Honeymoon Memories

01 Monday Oct 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Advice & Inspiration, Everyday Design

Tags

canada, honeymoon, island, map, memories, preserving, prince edward island, traveling, trip, vacation

I am always thinking of ways to capture memories. Whether its a book of photographs, a shadowbox or jars full of little treasures, its important to me to preserve these memories forever. Our honeymoon on Prince Edward Island was simply spectacular. I wish we could have stayed longer.

I took tons of photos and plan to create a digital album but I wanted something that showed all we’ve done while we were here. So I found a map I liked of the island and marked each place with a heart we traveled to as well as what we did. I plan on including it in the digital album as well as our wedding scrapbook.

This is a great way to display any trip or vacation in your home. You can print it and frame it or include it in a scrapbook like I am going to do. Something like this also makes a nice gift for a couple. I hope you are inspired by this idea and create a little map of your own travels in the future.

{click on the image to see a larger version}

How to Redecorate on a Budget

14 Friday Sep 2012

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

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bedding, bedroom, budget, charity, color, color schemes, decorating, duvet covers, furniture, interior design, Linens Direct, painting, pillows, redecorating

There are many ways to bring a new lease of life to your home without breaking the bank. If you’ve been considering redecorating but are wary of the costs involved, these tips will give you plenty of inspiration to help you achieve a new look on a budget.

Add some color to the walls
A lick of paint is one of cheapest yet most effective ways to bring a room up to date. You might want to consider creating a bold statement wall, painting an entire room with a vibrant, intense shade or using several colors to incorporate a stylish two-tone theme. As you can pick up tins of paint cheaply from your local DIY store, you can regularly update your home without spending too much.

Update your bedding
Redecorating doesn’t have to involve buying new furniture. If you want to bring a fresh feel to your bedroom, try choosing some new duvet covers and pillowcases. They’re available at reasonable prices from online retailers such as Linens Direct, meaning that you can easily embrace the latest trends or change your color schemes. You’ll be surprised at just how different your bedroom can look after making such a simple change.

Give existing furniture a make-over
There’s no need to throw out your existing furniture. Try giving your existing pieces a make-over by having them reupholstered with a new material. This could change a boring old armchair into a statement piece, with very little investment. If you’re looking for something a little less permanent, buy a few colored throws and experiment with different looks according to your mood.

Visit your local charity shop
You may find that you can pick up plenty of bargains at a charity shop that will help you to transform your home. Look out for items such as pictures, mirrors and photo frames that have been previously loved but could look fantastic in your living space. You might decide that they need a coat of paint or varnish to make them look new again, or you could pick up some pieces that look stylishly vintage just the way they are.

With so many ways to update your home on a shoestring, it’s not surprising that more and more people are choosing to get creative rather than splashing the cash. By trying just a few of these ideas, your house will be looking brand new for a price you never thought possible.

Written by Sarah Atkinson

Fall Colors in the Home

12 Wednesday Sep 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, The Home

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autumn, brown, color, cream, fall, home, house, interior design, nature, neutrals, purple, red

Well it feels like fall is officially here. It’s a season with tons of inspiration, especially its colors. How can you not love the many hues that are showcased by nature? It truly is a beautiful time. It’s also a great time change it up a bit in your home. Besides having fun decorating for Halloween and Thanksgiving, try sprucing up your interior space with fall colors and inspiration.

Here are some great examples I found on Better Homes and Gardens’ website of how to use this season’s colors to create warmth and coziness in your home while still having a designed feel.

Using the neutral tones of nature such as browns and creams with a pop of color like red, gives a sophisticated but fun look to a space. Bring in high contrast elements such as the mirrors and lamp and you add more dimension and a way for light to reflect its shine. This helps make the room lighter and airy.

This nature inspired space showcases all the neutral tones of the season with a few brighter colors for interest. You can see there is a nice even feel to the room. This is due to the different browns and yellows that are used. Everything flows nicely and the space is cozy despite the high ceiling. All the wood textures help as well.

I love the texture in this room. The linen wallpaper adds so much warmth and interest and plays as a nice backdrop to the deeper colors in the space. From the dark brown wicker chair to the taupe couch, the amount of different tones allow the eye to be carried around with ease. The pops of red and orange are nice, especially since they aren’t bright. Everything has the same tone which gives the space a sense of cohesion.

This next room proves you can use an array of shades of one color and still have an interesting space. Doing this allows a feeling of warmth and relaxation. The creams help break up the darker browns in a subtle way.

Creams and browns will always give a space a sophisticated look while creating a cozy feel. I love how this space is airy and open but warm as well. The rustic elements such as the chandelier, beams and textured wood chosen for the door, truly add a woodsy yet elegant style.

When pairing dark colors together such as this eggplant purple and brick red, its important to remember to include brighter hues and reflective elements to help break up the space.

For more inspiration, check out more successful rooms on Better Homes and Gardens.

Home Sweet Home Facelifts

06 Thursday Sep 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, The Home

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

better homes and gardens, construction, design, diy, exterior, home, homeowners, makeover, renovation

I have always loved seeing makeovers. Whether it was for a person or a home, they never cease to amaze me when they are done right. Since Dan and I are new homeowners we know how much work a house needs and because we have done it all ourselves so far, we can stand back and be even prouder.

I came across some great makeovers today seen on Better Homes and Gardens and thought they were good inspirations for anyone who is planning to renovate or give the exterior of their home a facelift. I wish you lots of luck and patience if you are doing so! But it is worth it in the end to create something that represents your style and allows you to feel comfortable and at home. Enjoy!

Before | After