Design Tip of the Day (#6)

Y’all! I am overwhelmed with the response from my post yesterday! Even Nate Berkus himself “liked” my Instagram shout out! Ahhhh! Walking on Cloud-9 over here! As I continue posting and getting such great feedback, I am shown in so many ways why this is what I’m meant to do. Thank you for so much support!

Alright, so my tip of the day has to do with filling your walls. Many of us love pictures, art work, posters with a shelf here or there to display other knick knacks and such. Well, I for one, am a lover of large OPEN SHELVING! The beauty of this, is you can do it in any room in the house!

Side Note: for those who aren’t organized and don’t stay organized this will either challenge you to, or you should stick with doors. 

One of my favorite rooms for an open shelving display is the KITCHEN! You spend all this time picking out beautiful dish sets and glasses, some may even have vintage china, and they get locked away in cupboards and family hutches. Put those beauties on display people!!

The best part about the kitchen shelving is you don’t really need to add anything else; you already have plenty to work with! Seriously, just look at some of these photos!

  

http://looklingerlove.com/blog/decor/sullivans-island-home-tour/

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/out-of-the-ordinary-10-kitchens-with-unique-open-shelving-207834

Another great location for open shelving, is the bathroom! The open shelf look is especially great in guest bathrooms!

Keeping your towels, extra toiletries, toilet paper, and odds and ends readily available for those staying, gives that special touch of home and ease. No more awkward adventures of searching through people’s homes! (We’ve all been there)

 

http://www.bhg.com/blogs/better-homes-and-gardens-style-blog/2015/03/17/vintage-style-decorating-with-demijohns/

Keep checking for all my tips and tricks! You guys rock! 

Designer Inspiration//Nate Berkus

Yesterday on my lunch hour I spent a good 40 minutes in Target. I was that weird person going through aisles, pulling items off shelves and literally arranging them how I would if I was at home. I was secretly hoping they’d think I was a designer or something, but really I just got a lot of stares. #noshame

One of my favorite designers, target aside, is Nate Berkus. I have always loved every line he comes out with each season. He works with a lot of neutrals which is right up my alley these days. I saw his new line in stores yesterday and I was swooning!

Nate’s new line is full of rich, luxurious gold, plaid prints, and a marbled side table I couldn’t stop staring at. These items are not only perfect to accent your home with, but also for your holiday tables! He has beautiful, geometric candle holders that can be used as center decor on a Thanksgiving table, and, plaid print dessert plates and bowls for that pie and ice cream.

All that being said- here are some photos I took of my favorites. I might go broke after seeing all these beautiful pieces to buy!

MARBLE AND GOLD, OH MY

To pretty to eat off of. That sketched, plaid pattern is gorgeous. 

This would be beautiful for a Thanksgiving table display piece

Here’s the link to his target line. Do yourself a favor and check it out!  http://www.target.com/c/nate-berkus-brand-shop/-/N-56drx

The DIY Desk Project//

Y’all, I am obsessed with white and gold office’s! I love clean, minimal office decor. I am one that tends to get rather distracted, so having a more minimal, white room instead of lots of colors is what I needed for adequate work and studying.

These are some examples of current offices I love:

That white and gold with a pop of color gets me every time!

Now, for my desk, all I had to do to achieve the white/gold look is spray paint the legs. Thankfully the desk came un-assembled so I was able to easily separate everything!

Here are the materials I used for the desk:

1 white desk- Walmart, $30

1 can of gold spray paint- $7

That’s it! 

I spray painted the legs with one coat, let it dry for 24 hours and attached it to the desk top.

(PUPPY NOT INCLUDED)

My room decor previous to moving was bold corals and turquoise with golds, creams, and tans. You’ll see these accented colors on the desk top.

I went for a more shabby chic feel so I have a large, wonderful collection of vintage jars, re-purposed lamps, and my cute, little apple basket for my books and magazines seen in the first picture above.

SIDE NOTE: I am currently living with the folks before my wedding in May. I did not pick the carpet or wall color- it was done before I moved in. This project is to only note my DIY desk project. If it were me the walls would be cream and the floors would be wood or cream carpet! My mom has excellent taste, we just have completely different styles.

The wooden arrow and phrase on the top level were done for me by a wonderful friend for a birthday gift. You all know I love arrows, and I LOVE that quote.

(possible wedding flower crown!)

I also collect mugs and always, always have candles lit. Obviously my scent of choice is pumpkin with the season! The mug was a gift as well, but I believe it was from target!

The turquoise, green jar is my favorite jar I’ve ever found. It has a unique, deep color and I love the lid. It’s perfect size to hold my odds and ends.

Overall- I love my desk! There are always things I want to do and change, and I think I’m feeling a style change once I’m married and moved. As a designer at heart, it’s so hard to not want to try so many different ideas all the time. I think I’d redecorate once a month if I could afford it!

Design Tip of the Day (#5)

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a great weekend and have ingested insane amounts of coffee to cope with the Monday’s like me. I MAY or may not be a coffee addict.

My tip of the day goes along with that comfy cozy theme for fall….

PILLOWS

Funny story: When we were registering for our wedding I might have gone slightly overboard on pillows. I think that pillows add color, texture, and warmth to a room. I love them on chairs, couches, floors, and beds. My fiance however, does not quite get why we need so many pillows. He threatens to destroy them or not let me spend a dime on worthless pillows that are overpriced. Clearly his priorities are ALL wrong.

Ladies, don’t listen to your men- accent pillows rock.

I have a few style suggestions below, along with a link to the fabulous Nate Berkus collection for Target, and a fun DIY! If you love bows, pillows, and stripes then this is the DIY Project made for you!

http://www.thecollegeprepster.com/2013/06/diy-bow-pillow.html

http://www.target.com/c/all-nate-berkus-brand-shop/-/N-567ob#?lnk=lnav_shop categories_1

DIY Your Front Porch//Fall Edition

October is here which means fall decorating is in full swing. As I drive by homes, I see pumpkins sitting on front steps and DIY wreaths hanging from doors. Why don’t we all get in the spirit?!

Decorating your front door and/or porch does not have to be expensive or challenging. When you have such beautiful elements to work with, it’s pretty simple. Here is my list of easy purchases and some ways to blend them together:

1. Apple Baskets full of fake apples or tiny pumpkins
2. Apple Baskets or Tin tubs used as a “pot” for colorful mums
3. Large pumpkins
4. Straw bales
5. DIY Indian corn wreath
6. Cornstalks tied around porch columns
7. Spray painted pumpkins
8. Lanterns with candles

Below are some my finds on Pinterest, with the links of well-done fall front doors. Check out my fall board on Pinterest by clicking the icon on the right hand side of my blog for more inspiration!

I can’t wait to have my own front door next year to decorate:)

plaidandpolkadots.typepad.com

http://snapcreativity.com/7-sensational-fall-porch-ideas/

http://www.stonegableblog.com/indian-corn-wreath-diy/

http://preweddings-weddings.blogspot.com/2010/09/beautiful-of-autumn-wedding-decoration.html

http://www.unoriginalmom.com/glitter-monogrammed-pumpkin/

Design Tip of the Day (#4)

Brrrrr! It’s cold outside guys! I’m rocking my comfy new turtleneck sweater as you see, and it’s like wearing a blanket! Snuggled up at work with my free Pumpkin Spice Latte from the boss is just what this Friday ordered.

In honor of the colder weather and bonfire season, my tip of the day is for your lovely patio, because who doesn’t love a good Friday night spent by the fire with friends and a tasty drink in hand?

Tip of the day: Lights, lights, lights! 

I’m all about “setting the mood” when it comes to parties. No one has had an amazing party in fluorescent lighting! The selfies alone would be torture! When it comes to an evening on the patio, or deck the glow of the fire is nice, but add in some globe lighting, tiki torches, and candles and you’ve set the perfect ambiance!

Hello, October//

In honor of October starting and it officially starting to feel like it, here is my current fall mood board. Not your “typical” color scheme when you think fall, but I can’t get enough of the rich gold and deep navy. Now I’m off to buy some pumpkins and spray paint//

 

Design Tip of the Day (#3)

Y’all, I work in a cubical pushing papers all day, so design tip of the day is now one of my favorite times! I get to escape data entry, and spreadsheets to talk about things I actually love! So here it is….

Tip of the day: Narrow your color choices

Everyone, I LOVE colors, and it’s hard for me to pick. I’m experiencing this very problem planning out my wedding decor, but there is such a thing as TOO much.

For you minimalist’s this is an easy tip- embracing those creams, linens, or grays you can add easy pops of color in hues of blue for a subtle color choice or pops of bright pinks, yellows, or greens for those wanting more bold style.

For you eclectics this is a little harder. I fall in between both and it’s about balance. Usually when planning out a room I narrow it down to two bold color choices- my favorite combo and current bedroom scheme is turquoise and coral. I accent with creams, natural browns, golds, and the occasional soft orange in an accent pillow or two!

You can still have lots of color by staying “narrow”, I promise! There’s a few examples of different styles I love below, Enjoy!

The picture above rocks the all white bedding and walls minimal look, while using a pop of coral to add some color on the white on white.

I LOVE this kitchen. Notice those pineapple art pieces in the background- you know I’m digging that right now! But, also look how well they blend the natural wood and creams with pops of bright yellows, red flowers, and colors from fruit around the room. Perfect blend of shades and bold colors to bring life to a room.