Nobody Puts Baby In The Corner...

We all have them somewhere in our homes, that awkward corner that you just can’t figure out what to do with.  It won’t fit a chair and a bookshelf is just too bulky, yet you just can’t leave it empty.  I’ve always had an easy answer for these confusing spaces and it was a “plant”.  A plant can fill any area and give it beauty, not too mention the serenity that greenery will add to your home.  Some of us, (I mention no names) have a difficult time keeping any greenery alive, whether it’s in the garden or indoors.  In fact I have killed plastic plants if you can believe it?  I mean…”I know someone who did that”!!!  For folks like my “friend” (not me of course), you have to be a little more creative.  Oversized vases filled with branches and twigs have become a popular alternative to expensive, hard to maintain plant life.  You can buy all kinds of colorful and unique branches at any local décor store as well as some stunning vases that will create a focal point in an otherwise dead space.   Another solution is to turn that boring corner into a gallery of art or photos.  Make it a “brag wall” that you can truly brag about.  Buy a bunch of cheap frames or even second hand frames and paint them, distress them and make them work with your décor.  You can buy all matching frames, if you are more of a uniform type of person.  Pick some of your favorite art pieces, postcards or photographs and arrange them on the wall.  You can try for a symmetrical arrangement or more of a random whimsical placement… whatever is pleasing to “your” eye, will bring you comfort when you look at it.  

Depending on the size of your awkward corner, you can combine a few different techniques to fill the space.  Whatever you choose….don’t ignore that lonely corner.  It will not go away and will nag you everyday until you give it some love.  You’ll be amazed at the reward…”Baby” might even like being put in that corner!!!

Gently Used...

It’s funny how we can walk into a home, see the furniture and décor and instantly know where it came from.  It’s the same set your friend has, or the one you saw on the cover of the weekend flyers.  You need to ask yourself; do you really want to show up to the party wearing the same dress as someone else.   Be unique and think outside the box.  In fact, think outside the big box stores and try something new…or old!!!

Refinishing furniture can be easy and so incredibly rewarding.  Think about it, you get to choose a unique piece that you fall in love with and then customize it.  You can paint or stain it any color you like, change the hardware, and add some unique features.

Habitat for humanity, Goodwill and Value Village are great places to go and find unique pieces of furniture that need a little personal touch and someone to love them.   For even more excitement, try a local auction or estate sale.  You can find some amazing pieces at even more amazing prices.

We had a lovely old dresser sitting in our basement for years, but it never worked in our décor, so I dug it out and gave it a coat of antique white paint.  Then I sanded the edges to give it a little distressed look, changed the hardware and added some baskets.  It now sits proudly in my bedroom and it cost me $7.  

I hope my in-laws don’t ever ask for it back!!!!

The Big Clean Up....

Tis’ the end of the Christmas Season.  I hope everyone survived the holiday chaos.  More importantly, I hope your homes survived.

Now what?  The tree and decorations are coming down and suddenly you have accumulated a heap more “things.”  How long will you let them linger on the fireplace mantle and kitchen counter before you find them a home?  Or what if you don’t have room and they never have a home of their own?  Don’t let the joy of Christmas and all that it brings bury you knee deep in “stuff.”

First things first...if you don’t like the smell of that bar of soap you got, don’t put it in the back of the vanity only to find it again next year.  Re-gift or donate....somebody will love the smell of that soap.  Or, take it to work and put it in the bathroom there.  The point is, don’t keep stuff that you know you will never use.  One man’s junk is another man’s treasure, so share.

Next, if you got a lovely set of new tea towels for Christmas....it’s OK to throw away the old ones with holes and frayed corners.  In fact, rather than throw them away, put them in the laundry room or garage and use them as cleaning rags.  It isn’t necessary to have 28 tea towels jammed in a drawer that you can’t close.

These are the little things... now what about all those toys????  We all know kids play with things for a week (if we’re lucky) and then move on to the next toy.  Encourage them to donate some of their old toys to the “Inn of the Good Shepherd” or a local Woman’s Shelter.  There are so many kids out there that would be thrilled to have half the toys we find wedged under beds and in corners of the furnace room.  What are we holding onto them for?  As for the toys that remain...get some stackable bins from the dollar store and start organizing.  Some toys can get tucked away and others can be stored neatly in organized and labelled bins that are easily accessible.  Ikea has fabulous shelves that are great for storing toys and books and still looking stylish.  Rotate the toys every now and then until the kids grow out of them.

How about a new years resolution?  Reduce, Re-use, and Re-cycle....do your part to help others and your environment.  Don’t let your home become an episode of “Hoarders”.  

Happy New Year, now CLEAN UP!!!!

The Art of Walls....

In a simpler time, walls were white and practical, serving a function of privacy and shelter.  Early designers began decorating walls with color, plaster effects and artwork.  the machine age emerged and many designers revolted and returned to simpler and more functional décor with bare walls and handcrafted furniture.   However many continued to decorate with flare and accessories.  

While a lot can be said for a simple white wall, even more will be said about a wall adorned with stunning wallpaper, groupings of photographs, artwork, or mirrors.   We all have a simple black party dress that we can wear to many different occasions. however, it is the jewelry, purse and accessories that make us the talk of the town.  The same goes for your walls.   Don’t play it safe….think outside the box and have a little fun with it.  For an eco-friendly and unique way to bring your walls to life, check out wall flats at www.inhabit living.com.  These 3D wall tiles are easy to install and can be painted to match any decor.  They are a very reasonable price point for the incredible impact that they have on a space.

This is a generation where anything goes and anything works.  Make your walls come alive with the brilliance of metal wall art, ornate mirrors, ceramic flowers, jewels and wall stickers.  These unexpected works of art will bring elegance, depth and a sense of life to any space.   Be unique and creative.  If you love it, show it off.  

Color for Dummies...

There are so many things to consider when choosing and combining colors…from tone, to shade, to tint.  The number of different shades of white to choose from is overwhelming.  You can no longer simply ask for white paint.  Here’s where it becomes complicated…just because two colors are in the red family, doesn’t mean they go with each other.  Without getting too technical…even colors that are complimentary to each other on the color wheel such as red and green, don’t always blend well together.  It all depends on their shade, tint and tone.

Once you have found the right color, you now have to consider the accent pieces and the adjacent rooms.  It is much more pleasing to the eye to have a harmonious flow of color throughout your space.  Even the accent pieces that are designed to be focal points in a room still need to compliment the rest of the space.     

Benjamin Moore has come up with a foolproof way of combining colors.  They call it the Affinity Collection and it consists of 144 colors that will all work beautifully together.  You can quite literally take any of the colors in this collection and combine them to create a spectacular space.  Visit your local Benjamin Moore dealer and check out this new collection of colors and be your own Interior Decorator.

Benjamin Moore Affinity Collection

Don’t be afraid of color and trying new things, just be selective in what you choose.   And remember next time you ask for white paint, you better know which white you want!!!

Pining For Accessories.....

The sun was shining and the air was crisp as we hiked through the trails at Canatara Park. The kids ran ahead into the woods and emerged with huge, perfectly shaped pinecones.  With my designer mind, I began envisioning these lovely pieces of nature on my coffee table, my mantle and my Christmas wreath.  The trees had obviously discarded these wonderful pinecones so that they could adorn our homes with their natural style.  So it began, the gathering of all the pinecones that we could find.

“To pine or not to pine…. that is the question”.  Now, what do I do with this hoard of pinecones laying on the floor of my living room?  I ask this hypothetically because I already have a plan.

Firstly, I will add them to my Christmas wreath on the front door to give it a little character and some rustic elegance.

Secondly, I will take some out to the garage, pull out a can of spray paint and give them a splash of color.  They will look amazing in a decorative bowl on my coffee table.  In the spirit of the holiday season, perhaps I can spray them gold or silver and sprinkle them with glitter.   I can even mix them with some scented potpourri, or some decorative festive balls and other accessories.  They will make a beautiful centerpiece on the dining room table.

Finally, I suppose since the kids did all the hard work gathering up these decorative beauties, I should allow them a little reward as well.  This afternoon we will break out the school glue, some sparkles and craft supplies. Then they can decorate pinecones to dress our Christmas tree with this holiday season.

The pining is over…I have accessorized the entire home for the holidays with a simple walk in the park, my kids hard work in gathering pinecones and my creative designer imagination.  (Not to mention a great way to get the family out for some exercise and to tire out the little ones!!)

Happy Trails!!!