September is the start of the busiest time of year. For me, it’s also the beginning of a lot of planning and organizing that will need to get done in the next 4 months. From now through Christmas, the pace seems to speed up a little, lots of activities, lots of shopping, lots of cooking, lots of family. And if you’re not organized, the stress level can spike rapidly!
So what’s the key to getting, and staying organized? A system…a designated area or space dedicated to scheduling, planning, notes, mail, and the biggest source of clutter, paper. This “system” can be placed in any area of the house, but for it to be most effective, I suggest you consider an area that is visible and accessible to everyone in the family…the laundry room, the mud room or the kitchen.
Now that the weather is getting cooler, we’ll be spending a lot more time outside, making this a great time to spruce up your outdoor space, which is exactly what we did in this quaint backyard patio.
Before
Sometimes, we don’t pay as much attention to the outdoor living areas, but just like our interiors, it’s important to create the right “feeling” for maximum comfort, relaxation and fun!
For this patio, the client’s request was clear and simple…”we want it to be fun, a party area”, so we went bold on the colors , infusing vibrant shades of blues and greens. Continue reading…
Soon, it’ll be time once again to enjoy the outdoors, at least more frequently than in these current 105 degree Dallas days! Next month is September with promises of cooler temperatures. A wonderful time of year to enjoy dining and drinking under the stars.
This year, why not try a little mood lighting?
String lights are most popular during the Christmas holidays, but they can be used year round. In Europe, they’re commonplace in many gardens and patios. They’re an economical and not-permanent lighting option that is more about “mood” than about light.
You certainly don’t want to go overboard like you would at Christmas, but go ahead and border the perimeter or outline your overhang. It’ll transform your outdoor space to a magical place.
The front door is an important feature of any house. It’s the entry into your home. Yet, often it’s neglected and forgotten. Sometimes, a simple cleaning works wonders, but even if it does, why stop there? Consider the possibilities…
Today’s doors can be seen in every color of the rainbow. Which makes sense. The front door is the jewelry of the house. It should be a personal statement, a welcome to what’s inside. So as you drive through the neighborhoods, notice the colors of the doors. Find one you like, or choose your own unique color to express your individuality.
Unfortunately, some of us have HOA rules to consider, but if your don’t, have fun! Bring a smile to your guests.
Today, I visited with my friend and colleague Jenny Hite, owner of Wee Dreamscapes in Rockwall Texas, where she graciously hosted our monthly meeting of the Interior Design Society.
Two years ago, Jenny opened Wee Dreamscapes, offering nursery furniture and bedding. A wonderful boutique filled with everything to “Deck out the Nursery”. Continue reading…
The color blue is one of the most popular colors today.
In fact, it’s been a popular favorite for many years. It can be found everywhere!…in fashion, bedding, art, and of course everything that is home decor.
Here are a few pictures of a recently completed project where blue played a key role.
Accents in soft shades of robin’s egg blue provide an updated feel to a traditional decor.
The shade of blue I used was inspired by the area rug. What’s wonderful about this room is that, if the homeowner wanted to freshen the look after a few years, she could simply replace the blue items with another color in the rug …and get a totally different look.
For now, though, this elegantly casual room is loving the BLUE!
I love this country. Long ago It embraced my family and me with open arms, offering us a new place to call home. I feel honored and privileged to be a Naturalized American and am profoundly grateful to have had that choice.
Here are a few decorating ideas to help us celebrate Independence Day.
I love this 3 level floral arrangement. You can use carnations, which are economical and can be found in a variety of colors at most grocery stores. When July is over, you can do it again with fall flowers, then Christmas…
Plan now for next July. Make a note on your calendar to plant ahead for flowers that will be blooming like these come July.
Of course, you can’t go wrong with a wreath…one of the most basic, classic forms for decorating. Here are 2 that are undoubtedly patriotic. For a tutorial on how to make your own felt wreath like this gorgeous one below, Click Here.
A star wreath. Attach a metal star to a boxwood wreath (any wreath will work) then wrap red, white and blue ribbon around it for a classic patriotic welcome. This star wreath is also totally versatile year round. Simply use the appropriate ribbon for the season or holiday.
Frames are another classic venue for decorating during any holiday.
Purchase small flags and gently remove them from the stick. Center the flag on a mat inside a frame with no glass. Glue only the top edge of the flag to the mat so it appears to be blowing in the breeze…a very elegant way to display your patriotism.
I love this box below. Both the box and flag were found items that have been assembled beautifully. It’s art that can be displayed year round. For instructions on making this box, Click Here
Here’s a project you can do with the kids. Wood letters smothered in glitter. Makes me smile just thinking about it. For a tutorial, Click Here.
Believe it or not, there are still people out there that don’t want to paint the paneling! So here’s yet another reason why you should. I recently completed a family room that was stuck in a time warp…in large part because of the paneling!
My client calls this room the “den”. It started out as a paneled room that was dark and outdated. Fortunately, she was more than willing to paint…and it made all the difference!
Before
Before
We started by painting the room in a light, buttery color.
Although we did purchase new seating furniture, we reused the existing trunk for the coffee table, the end table and the Tiffany style lamps. The built-in bookshelf was reconfigured to accommodate a new flat screen TV.
For the window treatment, we placed a woven wood Roman shade, outside mounted and all the way to the molding. This made the window look larger and more balanced for the room.
The homeowner wanted to use her existing Tiffany style lamps, but they were a bit short. Using a decorative box we raised them making them the right height, and increased the storage in the room.
The homeowner is an avid movie watcher and wanted to incorporate that “theme” in the room. We accomplished this with art.
The biggest impact, however, was definitely created by painting the paneling! It made the room feel fresh and updated. So don’t hesitate…Paint the Paneling!!
Recently, I completed this casual and comfortable living area in Frisco, TX.
The homeowners had purchased the furniture from Rachel Benedict at Thomasville. A gorgeous sectional in a light taupe leather, complimented by industrial inspired tables…including a bar height table with stools. My job was to decorate it.
The room’s Transitional style is a total departure from the more Traditional look that the homeowners are comfortable with. The old world map provides that traditional element, while still moving in the direction of a more streamlined, simple look.
The room reflects the homeowner’s love of travel and we personalized it with evidence of their trips.
Two rustic shelves display their collection of city cups…each reflecting the name of a city they have visited.
Both love taking pictures, so a few of their favorite photos were enlarged and framed. These can be changed out every few months to display their latest adventures.
The time zones in 5 of their favorite cities…
Industrial jars filled with edible gum balls, Skittles and Jellie Beans…bringing fun and color to the space. Below, the homeowner’s initials in monogram tins personalize the bar.
We stocked the bar with the basic necessities (minus the alcohol…well ok, we got some wine!). In the corner, 2 industrial crates display their collection of Coca Cola bottles.
On a recent visit to Miami, I had a great time taking photos of my sister’s garden. It’s a colorful and versatile garden…full of beautiful flowers, vegetables, fruits, foliage…the variety is incredible! All delicately loved.
Peppers and Tomatoes
Lemons and Avocados
But it’s the FLOWERS that take the show!
Can you believe how gorgeous these are? And there’s more…
