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The Design Inspirationalist

~ Inspiring Ideas | Spectacular Creations

The Design Inspirationalist

Category Archives: The Home

Little Holiday Heroes

13 Tuesday Nov 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Decor Ideas, Events & Parties, Everyday Design, Shopping

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Tags

anthropologie, BHLDN, decor, dinner, family, festive, holiday, host, Jayson Home, linens, ModCloth, party, ruche, thanksgiving, Through the Country Door, VivaTerra, west elm, World Market

Little Holiday Heroes

I always say, its in the details, because honestly, it is. Whenever I go to a party or wedding, even a dinner party, its the little details I see first. Whether big or small, they really show your guests you wanted the event to be special. When these little details are lacking, it just seems that sincerity is missing as well.

I searched for some really nice items to include in your holiday dinner this year for Thanksgiving. If you are not the host, than maybe you can use them the next time you have some friends or family over for a yummy meal. It’s always important to have fun and don’t overdo it. Especially, on a table where people are eating. Believe me, no one wants big centerpieces in their faces while they are trying to talk or tons of do daddies in their way when they want to get seconds. Keep it simple, clean and totally you.

Little Holiday Heroes
Cutlery Portrait Napkin – Anthropologie

Little Holiday Heroes
Amazon Dreams Pitcher – Anthropologie

Little Holiday Heroes
Stately Trio of Vases – BHLDN

Little Holiday Heroes
Poppy Pos Vase – BHLDN

Little Holiday Heroes
Felted Foliage Garland – BHLDN

Little Holiday Heroes
Wee Medallion Food Picks – BHLDN

Little Holiday Heroes
Piglet Placeholder Set – Ruche

Little Holiday Heroes
Pretty Cupcake Kit – Ruche

Little Holiday Heroes
Cheese and Thank You Serving Set – ModCloth

Little Holiday Heroes
Checkered Mercury Vases – Jayson Home

Little Holiday Heroes
Marina Vase – Jayson Home

Little Holiday Heroes
Rustic Set of Candleholders – Through the Country Door

Little Holiday Heroes
Hampstead Natural Napkins – World Market

Little Holiday Heroes
Natural Fiber and Lurex Table Runner – World Market

Little Holiday Heroes
Madras Serving Bowl – World Market

Little Holiday Heroes
Gilded Fig Vases – VivaTerra

Little Holiday Heroes
Metallic Diamond Printed Napkin Set – West Elm

Little Holiday Heroes
Cake Kitchen Placemats – West Elm

Little Holiday Heroes
Decorative Napkin Ring – West Elm

Thanksgiving Decor Ideas

12 Monday Nov 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Art & Design, Everyday Design, The Home

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Tags

autumn, centerpieces, Country Living, decor, design, flowers, fruits, harvest, holiday, nature, thanksgiving, thanksgiving decor

Thanksgiving Decor Ideas

I love Thanksgiving. The harvest theme, autumn weather, all the yummy food, how can you not love this holiday? My husband and I have started our own tradition 3 years ago and are excited to have our first Thanksgiving in our new home this year. Our vegetarian feast will include lots of veggies like roasted asparagus & carrots, corn and mashed potatoes. The main course, orzo and spinach stuffed peppers. I can’t wait!

Besides cooking, I love to decorate the table and allow the space to feel festive and fun. I always think its best to keep it simple, natural and whimsy since this holiday is all about the Earth. Here are some ideas I found on Country Living that are all beautiful and easy to do. I wish you all a happy holiday this year!

Use different items to hold flowers and centerpiece items. Get creative and have fun.
Thanksgiving Decor Ideas

I have always loved the idea of using fruit and vegetables as centerpieces. They look and smell lovely and will surely add to the harvest theme.
Thanksgiving Decor Ideas

Bringing in various branches from outside allow texture to and color to shine in your home. Whenever you look to nature for ideas, it never lets you down.
Thanksgiving Decor Ideas

{For more ideas visit Country Living, Thanksgiving Decorations}

Easy Ways to Update Your Bathroom

08 Thursday Nov 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, The Home

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

bathroom, color, diy, interior design, painting, repurpose, tub, white

Easy Ways to Update Your Bathroom

The bathroom might not be the most important room in your home or the most used but it is surely important. Its a place where you have peace and privacy and most often get to relax. For me, having a beautiful clean bathroom is a must. Since my husband and I had a low budget when we bought our home, we couldn’t do much to the master bath. But besides completely renovating, there are things I have done to make it more bearable and better looking.

Our half bath downstairs is also a small project we haven’t gotten to yet but plan to in the near future. With just a little bit of paint, new flooring and a new sink, it would totally be transformed and it wouldn’t even cost much. I love home projects and doing it all ourselves is always fun too. I enjoy doing the work and taking all the credit but in the end, its all about taking a step back and seeing the beautiful space you have created.

To all of you who feel the same and enjoy doing DIY projects around the house, here are some great ideas I scooped from Better Homes and Gardens on what to do to spruce up your bathroom. Enjoy!

Using white items tend to cost less because manufacturers make them more often. Plus, white is a perfect color for the bathroom because it looks fresh and clean.
Easy Ways to Update Your Bathroom

Just by updating the hardware in the space, the room can look like it had a facelift. Most hardware is affordable and very easy to install. Definitely a DIY project you can do in less than an hour.
Easy Ways to Update Your Bathroom

By changing or updating your tub area, you can easily make the bathroom look different. There are plenty of companies that you can hire to help with this problem. Instead of remodeling the whole area, why not call in someone like Bathfitter who can simply cover it all up and make it like new. For under $5,000 you can get this checked off the list.
Easy Ways to Update Your Bathroom

Add more storage to what you already have so you can stow away items that don’t need to be seen. Maximize your space and get organized!
Easy Ways to Update Your Bathroom

Easy Ways to Update Your Bathroom

Get creative and turn a piece of furniture you love into a vanity. All you need is to cut a hole out for the sink and you have a beautiful piece that will transform the room. Look for great finds at outlets, garage and estate sales and craigslist.
Easy Ways to Update Your Bathroom

A little bit of paint goes a long way. Revamp your space with a new color or treatment and just see the room transform.
Easy Ways to Update Your Bathroom

Use fabric to create a skirt to go around your sink and hideaway plumbing and storage. Its affordable and fun and adds a nice touch to the space.
Easy Ways to Update Your Bathroom

Think out of the box and repurpose other pieces to use in the space. Like this drawer being used for a shelf. Its easy and looks really cool.
Easy Ways to Update Your Bathroom

{For more ideas visit Better Homes and Gardens, Low Cost Bathroom Updates}

Creating Balance and Harmony at Home Using Feng Shui’s Five Elements

06 Tuesday Nov 2012

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

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Tags

abundance, art, balance, creativity, design, earth, energy, family, Feng Shui, Fire, harmony, health, In Style Modern, intimate relationships, manifestations, Marial Samuels, metal, water, wood, yin and yang

The art of consciously choosing the designs that support people’s life path is called feng shui. And the aspects of your life you consider as important, such as your family, health, abundance, intimate relationships and creativity, are mirrored by your home. The walls, tables and other accessories you place at home are physical manifestations of your beliefs on life in general. This also applies to the structures, patterns and colors that you surround yourself. Each one sends an energy vibration which may be useful or harmful to you.

Understanding how you use feng shui at home is the key to reaping the energy that helps you live a better life. But first you must determine what chi is moving through your body and your environment. This is where the concept of yin and yang emerges as these two dictate the energy that flows in people’s lives. The presence of too much yin energy has negative impact on health, affects the chi flow and shuts down the body. Meanwhile, an excess of yang energy also results in ill health, most noticeable effect include increased heart rate and blood pressure.

The most important part is to balance the yin and yang energy movements to establish a whole state, thus, paving the way for healing, emotionally, mentally and physically. It is also noteworthy to remember that no person carries an entire yin or yang energy. This is because our energy changes with the current season as well as the food people eat and the time of a day.

Here are the 5 enhancing element energy designs in feng shui that can aid you to controlling the yin and yang chi in your life:

Fire
Fire energy is synonymous with expansion and transformation. This means that you are more open to new ideas and are more willing to sharing your gifts with others.

Guest Post: Creating Balance and Harmony at Home Using Feng Shui’s Five Elements

You can add fire energy at home by using any bright color, such as red or orange, or any active color that helps energy and light to bounce. To send up more energy into a room, use the following shapes: diamonds, triangles, pyramids and sunbursts. You can also add lamps, a carved wooden box, spotlights, lanterns, red or green candles, backlit plants, palm trees or yucca trees, pillars, tall chairs, and any groupings of three.

Guest Post: Creating Balance and Harmony at Home Using Feng Shui’s Five Elements

Earth
Earth helps you become more grounded, thus, helping you to feel more protected, stabilized, secure and safe. Aside from moving downward, earth energy is slow on its motion and is represented by nurturing, soft objects as well as solid, heavy objects.

Guest Post: Creating Balance and Harmony at Home Using Feng Shui’s Five Elements

The goal of earth energy is to serve as reminder to people that the physical body, physical world and physical needs must be given due honor. Earth colors are subdued and are usually represented by yellow and brown. Also, the shapes and structures associated with earth energy stone, adobe, straw and brick. Think of warm cozy blankets, terra-cotta pots, a rock garden, brightly colored pillows, pottery, and pillows

Guest Post: Creating Balance and Harmony at Home Using Feng Shui’s Five Elements

Water
Water energy helps you to a relaxed state where you release the things that have been bothering you for the day. To attain physical and emotional healing, make it a ritual to start your day in a water environment and end it as well on similar surrounding.

Guest Post: Creating Balance and Harmony at Home Using Feng Shui’s Five Elements

Black and dark blue are the water colors, thus, adding white tiles around the bath, a curved path, a white vase, a black or dark blue birdbath. I’ve always loved indoor fountains and this copper fountain has stolen my heart, and hanging plants are perfect ways to experience water energy.

Guest Post: Creating Balance and Harmony at Home Using Feng Shui’s Five Elements

Wood
Wood energy manifests creativity and growth in your life.

Guest Post: Creating Balance and Harmony at Home Using Feng Shui’s Five Elements

Definitely not pastel, wood colors bring in clarity and energy in your life. And these are purple to allow expression and bring in abundance as well as green to grow and heal at the same time. To ensure growth is achieved, you must not pick colors that are too muddy or have lots of gray. Objects that are related to wood include vertical blinds, flowing curtains, a blue or green vase, sloping or tall furniture pieces.

Metal
Metal represents the mind energy, with two essential aspects: the intellectual left-brained and the creative right-brained. Too much of this energy, however, can influence people to be sarcastic and overly critical of others.

For the left-brained, the colors associated are gray, white and silver. These are most beneficial for people engaged in accounting or computer programming or any job that requires detailed tasks. To avoid any sharp edge, you can color your room with a soft warm color as well or just opt for creamy or rosy white. For the right-brained, rainbow colors are ideal to bring out your creativity at the same time allow body healing.

Adding bells, metal chimes, a brick pathway, long comfortable sofa, low, wide furniture will bring in the metal energy in your life

Written by Marial Samuels 

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