Beyond

Style Ideas For Your Bar Cart

August 20, 2015

When it comes to bar carts, nobody does it better than Society Social. If you’re not familiar with Society Social, the company started in 2011 with a small collection of stylish bar carts and their products immediately grabbed the attention of magazines like House Beautiful, Southern Living, Lonny and HGTV, The business exploded after that and today, the Society Social online boutique sells a range of furniture and decor all with a chic, modern flair and style.

One of the really great things about Society Social is that all of their designs are created by their in-house design team so every piece is original to their business and you won’t find them anywhere else. And as a truly custom touch, every single piece is made or finished to order.

Not only are each and every one of the Society Social bar carts stunning, but I love the way they style their pieces for photo shoots and their blog, The Social Diary.

If you need ideas on how to style your bar cart, I’ve got Ten Bar Cart Styling Tips for you that were inspired by the folks at Society Social.

Tip#1: Add a lamp and accessories to give your cart the feel of a furniture piece.

Tip #2: Create a color story with the items you decorate your cart with.

Tip #3: Mix in a few unexpected and whimsical accessories to personalize the your cart.

Tip #4: Your bar cart can definitely be a mix of work and play in an office setting as long as the cart reads more play than work!

Tip #5: Add Flowers for color and softness.

Tip #6: Use quickly containers to hold bar tools, straws and swizzle sticks.

Tip #7: Create layers with the items on your bar cart to make it feel warm and inviting.

Tip #8: Change the look of your bar cart styling with the seasons, including barware, beverages and accessories.

Tip #9: Display entertaining and cocktail recipe books on your bar cart so they are close at hand when you’re planning your next party.

Tip #10: Select beverages in pretty bottles to add instant style to your cart.

The same techniques you use to style a side table in your home can be used to style your bar cart so have fun and create a space that ready to party in style!

**this is not a sponsored post, I’m just sharing a company and products that I love.

The Great Frame Debate

July 22, 2015

After showing the gold foil quote art I found at #HomeGoods on Monday, I went looking for some fresh gallery wall inspiration. While looking through images a really perplexing questions came to mind…what frame color is best for a gallery wall display–white, black, gold or a mix?

While that might sound like an easy question to answer, there are decorating pros and cons with each frame color making the decision a tough one.

So to answer the question and to give me an opportunity to share a few design tips with you, I thought we’d tackle The Great Frame Debate once and for all!

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Trend Watch–Atlanta Home Furnishings Show–July 2015

July 13, 2015

I’ve spent the last few days at the Atlanta Gift and Home Furnishings show and I’m here to share a little of what I’ve seen so far, so grab a cup of coffee and get ready for a long post.

For those of you that aren’t familiar with the show, it is an international gift, home accessory and furniture show that is held here in Atlanta several times a year. There are two major shows, January and July which draw retail buyers and interior designers from all over the world.

AmericasMart, where the show is held, is made up of three buildings with 1000’s of manufacturers showcasing their products for buyers. This show is one of the largest gift and home furnishings shows in the country and it’s where you’ll see the newest trends and hottest styles in furniture, decor, textiles, wall decor, lighting and gifts.

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Make A Monogrammed Dish in five easy steps!

July 9, 2015

So you all know I love a good craft project especially one that can be done in three easy steps and takes less than 10 minutes to make.

Step 1: Buy a couple of white ceramic candle plates from Ikea

note: standing in line at Ikea will definitely require more time than it takes to make this project

Step 2: Print vinyl monograms on your Cricut Explore

disclaimer: my friend Tina just so happens to own a Cricut Explore and gifted me with a couple of monograms for my birthday

Step 3: Apply vinyl decal to ceramic plate

Step 4: Add decorative washi tape to the plate

tip: if you don’t own any washi tape you need to buy some because it can be used to decorate anything

Step 5: Coat the top of the plate with Mod Podge to seal the monogram and create a protective surface

tip #2: mod podge is another diy staple you should own

In less than 10 minutes (plus the drying time for the mod podge) you can make yourself a set of these adorable dishes.

There’s nothing better than a crafting session that results in a decorative accessory that can be used in so many ways:

♦ jewelry dish

♦ candle tray

♦ desk accessory

♦ coaster

♦ key and sunglasses dish

♦ nightstand catchall

Happy crafting!

Easy Accessorizing Idea–Wood Beads

July 7, 2015

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When in comes to accessorizing, sometimes the littlest item can make the biggest impact.

One unexpected accessory item I’m seeing more and more in room vignettes is a string of beads. Whether draped over a decorative jar or nestled in a bowl, a strand of beads can make a style statement that stands out.

I love this wood bead and tassel strand that Myquillyn over at The Nesting Place created. Such a fun accent hanging on a chair, over the edge of a mirror or on off a door.

Pottery Barn sells a variety of beads which make a fun accent on a coffee table, draped over a decorative jar or gathered in a wooden bowl.

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You can make your own bead strand using beads of any size. Larger beads will make a bolder impact and work great clustered in a tray.

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Sherry over at Design Indulgence is one of the first people I saw using beads as a decorative accent. She has a gift when it comes to accessorizing and I love the way she used beads as part of her decor.

Sherry has beads draped over books, hanging on a bust and placed on a tray.

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I love the look of these natural wood beads mixed with glass beads.

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Making your own bead strand is pretty simple and you can find beads at your local craft store, on amazon and via Etsy. If you need one, here’s an easy DIY tutorial from The Nesting Place and if you’re looking for specialty beads, check out this source.

Have fun crafting and decorating!

12 Ways to ReStyle Your Home

June 29, 2015

Happy Monday my friends! I hope you all had a great weekend.

I’ve been busy the last few days getting ready for a visit from my mom. Since my mom’s back surgery in 2006 she hasn’t traveled much and it’s been about 7 years since her last visit to Atlanta. My uncle and his family are making a trip to Florida and my mom decided to tag along for the ride. They’ll drop her off here in Atlanta on their way and she’ll be spending a week with me and my brother. I’m so excited to see her and now that my brother is here, it’s going to be week of family fun.

♥♥♥

Anyway, after spending the last few days cleaning, organizing and doing some restyling around the house, I thought I’d share some ideas if you’re wanting to refresh and restyle your home.

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Outdoor Oasis Design Plan

June 24, 2015

Remember yesterday when I showed you the patio space at my brother’s place. Well, I’ve been thinking about the space and all of its design possibilities. So, I created a design plan for the space so that my brother and Mary could use it as a guide as they continue to decorate.

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A Summer Fashion Must–Striped Tote Bag

June 3, 2015

There are a list of things I can’t live without in the summer including my white converse, a pair of classic espadrilles, maxi dresses and a striped tote bag.

During the summer I tend to carry move stuff in my handbag and have found that carrying a tote works best for me. I own several tote bag styles but when it comes to a summer tote, stripes are a favorite.

I’ve done a little shopping for you and rounded up my favorite striped bags of the season.

What makes for a great tote bag:

relaxed but sturdy shape

comfortable carry handles

sturdy bottom–I love tote bags that have a reinforced bottom, leather bottom or one with metal feet

easy to get in and out of

a zip closure is ideal but not a requirement

and of course cute!

Top row: Stripe Tote / Collins Woven Tote / Oversized Stripe Tote

Bottom row: Tara Tribal Tote / Horizontal Striped Tote / Navy and White Stripe Canvas Tote

♥♥♥

With all the space a tote bag has, I know that sometimes the inside can get a little unorganized so here’s a tip that will help you keep the inside of your bag looking great:

Buy a purse organizer. Whoever invented this item is a genius. A purse organizer allows you to corral all your belongs in a neat and compact way and when you want to change handbags, just pull the entire piece out and place it in your new bag.

Beyond

Tip#1: Add a lamp and accessories to give your cart the feel of a furniture piece.

Tip #2: Create a color story with the items you decorate your cart with.

Tip #3: Mix in a few unexpected and whimsical accessories to personalize the your cart.

Tip #4: Your bar cart can definitely be a mix of work and play in an office setting as long as the cart reads more play than work!

Tip #5: Add Flowers for color and softness.

Tip #6: Use quickly containers to hold bar tools, straws and swizzle sticks.

Tip #7: Create layers with the items on your bar cart to make it feel warm and inviting.

Tip #8: Change the look of your bar cart styling with the seasons, including barware, beverages and accessories.

Tip #9: Display entertaining and cocktail recipe books on your bar cart so they are close at hand when you’re planning your next party.

Tip #10: Select beverages in pretty bottles to add instant style to your cart.

**this is not a sponsored post, I’m just sharing a company and products that I love.

Step 1: Buy a couple of white ceramic candle plates from Ikea

Step 2: Print vinyl monograms on your Cricut Explore

Step 3: Apply vinyl decal to ceramic plate

Step 4: Add decorative washi tape to the plate

Step 5: Coat the top of the plate with Mod Podge to seal the monogram and create a protective surface

In less than 10 minutes (plus the drying time for the mod podge) you can make yourself a set of these adorable dishes.

Top row: Stripe Tote / Collins Woven Tote / Oversized Stripe Tote

Bottom row: Tara Tribal Tote / Horizontal Striped Tote / Navy and White Stripe Canvas Tote

pink and orange striped tote (below)

Summer’s here so grab your tote and enjoy the season.