these things can be getting in the way of the bedroom of your dreams. If you are looking to take back your bedroom, here are a few tips that will help you transform your bedroom into the room you have always wanted:


Consider paint color: You know that color can affect your mood and it can also affect your sleep. While you may love bright colors, they can also stimulate your senses and aren’t very sleep friendly. Try choosing softer colors instead. A softer palette will make it much easier to unwind from the day.

Invest in some good linens: Throw out those scratchy and worn linens.  Instead, purchase soft linens with at a quality weave, typically 300-thread count or higher. Higher thread counts are not only more durable, but they also softer. The lovely bedding set in this picture is from Peacock Alley. Don’t they just make you want to climb into this bed with a good book?

Light it right: The right lighting can really make a huge difference in the bedroom. If you enjoy reading at night, a side lamp is a must. This way, you don’t have to get up to turn off the light. Also, purchase a dimmer, which can be found at most hardware stores. A dimmer is a inexpensive way to enhance the mood of the bedroom.

CRLaine Furniture Spring Preview

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To my young-at-heart followers: take a peek at what CRLaine Furniture has in store for you this Spring as part of their new introductions. How fun is this new look?  Try taking a spin off that old wing back chair and oversize it. Then, jump-up the fabric scale and here comes one for the trendy folks out there!  I love how they paired it with a more conservative yet “young”  gorgeous sofa that will be very timeless.  This room welcomes you to 2010. Time for you to make your home your haven!
Janine

Decorative Touch Featured in Kansas City Home and Garden Magazine!

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I am thrilled that I was recently featured in Kansas City Home and Garden Magazine’s March/April issue. Here is a copy of the published article:

Holiday Decor Inspiration: Easter

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Are you entertaining guests this Easter Sunday? If you are stumped for tablescape ideas, here is some inspiration for you. You may not be able to incorporate all these ideas, but look how just adding a few natural elements, a pop of color, and a few candles really makes the table the focal point of the room. And who can resist that gorgeous bouquet of tulips?