Kitchen Inspiration! Open up those shelves

I keep seeing open shelving in the kitchen and I'm starting to love the look. It's a great way to open up your kitchen since bulky shelving can take up a lot of visual space. This is also a great way to keep yourself organized since you don't want your shelves looking messy!

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If you aren't sure whether open shelves works for you, consider taking out one or two just to see how it goes!

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Not only are they great for storage but it's a great way to add a little decor to your kitchen as well!

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If you need larger shelving space going with large open cabinets may be what you need! It still gives you the visual open kitchen but doesn't lack in storage.

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Love all the jars labeled for organizing dry goods.
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There are so many different styles of shelves, have fun with it and find a shelf that matches your style and home decor. Of course, if you know there's just no way you can keep your stuff tidy, stick with cabinets...

Feminine, glamorous interiors

Loving this pink and gold.  I don't know how much of this my sweetums would tolerate.

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If only my dining room was ever this clean and serene.  It's being used as an office until Chris is finished with his masters, and promises that once he's done the table will always be clear.  Time will tell...

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Add A Little Interest To Your Hallway

Since hallways aren't meant for hanging out, we tend to leave them out of the decor process. Here are a few ideas to bring your hallway a little more love:

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Add a touch of luxury with decorative molding. It's eye catching without taking up necessary space so it's perfect for small hallways and tight corners.

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Add decorative corbels or moulding for some character.
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Add a dynamic impact to your hall by adding a chair rail and painting one half a contrasting color.
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Adding some floor to ceiling curtains can make the hallway feel more luxurious and grand. A beautiful light fixture makes the space seem well thought out.

Decorating for the later years

As we grow older, there are many things we need to consider. From what we’ll do with our time, to how we’ll stay fit and healthy, the options at our disposal are endless and that can leave us a little unsure about what to do.

In particular, how we approach decorating our homes can be a tricky thing to manage. It may seem relatively unimportant in the grand scheme of things but the appearance of our home can have a profound impact on our attitudes, emotional health and general well being.

No one wants to spend their retirement staring at four unsightly walls and here we look at a few tips for decorating your home in your later years.

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Shelf for success

From books and ornaments to films and music, you’ll undoubtedly have a lot of need for storage in your home. Wall-mounted shelves should be at an accessible height and not contain anything too heavy. Anything you require regular access too should be stored at a comfortable height on freestanding bookshelves or display units. You can always arrange items by color for something artistic and playful.

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Spare a thought for cleaning and maintenance of these though. Depending on where you live, you may be able to get some help with this. For example, retirement property for sale from leading firms like McCarthy and Stone offer domestic cleaning services with some of their developments.

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Get it framed

Whether you’re a proud grandparent who wants to show off pictures of their beautiful grand kids or someone looking to take a trip down memory lane through old photos, it’s important you get them framed.

There are many styles to choose from but popular favorites include collage frames which display multiple photos in a large frame or single frames arranged in a symmetrical or eclectic pattern. This set-up can also be applied to artwork as well as to personal photographs.

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Go minimalist

Accessibility is an important buzzword as you age so make sure your decorating takes this into account. Keep walkways clear to prevent the risk of falls and embrace minimalist styles that promote clean layouts and minimal furniture. Combine natural woods with light, neutral colors for a stylish contrast.

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The easy, livable style of interior designer Sasha Emerson

Interior designer Sasha Emerson adds an undeniable sense of ease and comfort to her spaces. They all have a quality of warmth and family, and with character to boot! The four below showcase the home of Emerson herself.  You can see and read the entire article at Country Living.

Love the gray of the walls with the tan console and headboard.

Below are some of my favorite spaces from her website.

What do you think of Emerson's style?

Bright and easy spaces

Here are some rooms I am loving these days. A touch of color, great windows, natural light, and a feeling of ease and comfort that makes you want to stay for a while.

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The foliage in this bright office provides the pop of color.
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Small laundry room inspiration

When did it finally sink in that I was a homeowner?  It wasn't when I was carrying boxes in to our living room or kitchen, it was when I walked past our laundry room for the first time.  I know it sounds silly, but I have never had my own laundry room - I either had to go to a laundromat or down the hall to the residents' laundry room. However, since this space isn't usually seen by guests it tends to be put on the back burner for any updates. I like to remember how grateful I am to finally have my own laundry room by keeping it functional and organized.  Below are some dream laundry rooms for inspiration

Even if you only have a laundry nook, make it feel more luxe with an updated lighting fixture, and sleek shelving with organized supplies.
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Love this Stain kit idea!
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You can still make a small laundry space work for you and be pretty too. Making the most of the room you do have may take a little creativity and narrowing down your items to just necessities, but making it functional will really help you enjoy this space.

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Don't forget about the accessories! Have fun with them and mix them up since there are a lot of different small items that get put in the laundry room. Baskets and clear jars keep smaller items from creating visual clutter.

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Giving your laundry room a makeover doesn't need to be pricey. A few cabinets and a table top to fold your clothes can really make a difference in the room. Also adding a touch of color with some paint can make it feel more like a homey space than a commercial laundry.

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If you laundry room has plenty of space you might consider a wash tub or sink, and some hang up space for those items that need to hang dry.  I think laundry room slop sinks are a must.  We don't have one yet, but it's on my registry! A rug can also add a little comfort to this space to keep it from being to stiff and cold.