Archive for the 'Everyday Design' Category

Carnival of Home Dwelling Day Six: Interior Design

Published by Sarah Bray on May 20, 2008 in Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling and Everyday Design. 6 Comments

Have you had a chance to visit Organizing Junkie yet? If not, you really should! I’m especially enjoying her link round-up of kids room resources right now. You can also visit some of my other talented friends while you’re at it!

Interior design is one thing that has always been a mystery to me. Perhaps because it seems to involve such a large amount of time and cash that I just do not have at the moment. But I do believe that the spaces we inhabit affect our lives deeply. So here comes the inspiration train…

Portland-based interior designer Kimberlee Jaynes has written an excellent article on 2008 color trends. I love her work!

 

 

 

 

Heather from Skinny Laminx has gotten quite a bit of press lately, and no wonder! Her beautiful tea towels are vibrant and such a refresher for any kitchen. Check out her blog for regular updates. (Her recent surface decals are really cool, too.)

 

 

 

PillowHappy is a sweet little etsy shop full of “pillow art,” such as the pair of dandelion pillows featured at left. I can’t choose which one I like best…those two or the orange square pillow? Decisions, decisions.

 

 

 

Luanne Bradley from EcoSalon introduces us to the Nomad System — a clever way of visually dividing a space. These build-it-yourself room dividers come in nine colors and can be assembled in really unique ways.

 

 

 

Andrew from the Home Decorating Reviews Blog is always finding cool things to share. Such as these interesting Harry Allen wall hooks, oh my.

 

 

 

 

I am a sucker for details. And Jackie from Sweetie Pie Pumpkin Noodle has provided them to my great delight! Her sweet nursery looks like such a welcoming place for any newborn — what a lucky little girl.

 

 

 

Andrew graces us with another cool find — a sink that also functions as an aquarium. If tapping on glass bothers fish, I wonder how annoyed they get when people spit toothpaste in their direction?

 

 

 

Kelleigh from Domestique has put together some exciting, non-traditional ideas for your home office. She’s absolutely right, too — why should our home offices be as boring as corporate ones?

 

 

 

Andrew brings us a quick-and-dirty post about how to choose a coffee table, whether you’re looking for modern, traditional, or something else entirely.

 

 

 

 

Another cool find from EcoSalon, this time from Kim Derby. Illuminated wallpaper from Jonas Samson. I did not even know this was possible until now.

 

 

 

 

Remember when it was cool to wallpaper your switchplates? Well, it just might become cool again with all the great paper designs that are out right now. Jackie from A Keeper’s Jackpot shows us how.

 

 

 

Thanks for all of the inspiration everyone! I’m off to re-paint my living room now. (No, not really. That sucker took 5 coats, and we will not be re-doing it any time soon.) And the winner is…

Jackie for her step-by-step look into her design of her daughter Kara’s nursery! Yay Jackie! Please be sure to send me an email (sarahjoy AT todayshomemaker DOT com) with your address so that I can send your prize package.

I am enjoying this carnival so much…and tomorrow’s post is no exception. Join us tomorrow as we focus on Organization (cleaning included!).

Everyday Design: Emma Cassi’s beautiful home featured on Design*Sponge

Published by Sarah Bray on April 21, 2008 in Everyday Design. 2 Comments

There is so much amazing stuff going on in the design world right now. A lot of times I just glance over articles quickly without really considering how I can use the information to make my home a better place. So today I’m going to pause and reflect on one of my favorite sneak peeks that I’ve seen lately. And that would be Grace’s article on jewelry designer and interior stylist Emma Cassi’s home. Click on the image to see the full article at Design*Sponge1.

I feel like whenever I post something from Design*Sponge, everyone and their dog already knows about it. But that’s okay because it inspires me nonetheless. Emma Cassi has an absolutely gorgeous home, and I love how she makes plain white walls work so well. I remember living in one of our first apartments, thinking “When I own my own place, I will finally be able to decorate.” I just didn’t know what I was talking about. Apparently those white walls which I deemed impossible to work with can work quite well in the hands of someone who is talented at such things.

Things I want to implement in my house:

  • White mantel. We are in the process of turning our formal living room into a master bedroom. It has this great fireplace, but the wood is old and dated. I think a coat of crisp white paint would help it out a ton.
  • Towels stacked on a chair. I think having towels on display in my bathroom would make me feel like I’m at a great little bed and breakfast. Of course, I’d have to get new towels. All of mine are quite ragged. I’d be interested in seeing how someone makes raggedy old towels look chic! It seems like some people can do ANYthing, but I would be truly amazed at that.
  • Silhouette in the mirror. Both my daughter and son have sliding mirrored doors in their rooms, which are not really my style, but they’ll have to work for now. Now this photo has got me wondering — is there something MORE I can do with those mirrors? Surely that’s not a piece of paper stuck on the front. And it doesn’t really look like a reflection. So I’m just going to go ahead and say that there is a black silhouette on the mirror, and I want to know how to get such a shape on mine. Any ideas?
  • Painted white floors. I’ve said before that I want to paint my floors, and I’ve mentioned it to my husband a few times. He just replies, “But when they’re painted, they’re painted. You can’t get the wood back.” And that is why I hesitate. Also, I’d love to be sure that I got those lovely dark cracks to show through between the floorboards. Wonder how that’s done? It seems I’m giving more questions than answers in this post. Moving on.
  • Horizontal stripe around the room where a chair rail would be. I just think this is so understatedly cool. I’m not sure how it would look on my son’s textured walls, though.
  • Vintage-y leather recliners. Don’t those look like the comfiest things in the world? I imagine if I sat in one in the morning, I might not get back up until 3 in the afternoon.

So what do you see that would look good in YOUR house?

  1. Why didn’t you guys tell me that link wasn’t working?! Now it is. :) [↩]

Everyday Design

Published by Sarah Bray on April 3, 2008 in Everyday Design. 3 Comments

I think spring fever is hitting all of us. We want our houses to reflect our lightened moods and the extended daylight we now have. I hope the following finds will inspire you to make some design changes for the better.

For when you need a better place to do your work…
Home Office e-Consult from Holly Becker and Vanessa De Vargas at decor8. Holly and Vanessa have put together an amazing plan for re-thinking Heather’s home office. I can’t believe how much information they were able to give her just by looking at photographs! I wonder if you can pay for this type of online consultation…it could be a more economical way to receive personalized design help. Will have to do more research.

For when you want to update a room for a more current look…
Anthropologie’s Open House [via decor8]. Though I doubt their stuff falls in the category of “everyday design,” clicking around in Anthropologie’s stylized rooms offers loads and loads of inspiration.

For when you hate, hate, HATE your dining area and instead of moping, you want to fix it up…
Dining room round-up by Victoria at sfgirlbybay. I love the painted floors in photo number one. We have ugly old hardwood floors (yes, they really are not cute, unbelievably!) and I have always dreamed of having the guts to paint them. Sort of like I dream of having the guts to paint my kitchen cabinets. I guess I’m what you would call a design wimp.

For when you need a little MORE dining room inspiration…
Four New Dining Room Ideas from Nicole Balch at Making It Lovely. I love the first collection, but John would never go for that much pink.

For when you want to bring the most light possible into a room…
White Floors by Zee at Homebug [via Design*Sponge]. Another example of painted wood floors. I think someone’s trying to tell me something!

For when you want to update that hand-me-down dresser…
Give Old Shabby, Furniture a Fresh, Modern Facelift by Chris [via Design*Sponge]. I COMPLETELY LOVE all of the fun things you can do with gift wrap…what a cool way to transform your furniture. With all of the gorgeous wrapping paper out there, it seems a shame to waste it by tearing it to bits to get at a present. This is a much better option.