Fall Fireplaces

I'm not sure I'll be allowed to keep blogging about interior design if I don't do a post about fall mantlescapes.  My biggest hurdle?  I don't have a fireplace!!  My mother-in-law does a gorgeous mantle for Christmas, so I'll share a picture of that in December. In the mean time I'll just show you some of my favorite fall mantles from blog land and dream about the day I have my very own fireplace. 

Emily used some branches and tree trimmings from her yard!  I love it, and it works perfectly for October and November.

Source: emilyaclark.blogspot.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

At first glance would you even believe these awesome flowers are made of brown paper bags?  Genius.

Source: homemademodern.blogspot.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

I love how these pumpkins/gourds have the ombre look going. 

Source: thenester.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

These banners made of burlap add just the perfect rustic touch to this Thanksgiving mantle.

Source: proverbs31girl.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

This fabric scrap garland is darling.  I want to make one for every holiday!  And birthdays!

Source: evamscott05.blogspot.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

One of my very first fall pins from last year.  It might be a little late in the month for Halloween decor, but the fall leaves in the vases would transition to November nicely. 

Source: sweetsomethingdesign.blogspot.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

Did you decorate your mantle this season?  Leave a link in the comments so I can see!!

Set Design: Stranger Than Fiction

I've never seen set design play as big a role in a movie as it did in Stranger Than Fiction.  First, I love that movie, a good balance of funny and touching.  And I love the couple Harold and Ana.  They couldn't be more different, and the style of their homes really portray that.

Harold in his bedroom.  So stream line, so modern and so simple.  It does a great job of extending his character as an IRS agent obsessed with numbers into his living space, deepening his personality.

You can see a few more example of his home in this collage.   I have to say I'm really drawn to the extreme modern, but not flashy, interior of his apartment. 

And his hippie, tax evading girlfriend Ana.  Her home is a collection of mismatch thrift store finds.  Lots of bright colors and eclectic patterns.  It speaks volumes about the kind of person Ana is.

 And the awesome set design didn't stop with the main characters.  Harold stays temporarily with his co worker Dave, who is similar to Harold but has more of a playful side to him than Harold does (at first anyway).  His apartment shows that.  Its also modern and clean, but its more funky and space agey.  Its just genius. 

Of course characters in a movie can be a bit more one dimensional.  It might not be that easy to channel your personality into your interior design, but it does beg the question: What does your interior say about you?  :)

Mini Master Makeover

When we were first married we lived in an apartment with white walls (surprise, surprise) and I actually liked them in the master bedroom.  I went with a white, black and gray color scheme (never could get my husband on board with that "splash of pink" I had planned).  But when we moved into my in-laws house the beige walls did not jive with our gray art work.  We also had gray sheets, and I didn't want to have to buy all new king size sheets (expensive!) just for a temporary look.

So a quick, easy and less pricy tip for a temporary sheet change is just get new pillow cases.  I finally got around to that today. . . oh you know 10 months later.  And using some borrowed throw pillows from my mother-in-law (she's an addict) I did a little mini makeover on my bed. 

I decided to go with tans and creams and thought that might be a little too boring on its own.  I showed my husband Pantone's fall 2012 and had him pick the color he thought would look best in our room.  Actually I think I made him choose between tangerine and chartreuse.  He chose chartreuse.  I bought some chartreuse pillow cases, but decided not to use them in the end.  I guess the creams and browns aren't too boring on their own!

Source: pantone.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

Here's the pillow configuration with the green (this is the only angle that they looked even somewhat decent!) Don't mind the black and white lamp shade.  I'm trying to figure a way to temporarily cover a lamp shade. . . email me if you know a trick.

And here are the pillows with the green pulled out.  The textures of the other pillows really help give interest so a bright color isn't necessary.  

What do you think?  Would you add a bright color in? 

Striped king pillow cases: IKEA
Chartreuse standard pillow cases: IKEA
Knit white standard shams: Pottery Barn
Fringe pillow, suede pillow and knit throw pillows: borrowed from my mother-in-law
Zebra textured white throw pillow: IKEA
White duvet cover: IKEA

Guest Posting at Living Savvy!

Good morning!  Today I am posting at Living Savvy about my My Five Fall Favorite Kid Decoration.  I had so much fun helping the kids I nanny make Halloween and fall decorations for their house, go over and check it out!

Geometric Wall Art

I created this wall art back in. . . June?  Maybe even May!  But after hanging it I decided to change the fabric to something more simple.  And then I had such bad morning sickness that was not going to happen.  And then I found out I was having a boy, so I would rather change the fabric to match the new boy's nursery I have brewing in my mind.  And then. . . just kidding.  That's the end of it.  So many excuses!

But in the mean time, I thought I would share.  I haven't had time for any new projects since I started nannying and it gets old sharing inspiration pics all the time!  I want to share my own work!

I found these placemats at IKEA and wouldn't you know they were almost exactly the same color aqua as Olivia's bedding?  Isn't it funny how you notice the colors you're currently working with?  I covered some cork pan holder things (actual name anyone?  I mean, not the name in Swedish because that's what IKEA gives me) with fabric that played off the aquas, creams and circle concept.   I laid everything on the ground and moved it around until I liked the layout.  Then took a picture so I could recreate it on Olivia's wall.

When I took these pics Olivia's crib was being used for a photo shoot for Oilo.  That's why there isn't a full wall picture.  Sorry! 

Do you agree that the fabric is too busy?  Now that I know I'm having a boy and that I want to do an orange and aqua nursery I'm just going to wait and change it to fit the new color scheme. 

One Kings Lane

Have you heard of One Kings Lane?  Its a home goods and accessories website with a few different sales every day and the prices are discounted from what you would normally have to pay.  I signed up back when I was looking for a rug for Olivia's room, but its so much fun when I find the time to browse some of their sales!  Here are some of my favorites from yesterday.

I've never had a chance to use fancy napkin rings for a dinner, but a couple years ago in a model home I saw napkin rings used as a decoration on bathroom towels.  Super chic.

Buy here

They had this throw in several colors.  Cream, gray and brown were my favorites.  Nothing says fall like a knit blanket!

Buy Here

I love yellow and gray together and I think this elephant print would be so cute in a boys room.

Buy here

You know how I love olive colored kitchen accessories!  Even though I've changed my ideas of my perfect kitchen, I think these would really make me happy. 

Buy here

This orange pillow would look so good in my boy's nursery! 

Buy here

I've never been a big fan of making pies, but I might change my mind if I had this gorgeous red pie dish!!

Buy here

All of these items will be on sale for two more days! 

*Not a sponsored post, I just wanted to share!!

The kitchen colors I used to want & what I want now

When I was dating Adam (my husband) I mentioned the colors I wanted my future kitchen to be while bridal gift shopping for Jess.  We were not engaged, not even really talking about marriage, but without skipping a beat he mentioned that he would close his eyes while getting his breakfast in the morning if I decorated my kitchen in those colors.  What was so appalling to him?  Orange and avocado.

I still love these colors together. . . 

Source: designsponge.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

. . . but since then I've learned there is more than love when it comes to picking kitchen colors. . .

Source: kunzdesign.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

. . . like livability and serenity. . .

Source: houzz.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

. . . So while I still love these retro colors (not to mention retro music). . .

Source: pinterestclothing.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

. . . my personal style has changed/mellowed just a little.  (Although, this picture is working hard to make me change back!)

Source: bhg.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

Now what I want for my kitchen is very clean and less demanding of attention.

Source: go4kitchen.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

Crisp white and blue glass tile.  (Plus I love the stripe detail on the floor of the kitchen)

Source: tobifairley.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

Blue bead board as a backsplash.  I love this color, but I think I prefer a tile backsplash. 

Source: houseofturquoise.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

What kitchen colors are your current favorite?  :)

Obsessed with nursery design

Yeah its no secret that nursery design is kind of my favorite.  It can be sophisticated, or not.  Its always easy to find accessories, just dig through the toy box!  (That's what I did to style Olivia changing table in this post)

But here's my dilemma: You've seen how I plan to update Olivia's bedding for a boy (which is what I'm having!  I'm so good at guessing the gender of my unborn children.) but what do I do for Olivia? 

Option 1: A totally different direction.

Source: marytbet00.tumblr.com via salanon on Pinterest

I've always love shabby chic design, but its not really me.  So while I don't really see it happening in the rest of my house, I've always wanted to do a little girl room in shabby chic, because its so beautiful and totally girly.

Source: urbanoutfitters.com via Lauren on Pinterest

I could just give her a room full of ruffles and pinks and flowers.  When will I have another chance?

Option 2: Stay with the aqua and brown color scheme.

I have fabric to make a toddler blanket in the aqua, and there are some accessories in Olivia's room that just wouldn't transition to a boys room.

For example, these knobs:

And the art work I've been working on very fast slowly, which I want to reveal. . . soon, fits with the aqua color scheme.

Option 3: A blend of aqua and girly, modern and ruffles.

I just found this inspiration board which is a cute blend of aqua and modern.  I don't love every thing about it, but I do love the colors and the pillows. 

Source: chiccheapnursery.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

Plus, I already have that rug!!

Your thoughts?

Trust your instincts

Source: starhughes.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

Back in high school I had a bag of every Crayola marker that they made.  Sadly a lot of those color sets are no longer being made.  :(  I used these markers to decorate letters that I wrote to my friends.  I was always designing new decorations and lettering styles and I really loved the pastel colors of blue and peach together.  They weren't really "in style" back in the 90's but a quick scan of pinterest shows that they are now!  If you love something, don't question if its the right thing to love.  Trust your instincts and love what you love.

Source: stylemepretty.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

Source: designindulgences.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

The Story of a Chair

This summer I had plans to do some decorating for my mom.  I made her a quilt for Christmas and so I originally was going to work on her master bedroom but somehow it morphed into curtains and chairs in her living room/dining area.  My sister-in-law came to help me, and thank goodness, because this is not a one person job!!  Pregnancy saps so much of my energy so we didn't get nearly as much completed as I had hoped but we did finish one of the two wingback chairs in the living room!  I used Tiffany's blog post for inspiration and tried to follow in her footsteps of using as much of the chair as possible.  We used some of the tack strips and the piping and all of the padding and cushioning.  I think that saved us a lot of money and a lot of headaches!  Here's how it all went down:

We started by removing the back.  Its important to remember how the pieces are attached.  We did the whole project in four days so that made it easier, but if you were going to spread it out over time: pictures, pictures, pictures!

Then we removed the sides.

Lots and lots of staples to remove!

You might also want to have a small vaccuum ready.  There was a lot of dust and pet hair (from the former owners, my mom doesn't have pets) from years of use built up in there.  Fun.

My dad thought we were making it look to hard.  Then he found out how hard it really was! 

Eventually we got the chair down to this.  Our padding was still in really good shape, so we didn't mess with that.  Other tutorials will tell you to take it down to the bare bones and build up with all new padding.  I say, if you don't have to don't do that!  I can't imagine how much harder that would have made this project.

This is when the project started getting exciting.  We could see the beauty start to shine through the mess and exhaustion! 

From the front you almost couldn't tell it still had a long long way to go!

 And we ended right where we started, by putting on the back of the chair.

From the side.  One thing I love about this chair is the piping.  We did it in a coordinating solid blue.  Its a little hard to tell but it really makes it pop.

I feel bad we only had time for one!  We're going to have to do the other at Christmas time (joy).  In the mean time my mom is keeping this one covered so they don't wear unevenly. 

  

We made a lot of mistakes a long the way!  But thankfully no one will ever know but us.  If you have any questions about this project feel free to email me at kimmisue22@gmail.com (yeah, yeah, my email is weird.  I'd change it if it wouldn't be such a huge hassle.)

Linking up here!!