Book Review: Decorate with Flowers by Holly Becker and Leslie Shewring

The book Decorate With Flowers is just blooming* with gorgeous flower arrangements, color palettes, styling, and just good old eye candy.  If this book can't get you excited for spring, I don't know what will!

Decorate author Holly Becker teams up with stylist Leslie Shewring to offer practical know-how and colorful inspiration for decorating the home with florals.  Blending their love of botanicals with their progress on decorating ideas for a range of styles, such as vintage, eclectic, and modern.  With creative DIY flower and container projects peppered throughout, this book offers fresh ideas to inspire flower enthusiasts to style their homes and create beautiful bouquets like an expert. - Description from Chronicle Books

My dog Sammy's nose makes a cameo in a few of these shots.

The entire book is beautifully styled and provided me with inspiration for the flowers at our wedding, which I'll be posting about soon!

Decorate With Flowers is available on Amazon.com.

I received this book as a sample

Make the most of a snow day with some of these projects

Four great ideas of things you can do to change your decor while your stuck inside (since we are snowed in with over a foot of snow here and it's still coming down!). Might as well have fun - and if you're like me I can only watch so much TV before I need to get up and do something!

1. Rearrange your furniture:

via BHG

I get so excited rearranging my furniture.  It is really refreshing and can make old things seem new again. It takes some trial and error to get things just right, and don't forget that you can "shop" furniture from the rest of your house!

2. Clean out your drawers:

via bhg

In your kitchen, bathroom, pantry, bedroom, and more! Clean out those drawers by creating three boxes: throw away, give away, keep. Sort your items and when you get to the keep, figure out if you have any good trays, shoe boxes, or containers laying around that would keep the items corralled.  It looks like the drawer above is using small jelly roll pans, which is really clever.

3. Make that gallery wall you've dreaming about

I like Design Crush's tutorial, but there are a lot of great ideas and step by step instructions online i you just search for something like "create your own gallery wall."  Even i you don't have all the art you want to use yet, gallery walls can be flexible and expand over time, or you can at least decide where you want it and start composing it in kraft paper.

4. Style Your Bookshelves

2 images via DesignSponge

You will be surprised how many compliments you get when you thoughtfully arrange your shelves.  Thinking of a bookcase or set of shelves as a composition really lets you show off your favorite accessories and books while also serving a purpose. I'm not going to lie, it's not always easy to strike that perfect balance, and you'll likely always be making little tweaks.  I would start by pulling a few images that I really like to use as a guide.  Next, collect the items that will be on the shelves.  You may have to omit some items or add some along the way.  You will want items with a variety of heights and widths.  Other than that, a lot of the process is just "feel."  Step back from the shelves from time to time to make sure you are happy with how your "composition" is taking shape.

Who Knew Carpet Could Be Fun?

Carpet tiles have been around for a long, long time…well, around 50 years. They are a fantastic alternative to installing a full carpet and are great for both commercial businesses (especially in the office), and in the home. Since we are planning on finishing of our floors with hardwood flooring, this would be a great option for us to cover some of our space with carpet and not hide the new floors!

via Copy Cat Chic

Some of the best qualities are that they are easy to install, affordable and easy to ship, they are easy to clean and maintain, and they look both professional and stylish. They are available in so many styles and textures these days, that they can fit in practically any space.

via Flor 

The same great qualities as above make it a great choice for homes as well. Affordable carpet tiles are available widely and are less expensive to ship that traditional carpets because they come packed in boxes. - But best of all they are easy to install, and are DIY friendly. This is especially the case if you are planning to lay them on  top of laminate flooring, vinyl flooring or concrete as there is no need for underlay.

via Little Green Notebook

Carpet tiles come in a range of designs and colors and the fact that they are tiles makes planning your flooring a lot more fun, because you can be creative. They are easy to custom fit the shape of the room, which is particularly great if you have an awkward shaped room. Recently, popular TV design programs, interior design websites and blogs have started to champion carpet tiles due to the ease of installation and the variety and styles of options available.

via Flor 

Don't forget that they are easy to clean and maintain! Vacuuming works best for keeping them clean and spills can easily be absorbed with towel or sponge. You can even lift up the dirty tile and run it under the faucet to give it a quick clean. And if a tile (or two) is irretrievably damaged then you can simply just pick it up and replace it with a new one. Simple and a lot more cost effective then having to replace a whole carpet. It also makes it a little easier and more practical to have that white or cream tile you've always dreamed of!

2 above via Flor 

Carpet tiles come in many styles to fit a wide variety of decor styles and many price points. If you are looking to re-floor, carpet tiles are a flooring option that definitely should be considered. There are tons of really great brands out there, but in particular you should check out brands such as:  Burmatex, Desso, Gradus,  Heuga, Interface and JHS Carpets as style wise, their options are fantastic.

this post was in partnership with everyfloordirect.com

Fashion Forward Apartment

When it’s time to find apartments, you probably think about the size, location and available amenities, but what about style? How can you make your apartment unique and represent you, rather than looking like the boring, cookie-cutter versions that everyone else has.  It’s easier than you may think.


via interiordesigning.net

Here are a few tips to find that perfect apartment:

One of the best ways to design a fashion-forward apartment is to start with the best possible unit. You will find apartments that are better than others when it comes to unique features or modern upgrades. For example, apartment communities like BRE Properties include amenities such as dishwashers, washing machines and updated kitchen appliances. If the unit looks nice from the start, half of your job is already done.


via ghoofie.com

Before you sign a lease to the apartment, it would be a good idea to figure out what the lease will allow you to do. Can you paint the walls or hang pictures? Find out what you can do and ask if there is any process you'll need to take to make any changes!


via lifearts.blogspot.com

While a splash of color on the walls will go a long way in making the apartment unique and stylish, there are plenty of things you can do even if you can’t paint. Start by hitting the magazines and online sites like Pinterest.com. You’ll find the latest apartment fashions and design ideas.


via Pinterest

If you’re on a budget, it’s time to hit the thrift stores, swap meets and online classifieds. You can find furniture, decorative pillows, pictures, shelves and more if you keep your eyes open. Some colorful throw pillows, well-placed decorations or table centerpieces can help transform a lackluster room.


via bhg.com

Consider getting crafty as well. It’s quite easy to make curtains and other decorative items that will give your apartment a sense of individual style. You can even recycle items for an eco-friendly touch. Wine bottles turn into flower vases and milk crates turn into side tables. There are lots of ways to repurpose everyday items into distinctive decorations.

via Pinterest

Even if you can’t find apartments that are stylish, with a little creativity and imagination you can still create a space that suits your sense of style.

this post is in partnership with breproperties

Oklahoma love

I'm sure that like me, most of you have had Oklahoma on your minds these past couple of days.  I can't even begin to imagine the heartache.  I thought today I'd show my support by sharing this fun and pretty Oklahoma home full of genius DIY projects.

So charming!

Read more about this home at BHG

Happy Home - Inspiration for Joy

Happy Home is a new book out by Jennifer Paganelli, creator of Sis Boom Fabrics.  You can't help but smile and feel happy when you see her bright, cheerful designs.

Here is the description from Amazon.com, where you can purchase the book.

Jennifer Paganelli designs one of the most popular fabric lines in the marketplace. In this gorgeous collection, she shows readers how to whip up twenty-one beautiful accessories to transform their space into a sunny, happy home. Each project showcases Jennifer's fresh, whimsical style—from luxe drapery to cheery tablecloths and napkins. Featuring simple step-by-step instructions, a comprehensive glossary of techniques, pattern sheets tucked into a handy front pocket, and lush color photos, this book makes it exceptionally easy to pretty up every room in the house. 


 I was lucky enough to review the book, and answer some questions based on my review (my answers are in italic.

 · Is there anything about the book that inspires you? 
The cheerful colors of the fabric!  It's scary to go bold and bright, and while Jennifer goes all out, she demonstrates ways to also inject it through smaller projects - like pillows, and smaller decorations.

 · Have you used fabric designed by Jennifer Paganelli (SisBoom) in home décor projects? 
I haven't - but after seeing her fabric, will definitely consider them for my next project.

Here are some I have my eye on right now, for either my bedroom curtains or a set of cloth napkins:

From the West Indies collection - this plum would look gorgeous next to the pale gray walls in my bedroom.

I also love chartreuse with light gray - so if I do a single panel roll-up shade this geometric from the Poodle collection would look good.

   

The print above (To St. Croix collection) and the print below (Honey Child collection) would both make for some fun cloth napkins.

 · When you look at the projects in the book, who comes to mind? Who would you like to make them for? 
 Children.  I don't have any children yet, but when and if I'm blessed enough to have them I want them to grow up in a home that with the aesthetic theme of joy and play than perfection.  I would make some of these projects from Happy Home for various people - for example:

The market tote, featured which I LOVE - I would make for my mother.  I also think they would make fantastic bridesmaid's gifts!

The party banner would be beautiful in a baby nursery, or used for children's parties.  I could see this being a great piece to pass down and be used by family through generations.

These pillows would be wonderful for anyone's bed - grown up or child.  In blues and greens for a boy would be great, and in the pinks for a girl would be great.  It would be a wonderful message for a kid to wake up or fall asleep to.

 · Does your experience and expertise as a design and home décor blogger make you look at the book differently?

Yes, because it allows you to create the decor and accessories seen in the book, as opposed to showing you a wonderful space, but when where you have to buy items to achieve the look.  When you handmake something, it automatically has more meaning, and is more likely to be special to you for a longer period of time.

How wonderful would it be to give this adorable pom-pom pillow to your daughter who is leaving home for the first time to go off to college?

These projects can also save you money when organizing.  Stylish organization tools are always pricey - but check out the boxes below:

They are so pretty!

All of the projects in the book come with a list of supplies needed, a pattern layout, and step by step instructions.  Their is also a great section in the back listing resources for sewing and related supplies.

I am in the process of teaching myself how to sew, and I'll share any creations I make out of this book.

A great resource if you'd like to learn to sew is the book:

Sewing Made Simple by Tessa Evelegh  (This book is a work of art in itself, with gorgeous photographs and beautiful projects.)

Do you feel inspired to make anything happy for your home now?


*disclosure: I received "Happy Home" and "Sewing Made Simple" as samples

A surprisingly chic and modern way to dress your windows

When I think roller blinds, the words chic and modern don't usually pop into my head. I have been searching fruitlessly though for an affordable roman shade for our bedroom window, but finding something simple, crisp, and tailored, within our budget - seems to be impossible. Now, after, seeing these blinds - I'm considering a roller blind. My mom has some in her bathroom, which she really likes. Does anyone have experience with them?

Deciding which window treatments to feature in the home is far from an easy task. Essentially, this choice can determine the overall ambiance of a room. One way to incorporate a great deal of personality and character into the home is to opt for patterned roller blinds.   Typical designs tend to be centered around flowers and patterns, however the variety is huge.

I absolutely love this artistic flower pattern...

Patterns range from traditional damasks to more modern approaches - dots, painterly effects, and stripes.   It also seems that no matter what your color scheme, it's likely you'll find something to complement your palette.

They even make them in eco-friendly and kid-safe versions too.

If you still can't find something you like, it is possible to design your own. DIY kits for roller blinds can be purchased from most hardware and craft stores.

*disclosure: This post is sponsored by Roller Blinds Direct

My curtains revealed and an introduction to The Loaded Trunk!

My curtains are finally finished! Some of you might remember this post awhile back when I asked for suggestions for curtain colors after we moved into our new apartment in Chevy Chase, MD.

Before:

After:

The curtains the apartment came with were drab and heavy. Our couch had to stay, and is an olive-colored suede, that depending on the light and colors around it can look gray, brown, or green. The rug is a new purchase that I love, and wanted to make it work. Our walls, though hard to tell in the picture above, are a light aqua blue.

I tried photoshopping some different color options in this post, but all of them left me a bit underwhelmed. You guys offered up some amazing suggestions for DIY's, specific fabrics, and other resources. The amazing Christine of Design with Christine came up with an amazing edesign for me, utilizing some Ikat curtains, and some throw pillows to tie the rug in with the couch. You can see the amazing job she did in her post.

The curtains Christine chose.

My photoshopping the curtains and pillows Christine found. Christine’s genius really got the ball rolling for me to find a pattern to balance out the visual weight of the bottom half of the room with the visual weight of the top. So, since I wanted to sew my own curtains, I began the search for the perfect (afforadable) fabric.

via 6th Street Design School

I really liked the fabric above, which a reader suggested to me . Even though it was above our price range, I ordered a swatch. The medallions were a bit too large for my liking, and the background was more of a beige than a white, so we decided against this one. I also ordered a few more swatches, but I wasn’t sold on any of them. Then, I noticed the curtains below on Danielle Oakey's blog, and went on an internet scavenger hunt to find the fabric.

Long story short, I finally located enough to sew my curtains (9 yards) from Red Rhino on ebay. They were actually the only seller I found with the fabric available. Red Rhino gave me a great price, amazing response times, and I couldn’t have been happier with the fabric. The match was very accurate to what was on screen.

via Danielle Oakey Interiors

So, after hours and hours of measuring, ironing, starching, sewing, and ironing and starching again, we finally had our curtains. I also added a black tape on the right and left vertical borders of the outermost curtains to mimick the black border on the rug. We are really happy with the results. I'm also in the process of testing out some swatches to sew throw pillow covers.

Another view of the room with the ikat curtains

A close up of the curtain and the black border

I'm testing out a suzani style swatch, as you can see from the bottom pillow.

Isn't this red pillow AMAZING!?!?

I couldn’t be more thrilled with the pillow, which  I received from The LoadedTrunk!

There couldn’t be a better cohesive element between my couch and my rug! What’s even cooler is the history of the pillow, called a Hmong pillow:

“This beautiful vintage textile was once part of a garment worn by Hmong women in Vietnam. The Hmong, an Asian ethnic group living in the mountainous regions of Vietnam and Laos, are known for their traditional textiles which feature cross-stitching and often indigo block printing. They have been given a second life and were re-cycled to make these lovely pillows.”

 

They offer a handful of one-of-a-kind Hmong pillows.  This one in purple is gorgeous

I love that mine is one of-a-kind. They have other hmong pillows, and lots of other global goods. I could make a really long wishlist of items from this store, but here are just a few:

These bronze hammered bowls would look glamorous and beautifully organic anywhere.

The color in this Mexican coverlet is so rich.

Thanks again to The Loaded Trunk! You can see all their treasures on the online shop.

SO..how do you think our living room is coming along so far? 

We still have some art to hang,  maybe a floor lamp for the corner behind the palm, and the rest of the throw pillows for the couch (I want a pillow that will tie in the colors from the curtains)

And how about that pillow from the Loaded Trunk?

I can't wait to hear what you guys think!

*disclosure: I received the Hmong pillow as a sample