{friday finds: 5 simple home upgrades}

No matter the year, painting remains the easiest and most affordable way to get your home on trend and feel refreshed. This do-it-yourself transformation adds personality to any room. Whether you’re starting from the bottom up and reworking the whole house, or changing one room at a time, here are five ideas to inspire you.

{friday finds: pallets project}

Wood pallet project ideas embrace the inner do-it-yourselfer. They range on any level of expertise and the ideas never run out. From chic and elegant to country rustic, wooden pallets accentuate decorations and room color. These often discarded pieces can easily be attained. As they say, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure!

{when to splurge and when to save when decorating your home}

Furnishing a home can be a major investment. You have the necessities – a table, bed, dinnerware, and a place to sit. Then you have the “nice to haves” – wall art, fancy lighting, a glam rug, and accessories to tie the space together. When you’re excited about decorating, and anxious to get started, the line can easily become blurry between the two categories. Which is why we love Apartment Therapy’s post on when to splurge and when to save when furnishing your home.

Here are some of their tips:

Splurge where your health is concerned.
This means mattresses, office chairs and work surfaces at the proper height for the job at hand. If you’re lucky you may find these items at a bargain price, but generally I’d suggest budgeting more for items which directly affect your health and comfort.

A comfortable looking office, color on the wall is Benjamin Moore Hot Apple Spice 2005-20.

We would also add that along with furniture that affects your health, products that affect your health. Consider going with a low or no VOC paint to cut down on odor. Hirshfield’s offers Preserve LOW VOC INTERIOR LATEX FLAT with Microban® antimicrobial product protection and Benjamin Moore Natura® Zero-VOC Interior Paint.

Splurge on statement pieces.
These are the pieces that you love, that you’ll take with you when you move, that make your home feel like yours. The Eames chair which detracts from the big-box store sofa, or the vintage armoire which makes putting away the laundry fun. It goes without saying that falling in love with pieces that are also functional is advisable, but it doesn’t always work out that way.

{creating a sophisticated kids room}

Ask any parent and they will tell you that kids grow up just too darn fast. So when it comes to decorating their bedroom, you want to make sure you invest your dollars wisely to create a space that can grow with them.

Decorating a nursery
Decorating a nursery for baby is one of those special moments in parenthood. And when you first bring your sweet baby home it it can sometimes be hard to imagine that one day they won’t be needing a changing table, crib or rocking chair. So when planning the decor for your nursery, think about adding pieces that can transition from baby to toddler to tween to teen.

In this European-inspired nursery, a neutral wall color offsets the whimsical curtains and furniture. The paint color, Benjamin Moore‘s Caramel Apple, will serve as the perfect neutral backdrop for many years to come. The fabric on the window treatments is playful, yet sophisticated. And the changing tray can be removed from the chest of drawers for an easy transition from nursery to child’s room.

Design Dazzle

Design Dazzle

{friday finds: inspiration rooms: loft design}

Loft:

• A large, usually unpartitioned floor over a factory, warehouse, or other commercial or industrial space.
• Such a floor converted into an apartment or artist’s studio.

Demi Moore's loft in "Ghost"

The word “Loft” has shifted meaning over the years. It used to adhere to the standard, textbook definition above. But in the 1990s, developers started building “lofts.”

But whether it’s an industrial rehab or new construction, nowadays “loft” is a loose way of saying: “This place is very, very hip.” Yet despite it’s “hipness”, lofts can sometime be challenging to decorate. Wide open floor plans make it challenging to define individual spaces,  and cold, industrial elements can make it hard to create a homey environment.

When you land your dream loft, keep these decorating tips in mind:

• Defining the Space: Start by walking around your loft to find the best spot for the living area, sleeping space and dining room. The living area should have a room with a view, so arrange your sofa where you will be able to take full advantage of the scenery. However, for your bedroom you probably want to choose an area that has a little less sunlight so as not to disturb your beauty sleep.
• Choosing a Style: Most lofts lend themselves to a more contemporary or modern style of décor, with sleek lines and smooth surfaces. However, you can soften the look of the space by combing traditional antiques with modern furniture or by placing plants or other natural elements throughout the loft.
• Choosing a Color Palette: A common color scheme in decorating a loft is neutral, with hues of beige, taupe and white throughout. Since most lofts are made up of one large, uninterrupted space, it’s usually best to stick with a single color palette. But don’t be afraid to go bold with an accent wall or wall art!
• Dealing with High Ceilings: Ceilings in lofts tend to be high, and usually feature exposed ductwork and beams. To visually lower the ceiling and camouflage some unwanted features, consider painting the ceiling a darker color like a rich brown or even black. You can also add architectural elements like crown molding to bring the ceiling height down.

{decorating the outdoors like the indoors}

We’ve talked about bringing the outside in when it comes to decorating, but we haven’t yet talked about bringing the indoors out. It may seem strange to create an outdoor living space that mimics the inside of your house, but we think we can sway your opinion with these ideas.

The hearth is the heart of the home, whether it’s indoors or outdoors. A warm fire allows you to enjoy chilly evenings outside when you would normally retreat indoors. A large picnic table and lots of seating will allow you to entertain family and friends around the fireplace.

Better Homes & Gardens

House Beautiful

{inspiration rooms: master bedrooms}

You probably spend more time in your bedroom than any other room in your home.  Yet, many people neglect the design and feel of their bedrooms. Here is some inspiration to get you thinking outside those four plain white walls.

Candace Olson/HGTV

{mexican design}

In honor of Cinco de Mayo, we’re going south of the border to look at Mexican design. This is a style known for its love of vibrant color and rustic elements.

The feeling of Mexican design is one of joy – as well as being welcoming and friendly. This is not a style for someone who doesn’t want color in their home. Bright vibrant yellows, reds and blues will bring the fiesta feel to your home.
Terracottas and browns can work as accents. Muted and dusky colors also work well in this palette. You really just want to stay away from pastels if you’re going for Mexican design.

Natural, hardwood flooring are a perfect fit for a Mexican-inspired home. Clay or ceramic tiles can also bring the the feel of Mexico to a kitchen or entryway. If you want something softer underfoot, look for woven rugs.

A mosaic backsplash in the kitchen would inspire a batch of fresh salsa.

Mosaic Tiles

The furniture you choose can also evoke a sense of Mexican style. Look for wood in pine or a warm wood like cherry.  You can update a piece by adding rustic, iron hardware.

Devine Paint, available at Hirshfield’s, has multiple color palettes that lend themselves nicely to a Mexican color scheme. These colors enhance the wood in your home, everything from  flooring to furniture to trim, for a warm, rustic feeling. You can see all the Devine color palettes here.

Devine, Desert Lights

Devine, Sweet & Hot Beans

{irish design}

Top o’ the mornin’ to you! With St. Patrick’s Day getting closer, now is the time to take note of Irish design and the many ways to add green to your home. Why green on St. Partick’s Day? In addition to green being one of the colors in Ireland’s tri-color flag, Ireland is also known as the “Emerald Isle” for its lush green landscape. Today, people around the world have come to associate green with this holiday, named for Ireland’s patron saint.

The color green is associated with nature, health, and wealth. Find the perfect hue for your home, which can be used in any room. Wake up each morning to a vibrant shade of jade, lime, or sea green, as used in this master bedroom, and step into your day refreshed and energized.

House Beautiful

If you’re seeking a pot of gold – one of St. Patrick’s Day most prominent symbols – you’re in luck! Gold accents and metallic trims can be used on window treatments, furniture, and artwork throughout your house. Make your bathroom a luxurious masterpiece with gold tile and fixtures.

Homedecorg.com

Add Irish design and Celtic inspired pieces to your living quarters by incorporating classic symbols, like spirals, crosses, and knots. Lamps, rugs, and wallpaper borders can provide a subtle hint to Irish roots.

Irish on Grand

If, however, at the end of the day, you’d like to retreat to a traditional Irish pub without making your way to Ireland, relax in a replica in the privacy of your own home.

Glen Gallery

Irish eyes can be smiling this St. Patty’s Day and every day by incorporating Irish design in your home!

{decorating with red and pink}

Break out the red and pink – the lovey-dovey feeling of Valentine’s Day is still lingering! While you’re decorating your home with the colors of this lover’s holiday and adding heart-shaped pillows, placemats, and rugs to your space, do you know why we use these symbolic hues every February?

The three principal colors associated with Valentine’s Day are red, pink, and white. Each has a unique meaning to add to any Valentine’s Day celebration, and all can be used in your home separately or in any combination.

Décor Pad

Red represents desire, strength, and passionate love, and is connected to beauty and courage. It’s no wonder that red roses are so popular this time of year.

HGTV

When you’re thinking pink, you should think of grace, gentility, and joy, three characteristics of this color. Pink is also associated with youthfulness and warmth.

Country Living

Finally, white evokes innocence, modesty, admiration, and elegance.

Elle Decor

Fill your home with love the corresponding colors of Cupid this Valentine’s Day!