Stunning in Black

Ok, normally I am a pretty simple girl.

But I saw this chandelier today and just had to share it. I never thought I would go for something so out- of- the- ordinary, but here it is: a black chandelier!

For more information on this piece and how to decorate with black chandeliers, visit Home-and-Garden blog.

A Relaxing Space

One thing I have always dreamed of having is a garden space that allows for a little R & R. You know, not just grass, but a beautiful shade tree with a comfortable chair underneath. A place that allows me to enjoy a nice and cold margarita on a hot summer day while I curl up with a good book.

I absolutely love the image above, from Patio Design Depot. The beautiful plants and falls with coy remind me that owning a home shouldn’t be stress with chores and bills ALL the time – it should be our own little slice of paradise! A place to get away from the rest of the world and all of its drama.

So I challenge each and every one of you to sit in your yard tonight, no matter how big or small, and close your eyes and picture yourself someplace that relaxes you. Focus on what you see. Is it streams and waterfalls? Palm trees and Pina Coladas? Or maybe a hammock in the shade? Now that you have your image, open your eyes and try to image that image in your own yard. Sure, maybe your yard is on the smaller side and your waterfall will never be the 50 foot beauty you envisioned. But you can build a little pebble walkway to a small fountain. Or, maybe a small plug-in fountain? Or maybe you live in a strict apartment complex that has nothing more than a fence dividing the next renter… but don’t give up! You can still hang a beautiful print on the fence of the place you saw!

Image: Oregon Packaged Travel

Keep in mind that a relaxing space should not be about what you Do Not have the room or budget for, but more about working to get what you Can Have. Case in point, above is the worlds smallest park, Mills Ends Park in Oregon. Supposedly this little space is only 102 inches. If this is a park, then Anyone can make a beautiful yard by just using what is available to them!

Faux Mantel

I am not a fan of my brick fireplace and mantel.

Not only is it brick, but the previous owners painted over it. In my opinion, the only thing in life that is worse than brick is Painted brick! And it is not a short one either. It goes floor to ceiling in a room with very tall ceilings!

I can only assume that tearing down and rebuilding would cost a miniature fortune that I do not have. So, I am on a mission to figure out just how to go about fixing this disaster without a lot of expense or extreme effort on my behalf.

I think I solved all of my problems in a blog called The Lettered Cottage. I won’t give away their secrets, only direct you to their site to learn how they took an ugly fireplace and made it into what you see in the above photo. Wow is all I can say.

If you are not a huge fan of the do it yourself idea, then you may want to consider another route. I found the term you will want to search for is Fireplace Surrounds or Mantel Surrounds. This will give you more ideas and even companies that will sell you pre-made pieces to create your dream fireplace. One that I truly love is this wood Cambridge shown above from Mantels Direct.

Whatever you choose, just be happy with your choice. If brick isn’t your thing, make the effort to change it! The fireplace is the focal point in a room and home should always make you happy!

Crown Molding

Funny thing about crown molding. I always thought a majority of people misspelled it as I assumed it was spelled Moulding. I never imagined people would want to go out of their way to put something “Mold”-ing in their home! Haha. But when I searched the internet dictionaries specifically for this post, the term Crown Moulding did not exist. Hmm. This new spelling may take me a while to get used to!

Now that we have the proper spelling handled, lets talk about this ceiling trim and some ideas when using it it the home.

Image Source: Remodelworks.net

When choosing a molding, the first thing I suggest is to stand back at look at your home as an outsider. You need to envision NOT what your dream home could be or how you always dreamed it would be as a child, but how others see your home. Sure, I love a delicate scroll pattern on a thick molding. It seems extra classy and adds an antique, beautiful look to homes or magazine designs that I have seen it in. But if your actual home, inside and out, does not look like a mansion in the movies or have all that antique style wood floor and spiral staircases and high ceilings, chances are the idea you have of delicate, flowery big crown molding will look extremely goofy in your home!

But do not give up on the idea! Stand back and look at your ceilings. Are they low or high? How about the size of your rooms? Are they small or large? How about the outside of your home? Does it look like something from Colonial Williamsburg or something a super modern architect designed? How about your style of decor? Is it plain or detailed? And what about the layout of your home? Are there places that will allow you to start and stop the crown molding or is your home more continuous, with no real stopping points, therefore requiring more crown molding (and expense) than you anticipated?

Answering the above questions will help you in your decision when figuring a budget and a style for your choice. If you come to the conclusion that a simpler molding may work better for you – do not be upset that you aren’t getting your dream of elegance. Remember that Any molding – whether it be detailed or plain, thick or thin – instantly adds value and style to your home! It will be elegant no matter what! And all that detailed carving?

Try it in smaller versions, like this beautifully carved picture frame from Cost Plus World Market.

Area Rug to Match My Living Room

If you remember the post I did about a week ago on curtains, you may recall those beautiful Anthropologie Wandering Pleats Curtains I talked about. Well, in my search for area rugs and a style that goes with my home, decor and those gorgeous curtains, I came across this insanely perfect area rug that I will be ordering ASAP!

The rug, 100 Knot Tibetan Jardin, by Tibet Rug Company is sold at Rug Studio.

Doesn’t it match those curtains so perfectly? I am so excited!

Decorating with Rugs

Area rugs are one of the most versatile pieces that can be used to adorn your interior living space. They provide sophistication, comfort and generally can set the mood of the room by providing a stark contrast to an otherwise sterile space. Placing rugs in your living space produce more than just a simple design aesthetic. They can keep your feet warm and cozy during cold weather; they also have a knack of creating an illusion of a bigger room and can significantly minimize noise.

When choosing rugs to decorate your home, the first thing that you need to do is determine the size and shape of the rug. Determine how much floor space you would want the rug to cover and then choose accordingly. Select a color that would reflect the personality of the room. If your room is in monochromatic white, you may want to choose a rug that is gray or black in color in order to provide contrast. Or, you can choose a vibrant red in order to highlight it as a centerpiece and give the room that extra added effect. Don’t be afraid to go bold if that is your thing!

Rugs can also come with intricate designs. Persian rugs are considered one of the most expensive and come with different textural designs and patterns. When choosing a rug for your living space it is recommended that you choose a color palette that can match the walls of the room.

If you have a patterned rug, you may want to elicit inspiration from it when you choose a color for the entire room. This will give the space a sort of harmonious feel where there is unity instead of clash of colors.

When deciding where to place the rug, it is advisable that you place it in an area of the room where everyone in the household can savor its features. Classic example would be using an oriental rug adorned with a beautiful pattern in the middle of your den or living area.

Choose More than One!

When choosing rugs for the interior décor of your home, it is advisable that you use at least more than one rug. For example, if you want to create an intimate reading space for your living room, all you need to do is select an appropriate sized rug and place it in a quiet corner along with a few pillows, a chair as well as a nice reading lamp. For bigger areas of the room you can place a large enough rug where people can sit down and enjoy one another’s company. Throw in some soft pillows as well. You can also utilize rugs as accents. For instance, place one in the foyer or the entrance of your home. You can also use it as an attachment to your dining space.

Be sure to shop around for the best deal you can find. Keep in mind quality, but know that the bargains are there if you look for them. Love the rug above? I agree that this Mohawk Home Tropical Acres Area Rug is gorgeous! Check it out at Lowe’s.

Spruce Up for Summer!

I wait all year for summer.

The hot sun, the warm winds, the abundance of seasonal fruits, the beach vacations… summer is my favorite time of the year!

Like most of the country, I believe Memorial Day is the un-official start to summer. The kids are done with school, the weather is amazing… why would it Not be the beginning of summer?!

I also love to decorate my home to set a warm, happy mood. Summer is like any other holiday for me. Instead of garlands and lights, I bring out the sunscreen and big, bold beachy bath towels! The best thing about summer decor is that it Never gets old. I can keep it up all year if I like and not be criticized for forgetting to take down my decorations.

Here is a great selection I have found to help you start setting the summer mood in your home!

Just like the movie, this Endless Summer pillow case gets me in the mood for warm, beachy weather. This stunning, vintage looking pillow case is designed by Catherine McDonald and sold by Kess In House. Even better, it is made in the USA!

This mason-style dispenser is just the ticket for a fresh glass of ice cold lemonade! Sold for an amazingly low price by HomeWetBar.com, this jar is sure to be a great addition to any backyard barbecue! Serve your lemonade in mason jars and your party will be rockin! Be sure to check out their other mason jar selections while you are visiting their site!

If your idea of summer includes the idea of sand between your toes, this Adorable sign from Etsy’s JustBeachyShop is the perfect addition to any home! I love the rustic, beach-worn look to this and the mix of capitol and lower case letters adds a fun twist. Way to go! Order this sign and more from JustBeachyShop!

In Search of Curtains

So if you have been following my blog for long, you know that I recently purchased my first home. I will say that home ownership is Awesome! Not having to deal with landlords, maintenance in and out of your apartment, random water shut-offs. More than anything, I am Loving that I finally, finally have space to put things!

But owning a home is a Lot of work. In my old apartment, I literally had two windows. One in the living room and one in the bedroom. In my new house, I don’t even know how many windows I have! I do know that I have yet to cover any but the bedroom with real curtains. Curtains are not only a statement in the room in which requires me to make a decision about my style, but oh my Goodness are they Expensive!! For those of you out there who have yet to purchase your own curtains, let me let you in on a little secret: when you finally come to a decision on a specific style and think the price is really reasonable – it’s Not! Those measurements on the package tell you what size window the curtain CAN fit… if you buy enough panels. Typically the packages only have ONE panel! Look for the second measurement on the package and be prepared to double or even quadruple the price! Am I the only one who never knew that?!

On that note, here are a couple ideas that I am considering for my home.

This Wandering Pleats curtain by Anthropologie is stunning. It has a real feminine touch that will add a really romantic feel to my living room. I like that it is simple enough to go with any decor. I am hoping it comes in gray. I have also seen tutorials that show you how to do-it-yourself, such as this amazing one I found from Besserina. I love everything about Anthropolgie and wish I could afford one of their designers to just come in and over-haul my house!

These red, swirly Palais Grommet curtains from JCPenney are very classy. And very affordable as well! They come in a handful of colors including red, green and brown. For me, the only problem with these is that I am not quite ready to make a style decision including furniture, etc. I feel like these would push me in a direction I can’t quite commit to just yet. But they are staying at the top of my list!

I am now in search of some Do-It-Yourself on the cheap curtain ideas. If you know of any great tutorials I would love to hear of them!

Pottery Barn Look-a-Like Lamps

Thanks to Keli over at www.home-2-me.com, these re-purposed lamps are just perfect! And if you have ever seen Pottery Barn lamps, these look just like them at a fraction of the cost!

If you guys are anything like me, I see lamps at second hand shops All the time and just love the shape…but I can never get over how ugly they are as a whole. And they are made of the tackiest materials that wear and stain so easily, like brass. I never understood how brass was a thing – maybe I am the only one who just can’t justify owning furniture if it requires cleaning more than one to two times a month?!

I am more than set to try out this Krylon Spray Paint called Looking Glass. When I searched the internet for it, Lots of ideas popped up! It looks like people are using it to re-purpose old vases, glass bowls, candle holders, etc.

If you are interested yourself, it appears to be sold at stores like Walmart and Michaels, from about $10 to $15 for a 6 ounce spray can. Not too shabby when I can pick up a vintage lamp for a couple bucks!

Visit Home-2-Me for more!

Common home décor DIY

Did you know that is possible to create a sweet-smelling wreath all on your own? Handmade wreaths can be great as gifts to your loved ones. Trimmings from the Christmas tree are the primary requirements. Other additions could be various things obtained from nature. The more number of colors and texture, the more beautiful will the wreath look. A base of floral foam can also be used. If you are planning to keep it lively and fresh for a longer time, the best option is to soak it in water once in seven days.

Garland cut-outs are also a great idea. This can be special with tiny tots around. You could ask the kids to cut paper snowflakes into different sizes and shapes as per their choice. Glitter powder could be used for a shiny effect. Then you could simply attach them with a string and now you can easily create cute garlands, wall hangings and different designs of chandeliers.

If you are looking for garland ideas, I came across this adorable handmade set made by lovefromchloe.

Check out her etsy site here!

One of the best forms of wishing people is through greeting cards. Your greeting becomes even more special when you make the cards yourself. Christmas cards are quite easy to prepare at home. Family pictures, personal messages and the like will be perfect additions. You could then send them to your dear ones.