MicasaStyle Blog

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2010-05-25T11:07:00.001-07:00

2010-05-21T07:41:00.001-07:00

2010-05-19T09:52:00.001-07:00

MicasaStyle.com Will Be Taken Down March 10, 2009

2009-02-09T07:00:00.000-08:00

Regrettably, we will be closing the doors on MicasaStyle.com as of March 10, 2009.

Although we love decorating and have been blown away by some of our user’s fabulous rooms, it is time for us to end our foray into online interior design ideas.

This is not a decision that we enter into lightly as we have invested our hearts into building MicasaStyle. As well, MicasaStyle has developed a very loyal and creative group of core members who have dug deep to make MicasaStyle the inviting and inspiring place that it is today.

Unfortunately though, in order to continue, we need to see growth. We have tried to market the site in many different ways and yet the actual growth has been limited.

Therefore, we would like to take this time to thank all of those users who have actively participated in MicasaStyle by sharing their homes, dreams and unique styles. It is because of you that MicasaStyle has become so full of decorating ideas and enthusiasm.

Also, we’d like to give a special thanks to those of you who participated in our Design Spotlights and gave us a sneak peak into your inspiration for such exciting design ideas.

We wish you the best as you continue on your journeys and hope that you enjoyed your time here at MicasaStyle.

Thank you,
MicasaStyle Admin

New Features At MicasaStyle

2009-01-22T11:15:00.000-08:00

We would like to announce a few new features we've added to MicasaStyle to give our users a better experience. We hope you enjoy our new additions and we will continue to work hard to make this site the best it can be.

1. Email Notifications
You may have noticed some emails in your inbox from MicasaStyle lately. To help make communicating with other members easier, we've added a feature that will email you to let you know when someone has commented on any of your spaces.

If you'd prefer not to be notified when a comment is made, you have the option to turn off this feature by simply going to your profile page (My Stuff) and editing your email notifications.

2. Email Verification at Sign Up
We have added an email verification feature for new users. This will mean that when a new user signs up to MicasaStyle, an email will be sent to the email address provided. The new user will be required to click on a link within the email to verify this is a valid email address before they can use the site.

We hope this feature will help develop a solid community of people who are passionate about decorating and genuinely want to participate in a constructive way. Please note: This will not affect any user who already has an account. This feature is only for new sign ups.

We hope these new features will make this site even better and we'd like to thank all our MicasaStyle members for helping to build such a strong, sharing community!

MicasaStyle’s Design Spotlight – Spa Bathroom

2008-12-08T10:57:00.000-08:00

MicasaStyle’s Design Spotlight is proud to be shining brightly on designer KathySue this week and her Small But Spa-like Bathroom. The beautiful, serene colors and attention to detail caught our eye and we just had to have more information about the design of this room.
Although the bathroom is small, KathySue has made the most of the space and created a functional, open and very attractive room.

KathySue describes herself as a very detailed person and after hearing about her meticulous planning, we definitely agree. She began by laying out the entire remodel of the bathroom and decided on the ocean as her inspiration. She wanted to incorporate the colors of water, sand, clouds and sky into this space and naturally her first thought went to mosaic tile. Since she is also a huge fan of white tile, it seemed the perfect fit for her shower and toilet area.
After the main colors we’re picked, the detailed planning began. She designed the wall of the shower on graph paper to make certain the cuts would be even and also made sure the bench in the sitting area was at the perfect height for leg shaving. But it wasn’t just a detailed plan that produced this amazing room; it was also KathySue’s determination to design the room the way she had envisioned it.

As with any project, there were a few bumps in the road but she didn’t let that ruin the feel she was going for. She didn’t settle on mediocre pieces, but instead, hunted for items that were the ‘perfect fit’. By shopping around for the perfect pieces, she was actually able to score some really great deals, like the mirror ($89) and vessel sink ($200) that she purchased at Lowe’s.
She considers her biggest success the tiled shower wall since it had to be well thought out and measured precisely to fit without any gaps. However, her favorite piece (and ours too), is the mosaic tile. The colors and style of the tile backdrop create a wonderful sea-like feel and is by far the most eye-catching piece in the entire room.

Some may consider all the attention to detail over the top, but we admire the time and effort KathySue put into this room. We think she created a perfect marriage of design and functionality, which is the ultimate goal of any designer - amateur or professional.
We’d like to end this post with a quote from KathySue that describes exactly how we think that someone should decorate their home. “I always go for ‘feel’ rather than a look. If the house doesn’t ‘feel’ like I want it, it just becomes a well decorated house not a home.” We couldn’t agree more. Thanks to KathySue for sharing her home with us.

You can check out this space and many more from her at MicasaStyle.com.

A Traditional Dining Room

2008-11-13T10:53:00.000-08:00

Contributed by Susan Zaring of Material Girls.

One of the first projects I decorated was a lovely home built in the 1880's with fantastic bones and detail throughout. The clients wanted to stay true to this aesthetic (the owner loves antiques and having a comfortable "lived-in" feel) but also wanted to create a space that was reflective of the architecture with a neutral palette and great flow since they love to entertain and gather in the space.

After

The dining room is quite unique with two sets of French doors - one looking to the family room and the other opening to a sun room - and most of the activity is spent in these areas so capitalizing on the abundance of light was a top priority. We first started with a paint palette to complement the adjoining rooms and chose Ralph Lauren Urban Loft: Architectural Cream, a go-to color that adds a clean crisp look to any room.

The client had pine chairs that we refinished and slip covered with a linen paisley print that was inspired off of an old print the client had. We found a beautiful pine table from a flea market in Virginia that was a brilliant bargain. It went perfectly with the chairs and complements the Oriental rug that was purchased at ABC Home. The rug was the largest investment but it definitely adds cohesiveness to the space and grounds all the pieces. We also refinished the pine floorboards to deepen the color and to add lasting texture. Lastly, the tableware and linens were purchased at a wonderful antique store called Old Lucketts Store in Leesburg, VA.

After

We actually spent a great deal of time rummaging through the flea markets in Virginia and found many great stores and this one in particular is a favorite. They offer everything from French provincial pieces, great items for the garden, and fantastic linens. The table top is completely characteristic of the clients; laid back and relaxed yet refined and classic. This dining room provides dual function for both entertaining and lounging. The client's seem to spend most of their time here now and have truly enjoyed the new changes.

To see more of Susan's work, check out her room at MicasaStyle.com.

MicasaStyle's Design Spotlight - Master Bedroom

2008-11-06T07:46:00.000-08:00

It’s time for another edition of MicasaStyle’s Design Spotlight. This time around we’re highlighting a room with a slightly larger budget than last time, but equally amazing. We chose ‘Master Bedroom’ by mysweetsavannah because it truly embodies what a bedroom should be: a retreat. Her choice of colors, fabrics and décor create an inviting, peaceful environment perfect for a long night’s slumber.

As usual, we got in touch with our designer, Melaine, to find out just how she created this beautiful room. Simplicity and sophistication were her ‘must haves’ and we think she pulled it off. Her choice of neutrals and punches of black with a daring hint of animal print, give this room a clean, traditional look without being too shabby chic. But the real question here is how did she find all those great pieces to decorate with? Turns out, Melaine is a very thrifty shopper and has knack for bringing life back to old, unwanted pieces.

The bench at the foot of the bed was a flea market find and flows beautifully with the theme of the room. The chair in the corner was found at a thrift store and with bit of cream spray paint and a garage sale pillow it looks totally revived. And although the bed and one of the nightstands were purchased new, the matching nightstand was actually from a thrift store and Melaine painted and distressed it to match. You wouldn’t even know!

Of course, no room décor is complete without some crafty, creative touches from the decorator herself. One of the most eye-catching pieces in the room is the display of photos over the bed. All it took were some photo enlargements and a few $15.00 frames from IKEA and Melaine added a personal touch to her space. She also added a touch of whimsy with the ‘happily ever after’ sign she painted herself that is displayed above the photos.

We could go on about the embroidered and monogrammed pillows, the rich paint colors or the elegant cornices above the windows, but we’ll let the pictures and Melaine’s decorating talent speak for itself. In Melaine’s words, the whole room evolved over time and the pieces she used ‘screamed at her’, which we think is a wonderful way to create a space. A room, especially a bedroom, should reflect one’s tastes and style and by allowing the pieces to ‘find’ you, it creates a room the truly expresses oneself.

A special thanks to Melaine for letting us share her work. To see more of her room, check out Master Bedroom at MicasaStyle.com.

Do You Love MicasaStyle?

2008-11-05T10:42:00.000-08:00

MicasaStyle has been nominated for the DivineCaroline 2008 Love This Site! Awards. It is thrilling to be nominated and we are so glad that DivineCaroline.com is providing recognition for sites that work hard to provide great content and features for their readers.

So if you love MicasaStyle we would appreciate you taking the time to cast your vote over at DivineCaroline.com. You can find us here or just by looking around the Home & Food category. There are lots of great sites nominated for these awards so feel free to vote for all of your favorites. The contest ends November 30, 2008 so be sure to vote today!

Click on the badge below for easy voting and thanks for all of your support!

Creating A Vintage Kitchen In A 1950’s Ranch

2008-10-30T13:04:00.000-07:00

Contributed by Liz from Mabel's House.

Our house was built in 1952, a year when atomic fabric, turquoise appliances, and June Cleaver were at their zenith. Unfortunately, when we came into possession of our beloved ranch, the kitchen was less than exciting. Gone was the 50’s charm and in its place a dimly lit, gold painted den of claustrophobia.

After

The only source of light was a large flickering fluorescent fixture, which emitted a blue tinged hue onto the gold painted walls; creating a nauseating effect. To make matters worse, there was no pantry of any kind.

I began to collect pictures of kitchens like a woman possessed. I tore them out of magazines, downloaded them from the internet, and on one occasion I whipped out my ever present camera and took pictures of a friend’s kitchen during a dinner party. Apparently, obsession knows no bounds.

After

My first mission was to find breakfast area furniture. I began to haunt flea markets and yard sales. We purchased the hutch/shelf at an antique mall for $75 and painted it a crisp white.

The table and chairs were not as easy to find, but eventually I stumbled onto this set (a bit worse for wear with scratches and a burn mark, but solid oak) for a mere $65 at a yard sale. The woman selling them was getting divorced and these had been her ex-mother-in-law’s. She couldn’t sell them fast enough. As Tony Curtis said in Operation Petticoat, “Where there is chaos there is profit.” I painted them to match the hutch.

We found pantry space in the broom closet next to the refrigerator. Then we chose a pale, dove gray wall color to brighten up the space and contrast with the white cabinets. It’s Seashell Gray by Valspar and available at Lowes. It’s the perfect neutral; airy with a seaside cottage feel.

After

We replaced the large fluorescent fixture, choosing a stainless track light to compliment the stainless appliances. We also added a pendant light (also purchased at Lowes) in the breakfast area. Never underestimate the difference lighting can make; it seemed to add another 100 square feet to the space.

As far as accessorizing, I used vintage bowls and pottery acquired from antique malls and yard sales. An inexpensive chalk board (the trim spray painted white) hangs near the fridge and pantry. In the breakfast nook window I hung lace café curtains (from Wal-Mart) and an embroidered valance from an estate sale.

For more vintage inspired rooms decorated on a budget, please feel free to swing by and visit us at Mabel’s House.

Check out more after pictures of this vintage kitchen!

MicasaStyle's Design Spotlight

2008-10-23T10:12:00.000-07:00

Our goal at MicasaStyle is to help designers, amateurs and professionals alike, to inspire and share decorating ideas. And with so many fabulous rooms being added to MicasaStyle everyday, we thought it was time to highlight some of the most inspiring rooms. So, we will be selecting rooms from our site that awed and amazed us and feature them on our blog. It’s what we like to call ‘MicasaStyle’s Design Spotlight’.

Our first design spotlight is shining on one of our most popular rooms and still holds one of our highest ratings on the site: Low-Budget, High-Style, Grad Studen t’s Apartment. Looking through the photos filled with extravagant wall art and unique decorating pieces is inspiring enough, until you realize that the ‘starving grad student’ who designed the apartment did it all for only $1200.00. We decided to ask the designer, Tom, about his experience in decorating the room and just how he pulled off this modern/contemporary look on such a small budget.

The key factors in Tom’s decorating decisions were inspiration and compromise. Tom didn’t have a clear vision of what he wanted in the beginning but knew that he loved a modern, Asian-contemporary style and wanted to experiment with Feng-Shui. After some tweaking, his idea finally evolved into a theme of the 4 elements: earth, wind, fire, and water and he also incorporated the Chinese concept, Bagua, which represents the 8 corners of element, or 8 aspects of life. The compromise part came in to play when Tom realized that his budget didn’t quite support his tastes. A few hand-me-down rugs, drapes and several furniture pieces were too costly to replace so Tom worked with them instead.

Tom also opted not to purchase thousands of dollars worth of art and instead got his hands dirty and made some of his own. One of the most amazing parts of Tom’s apartment is that the expensive looking wall art is made mostly from Styrofoam. Inspired by his father, Tom used Styrofoam (about $5 per 2’x4’ sheet), metallic paint and some decorative materials, such as mirrors and glass beads, to create truly expensive looking art like his Shui (Water element) piece and the sunflower constellation mirror. His ‘Strength’ (Earth element) wall art, made from gluing together mosaic tiles and inspired from the Beijing Olympics, is another eye-catching piece that makes this room so unique.

Aside from how easy this decorating project was on the wallet, the way Tom personalized the décor to really make it his own is one of the reasons it blew us away. At MicasaStyle, we wanted to share this room to help encourage our designers. If a ‘starving grad student’ can create such a beautiful space, there’s no reason why you can’t too.

We’ll leave you with a few tips to help other novice designers on a tight budget:
1. Window shop to find the look you like, then figure out how to do inexpensively.
2. Try to keep the main pieces of furniture neutral and express the look and feel through decorative pieces and art. (This makes it easier to redecorate your room later on down the road if your tastes change.)
3. Decorate all in one month and keep the receipts, so if you don’t use anything or a piece doesn’t work, you can still return it.
4. And when in doubt, consult MicasaStyle.

A special thanks to Tom (naddhee) for letting us feature his apartment and sharing his decorating experience. For more details on Tom’s room, check out his space at MicasaStyle.

South Florida Modern Condo

2008-10-16T10:43:00.000-07:00

Contributed by Interior Designer, Lorrie Brown of My Design Secrets.

This 3 bedroom condominium in South Florida was designed for a European client. The requirements for the project were unique because the client was going to be using the space himself as well as being used by international clients when he was away. So the two biggest challenges were to create a comfortable inviting environment in a small space and to develop a design that would be aesthetically pleasing to a number of people with different backgrounds and tastes.

The small foyer just needed some lighting and a mirror and small table to hold keys and sunglasses. This shallow table from Design Within Reach was perfect.

After

The living room is 15’ x 17’ and oddly shaped so we were short on space. My first goal was to unify the space with color. We painted the walls of the entire condo in Benjamin Moore Timothy Straw (2149-40) and we also installed very durable Berber Tuftex carpeting in a color that would not show traffic patterns. The wall color and flooring is a great back drop for the palette we planned on using which were white, black, brushed chrome and wood tones. I selected simple medium scaled furniture from Artefacto to make sure it did not overwhelm the room and left space to access the sliding glass doors to the patio. The ceilings are 9’ tall so we hung the drapery hardware from the ceiling so the draperies created some drama and the appearance of higher ceilings. We also installed Hunter Douglas honeycomb blinds inside the windows for additional privacy and to prevent fading of the furnishings.

The living room has Eastern exposure and has a lot of natural light so we chose the tripod lamp from Design Within Reach to create a sculptural focal point in the room and create a lot of great general light in the evening. Linen throw pillows from Crate and Barrel were an affordable accent to the sofa and gave me the opportunity to repeat the green tones in the room.

After

In the dining room I chose a round table to maximize space and to add some softness to a room that has many angles. The plant and the artwork from The Artful Home adds some personality to the space. I chose photography because I find that it appeals to a wider group of people than drawings or paintings. I chose this chandelier from Lightology because it has a very light feel to it and can be made larger or smaller for different looks. I also installed a dimmer for mood lighting.

Overall I was very pleased with the result of this project. I was able to design this space so that it felt larger and more modern in a short amount of time and the client was very pleased.

Check out more of the condo after pictures!

3 Out-Of-This-World Home Theaters

2008-10-07T11:44:00.000-07:00

Do THX subwoofers and 15-inch floor standing speakers make your heart race? Does the thought of watching T’Pol or 7 of 9 on a 50-inch wide screen HDTV give you shivers? Is there anything better than watching the death star blow up while being nestled between a surround sound system powered by 8 amplifiers? What if it were in your very own home theater? Well, anyone can dream but these people are living proof that money can buy hi-tech, super sci-fi home theater happiness. Try not to drool too much.

Star Wars ‘Death Star’

Arguably the best Sci-Fi film series, Star Wars, inspired this awesome home theater that looks like the control deck of the Death Star. Any Star Wars fan will tell you it looks pretty accurate and that’s probably because it was designed by Doug Chiang, the lead designer of Episodes I and II. Also helping to add some authentic touches were the owners, Vic Wertz and Lisa Stevens, who used to run the Official Star Wars Fan Club. And it wasn’t hard for them to get their hands on some Star Wars memorabilia, considering they have a 3,000 square foot museum filled with items like the Millennium Falcon model used in ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ and the lightsaber used by Ewan McGregor in Episode I. Yeah, we’re jealous too. Follow the force for more juicy details.

The Matrix

Morpheus said you must see it to believe it, and in this 33 x 19 x 11 feet home theater, seeing it will be no problem. Genesis president, Bill Anderson (Mr. Anderson… coincidence?) and interior designer Lezlie Trujillo created this futuristic Matrix home theater and it’s packed full of acoustical products to achieve optimum performance. This theater was also the winning entry for Cedia’s Electronic Lifestyles Award for Best Home Theater Level V: over $900,000.00. That’s right, this baby cost nearly 1 million dollars to make, but you and I know it’s totally worth it. If you can handle it, take the red pill to see more.

Star Trek ‘ Next Generation’

4 years of planning and six months of work resulted in this impressive Star Trek home theater complete with ready room and private bar. Yeah, you heard right - private bar. The main attraction, the theater, was modeled after the NCC-1701D Enterprise from the ‘Next Generations’ series and is chalk full of realistic sound effects, motion-activated air-lock doors and can even simulate a Romulan attack. It was also named the Top Theme Theater in 2007 (we’re not surprised). If that isn’t enough to get your pointy ears tingling then beam on over for more unbelievable photos or check out the video!

French Country Kitchen in Greek Revival Home

2008-10-02T10:20:00.000-07:00

Contributed by Jean of Renovation Therapy (formerly I Love Upstate)

My house is a circa 1839 Greek Revival in upstate New York. I bought the house because it had great bones and incredible potential. I'd also been in love with this house since I was little so when it went on the market, I scooped it up.

From a style perspective, the kitchen was my worst nightmare. Faux green marble laminate countertop, electric cooktop and faux brick linoleum. Did I mention the green ivy that was painted around the edge of everything? Where to start? Anywhere! Anything would be an improvement in my book.

First things first, I found an incredible contractor; Matt Alexander. He understood me, he had great ideas, he worked around my lack-luster budget and he delivered. He also emailed me lots of pictures when I wasn't on site. I couldn't ask for a better contractor.

With the help of Matt Alexander, we ripped out the floor and took it right down to the subfloor. The floor was sanded, patched re-insulated from below and then we put down several layers of

Before

Ace Hardware's floor porch enamel called "Warm Scones". I was concerned that this would be hard to keep clean but a friend who is a decorative painter tipped me off that watered down Windex and a damp mop would do the trick. She was right!
Matt's team ripped out the ceiling in the laundry/breakfast nook area and we gained about 3 feet of space. We installed 4 recessed lights from Home Depot. We also had much bigger windows installed in this area

Before

and also across the room above the sink installed. They are Integrity by Marvin. Let there be light! While we were ripping out the ceiling we discovered a brick wall. I opted to not cover up the brick. It was funny having removed the faux brick linoleum to later discover a real brick wall!

I donated my old refrigerator to a local retired couple, their fridge had bit the dust and being on a fixed income, they were struggling to replace it. I was thrilled to help. My new refrigerator is from Lowes, it's a double door unit. I'm still not used to the whole double door thing. I suppose I'll come to love it in time. I also picked out the new gas cooktop at Lowes. I was able to supplement this purchase by selling the old electric one on Ebay.

The hardest decision was the countertop. I looked at granite, Corian, butchers block, zinc, pewter and on and on. I literally spent months agonizing over the counterop. I finally settled on butcher's block. I opted to purchase it at Ikea after reading several reviews from other bloggers

After

who had purchased Ikea's version. The price was incredible and the installation was very easy - and it matched the butcher's block on the island. Score! The backsplash is bead board from Home Depot.

The walls are painted Lowes' Valspar Laura Ashley Cowslip #1. That's a mouthful! The trim on the fireplace, doors and backsplash are Cowslip #4. With the help of 518's Finest Painting (another awesome contractor that I'm very pleased with!) we primed the ceiling beams. The beams required 2 coats of Kilz primer and we had to use the spray can version in a few spots to truly cover some

After

hard grease spots. Getting rid of the dark beams really made the room seem much larger. We also installed this great vintage faux bamboo lighting fixture, a total score on Craigslist.

The curtains are actually tablecloths from Williams Sonoma Home, I put them up with clips from the Thomas O'brien line at Target. Shhh. Let that be our secret!

Check out the after pictures of the finished kitchen!

Light & Airy Kitchen Renovation

2008-09-25T10:38:00.000-07:00

Contributed by Sherry Petersik of This Young House.

When we first laid eyes on our 50's ranch in Richmond, Virginia, the house charmed us from the moment we stepped inside. That is until we saw the kitchen, which nearly knocked us off of our house-hunting feet thanks to a trifecta of bad design. Dingy, dated, and dark, it was the last room that we'd ever want to come home to. But beyond the creaking cabinets and copious cobwebs we spied a glimmer of potential. Anyone who knows us knows that we love a challenge, so it's no surprise that we made an offer that very evening.

Before

And then we got to work. The decrepit knotty pine cabinets (which were original to the house) didn't even have drawer slides and the archaic pea green microwave was only funny for a minute (then it was just plain scary). In fact, when our new stainless appliances were delivered, the guys who carted away our old ones joked that we should sell them to a 50's set decorator since they were so insanely old (some of them even had cinder block bases to weigh them down).

Before

But new stainless steel appliances were just the beginning. Over the course of 113 days, we survived only on takeout while we gutted and rebuilt our dream kitchen from the ground up. Literally. From the new oak flooring (scored on the cheap from Limber Liquidators) to the crisp white KraftMaid cabinets (and double the counter space thanks to some smart reconfiguring), things were definitely looking up. And the veiny marble-esque granite along with a sleek stainless range hood added some much needed signature style while the brushed nickel knobs and a seeded glass pendant injected a dash of sparkle. The icing on the cake was the moody gray-blue paint color that we chose for the walls (we loved it so much in our master bedroom, we just had to work it into the kitchen as well).

And after the dust cleared we finally got to cook a homemade meal after 4 months of surviving (just barely) on fast food. But as good as our delicious (and well overdue) home meal tasted- it paled in comparison to the taste of victory. Thanks to seeking out deals on eBay (where we scored our fabulous faucet and undermount sink) and doing much of the work ourselves (and getting a third and a forth estimate when we couldn't) we ended up with a kitchen that's as easy on the eyes as it was on our wallet.

After

Check out the after pictures of the finished kitchen!

For more tasty kitchen details (along with a slew of other before & afters) please visit This Young House.

French Country Cottage Living Room

2008-09-18T10:39:00.001-07:00

Contributed by Pearl Sanborn, who has been sharing her secrets to living better for less at A Story Book Life.

So far, my whole life has been an exciting journey of “re-creating” & “making-do”, so when I was given a brand new blank slate to work with, I almost didn’t know where to begin.

After

For many years, my husband & I worked at renovating a pretty little 150+ year old Victorian cottage. Then, by way of many blessings, 2 years ago we were able to build a brand new home not even a country mile away. It is tucked deep within the forest, nestled atop a grassy knoll, with a little river only a stone’s throw from the back door.

As it seems to be in many newer style homes, many of our spaces are open and viewable from several vantage points. This makes it a bit harder to plan your initial color scheme, as everything must flow together.

Downstairs we have 9ft ceilings in each room, but our entry is an open area and reaches approx 20ft. Because this area flows into our living room, there needed to be some sort of continuity between the two spaces. With a south facing window spilling sunshine into the entry, we decided to take that hint from nature & make sunshine and warmth our theme.

We applied old world plaster in the entry, and a deeper shade of sunshine for the living room walls. To give the room a pop of color, we covered the wall that would become the focal point in a red vintage style wallpaper from Home Depot.

After

I made the curtains using $3 per yard Waverly fabric that I found at Walmart. Then, I simply hung them up using some black iron hooks from JoAnn Fabric (the best prices!). (How to make Country French Curtains)

To dress the space, we used pieces that were both vintage and new. We also made sure to use items of the same theme and color family to pull the room together.

As well as being one of our favorite places to sit, the cottage sofa also adds to the overall décor with the beautiful mix of Country French colors, and cozy plush pillows.

One of my favorite pieces in the room is a large black cabinet that we found at a very high end furniture store. But because it was in the discounted area, we were able to pick it up cheaper than discount furniture store prices! I love how the basket of hydrangeas brings in a bit of nature.

After

A simple scattering of some of my favorite things here and there really dressed out the room and made it finally feel like home. And for the finishing touch… to remind us of how happy we are with our new home, we added a big picture of bears eating, playing music, and dancing at a picnic! I think I smile inside every time I look at it!

Although our relationship with this newer bigger cottage has only been 2 years in the making… we have already grown to love her!

Check out the complete after pictures of the finished living room!

Guest Post - Modern Victorian Master Bathroom

2008-09-11T08:16:00.000-07:00

Contributed by Mindy Wagner, a Do-It-Yourselfer from Our Fixer Upper

A bad 70's remuddle left much of our Victorian home in dire straits. Our master bathroom was cramped and dark. It had poor task lighting and only two electrical outlets. A moldy shower area and hideous shag carpeting did not help. Because there was little worth saving, we gutted the room right down to the studs and then built it back up using affordable materials.

Before

First, we bumped the back wall out about 4' so it did not feel crowded. This meant we lost a little closet space but it was well worth the trade. To give the room historic charm and make it feel like part of the original house we added 3' high beadboard. We also built complex trim for the baseboards, windows and chair rail using standard lumber yard offerings. 3.5" tall crown molding finished the look and gave the room a sophisticated feel.

Before

The green wall paint (Sweet Annie from American Traditions, found at Lowes) looks crisp and clean against the clean ivory trim. We were happy to say goodbye to the shag carpet, replacing it with Octagon and dot tiles and two green throw rugs to keep our feet cozy. We chose a charcoal gray grout for easier cleaning and less worries about staining. A $25 thrift store dresser was repainted using old-fashioned milk paint; a hole was cut in the top using a jigsaw to run the sink plumbing. After painting, the dresser was given two coats of Cabot spar varnish to protect it from water damage. The vessel sink and American Standard wall mount faucet give the room a modern touch.

To complete the Victorian theme, we had a clawfoot tub refinished by a local company and installed a chrome shower enclosure and tub filler from Vintage Tub and Bath.

Check out the complete after pictures of the finished bathroom!

Visit Our Fixer Upper for more details on the master bathroom project.

Guest Post - Den Makeover

2008-09-04T07:57:00.000-07:00

Contributed by interior decorating consultant and entrepreneur, Linda Merrill of Chameleon Interiors.

This tiny room was part of a larger decorating project. My client was a busy single woman. This room had become nothing more than a large storage closet and was a sad waste of space.

Before

She wanted a space that was fresh and inviting, yet still classic and appropriate for a coastal New England home. The room itself was small - 10' x 12' - and needed to feel cozy without being claustrophobic.

To create an airy feel, we decided to go with a soft monochromatic look of cream walls (Benjamin Moore's Philadelphia Cream, HC-30) and cream linen sheers (Pottery Barn Linen Sheer drapery panels in Ivory) and a cream/beige patterned area rug. These sheers come with a 10" deep hem. We chose to hang the panels upside down with the 10" hem folded over to create a valance effect. We simply purchased one size longer than needed so that we ended up with the right length. The panels were hung using clip rings onto wrought iron rods with a basket finial.

The area rug was actually a piece of broadloom that I had cut to the very specific size needs of this room. Going with a custom cut broadloom carpet works very well in spaces that require specific non-traditional sizes.

Once the shell of the space was taken care of, we had the furniture to deal with. This room was to be used as a tv/sitting room and given the shape and size, a small sectional sofa made the most sense. We selected Pottery Barn's PB Basic Small Sectional in Cardinal Red brushed twill. The color really popped against the soft creams, adding a vibrant warmth to the room. The size of the sectional was perfect and fit in snugly.

My client had several pets. While the room was intended to be off limits to all the animals, it didn't mean they didn't show up in spirit. On the wall was an oil painting of the two dogs. After a lot of searching, I found the perfect fabric to make a couple of custom dog pillows. We loved the "ancestral portrait" feeling of this fabric and thought it added a humorous and personal touch. The fabric was from Kravet, which is now discontinued. The other custom made box pillows were done up in a Kravet woven stripe called Bohemian in deep greens, reds and gold, which tied the pillows to the dog portrait.

After

The rest of the furniture in the room was small antique pieces that my client already owned. The small scale and rustic feel of these pieces worked perfectly. The table and floor lamps were black wrought iron "Twist Basket" from Hubbardton Forge.

While this is a fairly simple space - it was the attention to the details - the repeating basket weave motif in the hardware, well coordinated colors and personalized touches - that brought the whole thing together and made for the perfect, comfy space to relax in.

Check out the after pictures of the finished room

Announcing MicasaStyle - Decorating Ideas For Your Home

2008-07-30T07:20:00.000-07:00

This is an exciting time for us here at MicasaStyle, as we're putting the finishing touches on our new site. Bringing this project together has taken a lot longer, and a lot more work than we expected, but I'm sure you'll agree that it's worth it.

While we finish up the last of the testing I'd like to let you know exactly what MicasaStyle is, and how it can inspire you and how you can inspire others.

Share design inspiration
Proud of your art deco bathroom? Love your romantic bedroom? Is your patio the center of your neighborhood? MicasaStyle offers an easy way for you to share your decorating passion by allowing you to share photos of your home. It only takes a few minutes, and you can post as many pictures as you want to showcase each space in (and around) your home. It's a great way to show your latest redecorating project to distant friends and family and to document your home's transition over time (because we all know you're never done redecorating!).

Find that perfect piece
How often have you been at a friend's home and had to ask "where'd you get that?" Well, MicasaStyle's item-labeling feature helps you find items shown in other designers' photos. Whether it's the exact paint color that sets off their walls, the euro-styled couch with sleek lines that you've never seen before, or the cabinet hardware that will make your kitchen just right you'll get all the info you need to help you find it.

Get inspired
Wondering where to start with your next decorating project? Want to see a traditional style home office with a lot of red? Or maybe a southwest kitchen combined with stainless appliances? Your world of design will open up as you explore rooms from across the country.

Connect with other "designers"
At MicasaStyle everyone's a designer - including you. We're building a community of people with a passion for decorating and interior design. Whether you're trying to fill your first home on a budget or searching for that perfect lamp to finish off your masterpiece living room you'll benefit from MicasaStyle. You can leave a comment on a space that moves you, help someone out with a design decision, or connect with designers with similar tastes and homes.

Over the next few weeks we'll be finishing off the final touches on the site and posting more details about the features and functionality of the site. We'll also be talking to our designers about their homes and showcasing them here on this blog. So, go to MicasaStyle right now - add a room from your home and explore what others have added - inspire and get inspired!