The Cool Winter Blues

09 Wednesday Jan 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Color Inspiration, Everyday Design, The Home

Tags

bathroom, bedroom, better homes and gardens, blue, cool colors, Country Living, cream, eclectic, interior design, living room, neutrals, patterns, texture, white

I simply love the color blue. I always have and always will. It’s just one of those colors that can make you happy or make you sad, can brighten or calm a space and really help to bring the feel the nature inside your home. Let’s just say its the color thats filled with surprises.

Always having a special connection with blue, it has been used throughout all my color schemes in my spaces. You will find it everywhere in my home. I’m a big fan of the cool color palette and blue is a rising star in that category. Mix it with grays, creams and other cool neutrals, and you have a space that is peaceful, fresh and brilliant.

Here are some great examples of how to use blue in your home. I hope they inspire you to incorporate this amazing color into the spaces that make you happy.

This bedroom is certainly a place to rest. With pale blue on the walls, it enables to space to feel light and airy, like your surrounded by clouds. The addition of white makes it feel fresh with soft layers and the warm wood tones helps ground the overall design. The small pops of garden inspired colors throughout the room brings more interest and a bit of glamour.

Photo Credit: Country Living

This reading nook is all sorts of fun. Although comfy and relaxed, the various pops of color and patterns allows the space to feel alive and stylish. Blue and yellow are the main characters here and as you follow your eye around from the stool to the plaid curtains there are all sorts of details that help this room have an eclectic feel.

Photo Credit: Better Homes and Gardens

The various blues in this living room allow the space to feel fun and classic. You don’t have to stick to one hue. As long as they are close enough in the spectrum as far tone, it should work nicely. Here, the owners a light toned rug, a couch that matches the rug nicely and then included a brighter more saturated blue for pop. Using this color for the bookshelves really make them stand out as apposed to using the pale blue, which would help blend them in. Again, whites, creams and warm wood tones help to balance out the space while a few hints of green add a touch of whimsy.

Photo Credit: Country Living

The same idea as above is being treated in this bedroom. Various blues in all different patterns and textures really bring a unique feel the to space. Although the room has a neutral backdrop, the blue elements keep it lively, fresh and interesting.

Photo Credit: Better Homes and Gardens

Feminine and cottage chic, this vanity area is all dolled up in light blues, pinks and lavender. These soft colors keep the space light, pretty and fit for a queen. The addition of white and ruffle details really add a cottage feel while keeping modern with how its treated.

Photo Credit: Country Living

A nice way to express your love for nautical design is to simply use blue and white in a simple way. This bathroom keeps with the streamline aesthetic with dark blue walls and white furniture accents.

Photo Credit: Country Living

Bathroom Vessel Sinks

08 Tuesday Jan 2013

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

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Alex Jones, bathroom, Discount Vanities, diy, glass sinks, interior design, Remodeling, Single Sink Vanities, Sink Vanities Direct, vessel sinks, Virtu Vanities

With a proper sink the entire look of your bathroom can be transformed. Bathrooms are no longer considered to be a side part of the house. It is the first place one starts their day off and hence it should be made elegant and exquisite. An integral part of your bathroom is the latest equipments and accessories that are inside it.

Vessel sinks are one of the major accessories used in most bathrooms and they can be categorized under the category of sanitation fittings or bathroom fittings. The sinks one uses in the kitchen have different specifications and need to be very high and durable as well fitting in an area where utensils, dish ware and other items are kept for washing so the finish has to be tougher.

Photo Credit: List Vanities

When you are considering to get a vessel sink for your bathroom you need to take in consideration the way it’s going to be used. So you need to be sure that the faucet and drain are connected and they function as they should. Certain plumbing codes tell you the type of drains a particular sink should have. For a vessel sink, one is expected to use a grid drain rather than a plug drain, which means the sink can never get filled up. The faucets also should clear the rim of the sink.

Photo Credit: Treasured Old Mexico

Photo Credit: Signature Hardware

The most accessible sinks should be wall mounted, so that it can be used in all directions. If the vessel sink is shallow, the design should prevent splashing. When you consider a solid surface vessel sink vanity there will be no rim around the surface, which makes it much easier to maintain as water and debris that does come on the counter can be pushed back into the sink. Such counters will normally allow for holes to be drilled into them to accommodate the faucet in case it is not wall mounted. The sinks don’t add too much to the décor, but the counter is likely to draw all the attention.

Photo Credit: Wayfair

Over the counter sinks can be designed in glass, stone, marble and metal. Copper sinks that are hammered out by hand make for very unique choices that can rarely be repeated elsewhere. Glass sinks can be very decorative and you can get designs that are etched to really add to the décor in the bathroom.

Photo Credit: Wayfair

Redesigning or remodeling of a bathroom can greatly add to the value of a home and therefore requires a lot of care and expense. A vessel sink added to a bathroom can greatly add to its decoration and looks and should be something to consider on your next project.

{Alex Jones writes a blog on Sink Vanities Direct, about Virtu Vanities, Discount Vanities, Single Sink Vanities and more. He can be found on Facebook and microblogs.}

Pantry and Kitchen Storage Designs

08 Tuesday Jan 2013

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

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Tags

cabinets, country, glass shelves, Hutches, interior design, Jim Klossner, kitchen, modern, open shelving, organization, pantry, Storage, The Spice House

If you spent a ton of time in your kitchen cooking and baking for the holidays, your pantry and kitchen may be looking as though a hurricane came through (mine is!). Whether you are like me and want to get organized after the holiday madness or you are simply hoping to spice up your space for the New Year, there are a number of great ways to create your perfect pantry or revamp your old kitchen storage. Finding the perfect traditional piece or whipping out an unexpected solution are both smart ways to solve the kitchen storage problem.

Hutches and Country Pieces
If you have some under-utilized space in your kitchen, you may want to think about purchasing a dual shelving unit. A hutch with open shelving on top and hidden storage on the bottom is the perfect solution to free up some space in a crowded kitchen. You can display china or stoneware pieces and store away your old pots and pans underneath. And it adds a warm, country touch to your kitchen.

This white hutch combines a ton of space with a design that can fit in with almost any preexisting look and feel.

Photo Credit: House Beautiful

A beautiful two toned version, based on traditional Irish Tipperary Dressers, provides a great backdrop to display antique plates, crocks, or collectibles.

Photo Credit: British Cottage

A built-in hutch stands almost flush with the wall and provides an elegant storage solution without taking up too much floor space.

Photo Credit: Daily 5 Remodel

Glass Cabinets and Other Approaches
If you don’t have the space available to add a large storage piece like a hutch, maybe it’s time to rethink how your cabinets are arranged, and check some new home designs.

Changing out the cabinets can give your kitchen a quick facelift. These glass shelves create the sense of space, and allow you to showcase your favorite pieces.

Photo Credit: House Beautiful

This extremely modern approach to cabinets combines storage space with beautiful recessed lights for a practical effect.

Photo Credit: Digs Digs

This take by Lago completely reimagines what kitchen cabinets are supposed to be, and allows you to make a really personalized statement on what kitchens can look like.

Photo Credit: Fresh Home: Design & Architecture

Open Shelving
Open shelving is another practical option for organizing your pantry or adding a new, functional design element to your kitchen. You can opt for floor to ceiling shelves to maximize your storage space, or simply hang a few open shelves above your table.

Photo Credit: House Beautiful

Partial glass covers create a shared cabinet and open shelving feel that totally functional, but with a beautiful design.

Photo Credit: Apartment Therapy

Free hanging wall shelves can be combined to create any combination of storage necessary for your particular kitchen set.

Photo Credit: Remodelista

Vertical Storage
I also stumbled across another innovative storage solution that I would never have thought of but absolutely love. This vertical storage option is a pole with a wide base that can be placed on a center island or countertop. And the best part is that it rotates, similar to a display that you’d see in your favorite store, so that you can easily access whatever you need at your convenience.

Photo Credit: House Beautiful

An interesting arrangement of wall hangings allows for vertical storage of pots and pans.

Photo Credit: Contempoo

Vertical drawers are great places to store plates, platters and other dishes, in this slide in example that you can work into existing cabinet space.

Photo Credit: Shelterness

This variation offers a vertical spice storage solutions that’s brilliant, and takes up no space at all!

Photo Credit: Home Edit

Whether you are hoping to get organized or would like to achieve a different look for your space, you can accomplish your goal with these innovative storage solutions. Your kitchen will be gorgeous and have your stuff put away in no time!

Jim Klossner is a home improvement professional and amateur chef who needs lots of storage in his kitchen! You can find Jim reviewing products online for The Spice House. Visit their site to see some of his favorites.

Handpicked Shops that Give Back

07 Monday Jan 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Awesome Shops, Featured Artists

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animals, antique, Bettula, birch bark, Couture by Ayca, etsy shops, events, felt, Hindsvik, Le Box Boutique, packaging, Peaches Products, Postscripts, rustic, shopping, stuffed animals, supplies, vintage, weddings

If you haven’t checked out my resources list on my website, you definitely should. Here is where I feature handpicked shops and artists that are awesome and they all offer really unique items. From weddings and events to home decor and design items, you can find it all here. I have always believed its important to support independent artists and the small business community and that is why I am sharing my favorites.

There are also some who have kindly offered discounts to my customers which I am very thankful for. I am happy to help people even more by extending a hand through these shops. They truly rock!

Bettula
All the beautiful items in this Michigan shop are nature inspired and have a rustic feel. Birch bark is the main ingredient and through all the pretty designs it surely shines. You can even find jewelry and special gifts. Find the coupon code for 10% off your order on my website.

Le Box Boutique
This Missouri shop carries a lot of eco-friendly supplies and packaging items as well as washi tape, which they love. You can also find unique artisan goods. The shop has been featured in Better Homes and Gardens, Southern Living and Martha Stewart Magazine. How cool is that! Stop by my website to get the coupon code you can use toward your order.

Couture by Ayca
You can find many different handmade paper garlands in this European shop that would be great for any event. Even if you wanted to dress up a space in your home, an item by Ayca can add just the touch of whimsy it calls for. You can find her coupon code on my website as well.

Postscripts
You can find a ton of rustic and nature inspired items in this Colorado shop. Even if you just need some inspiration, this is a good place to find it. From wood cake stands and decor to invites and other paper items, there is so much to see. I highly recommend you check out this shop if you are having a more unique and natural wedding, for sure. Just mention Gray Star Design when you place your order and they will give you 10% off your order.

Peaches Products
Who doesn’t love adorable stuffed animals? Well, the unique items you will find in this New York shop are all handmade, hand sewn, needle felted and totally cute. They make great gifts for just about anyone, especially kids who really appreciate the beauty in handmade items. Find her coupon code on my website to receive free shipping on your order.

Hindsvik
If you love vintage pieces that have unique style than you will love this Canadian shop. You can find an array of items from kitchen goods to furniture and all have beautiful appeal. For 15% off your order find the coupon code they created on my website.

Make Pie Not War
I love all the jewelry pieces in this shop. They are graphic and unique and very fairly priced. A perfect place to shop for gifts. Check out the code to receive 10% off your order on my website.