Room Decor Ideas: NATURE

Room Decor Ideas: NATURE

Bring the outside indoors with nature inspired design. Some of the most beautiful home décor is inspired by nature. Bringing in something natural brings life into your home. Check out these pieces from Anthropologie, Crate and Barrel, IKEA, and ZGallerie and get inspired by nature.

This modern swivel office chair from IKEA is whimsical and fun.  The print is subtle and in neutral colors. This chair is perfect for a kid’s room, craft room, or office.

If you are uncomfortable bringing in a piece of furniture, perhaps this hand towel from Anthropologie or these butterfly frames and coral tea light holder from ZGallerie better suit your taste. I love the rich bold color pallet of the hand towel. The butterfly frames have a nice rustic look, while the coral tealight holder has a calming beachy feel.

Driftwood is beautiful in itself. This end table from Crate and Barrel and this hurricane from Anthropologie, doubles as works of art.

Tip: Try your local lumber yard for inexpensive wood stumps.  Stain or paint and laquer it if you wish and place a glass on top to create your own unique piece of art.

Check out these curtains from IKEA.  They give the illusion of being immersed in nature while stying in the comfort of your own home.

Inspired by this post? Get DIY inspired by COLOR, WALLPAPER, FLORAL PATTERNS, THE BEACH, and INDUSTRIAL STYLE.

More great Summer DIY Projects:

• Travel Wall Collage
• Make a Summer Tote Bag
• DIY Beach Towel Ideas
• Room Décor Ideas: THE BEACH

Inspiration from The Help

Inspiration from The Help

So I recently finished reading the book, The Help by Kathryn Stockett.   It was a great read and I definitely recommend it.  It was one of those books that you can’t put down and are saddened when you finish it because you want it to keep going.  You instantly fall in love with the characters, both protagonists and antagonists. I love it when I find design inspiration from reading books.

The book The Help is now a film currently in movie theaters starring Emma Stone, Viola Davis, and Allison Janney.   It takes place in the South in Jackson Mississippi in the early 1960’s and explores the daily lives and conflicts of gossip loving, bridge playing homemakers and their African American maids. This was a controversial time of racial hierarchy during the Civil Rights movement where Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks helped change history.

I’m interested to see how the book is depicted in film.  When reading books (at least for me), your imagination allows you to escape back in time and visualize each scene. The interior design at this time and place consisted of horizontal lines, heavy drapery, canopy beds, wood paneling, and floral and Asian inspired prints. Checked patterned floors and wallpapered walls in kitchens were popular in the 1960’s as well.

The pictures above are stills from the movie.  Here is some other inspiration from House Beautiful.  These are rooms that were featured in issues during the early 1960’s that are similar to what I pictured while reading The
Help.

This is a versatile kitchen featured in the February 1962 issue of House Beautiful.

This is a wood paneled living room featured in the October 1962 issue.

This is a wallpapered bedroom with a canopy bed featured in the November 1962 issue.

Pictured below is a living room featured in the October 1961 issue.

Exploring interior design from the past reminds me of what I love about design and provides new inspiration for me today.

Room Decor Ideas: BLACK & WHITE

Room Decor Ideas: BLACK & WHITE

Black is the color of authority and power, while white is the color of purity and cleanliness.  Both are popular in design because they are both neutral and timeless.  There’s something chic adding black and white to your room decor. It seems to never go out of style and black and white is simple and sophisticated. Add some elegance with these inspiring black and white ideas.

Another décor idea is to style your room in black and white with a pop of one accent color as pictured above. It makes a bold statement. I decorated my daughter’s nursery in black and white with a pop of green.  Not your traditional baby room colors, however I used a repeated damask print that gave the décor a feminine touch.  It will also stay in style as she gets older and grows well in to her teens.  I can keep the black and white, and simply change the accent color.

Whether you decide to be discrete with a lamp or kitchen utensils, or go excessive with wallpaper and carpet, black and white adds interest to any room.

Photo Sources: Anthropologie, Etsy, IKEA, ZGallerie, Laura Ashley, Home Design Ideas

Need more inspiration? Check out these Interior Design Ideas:

• Room Decor Ideas: HOLLYWOOD REGENCY
• Room Decor Ideas: STRIPES
• Room Decor Ideas: STARS
• Room Decor Ideas: VINTAGE MODERN
• Room Decor Ideas: INDUSTRIAL STYLE
• Room Decor Ideas: PATTERNS
• Room Decor Ideas: MR. GOODWILL HUNTING
• Room Decor Ideas: FLORAL PATTERNS

Room Decor Ideas: THE BEACH

Room Decor Ideas: THE BEACH

I have been fortunate enough to go scuba diving a couple times in the crystal clear waters of the Philippine Islands.  The underwater world is just that, a gorgeous colorful amazing world of blues, purples, greens, oranges, yellows, and reds. It literally looks like a still from Finding Nemo. My favorite has always been the different colors of coral, similar to the pictures below.

If you don’t live close to the beach, why not bring it home? If you do live near the beach, why not bring it home?! Decorate your home with crisp whites or  an elegant coral pattern.  Arrange a collection of seashells or sand from your travels in a mason jar or vase and use it as a centerpiece.  Label the jar with your vacation destination and date on a tag with ribbon to add a personal touch. Hopefully this bit of inspiration brings you calm and relaxation.

Sources: Beach Decor Shop, Turbo Squid, Interior Zine, Style Hive, Trendi Living

More great Summer DIY Projects:

• Travel Wall Collage
• Make a Summer Tote Bag
• DIY Beach Towel Ideas
• DIY Crafts: Party Pinwheel How-To

Need more inspiration? Check out these other Interior Design Ideas:

• Room Decor Ideas: STRIPES
• Room Decor Ideas: STARS
• Room Decor Ideas: VINTAGE MODERN
• Room Decor Ideas: INDUSTRIAL STYLE
• Room Decor Ideas: PATTERNS
• Room Decor Ideas: MR. GOODWILL HUNTING
• Room Decor Ideas: FLORAL PATTERNS
• Room Decor Ideas: WALLPAPER
• Room Decor Ideas: COLOR

Million Dollar Look For Less: Jeffery Allen Marks

Million Dollar Look For Less: Jeffery Allen Marks

Being a Reality Show junkie, I didn’t need another show to watch, but got hooked on the first episode.  Bravo’s Million Dollar Decorators is FABULOUS! This is my fourth blog segment, Million Dollar look for Less. The show is about an elite group of Hollywood interior designers whose clients are uber-wealthy and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars decorating one room. I basically break down these million dollar designs and copy the look for a fraction of the price.

This room was designed by Jeffery Allen Marks for a ton o’ cash, no less.  I picked this room because of the blue and green hues. I immediately gravitated to the green ottoman. I found a similar leather ottoman at Jordans.com for $249.00 (not bad).  A comparable industrial sofa table was found at Pier One for $179.95.

The blue striped area rug below can be found at DomesticModern.com for $209.00 and the black trimmed sisal rug can be purchased at TheRugs.com for $379.00.

You know I couldn’t do this segment without an item from IKEA! Although IKEA gets a bad rap sometimes, I’m a fan.  This armchair is a great find for $299.00.  And finally, I found this wire magazine rack at Pier One for $40.00. It’s an inexpensive option for the wire basket.

These pieces total less than $1400.00… not bad to get you started!

Want more Million Dollar Look For Less?  Check these past blog posts…

• Living Room by Mary McDonald
• Dining Room by Nathan Turner
• Sharon Osbourne’s Living Room by Martin Lawrence Bullard

Need more inspiration? Check out these Interior Design Ideas:

• Room Decor Ideas: VINTAGE MODERN
• Room Decor Ideas: INDUSTRIAL STYLE
• Room Decor Ideas: STRIPES

Room Decor Ideas: HOLLYWOOD REGENCY

Room Decor Ideas: HOLLYWOOD REGENCY

A fantastic current style trend that began in the 1930’s is Hollywood Regency. It is full of the glamour and luxury that is Old Hollywood. It is an eclectic style that meshes the Old Hollywood feel with modern pieces. Room decor in this style doesn’t have to be expensive though. With a little creativity (and inspiration) you can reupholster a thrift store chair in velvet, add fringe to a lampshade, or lacquer or spray paint an old brass chandelier in black and achieve the Hollywood Regency look.  Also try decorating in black and white and add one bold accent color.

Here is some inspiration to get you started.

Typical of the Hollywood Regenecy decor style include elements such as lattice motifs, chandeliers, or tufted fabric.  Updated Hollywood Regency looks include bright bold colors and, shiny acrylic or mirrored accents and furniture.

Here are a few of my projects that include a Hollywood Regency flair, a simple envelope pillow and an updated children’s play activity table.

Photo Sources: Coleman Chairs, This Next, Jones, Décor Pad, Just Luxe

Need more inspiration? Check out these Interior Design Ideas:

• Room Decor Ideas: VINTAGE MODERN
• Room Decor Ideas: STRIPES
• Room Decor Ideas: INDUSTRIAL STYLE
• Room Decor Ideas: PATTERNS
• Room Decor Ideas: MR. GOODWILL HUNTING
• Room Decor Ideas: FLORAL PATTERNS
• Room Decor Ideas: WALLPAPER

Try these other DIY decorating ideas:

• Framed Travel Collage
• Photo Wall
• DIY Wall Art: Unique Picture Frame Ideas
• Update Old Sconces with Paint

Million Dollar Look For Less: Nathan Turner

Million Dollar Look For Less: Nathan Turner

Because of the show Million Dollar Decorators on Bravo, I decided to do a new blog segment, Million Dollar look for Less. The show is about an elite group of Hollywood interior designers whose clients are uber-wealthy and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars decorating one room. I basically break down these million dollar designs and copy the look for less for a fraction of the price. Who says you can’t have style for less?

This design is by Nathan Turner. I picked it because I liked how he integrated the industrial style table and the natural wood stools and classic upolstered chairs.

I found the table at Cost Plus World Market for $329.99 and the area rug at SisalRugs.com for $355.00.

The chairs are from Crate and Barrel at $299.00 and $399.00 each.

The stools were tough to find, but I found these at a reasonable price at SavvySpot.com for $325.00 each. The Urn made up for the price of the stools at $69.98 at Home Depot.

As far as the accent pieces go, I found three coordinating styles of mirrors, round, square, and rectangle at Direct-mall.com for $39.00 – $69.00 each. The shelf was a steal at IKEA for $19.99.

There you have it! Achieve this million dollar look for about $2500.00!

Want more Million Dollar Look For Less?  Check these out…

• Mary McDonald
• Sharon Osbourne’s Apartment 

Need more inspiration? Check out these Interior Design Ideas:

• Room Decor Ideas: VINTAGE MODERN
• Room Decor Ideas: INDUSTRIAL STYLE
• Room Decor Ideas: PATTERNS
• Room Decor Ideas: WALLPAPER

Million Dollar Look For Less: Mary McDonald

Million Dollar Look For Less: Mary McDonald

Because of the show, Million Dollar Decorators, I decided to do a new blog segment, Million Dollar look for Less, because let’s face it, 98.5% of us can’t afford these fabulous designs but who says we can’t fake it? So let’s break down these million dollar rooms, decorate on a budget, and copy the look for less at a fraction of the price.

This segment is on a Mary McDonald living room design. She is a designer/cast member on the show.  She is said to be the designer that the character, Karen, from Will and Grace is based on. Here is the inspiration I chose. I picked it because I love the color combination of yellow and gray and the mix of neutral beige tones and black.

Let’s start with the most expensive piece and focal point, the black pedestal table. I found this black table at Crate and Barrel for $499.00.  The striped curtains are on Amazon.com for $99.00 for two panels.

This modern white chair is from IKEA for $1099.00. I actually have this next piece. It is a black plastic frame also from IKEA for $29.99…such a deal! It is very versatile, as you can insert a mirror, picture, or painting.

As far as the accesories go, the pillows are on Overstock for $34.00 and the candel sticks are from PierOne for $10-$16.00 each.

There you have it! On the show a couple of the designers mention that they don’t waste there time on projects less than one million dollars.  The examples above come to less than $2000.00!

Need more inspiration? Check out these Interior Design Ideas:

• Room Decor Ideas: INDUSTRIAL STYLE
• Room Decor Ideas: PATTERNS
• Room Decor Ideas: MR. GOODWILL HUNTING
• Room Decor Ideas: FLORAL PATTERNS
• Room Decor Ideas: WALLPAPER
• Room Decor Ideas: COLOR

Room Decor Ideas: VINTAGE MODERN

Room Decor Ideas: VINTAGE MODERN

If you have an eclectic style, mixing new or modern and vintage décor and furniture is just a FABULOUS design idea.  For example, you can place a modern pillow on Grandma’s antique chair you inherited or reupholster it with a contemporary pattern. Or, add a colorful antique rug to a white kitchen.  This design idea blends both functionality and style.

This style includes furnishings with design elements such as slender and angles legs on chairs and consoles.  Wood is in different shades of blond and brown.  The design reflects the time of World War II through the 1960′s.  You can also acheive this look by mixing modern pieces with antique finds. This style also looks great with industrial inspired pieces.

What I love about this style is the eco-friendly aspect of literally turning trash into treasure. In this style, it is common to take reclaimed materials and upcycle them into one of a kind pieces.  Before throwing away old furniture, think twice to see if you can use it in a way that it was not intended.

The best part of this style is that it is budget-friendly as well!  Thrift store, estate sales, and flea market finds are ideal for this style. Buy vintage accent pieces like a coffee or side table; and modern larger pieces like a sofa or armchair.  Here are some examples of vintage modern rooms. I picked these rooms because they were all so different, yet elegant and inviting.

These inspirations are from Elle Decor and HGTV TV shows, Divine Design and Design on a Dime.

Try these other DIY decorating ideas:

• How to Make an Envelope Pillow
• Travel Collage
• DIY Wall Art: Unique Picture Frame Ideas

Need more inspiration? Check out these Interior Design Ideas:

• Room Decor Ideas: INDUSTRIAL STYLE
• Room Decor Ideas: PATTERNS
• Room Decor Ideas: MR. GOODWILL HUNTING
• Room Decor Ideas: FLORAL PATTERNS
• Room Decor Ideas: WALLPAPER
• Room Decor Ideas: COLOR

Room Decor Ideas: INDUSTRIAL STYLE

Room Decor Ideas: INDUSTRIAL STYLE

The industrial style is everywhere and it’s not just for men.  Every urban loft is seen decorated this way; however I believe it can be made eclectic with a woman’s touch and fit in any home. This style is the perfect mix of hard and soft materials.

Items like these can be found for any budget from places like IKEA to true rehabbed vintage pieces online.  IKEA has a few great hanging lamps and floor lamps that fit this great style for as little as $20.00 to $30.00.

This room decor idea is eco-friendly as well!  This style uses reclaimed furniture from places such as factories, schools, and offices.  Repurpose an old train cart or post office mail sorter as a coffee table, or use old work horses for legs on a side table.  You don’t have to go overboard either.  A few select pieces like a lamp or stool can update your room as well.  Add in some traditional, vintage, and modern pieces for an eclectic look.

Don’t forget about accessories either!  This industrial look can be achieved with old jars, wood shelves with rough edges, or antique metal signs.  I absolutely LOVE these examples, and crave a few (if not all) for my home. The mix of metal, stone, wood, and exposed brick is beautiful.  I hope you are as inspired as I am!

Photo Sources: Universal Furniture, Home Accents Today, Rehab Vintage, Nambah, Design For Men Magazine, Hudson Goods

Million Dollar Look For Less: Osbourne’s Apartment

Million Dollar Look For Less: Osbourne’s Apartment

Have you seen the new show on BRAVO, Million Dollar Decorators? It’s fabulous! It’s about an elite group of Hollywood interior designers whose clients are uber-wealthy. Many of the designers/cast members mentioned in the first episode that they essentially do not waste their time on less than one million dollar projects. On the show you can watch them in action and delve into their extravagant personal lives.

Because of this show, I decided to do a new blog segment, Million Dollar look for Less, because let’s face it, 98.5% of us can’t afford these fabulous designs but who says we can’t fake it? So let’s break down these million dollar rooms, decorate on a budget, and copy the look for a fraction of the price.

This first look, Sharon Osbourne’s Apartment is from the first episode. Here is a picture of her new living room. The rug alone is $23,000. I don’t know about you, but I can’t even imagine spending $2,300 on a rug…

Let’s start with the large pieces.  Although it is not leather, I found the L-shaped black sofa at IKEA for $848.00.  The rug is 7X9 and it is on Amazon.com right now for $174.40.

This modern brown leather chair was found on regencyshop.com for $345.00 each and the black media table was another IKEA find for $329.00.

Don’t forget about the accessories! The black trunk is from Walmart for $49.00. The X-inspired lamps are $149.00 for the pair at homedecorators.com. The white bowl is a steal on Amazon for $35.00, and finally the frames are from none other than IKEA for $9.99 each. What a deal!

Try these other DIY decorating ideas:

• How to Make an Envelope Pillow
• Travel Collage
• DIY Wall Art: Unique Picture Frame Ideas

Need more inspiration? Check out these Interior Design Ideas:

• Room Decor Ideas: INDUSTRIAL STYLE
• Room Decor Ideas: PATTERNS
• Room Decor Ideas: MR. GOODWILL HUNTING
• Room Decor Ideas: FLORAL PATTERNS
• Room Decor Ideas: WALLPAPER
• Room Decor Ideas: COLOR

Room Decor Ideas: PATTERNS

Room Decor Ideas: PATTERNS

There is an abundance of amazing modern patterns that make me so happy! I’ve tried adding some in my room decor and it has really made a difference in otherwise drab areas. Mix it with bold colors and you’re good to go.

Here is some inspiration for decorating with patterns from Anthropologie, Crate & Barrel, Etsy, and Zgallerie. The Rabat wall covering from Etsy is my favorite.  In fact, I ordered that stencil already. It’s sitting behind me wondering what the heck I’m going to do with it… I’m thinking about stenciling the front doors of an old cabinet…hmmmm.

Unique patterns can go big or small. Consider a latticed patterned throw pillow or frame or an armchair or entire accent wall in your bedroom or living room!  You can be even more discrete and cover the walls of a shelf with an interesting pattern.

Try these other DIY decorating ideas:

• How to Make an Envelope Pillow
• Travel Collage
• DIY Wall Art: Unique Picture Frame Ideas

Need more inspiration? Check out these Interior Design Ideas:

• Room Decor Ideas: INDUSTRIAL STYLE
• Room Decor Ideas: VINTAGE MODERN
• Room Decor Ideas: MR. GOODWILL HUNTING
• Room Decor Ideas: FLORAL PATTERNS
• Room Decor Ideas: WALLPAPER
• Room Decor Ideas: COLOR