10 questions with answers to make your house into a home (from real simple)

1.  Do I wake up in the morning feeling truly rested? While there are a whole bunch of reasons I might toss and turn at night, a clean and serene bedroom certainly helps me feel at ease. If you've been sleeping fitfully, perhaps it's time for some new bedding. Updating your bed with a down or Tempurpedic mattress topper, some new pillows (I'm loving Ikea's Gosa Pinja pillows for side sleepers) and new bedding (try cozy flannel for winter, smooth cool sateen for summer) can make a big difference in your sleep patterns.

2.  Can I play music in my home, including in the bedroom and the bath? Sound, like scent, is one of those elusive layers in a home that you don't recognize as important until there's something annoying, like loud neighbors or a blaring car alarm, to jolt you. Even if you're a rock or hard core fanatic, don't limit your in-home soundtrack. Opera on Sunday mornings, soul for cleaning, power ballads while showering.

 

3.  Do I have a comfortable spot in my home where I can read, talk on the phone, even nap, that is not my bed? If the most comfortable spot in your home is your bed, it's time to rethink things. A comfy chair in the corner of the bedroom, extra pillows on the couch, a floor cushion by a sunny window, an ottoman pulled up to the sofa, a throw near a drafty window, angling a daybed to catch the afternoon light, are all ways to make a spot more inviting.

 

4. Can I walk around my house barefoot? While we're not advocating a shoes off policy (though your home may stay cleaner if you do), the rugs should feel nice on the feet, the floors clean and smooth. It seems like a chore but I do a super fast damp mop on my wooden floors every morning (really superfast. And yes, sometimes I even make airplane noises!) with a old rag tucked into a Swiffer mop and spritzed with a little Mrs. Myers Lavender all-purpose spray.

5. Does my home smell good? That little mopping habit not only keeps my floors clean, it also keeps my home smelling nice. Cleansers, a scented candle, opening the windows, cooking -- these all bring a layer of scent into your home.

 6. Is there a convenient spot for a guest to put down a coat or hang a bag? How about one for yourself? If you don't already have one, consider establishing a landing strip in your home near your front door. This alone can do a lot towards alleviating a clutter takeover in your home.


7. How about a spot that I feel comfortable entertaining a guest? Maybe you spend a lot of time in your home alone, maybe you hate having anyone over, but when you do, step back and take a look at how comfortable someone is. Where do they choose to sit? You can learn a lot about your home from a visitor. You don't need a formal living room, just two chairs with someplace to put down a glass of water.


8. Can I vary the mood in my home with lighting to serve that room's functions? There should be reading lights within easy reach of the bed or sofa, enough light in the kitchen to chop by or peer into the back of your pantry. If you're always squinting, time to consider a well-place lamp or at least the wattage of your lightbulbs. Before you make any major changes in your home, invest in some lighting. That may be all the work you need.



9. How organized is my home? Is your clothing closet well-organized enough that you can get dressed in 15 minutes? Do you have the makings of quick meal to feed an unexpected guest? What about your bathroom? Are all the things you need easily accessible or do you have so many things to take out and put away in the morning that you create a tornado that you then dread putting away?


10. And, perhaps most importantly, do I feel happy walking into your home? Are you proud of your home? Your home should make you smile to be there.

Orange you glad you checked my blog today?

All about Orange my friends!

For more fun images: http://www.stylelist.com/2012/02/03/design-inspiration-paint-ideas_n_1253752.html#s651476&title=Paint_Your_Walls

garden and gun - (my hot, new favorite "design" mag) featuring: lone star retreat

http://gardenandgun.com/article/rachel-ashwell-prairie

As you wind down the sleepy back roads of Round Top, Texas, toward the Prairie by Rachel Ashwell, the Union Jack flying third on the flagpole (beneath the Stars and Stripes and the official state flag of Texas) is the only sign that the proprietor of this sprawling bed-and-breakfast might not be from around here. Though British by birth, Ashwell—author, designer, and founder of the global Shabby Chic brand—has spent the past year transforming five primitive buildings on forty-six acres of rolling farmland into an authentic Lone Star retreat, where guests mingle easily with visiting locals and the property’s familial staff. There are cattle grazing, roses blossoming, and panoramic views for miles in all directions. It’s part Out of Africa, part Lonesome Dove—a secluded, peaceful oasis at the heart of an eclectic and emerging travel destination.

Ashwell discovered Round Top, known for its quarterly antiques fairs, years ago during a foraging trip and fell in love with the tiny community’s bohemian spirit and laid-back lifestyle. “The flea market shows are by far the best I’ve ever been to,” she says, referring to the weeks each season when antiques dealers and treasure hunters inflate the local population from less than a hundred year-round residents to about thirty thousand people. (The upcoming spring antiques shows run from March 23 through April 8.) So when the property formerly known as the Outpost at Cedar Creek Inn came up for sale at the end of 2010, Ashwell, a longtime loyal guest, couldn’t resist making an offer. Three months, some Farrow & Ball paint and wallpaper, and a lot of hard work by Danny Riebeling (the property’s foreman, cook, and do-it-all guy) later, the Prairie officially opened its doors.

To create lived-in spaces to complement the five original farm buildings, some of which date back to the 1800s, Ashwell focused restoration efforts on the structures’ unique building styles and histories. She installed crystal chandeliers that would make Marie Antoinette swoon but left original wooden floorboards unvarnished and tin roofing largely intact. To make use of taxidermy left behind by the inn’s former owner, she crowned the mounts with vintage floral hats for just the right amount of whimsy. Perhaps smartest of all is the way she weaves local memorabilia (a Texas-shaped mirror, for instance, and vintage neon signs) into the decor with a wink and a nod. After all, many of her prize purchases over the years have come from the area—only back then, it was her little secret.

The entire article and more photos at:

http://gardenandgun.com/article/rachel-ashwell-prairie

I've been seeing this all over the place - thanks O'Happy Day for the direction!!  (see Martha Stewart's website for how to make without the lantern base). 

Only comment - to really make this work you need LOADS of balls in the air (pardon the pun) to almost completely cover the ceiling. Take the time - it's the finished product is totally worth it. I actually had some on these in my bedroom in NYC above my bed - they were ivory and pink and to me they were symbols to encourage creative ideas while I slept!

Sweet “Eloise at the Plaza” Birthday Party: Hostess with the Mostess

 

Sweet “Eloise at the Plaza” Birthday Party

PARTY DETAILS, as told by Charynn…

:
“My daughter Madelyn has loved Eloise since she was 2 years old. She collects the dolls, books, and has ALWAYS asked for a party at The Plaza. Since it is such a special ‘number’ birthday – for her 5th birthday, I decided to style a pink, black, and white Eloise themed soiree. I enlisted the help of Kelly from WH Hostess to create an amazing invitation and coordinating party goods using Madelyn (and Eloise)’s favorite color, pink, and my love for black and white patterns. For the invitation, we had Vana Chupp of Le Papier Studio a custom silhouette of Madelyn created in an Eloise ‘pose’ that we carried through in several of the other party goods.

When Madelyn suggested the idea of an Eloise party, I immediately thought of an all-pink bakery that Eloise might visit on one of her trips outside of The Plaza. We built large risers to mimic the interior of a bakery store window, and created an awning using black and white striped fabric from Ikea. I used white cake stands and dessert ware from my collection, and I also greatly expanded my collection with a fabulous (and super inexpensive) project: DIY milk glass using glassware from Goodwill and white spray paint. It was styled with all pink desserts that were created by myself, with touches of black and white throughout.

Some of Madelyn’s favorite desserts were on the display, including: pink chocolate coated Oreo truffles, hot pink macarons filled with dark chocolate ganache, chocolate cupcakes with pink strawberry buttercream, NYC black and white cookies, mini donuts sprinkled with pink coconut, chocolate dipped pretzels, meringue ‘ice cream cones’ that rested on WH Hostess patterned paper to match that theme (and on a DIY ice cream cone stand!), pink gum balls and hard candy from Candy Warehouse, and absolutely adorable marshmallow pops made especially for Madelyn by The Marshmallow Studio. One of Madelyn’s special requests for the pink ‘bakery’: two different cakes: a pink rosette cake, and a fondant covered creation with pink stripes and a replication of her silhouette in fondant.

Another of Madelyn’s requests was to have a tea table set up for her and her friends to use at the party. As a surprise, I ordered an actual Eloise tea set from The Plaza to decorate the table, along with some pink and black cupcakes topped with pink and white swirled lollipops, strawberry cream cheese tea sandwiches, Eloise-themed stuffed animals, and pink and white polka dot suitcases. I made curtains using more of the Ikea fabric, and to tie the theme together, styled the floor with a black and white chevron rug. The tea table was so simple to pull together, and it was Madelyn’s favorite part of the party!

For the favor table, I really wanted to make it fun, whimsical, but also fitting for the preppy and modern theme. I made the ‘FIVE’ letters using wooden letters and small rectangular wooden plaques painted white and filled a bookshelf with the favors and lots of pink balloons. For favors, the kids at the party received a marshmallow pop from The Marshmallow Studio, ridiculously cute pink Eloise headbands made especially for the party by EmzBowz, and a custom memory card game featuring WH Hostess graphics custom-made for the party. The display was topped off with a banner from WH Hostess and striped fabric. One of MY favorite parts of the party were the little signs that Kelly and I came up with, using little phrases and key words from the books, including ‘Gifts from ME, Madelyn’ for the favor table and ‘oooooohhh, I absolutely love BIRTHDAYS!’ for the tea table. It was the perfect addition to the party to add a touch of the character feeling without going overboard.

The most talked about (and loved by the adults) part of the party was the inventive drink station we created. I have always found it amusing that, in the books, Eloise knew to order Nanny a drink from room service. Just like Nanny, the adults at our parties like a little ‘libation’ or two. I created a simple background for the table using a large silhouette from the stationery in an ornate frame from Ikea. Kelly created custom labels for the liquor bottles that were displayed on a cake stand for some height, and mixers were displayed in simple glass carafes. Another creative sign let all of the guests know that these were ‘Nanny’s Libations’ and were not for kids. A small game was also created using hot pink sixlets, as the guests had fun guessing how many ‘champagne bubbles’ were in the jar.

With a lot of pink and some key character touches for my little Eloise, and some modern patterns for my taste, I was able to create an adorable party that my daughter will remember for years to come. All of the hard work paid off when my daughter announced after the party that ‘Mommy brought The Plaza to my house!’”

*****VENDOR CREDITS & RESOURCES:

– Party Stationery: WH Hostess
– Event Styling: Two Sugar Babies and WH Hostess / The Party Dress
– Desserts: Two Sugar Babies
– Gumballs & Candy: Candy Warehouse
– Marshmallow Pops: The Marshmallow Studio
– Pink Headbands: EmzBowz
– Tea Table and Picture Frames: Ikea
– Fabric: Ikea, JoAnn Fabric
– Wooden Letters and Plaques: JoAnn Fabric
– Pink Suitcases and Paper Straws: Shop Sweet Lulu
– Pink Cupcake Wrappers and Swirl Lollipops: Target

Personalized Gift Tags...too much? NEVER!!

vintage globes - why are they so cool? i truly have no idea - but they are...

vintage replogle world globe by ethanollie on etsy!!

$33.00 excluding shipping

a replogle world globe is the perfect gift for the world traveler or child who dreams of one day becoming one. great full shape with gold toned axis and white enameled base. blue green waters and nicely saturated continents

a good one for the collection!

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Flisting%2F61308768%2Fvintage-replogle-world-globe&h=731a3

Whispering Pines is one of my all time favorite sites!!

http://www.whisperingpinescatalog.com/products/road-trip-rug
check out this fab rug!!!

chinese stools - apartment therapy facinates again!!!

for the last few years, barrel-shaped ceramic stools have been a popular decorating accessory, adding luster, color or texture to a space while serving as little side tables or room accents. but where do they come from, and where were they traditionally used? okay, the answer is in the title of the post: they come from China, and they were traditionally used in gardens. read on to learn about the fascinating origins of this familiar form.

believe it or not, barrel- or drum-shaped garden stools have been used in China for at least 1,000 years. they may have evolved out of the Buddhist garden tradition, where natural elements like tree stumps and smooth rocks were used as seats.

traditionally, Chinese homes were built around a courtyard, and with an emphasis on landscape and gardens, so outdoor furniture was essential. by the Song Dynasty (960-1279), these types of stools were used both indoors and outdoors as casual seating  indoor stools were typically portable and made out of wood, while outdoor furniture, to withstand the elements, began to be made out of stone, glazed stoneware, or porcelain.
the antique stools that are still extant tend to be from the late Ming Dynasty — early 17th century — and later, and they have a range of decoration, including fretwork, relief decoration, and pierced motifs. one common decoration is simulated nailheads, often around the upper and lower parts of the barrel form. the nailhead motif is left over from ancient Chinese drums, which had wood bodies with skins stretched over each end and affixed with nails. although they've been around over 1000 years, in the USA they have gained popularity only in the last and current century.

you can find stools locally at thomasville, ethan allen and other fine furniture stores.  or on line at www.wisteria.com and www.chinese-furniture.com.

hughs house, louisville, ky: before images

stuff you can do with an old ladder...thanks apartment therapy!

editing the colors of your kitchen plates and bowls

my kitchen at the carriage house

tip of the day: pick 2 or 3 colors/styles only for your kitchen plates, cups, glasses, etc. stay with your choices at times - sippy cup colors COUNT TOO!!! thus, even though you have obtained loads of different pieces from different sets over the years, it all still looks good on a your shelves!!

the difference between color and black and white photos.....

one look is cheesy pet photos - and the other look is art!

just add  black,white or silver frames and i'm, ehhmm sorry, YOU are no longer THAT "cat lady"; now you are an animal artist!

design advice: room by room - focal point and floor plans

focal point:
every well-decorated room has a focal point - a place to which the eye is drawn. it may be built into the room, such as a fireplace or a window with a great view. you can also create a focal point with paintings, accessories, mirrors and furniture.

floor plans:
after deciding on a focal point, plan to place furnishings in an arrangement that contribute to and enhance it. keep balance in mind and establish a traffic pattern that allows confortable access to the room and seating. major traffic patterns should be at least 36" wide and flow around the furniture setting.

in a living room, be sure to allow room to access windows, entertainment plugs/setups, and bookcases. avoid routing paths through the middle of the convesation areas or between the tv and viewers.

in the dining room its ideal to have 36" betwen the backs of chairs and perimeter wall or other furniture. *and don't forget to plan and measure for sideboards and consoles BEFORE you place your table and chairs.

in the bedroom, 24" on either side of the bed at the least (most nighstand average 36"). while traditional bed placement is most convienent, consider diagonal placement.

real simple's 50 best "new uses for old stuff"...and that coaster idea? been doing it for years!

http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/new-uses-for-old-things/favorite-new-uses-00000000019718/index.html

honor your ancestors - decorate!

an easy way to honor your family and personalize your home is by adopting some of their hobbies. my grandfather's collection of swizzle-drink stirrers looks BEYOND pretty sitting in a julip cup on my bar- and some sticks are over 50  years old! my favorite women in the world: my mother, my grandmother and my aunts, all collected limoges boxes. today my sister and I add to our collections by giving limoges boxes to each other as a fond reminder of a special trip or event.  and don't be afraid to let the world know about your collections - it makes gift giving much happier and easier for all involved (you are simply doing everyone a favor by educating them).  petite collections are great decorating tools in smaller spaces such as shelving and desk tops. but a group of vintage napkins or table cloths can be displayed neatly folded in a basket or framed along an entire kitchen wall.  tip: to keep collections from exploding, be specific about your pieces. for example,  i only collect the green/blue and pink mccoy pottery vases and pots - it looks better/cleaner in clusters and works with the other colors and designs in my home.  have fun!

how to hang paintings and pictures

•hang pictures so the center is at adult eye level. somewhere between 5-6 feet or 58" - 62" from the floor.

•cluster three to four smaller pictures together instead of spreading them out across the room to create a unit and more finished look (see photo for example).

•pictures in a dining room can be hung lower on the wall since they will be viewed while seated.


•when creating a picture grouping, usually place the heaviest picture at the bottom (note: heavy can mean color and/or weight).

•cut out newspaper templates and tape them to the wall to help determine the best placement.


•vertical artwork creates a more formal setting; horizontal artwork creates a casual and restful setting.

room design worksheet for your next interior design project!

this blog is dedicated to helping people create their ideal homes in the least expensive and quickest way. therefore, i have below created a worksheet for our projects. this sheet give you direction and concrete solutions to the decorating questions of each project.


feel free to steal/"borrow" it from me!

DESIGN WORK SHEET OUTLINE

TIMELINE

Ideal start date:_____________________PRACTICAL NEEDS AND DETAILS

Ideal completion date:________________

WHAT IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL FOR THIS PROJECT: _________________________________________________________

WISH LIST:

_________________________________________________________

WHO USES THE ROOM?
Family ___________________________________________________
Children __________________________________________________
Pets ______________________________________________________

ACTIVITIES
reading _______________
hobbies_________________
________________________
computer - desktop
computer - wireless
TV viewing/importance (1-10)? ______

ENTERTAINING

business large groups

social informal

small groups casual

number of chairs NEEDED:________

DAILY USE

daytime

nighttime

equally

What is your biggest concern at start?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________


What pieces will stay in the room?
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________


What needs to be added to this room?
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________


CEILING
normal_________ high_________ pitched________

DETAILS
Natural light? ________________________

Focal point?__________________________

STYLE PREFERENCES

List three adjectives that describe the feel
of your dream room.
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________


STYLE
What style/s best appeals to you:
cozy traditional
lived-in contemporary
romantic west indies
formal eclectic
country casual elegance
elegant seaside cottage
transitional aspen lodge
casual urban loft
country french english
old world european


COLOR SCHEME
What color combinations appeal to you?

whites naturals/neutrals
grays and blacks earth tones
pastels warm colors
jewel tones nncool colors


What amount of color appeals to you?

loads of color
subtle color
color mostly in accents
color limited to walls and floors


What feel appeals to you?
rooms that appear spacious and open
rooms cozy, intimate & comfortable


What colors and wood tones appeal to you?


___________________________________


___________________________________


___________________________________


stripes
mini-patterns
plaids
geometrics
florals
leather
abstracts
tapestries
large patterns small patterns
bold, bright patterns
subtle patterns with texture

WINDOW TREATMENTS
Do you have existing window treatments?

If so, what are they?

top treatments
vertical blinds
full draperies
shutters
side panels
wood blinds
woven blinds

outside view /colors
__________________________________


fabric shades importance


(1-10) ______


DECISION MAKERS
____________________________________
___________________________________

BUDGET PLAN

up to $5,000
$5,000 to $10,000
$10,000 to $15,000
$15,000 to $20,000
$20,000 to $30,000

____________________________________


If completing in multiple phases, how much
for phase 1, 2...
_________________________
_________________________
__________________________


Floor type? ____________________________________


Adjoining room details? ___________________________

FABRICS THAT APPEAL (include item numbers)
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________

PAINT
LIST PAINT COLORS WITH ITEM NUMBERS
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
___________________________________________________