Beyond

10 Ways To Give Your Home a High-End Look

June 2, 2015

I took the design style quiz over on the decorist.com website and by golly I think they defined my style to T!

Here’s what it said…

You… like eclectic styles at heart with an eye towards integrating more modern looks.

You prefer to mix and match different styles rather than be totally traditional or modern, but you like to use the clean looks of more modern pieces. You love figuring out how to combine different designs into one cohesive whole.

YOU …

want your home to be stylish and that is a reflection of you and your overall tastes.
like a rustic or natural but refined look to your home.
like ethnic accents and a “worldly” look.
like warm colors.
like bright pops of color or colorful accents.
like luxurious materials.
like to use texture for visual interest.
like to use some traditional gilded or wood accents in your home to give it a sense of timelessness
like the look of natural materials in your home

The one thing the quiz failed to pick up on is that I love décor with a high-end look.

When it comes to decorating, I love to mix of budget finds with investment pieces, vintage finds with new pieces, and refined looks with rustic styles. I don’t think your house has to be filled with expensive décor and furniture to have style, but I do believe there are easy and cost-effective things you can do to give your décor the look of high style .

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This Is Why I Invest In Pillows

May 27, 2015

Last week we were doing some purging around the homestead and my husband stumbled upon my pillow stash. At first he didn’t know what he was looking at but as soon as he realized the stack of fabrics were pillow covers he asked a question as only a husband can do–why are you hoarding pillows?

I immediately gave him a look (as only a wife can do) and told him I wasn’t hoarding, I was investing!

You see, as someone who likes to change-up the decor often, pillows are one of my go-to style solutions. Just like paint, pillows are a quick, easy and cost-effective way to change the look of a space. Whether it’s your bedroom or the sofa, a change of pillows can allow you to change the color, style or mood of a room in a flash.

To show you (and my hubby) what I mean, I pulled out some of my pillow covers to show you how easy it is change the look of our bed with just a switch of pillows.

(sources for all pillows at the end of the post)

Option 1: this is the current pillow combo I have on the bed which features the rose pillows and green accent pillow

Option 2: black and white patterned pillows + solid red + red patterned pillow

Option 3: black and white patterned pillows + solid red + custom monogrammed black and white stripe pillow

Option 4: black and white patterned pillows + solid yellow pillows (I added the center button) + small floral accent pillow (from HomeGoods)

Option 5: black and white patterned pillows + solid red + yellow and white pillow I won at the Haven conference last year

Option 6: solid pink pillows + rose pattern + small (handmade) black and white accent pillow

Option 7: solid pink pillows + green and white patterned pillow + pink rose pillow

Option 8: yellow gold textured pillows + bold black and white pillow

Option 9: red and white patterned pillow + bold black and white pillow

Option 10: (holiday look) red and white patterned pillow + green accent pillow with trim

I have a few more pillow covers that I didn’t show but you can see how easy it is to get a new look for your home with simple changes.

A few design tips to keep in mind when shopping for pillows:

*** buy pillow covers only which will allow you to easily change out your pillows from season to season or whenever the mood strikes

***use your patterned pillows to pull accent colors from and then buy solid colored pillows in those colors

***invest in a classic striped pillows which will mix and match with everything

***invest in a bold, graphic pattern that can mix with florals and other non-graphic patterns

***think about every room in your home that has pillows and buy pillows that can work in multiple spaces

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If you want to shop my pillow collection, I’ve listed the sources below as well as a few other places I shop for pillows.

[click on images below to enlarge them ]

My favorite sources for pillow covers:

Ikea–a great source for solid colored, basic pillow covers at rock bottom prices

West Elm–you’ll find lots of modern patterns, solid basics and traditional textures

Etsy–this is the place to shop for pillows using designer fabrics–Stuck on Hue has one of the best assortments

Pottery Barn Kids–a great source for novelty styles, bright colors, faux fur and whimsical shapes, many of which are appropriate for an adult space

And don’t forget to invest in good quality down pillow inserts. My go to sources are Pottery Barn Outlet, West Elm and Fabric.com

Happy decorating!

Let’s Get Crafty: DIY Pom Pom Bag Charm

May 26, 2015

Hi there,

I hope everyone had a great weekend. I adore long weekends this time of year because it means road trips, sitting in the sun and sleeping in late. I’m already looking forward to the next 3-day weekend.

So if you’re wondering why I’m posting so late today it’s because I totally planned to publish this post yesterday (Monday) but with all the relaxing I was doing over the weekend I simply forget to hit the publish button. And this morning my to-do list got the best of me. Oh well, better late than never.

Today I’m going to show you an easy craft project to can make. Ever since I spotted my first handbag charm, I’ve been wanting to make my own. The first one’s I spotted were from Furbish Studio and they featured little elephants. Soon after seeing that one I began to see bag charm popping up all over web and Pinterest. Since I’m not into animals or fancy details when it comes to my bags, the simpler bag charms became my favorite.

So the question became, BUY or DIY?

I decided to diy!

Making your own bag charms is really simple and inexpensive. You’ll need the following supplies all of which are available at your local craft store:

To make your charms, thread a large yarn needle with the yarn color of your choice.

Insert the yarn into one pom pom and then back again leaving a length of yarn hanging.

Thread a large bead onto the yarn and then tie the yard to your hinge hook at the length you want. You can also thread a bead onto the base of your pom pom like I did with the blue pom pom.

You can tie as many pom poms onto your hook as you want but make sure to stagger them at different lengths so the charms hangs well.

It took me about 20 minutes to make my bag charm and I just love the way it turned out. I’ll definitely be making more of these these.

if you want to make your own pom poms, follow these easy steps

Thanks for stopping by. See you back here tomorrow.

What To Buy During The Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale

May 21, 2015

I might have mentioned this before but when I lived in Seattle it wasn’t uncommon for me to take the first day of the Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale off from work. Given that Nordstrom is based in Seattle, their half-yearly sales are a major deal in that city. I’ve always loved the Nordstrom sale because it’s a great time to pick up a few in-season pieces and save money while you’re at it.

I spent a little time checking our the deals online and rounded up a few of my faves.

Let’s go shopping shall we…

Espadrilles are the ‘it’ shoe for spring and summer and this black and white platform espadrille is the perfect blend of summer style and comfort. And the $40 price tag makes it even more attractive.

If I could buy an unlimited number of any one fashion accessory, it would be handbags. A classic leather handbag should be a part of every girls wardrobe and having one in a fashion color like this beautiful orchid is perfect for spring or summer. I love the woven handle and all the interior pockets of this Elliott Lucca leather tote.

I love sporting a white watch during summer and since the cheapo one I bought at the mart has seen its last day, I’m going to invest in a new one. This Nixon patent leather strap watch is the front runner on my consideration list. I love the round crystal face, the gold rim and hands and the $74.90 pricepoint.

If you love jewelry, you’ll definitely want to get in on one of these deals. This turquoise stone pendant necklace is only $8.98 and is perfect to wear with summer dresses, tanks and tees. This Drusy pendant necklace is a bit dressier but would work just as well with a casual outfit and it’s only $13.98.

If you’re planning on doing any traveling this summer or if you like to spend your weekends antique shopping like me, this belt bag is for you. When it comes to style, fanny packs have come a long way and this striped canvas belt bag is both cute and afforable.

Summers are meant for maxi dresses and Nordstrom has a ton of great styles on sale under $100. Here are three of my favorite-–navy and white maxi for everyday wear, a floral maxi for when you need something a bit dressier and this roll-sleeve maxi when you want to look super chic but casual.

Don’t dilly dally, because the Nordsrom Half-Yearly Sale ends May 31st. Happy shopping!

Design Trend Defined: Boho Chic

May 18, 2015

Did you know that the definition of Boho Chic can be found in the Urban Dictionary?

The term Boho Chic as it relates to clothing is described as a fashion trend that is part bohemian and part chic. It is tied to the vintage phenomenon in fashion where the trend was to bring back vintage styles for the modern era. Boho chic combines organic, colorful, detailed, folk-inspired pieces with simple, modern pieces.

The trend is said to have been started by actress Sienna Miller in 2005 when she wore bohemian-style clothing in the movie Alfie and back then the style was only expected to be around a few years and then fade away. The boh0 look became a hit and people began to imitate the style and fashion designers took notice.

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Printable Art–My Love Note Designs

May 7, 2015

Thank you for all the wonderful comments on our spring bedroom refresh.

Today I wanted to share a little more about the beautiful prints I used in the bedroom. I knew I wanted to place a grouping of images on the wall next to the window and closet to my side of the bed. You see that wall when you enter the room so I wanted to make an impact. I also knew that whatever I hung I that wall would be hung in gold frames.

Since one of the goals for the refresh was to add more accents of gold into the space, frames were an obvious and easy solution.

All four of the prints I used are from an awesome Etsy shop called MyLoveNotedesigns. The shop is run by Christina who personally designs all of the printable art, many which contain inspirational words and positive messages. Christina opened her Etsy shop in 2014 after starting a family and leaving an accounting career and the corporate world behind. Christina said she started designing her prints as a way to inspire and remind herself of what is meaningful in life and to personally connect with others.

The collection of prints I choose to use were perfect for a bedroom space and also allowed me to add a touch of personalization into the room. The LOVE print is one of my favorite designs and gold foil is so pretty once printed. The HEART of flowers couldn’t have been more perfect for our room with a black background and pink flowers. I also choose a monogram print and love how Christina has added flowers to give the design a special touch. The last design in the group reads All Of Me Loves All Of You and I love both the message and the delicate details of the design.

Once printed, I placed each image in a Ikea frame which I spray painted gold using Rustoleum Bright Coat Spray Paint (which happens to be my favorite gold spray paint)

I’ve purchased several printable images from Etsy in the past and I must say that the collection of designs that MyLoveNotedesigns offers is one of the best. There are over 450 designs to choose from including gold foil, nursery designs, calendars, meal planners, expense trackers and weekly planners and most of the designs are $5.00 or less. And, Christina also offers custom orders if you have a specific design in mind.

Because there are so many great prints, picking your favorites will be tough but you can use my list of top 10 to help you shop…

Feather and Floral / Be Our Guest (so awesome for a guest bedroom or bath)

Home Sweet Home (great housewarming gift) / You Got This (fun print for an office)

Ampersand Floral (add this to a gallery wall arrangement) / Fox Fun (fun for a kids room)

Watercolor Feather (love this) / Family Initial (great wedding gift)

Gold foil HEART/ Love Arrow (love the chalkboard feel of this print)

MyLoveNotedesigns can be used in any room of your home and because the prints are so affordable, you can create a gallery wall arrangement with minimal investment.

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I know you want to go shopping but before you head over the MyLoveNotedesigns, let me tell you about a great sale Christina is offering right now..

Buy 2 Prints Get 1 Free (code GET1FREE) minimum cart purchase $15 prior to coupon

Buy 3 Prints Get 2 Free (code GET2FREE) minimum cart purchase $25 prior to coupon
(Custom Prints excluded from coupon use)

See the full bedroom refresh here

Thank you to MyLoveNotedesigns for providing the prints used in my bedroom designs. I love sharing my favorite Etsy shops with you and know you’ll find something for yourself in her shop. All opinions are 100% mine.

Pretty In Pink: Spring Bedroom Refresh

May 6, 2015

PRETTY IN PINK BEDROOM REFRESH

Whew! Refreshing our bedroom for spring has taken a lot longer than I expected. I was originally waiting for pillow covers to arrive from overseas, then my schedule got super busy and last week I got sick. Despite it all, I’m so glad to have the little project done and so excited to share it with you.

Let’s take a look at where it all started.

I spotted this floral pillow cover on Etsy and immediately fell in love. I don’t decorate with many floral pattens but something about this design and the colors captured my heart.

Once I had the pillows in hand, I created a design board to represent the vision I had for the space. I love our headboard and frame and wanted to stick with a foundation of black and white for the room. I also wanted to add in more gold accents and a pop of green.

As I was planning the space, Christina from MyLoveNotedesigns contacted me and asked if I would be interested in reviewing her custom designed art. I jumped at the opportunity! What timing and just the detail I was looking to add to the room.

Now that the vision was set, it was time to execute (lots of photos to follow)…

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30 Minute Decor Refreshers {easy and affordable}

April 27, 2015

Can you believe May is almost here? Before you know it store shelves will be stock with holiday items and we’ll all be planning to ring our jingle bells. This year is soaring by way too fast and to be honest it has me a little anxious. The anxiousness I feel has put me in the mood for change. I’ve been finding little (and inexpensive) ways to change-up my fashion, my routine and my decor. Surrounding myself with a new look feels good and has squelched my desire to go out and buy a bunch of new stuff (except for the two new pair of shoes I just bought 🙂

Today I’m going to share with you simple decorating ideas to refresh your home and later in the week I’ll share easy ideas to change-up your fashion style.

Let’s take home decor! I love it when you can change the look and feel of your decor without spending a lot of money or exerting a lot of effort. Many times a new look can come from using what you already have and other times spending a little money can make a big impact. Whether you rent or own, have a large house or a small one, there are easy ways to make major changes in your decor in less than 30 minutes. Here are some of my favorite quick change decorating tips.

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DO THE SHUFFLE

One of the easiest and no-cost ways to freshen up your decor is by moving things around. Shuffle the seating in your living room or switch out artwork from one space to another. Use what you have and give you home a new look.

GO GREEN

Plants bring a sense of energy and life to a room so mix a few plants into your decor and feel and rooms come alive.

ORGANIZE IT

Having things organized is one of the ways that I make my home feel good. Spring is a great time to de-clutter, donate what’s no longer serving a purpose and organize everything from the kitchen to the closet. Your home will breathe a sigh of relief and so will you.

GO THRIFTING

When it comes to adding new accessories into your decor, it doesn’t have to break the bank. Visit a few of your favorite thrift stores and see what gems you can find. And as you shop, don’t overlook something that may need a little TLC with paint or fabric.

Painted vases via It All Started With Paint

PAINT SOMETHING

Revive an old piece of furniture with paint or think about painting an accent wall in your home. Painting is cheap, easy and yield results in a flash.

RE-WORK YOUR BOOKSHELVES

You’ll be amazed at how spending a little time taking things off your bookshelves and re-arranging the items can freshen up your decor. Once the shelves are cleared, place the items you love most first and then work your way to your least favorite items. You may realized that the items are the bottom of the stack are no longer needed which will help you de-clutter.

CHANGE UP YOUR TEXTILES

For less than $10 you can replace the pillow covers on your sofa with new ones from Hobby Lobby and for less than $40 you can replace the duvet cover or drapes in your bedroom with something fresh from IKEA. When adding the new textiles, think about changing up your color theme which will be an instant style refresher.

PAINT SOME FRAMES

Have you ever thought about giving your artwork a new look by painting the frames? A quick coat of paint can change the look of a single piece of art or and entire gallery wall.

So what’s you favorite way to refresh your decor?