A Little Moment in Our Entry

Hello there!  Well, things are definitely slowing down around here.  I'm about 8 weeks out from meeting Baby #4 and needlesstosday, I'm not embarking on any decorating projects these days.  I can hardly get through the day without a nap lately!  Most of my nesting comes in the form of cleaning or organizing as I know if I don't get to it now... who knows when I'll have the time!

For today, I thought I'd share some pictures of our entry way console table.  In my opinion, entry ways are one of the most important areas in a home.  I can't tell you how many times I pass by this table each day and it's such a great place to create a special little moment of items you truly treasure and make you smile.  Remember... elevate the everyday!

This first photo is kind of a "before" photo.  Not a bad arrangement, lots of things that make me smile.  My lovely gourd lamp, my favorite houseplant - maidenhair ferns, a painting by my grandmother that we used for our wedding, and a pair of Foo dogs given to us as a wedding present. 

Here's how it looks right now.

Just removed the fern and added a few family photos.

I love the runner I added.  It gives the table a little more depth.  I love Dwellstudio, but can't afford most of their items.  This "runner" is just 2 napkins (on sale) that I folded in half and place side by side. 

I also love my little ikat bowl from Anthropologie. 

Kind of bummed I didn't buy more as they are now discontinued.  :(

So, not a huge deal.  Just thought I'd share a little moment from our entry.  When the rest of the house is a complete mess, this is a nice place for me to find some peace... if just for a moment.  :) 

How are you capturing the little nooks in your home?  Does it make you smile or make you cringe?  Here's a little article from Lonny with some great tips for styling an entry way table!

Have a great weekend everyone! 

Oh and by the way... if anyone is curious.  I had a great time being in a flash mob 2 weeks ago!  It was so much fun.  What I loved about is that it brought so many people together!  About 800!  It was not about any one individual, but a group of people doing something that brings them joy and hopefully the "audience" too.  I loved doing it and disappearing into the sunset.  They called us... dancing ninjas... now you see us, now you don't.  :) 

Click here to watch the youtube video.  I'm at 5:03 and 5:40, for a split second! 

IKEA FRIDAYS - Meet MALM

For those of you who are IKEA loyalists, MALM will be familiar to you.  This is one of IKEA's classic bedroom series.  MALM is like the basic white shirt.  Its clean lines will never go out of style and goes with everything.  On Monday, I wrote about being creative with console tables, a dresser like MALM is just what I'm talking about.  Imagine all the extra storage you'd be getting!

Last week when I was at my local IKEA, I saw it priced at $179, but it also had a "last chance" sign next to it.  I imagine they might be just discontinuing a certain color and not getting rid of the whole line.  If you've been eyeing a MALM dresser, it might be a good idea to check with your local IKEA.  Better be safe than sorry.  :)

Here's some pictures of MALM all dolled up.



(via apartmenttherapy.com)

I love how fabulous MALM looks just by adding 6 pulls!

  

(via ohdeedoh.com)





(via ohdeedoh.com)





(via ikea.com)



WHY IT WORKS - Making an Entrance

Happy Monday everyone! Our inspiration room for this week comes a blog I recently discovered, Cape 27 Blog. This room caught my eye because I love how Jessie was able to "create" a beautiful entry in a very open concept room. A lot of homes have open concept rooms where the moment you walk in, you have a hallway and an open space either on your left or right. Often, it's challenging to figure out how to create a nice landing spot when everything is so open. Here's how I think Jessie successfully did it! 

WHY IT WORKS:



(via cape27blog.com)
Click here to see more photos of Jessie's beatitful home



• Rug/Runner. This visually creates a nice landing spot or path and naturally invites you into the space. I would do one or the other. Having a rug and runner might be too much.
• Coat Rack. We have a coat rack in our front entry too. So practical and welcoming. Without any words, it just says to your visitors, "Take your coat off, relax, and stay awhile". :)
• Console Table. Without a doubt, console tables are my favorite pieces of furniture ever. There are so many things that can be used as a console table; a desk, dresser, sideboard, bench.  The more creative the better!

INSPIRATION:

• Rugs.  Use rugs to create spaces within a space.  I love how Jessie used a runner for the entry area and another area rug to create a visual border for the living room space. 
• Furniture Placement.  This arrangement works great!  It keeps everything nice and open.  You can see a bit of an armchair opposite the sofa.  Another possible option is to put a small sofa or pair of armchairs opposite the console table.  This would more formally create 2 distinct spaces.
• Accesorizing the Console Table.  There are a few tried and true things that always work.  A mirror, a great lamp (you don't need a pair), potted plant or fresh flowers, photographs, a tray or beautiful dish as a catch all and baskets for additional storage. 
• Bench/Hooks.  Another option for console table is a bench and hooks for coats/bags.  This might be more practical for your space and works just as well in creating a beautiful landing spot.  Pottery Barn has some great ones as inspiration.

LASTLY...

I notice I post more on entrys than any other room in the house.  It's because I believe entrys set the stage for you and your visitors to exit THE world and to enter YOUR world.  You want to open your front door and say "Ahhh... I'm home!"  It sets the tone and is the first and last thing you and your guests see.  This is probably why I'm so big into invitations.  It's the setting of the tone and wetting the palette for more to come.  All this to say, don't neglect your entrys.  Often they become just dead space and just pass throughs, but they really are so much more than that.  Invest the time to bring your entry to it's full potential!  :)  You'll find joy in it every time you leave and enter your home and isn't that what "elevating the everyday" all about?  :)

IKEA FRIDAYS - Meet MICKE

Here's a new line from IKEA that I just saw.  MICKE is a new office series with desks, file cabinets and drawer units.  The desk is my favorite piece.  I love the clean lines and the 2 drawers.  Rather than using it as a traditional office desk, I think this pice would work beautifully in an entry as a console table. This is the type of modern piece that would look fabulous paired with an ornate lamp or a vintage looking mirror.  It's practical and versatile.   Not bad for $79!

MICKE reminds me of one of my favorite desks/tables, the classic Parsons desk.  These are from West Elm and start at $300.

Have a great weekend and see you Monday!

My Vinyl Graphics Give Away ends next Thursday so enter if you're interested!

Stripes and More Stripes

Well, I loved how the stripes turned out in our back entry so much that I decided to try the same effect in our front entry.  We have a built in bench/window seat right by our entry and this turned out to be the perfect spot to put in stripes.  I didn't have to worry about having to extend the stripes throughout our whole front hall.

The prints are by Rachel Austin.  You can find her on etsy. 

By now, you've noticed that I LOVE stripes.  They are cheery, classic and graphic.  Here are a couple of other striped objects I've been eyeing.



Striped sheets from West Elm.  I'm partial to the gray.

 

Flannel ticking stripe sheets from Garnet Hill.  This would be great in the boys' room.



Happy Monday - The Entry Project part II

Hello everyone!  This week is a slow week as we recover from a wonderful weekend of celebrating the best holiday of the year!  So rather than a WHY IT WORKS post this week, I thought I'd share another home project.  While my husband has more time at home this past week, I enlisted his help and added the HEMNES shoe cabinet from IKEA to our entry.

Here's a before and after. 




Before... really not good




During...




Voila.. the cabinet fits perfectly. 
Now... we need to fine tune it!



I LOVE not seeing a pile of shoes over in that corner!  This corner is from complete though.  We definitely need some artwork above the cabinet.  So many options... a simple bulletin board, artwork, family photos or framed kid art.  Hmmm...

Here are some prints I've been eyeing over at etsy.  Help me out... what do you think?


These are seen everywhere, but I still love it. 
This one is from PrintSpot



LOVE THIS!  So sweet!  From thewheatfield.



So sweet from SilhouetteBlue




Another design from SilhouetteBlue




Aren't these cute.   Lots of options of personalize.  From NellaDesigns



Why It Works - A Holiday Staircase

Still in the Christmas spirit, this week I'm posting a holiday photo from one of my favorite designers, Sarah Richardson.  What I love about this photo is all the inspiration it has, both holiday and non-holiday.  Here it is!

WHY IT WORKS:


(image from houseandhome.com)



• Color, Sarah's color palettes are always easy and beautiful.  Here we have soft grays, browns, yellows and white.
• Stair runner.  I LOVE the look of stair runners.  This one happens to be painted with a contrasting orange border.  How fun!  Don't you love the numbers on each step?
• Console table.  This is the easiest way to dress up the space right below a staircase.  A simple console table with just a few well placed accesories.  Maybe a lamp, flower arrangement and/or bowl.
• Garland.  I love how clean and simple this boxwood garland is.  It's accented with justt a few gold ornaments that pick up on the yellow/golds in the room.

INSPIRATION:

• Color palette.  This is a beautiful palette to copy and use for your home.  Grays, white, buttery yellow, anchored with dark browns is a palette that will stand the test of time.
• Stair runner.  This is such a simple and economical look to replicate - especially if you're painting your runner.  My favorite part is the numbers.  You can easily pick those up at any hardware store.  I love how they are mismatched.  This is a great look to consider for stairs even outside, leading to your home.  So charming!
• Console table.  In my opinion, one of the most versatile pieces of furniture you can buy and you can find them anywhere!  My console table has moved from entry to family room, to loft and now in our master bedroom.  Find one that you love and invest in it.

 

Entry Project Completed!

Remember this inspiration photo from this post back in October?  Well... last weekend, I tackled this project!  I'd totally encourage you to go for this project too if you're inspired.  It really only took a few hours.

Here's how it went.



The "before"



(After some careful measuring and use of a very handy laser level,
we're ready to paint!)



 

(The acutal painting took only about 20-30 minutes!)



(VOILA!  I LOVE the stripes!)



(The "after" with our hooks)



( I love seeing this everyday!  Beautiful, happy and practical!
It's all about elevating the everyday right?  )  :)

I love the finished product, but I have to admit we had a few snags in our game plan.  I don't know about you, but sometimes working with a spouse on home improvement projects can pose some challenges.  (especially, when you're married to someone who's constantly redecorating!)  :P 

I came across this amusing post written by a husband of a designer.  Click here for the full post from emilyaclark.blogspot.com  I've highlighted the ones that my husband would particularly appreciate it.  This ones for you!  :)

With this in mind I thought I would give you my two cents on how to be happily married to a designer or to someone who wants their house to look nice. For those of you who are married I thought maybe you can share this with your spouse:

1. Don’t get attached to anything….furniture, prints, paint color, etc.

2. Don’t ask why every lamp in the house is on….and don’t start talking about the peaks in the electricity bill when all the lights are on.

3. Pillows are not for comfort…….if the pillows on the couch are strategically placed, chopped in the middle and fluffed - Sit on the floor!

4. If she asks do you notice anything different?… First look at her hair, then start looking at the wall for new pictures or paint color…. Or in my case, I ask my six-year-old because he is much more observant than I am.

5. If she needs help drawing straight lines, don’t just eyeball it and use a pen to mark on the wall… get a long level and use a pencil…..lesson learned.

6. If she is intently staring at a blank wall, don’t make any plans for the weekend.

7. Be prepared to go anywhere at anytime to retrieve a great Goodwill or Craigslist find and don’t question how ugly it is. You might also want to take some security with you. You should see some of the places Emily has sent me for a bargain.

8. Don’t just invite people into your house without having at a minimum a weeks notice….not even the guys.

9. A garage is not for parking. It’s for goodwill and craigslist finds that need to be sanded and painted.

10. Just go with it…whatever color, whatever frame, whatever idea….because it will again change sometime in the near future.

WHY IT WORKS - Gallery Walls

I love how putting anything in a frame can make it special!  They make an even greater impact when you assemble the frames and make a gallery wall.  Take it one step further... I love it when the gallery is in a front hall or entrance.  What a great way to tell your story to anyone who enters your home!  It's what makes a house, a home.  These inspiration photos do just that. 

WHY IT WORKS: 

Lauren over at Pure Style Home created this beautiful entry in her home.  First of all, don't you love the color of her door?  Second, those frames sure make an impact when you enter.  Click here for details on how she created her entry. 

(image from purestylehome.com)

 
Next, this photo is of Nicole's entry from her blog, Meohmy.  These are all family photos that have been placed in simple IKEA frames.  I love how she arranged them and how she can continue to add to her gallery!  Click here to read more.



(images from meohmy.com)


Our 3rd inspiration photo comes from Paige over at paigeknudsen.blogspot.com.  Nicely done isn't it?  Paige did a great job of showing how she created this look.  Click here.

INSPIRATION:

• Something that all these photos have in common is their scale.  Go bold!  Too often, we see photo galleries composed of frames that are too small. 
• White mats!  They make anything look beautiful, polished and important. 
• Frames.  Good sources for inexpensive frames are IKEA, Target, and Aaron Brothers, especially when A.B. has their penny sale!

Creating a gallery wall does not mean spending a lot of money.  There is beauty all around you in books, nature, photographs, mementos...  Where do you find beauty and joy?

This is will be my next home improvement project!  Maybe yours too?  :)

Greetings! An Entry Inspiration

WHY THIS WORKS

I came across this blog, My Sweet Savannah, a few months ago.  I love Melanie's casual, shabby chic vibe!  Her photos are gorgeous and she has some great tunes on her blog to boot.  Love it! 



image from My Sweet Savannah


She posted this photo of her entry and I'm inspired to re-do our entry in a similiar way.  We all have an entry way in our home.  For many of us it's the garage door and for some of us, it's the front door.  Either way, this humble space is what sends us off on our day and it's what greets us at the door when we end our day.  What a compelling reason to make sure this small space is special.  This space speaks to the heart of "elevating the everyday".

So evaluate your entry and how does it make you feel?   Does it make you feel happy?  Is it functional? Functionality in an entry is key!  Nothing robs good design more than clutter!

What I love most about Melanie's entry is the stripes and the framed photos.  The stripes give a such a sense of movement to the space and the photos, well, again, what better why to start or end your day than by looking at beautiful photos of the people you love most.  Also, can't forget about function.  The hooks are practical and beautiful. 


INSPIRATION

For me, I'm considering painting the stripes using Restoration Hardware Paint in Latte.  We've used this color in our great room which is right off of this entry.  It will tie both spaces together perfectly.  I'm a big fan of Restoration Hardware paints.   The colors and finishes are gorgeous!  You really can't go wrong with any of their colors. 

Frames, I think I'll go back to my trusty Ribba Frames from IKEA. 

This project is now officially on my to-do list and now that I've publicly declared it... more motivation to "get to it!"  Stay tuned.  For more photos of this beautiful home, click here. 

A PB Entry

One of my all time favorite stores is Pottery Barn.  I've even worked there for a couple of seasons.  So, it's only fitting that I include Pottery Barn in this series.  I love their look because it is timeless and classic.  Home furnshings are expensive, so if I'm investing on items I'm going to have for awhile, I don't want to worry about it going out of style.  With Pottery Barn, you won't. 

WHY THIS WORKS

• Wall color!  The blue in this room is beautiful!  You're drawn in to this room, but it doesn't overpower.  You're not thinking, "Woah, that's a really blue wall."  This color is dramatic and soothing at the same time. 
• Art Gallery.  Notice how they have several different pieces of art, but they all relate.  They're all  in black and white and are framed in either a mahagony or black frame.  With so many elements on this wall, limiting the colors is key.   
• Symmetry.  You can't go wrong putting a pair of candles, lamps, sconces, etc. on either side of a table.  Again, because this wall has several small elements, the candle hurricanes help give a sense of order and a place for the eye to rest.

INSPIRATION

• Do you have a focal wall?  Use color to draw your eye into a space.  Not sure on color?  Benjamin Moore has a fabulous palette of colors, one of my favorites!  Check out their Pottery Barn swatch books, free at stores and they come out with new colors each season.
• Photos/Art.  Display your photos!  Live with reminders of special times each day!  Put them in the same style frame, but in differing sizes.  You can't go wrong with changing your photos to black and white.  Timeless!
• Accessoring a table.  Stuck?  Try arranging items symmetrically.  You can even follow this photo exactly.  2 lamps/ candles on each end, tray in the middle, add flowers and decorative objects.  There you go!

(photo from Pottery Barn)