Tuesday, October 19, 2010


Here is the segment that we did on Friday!

I always love to work with Studio 5,
Thanks for having me on.




4 ideas on how to decorate
your front porch for Fall---
all for under $50.00.


1. Paint the front door ---a little fresh paint in a fall color, really adds to the autumn feel.
2. Add vinyl numbers on the door---what a fun way to show your address.
3. Hang a wreath---a great way to add some texture and personality.
4. Place a pot of mums and some pumpkins--- flowers and pumpkins always add a pop of color.


How to bring some of that fall décor inside.

• I love to add little pumpkins ---
   there are a wide variety of styles, and you can put them in almost anything.
• Add a lantern with an orange candle.
• I have a cake plate full of leaves and squash on my table.
• Hang a wreath on the mirror in the entry.
• Frame a few pressed leaves.





Monday, October 18, 2010

We did this front porch makeover for a Studio 5 segment.


BEFORE


AFTER
I think the biggest change is just the color of the front door. 
 Paint was only $8.55--- it was Dot com by Kwal and I did it in a satin finish.

The vinyl letters on the door were only $5.00 and what a nice difference they make compared to the plastic letters that were under the light in the before shot.


BEFORE



AFTER
The wreath on the front door was an ordinary twig wreath with some fall color and ribbon.
Of course the pumkins really add to the fall theme, and the flowers some real happy color!

It was so fun to do. 
Thanks, Andrea for letting us come and have fun with your front porch!

I am joining the Fall Makeovers at Between Naps on the Porch
Go there and see some creative decorating for the season!

I will post the video from the show with all
of the details in my next post.

Monday, October 11, 2010

In my last post I showed you a before and after of this Living Room.
The homeowner really just wanted to figure out a way to make the room
 feel different than it was.

 
BEFORE


AFTER
Remember our goal is to make the space feel more COZY using what is in the home already.
The Living Room was more formal and we wanted to create a more casual feel---
and something different.


BEFORE


AFTER
We folded the quilt over the back of the chair and placed a couple of pillows
 that did not match-- but had the same colors of the room. 
We also placed a lace coverlet on the back of the other chair,
 it ties in nicely with the lace drapes, and relaxes the formalness of the chairs.


BEFORE


AFTER
We placed the sofa on an angle which was very different from what they were used to. 
Also notice a throw blanket on the arm of the sofa
and a couple of pillows that are not the same fabric as the sofa.

A few books on the table with some greenery and you may want to sit down and read!


 We decorated the end table with a lamp, a couple of books with some greenery on top,
and a pair of little angels.

The entry


We created a nice unit with the bookcase and the mirror grouping.


Notice how we took the pillow from the sofa and placed it on the chair, 
that way you tie the color and pattern around the room.


It does feel inviting!


 Try placing your sofa on an angle and see how it feels --- you may be surprised!



Saturday, October 2, 2010

Here is a Living Room that we changed up.
This is the BEFORE.

(I am having some trouble uploading the photos so here are a couple to start with)


AFTER

Can you tell what we did that made the difference?

Thursday, September 23, 2010

I LOVE Fall!

Fall is my favorite time of the year
and a wonderful time to decorate your home
with some fall color.


Wreathes are one way to decorate for the season.


So. . . here are 3 inspirations from

Monday, September 13, 2010

A Bedroom Redesigned


Today, I will be sharing with you how we turned this bedroom
into a Master Retreat using just what the homeowner had in her home!



BEFORE


AFTER
Notice the artwork above the dresser. 
We created a "unit" with the dresser and the art 
as well as the two lamps, and a few accessories.

It made a great focal point on that wall


BEFORE
The artwork before was hanging alone on the wall.


AFTER
Usually in a bedroom the focal point of the room is the BED. 
See how we emphasized the bed by layering more pillows and blankets. 
We also added a bench to the end of the bed, for more visual weight
 as well as a useful place to sit and put on your shoes.


BEFORE


AFTER
This was a high wall and really needed some additional weight
to balance out this side of the room. 

We were able to find a tall bookcase, a large chair,
and a piece of art that we hung vertically.

The result feels quite inviting and lends itself to more of a retreat.


Notice the touches of green, black and brown that we added throughout the space.
It helps to tie the room together.

The green toss pillow, green grass and ball on top of the bookcase.
The bookcase is black as well as the bench at the bottom of the bed.
The brown in the artwork as well as the chair.




The comforter on the bed was brown
as well as the chair that we brought in.
We added the gray comforter on the end of the bed
 and the green throw.
The pillows are green, black and brown
which help to tie the space all together.




Overall it came together nicely,
we shopped all around the house,

 the bench came from the kitchen,
the chair from another bedroom,
the bookcase from the guest bedroom,
the photos from the hall,
and accessories from everywhere!

And in the end we created a wonderful Master Retreat!

See what you can do to spice up your master bedroom.




Wednesday, September 1, 2010

The Laundry Room is finished,
and the Studio 5 segment turned out great --
Now... I thought I would share with you a few of the fun little details.


BEFORE
We have had this washer and dryer for about 3-4 years. 
My husband purchased them as a surprise for me
while I was out of town! 
 So nice. 
 They really have been so great after 14 years with a used pair
 that we got right after we were married. 
I think they look very fashionable
with the newly designed laundry room!


AFTER
It is fun to incorporate the colored appliances into the overall design.


I really never used this space ---
 it was honestly filled with more boxes that needed to be emptied. 
What a great excuse to get them put away!


This is in the middle of the job.


End Result. 
I knew that I wanted to paint the walls green ---
next I had to find fabric that would work. 
 I found some wonderful green but definitely needed to add
a couple of other colors to make the space feel right. 

 I ended up with a great striped fabric
 --- it had the colors of the washer and dryer
and some brown, as well as the green.


I found this big mug and it was just the right color. 
You want to place the colors around the room
so that it ties the space together.



I added a little more fabric on the chair
with a pillow and a sash. 

 It softens the chair and pulls the color around the room.


I must say, I do love the sash!


The bulletin board is just made of heavy card board
 covered in batting and fabric then placed in a frame that I already had. 
It helps to take that blue color onto the wall.


The brown ribbon and the green apples
 lined along the top
 are more pops of color around the space.



We just took old buttons from granny's button box
 to finish off the board!


See more touches of brown and blue. 
The fabric on the baskets is just glued along the top ---
no sewing involved!



I like to collect frames. 
The three above the sink are shadow boxes
 that I found at Burlington years ago. 
 The were filled with little oriental ladies on sale for $1.88. 
 I bought 30 of them!!

They have come in handy over the years. 
 I just glued in scrapbook paper that had the same colors.
 It made for some great artwork!


I wanted to add fabric to this space
 and since the cabinets did not have doors
 this was the perfect place to put some little curtains. 

 I got a tension rod, very inexpensive---
then hemmed up the fabric,
 added the three kinds together,
and it works!


This is an old mirror that I have had in my basement for years. 
It came from my great grandpa's house. 
The frame was pretty boring
so I added a few little decorative swirls---
I used puff paint (glitter glue with paint in it),
because I had it,
but I am thinking that Elmer's glue may work just as well.
Then I spray painted with a can of white paint.

It is always nice to add a few older items
when you are decorating a space because
you can make it more interesting and more personal.


Well, here it is BEFORE--- quite uninspiring yet with great potential!


And the AFTER has been such a joyful, happy place to be in!

Hopefully you can take a few of the tips
 and do something with your washing space!