Looking back...

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Since many of you are new since I've done these posts, I thought I would link to some past posts today.   Hope you find something you like!

Making it Work - Piecing Rugs...

Creative DIY Lighting and Lampshades...

Encouragement Board...

Bedroom Inspiration - Keeping It Light...

Accessorizing Your Walls - Bookshelves...

Creative Use of Small Spaces...

Just a Little Compliment Will Do...

Have an awesome day...

The weekend and a (Christmas) recipe...

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

Hey! So how was your weekend?

Sunset Photo Thomas J. Story

Mine was good. Thanks for asking! :-)

Some of the highlights: 

1.  I finally got my Christmas cards done and in the mail! 

BHG.com

2.  We went to a Christmas party on Saturday night and had a great time. 

myhomeideas.com Photo Howard L. Puckett Stylist Rebecca Hawkins

3. Yesterday I spent some time making (and eating) Christmas goodies.

I know.  Crazy exciting...

I'm not a traditional frosted Christmas sugar cookie girl, and if we all made them we'd have way too many of those and not enough other things, so I leave that part up to my sisters. When it comes to Christmas goodies, they know that whatever I bring will involve chocolate... They love it (almost) as much as I do, so they're good with that.
One of the recipes I made this weekend is so simple. It's made up of only 3 ingredients and also freezes really well. I thought maybe some of you would like to make it, too, so here's the recipe.

Chocolate Almond Bark Treats

- 1 box Ritz crackers

- Peanut butter

- 1 package chocolate almond bark

Spread peanut butter on one side of a cracker and place another cracker on top - making a cracker sandwich. Melt chocolate almond bark. Dip the cracker sandwiches in the almond bark, making sure all sides are coated well. Place on waxed paper and let harden. Eat and enjoy...

Happy Monday.  Hope it's a great one!

Hallway Command Center

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .


I absolutely love everything about this hallway command center from The Yellow Cape Cod!  Isn't it awesome?  To get the complete scoop, click HERE.

A gift idea that will put a smile on your face...

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

It does just make you smile, doesn't it?  Super fun idea for the root beer lover from Crafty Sisters! 

There are some pretty good links on my facebook page, too, that you might not want to miss.  Just sayin'... :-)

Small Mudroom packed with function

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

When I saw this small little mudroom in Country Living's 2010 House of the Year, I was so impressed with the way Katie Ridder packed so much function (and pretty!) into this small space. 

Country Living Photo Lucas Allen

The two cabinets plus the basket would provide a nice amount of storage, and the little bench in between is just the right size for sitting to put on or remove shoes. That whole wall could be a fairly simple DIY project using two inexpensive prefab cabinets, don't you think? They gave the cabinets a custom look by adding chicken wire, but if country isn't your thing you could use radiator grill material like Rebecca did in this room. A nice console table for throwing keys and mail with a mirror above (and some nice accessories, of course). Keeping everything understated in color and then adding the larger scale bold red wallpaper and large white accessories gives this country entry a fresh modern flair. 

What do you think?

Happy weekend...

Creative Decorating DIY Ideas and a Winner!

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

Did you see the Martha Stewart show yesterday?  I record it and then end up deleting a lot of them because I just don't have time to watch.  I watched yesterday's episode last night,though, and  I'm so glad I did!  They showed how to make this Embossed Velvet Christmas Stocking which I was pretty impressed with, but my favorite part was the Project Decorate rooms.

I really liked decorating editor Rebecca Robertson's eclectic modern room!  Great use of color and pattern and awesome DIY ideas...

For example, she used sawn balusters and radiator grill material to make this graphic statement on the wall. For window shutters on either side, she chose radiator grill patterns that complemented the balusters' shape.

She used radiator grill material again on the front of these glass-front cabinets from Ikea...

Continuing to think outside the box, she made the coffee table from an army cot and then set 4 DIY trays on top to make a hard surface. To make the trays, she covered baking sheets with a zigzag fabric and topped them with a thin sheet of Plexiglas. Tutorial HERE. (she designed the fabric and then had it printed at Spoonflower.com - at the time of this post $18-32/yard to have them print your own design - not bad for custom!)

She pulled the aquamarine color from a stripe in the abstract painting hanging over the sofa and used it on the ceiling. To continue to tie the room together, she cut radiator grill material into wide strips, edged them with 1/4-inch trim, and mounted them several inches away from the molding.

Doors embellished with the same radiator grill material used for the cabinets ease the transition from the living room to the hallway.

Love the creativity and outside-the-box thinking in this room!  You can go here to see the rest of the images of Rebecca's room and Kevin's room, and even vote for your favorite if you would like.

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The winner of the $220 CSN Stores Shopping Spree is Danielle (other-option)! Congratulations Danielle! Hope you have a blast shopping... :-)

Have a great day...

Black and White on Your Walls

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .


HGTV

I've always thought of using black and white images framed in white mats/black frames as a great solution to the wall art dilemma. 

Why?

1. It can be an inexpensive option:  because you can take the photos yourself, whether they're family photos or any other subject matter that inspires you.


Designer Sherry Hart Southern Living

 You can also use artwork from old calendars and books or a variety of other sources, and black frames/white mats are typically available at reasonable prices.

House Beautiful  Photo Jose Picayo

2. You can use it with any color scheme. 
It's sort of a no-brainer that black and white art would work in a black and white room,

myhomeideas.com Photo Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn

but it really works well with any color scheme. From neutral spaces...

myhomeideas.com

 to more colorful ones.

BHG.com

Country Living Photo Keith Scott Morton

It can be used with cool colors

Country Living Photo Keith Scott Morton

 or warm colors.

HGTV

3. It goes with any decorating style. Whether your style is modern, traditional, country/cottage, or anything in between - it will work in your space!

House Beautiful  Photo Jose Picayo

spaces design

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And for those of you who just can't deal with all black and white art, you could mix it up a bit by swapping out the white mats for colorful ones to match your color scheme like they did in this image from marthastewart...

Do you use black and white photography or artwork on your walls?

I also have another post on TV Gallery Walls since I know some of you were interested in more information/inspiration on that topic. I may wait to post it until after the holidays when everyone's more focused on "regular" decorating vs. Christmas. What do you think? Preference?

The $220 CSN Stores Shopping Spree Giveaway ends tonight!

Snowflakes - not just for Christmas...

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

BHG.com Photo Michael Partenio Designer Karin Lidbeck-Brent

I love these first two images from BHG's Special Interest Publication Christmas Ideas magazine. The snowflakes are so pretty tripping up the stairs, and I also like the idea of hanging them from ribbons behind or above the headboard.

The nice thing is that snowflakes aren't just for Christmas (trust me on this one - I live in Minnesota! :-)) so you could keep them up all winter long...

BHG.com Photo Michael Partenio Designer Karin Lidbeck-Brent

Find out how to make the snowflakes here...

You know how it goes with me.  One snowflake idea leads to a few more...

Circle of Snow wreath from Midwest Living...

Marthastewart.com shows you how to make these Screw-Punched Hurricanes and includes the templates.

and these frosted cylinders using glass frosting spray...

I talked about Jen's Snowflake Art on facebook the other day...

Snowflake pillows (free template) via Tip Junkie...

I love a steamy mug of chai or mocha latte, so if someone is trying to figure out a little something to make me for Christmas, these Marshmallow Snowflakes would be awesome! :-)

or these cupcakes in all their chocolately snowflakey fabulousness...

Glorious Treats via Tomkat Studios

Have you made any snowflakes projects this year or used them in your decorating?

Caring For, Cleaning and Restoring Silver - Reader Question

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .


BHG.com



This is a comment/reader question that was left on the Decorating With Silver Trays post: "I have a slight addiction to silver trays. For some reason I always find ones that I MUST have when I go to the thrift stores!!  I'm curious though if anyone has any ideas on how to make one shine again? I bought a beautifully shaped tray, but the inside of it looks like all of the silver has worn away. :( Any Ideas? I would love to keep it metal and not paint it if I can."

House Beautiful  Photo Reed Davis

Not being any sort of an expert on silver, at all,  I did a little research to see who might be.  I'm sure this post doesn't cover all of the possible sources and information, but it's a summary of what I found.  I hope it will be helpful to Leslie, who asked the question, and to anyone else who is trying to care for, clean or restore any of their silver pieces or silverware.   

Veranda Photo John Grover

How to Care For Silver:
1.  Prevent tarnish by storing silver in acid-free tissue paper or unbleached cotton muslin (found at fabric stores) inside a resealable bag. (source: Real Simple)
2.  Care for Silver (House Beautiful)
3.  Silver Care (Society of American Silversmiths) 

BHG.com

To shine your silver:

Option 1:  Use a silver polish and a clean dry cloth.  myhomeideas.com gives you the full scoop. 

• Good Housekeeping tested 21 silver polishes and shares their findings with you - The Best Silver Polishes.

Option 2:  A more in-depth method from realsimple.com to remove tarnish and polish your silver using household products.

Southern Accents

Replating silver:
1.  How to Tell If Something Is Silver and Not Silver Plate.
2.  What is Silverplate?
3.  How to Replate Worn Silverplate.
4.  How to Repair Silverplate.

Southern Accents has a good article on how to make the most of your silver...

Have an awesome day and don't forget to enter the $220 CSN Stores Shopping Spree Giveaway!

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