Decorator Concept Shops

Anthropologie, one of my favs, just launched new workshop style shops where you can get help with design, while shopping for your house.  These workshops are to help inspire ideas, spark creativity, and offer up resources presented in a way to help you with styling your home….plus access to sample books, decorating assistance, and previously online-only products including wallpaper collections from Cole & Son, Tracy Kendall, and others.  In-store workshops will host design experts and special events, and product information and resources will be on hand for shoppers.

The new quarterly Anthology Magazine (*yippeee*) will also be available at these workshops, which are available in 11 U.S. cities and in London.

• Atlanta, Georgia
• Beverly Hills, California
• Chicago, Illinois
• Corte Madera, California
• Denver, Colorado
• Houston, Texas
• London, United Kingdom
• Miami, Florida
• Nashville, Tennessee
• New York, New York
• Wayne, Pennsylvania
• Westport, Connecticut

Images: Oh Joy

If you don’t live close to one of these eleven locations, the decorator concept is also available to all customers online with the decorator shop online!  *yay!*  The interactivity of the online feature is wonderful!  If you’re anything like me, easily overwhelmed with all the gorgeous options out there, then you’ll definitely appreciate this.

It is full of decorating tips for decorating with hardware , area rugs, wallpaper, other textiles, and more…and all presented with beautiful graphics.  Plus, the site makes it super easy to order swatches in wallpaper, fabrics, etc (for free!).  …AND…there’s even a glossary for those of you who don’t know some design-y terminology.

Happy decorating!

Ruffled curtains are gorg

Image: Desire to Inspire

Oh my!  I am in love with these!  Must.  Make.  Soon.

The end.

Here’s how to make your own Terrarium (a self- sustaining garden)

I’ve always loved terrariums, but lately they’ve stormed the design and blog world with a frenzy so now I am set on bringing these little self-contained gardens to my readers!  Not to mention, a friend asked me the other day to write a post on them for her…so here you go!

A terrarium is a collection of small plants growing in a transparent, sealed container.  It is a closed environment, and can actually be used to illustrate how an ecosystem works!  Pretty amazing stuff!  Inside a terrarium’s walls, many different natural processes may be observed: such as photosynthesis, respiration, and the water cycle.  The water in the terrarium is constantly recycled.  As the moisture in the air condenses on the glass walls, it returns to the soil and is absorbed by the plants’ roots.

Image: Katy Elliot

All that is to say, terrariums are the perfect garden for any of you urban city dwellers desperate for a little green.  …Or for those of us who tend to neglect our indoor plants, ie: me.  Oops.

Many people have tried and failed at creating successful terrariums.  Here’s how to proudly accomplish your terrarium endeavors!

This diy terrarium video, created by Sprout, is the ultimate helpful tool in creating your own DIY terrarium.  Below, the steps and details are written out for you…but I recommend starting with the video.

You’ll need:

Clear glass or plastic container. Here are some awesome terrarium containers (scroll to the bottom), or apothecary jars, or you can use something you find around the house.

Wooden headboard

Yes, it’s a bit weird that the most random things give me inspiration!  Ideas are a flowin’!   …I’d love to do an invite in this kind of style…

This is the simplest headboard to make.  And when paired with clean, modern bedding it is perfectly sweet, rustic, charming, and earthy all in one.

Source: House Tweaking

Use flush mount hangers (you can find them at ACE Hardware, Lowes, etc) to attach to the wall & to the boards.

Gorgeous!

Here’s how to cheaply & easily revamp your lamp base for a new look

I’ve searched high & low for the perfect gourd lamp for my house.

If you don’t know what a gourd lamp is- here are some in the image below:

Source: Garnet Hill

And they are $230.  Most of the other gourd lamps I found were all at least $150.  If you’re anything like me…I’d rather spend that $150 on, well, pretty much anything other than a little side-table lamp.  So how about buying a cheap gourd lamp, or any lamp with a great shape,  (think: Lowes, Home Depot, Ikea, TJ Maxx) and painting it the exact right color you want?  Or, revamp an outdated brass (or any *ugly*) lamps you own already.

Here’s how with this brilliant tutorial I found on Isabella & Max Rooms.  This is so simple, cheap, and failproof!  I can’t wait to do this to my own lamps at home, hidden in the storage closet, that badly need to be brought into this decade.

Here are some dark blue gourd lamps found for $39 that didn’t match Janell Beals’ bedroom decor.  So instead of giving up, she gave them a make-over!

First, wrap & tape the socket and cords with plastic to protect them from getting covered with paint

Second, spray the lamps with Rust-Oleum’s White Primer.  Wait for the first coat to dry, then apply a second coat to make sure your original color is completely covered.

Third, between any applications of paint, lightly sand the surface with 220 grit sandpaper, removing any little bubbles created by the spraying process.  Wipe down with a cotton rag after sanding to remove all dust.

Fourth, 24 hrs later, these lamps were sprayed with two coats of Rust-Oluem’s Heirloom White.  Rust-Oleum has plenty of other gorgeous colors!  Just make sure your primer is 100% dry before applying your color.

Last, spray the lamps with Rust-Oluem’s Clear Protective Finish in Gloss.

And voila!  You’ve got a gorgeous new lamp base in any color you want!

I love love the result!

Pictures from Isabella & Max Rooms.

Thanks to Janell Beals for her incredibly creative inspiration!

Should you paint your wood floors or is that blasphemous?

The clouds have parted and the sun is shining down upon *dadada daaa* the next trend I bring you…painted wood floors!  They’re striking, fascinating, awesome…

Or are they?

To tell you the truth, I am very torn about this trend.  I love wood floors.  Real, original, rich wood floors- especially rustic or dark wood floors.  Yum.  So the idea of painting over those floors, permanently…well, it kind of makes my stomach knot up with guilt.  And I’m not the only one.  This trend seems to bring a mixed bag of feelings for everyone, and there are heated conversations all over the web about it.  Yikes!

However, being the moderate, well-balanced, and in-the-middle gal I try to be, I do also think painted wood floors are quite fabulous!  In my opinion, I believe if your wood floors are in bad shape & need to be re-done anyway then you should go for it  and not feel guilty!  Painted wood floors can be elegant or funky, bold or understated.  They are really versatile.  Thing is, I don’t think this trend is for any house, any room.  I think it works in some houses, some rooms, some spaces.

My very general guidelines for the go ahead on painting your wood floors is for use in:

- cabins

- beachy, rustic, or old (100+ yr old) homes

- eclectic, one-of-a-kind homes

- artist, designer, or photographer homes & studio spaces

- guest houses

- very contemporary homes

- offices

- kids rooms

- sitting rooms

If your space doesn’t fit into any of those categories, don’t get me wrong…it might still look amazing with a painted floor.  Or, maybe you’re just looking to make a statement, because a painted floor will.  If so, I applaud your gutsiness and chutzpah.

By the way, you can paint your concrete floors too!  Think patios, porches, & basements.  Yum!

Here are some of the best in painted floor designs

Wide Open Spaces

Wide Open Spaces

Wide Open Spaces

Material Girls Blog

Times Union

Better Homes & Gardens

Down & Out Chic

Design Amour

Living Etc

Apartment Therapy

Studio Nico

BEFORE

Grace Designs Dallas

AFTER

Grace Designs Dallas

Grace Designs Dallas

Here is a great tutorial on how to paint your floors and what kind of paint to use.

Oh, and never paint on a wet day!

Chalkboard inspiration you can steal

I LOVE chalkboard everything, so I’ve decided to gather a collection of the best chalkboard inspiration out there.

This is a must for a wall in my 100+ yr old home in the near future.  Just have to get around to doing it!

The best thing about chalkboard paint now is it doesn’t have to be black anymore.  At the bottom of this post you’ll find information about making your own chalkboard paint in ANY color!

Image: Magnetic Chalkboard Paint

Image: Style Files

Image: House Obsession

Image: Living Etc.

Image: Design Sponge

Image: Chelsea Connolly

Image: Michelle Lunt

Image: House of Chic & Penoche

Loving the trompe l’oeil idea!

Image: Swatches & Switches

This image above made me think about headboards.  I would love to paint the wall behind my bed with chalkboard paint, and then draw a gorgeous elaborate headboard on there, and change it up whenever I feel like it!!  Only problem is the pillows and the chalk being rubbed off.  But it’s not out of the picture.  Maybe I’ll just start the drawing up a little bit higher.  First, I have to convince the hubby it was his idea.  *wink*

Image: Moxie Fab World

Would love to utilize this chalkboard calendar in our studio/office.  Genius!

Image: Houzz

Image: Style Files

Image: Anthropologie

As usual, Anthropologie has some of the most inspirational set design out there!  Love love the idea of drawing frames, chandeliers, and more onto a chalkboard wall.  In real life though, the chalkboard rug isn’t such a great idea.

If you’re not digging the black because you’re worried it will be too dark, check out Martha Stewart’s article on how to make your own chalkboard paint in any color at the bottom of the article.  It requires a flat-finish latex paint in any shade & un-sanded tile grout mixed into it.

I’m planning to follow this post up with chalkboards in wedding decor, so keep your eyes peeled.

And don’t forget to send your pictures to us!!