Friday, September 28, 2012

Elegant Halloween Table Setting

Yesterday I gave you a little glimpse of my Halloween Table setting with my DIY Chalk Painted Chargers. I had so many great responses. Thank you to all of you who take the time to comment! I love comments! One of yesterday's comments even suggested making your own chalk paint and painting them in any color to match your home decor! I thought that was brilliant and might have to try!



Some might think that Halloween can't be elegant, but I disagree. Halloween can be full of goblins, ghosts, bats and lots of tacky Halloween decor, but if you pair it with the right fabrics and metals you can make your home elegant for Halloween.


As you can see in the picture above I gave my dining room a little spook, but also added lots of textures and metals to create some fabulous dinner party decor.

I used Golds, silvers and sparkling glass to add that little sophistication.





I also added some texture with burlap and black mesh fabric which gives the setting a little Fall feel as well as added some Spanish moss for that extra spook factor!





The beautiful Gold candle holders are from Target's new decor line. I just love the way the gold looks against the black mesh and white candles!




I tied the ends of the burlap runner with some twine to give it a more polished look. 




I love the black, white and gold look in our dining room. I might just have to keep it like this for a while.
Does anyone want to come over for a spooktacular dinner party!??



Have a wonderful weekend all!

Linked up at: DIY Showoff & The Inspired Room

Thursday, September 27, 2012

A Fast and Fabulous DIY {Chalk Painted Chargers}

Good Morning All! I have been busy decorating my home for Fall and most of you got a glimpse of a little Halloween Decor on Tuesday.
Today I am here to show you a quick and easy DIY for your dining or kitchen table settings.

While decorating for Halloween, I decided I wanted something a little different to punch up my dining room table. I had some great ideas for the centerpiece, but didn't quite know how to give it a pop around the plates. Last year I decorated my Thanksgiving table and used some gold chargers under my china plates. That gave me a fabulous idea. I wanted to add some more black to my Halloween table setting and found this amazing stuff at Home Depot.



I found some silver chargers at Michael's on sale 2 for $3.00!! I gave them a good spray with the Chalk Spray Paint. I waited an hour and then came back for a second quick spray.




I let them dry over night and started back the next morning rubbing chalk all over them in order for them to be ready for use. (I just followed the directions on the back of the can.)



I wiped off the chalk with a wet rag and then started writing some Halloween words at the top. I then
 placed them under my china in the dining room. You can see a couple of sneak peeks below!














Aren't they adorable!? You could use these for any party or holiday dinner. I might even use these this Thanksgiving and write each person's name on them instead of a place card holder. This was a simple and quick project that really adds that little sumthin sumthin to our Halloween tablescape. 

Are you into chalk paint!? I just might have to rummage up a few more projects, just so I can use this fabulous paint again!

Come on back tomorrow for the full Halloween Tablescape reveal!

Linked up at: Hi Sugarplum-In about an Hour , Thrifty Decor Chick & Artsy Girl

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Spooktacular Halloween Mantel

Well I finally got on the band wagon and started decorating for Fall! First up is my Halloween Mantel.


I reused my black and white pumpkins from last year as well as a little Spanish moss that picked up from Kiawah Island last Fall. I wrapped some books in newspaper to go with the black and white theme as well as picked up some of Martha Stewart's flying bats from Michaels.











The birch branches are from Crate and Barrel. Don't they work perfectly?!
















I am happy with how it turned out. I can't wait to continue in the dining room and onto the porch!

Stay tuned.....







Halloween Mantels

Monday, September 24, 2012

A Little Crate & Barrel Pillow Hacking

A few weeks ago, my mother in law came to visit and we did a little damage at a nearby mall.

One of my favorite stores is Crate & Barrel and I fell in love with this floor pillow as soon as I saw it:
It fit perfect into the fabric and pattern scheme in the family room.
The only problem....it was $69.95 !!!!


I just couldn't justify spending that kind of money on a floor pillow that my husband is going to lay on and rest his dirty feet! hehe

Then we came across this beauty:
2x3 Olin Gold Rug $19.95!!


And within a few seconds we both looked at each other and decided we could totally make our own pillow out of the striped rug! It was $50 cheaper!!

So we bought the rug and then were off to JoAnn Fabrics. We bought some thick Canvas for the backing for $7.00 and a 24x24 pillow insert for $10.00. So the grand total was only $37.00! Still an amazing savings!!


We cut the canvas to the 24x24 size pillow and over-lapped the back to create a pocket, so it would be easy to clean.

Then we stitched around the outside, sewing the rug and canvas together. We had to use a pretty heavy needle because it was going through three layers of fabric. We doubled up on the canvas since it was going to be thrown on the floor.....hoping it would last a bit longer


And the Finished Product!





Not to shabby huh? I think it will be used a lot in this home!


See what I mean!?

Happy Monday All!


Linked up at: ArtsyGirl Connection & Thrifty Decor Chick

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Featured at {IHeart Organizing}


Today I am over at Iheart Organizing



I am sharing my organizational tips for a small laundry room as well as media storage. Pop on over to Jen's blog and show her some bloggy love! Once you see what she can do, you won't be able to stop reading her posts. She is full of unbelievable organizational tips and tricks!


Thanks for the Fabulous Feature Jen!

My Crush {Steel Windows & Doors}


I have been drooling all over these pictures I have found on pinterest and the web. I am totally in love with steel windows and doors. They somehow feel magical like you are living in a green house of sorts. I love how they bring nature and lots of natural light right through each of these homes.

Just thought you might need a little inspiration on a fine Wednesday morning! Enjoy!



Kitchen design (unknown)



Contemporary Entry design by Amsterdam Media And Blogs Holly Marder


What do you think? Aren't they dreamy?
I just might have to put these on my bucket list for our dream home! I am in love for sure!

Monday, September 17, 2012

{Master Bedroom} Update


A couple of weeks ago I received an email asking if I had posted any pictures of my master bedroom progress. Some of you who are veterans to my blog remember the mood board that I created as inspiration for my master bedroom makeover.


I have really made some great progress in our master bedroom over the past few months. I still need a rug for under the bed area and would love to add some small X-benches at the end of the bed, but for now I am pretty happy with it. 

Here is the BEFORE in case you missed it:





AFTER:



















The space is much more calming with this color palette. I actually walk into my room and get that "Ahhh" feeling. As you can see I like to mix woods, textures and colors. Items in a room don't have to feel so matchy matchy. A space should feel unique to you and feel collected, like you have been all over the world just to collect pieces for your room. 

Sources: Paint- Simply Gray by Valspar; Side Tables-Antique finds; Sleigh Bed- High point years ago; Dresser-Husbands childhood dresser; Grommet Curtains-World Market; Bedding- TJMaxx & HomeGoods; Lamps- HomeGoods; Sillouette picture- Ikea; Moroccan pillows- Willa Skye Home; Painting above bed- Artist Friend; Euro Pillows & Small yellow pillow- Made by me. 


My Master Bedroom to do list:
  • Paint Walls & Tray Ceiling
  • Create Gallery Wall  See DIY Wall Gallery here.
  • Recover seat cushion on chair & add edging  See DIY upholstery here.
  • New Grommet Drapes
  • New Bedside Lamps
  • New Bedding Throw pillows from here
  • Make Euro Pillows with dove fabric
  • Spray paint bedside tables white See DIY bedside tables here
  • Change out knobs on large dresser
  • New Artwork above bed
  • New Rug 
  • Bench for end of bed
  • New Dressers eventually
  • Change out Fan for light fixture (sorry…hubs said the fan must stay!)

I feel very pleased with my progress! What do you think!?

Do you have any room makeovers going on now?


Linked at: HomeStoriesAtoZ & Creative Blog& Thrifty Decor Chick: Show us your bedrooms & Cottage & Vine

Monday, September 10, 2012

Fabric Scheme for a Fall Living room

Can you believe that we have our windows open in North Carolina today? It is just beautiful and I now have a little Fall Fever. How about you?

Speaking of Fall....I have started putting together some of the Fabrics I would like to use for our living room during the Fall season.

Last week I told you about my little lumbar inspiration for the sectional couch. That is what started my obsession of finding some patterns and colors that would work in our space.



I love the Mustard color that we see in wheat fields and on colorful leaves in the Fall. Some people really don't like that mus-tardy-yellow...Not me! As you all have figured out, I pretty much love every color in the rainbow if it is paired with the right accessories and Fabrics!!


So here is the plan:


1. The Yellow stripe is going to be made into a floor pillow so it will add a little punch below the sofa.

2. This Moroccan inspired Yellow Fabric that I found at Jo-Ann's will help me recover the rocking chair seat that is currently sitting in the corner of the living room. Also, if I have enough fabric leftover I would love to add a small tab to the side of my floor to ceiling white grommet curtains.

3. Not sure if I will use this pillow or not, but I made it from some napkins I found in Kiawah last year.

4. I am in love with this Ikat fabric that I also found at JoAnn Fabrics. I will make the Lumbar Pillows out of this fabric and might also use what is leftover to spread this color in the kitchen area.


I am anxious to find some time this week to finish some living room projects!

What colors inspire you and get you in that Fall mood?