Impromptu Office Ideas

Most people that work from home have a dedicated office space, but for those of you who don't always work from home and are missing that needed space for the occasional snow day (like here in MD), there are some creative ways to set up an impromptu work space!

via You Say Too

My favorite solution is probably to convert and armoire or cupboard into a hidden office.  Another plus is it helps keep dust off your electronics, and if you don't have time to tidy up, just shut the doors!

Keep a living or library table housed with a lamp and another few office necessities and you can easily use it for an occasional desk.

Traditional Home Office by Rockville Furniture & Accessories Sheffield Furniture & Interiors

Eclectic Home Office by Austin Interior Designers & Decorators Scheer & Co.

A narrow sliver of room can be dedicated if you work from home for maybe only one day a week, but don't have a dedicated office. Consider outfitting one wall with a narrow desk.  Then, run some attractive draperies far enough out from the wall that it will be able to hide the desk when it's not in use.

via houzz

If you have room for a rolling table this could be used for multiple purposes. A great work space, extra cooking space, a rolling bar for parties, or portable storage! Clear it off for a day of work from home that won't affect the rest of your house. Baskets underneath can hold supplies.

via houzz

This hideaway desk is perfect for small spaces. If you are lacking the square footage for an office, purchasing a wall mounted desk could be exactly what you need for those random work from home days. Just pull it down when you need it and store it away when you need your space back!

From my trip to Europe - Amsterdam: A city of canals, bikes, bridges, and charming homes

It has been WAY to long since I've done a post on Chris and my 2010 summer backpacking around Europe.  I'm getting close to the end of our trip, but still have Belgium and France to cover.  Today I'm giving you a mini-tour of the charming streets of Amsterdam, undoubtedly one of the most popular destinations in Europe.  The brick row homes are really beautiful, although so many look like they are leaning against their neighbor or about to topple into the canal.  The canals are packed with house boats, and the stone streets with cyclists.

Just a typical city street...

Can you imagine living in a house on such a slant? Even with the leaning they are beautiful!

Like most European cities, eating outside at a cafe is the norm.

The food in Amsterdam was also superb.  Make sure to try the pancakes!

Hope you enjoyed this little tour!

Thanks to wonderful future hubby for all of the fantastic photography he did during our trip!

Here's that list again of all my posts from our travels that I've posted -

Spain
•Introduction to my European backpacking trip and a list of places we visited
• Galicia - Baiona and Isle de Cies
• Galicia - the coast, some charming vineyards, and Pontevedra
• Santiago de Compostela and gorgeous hidden beaches
• Gorgeous mountain lakes of Picos de Europa
• Stunning mountains - Picos de Europa
• Bilbao and San Sebastian
• Beautiful Barcelona
• The amazing Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona
• Art Nouveau dream house by Gaudi in Barcelona

Italy
• Not to miss - the gorgeous rocky coast of Italy's Cinque Terre
• More from my summer traveling Europe - amazing Rome
• From my summer in Europe - amazing Pompeii
• Turquoise ocean and vineyards on cliffs - the amazingly stunning Amalfi coast
• My Summer in Europe: Pictures from lovely Florence, Italy
• Enchanting Siena
•Venice
•Lake Como, Italy

Switzerland
•Jungfrau region, Switzerland, Part 1
•Jungfrau region, Switzerland, Part 2

Germany
• One of my favorite cities from my European backpacking trips - Ulm, Germany
• Lake Constance
• Cute HOUSE Overload - the charming medieval homes of Germany's Romantic Road
• Regensburg, Germany, and Salzburg, Austria  

Austria
• Salzburg
• A charming lakeside village, Hallstatt
• Beautiful Vienna
• Kunst Haus Wien in Vienna

Hungary
• Budapest Part 1
• Budapest Part 2

Czech Republic
• Stunning Prague

Germany
• Berlin

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!!

Spaces I'm loving right now

My tastes in interiors have seemed to change in the last year or so. More and more I'm liking a sophisticated eclectic and transitional look over a shabby chic and country look.

What are you loving these days?

via 1. Milk and Honey Home,  2. Bolig Magasinet 3. Coco and Kelly, 4. Interiors Porn , 5.  Coco and Kelly, 6. House Beautiful

Ready for that room - or whole home makeover?

It's easy to dream about the home you'd create if only you'd have the time, and even if you are savvy and a talented decorator, sometime you still need help - or at least to partner with someone to help you keep on track and avoid mistakes that might have been avoided if you'd only had that second set of eyeballs checking dimensions or price tags.  Or, if you don't have the confidence to do it yourself, there are service out there to help you bring you ideas to fruition.

A lot of furniture stores offer complimentary design services, so remember to inquire if you make a purchase.

There are also many companies that will help you with the layout and design of your kitchen like Wren Living. Some of them will even install most of it for you!

There's also places like Wren's Living that will do every step with you. They help you plan, design, custom fit things in your space, install, and even go on to extend your care afterwards in case there are any mishaps. What ever company you go with, be sure to familiarize yourself with their warranty and guarantee information.

So if you aren't comfortable trying to figure out a space on our your own don't hesitate to ask for help! Sometimes having a designer there to walk you through things can make the process a lot smoother, and give you lots of little tips and tricks you wouldn't have thought of on your own.

Dinning Room Do Over

Today I want to share some idea for underutilized dinning rooms! Unless you are entertaining frequently this room seems to be used only on the holidays or large events. Here are some great ideas for utilizing the space year round!


via marthamoments

Use your dining room as an office! There are some seriously great perks to having your office in the dining room. Chances are better that you will keep it clean and working with a clean slate is a great way to start a work day. There are also creative ways you can contain your office items so that it isn't overwhelming when you need to convert the space back into a dining room!

via Houzz

Make your dining room a library too! Adding shelving on your dining room walls to hold your books can make for interesting dining room conversation as well! Add a comfy chair in the corner or by a window and you might find yourself getting away in that room more often than dining!


via pinterest

If you are looking for something a little more family friendly, you can add some games to your library and make it a family game night! Make it a getaway from all the electronic distractions and use this space to have a little more fun. Your dining room might become the families favorite space in the house.


via shorty114

Change up the seating! Make it a more cozy space instead of a stiff dining room set. Use your eat in kitchen for breakfast and lunch but take dinner to a new level by using the new comfy dining room. What's the point of having a space if your not going to use it?


via raisinguprubies

If you or your kids are crafty you can tie in this pace to store your items for those last minute project ideas! Throw a drop cloth over your dining room table and challenge yourself to make something new each week and utilize this space! The large dining room table will give you great work space and if you need it to go back to being a dinning room just move a few storage items out of the way!


via projectlittlesmith

If you need a more kid friendly space. Let the little ones take over this room when it's not in use! Finding great storage piece that can contain toys and double as a bar table during dinner parties.

There are so many easy combinations you can do to make a dining room a more usable space!

Charming chairs chosen for form and function

Finding the perfect chair may not seem as easy as picking from modern or traditional! I love chairs not only for there intended function but because of the cool sculptural quality some of them have. There are some seriously unique designs coming out of the wood works to make your space one of a kind.

via Houzz

Instead of decorating your room and adding chairs in, think twice about using your chairs for the decorative pieces. These tall gorgeous chairs are a VIP in what makes this room so gorgeous...

via pinterest

If you are using it in a small space and don't want the chair to be overwhelming, choosing a piece that has cut-outs or isn't one big solid block won't add too much visual weight, and won't clutter up the appearance of space. This wire chair also looks pretty interesting too... Finding unique chairs isn't always easy, but taking the time to search through the right stores can help you find that perfect piece. Of course, chairs can be pricey, but more and more manufacturers are making nice options that allow you to buy more than one!

via nytimes

Looking for something to go with a piece you already have but not blend in? This curvy chair matches the same theme of wood with black sleek lines but it definitely stands out on it's own making it feel unique and gorgeous. 

via bellamumma 

Maybe comfort is more your thing. You can find a really comfy chair that doesn't scream granddad's recliner. This one of a kind looks super cozy but is also really chic.  I could definitely get a lot of work done in that chair - and stay warm too!

via Houzz

If you are looking to mix and match, finding similar color or height chairs is a great way to keep the look of the room cohesive but still let your good eye for style and love of chair design shine.