Dorm rooms oh my!!

It has been some time since I posted. Summer seemed to be going nice and slow and then suddenly it was time for school shopping and we were saying goodbye to summer. Normally I long for Fall, which is my favorite season, but for some reason I was really sad to see summer go. Obviously it is September and the college kids have already begun classes...and so this post it late but it is never too late to make your child's dorm room comfortable.

I had heard of this great company called Decor 2 Ur Door and so I googled it. Robin McDonald, armed with 20 plus years of residential interior design experience, started this company out of her own need to create a comfortable dorm space for her Daughter. Having and interior design background myself, I love the idea.

http://www.decor-2-ur-door.com/

Check out the deals on the site as some of the sets are greatly reduced if you are on a budget. The colors are vibrant and stimulating! Normally I would say that this is a no-no for a room you have to sleep in but we all know that college kids do not sleep. :)

Check out the site and see what you think.





Photo source: www.decor-to-ur-door.com

I love this bedding called sorbet for obvious reasons......it makes me want sherbet.

 

Let's talk backsplashes!

BACKSPLASH. This is one of my favorite ways to change the look of a kitchen. I call the backsplash the "jewel of the kitchen". The backsplash should tell a story either through the material or color you use. For instance, one of my Facebook friends was doing a remodel on her kitchen in her 19th century farmhouse and could not decide on a backsplash material. She and her husband had stone in mind and while that is fine, I had seen the pic of other materials she was using such as an apron sink, one of my favorite's by the way, and a cast bronze fixture for the sink. I immediately thought of a kitchen design that I had done in college. While I am an eclectic kind of gal, I have to say I am drawn to French Country kitchens. I had done a colorboard for my kitchen design and it was rich in cast bronze fixtures, apron sink, custom cabinets and island, a mixture of woods and rich in color and mismatched textiles, brick and stone, a hammered copper vent hood, copper pots hanging from a pot rack over the island and more!

                                                                   Photo source: Houzz.com
                                         Kitchen design by Chicago Kitchen And Bath Cheryl D & Company

So back to my point.....

As soon as I saw the materials she was using I immediately thought of a tin tile backsplash. It just seemed to be the perfect fit. I sent her some pictures of kitchens with tin tile backsplashes and she loved it and in fact, ended up using the idea. Here is an example:

Photo source: LINDAPAUL.COM

There are many different kinds of backsplashes and not all of them have to be difficult to install or expensive. I love Linda Paul's custom MADE IN THE USA tile. Check out her site.

.Check out this easy to install peel-and-stick tile!




Photo source: DIYNETWORK.COM

So there you have it!! Some great ideas for backsplashes. If you have an idea for a super cool, easy to install and budget-minded backsplash...please share your ideas with our readers in the comment section.

Remember creativity is limitless! Google is a great tool for searching out home decorating ideas! Enjoy!

Dezignfully,

kik

Unique Design

I wanted to make this post about unique design. So often we go with the the type of design that is familiar, or safe, if you will. We tend to stay in certain boundaries...afraid to stretch beyond those boundaries out of fear. I think we have to remember, that no matter what we choose in design, it can be changed. I am definitely the rule breaker when it comes to design. I like to be different in all aspects of design, in fact, I just like to be different PERIOD. :)

So while scanning the web for our next topic, I came across this really cool pendant light. I am in the process of remodeling my own kitchen and it will have a breakfast bar and so I will need pendant lights. I want something unique, different...something I have never seen before.

First of all....have you ever checked out FAB.COM? You sign up with your email and create a password and before you know it you are shopping and design ideas are swirling around in your head. I am not even sure how I got to this, but while navigating through, I came across MyLight Pendant. It retails for $195.00 but is on sale for $130.00. I think that is great deal considering how unique and different this pendant light is.

So you are probably looking at this and wondering..."what is so special about this pendant"?..well, take a closer look :)

That's right! You can personalize it! You can add anything you want to it...anything that will fit of course. Small flower pots, coffee beans, spaghetti noodles (uncooked, LOL) or anything that you want. Check it out filled with coffee beans. Pretty cool gift for that coffee addict friend of yours. :)

So there you have it...one idea for that unique design that will set you apart! Please feel free to share your ideas for unique design or tell us what you would put in your unique pendant light. :)

 Photo source: FAB.COM

HGTV HOME by Sherwin-Williams: Infuse Your Home With Pattern + Color

HGTV HOME by Sherwin-Williams: Infuse Your Home With Pattern + Color

This is a great tool to use to figure out your color style. My color style according to this is coastal cool which does not surprise me since we are in the middle of summer and a heat wave and I have been longing for the beach! The thing with me and probably many is that we like to change it up as the seasons change. If I had taken this quiz in the fall, I more than likely would have been drawn to the fall colors like the reds, oranges and browns. If you use neutrals in your larger items it allows you to be able to switch up your seasons through the use of accessories such as pillows and area rugs.

                                                         My color style: Coastal Cool

Tara from Tarajdesigns LLC has some great ideas on how to change out smaller accessories to bring in color and how to update and refresh a room. Good stuff!


Source: Tara Diffenbaugh of Tarajdesigns LLC via Fredericknewspost.com

Change dried or silk floral arrangements for an updated look. Current trends reflect neutral colors with simplicity in mind.

Is it time for a new lamp or lampshade? A change in style, shape and color can enhance the look of the room. Be sure the new lamp or lampshade maintains the same function, whether it is an accent or task lamp.

Change the mood with accent pillows. Vibrant colors energize, spa colors bring tranquility and relaxation. Vary sizes, shapes, textures and colors within your pillow selections. Textiles can add warmth and interest to a room.

Replace area rugs. Consider style, color and size. Reveal more of your hardwood or ceramic floor. Switching rugs among rooms will quickly give each room a different look.

Add mirrors. They can double your natural light through reflection. Look at your existing mirrors. Change the color of a frame with paint, invest in a new mirror with a metal frame, or go frameless. It is important to place mirrors where they reflect a pleasant image. For example, you may not want to reflect an empty wall, a not-so-pleasant exterior view or a blank ceiling.

Add paint or change a paint color. Is there a wall or ceiling you can emphasize or accent? Treatments such as striping, a faux finish, wallcovering or a complementary paint color can make the room truly unique.

Freshen the room with a new scent. Clean linen, eucalyptus, lilac -- all scents of the coming season -- may evoke memories of times past or special places. Choose different sizes and heights to group together for more impact.

Rearrange artwork, photos and pictures. It is amazing how things take on new life in a different room. Group like objects to create a bigger story or collection of items.

Rearrange the furniture. Rescue an old rocking chair by bringing it into the family room. It can create a place of comfort from the hectic pace of life. See if you have items that can be repurposed and given new life in another room.

Rearrange items in bookcases, china or curio cabinets. Group like items together to tell a story. Add florals or greens for interest and color. This brings an instant sense of order.

Give your foyer or entry a bright, inviting look. Remember, this is the first space guests see when they enter your home. Keep it tidy and organized, add fresh flowers and a brighter lamp, or a new rug inside the door.

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So what is your color style and how do you bring color into your space? Share your ideas in the comment section.

Faux Real?

       Source: HOUSELOGIC.COM

Real or faux granite?

As a Realtor^® and home stager, I have to say I am very excited about this product. It is a faux granite film that if applied correctly, can do wonders for your drab old kitchen. Granted, it is not anything near having real granite but if you can not afford granite at the present moment, and most of us can't, this is a great solution. There are not many ways to cover up old laminate or corian countertops. Here are some ways:

Granite Transformations is a pretty neat concept. Trend Stone engineered granite countertops outperform ordinary granite because they are non-porous, stain resistant and virtually maintenance free.

Trend Stone is flexible, resistant to wear and chemical agents, light weight, non-absorbent, and frost-resistant. Their Trend Stone granite veneers are made with ForeverSeal®, making it more heat, stain, and scratch resistant than most granite surfaces. Trend Stone is the ideal material for anyone who longs for durability and value. Trend Stone covers virtually any surface. Check out their website and they also do free in-home consults.

Rust-Oleum Countertop Transformations^® is the simple, affordable and easy way to transform your worn laminate countertops into beautiful, durable, new counter surfaces.The revolutionary do-it-yourself coating system gives your countertops the permanent look of natural stone products. The results are beautiful, and they guarantee you'll love the long-lasting, premium quality finish. Just sand, roll, spread, smooth, seal and enjoy! Check out the video on the website.

EZ Faux Decor is absolutely wonderful. Why? Because it is not permanent and the cost is minimal compared to real granite. For these reasons, this would be my number one choice for home staging. Even if the buyer that comes to your home notices that it is not real granite, at the very least I am sure it looks better than what is underneath and it helps the buyer envision what the kitchen would look like with granite countertops. Click here to see a video of the faux granite film being applied. Very cool!

So, the answer to the caption under the pic above is that, yes, that is faux granite. It looks pretty good!

Dezignfully,

kik

Colourlovers Addiction

Colourlovers.com

Ok.. so I bet you are wondering why my first post is this huge color palette in the center ......

Well, if you are artsy fartsy like me and could spend every waking minute designing, redesigning, searching the web for new and fresh ideas for your spaces, moving furniture around visually or physically or just anything pertaining to color and design.....well, then you have got to get yourself an account on Colourlovers.com. I am completely addicted, in fact, so is my son...... He is sitting next to me making color palettes too.

As you can see my first palette is a complementary color scheme because, as everyone knows, blue and orange are opposite on the color wheel and complement one another. (DA BEARS!) I like coming up with the color combos and then searching the web to see if I can find that palette in a picture of a room because this way I know my years in college getting my art/design/interior & architectural degree was well worth the dang 30,000 I spent, LOL.

Apparently I learned something because look at this fab space using my color combo! BEAUTIFUL!! My poor husband......I think it is time to go redecorate my living room   :)

So what are you waiting for.....try it out....sign your kids up and let your/their creative juices flow!