What’s Hot in Summer Decor?

Leaf Motifs

zgallerie.com

Leaf motifs have completely taken off in things like wallpaper and pillows this year. This tropical / jungle vibe lends itself to many beautifully styled spaces. Using this motif in your home really brings a touch of the outside in and creates a fun yet earthy vibe. Want to take this trend to the next level? Add in some real or faux plants as well!

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Acrylic Details

realsimple.com

Acrylic items like accessories, chairs, and side tables have been popular in recent years and it shows no sign of loosing speed. The beautiful thing about acrylic is it gives the appearance of glass without the fragility. It is an especially great choice to use in small spaces because it has virtually no visual weight which helps keep your room feeling larger!

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Global Color Palettes 

sherwinwilliams.com

More and more in our society, people are increasingly interested in taking cues from other cultures and countries for inspiration. This is true in both fashion as well as home decor! This color palette Sherwin Williams has put together is a great example of the types of colors in a “global” palette. Rich jewel and earth tones make for a gorgeous combination!

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Is it Spring Yet? Our Favorite Spring Décor Trends

Lots of Green

katrinaleechambers.com

With greenery being the Pantone Color of the Year, you can bet you are going to see a lot of green in decor this year. Spring is the perfect season to begin introducing this bold and fresh color into your home. Whether you add it in a littler here and there or go all in by using it in paint or furniture, this hue wont let you down!

italianbark.com

Statement Wallpaper

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Wallpaper has seen a major comeback in the past few years. This Spring and into 2017 we will see the wallpaper trend go to the next level by using statement wallpapers as accent walls. Marble is another trend that has gained speed recently so you may even see these trends combined with marble wallpaper. Geometric wallpapers are also very popular right now and make for great statements as well.

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Bringing the Outdoors In

thedecorfix.com

Indoor plants are another trend we will see this Spring in home decor. Faux is always another option of course if  you don't want the responsibility of keeping plants alive. Some trendy plants we are seeing incorporated into design include fiddle leaf fig trees, succulents, and indoor vines in planters. 

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Quick Tips to Ready your Home for Thanksgiving Guests

Create a Centerpiece 

(Bottom) Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

If you are not wanting to go all out with Fall/Thanksgiving related decor, you can simply create a centerpiece for your dining table. This is a great way to concentrate your decor on one space which will create a nice impact without having to break the bank by having pieces throughout the house. These are all good examples of centerpieces that would work perfectly for your Thanksgiving table. The all white centerpiece was created by Liz from the inspiration photo beside it. This shows you how you can get an idea from places like Pinterest, and make it your own!

elledecor.com

Do a Quick Decor Refresh

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Another easy way to ready your home for your Thanksgiving guests is to do a simple decor refresh. This can be accomplished by taking down all of your accessories off of builtins, bookshelves & console tables, for example, then re-working where you have them placed. This will give your home an updated, fresh feel to you and your guests who may have been to your home recently. This is a great way to give your house a little pick-me-up without spending a dollar!

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Consider the Best Placement of Your Furniture

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Depending on the amount of guests you have coming over, you may need to re-think the way your furniture is placed to accommodate more people, or at least make it feel a bit more spacious. The more open you can make your home feel the better. When you have a large amount of people coming to visit, comfort is key. This may even mean tucking some things away that will make the space feel more crowded, like large blanket baskets for example. 

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Our Favorite DIY Pumpkin Decorating Projects

Puff Paint

thegrantlife.com

One fun and simple way to decorate your pumpkins is with the use of puff paint. You can buy puff paint at your local craft store very inexpensively which makes it cost effective even if you want to buy many fun colors for your project. These photo examples show some ideas of just how you can go about creating a design with puff paint!

designdininganddiapers.com

clubchicacircle.com

Metallic Paint

livingly.com

Metallics are very on trend right now in both interiors as well as in the fashion world, so why not carry that over into your pumpkin decorating? This is a fun choice if you want your pumpkin display to be a little more trendy and stylish. You can choose whether you want to simply spray paint the entire pumpkin with metallic paint, paint it on with a brush, or even use a metallic paint pen. This makes it simple for you to choose the desired look you are going for. 

sincerilysarad.com

theperfectpalette.com

The Donut Pumpkin

studiodiy.com

We just love this adorable DIY donut pumpkin that is very popular right now. To create this look you simply paint the bottom half of the donut in a light cream/brown, then paint the top in fun colors you would see on the icing of a donut. To finish it off you simply paint thin lines in all different colors to create the sprinkles on the donut! 

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craftymorning.com

Murals Add Signifcance

A few months back I was rummaging through some books at my grandparents house.  I ran across a Better Homes & Gardens Decorating Book from 1961.  What a treasure it is!  While trends have changed, the basic concepts found in this 400 page book stand the test of time.

One of the suggestions given was using murals to dress up a space.  It is a misconception that murals are meant only for children's rooms.  Some of the most elegant dining rooms I have been in contained a hand-painted wall mural depicting a hunt scene.  Think about restaurants that use murals to create ambiance.  O'Charley's is painted with items of local significance, Logan's mural places you in a saloon.

One of my clients wanted to create a Tuscan feel in her kitchen.  She had a blank wall that screamed out for attention.  I painted a stone niche with various elements in it to evoke that Tuscan feel she desired.  Most recently I was in a workout facility that has a wall mural of a canyon.  It served as scenery to let those using the facility feel less contained.

All of the examples I shared were spaces used mostly by adults. Wall paintings don't have to be cartoonish.  When used appropriately, a mural can push out the walls of a room and make the space feel larger.

Southern-ize It!

On a call with a new client the other day she said to me, “All my friends have these beautiful Southern homes.  I just don’t know how to do that. Can you help me?”  I knew exactly what she was referring to- a sense of warmth and beauty that overtakes you as soon as you walk in the door.  It’s hard to put your finger on and everyone views it a little differently.  What does having a Southern home mean to you?? 

When I think Southern, I think about the symbol of the pineapple, delicious smells of homemade meals wafting out of the kitchen, and furniture pieces with a story. I also think of Southern hospitality and how a home should support that.  A Southern home should feel complete but not overdone. Be beautiful but not stuffy.  It should envelope you while within its walls, but not suffocate you.  A Southern home should be just like a Southern woman- perfectly put together while making it look effortless.   

So that is the mission I am charged with for my client: Southern-izing her home.  We are beginning to tackle the house room by room until we have that effortless, inviting space she wants to show off to her friends.  

Does your home evoke your idea of Southern? If so, cheers to you! If not, happy Southern-izing!

Vintage Vantage Point

I’m Liz and I’m a Madmen-aholic.  It’s true.  I love some Roger Sterling and Don Draper.  Better yet, I love eyeing the set design for the show.  Set in the 60’s- one of my favorite eras for fashion and furniture- the homes and offices used for the show are so eye-catching.  Sleek, low-profiled sofas.  Sprinkling in metal and glass furniture to modernize a room.  Clean lines and silhouettes.

I think this period is my favorite because everything fit well.  We weren’t wearing baggy clothes OR bustles under our skirts.  A woman’s feet would touch the floor when she sat in a chair, as opposed to the overstuffed and incredibly deep seats abundantly available now.  Tailoring is classic and beautiful and the 60s were full of tailored pieces.  Here are a few things from that decade that I find inspiring:

Portrait Collars

Streamlined furniture

Picture Windows

Tiny Houses

I was unfamiliar with the tiny house concept until a couple weeks ago. Per the usual, I was on my sofa watching HGTV’s Design Star and the challenge was to decorate a tiny house.   When I saw one for the first time, it reminded me of my nieces’ playhouse.  Au contraire!  With fully functioning kitchen & baths, these houses can fit full grown adults and all their essentials.  Notice, I said essentials.  The whole concept of these tiny houses, built by Jay Shafer, is that everything has multiple purposes.  With limited room (from 60 to 600 square feet) you have to seriously maximize your space. 

This idea really intrigued me.  Just a few days ago I wrote a blog post devoted to pieces that are overflowing with function.  Things that pull double duty.  Now this episode airs all about getting the most out of your small space.  I loved it!  In fact, I loved it so much that I told my husband if anything ever happened to him the dog and I would live in a tiny house.  His reaction was one of concern.  I seemed to like these houses just a little too much and he wondered if he should fear for his safety.  Once I alleviated those fears, all was well. 

But seriously, what a unique concept in a time where bigger is always better and we feel the “need” to have so much.  I really love the overall message derived from these houses- slow down, live within your means, and less is more.  Sometimes my most rewarding projects for clients are the ones that are limited in space and creativity has a huge role in how to make them function well. 

Click here for more info on Tiny Houses.  There is a wealth of information and seminars available to educate people on these homes.

Hidden Potential

I am always on a quest to re-purpose things.  If an item has multiple uses, you can bet that I will buy it.  I'm not sure where my affinity for function is rooted, but it's rooted deep!  That's why I had to share my top three favorite pieces that are off the charts in both beauty & function!

1.  Cocktail table seating.  A storage ottoman that also serves as a bench seat during parties.  A round glass-topped table with four seats tucked below.  Either option makes a room that is short on space more useable.  I have implemented these options for clients who regularly hosted friends and needed additional seating.  The dual purpose makes me giddy!

2. Trundle Beds.  I know bigger is considered better nowadays.  But I still love twin beds, especially daybeds!  They are perfect solutions for kids or small guest rooms.  Storing a trundle underneath affords you the option of allowing the kid's friends over for slumber parties or creating a double bed when your out-of-town friends come for the weekend.

3. Serving Platters.  Pewter, ceramic, wood or glass trays have a million uses.  Of course, they come in handy for displaying yummy appetizers at parties.  But their function goes so much farther than that.  Platters can be used to adorn the top of your kitchen cabinets or dining room hutch.  They can be placed on your coffee table to serve as a gathering place for the remotes or magazines.  Resting on top of your bedroom dresser, a tray can be the gathering place for loose change, your wallet and car keys. 

If you are tight on space or a neat freak (like me!), these three pieces can completely change your space!

All the Leaves are Brown

Crisp air.  Cable knit sweaters.  Skinny jeans.  Boots.  They all point my absolute favorite season!  Fall!   Not everyone shares my sentiments, though.  Here are a few suggestions on how to ready yourself & your home for the cooler temps without adorning the front stoop in scarecrows & pumpkins.

1. Swap out your lightweight cotton throws with those made of a heavier a material.  Great replacements are crocheted or lambswool.  Both visually signal warmth and comfort- things we all desire as the weather turns cool.
2. Exchange brightly colored candles for earth-tones.  Another subtle signal that compliments the changes outside. 
3. Update your front porch.  Potted mum or a gorgeous arrangement to hang on the front door allow your house to blend well with the landscape. 

If  you typically grumble at the thought of summer’s end.  Try these simple changes to see if they make the transition to fall any easier on you.

Happy Fall!

Houndstooth Heaven

Bear Bryant & Alabama got it right.  At least when it came to houndstooth!  A classic pattern that looks stunning in a simple black & white color scheme, or when jazzed up in brighter hues.  I am a huge fan of this design in home décor as well as fashion.  It’s a perfect accent for solid colors and shouldn’t be overdone.  I have seen more and more of it lately in furniture stores when out shopping.  Here are some of the coolest pieces I ran across:

Comfy side chair in stylish shades of green.

Chic ottoman in the tried & true black and white.

Throw pillows are also widely popular for this pattern.

Whatever your fancy, happy houndstoothing!

Dreamshapers

I had the opportunity to hear Jeff Sheppard speak at a dinner last week. He shared with us the topic of being Dreamshapers. As you've probably guessed, dreamshapers are the people in your life who've helped you achieve your dreams. Each dreamshaper has a different role but all are important in getting you to the end goal.

While he was sharing this message, I couldn't help but let my mind wander to my dream shapers. The ones that stuck out the most in my mind were my dad's parents. My grandparents and I were very close growing up and I still visit them each trip I make back home. They are the reason I am in the decorating industry.

My grandad was a retired school principal who took up real estate (quite successfully, I might add). Most Sundays after church, I would accompany him and my grandmom to his open houses. I had a few particular favorites, one of which was a house designed by a protege of Frank Lloyd Wright. Grandmom would tell me all about the architecture and we would walk through the house admiring it. Grandad would listen as I went room to room telling him how the furniture should be arranged. As the years passed, we went through more houses and I continued to imagine what could be done with each space. They were very encouraging when, circa age 10, my cousin and I decided we wanted to open EZ Architecture when we grew up (EZ was an acronym for our last names as well as a play on words). We would waste countless sheets of paper drawing out floorplans and writing up fake business contracts at the built-in desk in my grandparents den. Obviously that concept morphed a bit since I am not an architect, but the general idea and passion are the same.

Anytime I start to complain about my day or I am slightly put off by having to go to work, I think about my dreamshapers. Then I'm quickly snapped back to a state of gratefulness. I'm feeling exceptionally blessed this week with my feature in skirt magazine hitting newsstands and my days being filled with work. Without the time they spent with me nurturing my love of decorating I would not have come this far. The timing of this post is very appropriate seeing as Grandmom celebrates her 89th birthday today, and Grandad his in just a few weeks. You can bet when I wish them a "happy birthday" I'll thank them for being my dreamshapers.

Happy dreaming!!