Friday, July 31, 2009

Friday Gift!


I wanted to wrap up this mini-series on home design with a special gift for you. For a limited time only, I am offering a free download of my e-book, Thrift Store Design, to you!




I had such a great time
compiling the photos and content for this e-book this past spring, and even hosted a special Design Day to celebrate it!





In it, I include tips on how to tell whether that used armoire is junk or treasure,
how to find great fabrics in unlikely places, and how to create your own do-it-yourself art on the cheap!





To download this e-book, please click the Thrift Store icon in the lefthand column!


Hope you enjoy, and have a wonderful Friday!

Previous Related Posts:

Ode to Pillows
I Swore Never Again, Part 2 (DIY roman shades)
Box Store Boycott

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Ode to Pillows


Ahem...a common scene from my home:


husband: why do we have so many pillows?


me: because they are pretty.



husband:
but I hate them. they serve no function.


me:
they serve the function of being pretty.


husband:
I want to cut them up.


me:
please don’t.




husband:
one of these days, when you go out of town, I’m going to get rid of all of them.


me:
(again) please don’t.




husband:
why do you have to be such a girl?


me:
would you prefer me to be something else?




husband:
yeah--someone who doesn’t like so many stupid pillows.


me:
that’s not going to happen.




husband:
you know, I did not sign up for all these pillows when we agreed to get married.


me:
yes you did.




husband:
no, I don’t believe so.


me:
yes, you did. now go to sleep please.





husband:
(mumbling) I don’t know why you always have to get your way.


me:
I’m tired. be quiet.




husband:
can you toss me my pillow?


Previous Related Posts:

Simple Summer Decor
Adding Patina, so to speak
Plotting more Patina

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Simple Summer Decor




One of my favorite ways to spruce up my home involves no money whatsoever. I simply take my garden shears to the yard and snip away.



My favorite arrangements are tall grass reeds in old beer
bottles, wheat stalks in coffee mugs, and coneflowers in pitchers.



The summer is best time for this type of decorating, since everything is in bloom and lovely. But the winter is actually when I appreciate it the most. When everything is brown and dead outside, I love to have a bouquet of flowers and greens on my kitchen table. It makes those long, dark days seem brighter and cheerier. And yes--I do have to spend some money during winter for this pick-me-up, but most bouquets can last two weeks with some deadheading and thinning.



Do you have a favorite flower? Or maybe another cheap idea for freshening up your home during the summer? Share about it by posting your comments here!

Previous Related Posts:
Big Box Boycott
I Swore Never Again, Part 2
Five Things You Need

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

I Swore Never Again, Part 2


Okay, okay--So I know
I complained about this sewing chore earlier this summer, because I've made roman shades before, and the project was a Huge headache.



But this time I have to confess that it wasn't that bad.
I broke the project into several phases and gradually plugged away.



And when we hung them last weekend, I had to admit that they were worth the effort. Worth it in savings (I easily spent 50% less on these handmade shades than the store-bought variety). Worth it in impact (the blackout lining works like a charm). And worth it in design--they look great!



Wanna try? Here are two links for instructions on how to make your own shades:
Instructions from Martha Stewart
WikiHow-to for roman shades, including diagram

As for me, there is one more window in my house that could really use a shade. Maybe I won't wait for four more years to try again!

Previous Related Posts:
I Swore Never Again...
From Cookie Cutter to Custom
Big Box Boycott

Monday, July 27, 2009

Long Weekends

When an unexpected opportunity to spend a long weekend up in the Rockies with my hubby and our two dogs came along, I couldn't pass it up.

And I'm so glad I didn't.


The scenery was spectacular.


Aspen trees...


The smell of a pine forest; the crunch of needles underfoot.


Following behind The Leader....

Two of the happiest dogs in the world...

The forest in bloom...


And enchanted gateways.

It was a perfect summer weekend.






Friday, July 24, 2009

Box Store Boycott

Now, I have nothing against box stores. In fact, I love Target. Love it. Have-to-keep-myself-out-of-the-store-so-I-don't-spend-away-my-retirement Love it. But...what I don't love about the box store empire is that by tantalizing us with cheap prices and pretty packaging, we've forsaken originality and craftsmanship. Plus, our houses all start to look the same.

So, I thought I would do a little tantalizing today by featuring a few selections from the handmade marketplace, Etsy. Each of these items is either vintage (aka recycled) or handmade. And oh so pretty. For example,



Chakra Pennywhistle is one of my favorite shops. I love the folksy/natural look of this Tulip pillow, and can imagine it sitting neatly on my bed or sofa. I also love the antique moneybag pillows offered in the store, too--they're so charming, and remind me of my days as a banker.



This Smile Letterpress Poster from Roll & Tumble Press is fresh and simple. I love the chunky black frame (not included) and can picture it hanging perfectly in my entryway. And the message is not too cloyingly sweet thanks to the no-nonsense font and retro camera image. You won't find the likes of this letterpress beauty at any box stores, I guarantee!



This is Mrs. B's Yellow Teapot. Hello, Mrs. B. Would you like to come over to my house? Why thank you--you're so kind.
From Modern Nest, this vintage pot is just the shade of yellow I've been craving lately. Check out the rest of the store for other fun retro housewares as well!



I think these Vinyl Kitchen Labels are ingenious. You can customize a set of 6 generic canisters with these stickers in minutes. From Studio JK, they would make a great wedding or housewarming gift for your favorite nester.



Finally, speaking of vinyl stickers, wall decals are quickly becoming all the rage in home design these days. And though I'm still a little torn about them for main living spaces, I do think they're adorable in nurseries. This Safari Animal Stack by Single Stone Studios is so fun, and would make a great baby shower gift for a modern mom.

All together, handmade and vintage stores offer a great way to break out of the cookie-cutter mold and into fresh, fun design. And
these five items are just a sampling of the home design alternatives available out there. I hope you're tantalized! Happy browsing!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Previous Related Posts:
Five Things You Need
Plotting More Patina
From Cookie Cutter to Custom

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Five Things You Need

One of the common complaints I hear about designing a home is that either the "stuff" is too expensive, or it is too generic. Fortunately, breaking out of the mold and creating unique and inexpensive things for your home isn't difficult--you just need to have the right tools and the time to use them.

But what tools, and where do you start?
Well, in my experience, I have found that these five things can carry you a long way when trying to spruce up your dwelling.


#1: a sewing machine & notions:
I was fortunate to inherit my sewing machine from an aunt, and can’t imagine how I ever lived without it. Sewing machines are endlessly useful for home design, and you can save a lot of money by making your own bedding, curtains, throws and pillows. And once you get the hang of them, you’ll find they’re ea
sy to use and simple to store.


#2: a fabric stash:
when I’m out, I always keep my eye open for fabrics that I like, even if I’m not sure how I’ll use them. And there’s no source off-limits for me. I’ve been known to cut apart used trousers for the herringbone wool, or load up on napkins because I like the pattern. I bring them home, wash, dry and press them, and then stack t
hem in my closet, where they rest, waiting for inspiration.


#3: fabric paint:
everyone, I think, should keep a few fa
bric paints on hand just in case. Just in case, for instance, you want to dress up a plain black t-shirt with a funky design, or add initials to your pillow shams, or stripes to your table runner. And while certainly stores carry a multitude of colors, you can save money by sticking to the primary colors. I mix the majority of my hues from five basics: black, white, red, yellow and blue.


#4: blank canvases
: I always try to keep a few blank canvases in varying sizes stashed in the back of my closet just in case an art project strikes my fancy. I find them handy for mounting photos and old posters I don’t want to frame, or for painting designs. Some I just paint in solid colors and scatter them around the house. In other words, don’t let your lack of artistic skills hold you back from having fun with canvas! Skill is rarel
y required.


#5: inspiration notebook:
I’ve blogged before about how I always keep a notebook (ahem...notebooks) close by for filing away magazine clippings and photos of rooms, colors, landscapes and patterns I like. Often when I want to start a project, I begin with my notebooks to collect ideas or just dream about possibilities.

The truth is that part of successful creativity is having the right supplies on hand for when the mood to create strikes
. Time and time again I have gone back to these basic things to liven up my home. For me, they're like the flour and sugar of design--staples to keep around for when you need them.

Happy designing!


Previous Related Posts:

Adding Patina, so to speak
Plotting more Patina

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