Feng Shui 101

09 Saturday Nov 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, Guest Posts, The Home

Tags

Chinese, decor, energy, environment, Feng Shui, gryffin media, home, house, Soothing Walls

The inspiration that drives your home decor choices stem from a lot of places. The colors you like, the space you have, your budget, and style. One thing that is sometimes overlooked is how the items you chose to fill the space make you feel. The environment that you choose to surround yourself with can affect the energy that flows into your home; or at least that’s what Feng shui states.

Feng shui is an ancient Chinese philosophical system of home design and decor that is rooted in the belief that your human experiences in and outside your home are linked to your immediate surroundings. An example of a Feng shui principle is that the items in your kitchen are connected to the wealth and prosperity that you experience in your life. For more tips and to learn a little bit more about Feng shui, check out this infographic below, brought to you by Soothing Walls.

The style of Feng shui depicted here is a Western style that does not rely on any sort of compass directions. Instead, a template is offered with 9 squares that each correspond to an area of your home. To get started, just align the bottom of the grid with the front of your house. Check it out below!

Written by Naomi Shaw for Soothing Walls

Naomi Shaw is a freelance writer from Southern California. She loves to write about crafting, diy, and home decor. When she’s not writing she loves to spend time with her family and children.

Guest Post: 5 Ways to Get More Space from Your Kitchen

11 Thursday Jul 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, Guest Posts, The Home

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

aubrey madrona, cleaning, kitchen, kitchen shelving, marble mosaic, organization, pot racks, pull out drawers, space, Storage, wall space

Most people seldom realize that a clean-spacey kitchen is important. If a guest walks in and sees a dirty living room and a clean kitchen, that would at least be pardonable. But if they walk in and see a clean living room and filthy kitchen, the house would look dirty and the people would come across as unhygienic. A dirty living room is better than a dirty kitchen (of course it’d best if you could clean ‘em both).

If you’re looking to redesign your kitchen, instead of just adding that cute colored glass mosaic tiles backsplash or buying the new rose gold flatware set, you might want to consider freeing up some space to make your kitchen look neater. Here are a couple of tips:

Wall Hang-Ups
In these modern times, everything is multifunctional. A sofa actually turns into a bed, a table into chairs, a garden into a party area. A wall is not just a wall. It’s another dimension of usable space. Use it to hang pots, chopping boards, kitchen utensils, ladles. Or if you’re not really into just plainly hanging stuff, then build cabinets into it. It’ll cost you a little more, but at least everything is tucked in – out of sight, out of mind.

Photo Credit: Fresh Home

Photo Credit: Decoist

Organized Shelves
Shelves are very practical for kitchens. If you want easy access to your materials and ingredients, a shelf will do much better than a cabinet. Shelves are also cheaper to make. If you’re the DIY kind of person, you won’t have any trouble at all. However, with shelves, people just tend to get careless over time and just place materials anywhere they want to. To ensure that you stay organized, give each shelf a category – maybe one for spices, one for seasonings, and another for plates or glasses.

Photo Credit: Mackenzie Horan

Photo Credit: DIY Network

Pull-Out Drawers
If you’re still having your house designed, make sure that you’ve got ample drawer space in the kitchen. Or at least have the initiative to add some. Most kitchen designers usually go with a crisp and neat design in mind – so hiding things (or shall we say hiding a mess) is essential. Pull-out drawers are great for hiding utensils and cutlery, it keeps them out of countertops which frankly look better if it were neat. The only complaint people make for pull-out drawers is that you always have to open each one ‘because it’s so easy to forget – good exercise to jog our memory perhaps?

Photo Credit: Home Tone

Guest Post: 5 Ways to Get More Space from Your Kitchen

Under-The-Sink Storage
I’m sure that you don’t use all of your stuff in the kitchen all the time. Most times we like to collect stuff until we don’t use them anymore. So, if you’re not so keen in giving them away, then you could probably hide them under the sink for a while. We mostly put the cleaning detergents there, but you can probably scoot them over so that you can put other “unnecessary” kitchen stuff.

Photo Credit: Real Simple

Photo Credit: Real Simple

Be Responsibly Organized
In order to get that spacey-clean look for your kitchen, there is something that we must personally do – be organized. What good is cleaning a kitchen if we’re just going to dirty it a day later? And this isn’t just a lone ranger’s duty. Everyone in the house should have that collective effort and awareness to keep the kitchen spic and span.

{Aubrey Madrona is a Social Media Specialist. She loves Music and spends a lot of her time playing piano and reading. She’s currently building her reputation as an online writer of Marble Mosaic.}

Yard Sales: What to Look for and What to Avoid

26 Wednesday Jun 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Edward Stuart, Guest Posts, Shopping

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

antique, art, artwork, china plates, clothing, dishware, frames, furniture, recycle, reuse, shopping, used, vintage, yard sales

Going to yard sales can not only save the money in your wallet, but it can also give you tons of inspiration! You know what they say—another man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

Going through yard sales can be frustrating at times, especially when you aren’t specifically looking for something. However, I got some top things to look for at yard sales, that’ll keep you on your toes, and inspire you into creating your own designs for your very own home.

Photo Credit: 92.9 Jack FM

Frames
Usually at yard sales, there is plenty of art work that they are trying to get rid of. Now, try to not pay attention to the art work within the frame (unless you really like it), and just look at the frame itself. Reusing old and unique antique framed art can really dress up the look in your living space.

Furniture
Let’s be more specific—wooden furniture. This way, you can aspire to decorate and design it in whichever fashion you like; even if it’s just refurnishing it. This is a quick and simple fix up, and something that can look great in your house: a dresser, a kitchen table, a night stand—you name it!

Dishware
This can include Tupperware, mason jars, or even china plates! You’ll be really surprised at some of the dishware found at yard sales. These are all things that are valuable and usable. If you’re able to get your hands on china plates, all the more power to you!

These three items can really help you narrow down what you’re searching for at yard sales, and can keep your eyes focused on the prize. These items can also be easily reused for decoration and design for your own home, resulting in overall happiness between seller and buyer. Even though there are great finds at yard sales, there are also things you want to stay away from.

Sleepwear
Now, this can all be up to you. Usually however, bugs like the home of used mattresses, sleeping bags, etc. There is a reason they are trying to sell this—and it’s better to stay away from it, rather than rack up exterminator fees.

Electronics
If they are selling any type of electronic (dvd player, mp3 player, etc.) it’s either because it’s out of date, or doesn’t work. Stay away from these!

Clothes
Unless the person you’re buying the clothes for is with you, then I would suggest not buying any sort of apparel. These clothes (even though you can find great deals) are loose, and were eventually formed to fit the seller. If you’re going to buy apparel, make sure and check the size, and the size of the person you’re buying it for.

Yard sales can be fun—you can find great deals, and amazing things to decorate the home. Just because someone else thinks it’s unusable, doesn’t mean you can’t recreate it to make a masterpiece of your very own. Get creative, and have fun!

Written by Edward Stuart

How to Design a Gorgeous Guest Room

19 Wednesday Jun 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, Guest Posts, Janet Majors, The Home

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

casters, cleaning, decorating, design, furniture, guest room, home, interior design, Storage, vacation retreat

Despite the countless decisions that must be made, most people greatly enjoy decorating their own homes. Its the opportunity to truly express one’s tastes in terms of colors, arrangement, texture, lighting, and much more. Its a chance to create spaces of relaxation and comfort that are truly unique. Unfortunately, one room that often gets overlooked when it comes to decorating is the guest room. Too often guest rooms are either completely bland and reminiscent of economy hotel rooms {see below} or a collection of mismatched furniture that feels more like a storage facility than anything else. However, it isn’t all that difficult to create a gorgeous guest room. Here are some decorating tips.

How to Design a Gorgeous Guest Room

Create a vacation retreat.
Whether a relative is coming to town for a wedding or your best friend is spending his or her actual vacation with you, make your guest room feel like a luxurious hotel room. To do so break out the “good” linens. Since your guest probably won’t be staying more than a week, don’t be afraid to use fabrics that you would typically avoid because they may stain or are fragile. For instance, a thick white down comforter will create a crisp, clean, and comfortable sleeping space.

Photo Credit: Avondale Custom Homes

Anticipate the guest’s needs
Decorating isn’t all about appearance. Its also about creating a comfortable, welcoming space. In order to make your guests feel comfortable, anticipate their needs. For instance, someone traveling may be experiencing jet lag or simply want to sleep in, so make sure your guest room has drapes that are up to the task of fully blocking out the sun. In addition, remember that your guest probably won’t need a ton of storage space (since they probably won’t be there long) but they will need surfaces on which to set toiletries (if there isn’t a dedicated bathroom), a cell phone, reading material, laptop, etc. Consider getting nested bedside tables with casters on them. That way, if your guest needs extra space he or she can pull out another table. When no one is staying with you, the tables with neatly stack up. If you can’t find tables with casters already on them, adding casters is a super simple task. Here’s a guide to picking casters based on needs and floor type.

Photo Credit: Stage Tecture

Photo Credit: Svajoniu

Don’t be afraid of expressing yourself
The truth is, this is a guest room – not a bedroom. Meaning, that the person using the room is simply visiting and not living there. The room is still a part of your house. That means that you should not be afraid to use colors and textures you find pleasing. If you want the space to be neutral, you can still use throw pillows, accessories such as vases or books, or a chair to add pops of color and texture.

Photo Credit: About.com

Remember, less is more
Don’t over decorate or clutter up your guest room. Your guest will need a minimal amount of furniture during their stay and will not want to feel overwhelmed with trinkets or bric-a-brac. Go for a bed with a light and heavy blanket (to meet your guest’s temperature needs), nesting tables, a small dresser, hangers in the closet, a lamp, a chair, and a few accessories. Always keep in mind that this is not a storage space! The goal here is to make the room feel clean and simple – not barren. As mentioned above, use color, different textures, and luxurious items to make the space feel welcoming rather than cold.

Photo Credit: MSN Living

Keep it clean
Often times, guest rooms sit forgotten and closed up until the days right before a guest arrives. Things will be much easier on you if you keep the room aired out and clean it regularly. If you keep the room sparsely decorated (as mentioned above) cleaning will take no time at all.

Photo Credit: Babycenter.com

Make the clearance bin you friend
If you’re on a tight budget, remember that there’s nothing wrong with scoring a deal. Shop seasonal sales or browse the clearance bin for sheet sets, accessories, and even furniture for the space.

Don’t forget your guest room
Whether you have guests regularly or infrequently, put some thought into how the room is decorated. Its your home so always bow to your preferences and taste. Don’t create a space that feels more like an airport hotel room than a welcoming oasis.

Photo Credit: Decorator Showcase