Coffee Table Style

I always get so giddy when I see a gorgeously styled coffee table. I think part of it is out of jealousy because I can't put anything valuable or living (flowers) on mine because the moment I do my cute little destructo baby will have it scattered all over the floor. So basically, for the time being, I will live through pretty pictures I find on the internet. There's really no right or wrong way to style a coffee table, but there are a few things you can do to make it look perfectly polished and put together.

via

First and foremost coffee tables need to be functional. If your coffee table is there simply as a a foot rest, then don't clutter it with to much other stuff. If you keep your remotes or other important items on it, then make sure you save a spot for those.

via

 Keep proportion and scale in mind. Try to keep it from looking to flat by adding items of differing heights. I love the height that the flowers and candles add to this.

via

Personalize it by adding something meaningful, or unexpected to the design. Sticking to books and flowers is totally fine and safe, but the skull adds so much interest and can be a great conversation piece.

via

Most importantly, what is a coffee table without fabulous books! I am sucker for great design books, I could look at them all day! Here are a few of my favorite coffee table books.

 1/2/3/4/5

The not so painted fireplace

I think we can all agree, for the most part, that the woman of the house takes over the decorating. Men just don't normally care, but they do like to use their veto power every now and then. My husband and I are no exception to this. I get an idea, he tries to veto it, and then I end up winning, it's quite a good set up actually! But there are times that I have to let him win, I mean he IS living here as well. The fireplace was one of those veto powers that I let him have.

There were 2 things I really wanted to do when we got the house: paint the kitchen cabinets, and paint the fireplace. Husband was fine with the cabinets, but the fireplace was another story. He was VERY anti paint. So to make a long story short I left it, and to be quite honest, I like it. I hate to admit it, but husband was right, I think it adds some much needed character. 

Since I decided to leave it alone I realized it was time to decorate the mantel. I made this sunburst mirror out of a round black framed mirror I had and about 4 bags of bowel rods. I did it pretty much the same way as my paper straw wreath, the only difference is that I glued all the rods on the back of the mirror instead of the front. After I finished gluing I took it outside and spray painted it gold.

And voila! Finished!

Linking up at wow us Wednesday

Hurtin for curtains

See this corner? Yeah B-or-ing! I have neglected this sad little corner in my family room long enough and it's time for a change. I bought some gray curtains a while ago but since they were store bought they obviously aren't long enough so I've been trying to decide exactly what I'm going to do to lengthen those guys. I'm talking about a huge decision here my friends, this is the kind of thing that keeps me up late at night. Here are the three styles I have it narrowed down to.

{Click image for source}

I like this look with the bold stripes, but that would require lots of cutting and sewing, which means more chances for mistakes. When it comes to my sewing skills, more chances for mistakes usually means more mistakes.

I also like the stripe at the top, and it would be a much easier solution. I would just need to find some awesome fabric to put there.

{click image for source}

-

{Click image for source}

And finally I could add a panel at the base. I do like this look, I just don't want it to end up looking like I just added some fabric at the bottom to make them longer, even though that's exactly what I would be doing. So you see my dilemma? Too many choices and not enough ability to make up my mind.

DIY painted vase

A while ago I bought a basic clear glass vase at the dollar store because I just needed something smaller then what I had to put some flowers in. It was nothing fancy, just a vase that cost me a dollar. It looked a whole lot like this.

I then decided that I don't really love clear glass, I don't know why, I just don't. So I used some white spray paint I had and gave it a small face lift. It has been in our family for a while holding some fake gerber daisies while I fail miserably at ever getting around to putting real ones in it. I liked it white, but then I started finding other accessories for the room and, well, they all have one common theme, they are white. I know, boring right? So I changed it to this.

It was so easy. First I just randomly wrapped twine around it until I thought it looked like a good design.

After it was all wrapped I took it outside and spray painted it. Then I waited for it to day, took of the twine, and done! Easy peasy!

Linking up at chic on a shoestring decorating

Family Room progress via instagram

Well we made a trip to Ikea last weekend. I couldn't handle how unfinished the family room was so I gave in bought some cheaper furniture while I save up for my dream coffee table. We bought the oh so popular Lack coffee table, which I plan on attacking soon and turning into something fabulous, or at least attempting to. Don't get your hopes up, it probably won't be a very dramatic transformation. We also got a tv stand since our tv had been sitting on an ugly old end table we found on Craigslist since we moved in. It was a much needed upgrade I would say.

I realize that these are fake flowers and it would look much better with real ones, that just requires remembering to pick some up when I'm out, which has proven to be quite the challenge for me :). So in the mean time these little guys are doing the trick to add some extra color.

I picked up this lovely little owl at TJ Maxx yesterday and I'm slightly obsessed with it. I've named him Oliver. Also, I have a desk and a dresser sitting in my garage waiting to be painted. I got the dresser all primed so hopefully I will get that finished this week I can't wait to get it done and show you all!

Online Design- living room

I love doing design boards! Seriously, I think it's so much fun. Anyway, this is an online design board I did for a formal living room. It all started with this pillow from Etsy and just evolved from there.

I was so happy that I got to put the Wisteria Sunburst Mirror in there. I love this mirror! I would put it in every room of my house if that wasn't weird, or way out of my budget. Here's what I came up with for her living room.

 

 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

If you are interested in online design or an in home consultation visit my design services page for more information.

Today I'm loving...

All images via my pinterest

Living Room Mood Board

I'm starting to get really excited for our house to close so I can finally have my own home to do whatever I want with! It is going to be slow process because I will be doing everything on a very small budget, buying a house is not a cheap thing people. Regardless of my budget I made a mood board for my living room. I want it to be light with mainly white, gray, blue, and a little yellow. I would love to have a deep blue accent wall. I have helped my parents paint a couple rooms in their house, but other than that I am a painting novice, so I am open to any tips you have for me.

I fell in love with that gray table from Ikea. I'm pretty sure I need it.

To paint or not to paint

I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend. We sure did, My parents volunteered to stay with little man Saturday night so we could go see Hungar Games, twas a good movie.

I've mentioned before that we have been on a house hunt for a couple months. Well last week we finally found one that didn't get scooped up by an investor with lots of cash. So if all goes well we should have it within a month. Hip hip hooray! Anyway, one thing I have noticed about most of the houses we have have seen, this one included, is that most of them have brick fireplaces, and unfortunately I'm not the biggest fan. I've sort of decided that I would just paint the fireplace white, husband on the other hand doesn't like painted brick. Are we in pickle? I think so!

I found some pictures of what I like to hopefully bring him over to my side. Don't worry, I usually win when it comes to these sort of things :)

via Home for the better

via Remodelaholic

via Western Passion

via decor pad

via Young House Love

I love the look but I've heard that the paint will turn black really fast from the smoke. But that' s nothing a little more paint can't fix right? What are your thoughts on painted fireplaces?

Color!

Happy Friday! This weekend the hubs and I are babysitting my little sister. She's 18, so by babysitting I mean, making sure she doesn't do anything stupid. So far so good, phew! And tonight we are going to a wild party for my little man's friend's first birthday! Since we are a couple days into spring now and it is gorgeous outside I thought I would leave with some pretty rooms with nice pops of color. Enjoy!

Via hgtv.com

Via Elle Decor

Via Nursery Notation

Via House and Home

Via At home in Arkansas

Ok this last one is my favorite! I want to live there. Are you planning on adding any color into your homes for spring?

Family room design

A friend of mine has gotten sick of her family room and asked me to help her revamp it a little. She likes the rustic contemorary look, which isn't what I usually lean towards, so it was fun to sort of do something different. Below is the design board I did to get her started.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

She already had a coffee table and a couple arm chairs that work great so I had a pretty good starting off point. She wanted a lot of neutrals in the space so to keep it from being boring I added some color through pillows and accessories.