Let the Wedding Season Begin!

My brother-in-law is getting married in May and I am helping out with the decor for their rehearsal dinner. I have been picking my brain and rummaging through pictures online trying to come up with the perfect theme to suit the future newlyweds taste. Robbie and Meredith are both outdoorsy and if I had to sum up their style in two words it would be 'simplistically chic'. To keep in line with their personal style I have decided to keep the decor elegant and simple with a rustic twist. 

Today I got started on the centerpieces for the tables. I gathered some random mason jars from a local thrift store and cleaned them thoroughly when I got home. I wrapped some twine around the jars to add a little rustic touch and I love how it turned out. 

Benji and I went on a walk this afternoon and picked a bunch of flowers around from around our neighborhood so that I could use them to get an idea of how the jars will look with flowers. I used cherry blossoms, dogwoods, and azaleas for these arrangements. However, when the big day actually comes I will be using what is in season at the time. I want to try to keep the flowers pastel for a very light and airy feel. I also would love to find the perfect mix of wildflowers for a really nice carefree, whimsical look. We'll see what I find! For now, I think these gave me a great starting point though!

Painted Wallpaper Project

I apologize for the terrible quality of the photo. On the top of my wish list is definitely a good camera! Anyway, a few months ago after stumbling on a DIY wallpaper tutorial on the Jones Design Company blog I was inspired to paint this faux wallpaper on one of the walls in our office. Her pictures and wallpaper look phenomenal! She even has provided a link to print out a stencil to use in the process!

This is a great way to add some pizazz to a bland room. It's fun, crafty, and super rewarding when you finish. I will warn you however, that it requires a very steady hand and a LOT of patience! If you aren't in your "forever" home or especially if you live in an apartment this could be a great alternative to wallpaper. You can easily paint over it when you are ready to move to appease your landlord or prospect buyers. It's also really cost effective compared to wallpapering. Almost everyone has a can of white paint and a paint brush lying around. In that case, this project is practically FREE!

Happy painting!

Bedroom Makeover

Before

After

My dear friends called me a few weeks ago to ask if I could help them spruce up their bedroom. Of course I jumped on the opportunity and had a lot of fun in the process! More than anything they really wanted nightstands, lamps, and color added to the room without spending more than $500. 

Luckily, I had a little money leftover after buying the necessities to spend on window treatments, art, bedding, paint, and toss pillows which really completed the room. They picked out a couple of art prints from Etsy to incorporate into the room. They were yellow typography prints which allowed me to build a color scheme. I wanted to add color to the room without making it feel too girly since newlyweds will be sharing the space. I decided to go with a palette consisting of mostly gray with pops of yellow added for accents. I realized that a little yellow definitely goes a long way!

Megan gave me a mirror that she had bought at a thrift store to incorporate into the room. It was originally gold so I decided it needed a little makeover as well. I spray painted it yellow to match the other accessories. I'm happy with how it turned out! 

They ended up loving the makeover which really made all the work worth wile! They were an absolute pleasure to work with and I'm so happy they loved it! I learned a lot while planning this design and I'm grateful for the opportunity. 

Dreaming of Kitchens...

A really great friend of mine is aspiring to spruce up her kitchen and asked that I help her with the painting process. She would like to paint her oak cabinets for a more updated look, add new hardware, and also paint the walls. Her dream colors are turquoise, pink, and gray. It makes me so happy that she isn't afraid of color! Yay! Of course, I hit the internet for sources of color inspiration...

What a statement that turquoise tile makes! Wow! The slate gray counter tops paired with the pristine white cabinets makes for a chic combination! The touch of pink added by the vase of fresh peonies is perfect.

These gray cabinets are divine! So sleek and classy....

This is my favorite combination of all. The white cabinets are gorgeous paired with the gray tile and light turquoise blue walls. This shows that color can be added in a refined, elegant way without being overpowering. 

This casual, colorful kitchen is exceptional. The cabinets are the perfect shade of turquoise and the black counter tops sing against them! The farmhouse sink and wainscoting add the perfect touch of country to this stylish kitchen. 

 

This kitchen is daring, unconventional, and in my opinion fantastic. How happy I would be to wake up and grab a cup of coffee and cereal in such a cheery kitchen! The cabinets and walls have been painted a bright shade of turquoise which is so unexpected in a kitchen. The Moroccan lantern hanging over the island adds so much interest to the room.

This is such a unique and beautiful kitchen! I'm a sucker for all things glitzy, shiny, and silver so this backsplash really speaks to me. The white cabinets with the stainless steel hardware creates a modern, streamlined, and clean feel to the space. Who would ever think to paint your kitchen ceiling turquoise? It works perfectly for this space! 

If you have your heart set on adding an unconventional color to your kitchen or bathroom and aren't in your "forever" home a great way to incorporate the color is by adding hardware. Beautiful hardware makes a statement in any room and can be easily switched out by sellers or buyers when a house is put up for sale. 

Wouldn't these be adorable to hang aprons, dish towels, or oven mitts? I think so! 

All hardware is from Anthropologie.

Romantique Boudiors

Some friends of mine asked me to make over their bedroom recently. I have been working on the project for a little over two weeks and needed some inspiration. They are working on a budget and requested that I make the room feel romantic. I headed over to House Beautiful for a little insight and here are some of my favorite finds. 

This bedroom screams drama! A monochromatic palette of black and white is used to make a statement in this space. The black chandelier instantly romanticizes the room and adds interest. The soft panels on the windows add such a softness to the room as does the upholstered headboard. A soft glow from the table lamps finishes off this room making it the ultimate romantic getaway. 

 I'm not sure what it is, but a canopy is always the tell-tale sign of a romantic bedroom. Maybe it's the feeling of security and modesty that the canopy offers that makes it so romantic. Maybe it's the softness and understated femininity that the billowy fabric of a canopy gives to make a room feel romantic. Whatever it is, it works. This room is casual, calming, and ever so romantic. 

This bedroom is formal but very livable. The chandelier and gilded headboard create such elegance in the room. The color palette of pale blush, ivory, and antique gold is classically romantic. 

trash 2 treasure

A long time ago I stumbled upon the Sticks and Bricks blog and have been an avid follower ever since. This lady lives my dream. 

What I would give to be able to scour thrift stores all day for junk to turn to treasure...

Here she has used old discarded golf ball crates to create these industrial chic pendant lamps. So resourceful! 

 

To some this may look like just a bunch of crummy old bottles that need to be dumped in the recycling bin, pronto. 

To others, these are just a diamond in the rough waiting to be discovered! I love old bottles. Well, truth be told I love new bottles too. Needless to say this light fixture makes me smile. 

The re-purposing possibilities for antique crates is near endless. You can use them for magazine holders, turn them over to make a side table, make flower boxes for windows, or in this case you can even fashion them into a beautiful table top. Genius!

Spring fashion trends.

Spring has not yet sprung, but it's never too early to start brushing up on the latest warm weather trends.

Celeste Linen Long Dress by Patterson J. Kincaid

The maxi dress has been around in seasons past, but not to this extent. I have never tried one of these on for fear that I will drown in all of the long, flowy, drapey fabric. This year I will face my fears.

 Plaid Maxi Skirt from Free People

Maxi skirts are also really trendy this spring in addition to the dresses. They really look their best when paired with fitted tops.

Emerson Made Original Bluebells

2011 runways were paying homage to the 70s with high waist wide leg jeans. They look dynamite when worn with a tucked in tailored top and cinched at the waist with a skinny belt. They also beg for a pair of wedge heels! 

Emerson Made Original Bluebells

For a tougher look add your favorite band tee and a cropped leather jacket. Looks fabulous dahling!