Open Your Door to Spring

29 Friday Mar 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, The Great Outdoors, The Home

Tags

brick, concrete, curb appeal, exterior, grass, greenery, home, moss, nature, plants, rocks, spring, stone, trees

Soon the cool weather will be gone and before you know it, spring will be knocking at your door. Now is the time to start thinking of how to welcome the season in your home as well as showcasing its beauty on the outside. Curb appeal is an important thing to consider when you have a home. Creating an inviting entrance and beautiful exterior can make all the difference sometimes.

There are many easy and affordable ways to jazz up the exterior of your home. Most of all, you want to complement the architecture and design of the house. You can do this by considering its colors, size, details, and all the elements that stand out. Nature is not only a huge inspiration, it is what will give your home sweet home a fantastic makeover. Flowers, shrubs, trees, and other natural materials like brick, stone, and wood, are all great examples of what to use.

Here are some great inspirations to get you moving. Enjoy!

The brick pattern in the pathway adds interest to the path and the open feel of this entrance way is clean, organized, and inviting.

Photo Credit: Better Homes & Gardens

Giving shape to the landscaping helps build interest around the whole house. Suddenly, lines and patterns appear, which help the eye move with a unique perspective and help the architecture stand out more.

Photo Credit: Laurie Heredia

The use of gray and black really adds a nice contrast to the earthy greens that surround the entrance of this home. The lush feel is vibrant and fresh.

Photo Credit: Better Homes & Gardens

Have fun with gardening and plant lots of different kinds of greenery. Mix and match colors that complement each other and play with texture. For some tips, you can always ask your local nursery for some suggestions.

Photo Credit: Garden Design Inc.

Just by updating hardware or adding a planter box filled with colorful plants can revive an entrance in no time.

Photo Credit: Better Homes & Gardens

Dress up your driveway and backyard with large potted plants and fresh greenery.

Photo Credit: Better Homes & Gardens

Get creative when it comes to your driveway and pathway. Concrete isn’t the only material you can use. Explore your options with other natural elements like stone, brick, rocks, and even grass and moss.

Photo Credit: Down to Earth Landscapes

Landscaping can make all the difference in creating an overall finished look for your home. You want to create an environment where the structure of the house looks as if it was always meant to be there.

Photo Credit: Better Homes & Gardens

Spring Wedding Decor

28 Thursday Mar 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Wedding Decor Ideas, Weddings

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

antique, bouquet, bridal party, bride, bride bouquet, bronze, burlap, centerpieces, decor, earth friendly, earthy, eco-concsious, farm inspired, flowers, groom, nature, pastels, rustic, shabby chic, spring, spring wedding decor, table decor, venue, vintage, wedding planning, weddings

Having a spring wedding allows for nature to play an important role in the decor. Since you can have the event outside, its easy to let your surroundings act as decor. And why shouldn’t it? When you have such a beautiful backdrop, don’t fight it with lots of other elements, embrace it and welcome it into your special day.

Photo Credit: Once Wed

Photo Credit: Dragonsmark

The colors of spring range from pastels and creams to vibrant hues that can easily be taken from nature. Just look around and let all the fresh blooms and plants be your guide. Your theme should only accent these colors, not bury them. Lets say you are having a rustic event, showcase shabby chic style in texture and antique items that will truly allow the Earth’s beauty to shine. Even if your event may be more farm inspired, using darker textures such as tree bark, burlap and bronze will get the point across successfully.

Photo Credit: Green Wedding Shoes

Remember, its all in the details. What people will remember most are the personal touches you brought to the event. Not so much the amount of money you spent or overwhelming amount of flowers, etc. The more meaningful the event is, the more people will appreciate your special day. Always keep in mind that most weddings look the same. If you want your day to be really memorable, showcase the things you and your partner love and spread your love for each other throughout every detail. That is what will keep people talking years after the wedding.

Photo Credit: Best Home Decorators

Photo Credit: Brides

Photo Credit: Wedding Chicks

Photo Credit: Ruffled

Centerpieces on the tables should reflect both the season and your theme as well. Keeping it simple is always my motto. You can have various items displayed but its all in how you arrange them. Although everyone feels differently about the table decor, I personally suggest you keep the height low, so your guests can get into conversation during the event. I also feel the table shouldn’t be bombarded with lots of flowers or other various items, as it may feel crowded and uncomfortable for the people sitting there. Not to mention, wasteful. Most just get thrown out after the event.

Photo Credit: Dream Wedding Receptions

Photo Credit: Oh Lovely Day

Photo Credit: Interior Design

Photo Credit: Oh Lovely Day

Photo Credit: The Frosted Petticoat

Photo Credit: The Daily Meal

Photo Credit: Brides

The bride’s bouquet should accent her outfit without overwhelming her. She should be the focus. You can get very creative when it comes to flowers. I just suggest you keep them local and in season, for a few reasons. First, its more affordable and eco-concsious. And second, it simply makes more sense to use elements that are cohesive with the season of your event. Having a spring wedding with winter-esque decor might seem very out of place!

Photo Credit: Wedding Light Events

Photo Credit: Ruffled

Photo Credit: One Wed

Welcome Spring with an Easter Tablescape

25 Monday Mar 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Decor Ideas, Events & Parties, The Home

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

diy, easter, easter decor, holiday, nature, spring, spring decor, tablescape

Having guests of over for holidays can be so much fun. Especially, if you love to be the host, like me. I don’t usually have people over for Easter and won’t be a host this year, but it is one of my favorite holidays to celebrate.

Ever since I was a kid, my Mom would put together an awesome basket for me and hide it. The adventure of looking for my Easter surprise excited me every year. Now that I’m older, my husband carries on the tradition because I love it so much. I can’t wait to see where he hides it this year!

There are, however, lots of people hosting Easter dinner come Sunday. Dressing your table for the holiday should be fun and spring inspired, yet simple and easy to do. I personally think the theme should be more focused on the season and its natural elements, with a few touches of Easter charm mixed in. You could definitely go overboard with bunnies and eggs, so keep it minimal, yet festive.

Here are some great ideas I hope will inspire an amazing table for you and your guests. Enjoy!

Photo Credit: Between Naps on the Porch

Photo Credit: Such Pretty Things

Photo Credit: Burlap and Denim

Photo Credit: SAS Interiors

Photo Credit: Stone Gable

Photo Credit: On Sutton Place

Photo Credit: Sand and Sisal

Photo Credit: About: Budget Decorating

Photo Credit: The Blender

Photo Credit: Trendzona

Inspiration Photo Friday: Home Sweet Spring

22 Friday Mar 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Inspiration Photo Friday, The Great Outdoors, The Home

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bloom, earth, flowers, gardens, grass, green, growth, home, ivy, leaves, may, nature, spring, trees

I know that it doesn’t feel like spring but it is in fact, officially here. All I can think about is the warmer weather and springtime blooms. I am dying for spring to show her face once and for all.

Dan and I have many plans these next few months so the season will be more to us than just nicer weather. Not only do we celebrate Dan’s birthday this month but our wedding anniversary is May 20th. I can’t believe one year will have gone by. Time flies like there is no tomorrow. Our anniversary trip is booked for the end of the May and we will be relaxing in Charlemont, Massachusetts with our dogs for a whole week. We found the cutest cottage for our stay and I simply can’t wait to get away from it all and be one with nature.

We also have plans here on the home front. Our home will get a number of makeovers which I am very excited about. The kitchen remodel is long overdue and we are about 80% done with collecting all the materials we need to complete it. Once April hits and our windows can be opened, its on! We are also going to work on the backyard a bit and start our vegetable gardens. This is a very much anticipated task. To be able to grow pretty much everything we eat is simple amazing and I can’t wait!

This photo was taken last May, two days after our wedding. When its in full spring mode, our backyard is a true inspiration to me. The lushness of the trees and ivy, the smell of the fresh cut grass, and the little beauties that come alive in our gardens are all the wonderful things that surround our home. All I want to do is lay outside under our cherry trees and listen to the birds sing. I am very lucky to have such an amazing inspiration right in my backyard.

I wish you all happy spring inspirations and hope that the earth can uplift your soul and whisk you away somewhere beautiful. It’s such a gift to have a natural space you can exist in and feel so alive. You don’t know how happy I am to be able to visit mine everyday by just walking out the back door.