Tuesday, October 29, 2013. REDO, REINVENT, and REUSE

So as I was tripping over my "stuff"in the garage, I spotted a mirror that used to hang in my dining room. A lightbulb went off in my head and I decided to use the mirror in a different way.
The holidays are approaching and even if we don't have extra cash for decorating, there are plenty of ways to update a space that you ll be entertaining in with friends and family.

So this was the mirror, gold and black and not what I needed any longer in my dining room, it has been sitting in the garage for 4 years. 

Cover the frame with painter's tape.

Chalkboard spray paint is applied to the area that has the mirror on it. Follow the directions on the can, I did a layer and then let it dry, and then applied another coat.

After the chalkboard paint is dried, cover the area and paint the frame. I did a flat white color.

Ta-Da..mine will be hanging in the kitchen and will announce the latest meal I have prepared. 

You can do it with an old silver tray. This could sit in a holder on a buffet and you can write a holiday menu for your guests to see as you sit down for a meal. The one I'd is large, but a smaller version would look nice by a bar, listing drinks you are making for the night. Possibilities are endless.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013. Inspiration is Everywhere

INSPIRATION-- it is defined as something, such as a creative idea or act, it is a stimulation of the mind or emotions to a high level of feeling or activity.

Inspiration is a wonderful thing, it sets our creative minds in motion.
With the warm Fall weather we have been having near the Jersey Shore, I have been so inspired to light pumpkin scented candles, my favorite being Pumpkin pecan Waffles, byBath and Bodyworks.
I've been baking cookies and apple pie, and watching my boys play football games, and decorating with yellow mums, and orange is everywhere for Halloween.

When I'm looking for new ideas for a room I pay attention to details in things all around me. Hotels are a great place to draw inspiration for styling ideas.

My husband works for a construction management company in Manhattan and they recently completed a huge renovation at the famous St Regis Hotel. 

The hotel was founded in 1904 by John Jacob Astor IV, and through all the eras that have passed, the hotel continues to keep up with current styles while maintaining the hotel's initial integrity and history. 

The designers kept in mind a more contemporary feel, as how people furnish their own homes for comfort. This is a full circle as I am telling you to use in your homes what you see in hotels for your inspiration. The use of eclectic colors and patterns and even the furniture in the suites and guest rooms all give a more residential feel to the guest's stay.

Notice in the picture, the carpet is a key link pattern. That could be used in a room where you don't want to experiment with a bold wall color, but you are willing to try the flooring.i like the tufted headboard and tufted stool at the end of the bed. Great for those whole like symmetry in a room. I will post more photos as I can get my hands on them. I did see a bathroom that was amazing. 

Guests come from around the world to stay here, some spend a single night, others will make reservations to stay on a whole floor of a penthouse suite for extended periods of time. 

Next time you are in a hotel or restaurant, really look around and take notice of the furnishings and lighting and you will be amazed at the ideas you can take away with you for your own home.

Saturday, September 21,2013 Tartan Plaid

Tartan Plaid is really hot right now.. So much available in fashion and some great stuff for the home..
Tartan is a pattern consisting of criss cross horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colors. Originally it was a woven wool fabric but now it comes in a wide variety of materials.
Tartan is often called plaid but in Scotland a "plaid" is a tartan cloth clung over a shoulder as an accessory to the kilt. It really is just a blanket, just alittle info on Tartan.

Photos courtesy of Elle Decor

See the White at work. Love the mum wreath hung with a plaid scarf. The blanket is used as a table cloth. So cozy..makes a great tailgate.

Thursday, September 12, 2013. Guest Room

Hi everyone: I have not been posting, been busy with back to school stuff and now it is time to get down to business.
Just wanted to do alittle follow up on a room I had shown you in the "behind the bed" post of a few weeks ago.
This is a guest room and we should really keep a guest room, inviting yet neutral. Decorate it so that either male or female feel comfortable in the room, and a different personalities will feel relaxed and restful in the room.
The room should be clear of clutter, make the guest feel like made the effort for their arrival. Many tines the guest room doubles as an office or a home gym, which is fine, but just be able to rearrange things so the person doesn't feel like he/she is sleeping in a gym or office.

The colors are light but not too feminine. I took items from other rooms, where they weren't being used, and put them to work here. The tray is an old southern living at home item that I spray painted. You could do chalkboard paint and leave a note for your guest. The throw adds color and texture and everyone likes a blanket to cuddle up to while reading or watching tv. 

Go thru your inventory in your linen closet. I bet you have treasures to bring back to life.

Tuesday, August 5, 2013. Idea for a quick fix

Was trying to find a cheap little side table for beside a bed and couldn't find anything after searching and searching. I ran into Tjmaxx and I found a woven basket that had a worn gray color and was just the right height.

The handles fold in so the basket will lay flat on the floor, otherwise I would have cut them off.

I turned it upside down and added a little glass top with rubber feet (that I found sitting in a tray I already had) use what you have.  This will prevent it from slipping around.and Ta Da

It's perfect. Narrow enough for the tight space yet wide enough for a few beside items to sit on top. The fabric patterned baskets would work well too, love when I get a simple idea.  Have you done anything creative lately?

Monday, August 5, 2013. What's Behind Your Bed?

What's behind your bed? I don't mean the dustbunnies...if you don't have a tradional headboard sometimes it is difficult to decide what to do behind and above the bed..
Here is a room where the bed is not situated in the center of the wall because of the small size of the room and the positioning of furniture.

we painted a teal stripe and hung a collection of pictures to anchor the space above the bed.

Fabric headboards are easily accessible on many sites, or you can make your own. 

Here just standing a surfboard behind the bed adds alittle something be creative, use what you have in another room or even the garage.

Thursday, July 18,2013. Benches and More...

BENCHES..A piece of furniture designed for more than one person to sit upon...but, my has the BENCH grown in its uses...I found a few pretty ones I wanted to share with you..

These are small but add a big punch in this room. They anchor the chest and add add symmetry but also serve as extra seating in the room, gotta love the function in that. Pretty and serves a purpose.

This photo is courtesy of ElleDecor.com and it is a beautiful master bedroom with a pretty Scandanavian bench at the foot of the bed, it has a cushion for sitting on. I like benches at the foot of 

the bed if there's room for it.

These are so pretty and covered in a great patterned fabric. For a guest room it's nice to have at the foot of the bed so there is a place off of the floor to put their bags. Love the headboard in this photo

also.

These are a unique idea instead of traditional stools at an island. What do you think?

How cute and colorful are these benches? You coud recreate this with colored tape. Child's playroom 

or bedroom would be a great place for one.

These could be duplicated with paint pens and good penmanship, or stenciled letters and numbers. On a deck or a porch?