Fall has arrived and I'm SO excited!  Look at some of the Fall- appropriate things I spotted around town:

I am a huge houndstooth fan and this small chest uses just the right amount of the pattern.  It serves to make a space chic and homey!

The linen and stud combination is sooo popular right now.  It's being used on screens (like this one), headboards, sofas and more.  The linen fabric gives the pieces a clean, modern edge while the nailhead studs lend the piece a historic air.

I don't know if you know much about bamboo, but it's not just for pandas.  It hit the scene BIG with the green movement.  Bamboo continues to find new ways to be relevant, like these cable-knit throw blankets.  They are soft and perfect for snuggling up on the sofa or by the fire.  Some other great bamboo products include bedlinens like sheets, and bath towels. Who knew this plant could not only be beautiful in our landscaping but also inside our homes?!

Happy Fall!

The Christmas decor is starting to appear on store shelves.  Here's what I saw when I was at my local Hobby Lobby the other day:

The metallic color scheme is still very chic this holiday season!

 Look at all these super-cute stockings! 

This stocking is particularly appealing to me.  I have a penchant for the fleur-de-lis.

 If you have a love for all things Western, there are gobs of festive decorations for this Christmas.

 

Bandana-themed star shaped ornaments.  Adorable!

 

What a fun way to go all-out with the Western theme.  Everyone could have their own cowboy boot stocking!      

Christmas will be here before you know it, so its not too early to start thinking about your theme. Happy holiday decorating!                                                                                                                                                                 

What is your home telling you??

I recently had the opportunity to be trained with the American Lung Association to become a Master Home Environmentalist.  

 “What in the world does that mean???”,  you ask.  It means that I am certified to conduct complimentary home inspections to assess indoor air quality and suggest low or no cost improvements.  It allows me to offer a personalized approach in helping people who suffer from allergies, children, those who are confined to their home, or those who just want to know what they can improve within their home.  The assessment considers everything from dust and pests to household cleaners/chemicals and the environmental factors surrounding the house.  

If you are interested in finding out what your home is telling you OR know someone else who could benefit from this, please contact me to schedule an appointment:

859.552.5234

liz@polkadotsandrosebuds.com

Happy breathing!

Tailgate Decor

Sorry I've been MIA for the last week, I must have misplaced my blogging manners!  But now I'm back and have some exciting tailgate- enhancing decorating ideas.

Football season is upon us and with that comes 2 of my favorite things: Fall weather and tailgating!  Tailgating is my excuse to be a perpetual hostess- to coordinate a gathering of close friends, make great food and dress up in my favorite school colors: blue & white.  Of course, being in the decorating field I think every good color scheme needs some pattern which is why I LOVE the UK Plaid products.  The Plaid brings a whole new dimension to the beautiful, but solid blue, white & occasionally black color scheme of our tailgate decor.  Check out some of my faves:

The tablecloths compliment your basic blue tailgate tent & chairs.  Your grill- master can don some snazzy gear to get in to the festivities, as well.

I am personally most excited about one of the new products,   
the cotton scarf.  I am so into wearing the long scarves right
now and this piece makes me feel like I can wear some official gear to the games beyond my trusty UK tees.

Here's my pup modeling it for you.

The coozie is another super-cute addition this year that I will not be caught without at my tailgate party.



*All of these photos were pulled from:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/The-Official-Plaid-of-the-University-of-Kentucky/112274539202







All of the Plaid products (there's a whole array I didn't even mention) can be purchased from various retailers in Lexington as well as some stores out in the state.  It's a project especially near to my heart, as the students from the Merchandising, Apparel & Textiles department (my major) designed the Plaid.  The students also design the products that are produced each year.  I think it's a super-exciting opportunity for these students and I'm jealous that I'm still not in school to participate!

Some other fun products that I have recently been painting more and more of are UK themed glasses:

 Boy or girl, you can have one for your signature drink this football season.















So when you get all of your new tailgate-enhancing products, be sure to snap some pics and send them my way- I'd love to see what you've done! Happy tailgate decorating!

Mood Enhancing Color Choices

Here was a parting thought intern Lucy left with us.  Happy reading!

Most of us do not realize how the color of our bedroom or living room can affect our everyday lives. The color of a room can influence our mood and our thoughts. I found these interesting mood- enhancing colors:

Calming colors: beige, pale apricot, and greyed-down violet.

Cozy colors: deep blue-green, pale sage, espresso brown, and deep rosy red.

 

Uplifting colors: lavender, yellowy green, and robin’s egg blue.

Sexy colors: deep red, hot pink, chocolate brown, and gunmetal grey.

The Decorated Look

Have you ever gone into a furniture store’s showroom and fallen in love with the pieces you see?  Now how many times have you gotten those pieces home and they just don’t look as good as you remembered?

The truth is there is nothing wrong with the furniture.  No, it’s not your house either.  What you saw in the showroom is just not what you bought.  Look at the illustrations below.

The first picture shows a fully decorated room with window treatments, area rugs, beautiful pieces of art on the walls, greenery and accessories on the mantle (much like the furniture store’s showroom).   What you fell in love with in the showroom was the decorated look.  What you brought home is new furniture- like the room in the second picture. 

The difference is in the details.  Furniture pieces are a huge component in a space, but without adding the extra touches, all you have is furniture sitting in a room.  Nobody wants to come into their new home and see furniture lined up against blank walls or naked windows that make your house a fishbowl at night while allowing the sun to fade your furniture during the day. 

Everyone wants to come home and feel comfortable in their space- all of our homes are lived in, but who says “lived in” can’t be beautiful?   Never underestimate the value of floor and table lamps, art pieces, greenery and accessories in a room.  These are the components we spend the least time thinking about but they all work together in layers to give our space the decorated look while still being functional.  A little tip- allocate 30% of your budget for these items.

Money, Money, Money- The Final Chapter

Liz: “Any last tidbits of advice, ladies?”
Melody: “Prioritize goals! Be patient when planning a project. Make sure the improvement s they want to do fit into their overall financial planning goals and their ability to resell their property. From what I’ve seen, converting an attic to a bedroom, finishing a basement or focusing on rooms with water like kitchens and baths yield the best return on investment for homeowners.
Liz: “That is so true! Susie, last words of advice?”
Susie: “On the commercial side, for a business owner who wants to buy their own building, I always recommend that they talk with an attorney and a CPA before buying. Small business owners especially don’t know the tax advantages or liabilities of buying a building. We, as bankers can’t advise them on how to structure things, so they need the guidance of these professionals.
“The SBA (Small Business Association) offers some financing programs for borrowers to work with a bank and put a small amount of money down to secure financing. I recommend these programs for small businesses to use if they don’t have a lot of money.”
Liz: “How do they go about finding information on these programs?”
Susie: “They need to talk to their banker. The SBA doesn’t lend the money- the bank lends the money and the SBA provides the guarantee. So talking to their banker can help them get started.”

Melody Townsend, CFP owns Townsend Financial Planning with offices in Mt Sterling and Lexington. Those initials behind her name stand for “Certified Financial Planner” which a special distinction that I will let her tell you all about! Melody’s office is fee only, so she doesn’t charge hefty investment commissions. You can get more info on her website www.townsendfinancialplanning.com or call her at 859.498.2020.

Susie McEuen has nearly 30 years in the banking industry and has the distinguished title of VP at Community Trust Bank in Lexington. She works with business owners throughout the state to secure financing for their needs. Susie also has a team of bankers ready to help with personal financing. She can be reached at 317.442.8944 (treasure this, as it is her direct line) or mceuensu@ctbi.com.

I encourage you to seek these ladies out if you have financial questions and needs!