Posts
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
I met with a friend of mine a month or so ago. 
Here is the Living Room BEFORE.
And here is the AFTER. Now the wonderful thing about this is --- that she did it all on her own --- well, I did talk to her about a few ideas, but she took the information from the blog and used it
to put together her new room.
After seeing the post on making a "Unit", she decided to put together the oval table with the lamp and the three pictures hanging vertically up the wall.
Then picked a few fresh flowers from her yard and placed them on the table to add a lovely natural element.
Notice how the pillows soften the brown leather couch ---
it is much more inviting.
BEFORE she had a sofa and a love seat in this room, but they were not nearly as interesting as the love seat and two chairs.
She went on the classifieds and picked up these two chairs --- they were partially upholstered. She decided to be brave and finish them up. Then with a little fabric left over she made a couple of pillows for the sofa. It tied the room together, and felt so much better.The table between the two chairs was her grandmother's
and was quite special to her, so she was able to
add something that she loved into the space.
The pot with sticks, the books, art and the light over the piano make a very nice focal point in the room.
She added a few accessories, frames, pillow, greenery, a candle and some books.I have to say I was very impressed!
And she will tell you this is not something she really knows how to do ---
So the blog posts can help you too.
Just start with one thing,
and if you have questions please ask me --- I would be happy to give you some suggestions.
Now go give it a try!
Friday, June 26, 2009
When you add a little bit of RED to a room 
See the RED books under the vases ---
Notice the RED pot and Tulips on the mantle.
A couple of Red pillows and some more RED flowers.
See how easy it is to add a little something red ---
And it Really does create a Pop! in the space.
Now, this may not work in every room --- but it is worth trying.
these photos are from bhg
I am Hooked on Friday's this week and participating in Melissa's Beautiful Life.
Go and see what they have to share.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Book shelves are for books right? You want to add a few other accessories.
Framed Pictures
laid down flat and stacked up.
Pots
See a few figurines, a basket (adds great texture) and some frames.Notice the different heights.
These shelves have a clock and a box with the books.
Here is a little collection of china on one shelf --- See the different heights and the odd numbers.
This shelf highlights a couple of matching pottery pieces along with some books.Frames
Little pot of flowers (natural element)
Wooden box
Put a few items that you LOVE along with the books and they will stand out-You will be showcasing those few pieces ---
You can display hardbound books with the dustcovers off and it gives your space a more
classic library feel.
Notice how the little pot of flowers really livens up the space!
It is also nice to add round elements to the mix --
When you have dark shelves it is good to place a few light colored pieces ---
So remember . . . if you want to have a "COZY" Book Shelf
Look at your book shelves this week and see what you can do to spruce them up a bit.
Have fun!
Friday, June 19, 2009
I wanted to show you my before and after photos and talk 
BEFORE
AFTER -The cabinet that is on the far wall was in her bedroom. It was a great piece to add to the living room, because we used it in creating a focal point. We added a lamp on the top, some frames and a natural element, it is now a place your eye can rest.
BEFORE
AFTER
See how we created a "Unit" with the couch, the picture on the wall and the accessories on the table behind the couch. If you saw the video clip --- the table behind the couch is an old sewing cabinet that we found in the basement storage!
We got the lamp and the plants from the family room.
BEFORE
AFTER
Notice how the rug anchors the furniture, it adds texture and helps pull the room together. We got it from the dining room.
See what a difference the gold pillows make. They were in the closet, left over from an older comforter set.
The little table we have between the two chairs is a country style with hunter green paint that we found in the basement. It would not work the way it was, so we just covered it with a gold tablecloth that we found in the kitchen.
Look how great it works with the bedroom pillows.
Isn't this fun . . . ! It truly is like a treasure hunt.
Start with just one room and see what elements you
can pull from other parts of your house.
Who would have guessed that we could find a tablecloth and pillows that add so much to the living room.
Go ahead and give it a try!
---I would love to hear about it---
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
I was on interviewed on Studio 5 KSL TV today.
Monday, June 15, 2009
We're going to go a little out of your comfort zone today.
It may not work in every space, but it is so worth trying.
You will be surprised at the different, yet cozy feel that you can achieve.
So pull that furniture out from the walls, and see what you can create.
Be Brave. . . It won't cost you a thing!
This can even work in the bedroom. I love doing this with twin beds.
Try it !
And let me know how it worked for you.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
This family room has a variety of fabrics --- notice how the couch is a solid color and the pillows and quilt have a variety of patterns.
This Living Room feels much cozier with the two blue pillows, the throw and the embroidered pillow.
See all the layers of fabric ---
We just pulled out a few different blankets and pillows that had the same colors in them.
The curtain panels along with the quilt and pillows creates a warm comfortable space.
See how the curtain valance and the runner on the table soften up this hallway. The curtain is a floral and the runner on the table is a plaid, but see how they have the same colors, that allows them to work well together.
The burnt orange pillow is the same color as the artwork behind the couch. 
Notice the rugs and the pillows.
Curtains, pillows, and a throw. Today, I am participating at Hooked on Fridays
and It's a Beautiful Life go and visit you will find some interesting and fun blogs!
Monday, June 8, 2009
My neighbor called and said he had a 
Here is the living room BEFORE. 
Here is the same corner AFTER. This part was such fun! 
The china hutch behind the desk balances out 
On the day we did this redesign there was a huge yard sale in the housing community just behind our home.
I saw this large piece of art and it had a definite masculine "office-den" feel.
(If you look in the first before shot the art that was originally in the room was too small in scale.)
We picked up the piece and it was just the right fit
Love it when that happens!
Notice how we made a "unit" with the chair and the items hanging on the wall. The homeowner had spent some time in Australia and had some wonderful items that we were able to incorporate into the office.
Here is the living room BEFORE, and the china hutch before.We took off the doors and took out the leaded glass,
then added a little darker gel stain over the top.
It went from rather fancy to quite masculine.
We added a throw blanket on the chair for a fabric element.
BEFORE
AFTER We also found the green palm at the yard sale for $5.00.
So this Living room became an office for "the man of the house".
It is full of things that are meaningful and things that are useful, and it feels COZY!