Get the big swatch and take it home...

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

One of my friends recently asked me to meet her at a flooring store because she was trying to pick out carpet and wanted my opinion. When we arrived, the sales consultant took out the big book of miniature swatches that they had been looking at and they asked which one I would choose. My answer was "none!".

I would never make a final decision on carpeting or paint (or fabric for custom upholstery/window treatments, for that matter) without seeing it in a larger swatch in the room that it would be installed in. I'm sure there may be people that do, but I just think it's too risky.

No matter how sure I may be that I'm in love with it in the store, what I see standing there looking at a miniature swatch under fluorescent lighting is different than what I will see in a larger swatch at home. I think it's a good idea to keep any swatches for a few days and look at them as the light changes throughout the day/evening.

When it comes to paint, I paint a large piece of poster board with at least two coats so that I'm sure I have a better sense of the true color and then move it around the room for a few days to see what I think (that is unless I paint the board and immediately know I hate it - that's definitely happened!)

How about you? Take it home or choose it in the store?

The Pattern Inspiration Linky Party will be up through Thursday night so there's still time for you to link up if you'd like. Thank you to those who already have! It's been fun seeing your inspiration.

images - Traditional Home

Design Statement - Single Paint Stripe

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

Remember this image (Kim Coleman Design) from this Creative Decorating Ideas post? There are many things to like about this room, but one of the things that stood out to me was the way they painted the turquoise paint stripe under the ceiling molding and above the floor molding. Small detail with major impact.

I still love the idea and since then have run across just a few more examples of how a single paint stripe can be used to make an impact. The great thing about it is that it would take very little time or money to do, but it can make a room!

Two simple choices here, to use a bold color for the stair runner rather than a neutral and to repeat that color in a simple stripe of paint above the molding, make this a stand-out staircase.

houseandhome.com Photo Dan Duchars

The single stripe in this boys bedroom unifies it and takes it to the next level.

Sunset Photo E. Spencer Toy

Combining a single stripe with the picture frames is a great idea, isn't it?

allaboutyou.com

Wendy at The Shabby Nest used a single paint stripe to create the illusion of width in her sons' narrow bedroom. Isn't it a cute room? You can see the rest of it here.

I don't have an image for this, but in a room with very high ceilings, a single paint stripe painted lower (at average ceiling height) can be used to stop your eye and keep it at room level.

Have you used a single paint stripe to make a design statement in your home? If not, where/how would you use one (or not?)...

Have a great weekend!

Valspar Metal Paint

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

I know this probably isn't of interest to anyone since no one in blogland ever spray paints anything! :-), but I thought I would share it in case. Have you used Valspar Metal Paint before? I tried some out tonight on an old curtain rod that I was tired of the finish on and I really like it. I used the Valspar Metal (Interior) spray paint in Graphite. It has a very nice color and metallic finish. And, no, they're not paying me to say this. Just thought you might want to know...

DIY Decorating - Blogger Projects

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

Urban Nest did a wonderful job painting a graphic statement wall in her foyer...

After the Before but Before the After decided to expand on the idea and created this dramatic focal wall in her family room!

As we all know, there are a LOT of creative bloggers out there! I never cease to be amazed at the creativity and motivation. Today I'm spotlighting some of the creative ideas/projects that I've saved. Clicking on the links provided will take you to the complete post for each project.

Jamie at Something To Do turned an unused closet under the stairs into an awesome storage room...

BEFORE
AFTER

You know I love the idea of updating chandeliers with drum shades. This DIY shade was made by Living in the 513 using campaign signs and fabric! Creative or what?

BEFORE

AFTER

And many of you may have already seen this on YHL, but I had to share The Keylors drum shade that they made with hoops, plexiglass and burlap!

BEFORE

AFTER

Did you know that you could dye leather? Tatertots & Jello featured Kaysi from Keeping It Simple's leather chair transformation using dye. Complete tutorial here.

BEFORE

AFTER

Using this Pottery Barn image as inspiration,

Lakeitha from Home To Three Duncan Boys created this fun bedroom for her son. I like the way she mixed it up a bit from the inspiration photo by, for example, painting blue and white stripes in the closet versus using the striped duvet. Two other favorites in the room are the pallet headboard and the DIY light fixture. Click here for more room photos, and here for a source list.

Erika at Blu Label Bungalow designed this fabulous boy's room. My favorites are the stripes and the wall grouping!

Her design also included this clever book sling. She has an excellent tutorial so that you can make your own HERE.

Chic Coles takes these chairs (a score on Craig's List) from boring black to fabulous turquoise! Love it!

Candace at Crafty Sisters took an old dresser from this

BEFORE

to this. Yes, she built the hutch herself! If you like the cute metal signs, she made those too and shows you how here.

AFTER

Have an awesome day!

Weekend Project - Paint Your Porch Ceiling

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

Country Living photo credit: Steven Randazzo

You've probably noticed that painting interior ceilings is definitely "in" right now, but have you ever thought of painting your porch ceiling?

Not that you really need me to find projects to keep you busy on the weekend but just in case you have nothing on the schedule (does that ever happen?), this is definitely worth considering, don't you think? :-)

It really doesn't matter if it's your front porch...

Coastal Living Photo Elizabeth Glasgow

Country Living photo credit: Lucas Allen

or your back porch...

Coastal Living Photo Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn

or sunporch...

House Beautiful Photo Simon Upton

Southern Accents Photo Tria Giovan


or patio...

Southern Accents Photo Tria Giovan

And even though blue seems to be the favorite color of porch ceiling painters, you could definitely do black...

Southern Accents Photo Pieter Estersohn

or green (or any other color that suits your fancy) Country Living Photo Laura Moss

Have a great weekend!

Creative Decorating With Paint

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

Tons of paint inspiration in this cheerful nursery design from BHG.com

Design Dazzle featured this awesome argyle wall in the nursery that Madelyn Ridgeway and her husband designed for their son. You can find the complete tutorial here.

Lindsay at Fine Things and Big Dreams did a great job painting this interlocking squares pattern on the focal wall of her guest bedroom. See the complete tutorial here. (via Style North)

A painted "tufted" headboard idea from Style at Home. Complete tutorial and template on their site. (Photo: Angus Fergusson)

Style At Home also shows you how to paint this mirror frame (and provides the template) here. (Photo: Angus Fergusson)

I like this idea shown at myhomeideas.com. Echoing the lines of an ornate mirror, creating a subtle shadow effect. (Photo: Paul Raeside)

Maison 21 painted a faux silver leaf ceiling in their dining room. Click here for more details.

It's a little hard to see in this photo, but the back of this display cabinet has been silver leafed. marthastewart.com shows you how.


Happy Tuesday! Hope you have an awesome day...

Creative Decorating Ideas - 9

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

Hang shelves in your dining room and accessorize one (or more) of the shelves with your dishes. Accessorizing with dishes isn't a new idea, but it frees up space in your cupboards and allows you to use some of your accessory funds for other things.

Pottery Barn

KITCHEN ISLANDS...

Instead of the typical stools, use a high bench at your kitchen island for a different look. Rather than purchasing new, is there a way you can make one, using what you have?

Cottage Living via myhomeideas.com

I love the use of overscaled lamps on this kitchen island! Don't get all practical on me and ask where the cords are. I don't know. :-) I just really like the way it looks...

myhomeideas.com Photo Dominique Vorillon

PAINT...

Designer Steven Gambrel suggests painting a three-inch border around the windows and walls in a room to add interest to a room that doesn't have interesting trim or crown molding, like he did in this idea house for Cottage Living. Notice how he also banded the roman shades in pink and added a pink contrasting welt to the daybed and pillows.

myhomeideas.com Photo Tria Giovan

In this Cottage Living 2007 Idea House, the designer, Lane Leyens of New Orleans, painted song lyrics across the walls...

myhomeideas.com Photo Robbie Caponetto

Have a great weekend!

Adding Custom Detail with Ribbon

marthastewart.com

Sometimes just a simple, inexpensive detail can make a big impact and take your look from basic to custom in a matter of hours or even minutes. There are many items you can use to embellish, but in this post I'm just going to talk about ribbon.

In this dining room makeover at BHG.com they used ribbon to add this X pattern to chair cushions

and to add a decorative detail around the dining room table.

This is a great ottoman on it's own, but adding the pink ribbon gives it a custom look as well as a little more punch. Simple and inexpensive.

idealhomemagazine.co.uk

I love the way Karen at Strictly Simple Style embellished her window treatments with this design based on a Greek key pattern, using wide black ribbon and iron-on fusible tape. For instructions, go here.

Here's another example of ribbon detail being added to window treatments. If you have white/neutral treatments adding ribbon that coordinates with your color scheme is a great way to tie them in.

houseandhome.com Photo Ted Yarwood

We saw yet another creative way to embellish ready-made window treatments with ribbon in this post.

There are so many ways you can use it to add pizzaz to accent pillows, and it also works great to add detail to bedspreads, shams and bedskirts.

Country Living Designer John Loecke/Photo Lucas Allen

In BHG.com's 3 Easy Slipcovers slideshow, they added black ribbon trim and rhinestones for a custom look.

Add a band of ribbon at the top and bottom of a lampshade to finish it off or completely cover it like they did at craftstylish. Instructions are on their site. The look would really vary depending on the type, size, and color of ribbon and also how many colors were used.

These homeowners painted a 6-inch-wide band of pink around the center of their daughters' bedroom wall, ran brown grosgrain ribbon (held up with white tacks) through the middle, and hot-glued lime green ribbon to the bottom edge.

Cottage Living via myhomeideas.com Photo Jeremy Samuelson

The same homeowners added a variety of ribbon to this bulletin board to create some happy stripes.

Cottage Living via myhomeideas.com Photo Jeremy Samuelson

Wouldn't this be a fun bedskirt for a girl's bedroom? Again, a completely custom look by just adding ribbons to a ready-made white bedskirt. We also saw a fun ribbon window treatment for a girl's bedroom in this post.

BHG.com

I've seen ribbon added to both pictures frames and mats, but I don't have any examples to show you.

A simple vase spruce up which would also work great for candles.

Good Housekeeping Photo Monica Buck

And last, but certainly not least, I had to show you this amazing chair. It's completely upholstered in ribbon! Diana at Fine Diving sewed ribbon together to make a fabric of sorts. Complete tutorial on her site.

Have you added ribbon anywhere in your home, or do you have any other ideas for ways you could use it in home decor?