Tuesday, July 31, 2012
How to pick out tile (in the laundry room!)
Makeover series ~ Rugs
Area rugs can change the feel of any room. They can also be used to define spaces and bring a burst of colour and style to any room. Rugs are generally perfect for dining rooms, living rooms, foyers, etc. However, using rugs creatively can further enhance the personality of any area. Use rugs of varying colours, sizes and shapes, dependent on space and style.
Have you tried using mats instead of rugs? That's something I need to venture into....
Do send in your makeover pictures..... to coloursdekor@gmail.com.... *smiles*... And do share some of your personal tips too...
The Story of Our House: The 1st Year
Every house has a story. I think that’s why we can get so emotionally attached to them—or not, depending on the memories we make there. It’s hard to believe that we’ve been in our “new” house for a little over a year. And, I’m realizing I’ve never really shared much of a home tour. So, here are several of the pictures I snapped the day we closed on the house last June, and some highlights of our family’s first twelve months here.
We bought the house from a sweet lady (who I hear checks the blog; I hope she likes our changes!). She and her late husband built it about twelve years ago, and I could tell there was a lot of love and attention to detail that went into it from the first moment I walked through the door. As the saying goes, it just had “good bones”.
This was the formal dining room that we changed into our home office:
I loved the spaciousness of the breakfast room and kitchen—for good reason. We spend lots of time here:
The living room (you can see a glimpse of my progress here) . . .
This is the master bedroom, which leads to the master bath, which leads to the closet:
We took down the window treatments and painted the bedroom earlier this year. See the new color here.
I plan on changing the wallpaper, but I have zero experience with taking it down. I’ll be sure to blog about that when it happens :)
The master closet was a surprise when we first looked at the house, with lots of custom built-ins. This could be a great “dressing room” some day, but for now, we also use it for baby supplies and the occasional game of hide and seek:
The powder room—and most likely my next project:
The laundry room with lots of storage, which makes me really happy:
One of the kids’ bedrooms—both look basically like this:
And, the space I spend the least time in but am probably the most thankful for—our playroom:
Wouldn’t that window nook be perfect for something like this?
Our first “dinner party” the night we moved in:
I think I told you that we were in the middle of the Better Homes & Gardens shoot (at the old house) at the same time we were moving. But, we were so excited to stay here that we slept without any furniture for the first couple of nights :)
We also learned that along with mature landscaping comes a lot of work. My dad spent a whole day of their first visit trapped in our shrubs with a trimmer.
During the first year, we’ve had fun celebrating birthdays,
The colors of the seasons,
Holidays,
And “BIG” surprises . . .
And, almost one year exactly after our move-in day, we moved in two new family members:
Arriving home from the hospital and slightly scared to death :)
Thanks for sharing in our first, fun year in this house.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Guest Post: Amy's Take on "Mr. Decor Happy's Den"
Beach Dreaming
We’re back after spending last week at the beach, playing in the water and digging our toes in the sand. . .
It made me think about the beach house I would like to have “someday”. (It never hurts to dream.)
(the view from our deck)
I would use lots of white paint and natural textures. . .
Timothy Whealon Interiors via DecorPad
And, I would have a little writing loft—overlooking the ocean--where I’d work on my book for a few hours every morning. (When I “grow up”, I’d like to write a novel, not a decorating book. I don’t quite have what it’s going to be about all worked out just yet, but maybe that will come. . .)
And, I’ll drink coffee the entire time I work each morning.
After lunch, I’ll go to the beach and play in the waves every day for an hour or two for my exercise.
And, I’ll work on my shell collection.
Oh, and since this is my daydream, I’ll also have perfect beach hair like this:
Instead of like this:
In late afternoon, I’ll head back to my loft and work on my abstract paintings that look like the sky.
And, for good measure, I’ll take a little nap in a corner like this:
And, at night, I’ll host fabulous dinner parties on the beach for all of our beach friends :)
Then, I’ll do it all again the next day.
Am I the only one whose mind wanders while I’m sitting in the sun? :)
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Laundry room to mud room (Oh yeah)
The Weekly Story ~ wk 88
Hello my lovelies!! Have you been waiting for Monday? .... as much as I have *smiles*... Well... the most exciting topic for me.... is 'walls'.. So I've been waiting for Monday to show you some walls in my old home and my new home... and to tell you how I think, a coloured wall is such an important part of our homes..
Paint is the
most amazing tool at the disposal of any amateur decorator, as there is nothing
else on Home Decor Heaven that can create as much sensation as a fresh coat of
paint. Go with your heart and the mood that you choose for your room - it could
be bold (reds or blacks) soft and serene
(pastel shades) or warm and powerful (oranges and yellows) - colour is meant to
be enjoyed. And don't worry even if you have time enough to only paint one wall
at a time… even a two toned wall can be a blessing and a great conversation
piece!
A pop of
colour on a single accent wall can freshen up the area and even make it look
bigger and brighter. Think about the colours that elicit emotions – light blue
is soothing, so good for a baby room, while red and orange are energizing and
perfect for fitness rooms, yellow is bright and cheerful, perhaps a good fit
for the foyer.. Pick colours that compliment existing décor and you’ll have an
instant winner.
 |
| incomplete wall in my dining area |
Painting the
complete room, a single wall or even stencilling a wall yourself is the most
economical way to give a room a new, refreshed look. And if you think you aren't the painting type
(though from experience, doing it with friends and loved ones is always tons of
fun), then do explore the wallpaper option. This is easy, hassle free and also
adds a lot of character to a wall. Wallpapering also offers a wide variety of
colours, styles and themes to chose from.
My incomplete living room wall... and this teal bedroom wall will have a makeover in August... Watch this space for more.. *smiles*.. And email if you have any ideas to share!!
Hope you are joining The Weekly Story' linky party ~ open from Monday through Wednesday every week..
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