designs-files: November 2010

Library Inspiration

It's time to re-vamp my library shelves... right now they look like this, but I'm ready for a change:

Some ideas.

1. Mix in more accessories:

2. Add some color to the background:

3. Set up a beautiful vignette with a chair, table, and lamp:

all images via decorpad

Don't Miss the Etsy Cyber Monday Sales!

Here are some of my favorites... check them out today!:

Laura Browning Studio (20% off)

Trolleyla (10% off)

Raceytay (buy one get one free)

Little Brown Pen (25% off)

Geezees (10% off)

Alice B Gardens (50% off)

Taraville Photography (50% off)

ialbert (25% off)

ReClaim2Fame (20% off)

London Tierney (15% off)

Tracey Capone Photography (buy one get one free)

Letter Happy (10% off anything 20% off $50 or more)

I'm keeping this simple. Three predictions for 2011...

1. Pink is the new beige.
2. Orange is the new pink.
3. Huge quirky photos are the new art.

... and why I think they'll be hot trends:

1. Pink is the new beige. I think it's safe to say that everyone loves a pop of pink in a room. But in 2011, I think we'll see pink hitting the walls in a big way. Goodbye beige, hello pink! Some examples:

via 1 2 3 4 5 6

2. Orange is the new pink. Since pink is going to be everyone's favorite wall color for 2011, we need a new color to add that pop to our rooms... enter orange!

via 7 8 9 10 11 12

3. Huge quirky photos are the new art. Over-sized family photos (especially ones with quirky poses) are such a fun and accessible way to add eye-catching art to a family home. I absolutely adore these, and this is one trend that I will definitely add to my home in 2011! I see these becoming as popular as family photo walls have been in the past.

via 13 14 15 16

*** for more 2011 trend predictions see Design Refuge ***

Balls, balls, balls

I think I better refer to these as 'baubles' because I can't stop snickering every time I type 'balls.' I know... I'm totally immature.

Anyways, baubles are a great way to decorate for the holidays. You can get a huge container of them for between $10 and $20 (or maybe even less) and look at the impact you can create!

Fill up clear vessels:

Hang them up:

String them together to make a garland or wreath:

Or just scatter them artfully around your tabletop:

photo credits:

1 3 4 10 - Living Etc.

2 6 7 - Style at Home

5 - Elle Decor

8 9 - Rue

Sneak Peek: Beckett's Room

I finished Beckett's headboard this weekend, and it turned out really cute! I love how it looks with the drapes.

DIY details to follow!

Holiday Color Schemes

This morning Beckett was singing his version of "Jingle Bells" and Jack was belting out "I'm Gettin' Nothin' For Christmas." I think the time has come to break out the holiday tunes and start decorating this place!

First challenge... choose a color scheme. So many beautiful choices:

1 4 5 6 11 12 13 14 15 via Living Etc

2 7 via House & Home

3 via decorpad

8 9 10 Style at Home

20/20 Cure - All Done!!!

I finished the Apartment Therapy 20/20 Fall Cure last week. I was on the "accelerated program" because ~~I started two weeks late~~ I'm an overachiever. I didn't accomplish quite as much as my first week, mostly due to the fact that I had a stupid rotten cold all week and I felt like crap. That's my excuse for only getting around to posting this today too! Oh well, here's the update:

7. Buy flowers & sit for 10 minutes

8. Establish a landing strip

Is it just me, or does this sound like a 'personal grooming' task???
Just kidding... this is actually a place to drop your stuff when you walk in the door. I ended up moving my purse wall so that I could have a place for a chair and mirror. Looks much better:

11. Floor and surface clean 1 room

Ensuite. I can't believe how much old make-up was lurking around in there! Got rid of all of it.

12. Buy flowers
... because I was feeling Christmasy...

16. Floor and surface clean 1 room

Master Bedroom. It is no longer the dumping ground for stuff we don't know what to do with. EVERY surface is clear!

17. Buy flowers

... because I already bought two sets of flowers this week (and I love the color of these pomegranates) ...

18. Declutter medicine cabinet

A good thing to do occasionally, and relevant because of my cold, I guess. Shocked by all of the sticky Children's Tylenol/Advil cups that we had been saving in there! Yuck.

19. Hang artwork

I finally made an art/photo wall... I have one last piece to add to it before I can post a photo! Stay tuned...

20. Empty outbox

Done. Yay! I'm glad to get rid of that stuff after looking at it for two weeks.

21. Graduation
And... I'm done! At first I thought the 20/20 concept was going to make the Cure a little too easy, but I'm actually amazed by the results! A little effort goes a long way. It got me moving on projects and cleaning tasks that I had been thinking about, but hadn't started. My house is looking fab. My husband thinks I am turning into a bit of a domestic goddess. Mission accomplished.

Sneak Peek: Jack's Room

I'm finally making progress on the kid rooms! Last week Carolee helped me hang Jack's wallpaper. It looks great, and the process went pretty smoothly other than the fact that we hung it on the WRONG wall the first time around and had to start all over!!! OMG. It seems like an impossible mistake to make, but somehow it happened! After getting about 3/4 of the way across the first wall, we looked at it, and realized that the focal point of the room was obviously in the wrong place. So we peeled it off and re-hung it on the opposite wall! Thanks to Carolee for being so cool about it!

Wallpaper Obsession File

Stunning wallpaper to add to my obsession file... from AphroChic. The Brooklyn Renaissance line is just out, and look how fabulous it is. I'm in love...

photos from AphroChic

If the wallpaper isn't inspiring enough, Jeanine Hays of AphroChic is an attorney turned blogger turned designer!!! Amazing. Read her blog here.

Quick fix for kids coats

This was one of my quick weekend projects. The only unique thing about it is the use of the boot photos to identify whose hook is whose... but that makes all the difference!

Cynthia snapped the photos this spring, and I always thought they were so adorable. I hung the hooks low so that the boys could reach them easily. Now they know exactly where their stuff goes, and they can do it all by themselves. "I'll do it MINE OWN SELF!!!" is one of the most common sayings at our house right now, so the hooks are a success!

Photo Wall Inspiration

I'm planning to put together an eclectic art wall in Mom & Dad's hallway. I like the ones with a good mix of art, photos, maybe even a mirror. Here are some of my favorites: