Creative Decorating Ideas

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG . House Beautiful Photo Simon Watson

I'll be taking a blog break until after Labor Day, but I have plenty of new posts in the cue for when I return (currently 1/2 finished, of course! :-) ) so I hope you'll stick around. For now I'm going to leave you with a compilation of inspiration and ideas to spark your decorating creativity...

BEDROOM IDEAS

Use a desk beside the bed instead of a night stand. The addition of a mirror and a decorative garden stool allows this to function as a dressing table as well. When not in use, the garden stool can be tucked under the desk, much like a nesting table and, if you're wanting to create some additional interest, why not layer several mirrors of different sizes on the desk top rather than hanging just one on the wall?

Designer Samantha Pynn Photo Virginia Macdonald

The upholstered wall in this bedroom designed by Caldwell Flake is fabulous, and I love the way they've juxtaposed the distressed corbels with the modern shade in the wall sconces.

MIRRORS

I know I've encouraged you to mix things up a bit (for example your dining chairs), but never your bathroom mirrors. What do you think? Of course the idea appeals to me just because it's different, but I'm wondering if I could actually do it. :-)

This wall is stunning isn't it? The bold wall color, mirrors outlined in molding, furniture and art layered in front... Inspiring.

Tobi Fairley/At Home In Arkansas

ART

More words on walls, because you know I love them. Can't get much more simple than this technique...

Veranda Photo Antoine Bootz

I love this vignette designed by Tobi Fairley and featured in At Home In Arkansas. I've seen a lot of people painting designs like these on their walls lately and I'm loving it, but those same stencils would be great for creating wall art on canvas. What a simple, sophisticated graphic statement!
I think using this mirror in the center of the plate display gives it a fresher, more modern feel. They've also used coordinating fabric and ribbon around the flowers on the table to tie them into the scheme...

myhomeideas.com

Rather than framing your art, you could clip it to clipboards and display it. This idea would look completely different depending on the type of clip boards and art used (for example, very colorful clipboards with kids art, or all black clipboards with modern art, or all white with botanicals, etc. Limited only by your imagination.)

Elle Decor Photo Pieter Estersohn

Outline a corkboard with ribbon and frame it in a statement-making frame, then hang your favorite necklaces from it. This keeps your necklaces within easy reach while at the same time functioning as "art".

Canadian House and Home

ADDING ARCHITECTURE

If you're not really a diy'er in the power saw sense, this idea from BHG.com could be for you. They suggest adding some simple architecture to your space using ordinary picture frames!

LIGHTING

We saw in this lighting post how

BHG.com

and
Dwellings by Devore

updated outdated chandeliers with drum shades (excellent idea, right?).

But BHG.com also suggests replacing the glass globe on your ceiling fan with a drum style shade for a simple update that will pack a punch. I agree...

Lamps on pedestals versus floor lamps...

Traditional Home Photo Colleen Duffley

Looking for more out of the box ideas? Click here...

Enjoy the rest of your summer. Hope it's FABULOUS!

Summer Entertaining

marthastewart.com

Thought I would take a break from decorating today and mix it up a bit with some links, ideas and a giveaway related to entertaining...

GIVEAWAY

One of the first blogs I found after discovering blogland was Sandy's blog, Reluctant Entertainer, and I've been a follower since. It's a wonderful, down-to-earth blog about real-life hospitality and entertaining. You'll definitely want to check it out AND enter the giveaway for her new book! (she'll be announcing the winner this Friday, Aug 13)

GREAT PARTY IDEAS, IMAGES AND INSPIRATION BOARDS

Another entertainment blog I love visiting is Chris' blog, Celebrations At Home. She always has such great party inspiration and entertaining ideas!

She even offers a custom party inspiration board service. This cute one below is an example of one that she did for a little girl's birthday party...

DIY IDEAS FROM BHG.COM

Make placemats with fiberboard and damask tissue paper...

OR paint your placemats and runners...

Pattern and instructions for this one here

Dress up your dishes for a party with temporary vinyl cutouts and remove them when the party's over...

You can do the same thing for your runner (and add some cute prisms hung from eyelets)
Make placecard holders from finials...

and placecards from baby bracelet beads...

FOOD

BHG.com's Best Summer Salads

Martha Stewart's Summer Menus


Southern Living's Chilled Summer Pies


Happy entertaining...

Fireplace Makeovers

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

BEFORE

AFTER -
a taller slate surround adds warmth, texture and gives the fireplace more presence. The crisp white mantel finishes it off.

Most of us probably aren't thinking about fireplaces right now, but the season for using them will be here before we know it! I thought these fireplace makeovers from BHG.com might provide some inspiration for those of you considering a fireplace makeover. I love the way they provide us with the before photos as well because I think seeing them helps us to better imagine the possibilities for our own spaces.

BEFORE

AFTER -
What a difference! Surrounding dark painted fireplace bricks with beautifully detailed, painted moldings makes this fireplace a fabulous focal point.

BEFORE

AFTER -
Proof that sometimes a good coat of paint and fresh accessories are all you really need.

BEFORE

AFTER -
Paint plays a big part in this makeover as well, but adding the wood surround with the built-in bookshelves balances out what was previously a slightly off-balance, unattractive fireplace.


BEFORE

AFTER -
Professionally cleaning and etching the stones to lighten the color gives this fireplace a completely new look. Adding a rustic wood mantel brings the focus down to room level.

BEFORE

AFTER -
I love this makeover! From drab and dated to detailed and delightful! The built-in bookcases, arched soffit, built-in sconces and decorative moldings all combine to make this a beautiful focal point.

(This has nothing to do with the fireplace itself, but notice how they've used fabric runners on the chairs? An inexpensive way to add color and interest. Also easy to swap out as the seasons change, or whenever you feel like you want a different look.)

To see the rest of the fireplace makeovers, visit BHG.com's slideshow - Before and After: Fireplaces