Art for the Eclectic Home: Book Review

After receiving Art for the Eclectic Home by Jamin & Ashley Mills, I was excited to check it out. As a new homeowner, I realized that certain walls in my home where bare and could use some fun accessories to tie in my home decor.

This book takes you through the steps of picking the perfect piece and has a great collection of inspiration to help you figure out what exactly you want on your walls! There is so much variety that you are bound to find a few that you love.

Ashley and Jamin go on to tell you that you don't have to spend a fortune to fill your walls with beautiful artwork. Up and coming artists and prints are a great way to personalize your home on a budget.

If you are interested in seeing more from Ashley and Jamin they write a blog together at: thehandmadehome.net!



Are you a home decor book lover? We have a more book reviews coming up soon! Stay tuned!!

decorating your walls

Hanging your art and photos in clusters may be on the verge of "out," but I don't consider it a trend at all, but a classic that's going to stick (and one that started way before last season's decorators were doing it). I've drawn up a quick diagram with a few no fail layouts.


Starting at the top left, this "above and below" layout starts with a horizontal line. Use photos that will end up taking up about the same amount of space above the line and below the line, that way the arrangement is neither top heavy or bottom-heavy.
Moving below to the bottom left, this "inside the lines" arrangement is probably the layout you've seen the most. In an imaginary rectangle, fill the area by loosely arranging the art within it. This layout works pretty much anywhere, and is a good solution for odd spaces. Lastly, to the right is a vertical line up, which work well with high ceilings or columns.


image from www.chicagohomemag.com



Two above images from Domino



image from Bluelines

Funny enough, Pottery Barn announced a free shipping promotion on select frames!


Please send me your results if you try this and I'll post them!

What color should I paint my bedroom?

So, sadly I have to move out of my adorable brownstone parlor floor studio. I'm moving in with my friend and her fiance, and they were kind enough to give me the big bedroom. I'm already trying to figure out how I want to decorate! I've already begun saving for a lovely white upholstered headboard, as I've just been sleeping on a plain old mattress for a bed the last two years. I also plan on getting a charming white secretary style desk. The only thing I'm undecided on is what needs to come first--what color should I paint the walls? I only have one window, and we're on the ground floor, so I don't get the best light. I'm also going to be doing my work in the bedroom from time to time-- so I need to keep that in mind. Do you guys have a favorite bedroom color? Should I go for cool or warm? I'm leaning towards a light greyish-blue...

calming grey-blue





bright happy blues...




cozy neutral

the palest pink...

green and blue


or a gorgeous white bedroom...