paper those walls

i l.o.v.e wallpaper. it adds so much drama and character to a space. there are so many different ways it can be used in a room other than floor to ceiling on all four walls. below are a few of my favorite finds.

 [add interest and depth to boring built-ins with a gorgeous wallpaper]

 [highlight your existing architectural detailing with wallpaper.]

[use wallpaper to create a focal wall]

all images are from decor pad

when in rome...

do as the romans do!

i thought i would share some window treatment ideas today. interior design is more informal and eclectic than ever. with that being said, over the top, frilly window treatments are definitely a thing of the past. however, that doesn't necessarily mean that you have to have floor to ceiling panels in every. single. room. instead why not mix it up a little with some roman shades? they give a nice tailored look to any room. they are also really convenient in that they operate like blinds.

[decor pad]

 [decor pad]

love the black trim that has been added to these white roman shades. it adds so much dimension.

 [decor pad]



love a pretty stripe!

 [decor pad]

how clean, refreshing, and airy is this bathroom? seriously!

 [decor pad]

love the greek key trim that has been added to these shades! how interesting!

[decor pad]

soften up bamboo shades by layering cotton panels with them. love the look!

[house beautiful]

another greek key! these are bold and beautiful.

[house beautiful]

i'm loving the fun pattern on this roman shade. what a lovely kitchen!

[decor pad]

love list

 [zooey's hair]

[turban headbands]

 [portlandia]

this show lovingly pokes fun at all of the idiosyncrasies perpetuated by the art and design community [particularly in Portland]. tune in and be prepared to laugh at yourself!

[forks over knives]

forks over knives is a super informative documentary that dives deep into the culprit of america's staggering cancer, diabetes, and heart disease epidemics. it is necessary to educate ourselves on nutrition and to be aware what is in the food that we are putting into our bodies. i could write a novel about this subject being that it's something i am deeply passionate about, but i'll spare you. just educate, educate, educate yourselves.

[food matters]

"Let Thy Food Be Thy Medicine, And Thy Medicine Be Thy Food." - Hippocrates

i actually watched this about a year ago, but i figured while i was on the subject i may as well bring it up. food matters is another incredible documentary offering insight to warding off disease by utilizing nutrition.

[peach + seafoam color palette]

DIY End Table Revamp

my latest DIY project began with a couple of end tables I purchased at a local thrift store for 15$ each. they weren't the prettiest to say the least, but what attracted me to them was that they were solid wood and very sturdy. solid wood can be sanded and painted easily and will stand the test of time.

this go around i didn't just want to paint my new tables. i have painted many a piece of furniture and i thought it was time to try my hand at something new. i decided it was time to give glazing a whirl and i am really happy with how they turned out! glazing gives a whole new dimension to painted furniture.

for this project you will need:

- clear mixing glaze [found here]

- brown or black acrylic or latex paint to tint glaze [i used cheap craft paint found here]

- good quality latex paint in semi-gloss or satin

- good quality paint brush

- old rags

- container of water

-fine grain sandpaper

before

Step One:
give entire piece of furniture a light sanding. wipe off any dust or debri with a damp cloth before painting. 

Step Two:

give entire piece of furniture a coat of paint in your color of choice using a quality paint brush. [it really does make a tremendous difference to spend a little extra on a quality paint brush vs. the value options.] let the furniture dry over night. you can repeat this process if necessary, though i only applied one coat.

Step Three:

now the fun begins! it's time to mix your glaze. i went by the formula four parts glaze to one part paint. however, if you would like your glaze to be darker or lighter you can definitely adjust the formula. it's a forgiving process, so don't fret and just have fun with it!

Step Four:

now it's time to apply the glaze and there are certainly many different ways this can be done. it's important to work in sections because glaze dries quickly. decide where to begin and paint a decently thick coat of paint on your first section. you can either dampen a rag and manipulate the glaze that way or use a wet paint brush. after trying it both ways i personally liked the look of the paint brush. it almost gives a wood grain effect. either way, the goal in this step is to take a little of the glaze off with the rag or paint brush while leaving glaze in the nooks and crannies to give an aged effect.

Step Five:

let the piece of furniture dry for a few days or up to a week if necessary. if it still feels sticky to the touch, it hasn't dried completely. once dry you can paint a coat of polyurethane over it for protection. this is recommended for heavy use pieces especially.

after

i hope this tutorial has helped you or at least inspired you! i'm sure there are a ton of details i left out, and if that's the case please email me or leave a commment with your questions. i'm by no means an expert, but i would love to offer advice based on what i have learned with this project. also the DIY network offers up some great tips here.

what do you think of how it turned out? do you like the look of glazing or not so much? i would love to hear your thoughts!

a few tips for organizing your abode in style

a happy home is an organized home.

these are truly words to live by in my opinion. i thought it would be fun to gather a few ideas for stylishly organizing your abode. organizing can be really tricky and doing it in style even more so. sure we can all throw things away and clear the clutter, but it's the actual arranging and making sense of everything that can get tough. [at least for me.] hopefully these ideas will help you as well as me to get things in order for the new year ahead! 

 [real simple]

are you so tired of your necklaces getting tangled and wasting valuable time trying to mend them? simply use a wall mounted coat rack to hang them neatly and tangle free.

[real simple]

use a desk organizer to stow away cutting boards and cookie sheets neatly under the cabinet. this is a great way to free up valuable counter space. love this one! 

[real simple]

a magnetic spice rack can also double as office storage. hang above your desk for easy access to staples, paper clips, rubber bands, etc. find one here.

 [the style files]

recycle an old dresser into a new buffet for your dining room. paint it with a coat of chalkboard paint and use the drawers to organize your linens and dishes. [chalkboard paint can be tinted in literally any color you dream of at home depot.]

 [pinterest]

whether you have a library's worth of books or just a small bookshelf it may behoove you to organize by color. not only is it convenient while searching for your next read, but it's also visually striking.  

[martha stewart]

designate a pretty tray as a catch all for books, magazines, remotes, etc. on your nightstand or coffee table. 

 [babble blog]

make the most of your under cabinet storage in the bathroom. attach shelving to the inside of cabinet doors for extra space.

[apartment therapy]

save counter space by wall mounting wire baskets to organize your kitchen utensils. 

[pinterest]

when storage is limited in a bathroom utilize a hanging basket system to store towels, washcloths, and toiletries. 

[my sweet savannah blog]

yet another idea to free up valuable counter space in the kitchen! wall mount wire baskets to store produce, drinks, or whatever else you may need room for. 

[my sweet savannah blog]

organize the garage by simply vertically mounting coat racks on the walls. what a great way to easily sort your garden tools and save floor space.

[home made simple]

use a ladder for displaying and organizing your heels! genius!

knock knock who is there

i will save the bad joke and cut to the chase.

[orange!]

 i'm not sure if it's the winter blahs or just the fact that it's a great color, but i have really been attracted to orange lately. it's the perfect pop of happy, peppy, warm color!

[traditional home]

it's all about the details. the orange accents pop against the deep turquoise and green. 

 [traditional home]

i love a good inexpensive do it yourself project. thrifted frames have been upcycled and turned into beautiful wall decor. a collection of frames in varying shapes, sizes, and textures have been painted in Harmony by Sherwin Williams.

 

[pinterest]

those olsens are always stylin.

[martha stewart weddings]

sometimes a variety of candles are all you really need to beautifully outfit a dinner table. especially when they are in the perfect shades of complimentary turquoise and orange.

[house of turquoise]

i'm really digging this family room. it's so electic, colorful, and liveable.

 [pinterest]

every girl needs a bright orange blazer.

 [decor pad]

it would be really hard to think of a reason worthy of getting out of such a beautiful bed in the morning.

 [caitlin wilson textiles]

for all of you do-it-yourselfers caitlin wilson textiles has an incredible assortment of fabric by the yard. or if you would rather skip all of the work, ready-made pillow covers are available for purchase as well.

 [shop ruche blog]

now that's a fashionable dining room. when decorating with orange, you must be brave. don't hesitate to accent with another bright color or pattern.

[design sponge]

this bathroom has stolen my heart. if you know me, you know how much i love a clawfoot tub. and an orange one at that? oh my.

[casa sugar]

warm colors paired together are always so striking. the color palette in this living room really makes for an inviting space.