Monday Makeover: Bookcase

In this series, you get to see mini makeovers that you can do at home for little to no money at all.  Today's makeover is on a typical bookcase that many of us have at home, and sadly, I deleted the "before" picture totally by accident - after the makeover was complete.  Oh well, just picture this bookcase mostly empty with only a few odds and ends on the shelves.

 

 

 

Overall, the look we were going for was eclectic and not to matchy-matchy.  She had tons of decor pieces all over her house that we brought together to get this look.  We mixed colors but had them repeat with books or other smaller pieces.  It was a fun makeover and made this bookcase look more like a statement piece rather than a blank canvas.

Dried Cotton Stems now available

One of the key things that speaks Autumn to me is cotton.  Here in Arizona cotton is planted in the Spring and harvested some time in November each year.  I love to watch the plants grow and mature especially when the cotton bursts from the pods.  If you've never seen a cotton plant in full bloom you should - it's quite something.

For a limited time and sadly, limited quantity, we're offering cotton stems for sale.  Each stem is hand-cut from a living cotton plant and then prepared for shipment to you.  Stems range in length from 12 inches to 15 inches, some times we're lucky to cut longer ones!

Each stem has at least two cotton puffs and some still have an unopened pod, which only adds to the beauty.

We think the cotton puffs look like soft, pillowy clouds.

We have a limited quantity available, with the small chance we'll receive more in the next week or so.  Sadly, one the stems are gone, they are gone until late next October (2015).

$5.00 per stem (lengths vary and are random when shipped)
Shipping is $7.00 no matter the quantity you purchase.

Purchase today through PayPal.

***Please remember, these cotton stems were once a living plant, therefore natures defects will sometimes occur.  Stems are rarely straight and occasionally there will be fragments of dried leaves stuck in the cotton puffs.  These are easy to remove but can also add to the character.  We cannot accept returns or give refunds/exchanges on these purchases.  Your package will be carefully prepared to ensure the safest form of delivery of your cotton stem.***

Introducing a new series to the blog: Monday Morning Makeover

This blog series should be up every Monday morning and here's what you'll see:

A drab space updated for little to no money at all!

We'll show you the before and after shots and include detailed descriptions on how to create the look at home.  Sometimes it will be an entire room made over, sometimes it will be an amazing table scape for  a Holiday party or as a vignette.  We'll include sources or links to where you can purchase items that were purchased (if applicable) and even include some DIY tips.

We're excited to bring this series to our blog and hope you enjoy it!

See ya on Monday for our very first Monday Morning Makeover!

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PS - if you are a Phoenix Metro resident (specifically the East Valley) and would be interested in your very own Monday Morning Makeover, please contact us to get on our waiting list!!

Kitchen drawings to actual kitchen

Kitchen remodels or, in the case of this post, kitchen design from the ground up can be very intimidating.  There is so much to consider including budget (the big one), time frames, cabinet styles and colors, not to mention the actual cabinet manufacturers (there's a ton of them).  And then where do you go go order your cabinets and counters?

When using a designer your kitchen can go from builder basic to totally fantastic (even with keeping your budget in mind).

Here is where we started in the kitchen of this custom home.

 We had 18 feet on the back east wall to work with, and so we sketched up a "dream" plan that included lots of drawer space, double ovens, a range top and a built-in refrigerator.

Next we sketched out a "dream" plan for the over sized 5 foot x 10 foot island with seating.

Finally, we sketched up "dream" designs for a small desk area and dining nook cabinetry.

After the dream designs were approved, the actual cabinet designs took place.  Banks of drawers are of course much more expensive than a cabinet with a drawer and cabinet door, so some changes were made to maximize the overall budget.

Here is the current state of the kitchen progress.  The mix of antique white (main cabinetry) and umber (the island) gives a great sense of depth and character.

The granite really ties in the two different cabinet colors and brings it all together.

We chose to include bookshelves on either side of the island for cookbook storage as well as storage for kid's books or supplies.

Stay tuned to see the final result of the kitchen with the pendant lighting and wood-look tile.

October Special - Custom Design Boards for 50% off!

 

Call or email us to start your custom design board.

(480) 495-2781 / (480) 242-7907

BlueLilyDesignCo@gmail.com

Fall Inspiration Design Board

Fall is in the air, can you feel it?  Okay, so if you live in the southern states it might not quite be in the air, but more in a feeling you get when you're out and about.  I know I'm getting the bug to decorate for fall, alas, this year it's not possible.  When you're in a temporary rental house until your new home is completed, seasonal decor is one of the first things to get packed.

But for everyone else out there with access to their fall decor, here are some of my top picks of the season to purchase.  Some *copycat* DIY tutorials will be coming soon on a few of these items.

To save yourself the trouble of DIYing some of the above, contact us to find out how to purchase them.

Design Board: Super Hero Industrial

This design board was created for a 7 year old boy who, for the first time, will really have a room of his own - designed for him.  He loves super heroes but his parents want a room that can grow with him and not be too "themey".  The lighting and furniture needed to be sturdy and also timeless, so we went with a more industrial look.

If you would like a similar look in your home, please contact us to schedule a consultation.

Mini Makeover September Special

Call or email us to book your Mini Makeover Special.

(480) 495-2781 / (480) 242-7907

BlueLilyDesignCo@gmail.com

Design Board: Calm, Serene Family Room

Are you looking for a way to bring a little of the LDS Gilbert Temple into your home?  Many of these elements will help you achieve this goal.  The temple is decorated in soft creams, aqua blues, and walnut woods in mid-century styling (if you were unable to go through it during the open houses back in February, well, let's just say, you missed one of the most beautiful houses of God ever).

Taking inspiration from the Celestial Room (above left) the colors and pieces here will help create the look and feel of the temple.

For information on how you can get this look in your own home, contact us.

7 Ways to Add Texture to Your Bathroom

A bathroom is often one of the most under appreciated spaces in your home.  Why is that?  Probably because we really don't realize how much time we really spend in there.  Did you know the average person spends 1 1/2 YEARS in the bathroom over a lifetime?  Now that may not sound like a lot in comparison to how long we live.  But think about it, would you like spend those 1 1/2 years in a bathroom where you felt uncomfortable and unhappy?  I don't think so.

So let's talk about 7 ways you can add texture to your bathroom.  Why texture?  Why not?  Most people only ever put a shower curtain and some well-loved towels in a bathroom.  And while that can be nice, let's explore ways to create an environment where we can use our creativity and feel happy.

TEXTURE #1 - Wood Planking

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Wood planking can come in a variety of formats.  See the picture above.  It can be fresh, refined and bring in a touch of something unexpected.  You can use several different forms of wood to make the planking, forms such as: rough pine, smooth pine, pallet wood or even tongue and groove paneling installed horizontally instead of vertically.

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TEXTURE #2 - Wall Stencil

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Wall stenciling adds such a statement to any room, and when added to a bathroom, you have a look that screams luxury.  For as little as $35 for the stencil, a can of paint and a stencil brush, you can create a wow in your bathroom.

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TEXTURE #3 - Ruffled Shower Curtain

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If your shower is not equipped with a glass shower door, then you most likely use a shower curtain.  If that is the case, then why not try to add some ruffle?  Sure it's pretty feminine, but what woman wouldn't want to shower in what feels like luxury?

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TEXTURE #4 - Bathroom Rugs

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Bathroom rugs (not to be confused with the 1980's version of fuzzy bath mats) are so readily available now and in such a variety of patterns and textures.  Who says you can't have fun bringing in a current pattern or some foot love?

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TEXTURE #5 - Mosaic Tile or Decorative Tile

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So often when building a home and putting in tile or remodeling a bathroom, we go for what is the best looking at the lowest cost.  And there is nothing wrong with that.  Installing tile can get very pricey.  But, next time you're considering adding tile, look at the inexpensive 12x12, 18x18 or 20x20 and then go take a look at coordinating mosaic tiles.  You might be surprised how you can incorporate the more expensive mosaics into your tile design for less than you might have thought.

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TEXTURE #6 - Plants as accents

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Using plants as a piece of accent decor brings a sense of calm and serenity you can't necessarily get from linens, etc.  Try using live plants that crave moisture from the air, such as ferns.  If you don't have a green thumb, there are some amazingly beautiful fake plants available that are made to look real.

TEXTURE #7 - Chandeliers

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Chandeliers add an elegance nothing else can, well, except maybe diamonds.  Anyway, there are so many types available these days that shopping for just the right one can be overwhelming.  Don't worry, once you have your style nailed down, you can narrow down your lighting choices as well.  Be sure to check with a licensed electrician about electrical codes.  Often times, chandeliers can not be installed over a tub unless they are well out of reach of hands.

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Are you ready to add some of the textural elements into your bathroom?  If so, we can help!  Contact us to help get your dream bathroom started.

Home Staging is a valuable key to selling your home

If you want potential buyers to choose your property over that of the competition, home staging -- the act of making a home look visually appealing to buyers -- can make your house stand out from the crowd.

"Buyers often have a difficult time envisioning how a property can be used," says Dan Keating, owner of Coast Home Staging, based in Long Beach, Calif. "When they see a house that's beautifully staged, it's warm and inviting, and they perceive a much stronger value to that property."

That stronger perceived value often translates into a higher selling price. In a survey, real estate Web site HomeGain found that home staging resulted, on average, in a $1,780 price increase or a 586 percent return on investment. "We've seen that the value home staging brings to the table is dramatic," says Keating. But sellers should understand three staging basics.

Types of Staging:

There are two different types of staging, depending on whether a home is occupied or vacant. "Most of us have too much stuff in our homes," says Shell Brodnax, president of the Real Estate Staging Association, or RESA, a trade group in Valley Springs, Calif. One of the biggest tasks in staging an occupied home is reducing the clutter and depersonalizing the place. You'll want to reduce the number of books on bookshelves, paint rooms in neutral colors and remove artwork that may evoke strong emotions, such as religious imagery or pictures of animals, Brodnax suggests.

Furniture may also be moved around in an occupied home. "Sometimes it's just a matter of taking what you have in one room and moving it to another," Brodnax says. If you have a larger budget, you might want to tackle such tasks as changing the carpet or upgrading the countertops to make the home look more inviting.

A vacant home generally needs more work. "When buyers come in and look at a vacant home, all they look at are the problems -- the cracks in the walls, the dirty piece of carpet," says Keating.

To remedy that, a few pieces of rented furniture can give potential buyers more to focus on than the house's flaws. A few plants and freshly painted walls can also help buyers envision themselves living in the property, which can lead to a sale.

Costs of Staging:

Since every staging job is different, costs vary. For a consultation with a professional stager who will inspect your home and provide a list of suggestions, expect to pay about $350, says Barb Schwarz, founder of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals, or IAHSP. Homeowners can do the work themselves, or they can pay the stager to make the changes. If furniture or other supplies need to be rented, the homeowner will also pay the rental fees.

Staging a vacant home will likely be more expensive than staging an occupied home since you're starting from scratch. "(Staging) a vacant home typically can cost less than 1 percent of the value of the house," says Keating. "Occupied homes are typically way less than that because we're using as much of the homeowner's furnishings as possible."

Value of Staging:

Not only can staging help seal the deal when a buyer is inspecting a home, but it can also get that buyer to visit the home in the first place. "Twenty years ago, people would drive by properties and read the paper and read ads and have to go look at them," says Brodnax. "Now 90 percent are looking on the Internet before they even get a Realtor to show them homes. So if you don't have amazing pictures of that property, people move that property to the 'I'm not even going to bother going to visit the home' list."

With social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook being used to post pictures of properties, staging takes on a new urgency as a home's presentation has a lot more at stake and its ability to sell can often hinge on a photograph.

From Bankrate.com

Pantone's 2014 Fall Fashion Report is in

Whenever you look at fashion, which includes the home, you can be sure to know that the color trends begin with Pantone.  The PANTONE® name is known worldwide as the standard language for color communication from designer to manufacturer to retailer to customer.  Here are their 2014 Fall Color Trends, and we can't wait to see them used in home design here in Arizona.

Fall 2014: Color that Transcends Time and Place

Top 10 Women's Colors

Whether it was a particular decade or a trip to a special place, designers are fascinated with the beauty of the past and the spirit of the present—recreating it with color, fabric and style this fall season. Design and color were inspired by everything from books, artisan crafts, photography and retro architecture, to exotic landscapes and the children of rock legends. The diverse color palette takes us on an adventure spanning 100 years—a season roused by various vantage points from past and present.

“This is a season of untypical colors—more reflective of the imagination and ingenuity, which makes for an artful collection of colors and combinations not bound by the usual hues for fall,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute^®. "There is a feminine mystique that is reflected throughout the palette, inspired by the increasing need for women everywhere to create an individual imprint."

Sangria, an exotic red that evokes a sense of glamorous adventures and faraway destinations is enhanced by Aurora Red, a more sophisticated shade that adds verve and spark.

The grown-up reds are followed by two extremes of the purple family that intrigue the eye and inspire the imagination. Mauve Mist, a romantic and elegant purple shade, reminds us of the deco era and stimulates a sense of femininity and empowerment, while Radiant Orchid, a captivating and adaptable shade, enchants the complete spectrum. Pair either with Cypress, a majestic and powerful green; indicative of its name, this shade has a towering presence and serves as a stunning perennial.

With its slightly green undertone, Bright Cobalt offers a subtle twist on the traditional cobalt blue, which unifies this season’s blues. Likewise, Royal Blue, which is both evocative and dignified, provides more complexity and excitement than the average navy, while still remaining versatile. Pair Bright Cobalt with Sangria and Cypress, or Royal Blue with Mauve Mist and Aluminum, a futuristic stainless steel shade that serves as a complex neutral.

Similar to Sangria, Cognac’s name alone leads to glamorous illusions. This classy and cultured brown takes a typical autumnal color to a sumptuous realm, making the shade unexpectedly ideal for evening wear. Adding a ray of sunlight and warmth, optimistic Misted Yellow alludes to the promise of spring to come. Both Cognac and Misted Yellow will also be prevalent in prints—a surprisingly popular trend this fall season.

For more than 20 years, Pantone, the global authority on color, has surveyed the designers of New York Fashion Week and beyond to bring you the season’s most important color trends. This report previews the most prominent hues for fall 2014.