Weekend Wrap Up: Vol. 4

May 26, 2018

Greetings friends!! I hope you enjoy the long weekend and dodge the rainy weather that’s plaguing most of the country this weekend.

As you read this, the hubs and I are in Florida getting ready to set sail on our cruise. I’m so excited for a little down time with friends. While I’m soaking up the sun, I hope you have an amazing weekend and find a little time to enjoy the roundup of links I have for you.

Bon Voyage!

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OMG! This Highlands, North Carolina home designed by Carole Weaks is breathtaking. As you scroll, pay attention to all the little details that make the rooms special.

I’ve been struggling with an over flowing to-do list so I’m going to give The Big Three a try.

Such a brilliant (and inexpensive) Ikea DIY hack.

This is the next book I’m going to purchase. If the cover is any indication, it’s going to be fun.

So many cute things in the new Hearth & Hand Collection at Target. This tumbler, this umbrella stand and these adorable serving trays are my top picks.

Have you ever thought about launching an online business? If so, you’ll want to read this. Great tips!

10 Things the French Always Do When Decorating

H anyone tried Amazon’s Prime Wardrobe? It allows you to get a selection of clothing and try it on at home before you buy it. Whatever you don’t like can be returned for free. Sounds pretty enticing, right?

I’m planning to take the week off from blogging but will be over on my Instagram feed sharing bits and pieces of our trip. I hope you’ll join me.

Product + Inspiration: Sinnerlig Pendant Light

July 28, 2017

It’s been quite a while since my last Product + Inspiration post so I’m back today with an item that I’m sure you’re going to love. Like so many of my previous P+I posts, I’m featuring an item from Ikea. I know that Ikea is not for everyone but when styled right, their inexpensive pieces can look like a million bucks.

The Product…

The Sinnerlig Pendant Light is one of my favorite lighting pieces from Ikea. I’m seeing it pop up more and more on Instagram so I know it’s a fave of others too. While the pendant has a bohemian vibe to it, the design is versatile enough to work with a variety of decor style. And the oversized scale makes it perfect for hanging as a single light fixture or in multiples.

The Sinnerlig comes in a natural color but if that doesn’t work for you, you can spray paint the shade like some folks have done. And you can’t beat the $59.99 price tag which makes this a very affordable design find. Let’s take a look at some inspiring spaces showcasing this light fixture shall we…

The Inspiration…

SG Style

Glitter Guide

Domino Magazine

My Scandinavian Home

source unknown

source

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly lighting option that makes a statement, the Sinnerlig might be the light fixture for you.

Happy decorating!

Designer Looks You Can DIY On A Budget

October 12, 2016

Over the years, decorating on a budget has been the vogue thing to do. In fact, with the DIY movement that’s been made popular by bloggers, budget decorating is more achievable and affordable than ever.

Whenever I surf Pinterest, I marvel at some of the DIY hacks that people have done, many of which as been inspired by high-end designs. For those of you that want to save money when decorating and have some DIY skills, here are four high-end design hacks you should try. And I’ve rounded-up all the supplies you’ll need to recreate these looks.

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Read the Post

Filing the Nook–Decorating Around Your Fireplace

May 5, 2016

DECORATING YOUR FIREPLACE NOOK

Elements of Style

You’ve seen them, those little nooks that sit next to a fireplace and sometimes hold built-in shelving. I’m a big fan of built-in shelving but sometimes builders skimp on the cost and effort of putting them in so a homeowner is left with an empty nook space to fill.

When Ikea came on the scene, bloggers and design enthusiast starting creating custom looking shelving with Billy Bookcases gave them the look of built-in but with a tremendous cost savings.

Laura Ramsey Furniture & Interior Design

Now, if you’re not a DIYer and you don’t want to go to the expense of hiring someone to build bookcases, there are some creative alternatives to filling those nooks that flank your fireplace.

♦ CREATE AN AREA TO SIT AND LOUNGE

I love window seats and this just might be the next best thing, a comfy upholstered banquet. What’s also great about this design option is the wall space that you’d have to hang a beautiful mirror or piece of artwork.

Roses and Rust

♦ ADD FLOATING SHELVES

Floating shelves will afford you the same function as a built-in bookcase but are much easier to install and they have a more organic feel to them. Using reclaimed wood for the shelves is also a great way to add charm to your decor. Ikea has lots of affordable floating shelf options but this one and this one are my favorites.

Blackband Design

♦ CREATE A WORKSPACE IN THE NOOK

Creating a desk or workspace within the nook is a great way to make this area functional. I love the idea of a wall unit that can be closed up and concealed when not in use, enhancing the visual appeal.

Better Homes and Gardens

♦ FILL THE NOOK WITH TABLES & DECOR

You can always fill the nook area with a piece of accent furniture like a demo-lune table, cabinet or console table. This look works great if you style is traditional and you like symmetry in your decor.

Better Homes and Gardens

♦ ANCHOR THE AREA WITH FREE-STANDING BOOKCASES

Free standing bookcases are always an option and provide great flexibility if you like to change-up your decor from time to time. This bookcase/cabinet combo is a great option and I love this glass front option.

Decor Pad

♦ HANG SOME ARTWORK

If wall space is limited in the room where you fireplace is, you might want to leave the nook area free of furniture and use the wall space to hang a collection of artwork.

Country Living

♦ ACCESSORIZE THE NOOK WITH FURNITURE & DECOR

My favorite approach to decorating the nook is to make a creative statement with a combination of furniture, art and decorative accessories.

Prepaganda

If you have bookshelves next to your fireplace or will be adding some to your decor, here are a few styling tips to keep in mind…

♥ Paint the back of your bookshelves to add a color pop and visual interest. Depending on the accessories you use, they might also pop better against a colorful backdrop.

♥ Use an eclectic mix of accessories for visual interest and to add personality to the room.

♥ Create visual depth by placing item front and back along each shelf and use items of different heights to create depth top to bottom.

♥ Arrange books vertically and horizontally to create movement for the eye to follow within the overall arrangement.

image via Dimples and Tangles

The fun part of decorating is to make the most of the space you have and putting your own spin on your decor.

Happy Decorating!

Shopping Ikea–New decor and fabrics!

February 22, 2016

Hello friends. I hope you all had a great weekend.

Since I hadn’t been shopping at IKEA in a while, I decided to stop by the store on Saturday to see what was new. Whenever I plan a trip to Ikea, I try to go early in the morning or an hour or so before they close because the crowds are usually at a low point during those times. Well, I must have missed the email announcement that Saturday night was ‘kids night’ because the store was packed with families and there were kids running around everywhere. What usually takes me an hour to get through the store took me a lot longer because I was constantly dogging little ones.

Despite the crowd and super long check-out lines, we made it out in one piece but did have to stop and get ice-cream on the way home to calm our nerves:)

Anyway, back to my shopping trip. I spotted several new items I wanted to share with you including some of the new fabrics Ikea is selling.

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One of the first things I spotted were these glass jars. I love the cork tops and the simple shape. These would be great on a kitchen counter to hold snacks and staples and I can even see them being used as a terrarium or to hold seasonal decor like the photo below. If I remember correctly, the largest size was $24.00 and the medium was $14.99.

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When I spotted these wood boxes I immediately thought of a thousand different ways to use them. And they are the perfect piece for a DIY project. Unfortunately the store was out of this size but did have a larger/longer size available. It think the price was $5.99.

Another great piece I saw was this woven side table. The top is a metal tray and it comes off to reveal storage space inside. I didn’t much care of the white stripe around the center but that could be fixed in a flash with spray paint or stain. Just image this in a bold, bright color for summer. $79.99

I loved this black planter and will probably go back and get one. The textured pattern on the outside is really nice and the inside is painted gold which you can see in the website photo below.

I never pass up the pillow aisle at Ikea and it never fails that they have something I want. This blue and cream striped pillow cover was really nice and I loved the watercolor effect the stripes had. Like most of the pillow covers, this one was a great deal at just $8.00.

Next up was the fabric department at Ikea. If you’ve never looked at the fabrics that Ikea sells, I suggest you do. Their fabric department is set up with a cut-it-yourself station so you cut the yardage you need and take it to the register to be rung up. You won’t find designer patterns or designer quality but many of the fabrics are great for decor like pillows, table linens or even drapes. And you can’t beat the price with most of the fabrics under $10 a year.

Here are a few favorites…

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Berta Ruta–a classic red and white plaid $8.99/yd Also comes in other classic colors.
Emmie Ros–this is a vintage inspired floral design and would be great in with shabby chic decor–$6.99/yd.
Sofia–a classic black and white stripe for only $7.99/yd. I used this fabric to make a skirt for the file cabinet in my office and love the weight and quality of it. Also available in other colors.
Pilorf–I love, love, love the floral design on this fabric and think it would make a really pretty table runner because of the way the pattern runs. $5.99/yd.

Blue and white products are a big trend at Ikea and they have some great blue and white fabrics for sale. This Sommar pattern is modern and classic and is only $5.99/yd.
At first I didn’t know if I like this abstract foliage fabric and then I remembered that Sherry Hart used it to make pillows for one of her projects and I was sold. It’s a great design that in the right application can look high-end. $9.99/yd.
This Sommar blue and white grid pattern is another classic design they sell. I can envision this as drapes with a beautiful trim detail or made into a duvet cover. $5.99/yd
Classic black and white floral design with an antique washed look. $7.99/yd.

And another new item I spotted in the fabric department was a bundle of fabric swatches that were on sale for $4.99. Each swatch measures 8″ x 8″ and there are 50 pieces in the bundle, 10 each of 5 designs. I immediately thought of making dinner napkins from these or using them in craft projects. I might be going back to get these as well.

So there you have it…a few of my favorite things at Ikea.

{Storage} Product + Inspiration: Raskog Utility Cart

January 21, 2016

I don’t know what it is about a new year that makes us all want to declutter and organize our homes. As part of this yearly ritual, I’m always on the hunt for easy storage solutions and one of my go-to shopping sources is always Ikea.

Every time I shop Ikea I ponder purchasing the Raskog Utility Cart. This cute little storage cart is just one of those pieces that you can image using in a thousand different ways around the house And the $29.99 price point makes it even more attractive.

To convince myself and maybe you too, I’ve rounded up some photos showing different ways this storage cart can be styled.

CREATIVE IDEAS USING THE RASKOG UTILITY STORAGE CART

When space is tight, the Raskog cart makes an ideal side table and the three storage shelves can hold an array of items for quick access.

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I love the idea of using this cart in the kitchen to hold cooking supplies you use frequently. When not in use the cart and be pushed into a corner or tucked into a pantry closet.

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Use the cart to hold functional and decorative accessories in the kitchen. It’s a great spot to place potted herbs.

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And when more space is needed, just double up on the cart storage.

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The barcart trend continues to be strong and the Raskog cart is fun for a small cocktail station. And the perfect piece to hold cocktail or cookbooks.

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And if the turquoise, beige or dark gray color options don’t work with you decor, this cart is easy to spray paint for a custom look.

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And another selling point is the ability to hang magnetic rods and buckets on the cart for even more storage options.

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Use the cart to towels and toiletries in a guest bathroom.

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The idea of all my cleaning supplies in one place just might have persuaded me to buy the Raskog cart.

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The cart makes a pretty cute storage shelf for seasonal footwear and fashion accessories.

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And for all you crafters and sewers out there, this cart has endless possibilities for storage and organization. The mobility makes the cart easy to move around your craft space or even to another room in your house.

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I love how the Raskog easily tucks into a closet space and under shelving.

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Mount the top bin upside down to create a solid working station for a sewing machine, laptop or office equipment.

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There are lots of storage carts on the market but in my book the Raskog Utility Cart is one of the best and definitely one of the more versatile pieces you can buy.

For more organizing tips, check out these posts:

The Art of DeCluttering Bathroom Drawers

Organizing Tips That Won’t Fail You

Design Inspiration that will blow your mind!

November 10, 2015

This post requires that you grab and cup of coffee or tea and plop yourself in a cushy chair because you’re going to want to spend some time checking out every detail of these amazing home tours and photos! When you’re done, leave me a comment and let me know which was your favorite.

KariAnne shared this home tour on her blog and it stopped me in my tracks. It just might be one of the most beautiful homes in the history of forever.

via Thistlewood Farms

I could live in a mostly white house if it looked like this.

via Style Me Pretty photography by Tracy Ayton

This chic and elegant living room has a $99 rug— the perfect example of a high, low mix!

via AD

Just one more example of the power of paint, this time on the ceiling.

Country Living via my domaine

Now this is how you decorate a small space!

via house beautiful

The next time you want to redesign your pantry, take inspiration from this amazing set up.

via residencestyle

I hope you’re as inspired as I am!

Favorites from the new Ikea Catalog

August 18, 2015

The last couple of times I’ve gone to Ikea the store has been under construction with new vignettes being constructed and old products being liquidated. Seeing all of that going on only meant one thing…the release of the 2016 Ikea catalog was nearing.

I received my copy of the catalog a few days ago and boy oh boy are there some really awesome items in it. From new furniture to textiles and pillows, there are so many items that on are my shopping list. And as an admitted paper addict, I’m loving all the new paper products they have too. I can’t wait to make a trip to the store to pick up a few of my favorite things but for now I thought I’d share them with you here on the blog.

The Maryd Tray Table is such a versatile piece that could be used as a night stand or even side table. $69.99

Ikea is one of my favorite sources for baskets and this lidded Nipprig Basket is a steal at $16.99. Such a chic way to store kids toys, blankets and magazines.

If you’re looking for stylish office storage that won’t break the bank, these Fjalla Magazine File will fit the bill. And at $4.99 for a 2 pack you can fill your entire bookcase with them.

I don’t have any space for a new chair but if I did I’d definitely buy the Nipprig Chair. Can’t you just image this painted in a bold, bright color? $49.00

I’m a fan of Ikea’s Billy Bookcase but the Valje Shelf has so much more style with the off-set shelves and the white-washed wood grain finish. $149.00