Easter Inspirations

I am a slacker these days, I have been terrible at keeping up the old blog. But I was having a little spring fever today and decided to check out some spring time decorating ideas. It was refreshing. I have to share these cute ideas. I am thinking about getting the girls together to make some of these cute cupcakes or something. Maybe host a cute little Easter party for the kids or something. A little party would open up lots of fun ideas. I think I've convinced myself.
*All images are courtesy of the amazing Martha Stewart team! Love their stuff.*

staircases

why must MY staircase be so un-interesting? are these not beautiful? it's just a pity we don't all live in mansions with huge spiral staircases, don't you think? :) fine, i will add a more realistic design for the rest of us. i like the stockings hanging from the stairwell. if you are like me, and don't own a fireplace, you might wonder every year where to hang the darn things? mine hang from my buffet table, but this is a great idea.

Christmas Swags

these are my newest love this Christmas season. it is such a traditional decorating item, yet it isn't used very frequently. i bought a handful of these from tai pan last week, and plan on hanging them in my windows... unless inspiration strikes somewhere else. i do happen to love them as they are shown in this picture, but i have outdoor wreaths already. another place i love to see swags are on staircases. the options are endless. what is your favorite christmas piece this year?

best news of the day

If any you live in Utah County, Utah- you may be (and should be!) just as excited as I was to learn that Tai Pan is now in Orem. It isn't nearly as big as the wharehouse in Salt Lake, but it seems like the only thing "missing" is the floral department and a very scaled down kitchenware department. It is located at the University Mall in the old Deseret Book location. I went in for just a few minutes yesterday evening and found myself lost in Christmas ideas. I just may put Christmas up early this year. Tai Pan is definitely on the very top of my favorite stores to shop at, and I used to get excited to make the trip up to Salt Lake on occassion. Now I don't have to! Best news of the day!

some thanksgiving lovin

i'm quite obsessed with the acorn napkin holders shown here, and it reminded me of some acorn bells that i saw a year or so ago. i wish i could find some, i think it would be darling as a fall holiday decor piece, placed atop a table runner. i hope you are all ready for the big turkey day!

easy do it yourself project

i love home decor pieces like this that you look at and say "oooh... i could make that!". and wouldn't this be a great piece to add around thanksgiving time? although i have to admit that i think it would be cute all year long.

home furnishing - timeless

sometimes i wish that i could start the furnishing and decorating process over. now that my house is fully furnished and decorated, my taste has changed a little bit, and i think about how i would have chosen differently. one of the main phrases i keep thinking about is "timeless". you can choose the style that happens to be trendy right now, or you can choose a piece that is "timeless"-- something that looks good now, and will still look good later. i often can tell the age of furniture by the stain of wood. when decorating my kids' rooms, i prefer white furniture. it has been used for decades, and will never "age". i can always change out the hardware to stay with the current times. when choosing an actual stain for a wood, i prefer the darker wood. of course that is certainly a trend right now, but it is also a very traditional stain, one that you would find in many antique pieces. if i were to build my home, i would want to choose a kitchen with white cabinets. again, i think it is timeless, a style that will not age my kitchen in 10 years. unfortunately, like most of you, such decisions are made with your most treasured loved one, and mine doesn't happen to like it. most likely we'll never build anyway, so i guess that issue won't arise. when choosing bedding for kids i am finding that solid quilted bedspreads are a darling, and great choice. they are extremely durable, will last through the years, and will always be "cute". when i think about flooring, i am a huge hardwood fan. tile changes so often, and i think is another factor that tells the age of a home. hardwood has been around forever, and although it is more upkeep, i think it is worth it. i am going to be more picky in the future about what i choose for my home, trying to keep things timeless.

wall shelving

i love shelves- they are an inexpensive decor piece, it adds to the charm of a room, and beautifully showcases your favorite accessories. i especially love them in a child's bedroom. here are some cute pictures of great shelves. (ps: if you are wondering where to find good shelves, ross and tjmaxx always have nice big shelves for under $15)

i could change the world, one furniture piece at a time

this is my new baby right now. i found a blog BETTER AFTER that basically shows before and afters of furniture projects. this first one is by far my favorite i have seen. i LOVE it. to update, my chairs are taken apart, and i am getting ready to start refinishing the wood. i really hope this project works out and doesn't put a damper on my burst of confidence. i will take pictures along the way.
(ADVICE: in case anybody actually looks at my blog, and is thinking about attempting this, i wanted to give some advice. i spent a few trips to DI and Savers and have found that it is a waste of time, and that even if there is something cute enough their prices are too high. so don't waste your time shopping there. simply click on your local craigslist a few times a day and eventually something will come up.)
i also am a huge fan of the two tone furniture- where you refinish some of the wood and paint the rest. my sister in law jamie found a kitchen table that she loves this way. i don't dare mess up your beautiful table until i am pro at this jam. (all pictures courtesy of Better After)

all i need is...

a little girl! after being inspired by all the furniture restoration, i came across this pottery barn picture. when i look at it, all i see is old furniture that has been updated. i could SO do a little girls room right now. and good news, i found some old chairs with charm to reupholster. hopefully i will pick them up today. so give me a week or so, and hopefully they will be a cute result.

for mommy dearest

my mom requested advice on decorating after a recent (and amazing, i might add) remodel to her front room. my dad built a bookshelf with pillars that reach the ceiling. she is looking to put something on her bookshelf that has the following features: (1) is visually appealing from each side of the bookcase, (2) something that isn't tall, so the view from the living room to the dining room will not be obstructed, (3) doesn't have books, since books are already displayed on the shelves.
my mind immediate went to tall objects, such as vases, candle pillars, and lamps, but this wouldn't match the criteria. so here is my thoughts, mom. too much decor will make the piece look busy, and will distract from the new piece, which really is the focal point. you want something simple that will compliment the bookcase. my idea is to find an oblong bowl/platter/tray that is white or silver. then find decorative balls that will match the decor in your room, and place them in the bowl. here are some pictures for inspiration. the 1st picture, look at the piece that is on the bottom part of the coffee table. i personally prefer the rounder oblong shape similar to the last image over the rectangular shaped bowls/platters/trays... but whatever you like best. it's been a while since you asked too, so maybe you've already thought of something.

reupholstery

i've been even more inspired by "chickie designs". between the dressers and this chair, i am really pumped about beautifying some ugly pieces of furniture. i think i will hit up the local D.I. today and see if i can find something cheap and unappealing to the eye. both projects seem like they would be incredibly easy. besides there is a corner in my living room that is calling for attention, and i think a buffet table and chair would look fantastic. i hope i find something. please tell me i am not the only one who sees this and wants to change the life of a poor ugly chair? love love love it!

one mans trash is another mans treasure

i have been inspired by this girl over at "chickie designs". she finds old dressers on Craigslist, at D.I., garage sales, etc for $10-$15 and paints them black and replaces the hardware for $1-$2/knob. the end result is a cute updated piece of furniture for under $30. i would love to do this in white. i don't know that i am brave enough to do a project like this with a 2 year old wanting to help, but maybe i will work up the courage. think how many pieces you could add to your house- dressers, nightstands, buffets, tv consoles! so, here is a secret, not mine, but worthy of sharing.

fall foliage

**sorry for the few days of slacking! i just came from southern california... warm beaches, hot sun, bathing suits and sunscreen.... and i'm back to to crisp mountain utah air! fall is HERE!**

in the next couple weeks as the leaves are changing colors, i am going to take my little boy and collect some leaves. we are going to do a fun project for him (post coming soon), and we'll find even more leaves, branches to be exact, to do this project for me. not much to the project, just some pretty arranging, but i love the outcome.

table centerpieces

i am feeling the need for some table centerpiece inspiration. i still am unsure what i plan to do on my kitchen table, but i have been inspired by the following ideas. create a candlelight centerpiece by securing dried vegetables to a variety of different sized candles, with a simple ribbon. displaying it on a white oblong platter would be pretty. i am also loving the floral arrangements that have citrus in the vase. it is stunning. since flowers don't last very long, the acorn branches are a better option for me. and finally, i always can find cute ways to use gourds.

fall wreath

what you need:
foam wreath
hot glue & spray adhesive
moss
about 20 small plastic pumpkin gourds
satin black ribbon

what you do:
DAY 1- place your foam wreath on a flat surface, and secure plastic gourds to the wreath with hot glue. allow the glue to dry and the gourds to settle over night.
DAY 2- using spray adhesive (or hot glue) place moss around the gourds and any visible foam. let dry overnight.
DAY 3- attach a satin black ribbon, and display!

another option:
you can also leave out the ribbon and place it on your table as part of your centerpiece. a vase or platter would fit perfectly in the middle.

fall accessories

a simple and easy way to add some festivity to your family room, is by adding some simple accessories like accent pillows and a throw. choosing oranges, browns, and reds will tie in the fall season with the existing fall decor throughout your home.

decorating with things around the house

decorating for fall doesn't need to cost a lot of money, and you can make some really darling decor with simple things you already have around the house. pull out your cake stand, and place a pumpkin on top. i am a huge fan on painting pumpkins white! i think it looks very chic. i think the reason i love both ideas in this post is because you aren't just setting out your pumpkins, you are showcasing them.
















the next idea i have is one i plan on implementing around my home, and it too can be done simply by using existing items from around your home. for example, many of us have candles around the home. simply remove your candles from the candle pillars, and replace it with a pumpkin. although i am dying to, i am making myself wait to put out my decor until october 1st. i will probably use the real mini pumpkins, but these were the only pumpkins not packed away in storage.

jazz up the staircase!

this is a darling idea to decorate your staircase for the fall/halloween/thanksgiving season. i would suggest using some orange ribbon to tie the wheat to make it even more seasonal. i love this idea, the only thing i am unsure of is where to buy wheat like this? if anyone has some ideas, please, enlighten me!

Table Console

this is a great project for anyone on a budget, or for those of us that get a thrill out of a great deal! time to hit up the garage sales and thrift stores- your mission is to find a round table that has a broken or missing leg. you should be able to score a great price on the damaged table, and transform it into a front entry piece! can't find a damaged table? well, purchase a cheaper functioning table and make two console tables; place them in different places in your home. i thought this was a very clever idea, worthy of sharing!

here is what you do:

1. Unscrew the extension mechanism from the bottom of the table. Remove the part of the table you won't be using.

2. Sand the remaining part, then prime and paint it.

3. Nail or screw a two-by-two-inch piece of wood to the wall at the height of the tabletop so that the edge of the table rests on the wood support.

4. Screw through the top of the table to the wood support; fill the holes with wood filler, and paint over them.