TEN SPOOKY HALLOWEEN ROOM DECOR IDEAS FROM WAYFAIR!

Halloween is right around the corner!  Click on each photo to shop the look and to learn more about the decor in each photo! Happy Halloween!!

TEN FABULOUS FOURTH OF JULY PATRIOTIC ROOM DECOR INSPIRATION IDEAS

Summer is quickly approaching and one of my favorite holidays is right around the corner.  It is not too early to start thinking about decorating for the Fourth of July.  Here are ten festive and patriotic spaces to get you in the American Spirit! You can "Shop The Look" By choosing the photo itself or the description!  I adore the RED, WHITE and BLUE! 

Five Picture Perfect Rustic Farmhouse Living Rooms, Each With ONE Element Inspired by Joanna Gaines

Happy Friday Everyone! Today I am sharing FIVE beautiful living rooms with elegant and rustic elements that bring coziness to my heart when I see them. Each room also has at least ONE design element inspired by Joanna Gaines style.  Each photo is clickable and will take you to my advertising partner Wayfair. Each photo has several items you can view and see if they will work in your space!

I love this photo for the amazing wall composition and my favorite part of this space is the chalkboard calendar. So many farmhouse elements are used here and just looking at the photo makes me want to visit the country and raise chickens, lol! I love the use of the cotton branches in the pitcher.  I have a pitcher of cotton branches on a dresser in my living room and receive so many compliments.  Unique items in your home is what makes it special. 

These chandeliers make a bold statement even though they are simple and have so many bright shiny lights. They can be purchased from Wayfair and I really wished I had a tall space to put one! My second favorite part about this living room is the vaulted shiplap ceilings with the rustic wood beams.  The architecture of this space is amazing with the wide doors and arched windows. Look closely at the herringbone tile pattern inside the fireplace. There are little amazing surprises everywhere in this space. 

This is the first time I have seen rustic wood being used as a valance and it is absolutely a genius idea. I  love how the dark wood floors stand out against the light walls and furniture. The blue barn door adds a slight bit of color and interest. Couldn't you just see yourself snuggling on the couch with that super cute blanket. The gold quatrafoil side table blends in perfectly with the rustic decor. 

This living room is cozy and elegant but the two rectangular door panels on the walls add a small touch of rustic to the space. They are the perfect size for the wall space and blend in nicely wit the furniture.  I wish I could have light furniture like this in my home but with kids and dogs, its not happening right now.  Take a peek in the bottom left hand corner. Do you see the old books tied up and placed on the sofa table as a decoration. Old books are amazing and can be used in so many ways. 

This room blends the old and new perfectly. The furniture is clean and new while the sofa table,  chair and cabinet add the rustic aged element. Little pops of coral can be seen throughout this space and the blue can be seen in the chair, the flower pot on the table and the background behind the print. The bold wooden chandelier works well with the color of the floor and the room looks so bright.  

My three favorite design elements in this living room are the guitar, the M on the wall and the lamp. A guitar can be used as a design element as well as entertainment for family and friends. The M on the wall reminds me of "Magnolia" and the shape and finish of the table lamp remind me of a bankers lamp. I just noticed the herringbone pattern on the pillows, just like the tile pattern inside the fireplace on the first living room photo. I can imagine how soft the rug would be between my toes.  

Start Small- Great Design Takes Time- ENJOY!

Inspired by Joanna Gaines | Fixer Upper | PART SIX | WALL DECOR

This is my absolute FAVORITE part of this series as wall decor can really transform a space to make it truly unique!

When it comes to decorating your walls, it can be intimidating and for this reason, you might focus on other areas in your home but not your walls. Here are a few tips to help you create a designer look no matter where you place the decor. All of the product items shown in this post are available from my advertising partner, Wayfair. 

Found Ojects

I love watching the show and seeing how Joanna incorporates "found" items to make them a statement piece. She uses pieces never meant to be home decor but once served a different purpose. Things such as old school chalkboards, A window panel with layers of chipping paint,and empty picture frames arranged in an appealing pattern. One of my favorite areas of wall decor in my home is the sitting room with two old wooden shutters. I added a green wreath with burlap ribbon and they are such a conversation starter when guests come over.

Single Decor No More

I have this as number one because the easiest way you can create a focal point is to stay a way from a single painting or mirror, especially along a huge wall.  Even if you have a small wall, you can create a great composition that will draw your eye to the space. Lets take a peek at my foyer wall composition.  

The decorating style of the past would be just to add a larger single piece of art in the middle and maybe some candle sconces on each end.  Here are the reasons this post averages about 60 pins per week on Pinterest.

- If you look at the overall shape of the pieces, it is not a rectangle. The overall heights of the decor stair steps around the edges.

- When it comes to the shapes, they are square and rectangular. However, they are different widths and heights which give so much interest.  Just think, if the square tin tile at the top was hung parallel to the bottom, there would not be much interest but since it is hung so it looks like the shape of the diamond, that adds more interest.

- The colors of each piece are balanced.  There are two black and white pieces and two cream pieces.  The black wall art pieces are hung on the outside to create sort of a frame.  

- There is a mixture of old and new pieces.  You cant go wrong with an old wooden window.  The use of up-cycled materials is the way to go! 

- When creating this wall composition, I wanted it hung very close to the table so when looking at eye level, you can see all of it. 

Eye Level Baby

When hanging art, people often make the mistake of hanging it too high!  The rule of thumb is that the center of the picture should be at eye level.  When hanging art over a sofa or a buffet, it should be two-thirds the width of the sofa.  For example, if the sofa is 9 feet wide, the composition should at least by 6 feet wide.

Mix It Up

When hanging a few pieces on the wall next to each other, use different colors, sizes, and shapes of art.  This will make your eye focus on the wall. Things that don't match can be visually appealing.

Have Fun

Place and purchase art and wall decor that you love!  Don't just buy something because you need it.  You will be looking at it daily so make sure it is something that makes your heart smile! 

Here are a few pieces I have found from my favorite affiliate link stores. Click on each one to be taken directly to their on line store.  

Super cute to hang in your bathroom or by the front door!

 

Start Small, Great Design Takes Time- Enjoy! 

Bippity Boppity Boo! How a Little Pixy Dust and Imagination Made This KITCHEN Spectacular Long After The Stroke Of Midnight! Part TWO

The clock struck midnight just as this plain and outdated kitchen received a fairytale makeover fit for a princess! I am excited to finally share the photos and walk you through how the new and improved kitchen was created! The first post mainly focused on the statement wall and how it was created. This post will focus on the lack of cabinets and how we created an affordable solution to not only update the cabinet color but create more cabinet space.  

I can remember when my friend Tara asked me to come take a peek at the house she was remodeling and then placing it on the market when it was finished. The house looks amazing on the outside and has great curb appeal. It is located in a great neighborhood and is quite large around 2800 square feet. When I first walked from the laundry room into the kitchen I had to take a step back. The walls had already been painted a neutral color and were no longer the burnt orange color. I had to take a step back because this large beautiful home had a kitchen that was stuck in time. When you look at the photos you can see that the first floor has super high ceilings but the kitchen cabinets are only 36" and just so small. I don't understand why the builder did not put in 42" cabinets when the house was originally built! Another problem with the kitchen was that the counter tops were the original white laminate and the cabinets were OAK.(I just have trouble even typing that word). I kept thinking to myself that with this outdated kitchen, Tara is never going to sell this house for the asking price because potential buyers will think the kitchen needs too much work and that will cost too much money. The problem with the kitchen was that there was no money for granite and no money for new cabinets. New stainless appliances and new wood look tile was already in the works so at least there was a starting point. To make a long story short, I did a lot of brainstorming on how to make the kitchen amazing and I'm pretty happy with the results. I thought of the following ideas to make the cabinets appear larger. 

1.  Add rustic wood open shelves above the cabinets. 

2.  Add a 6" piece of wood around the top and then add crown molding to make the cabinets appear about 10 inches higher. 

3.  See if ready made cabinets could be added to the top to create a double row of cabinets.  

BOOM!  As you can see from the photo above, #3 was just what we did.  Luckily, Lowes had the unfinished already assembled cabinets in stock and they fit perfectly.  They just had to be installed and stained with the AMAZING GENERAL FINISHES JAVA STAIN GEL! There was exactly 36" from the top of the cabinets to the ceiling so in theory they would fit nicely.  Wrong...  The cabinets had to be lowered just slightly to allow the new ones to be installed smoothly. Then, a piece of molding was added in between the two sets so it seemed like they belonged together.  The gel stain covered the existing oak cabinets and the new unfinished cabinets perfectly and was a match made in Heaven! 

We chose to add knobs on the doors and the bars on the drawers to coordinate with the statement wall and now this kitchen looks amazing and is ready for the real estate market!  The white laminate counter tops look like they were meant to go with this kitchen and the new potential homeowners have plenty of cabinet space with double stacked cabinets that go to the ceiling. (Oh wow, as I am editing the paragraph I noticed I am in the photo staring at the cabinets with a super serious look, LOL)

I am still to this day AMAZED by how this kitchen turned out!!

The five inch bar pulls only cost $1 ish each (Check out the first post about the statement wall to see where we got them)!

The wood look tile floor was installed throughout the entire bottom level of the home and even though the cabinets and floor are dark, they look wonderful against the while laminate counter tops and the neutral color walls. You really can't tell in the before photo but the housing around the recessed lighting was yellow because of the age of the plastic. Cookie made a great template and spray painted them crisp white so now they look brand new! Did I mention that this home was only on the market for less than a week and sold at asking price? The total cost of the new cabinets on the top row was around $300. That price even includes a set of cabinets that were placed in the laundry room as well.  The General Finishes Gel Stain was around $80 for the gallon and the memories that many of us shared painting the cabinets and all of the other projects together are priceless! I cant wait to help out with another project!  

I absolutely love being given a design problem and figuring out different ways to solve it in an economical way that gives you the biggest bang for your buck and of course has a WOW factor like the statement wall achieved!  In design, I always believe that you don't have to spend a ton of money to make something look fabulous, it is just how you design it and put it all together!  

If you are looking to buy or sell a home in the Orlando, Florida area, give Tara a call! Click her photo be taken to her 

Millenium Realty Group Facebook Page! 

Start Small- Great Design Takes Time- Enjoy! 

Antique Farm House Favorite Finds

THESE ARE MY FAVORITE FINDS THIS WEEK FROM ANTIQUEFARMHOUSE.COM

I love shopping on line to find unique decor at great prices and add pieces in my home that spark conversation while not breaking the break. I ordered two items this week,the Vintage Gym Clock and the Cast Iron Hammer Bottle Opener!

1.  VINTAGE GYM CLOCK

I love this piece because it reminds me of high school.  I ordered this and can't wait to get it.  Now only if I already knew where I could put it.  I don't want to pass this up because I have a feeling it will be sold out very shortly. 

2.  LARGE METAL TRAY WITH HANDLES

Seriously, this tray has so many uses and it will last a lifetime.  

3.  LAUNDRY SIGN

I like this sign because it adds some humor in the laundry room. How can you be upset about doing laundry when you get to see this every time?

4.  OLD SCHOOL SAND FILLED HOUR GLASS

This is definitely a conversation piece and hey, it is just fun to watch the sand pour into the glass container below! 

5.  REPRODUCTION METAL MAIL BOX WITH LETTERS

I actually have a authentic one hanging by my side door and inside I put the mail that needs to go out and I hang keys and a basket with all of my tape measure's inside.  This way I always know where to find a tape measure when needed which is quite often. 

6.  HAND FORGED IRON GLASS DRYING RACK

This piece could actually make hand washing fun again.  

7.  METAL STAND PICTURE FRAME

I love the idea of adding old black and white family photos in these cute black metal frames.  

8.  RUSTIC METAL WELCOME SIGN

What a great way to greet your guests as they enter your home!

9.  TABLE TOP SWIVEL CHALKBOARD SIGN

This has so many possibilities.  Enough said

10.  CAST IRON HAMMER BOTTLE OPENER

Got these this week and  the price is for TWO which is unreal.  

Antique Window, Vintage China Hutch and Reclaimed Barn Wood FoyerProject

This entire project started with an empty foyer, a large china hutch and an old window.  My original plan was to only have a hutch in the foyer and paint and wallpaper the inside. When I purchased it, it was very light gray with silver handles.  Once I put it in the foyer it was just too tall and bulky.  

I then got this window off of the local neighborhood Facebook buy, sell, trade site.  Now to decide what to do with these to pieces to make the foyer what I wanted it to be.  I loved the window just the way it was and only cleaned it off and wiped down the glass.  I took the top hutch part off so it could become a buffet and look at the next photo to see what happened.  

When I took the top off. this large open area was now showing, so what is a girl to do?  I have always been a girl to use chalk finish paint and roll it on but with this many nooks and crannies and the fact that I am a little impatient, I decided to use a satin spray paint.  This is the ONLY spray paint I use. It sprays so soft and smooth and even.  This came in a satin finish but I knew once I was finished distressing and sanding it would look just as good as pieces I have painted with chalk finish paint.  

All done painting, just got a little on the grass. LOL. This only took two cans of paint, mainly because the buffet was already a light gray.  

Woah!  The finished product already!  I'll guide you through each piece and where they came from and why I placed them where I did. 

1.  I first centered the painted buffet where I wanted it. When doing a wall arrangement, always place your furniture first and then work your wall pieces around it.  You can see I placed the arrangement a little larger than the buffet itself. 

2.  I then took scraps of reclaimed barn wood and made a design to cover the open holes made by the missing hutch top.  The reclaimed wood was $1 each and I also used it in the restroom sign above a door in our house, these are the missing pieces so all that wood cost me about $3.  

3.  I bought the large candle holder at Goodwill, it is from Party Lite and only cost $6.  I sprayed it with the same white paint and then distressed it with sandpaper.  

4.  I used another smaller piece of the reclaimed wood and placed the three small mason jar candles on it with battery operated votives.

5.  The greenery ball and the burlap jar did not come together.  I purchased them from Goodwill on separate occasions.  Notice how I grouped everything in the middle and there are varying heights.  It took me a few times of arranging things to get this composition but I totally love it.  

4.  The welcome sign to the right is from one of my favorite new stores.  You can find the welcome sign and so many vintage replicas and found items at www.bits of vintage.com (click HERE to be taken directly to the store) or click the Bits of Vintage Photo on the left of the website).

5.  I just added picture hangers to the back of the window and it is such a statement piece!

6.  The beautiful sign is from www.smallwoodhome.com. and you can get it HERE She has a large variety of wooden signs for very reasonable prices and shipping is so reasonable.   I loved the meaning of this piece and people can read it as soon as the enter my home.  

7.  The last piece is an old tin wall hanging from Southern Living at Home.  It originally came brown but I painted it with the same white paint and added antique wax and distressed it with sandpaper until I was happy with the look.  

I have the darker black pieces on the outside and then the handles of the buffet are black.  Everything else is white or off white.  I arranged the pieces on the floor until I found a composition arrangement that I thought looked great!

This is the 6.00 Party Lite candle holder from Goodwill. The flameless candle on the inside is from QVC. I have these flameless candle all over the house and what I love about them is that thy flicker like a real flame and they are on timers. 

Notice the reclaimed wood that the mason jar candle votives are sitting on has a darker tone, this is the leftover scrap wood from the restroom sign.  You can read about that creation HERE.

Start small, great design takes time, Enjoy!