Friday Fabulous - the Gallery Wall

the new gallery wall

I just LOVE Fridays!  I'm not really sure why they hold such a special place in my heart since I gave up my Monday-Friday job quite a while ago but they are still my favourite for sure.  I guess it's because it's the gateway to the weekend and the weekend is always so full of possibilities.  This Friday I thought I'd give you a peak at what I've been working on around here.  

A few months back we decided that we needed to finish painting out our living room since we had started it, well, two years ago.  Woa!  That's right, it had been THAT long!  Since we were painting I decided to take down my picture ledges so we could fill the holes and paint the wall then maybe put the ledges back up again.  Check out my post about the picture ledges here. 

the old gallery wall with our old green walls (though it's hard to tell that the wall colour is green)

Once I had the ledges and pictures down I realized that I hadn't love loved what they looked like when they were up.  I am really glad I gave it a try but I didn't like how cramped everything felt.  Also, Mr. D knocked one particular picture off the ledge a number of times (by accident of course) and I just didn't want to deal with something that could be a danger to those sitting on the couch.  So...I left the space blank for MONTHS.  Um, it's still blank but that'll be another story for another day.  I knew I wanted to put the pictures back up but didn't want to use the ledges.  I also moved everything over to an adjacent wall so that the picture frames wouldn't get knocked off the wall anymore.  

BEFORE ... ARGG so much clutter!!! 


The buffet has become a dumping ground and I thought you might like to see the clutter up close!  We are working on getting things more organized but we're not quite there yet.  Notice the blue painter' tape on the wall.  I was marking the middle of the buffet or as close as I could get with eye-balling it so I could center my gallery.  It was a great thought but didn't quite work out as I had planned but more on that in a later post.

 AFTER

I love LOVE how the gallery uses most of the space on the wall while drawing the eye upward making the ceilings feel just a little higher.  I also love that I was able to put some space between the frames which gives the eye a little time to "breathe" and to take each photo in before moving to the next one.  It's amazing how those little spaces help the room to feel orderly and calm which really helps to make our house into a peaceful home.  I'm still working on styling the buffet so I'll spare you the cluttered mess this time.  All in all, I'm super excited about having so many special photos up.  Oh and little C noticed them the other day and stood there for a while just taking it all in.  I totally love that he can look up and see his family (near and far) any time he wants.  That's the best!

I'll do a post later on how I put everything together but until then...have a happy Friday!

Dreaming of Befores, Afters and Dramatic Transformations

Aren't before and after pictures so great?  I always enjoy seeing a dramatic transformation and dreaming about how I could transform my own space.  I truly wish I had more before and after photos for you of my own updating because that would mean that I was actually taking my plan from my mind's eye into reality.  The thing is, I am working on it even if it doesn't look like it.  I'm still plugging away at the living room updating things as I can.  I'm not the kind of person who buys something just because it's cheap so it will take time for everything to come together.  Right now I'm saving my pennies to buy two curtain rods, one for the window and one for the french doors.  It's tempting to take the money I've already saved and spend it on a bunch of little decorative items or to buy cheap curtain rods that will bend and warp over time.  The thing is, I know I wouldn't be happy with that and ultimately, curtains are going to change the vibe of our space.  They will instantly make our living room feel warm, cozy and inviting.  That's definitely what I want and I have to keep reminding myself of that.  Stick.To.The.Plan.  It's going to be so worth it in the end.

I already have the curtains, which I picked up from Ikea months ago.  They are plain white and while that will give a very crisp feel I would like to add a little interest.  I'm toying with the idea of adding a wide band of patterned fabric either at the top or at the bottom of each curtain panel.  The curtains also come with hidden tabs which may look great but I'm also toying with the idea of using curtain clips.  As you can see, the plan is somewhat evolving and some of the particular details will come together as I go.  Here are some possible ideas.

From West Elm (an older style that I don't think is available any more)

sorry, source unknown


from Decor pad - so beautiful

I'm not sure if I'll go with all solid fabrics or try to bring in a fun pattern.  At this point, I'm leaning toward the patterned fabric but we'll see how I feel when it comes time to actually make it happen.  There you have it.  That's where I'm at in the living room saga.  I anticipate that I'll have the rest of the pennies needed to pick up those curtain rods very soon and then I really will have some before and after photos for you.  Until then, happy decorating.

Living Room Make-Over

Living room Status Update:

For the last few months I've been focusing my attention on adding a more personal touch to my living room.  It's the room we spend most of our time in watching movies, playing with little dude, watching t.v., folding laundry, and storing things that have no other home.  The whole storing things with no home in the living room is not going to continue...eventually everything will have a home (or at least I keep telling myself that).  I really want my living room to be comfortable, uncluttered and to feel pulled together.  Due to budget constraints we will be keeping the key pieces of furniture in the room and I'm kind of excited about that.  It means I get to put my creative juices to work to figure out how to make them work and to look fabulous.  Eventually, the plan is to ditch the massive corner t.v. cabinet and replace the whole thing with a wall-mounted flat screen t.v.  That will give me so many more options for arranging the furniture because it isn't dictated by the t.v. in the corner.  Until then, this is what we've got to work with and I think it will work out great.

When I start to think about a decorating project I usually like to take stock of what I've got to work with before I get started.  This way, I can start crossing things off my list right away and I can also see where I'm going to need to focus my resources.  Here's what's going on in my living room.

This couch doesn't look like much but it's so comfy.  We don't have the money to replace them so we are happy to use them.  I think eventually I'd like to make slip covers for them but that may be later on down the road.










Furniture & accessories in the room:

- two really comfy brown chenille couches
- 8 throw pillows (that came with the couches but are losing their fluff)
- 1 upholstered rectangular ottoman in desperate need of recovering
- 1 piano
- 1 book shelf
- 1 giant buffet/storage piece

Lighting:
- it's pretty HORRIBLE and dark - YUCK!
- 1 ugly ceiling fan with lights
- 1 table lamp complete with yellowed shade

We need storage help!

Other Challenges:
- the living room is a walk-through to get from one side of the house to the other so there needs to be a clear path
- the lighting is HORRIBLE...did I already mention that?!
- we would like to have as much seating as possible
- zero storage (except for the buffet but that holds all of my dining room type stuff)
- all of the wood furniture, wait, ALL of the furniture is dark.  Add that to a dark room and sometimes my living room feels like a cave.  I'd like it to feel more like an open oasis.

So there you have it - the good, the bad and the ugly.  I'm not really sure how this is going to work out but I'm excited to put my creativity to work for us and to make our dream a reality.

Decorating - Fall Ideas 2011

Fall is here and you know what that means!  Changing decor! YAY!  This only leaves one question...where should we start?!  The best things about fall decorating are spicy colours, warm fabrics and luxurious textures.  Here are the ingredients for a quick transformation.

warm cozy throw  +  lanterns  +  branches or other objects from nature

I've pulled items from two price points to show that anyone can add a little fall to their world.

High(er)

1.

2.

3.

1.  black lantern - Potterybarn $29-$99

2.  grey knit throw - Restoration Hardware $199-$229

3.  vase with branches - picture courtesy of Design Clique

Low(ish)

1.

2.

3.

1.  black lantern - Ikea $14.99

2.  brown knit throw - Nate Berkus for HSN $89.95

3.  branches - the back yard - free (photo courtesy of Charles & Hudson)

The fall decorating possibilities are pretty much endless.  Happy decorating!

Friday Fabulous - House & Home

Happy Friday!!

photo courtesy House & Home

I have such exciting design news!  House & Home magazine (originally Canadian House & Home) is now in the US!  Oh happy day!!!  Back when I was just out of college I discovered House & Home magazine.  It was the very first magazine I ever subscribed to and was instrumental in opening my eyes to the world of home design.  Most of my H&H magazines became references and I have poured over them many, many times over the years.  They even made the long trek down to Florida with me when I moved.  I couldn't even think about leaving any of them behind!  What I think is so great is that the magazine is modern, a little trendy but still classic.  There are photo galleries, recipes and party ideas as well as design blogs.  You definitely have to check it out!


Have a fabulous Friday!

Decorating with Picture Ledges

The final pictures for the picture ledges came together much more quickly than I thought so I wanted to share the finished results - finally!  I just love looking at photos of memorable moments and special times so I thought it would be so fun to have a wall filled with special photos.  Here's the finished product.

Each photo has a story or is connected with a special event or memory and I just love walking down memory lane.  I decided to stack two picture ledges to draw the eye upward.  That way, it makes the ceiling look taller while also providing a focal point for the room.  

Upper ledge

I used frames from the same line - Ribba frames from Ikea.  The different sizes of frames add visual interest and the same style of frames add continuity.  I debated whether to use three large frames or multiple frames on each ledge.  Larger frames would have been a more "clean" look while highlighting a few extra-special photos.  I really like the look of that type of picture ledge but I wanted to highlight more photos than just 6.  I am super thrilled with the result!  

Lower ledge

I also debated whether I wanted black & white photos or colour photos.  I developed a couple of colour photos and realized quickly that the affect would be too busy for my liking.  Picnik.com was a great resource in turning my colour photos into great black & whites!  I think the most exciting part of our new picture wall is that we can update it with new photos whenever we like!  That means I'll have flexibility and the ability to update my living room design, which is great because I like to switch things up for sure.

Happy Friday! 

Friday Fabulous - Decorating with Picture Ledges

Happy Friday everyone!

I hope you are enjoying your Friday and looking forward to the weekend.  We are going to be spending the weekend celebrating with friends at their wedding as well as spending quality time with family.  I LOVE weekends like that!

I have been working slowly but steadily on a super fun project in our living room but it's not quite done yet.  I'm waiting on the last two little details to come together hopefully this afternoon.  I thought I'd leave you with a little hint until it all comes together.  Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend!

Decor 101 - What's the vibe?

Photo from my honeymoon in the Bahamas.

Happy Tuesday!  Thursday?! 

Isn't it amazing how time just seems to fly right on by?!  Life can get so hectic and demanding but one thing I've realized is that down-time, for me, is like a breath of fresh air.  Mr. D has a very demanding job with no set schedule so when things ramp up for him, we slip into non-essential mode.  The thing is, I've come to learn that even in non-essential mode I need to have a creative outlet.  That's why I've taken on adding some style to our home.  Thinking and planning is where I recharge and, well, it's just plain fun.  So I'm excited that you've joined me as I begin this slow but exciting process.  



Photo from the Bahamas

Are you picking up part of the theme yet?

Getting started:

What's the vibe?

Starting a whole-house project like this is very daunting and for my detail-oriented mind it can get down right overwhelming.  The first thing I usually do is think about what vibe I want the space to have.  Since it's our own home, that means talking with Mr. D and then thinking about what I want people to feel when they come visit.  Mr. D is pretty relaxed about things and because he has such a crazy-busy job he really likes/needs to relax.  Often, Saturdays are sleep in/watch movies/play with little dude kind of days so it's safe to say our life is pretty casual.  Mr. D is also very sentimental and connected to his family so I'm excited to bring that element into our home.  I'm not really sure what that's going to look like yet but I know we'll come up with something fab. 

One of my favourite places is the beach and since we live in beach vacation land I thought it would be fun to give our home a beachy vibe.  I'm talking more Nantucket-ish, not so much South Beach.  I also have a more "classic" side to me that my sis-in-law likes to call Preppy.  No matter how hard I try I always go back to it (yes, little dude has a few brighthly coloured polos...) because it was influenced by my low-key West Coast upbringing.  The fun challenge will be to find just the right mix of Nantucket beachy and West Coast polished.  Yep, those are definitely the technical terms and I think I've got my work cut out for me!

Next time we will talk about inspiration but for now here are a few pictures that I'm loving.

* photos courtesy of Coastal Living

                                             

...one more thing - Don't you just love all of the bold fabrics?  I'm  loving the bold stripes and I just might need to keep my eyes open for fabric for my space. 

Decor 101 - Decorating in Odd Numbers

I have always thought it would be fun to have a professional designer come into my home and help to make it look fabulous.  But the reality is, it's just not gonna happen.  Instead, I've made it my goal to learn as much as I can about decorating tricks and tips so I can bring a cohesive feel to my own space.  It's actually kind of fun once you get going with it and I always find that inspiration starts rolling once I take the first step.  The main thing to remember is that it's ok to make "mistakes" because you can always change things around.  That's really the beauty of doing it yourself - you can have confidence to change it whenever you want.  Let's take a look at decorating in odd numbers.

I first learned about this decorating concept from my friend's mother.  Until she pointed out to me that she made sure to group things in odd numbers, I had never really noticed it before.  After she pointed it out I began to notice that my eye was drawn to odd numbered groupings.  Let me just say that my own goal in decorating my space is to make it pleasing to my own eye.  If grouping something in odd numbers doesn't look great to me then I change it.  It's not a hard and fast rule for me but I always start there.

source

 This picture shows a couple of things:

1.  there are 3 pillows on the couch and though two are brightly coloured and one is white, they still come across as an odd numbered group

2.  the brown horse picture, the dark wood nesting tables and the dark wood coffee table read as a grouping because of the similar colour.  It causes your eye to move from one to the other which groups them in your mind's eye. 

source

In this photo:

1.  the 3 pillows on the couch are related by colour even though two are patterned and one is solid

2.  the 7 plates on the wall are arranged in such a way that they come across symmetrically and all relate to each other with various shades of the same yellow and blue

source

I just love how the 5 pillows on the couch are similar in colour but just different enough to add some visual interest.

source

These 3 items, though very different in form, group together nicely because they are similar in colour.

source

The 3 metal vases on the coffee table look beautiful grouped together.

Have fun arranging your own objects!

                                         
...one more thing...  remember, don't be bashful - change things up if you don't like how things look the first time!

Ikea Here We Come!

One of my favourite places to shop is Ikea partly because the distance from my home makes it an automatic shopping "destination" instead of a shopping "stop-in for a quick look."  Also, partly because of the sheer number of items, great and small, to look at and dream about that are within the very limited budget I'm working with. Totally LOVE that! 

Little dude and I decided that Saturday was a perfect day for a shopping trip to Ikea as there were a few items that I was hoping to pick up for various projects I want to do.  We were working on a bit of a timeline because nap time was looming so we went straight to the Marketplace, foregoing the meandering walk through all of the showrooms.  Hubs was away for the weekend so it was just me and squirt, who thoroughly loved his first experience in the child-seat of the cart. 

Oh, and by-the-way, whoever invented those shopping carts must not have taken them around the store for very long because I was a in a constant battle to keep the thing rolling straight.  Hmmm...maybe they need to look at that.  Nevertheless, we found all of the goodies on the list and a cute little mat for the kitchen to boot!  Here is a pic of most of my finds.

The picture rail, at the top of the photo, is for another project that I'll show in the coming weeks but I'm super excited about adding it to my decor!  Also, I just love love the price - $14.99.  Totally do-able! 

I have a window and french doors in my living room so I bought the white curtains to see if they would work in my space.  TOTALLY do!  They have a linen texture without the linen wrinkles or linen price.  I love love them!  I just need to go back and pick up another pair.  I've got a fun project in mind for them too but I'm still on the hunt for one last part so it may be a bit before it's done. 

The picture frame is one of my favourites EVER!  Ikea is genius in that they have a line of frames in white, black or silver in many different sizes that all coordinate.  I really like seeing mismatched frames on the wall but the organized side of me finds matching frames so peaceful and appealing.  Also, hubs prefers matching frames as well so Ikea's the place for us!  I can't wait to show you what I have cooked up for the picture frame.  Soon enough, soon enough. 

Oh, and who can resist Ikea's 100 tea lights for $3.99?  Totally in my budget!!  All in all, it was a very successful trip and I am SO looking forward to adding some homey-ness to our home!  Why didn't I do this sooner?

Where do you find tried-and-true items for your home?

..... one more thing... just because he is SO adorable (if I do say so myself), here is little dude in his first Ikea shopping cart EVER!  He was so proud!  The blurry feet show just how excited he was!  Oh, and their handy-dandy waist strap fit snuggly around even my skinny-minny dude.  Totally love that!