Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Patriotic Decor

The 4th of July is pretty much my favorite holiday that isn't Christmas.  I love it.  The parades.  The fireworks.  Water games in the miserable heat.  You name it.  I especially love the patriotism.  It makes me not want to give up my citizenship to open a business in The Bahamas with a 0% tax rate (okay, I also like to vote and I kind of dig being an American).  And what's more patriotic than flag decor?  

I got this idea from someone on Pinterest.  All you need is beans.  I got white, red, and black beans from the bulk section of our grocery store and put in the amount of beans for each color that I thought would be good for the vase, which happened to be 1.5 cups of red and white per stripe and I filled the rest with black.  If you do a bigger vase, you will want more beans per stripe.  I started with more beans per stripe and had to start over (not fun if you have to separate the beans).  


I put it on my mantle along with George, the Declaration of Independence, a vase holding a bunch of American flags and a white candle holder.  







Monday, June 18, 2012

Moving Again

Gaaahhh!  Why does it take so long for computers to start up?  I've been sitting here forever waiting to write this post.  Speaking of computers.  Mine crashed.  Like, the mother board is dead or something.  So instead of paying to get it fixed, I decided it would be prudent to just buy an iPad.  Yes, I have stepped into the land of the cool people.  My siblings-in-law would be so proud.

Let me tell you something about me and my husband.  We aren't really the most up to date with technological entertainment.  We have never had cable/satellite.  We don't even have the free TV stations.   We do have Netflix though so we can watch last season's shows.  So, that said, buying iPads was kind of a big deal.

Speaking of big deals.  We are moving.  Again.  Here's the story.

Do you remember a while ago when I posted two pictures of houses and asked your opinions about which we should buy?  The older fixer-upper or our former house?  Well, it was unanimous that we should go with the former (pic on bottom).  
2873 S Bear Claw Way, Meridian, ID 83642


Did we listen?  Yes... after the offer we made on the first house was accepted and we had to use our mortgage friend resource to help us get out of it.  Tom's boss is the guy who currently owns our former house so we were going to buy it back from him because he bought a bigger and better house for his family (whatev).

This all happened in March.  Then in April one of Tom's business friends called him up and asked him work for him.  After lots of thought and discussion we have decided to take the job in Utah.

So, here we are packing up the house to move again.  This time to Utah.  The great thing is that Tom's current boss loves him so much that he's asked if Tom will consult for him and he has the option of coming back if the Utah job doesn't work out.  I'm excited to live close to my family.  We're sad to leave Tom's sister's family.  I'm thinking we should just have a house in Idaho and one in Utah.  When we're rich.  You know.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Twine Wrapped Bottle

I took my June issue of Better Homes and Gardens to the gym the other day (in case some meat head was watching Sports Center or something lame like that on the only TV there... totally the case).  While I was going through it I found the cutest vases.  They were just bottles wrapped with twine.  Then I noticed they were on the cover, which I can't find online so you'll just have to see at the grocery store.  

I decided to make one with the "twine" that I have at home.  It isn't exactly the twine I wanted, but it worked.  



I did it with dabs of hot glue in random places.  If I had all the stuff and did it over I would use a spray adhesive because the twine scooches up randomly and I had to start over.

Here's the end result.  I like it... not quite as much as BHG, but I like it.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Staged - Running Brook Ct

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to stage this huge house that someone was selling because they bought an even bigger house.  The initial consultation was interesting.  These people had a TV in almost every room.  I kid you not.  There was a TV in the formal dining room.  And two in the guest bedroom.  They were all flat screens mounted to the walls.  I'm sure the owner knows this, but I'm going to reiterate it to everyone who reads this.  Televisions, in my opinion, are not art.  If you are selling, it's okay to take them down.  Leaving one in a theater room or family room is fine, but holy cow, don't leave a TV in every room.  They're not as pretty as a nice mirror or painting.  But dudes appreciate them, I suppose.  

Anyway, sadly I don't have any before pictures of this house.  Just imagine 7 kids running around and what they do to stuff.  They had me stage after they moved out.  Thankfully the owners left the furniture that I told them to leave.  I only had to bring in the living room chairs and coffee table, but since Tom was in China and I was the only one lifting things, that's probably all I could handle.  


Can you see the birdcage on the table?  I have been looking for one for like ever and finally found one I liked at Ross.  Love me some Ross (home decor section).

This is all my living room stuff.  I'll do a close up of a cool 4th of July decoration I made.

This is all their stuff.  There were two more couches and a pool table in here.  It was crammed but looks so awesome now!

They left their bedroom set and lamps.  I put books and a picture on the night stand and made the bed.

I used the El and Ella towels that I bought for another house for the master bath.


Their bedroom set.  My comforter (bought for this house -- I don't love the quality) and nick knacks on the dresser.

They left the furniture.  I only put a game of checkers on the table with some flowers.

The Inspire art is on the table with a little lamp and coloring book.

Since it is almost summer, I decided to do a little lemonade scene in the kitchen with sugar, fake lemons, a pitcher, wooden spoon, glasses, and straws.

Did I mention that this house went pending in about two weeks?  Staging is amazing!!!

Monday, June 11, 2012

Guest Post: The House Designer


Good morning!  I hope everyone had a great weekend.  I'm excited to have a guest poster today.  She has really put up with a lot from me since I have not been posting much until now.  I appreciate her patience.  Let's hear a big round of applause for Christine of The House Designers.

How to Brighten Up Any Room without Breaking the Bank

Suffering from a drab, dark room? Does your mood noticeably decrease when you enter a room? If so, it may be time to consider sprucing up the home. After enough time, the layout of furniture and color scheme of a space can become stale, leaving you itching for a change. However, breathing new life into an interior space does not require an entire room makeover. Oftentimes, a single, light touch is enough to brighten up an entire room. If you’re looking to liven up your room without straining your wallet, the following tips can show you how:

Add Mirrors



Photo Credit: apartmenttherapy.com

Placing reflective surfaces are a great way to make a room appear brighter and larger at the same time. Mirrors are not the only item that can achieve this trick – shiny goods such as glass dishes or mirrored trays are also great items to place around the room. If you don’t have any lying around that can be repurposed, then hit up your local garage sale or swap meet. You may be able to score some beautiful finds for a small price. 

Color with Paint


 

Photo Credit: archdeco.net

One popular option for brightening up a room is to apply a fresh coat of paint on the walls. However, if you are lacking in the time or the money, then try working on a smaller scale. Adding paint on a piece of furniture can be an easy way to add color into the room. In addition, it can add color options to the room, allowing for different themes and opportunities for decoration.


Fabrics


 
Photo Credit: freshome.com

Looking for another way to add color into a room? Adding a new set of curtains on your windows can also give your room a unique elegance and feel. Light colored rugs and mats are another way to brighten up a room. Depending on the room, a new bedspread, tablecloth or pillow can add color into the space.


Include Greenery



Photo Credit: designholeonline.com

Want to bring nature into your home? Adding flowers and house plants in a room are a great way to add some color into the home. Plants are very affordable and found in a variety of places, ranging from nurseries to your nearest supermarket. In addition, they provide a wealth of advantages, such as fresh oxygen, decreased stress and other health benefits.  If you want an attractive plant that doesn’t require much care, consider purchasing cacti, orchids, or ivy plants.

New Accessories

 
Photo Credit: livingroom21.com

If your rooms are in desperate need of a new look, try adding new accessories. There are an endless amount of items that can give the room a fresh look and feel, ranging from pillows, art and other knick-knacks. Baskets can make a room look nice, as well as add an option for organization. Another popular option is candles – not only do they give your room a nice ambiance; they literally brighten up the space. These items can be found garage sales to retail stores, all at relatively low prices.


Christine Cooney is a writer for  The House Designers , and loves learning about architecture and luxury house plans. She one day hopes to design open floor plans for her dream home. 

Friday, June 8, 2012

I'm Back... I Hope

Hello to anyone who still reads this.  I am feeling 100% better and my plan is to get back to normal life -- which means normal blogging.  The baby is doing great.  We had an ultrasound yesterday and things are perfect.  We find out next month what gender it is.  Until then, I am going to try to post DIY and home decor stuff like I used to.

Today I'm going to show you a project I am so proud of.  When I was at my mom's house a few weeks ago she had just bought a dining table and chairs from a neighbor.  The table needed to be sanded and refinished so I was going to help her do that but it turns out that we did other things and didn't get to it.  I did show her some pictures to give her ideas of what to do with it though and she took it from there.  I love what she did!

Table Before

Chair Before

Table Sanded

Table Stained and Painted

Chairs Painted (seats covered)

The Final Product (without the leaf)