Little Green Notebook

Artsy Family Photo Inspiration

2016-02-08T14:12:00.001-05:00

I am headed to the Bay area with my team this week for a very special home install. I am SO excited to share this project with you. We've been working very hard to get everything finished and I'll be posting sneak peeks on Instagram all week, so be sure to follow along!

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One project that we're doing for the entry is a big picture ledge/wall hooks combo. We collected about a dozen frames and will be printing out black and white family photos to display. I asked out client to send us all of her favorite more relaxed and candid shots of her family.

When the subjects aren't necessarily looking right at the camera, or if the composition of the photo is really unique (like in the first image here), there's a good chance the photo will feel more like art than just a traditional family photo hanging on the wall. Here are some of my favorite examples:

This one's from Pencil and Paper Co. How GREAT is the mylar balloon idea!? The possibilities are endless here. So cool!

Such a sweet tribute to mothers! I love the contrast here too with the black and white backgrounds.

Image from The Kitchn

This photo was the homeowner's grandpa! So cool and artsy, right? But still so personal. I really love it.

Annie's House Tour

I love these portraits shot against foliage. It's a pretty way to incorporate the color and textures of nature as well as those sweet faces.

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I think the long horizontal formatting of these photos below is really fresh - and perfectly sized for that little wall.

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Every time I see this photo, I'm blown away. How cool to do an underwater family portrait!! You can grab a disposable camera for just a couple bucks here!

Lulu DK in Lonny

Graphic prints in clothing are a fun way to add pattern to your walls!

Abby Clawson Low // image Alpha Smoot

When in doubt, just off-center your subject in the composition. And babies are always a good idea. :)

Stephanopoulos Home in Elle Decor

PS Some more family photos and display inspiration!

$4 Oversized Prints!

DIY Brass Picture Rail

Family photos on a smaller scale

Mini Gallery Walls

Picture Ledges

Family photos in a unique color

7 Ways to Help Cut Flowers Last Longer!

2016-02-02T05:00:00.000-05:00

Valentine's Day is right around the corner! It's time to start thinking about what kind of flowers you'll be sending to your loved ones! Since giving and getting flowers is pretty much one of my favorite things, I've done a lot of research on how to make arrangements last longer. There are all sorts of crazy tips out there, but I feel like only a few of them actually work. I've partnered with my friends at The Bouqs Company, my favorite flower delivery service, to share my very best tips with you here as well as some of my favorite flower and vase combos below! (PS For the next week, receive 20% off your Bouqs.com order with the code VDAYBLOOMS!)

The first tip is probably the most important one -

TIP #1: BUY FRESHER FLOWERS

It makes sense, right? The faster those blooms get from the grower to your coffee table, the better! The Bouqs Company is a great resource because there is no middle man. The flowers are cut the day you order them, not just sitting in a floral wholesale warehouse! The eco-friendly Bouqs.com farms are on mineral-rich volcanic soil in Ecuador, where they follow strict responsible farming practices. Also I really love that they carry special flowers that can be harder to find - like ranunculus or the garden roses I have here in the post, as well as super cool accents like thistles and succulents!

Face Vase + Thistles and roses // Multi-color ranunculus + Striated White vase // Blue-green Glass Vase + Pink Solomios

TIP #2: BLEACH YOUR VASE

You want to do everything you can to keep bacteria from growing in your arrangement. Cleaning out your vase beforehand with really hot, soapy water or even a light bleach solution will help a lot!

TIP #3: REMOVE THE LEAVES

A lot of people overlook this step. It's really important to remove any leaves that sit below the water line, otherwise the leaves will rot and accelerate the bacteria growth and wilting process.

TIP #4: CUT THE STEMS AT AN ANGLE, UNDER WATER

Everyone knows that you should give your blooms a fresh cut before arranging them in your vase. But if you cut the stems at a long angle, the flower will be able to suck up more water. It also seems like the flower does better if the stem is submerged in water during the cut.

TIP #5 USE THE FLORAL FOOD PACKETS

In my experience, the little packets of floral preservative alone will double the life of any arrangement. The packets contain preservatives and anti-bacterial solutions that help keep the flowers happy and fresh. Don't skip on the packets! I keep a stash of them in my pantry and use a full packet every time I change the water in my arrangements. I've gotten two packets with every delivery from The Bouqs Company, which I really appreciate!

Loop white + Succulents and Wild Flowers // Orange Roses + Triangle Vase // Black and White Diagonal + Bell Campanulas

TIP #6: KEEP THE WATER COLD AND FRESH

Heat and bacteria are the enemies of fresh floral arrangements. It's a good idea to fully change the water in your arrangement every two or three days. I have some friends that also put their arrangements in the fridge at night and that seems to work wonders for prolonging the life of the flowers, but that requires more thought and energy than I usually have at bedtime! So when I first cut my flowers and make my arrangements, I fill up my vase with ice first and then water (and the preservative packet). I add a few ice cubes every day or whenever I happen to think about it and I swear it works SO WELL! It's just like keeping the flowers in a refrigerator!

Red Ceramic Vase + Pink and Purple Lisianthus // Pink and Green Hydrangeas + Blue and White Scallops // Bud Vase + Orange Ranunculus and Kale

TIP #7: PLACE YOUR ARRANGEMENT IN THE RIGHT SPOT

I've read that you should never keep fresh flowers in the kitchen because fruits and veggies sitting on the counter emit gasses that speed up the wilting process. Interesting, right? Direct sunlight is also bad for cut flowers. If you want them to last longer, keep your flowers sitting in a shaded and cool area in your home.

Green Vase + Pink Lisianthus // Yellow Roses and Solidago + Black Polkadot // Blue Stripe + Pink Godetias

What tips would you add to my list? I've tried all the crazy ones - add a penny to your vase, use a crushed aspirin instead of the floral preservative, pour bleach in your vase water (!), but these ones above seem to work the best for me!

This post was sponsored by The Bouqs Company. Receive 20% off your order this week with the code VDAYBLOOMS!

La Cornue and Inspiration from Nashville

2016-01-27T13:56:00.000-05:00

So I don't want to jinx it, but I found a La Cornue range on Craigslist for a great price (!!!) and I really, really want it for our kitchen remodel. It's a bit of a drive from my house, but come ON! Wouldn't you make an extra long road trip for one of these?

These images are from the portfolio of Pencil and Paper Co out of Nashville (a company and a city I totally have a crush on). Aside from the fact that the talented husband and wife design team seem to love La Cornue as much as I do, I'm obsessed with their preppy-modern style. Their interiors definitely have that great Southern look, but there's an edge that's super refreshing!

What I love most about their work is it seems so thoughtful, like every single detail was considered and executed beautifully, you know? I really admire that. What a gorgeous way to live a life - so deliberate and purposeful.

There are a lot of accessories in many of their rooms, but nothing looks like junkie filler stuff. Just a lovely, well-traveled and collected vibe.

So pretty right? Here are a few things that are oozing with that Pencil and Paper Co vibe!

x bench // capiz chandelier // serape bracelet // red shibori chair // magic hands lino cut print // gold side table // indigo pillows (pair!)

tufted wingback // diamond jute rug // lavender brushstrokes lamp // beach print // $30(!!!!) black sconce // black and white embroidered pillow // hanging rattan chair

Rothko print // woven seat chair // brass desk organizer // pink and white pom pom throw // blue shibori chair // red drip ginger jar // indigo pillow

brass and steel mirror // Pendleton throw // blue planter stand // leather lion bookend // bistro stool // accordian sconce ($60!!!)

brass lantern // gray stain dining table // strawberry print // blue lacquered nightstand // red and black striped throw // black leather sling chair // pottery bowl

Thoughts on Wood Flooring (and My Favorite Engineered Wood!)

2016-01-21T11:32:00.001-05:00

My kids know that if the car makes a sudden U-turn, Mama found a new thrift store or saw an open house sign. :) A few months ago I flipped one of those big U's and walked through this pretty home that was for sale in Mesa's downtown historic district.

The house had recently been gut-renovated and was gorgeous in person! The cabinetry and millwork everywhere was especially TOP NOTCH. I wish these photos did them more justice!

The staging was so much more tame than my style, but it was really pretty and soft. Those bobbin chairs have my hearth though. They were from Home Goods apparently!

I also fell in love with the floors. So much so that I poked around on the instagram feed of Project Beautify, who had rehabbed the house, and discovered that the floors were from my favorite flooring place Floor & Decor!

Later that week I went and checked out the product in person. It's called Montpellier and it's an oiled French Oak in almost a 9" wide plank. And it is only $5.49/sq ft! If you've ever shopped for wood flooring before you'll know that price is pretty unreal for the size of those planks!

Floor & Decor has a great selection of every type of wood flooring - solid (including Timberclick!), engineered, laminate, and everything you need to install the floors yourself if you're a DIYer.

It can be overwhelming to figure out what type of wood flooring is right for your house, but I always ask three questions that usually help narrow down the playing field:

1) Will the flooring be in a kitchen or bathroom?

How terrified are you about the idea of potentially needing to pull up and repair areas effected by future leaks? If your answer is highly terrified, then you might want to consider a product like Aquaguard (which is a water-resistant laminate).

That said, I put engineered wood in kitchens and baths all the time. Rugs help a lot with day-to-day water spills and if a bigger issue happens, the wood can usually recover if the problem is caught the same day. I always suggest buying 50-100 sq ft of extra wood as a precautionary measure, just in case a few pieces have to be popped up and replaced down the road.

2) Wide or skinny planks?

Planks under 4 or 5" wide are usually only found in solid woods anymore or unfinished engineered wood. Usually wider planks are more expensive, especially in solid wood. Once you're looking beyond that 5" width in solid wood, the prices start to get astronomically higher. If your budget needs to be under $14/sq ft and you are wanting a 7-9" wide plank, you'll definitely need to be looking at pre-finished engineered wood or laminate.

3) Most importantly, what is your existing subfloor?

Solid wood is a great option if you already have a plywood subfloor (though you'll want to get verification that it is level and does not need to be replaced before laying your beautiful new floors on top!).

And while I love the idea of being able to refinish a solid wood floor five or six times in it's lifetime, I almost always recommend engineered wood, especially in places like Arizona, where most houses are built on concrete slab. Speaking from experience, it can be a very expensive and time-consuming process to add plywood subfloors to a slab foundation. Also it is comforting to know that engineered wood is a more stable product than solid wood, which means the planks are more resistant to changes in humidity and moisture levels.

Laminate is another great option. Every time I look at the latest offerings, I'm blown away. So many of them look very similar to engineered wood and often they are half the price! Just don't skip on a good underlayment, which helps with the swooshing sound that old school laminate flooring is notorious for.

Here are a few of my favorite wood flooring picks from Floor & Decor. I usually prefer an ashy undertone to reds and pinks, but I don't usually want anything too bluey-gray either. All of these are gorgeous in person - and super affordable!

A - Montpellier European Oak Engineered Wood - $5.49/sq ft

B - Bordeaux Oak Engineered Hard Wood - $5.49/sq ft

C - Oak Coffee Wirebrushed - $4.99/sq ft

D - Aquaguard Calico Water-Resistant Laminate - $2.99/sq ft

E - Allegheny Oak Laminate - $2.29/sq ft

F - Milan Oak Hand Scraped Engineered Wood - $3.99/sq ft

Do you have any great tips for picking a wood flooring? What type did you chose in the end? I'd love to hear!

A big thanks to Floor& Decor for partnering with us on this series. Read about wood-look tile here and accent tiles here!

Rediscovering an Old Favorite Kitchen

2016-01-14T15:57:00.000-05:00

We're working on several kitchen projects for clients right now and I'm starting to figure out what I want to do for my own kitchen's mini reno. I've been pinning up a storm, but sometimes Pinterest can make me feel a little uninspired and over stimulated at the same time. Do you ever feel that way? So a few days ago I decided to pull out some of my old magazines just to switch things up a little.

A few dozen magazines later, I got to my February 2012 House and Home issue and rediscovered this kitchen, an old favorite for sure. Remember this spread? It's everything I'm hoping to achieve with my kitchen update. It's a little bit modern, a little farmhouse, and there's lots of personality thrown in. And for the first time, I realized those cabinets are IKEA! They look SO great here, don't they? That brass hardware from Richelieu is pulling some serious weight!

The space looked pretty sad before the renovations. It was outdated and the layout was terrible.

The new layout makes the space look twice as big! It's crazy how expensive this whole space looks. They built out the pantry cabinets a little bit so the (IKEA!) fridge would be flush with the fronts. I also like where they mounted the hardware on the tall side cabinets. And check out that waterfall edge on the island! You know how much I love that look...

I love how they mixed inexpensive butcher block with the marble. It seems like this mix of low and super high-end was the secret here for the entire space. You might not normally expect to see a Barber Wilsons brass faucet in an IKEA kitchen, but I guess you can afford to spend thousands on faucets and hardware if you are spending only a third the cost of custom cabinetry. It's a great trick - distract the eye with the shiny pretties and no one will notice the IKEA at first glance. And then they won't care when they do figure it out! IKEA cabinets work and look great!

Oh, and speaking of brass faucets, did you see this beauty from DeVol for Perrin and Rowe? Such a great price point and so similar to the much pricier one above.

I feel like the obvious showstopper in this kitchen though is the handpainted backsplash tile. I lurve it.

The homeowner scanned in a sample tile and printed out multiple pages of the scan to tape up on her kitchen wall to make sure she could live with and commit to the pattern. Isn't that a GENIUS idea? Just like with wallpaper, it's easy to fall in love with a small sample, but it's really the overall pulled back pattern that you'll actually need to love!

This tile is from Walker Zanger (another high-end purchase). I love it. I think it's a smart move to go with a more restrained pattern. I'm thinking of something like this similar cement tile for my kitchen backsplash maybe and printing out scanned in tiles to tape up on my kitchen wall was just added to my to-do list!

Do you have an all-time favorite kitchen? I have about twenty, but this one is proving to still be an inspiration! Long live print publishing!! :)

images are my scans of House and Home February 2012

Happening Lately: NYE 2016

2016-01-05T02:53:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year, friends!! How are you? How was your holiday? I'm back in the saddle again today after taking the last two weeks off and I'm feeling rested and ready to tackle 2016!

Before signing off, I threw a little offsite party for the women that work for me. I love these ladies to the moon and back. They have buckets of talent and they work tirelessly. I think we're all really hitting our stride with client work and I'm so happy to share with you what we've been working on the past few months.

(left to right - Megan, Carolyn, moi, Kayla, Kate)

We went to one of our favorite restaurants, The Henry, to kick off the holiday. The food is yummy and so are the interiors!

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The bathroom has the prettiest tile and it was so fun to see the Kohler trough sink we're using in one of our projects! It's amazing!

I tried not to do any work during the break, but I had a Domino deadline to squeeze in before Christmas. I needed a biggish tree for the shoot and my girls helped me find a great kumquat tree at a local nursery. I planted it in a basket for the shoot and it was like a dream come true. :)

I also grabbed a flat of green and red succulents to give as neighbor gifts in hand-painted clay pots. I thought a break from sweet treats would be welcome for both my neighbors and me!

It's so crazy to me that my sweet Evelyn is six years old now. This girlie has been nothing but pure joy since she showed up unannounced at home! We celebrated her birthday early this year (the 24th is always so jam-packed, poor thing!). We went to a trampoline park for her little party. Have you ever been to one? It is so much fun to do flips and obstacle courses, but Michael and I could barely walk the next day! So worth it. :)

We had a really great Christmas. It was pretty chill - we mostly just sat around with family and played games and ate, and bruised our tailbones trying to get the hang of that dang hoverboard. Somehow my girls all figured it out in about 0.3 seconds but it took me all day. :) We also tried to spend as much time outside as possible this year. We did a few little hikes, including to this area that was featured on Snippet and Ink. Aren't our mountains beautiful here?

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After Christmas, the girls headed up to my mom and dad's house and Michael and I stayed home with Margot. We did some big organizing projects and made plans for a mini kitchen makeover that I want to do this year. It's been more than two years since doing our semi-temporary fixes (like painting the floors and doing the concrete overlay on the countertops), and I'd like to invest in something a little nicer this year. We won't be breaking any banks though. I found a practically new Viking fridge on Craigslist for an amazing deal (it was in a gym kitchen!) and the marble I'm looking at costs a fraction of the price of granite. Can't wait to share all the details!

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We're thinking of doing a slate floor in the kitchen, laying it right on top of the existing tile to make it flush with our wood floors. While I was out shopping for some good slate options and I found these new pretties at Floor & Decor. I loved these 4" white marble hex tiles!

((Also, those Nikes above are my favorite errands-shoes right now. So, so comfortable!))

This elongated white marble herringbone tile is also SO GOOD. I'd love to use this on my kitchen backsplash, but I think I'm going to do a herringbone pattern for the floor tile. So maybe I could use the white in the studio bathroom then?

It's hard to tell in my photos, but the scale is closer to the tile in this gorgeous bathroom.

Michael and I headed up to my parents' house in Snowflake for New Years. It's so nice to have a place to easily get away to! We played in the snow with the girls and watched movies and did a little salvage yard shopping. There's a place called Lamell's in a nearby town, Linden, that takes a little bit of digging, but has some hidden treasures for sure!

The owner drives to farmhouses in the midwest and salvages beautiful old windows and doors to bring back and sell at his yard. I had a blast digging through these piles! I found a pair of 100 yr-old doors that I want to use for my pantry makeover for only $40! It was such a fun way to end the weekend.

I have big plans for 2016 and I'm SO excited to get going! Thanks for sticking around for another year! xo

LGN Gift Guide 2015

2015-12-18T13:17:00.000-05:00

The last days of online Christmas shopping are upon us! Are you ready?? Here are a few things for her, him and the kids that I either have and love or would love to have!

FOR HER

Standard Wax black marbled candle - I LOVE this local AZ company, and this candle in particular. It's a GREAT wintery scent with the added bonus of being able to reuse the beautiful container after burning (a planter! pen holder! keys coraller!).
Byredo Gypsy Water Perfume - Complex. Different. She'll get a million compliments every time she wears this scent with notes of sandalwood, juniper berries, citrus and amber.
Brass Bracelet - My favorite everyday bracelet because it pairs so well with watches without being too fussy. And it's on crazy sale!
Rails button-down top - Have you heard of these cult favorite shirts? The fit is nothing short of miraculous. You'll feel like a rock star wearing this plaid top! I'd love one in every pattern, please.
Cut-out Booties - Speaking of a million compliments! These are my favorite shoes to wear lately.
State necklaces - The perfect layering piece and a way to keep home close to your heart.
Monogrammed Pouch with Built-in Wallet - This zippered pouch (which they monogram for you for just a bit extra) is a lifesaver for those of us that switch bags semi-regularly. I keep all the essentials in here (there is a built-in wallet) and often just use the pouch as my purse when I'm running into a store. It's down-right liberating.
Hologram Nail Polish - SUCH a great color. Subtle from afar. Packs a mean punch up close though. Another compliment-getter, for sure!
Agate Lucite Box - The perfect gift that looks super expensive but (shhhh!) is really not! Toss one of the above state necklaces and the nail polish inside the box and you're all set! :)
The Perfect Leather Bag - I don't use the word perfect lightly. Okay, actually I use it all the time, but I mean it here. This is a GREAT bag. It's big enough to hold my wallet pouch and another pouch that I use to carry diapers/wipes, etc for Margot, plus all the other random design stuff that I end up stupidly hauling around, like 30' tape measures and three or four paint decks. But it truly looks like a completely appropriate-sized bag that normal people who clean out their bags regularly would buy! Also looks about twice as expensive as it actually is. Bonus points for no logos in sight and the cross-body strap.

Lucite and Brass coasters - Z Gallerie FTW! These are the coolest coasters I've seen in a while. They're even better in person. They'd be even better sitting on my coffee table...
Booties - My second favorite shoes to wear right now. Super cute.
Tassel throw - on MAJOR sale and so, so great in the navy color especially! There are some really cute pillows in this line that are sold out online, but tons are in stores for like $19 ea. Recommend!
Gold Scissors - Nothing says 'I understand you' like a pair of special gold scissors. Unless it doesn't, and then we are very different people.
Secret Charger Tassel - It's a cute tassel key chain, but SURPRISE! With a secret charging cord hidden inside!
Brass-knob Le Creuset Dutch Oven - As if Le Creuset needed to get fancier. Now the white dutch ovens come with a brass knob. I mean!
Gold and Marble Candle - Like the Tom Dixon ones, but a million times less expensive.

Gold S'well water bottle - if any water bottle is going to pull me away from my Diet Coke, this one has a sporting chance.
Floral Nike Free - These are on my wish list in such a major way.
Amazing Leggings - Forget Lululemon. Zella leggings cost less and fit SO WELL.
Phone Arm Band - I would love to run a marathon this year (having trouble finding the time for those long runs though...) and this armband is making it easier to get out the door. Works great and looks cool.
Brass Phone Case - I got this one for my birthday a couple months ago and it's my favorite thing! It's made out of cast brass and you literally have to screw your phone inside. It's so cool and protects my screen really well.
Leopard Slippers - I got these same amazingly comfy slippers for Christmas last year, but they didn't have the leopard then. Bummer for me, great news for you! (get them 30% off now too)
Buffalo Check Jammies - These are a great weight that will still be comfortable in the warmer months.
Bulldog Socks - If Wes Anderson made a sock...
Curl Stick - There is absolutely NO REASON to spend $300 on a fancy curl stick. Get those super loose beachy waves for $30 and buy yourself the Gypsy Water perfume with what's leftover!
Jewelry Barrettes (1, 2, 3, 4) - One of my favorite ways to wear my hair is in a far side part held back with a long barrette. I treat these special barrettes like jewelry. French Luxe makes my favorite pieces, though I also like the Italian look of some of the L. Erickson clips.
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FOR HIM

Wooden Macbook Case - I love the marble version of these cases too! Super cool.
Buffalo Check Tie - Cause there is nothing better than a guy in a suit and tie.
Daniel Wellington watch - I want to get Michael this watch so I can steal it from him. Every day.
Shaving Set - A little old school, but easier than safety blades.
Leather phone case - I love the way this case looks with a black iPhone. Super masculine, but I would also totally love one for myself.
Southwest-meets-Frozen Socks - Michael has to wear a suit to work every day so I love to find him fun socks to help mix things up. He will think these are too crazy, but I'll break him down before January's over. :)
Vintage Style Nikes - For your cool, but understated dude. Give him the Frozen socks too, just to push his limits a little.
Sriracha 2 Go - the name says it all. #yolo

Kiehl's - His favorite and yours too. The holiday gift sets are always a great deal!
Monogrammed robe - I'd love a his and hers set of these!
Black Leather Money Clip - Slim, but still enough room for five credit cards.
Shoe Shining Kit - My dad had a big wooden shoe shining box when I was a kid (I think he still does). I loved watching him shine his shoes on Sunday mornings. The smell of the polish and the sound of the brush on the leather. Good times.
Herschel Toiletry Case - Anyone else think of Walking Dead every time they see a Herschel bag? (I quit after season 2!)
Taco Socks - In case your man is (much) braver than mine.
Shoe-Boots - Love the red laces.

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FOR KIDS

Cubebot - addicting for kids and parents alike! And I love a good toy that also looks cute on a shelf!
Yay Necklace - My Claire is always looking on the bright side and celebrates even the smallest of her and her sisters' wins. This sweet necklace reminds me of her.
Tiara Kit - There's definitely a DIY version, but this cute tiara kit is on sale and makes things easy for you and your kids! A super-fun NYE activity.
Ping-Pong set - any table is a ping-pong table with this gift! We has something similar to this at our family cabin vacation this summer and it was hours of entertainment! Take it to the next level with a bracketed championship competition.
Pogo stick - Hard for adults. Easy for kids. Which makes it the best present ever.

Fox and Butterfly Fabric Masks - Two great additions to your dress-up bin! And they're on sale for just a few dollars!
Mini Purse and Brass Letter Pins - All three of my big girls asked for a purse for Christmas. Something small to keep their allowance money in for Target trips. :) I found these mini purses with the cute tassles and got them in three different colors (on sale!) and then I bought a bunch of random pins on this site for a personalized, sort of charm bracelet quality. Cute, right?

Locking diary - Fact: Every pre-teen girl wants a Tiffany blue leather diary with a heart-shaped lock.
Ukelele - In case your husband has an expensive ukelele hanging on the wall of your music room.
Loom - HOURS AND HOURS of QUIET FUN. The gift that gives so much back.

Llama - A must-have if your daughter's favorite movie is Emperor's New Groove. (I'll be needing three then)
Cute Headphones - for the car or the plane! Never lose them again in these cute colors!
Fjallraven backpack - Everyone's favorite for a reason. They are a great size, come in the best colors and are incredibly sturdy.
Easy Needlepoint Projects - (see: Loom)

Snap Circuits - Teach your kids about electronics in a super creative way. My girls LOVE these.
Baby Walker - Margot will be zooming around the house with this cute walker on the 25th!
Star Wars Doodles Book - All the cool kids on the bus have this doodle book apparently?
No-Tie Kids Apron - For your favorite little chef (or dish-washer!)
Tee Pee - Santa brought this teepee to our house last year and it has been in heavy rotation every day since. It goes inside and out, upstairs in the girls bedrooms and down in the playroom. They read to each other inside. They sit it in front of the TV for popcorn and a movie. It's homework central even. And now Margot pretty much wants to sit inside the teepee for most of the waking hours of her day. I would say it was a great investment...for Santa.
Flamingo - Pretty much the cutest stuffed animal that one could purchase.
Neon Tennies - Parents raise your hand if you save up clothes and other "boring" purchases for your kids from pretty much October on, so it can be another thing for them to unwrap on Christmas day? Yeah, me too.
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HAPPY SHOPPING!!!

DIY Upholstered Box Spring

2015-12-14T23:08:00.000-05:00

The latest Domino is on news stands now! My story for this issue is all about how to make an upholstered bed using just your box spring and some furniture legs. I love how this project turned out!

The directions are on pages 96 and 97, but the basic idea is to strip your box spring of any extra plastic corners and then upholster the boxspring with whatever fabric you want. I used the scraps of velvet I had left over from the headboard upholstery project. Then you just attach furniture legs to the corners.

I bought the hairpin legs at a local shop called Modern Manor but you can find them in lots of Etsy shops. And really, you could use any type of furniture leg you'd like. If you needed to reinforce the corner of the boxspring for more places to attach the leg to, it would be easy to add a piece of 2x4 or 4x4 to the inside corners.

Fun and easy, right? Grace sleeps on this bed every night and it's held up great for months now. I love that we got the look of a matching upholstered bed frame for basically no money!

Last Minute Christmas Decorating

2015-12-11T14:30:00.000-05:00

The kids don't think my white tree counts and they have been begging me and Michael to get a fresh Christmas tree this year. But somehow it's the middle of December already? And the big, pretty trees are SO expensive. We saw a gorgeous tree while driving by a lot a few weeks ago and it was $250! Yikes.

If you're like me, and you missed the official window of time where it makes more financial sense to invest in a giant real Christmas tree, consider buying a smallish 2-4-footer that hasn't been cut. Throw it in a short basket on top of a pretty table and you're all set! This tree from Lonny has my heart. It's the perfect amount of sparse/organic - so it actually looks real! But it still has enough foliage to hold on to some pretty ornaments. Bonus points for it being up off the ground and Margot-proof!

When the New Year comes (which will feel like approx five seconds from now, promise), it will be a breeze to take down and either recycle it on tree pick-up day (which is sort of a bummer, right? - pretty wasteful), or plant it in your yard if you bought a potted one.

Here's to Christmas decorating ideas that are EASY and save money, and best of all, that help us look less Grinch-y to our kids! *high fives!*

PS An even simpler idea - hang ornaments in an oversized arrangement of evergreen boughs! I am going to swing by the lot by my house to see if they have any loose branches to buy...

Room Vibes : Saffron

2015-12-08T12:40:00.001-05:00

I have a thing for yellow. Could there be a happier color? This pretty shade of yellow, which is a bright version of mustard, more like a saffron - is a recent favorite of mine. It's the perfect accent color!

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The Makerista

Redbook Mag

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Elle Decor

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Martha Stewart

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Lonny

Nick Olsen

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LGN

The colors that I'm drawn to in interiors usually trickle down to the gifts I give, or the clothes I want to wear. Does this happen to you, too? Here are a few of my saffron favorites...

Alice + Ames Mustard Ballet Dress -A local company here in Arizona, I bought this for Evie a couple weeks ago and it's safe to say she's obsessed with her new dress (and so am I!).

Nike Textile Sneaker - I love trainers in unexpected colors and patterns!

Hip Hip Hooray! Card - Sweetest little card.

Skyline Chair - You know I love my yellow slipper chair, but isn't this cute?!

Chiffon Shift Dress - Perfect for parties this season.

Poppin Starter Set - We could all use an extra dose of happy color at work, right?

Gift Idea: Artfully Walls

2015-12-04T10:55:00.000-05:00

I was recently introduced to an amazing online gallery called Artfully Walls. They produce prints for some of the artists you've definitely seen lately, like Kristi Kohut, Lisa Golightly, Britt Bass Turner, Anna Ullman, Beth Winterburn, among many talented others. They sell museum quality prints at super affordable price points. (Hello, perfect gift idea!)

What I love the most about Artfully Walls if that every single print they carry is beautiful. There is not any fluff on the site - every piece is thoughtfully curated.

They have a great selection of beach scene photos that we are all loving right now! The colors in this one by Claudia Chloe are STUNNING. The bright green water and the lemon yellow umbrellas are so happy!

They also have a great collection of floral prints, which are always so pretty to me. I especially love the more abstract florals, like this one by Daniela Orlev. That touch of black in the print is just perfect!

All of the prints from Artfully Walls are museum quality, printed on special archival paper with archival inks. Print sizes vary, depending on the artist, but there are usually 2-4 sizes to chose from, which gives you more price point options.

Isn't this frame pretty great too? A little different than what I'm normally drawn to, but I think it compliments the colors of the print nicely! Most of the Artfully Walls framing options are very clean and modern (which I love). There are a few great moulding options and a simple mat or no mat choice. EASY!

Artfully walls also has a great collection of portraits. I fell head over heels for this portrait of two girls on the beach by T.S. Harris. It feels very Elizabeth Peyton to me.

I love it all - the colors, the composition, the stripe in the girl's shirt...

It looks like it was meant to be hung in our music room. It fits right in! It seems there can never be too many lady portraits in this house full of real life ladies. :)

Here are some of my other favorites from Artfully Walls (I've been eyeing that fig one for a while now!). So many beauties to fall in love with!

figs // beach

abstract landscape // black floral // line abstract // circle dot abstract // minimalist landscape // sunshine

clouds // abstract landscape

palms // moth // oranges // blue abstract

night sky // green abstract

leaf abstract 1 // leaf abstract 2 / Grand Canyon

Thank you to Artfully Walls for sponsoring this post! All opinions are my own. :)

Two-Toned Painted Rooms

2015-12-03T11:55:00.001-05:00

Color-blocked walls keep popping up in my feeds and in magazines. Have you been noticing them, too? I love how the look can add a lot of color to a room without being overbearing, and instantly makes a space feel modern.

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image (I spy F&B's Arsenic! Such a favorite.)

It's an especially great look for a kids room! This nursery would look so different if it were painted in only the bold color from floor to ceiling. It would be way too intense.

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I love how subtle and sweet the colors are in this one below. Wouldn't something like this be fun in Margot's nursery? The art hanging right on the line is such a great touch!

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Jordan Ferney's beautiful living room is another great example of two-toned subtlety! She nailed the colors in here with that crisp white and the palest of blush on the ceiling.

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And check out this high contrast version. White and deep navy! I love the idea of painting right through the moulding and the doors. Also, it doesn't hurt that the hardware and lighting are so perfectly unique and modern!

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Continuing the paint line right through the door reminds me of this project featured on One Kings Lane. Such a fun idea for a closet or en suite bathroom door - and it's so easy to change if you ever get tired of the look! I think the key to pulling this off is painting the main walls in the room a bright, clean white and keep the furniture colors and patterns pretty tame as well.

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If you're trying to get a similar look with the walls or doors at your house, don't forget my very best painting trick for getting the most crisp lines possible. It's a game-changer!

Getting Personal This Holiday Season

2015-11-30T08:00:00.000-05:00

I want to simplify my gift-giving for the holidays this year. I'm planning to give less things, but to put more thought into the gifts. I think the key to pulling this off and making any great gift really special is personalization. Showing your loved one that you put in just a little extra effort goes so far!

There are a few personalized gifts that I made using Shutterfly this month that I'm SO excited to give, like this framed canvas that I made from my daughter Claire's artwork. I like to do little art classes with my girls and I was proud of how Claire tackled the brushwork and the light/shadows with this one. I thought the original smaller painting was frame-worthy for sure, but I loved the idea of it being printed much, much bigger! So I scanned it in and uploaded in to the Shutterfly site. The print quality of the canvas is amazing and I love the modern white floating frame!

I hung it in her room for these photos, but now it's wrapped and back in my not-so-top-secret present hiding space (aka my closet) and I can't wait to see Claire's face on Christmas morning! She'll be so excited and I think this is something she'll always love to have, especially as she grows older. :)

As a little Thanksgiving gift last week, I brought my mom this personalized candle. Shutterfly lets you upload your own photos or if you don't have the ideal image, you can check out their awesome Art Library, which is full of hundreds of great images for you to use to personalize your gifts.

This summer we rented a big cabin in the mountains for a family reunion and we took this great photo of all the grandkids wearing their reunion shirts there. I love it and I know my mom does too! It was perfect to put on her candle.

They have a couple of awesome scents in the candles - I went with Grapefruit Blossom for my mom's. Not very Thanksgiving-related, but it smells amazing! :)

Speaking of kids and Shutterfly's Art Library, I also got a set of these personalized melamine plates for the girls. Isn't the kitty illustration adorable?

Another present we'll be giving to the girls is sort of a group gift. Michael and I both upgraded our iPhones this year, so we have an extra iPhone 5 or two laying around and we've decided to use one of them as a family phone for the girls to use when they're at playdates or at sports practices. Isn't this personalized case adorable? I know my color-loving girls are going to love the case (I found this pattern in Shutterfly's Art Library too!) and I'm hoping having our name printed on the back will help it to not get lost at the dance studio! :)

I also love to have a few unique gifts on hand to give to friends and neighbors for the New Year. We live in Mesa, Arizona, which has a TON of cool vintage neon signs from the 50s and 60s. I gathered up a few photos of the signs that I've taken, and I had this super easy to make calendar printed up to give to my friends that love Mesa the same way that I do.

I love this clean, modern theme that uses pretty fonts and crops your images into a circle. I'm thinking once 2016 is over, I'd love to frame all of these high-quality prints for a gallery wall series!

Another personalized gift I made with Shutterfly this year was this cute journal for my sister, Heather. She is an amazing writer and fills up journals quickly. It's become sort of a tradition for me to give her a new journal for every gift-giving holiday.

I uploaded some of her Instagram snaps for the cover and I love how it turned out! Again, amazing print quality and so easy to execute!

I hope she loves it as much as I do! (Heather, do me a favor and act surprised on Christmas, m'kay?)

What personalized gifts are you giving this year? I can't wait to see Claire's face when she opens up her painting present! :)

This post is sponsored by Shutterfly. Share and celebrate your family update. Shop Shutterfly for personalized holiday cards that are unique, meaningful and that are just the way you want.

Why Don't You...Ceruse - a follow up!

2015-11-25T17:10:00.001-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving! What do you have going on this week? We're up at my parents house for the next couple of days, but when we get back I have some big, productive plans! Black Friday is less about shopping for me and more about project time! It's so nice to have a chunk of uninterrupted time at home, when the emails aren't coming fast and furious and the pace feels a little slower. I did this cerusing project for Domino over a holiday weekend and it's still one of my favorite pieces in the house!

(photos by my friend, Sarah Webb - who has the CUTEST loungewear line here!)

I love to really research a project as much as possible before tackling it. Before I started the cerusing on the secretary piece, I looked around for limed furniture inspiration and it was actually sort of hard to find! There isn't much about cerusing out there - and even fewer images with tagged info on the cerusing. After some digging, here are my most favorite cerused images and links from around the web...

Alice Lane Home

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Lonny

KWID

Stunning, right? It's such a graphic yet organic look! If you want to try cerusing yourself, remember that the piece has to be solid oak, and the more pronounced the grain, the better! It's super easy to find affordable oak pieces at thrift stores and on Craigslist. I just did a quick search on the Phoenix CL and found a dozen great options!

The full tutorial for cerusing is on the original post, but here's a list of the materials you'll need:

Gel stripper // brass bristled brush // aniline dye stain // liming wax

Happy cerusing, friends! Please email me photos if you give it a try yourself! I'd love to see. AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! xo

Holiday Equations: Shimmer + Organic + Unexpected Color

2015-11-23T10:01:00.000-05:00

I'm really getting into the holiday spirit this year! We busted out the Christmas decor at our house this weekend and took a trip to Target to supplement the things I already had on hand. I wanted our holiday decorations to look a little more clean and modern this season! My formula was a bit of shimmer + pops of unexpected color + organic elements.

Here are my best tips for pulling it off!

1) The more shimmer, the better! Not only are metallic, reflective and glittery surfaces are super festive, there's the added bonus that the colors will always look great with your home's permanent decor!

I found these metallic paper stars at Target (on sale!) that definitely fit in the shimmer category and I bought two in each color and size. I hung them from the molding on either side of the library using 3M hooks and black ribbon. I think it looks great from the entry and from the music room!

2) Think beyond the standard red + green color scheme!

Speaking of the black ribbon, I really wanted to incorporate small hits of unexpected color (like black) in my holiday decor this year. Target had some black ornaments that I added to my collection (as well as these pretty pastel gem-shaped ornaments).

(and how pretty is the Sugar Paper line of gift boxes?)

I tried to bring the pops of black and shimmer in to the other parts of the room using pillows and accent furniture like this little faux fur stool. Isn't it pretty?!

I love this big black and white pillow so much that I bought a second one to use as a pair on the roll-arm sofa after the holidays. It's great for pattern-mixing (like with this sweet little gold-embroidered pillow).

3) Keep the look modern with organic elements

Target's done an amazing job of nailing the organic modern look this year! I'm crazy over these gold wreaths and the black candelabras have been my obsession since they hit the shelves a month or two ago. They're just too good!

This gold candle holder was another had-to-have favorite! I put in dark green tea lights and I think the combo is so pretty! The little marble bowl and the monogrammed tray are also from the Target holiday collection.

Here is another place that I used my holiday formula. I know lilac doesn't automatically come to mind when you think of holiday colors, but I think really any color can work! And doesn't the lilac look so fresh and festive here on this shimmery berry wreath? I hung it with fresh pine boughs on top of my giant floor mirror where we like to tape up holiday cards from friends and family.

I carried the non-traditional-pops-of-color theme into the music room with a warm, organic wooden bowl full of my antique mercury glass ornaments and these AMAZING bottle brush trees on the piano.

Have you seen all the rose gold pieces at Target right now? So on-trend! This solid metal Merry Christmas garland is especially beautiful in person!

And how cute is this little JOY sign that I put on our bookshelves?

In this little corner of the music room, I used this super-gorg Nate Berkus marble and brass side table to hold some pretty flowers and little festive trinkets. I'm really digging this color combo!

sequin pillow // velvet pillow // brass bowl // white+gold canister

white throw

It was so fun to transform these rooms with my girls over the weekend! Those unexpected color additions and all the modern shimmer made my old holiday decor feel so fresh to me, but the organic touches helped keep the look clean and more modern.

What holiday equations will you use to transform your home for the holidays?

This post is brought to you by Target Style. Shop the new Home collection in stores and online.

Boom Watch Me

2015-11-23T04:06:00.000-05:00

A new watch is at the top of my holiday wish list this year! My friend has the big one below from Stock Watches out of Australia and it is amazing. She gets a million compliments on it every day.

1 // 2 // 3 // 4

I can't decide if I want rose gold or yellow gold accents or a leather or a metal mesh strap. I do know that I'm most drawn to a big, white face.

5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10

11 // 12 // 13 // 14 // 15 // 16

This beauty from Void Watches with its natural leather flat strap, is absolutely singing my name! I love the clean white face and the brass details!

Have you seen any great watches around lately? I have a vintage Timex that I still love, but it's starting to look a little shabby after me wearing it to death for years and years. :)

A Holiday Mantle and DIY Faux Log Set

2015-11-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

I LOVE living right around the corner from my sister, Ali! There are the obvious amazing reasons, but I also really love that we get to help each other with decorating and house projects all the time. Our girls have been begging to let us decorate for Christmas already, and we were happy to get started last weekend!

We picked out a few gorgeous holiday pieces at Pier 1 to use in Ali's living room. Isn't this color combo gorgeous?!

beaded gold // clear glass tear drop // gold star // pinecone snowflake // pink mercury glass style // white starburst // rose gold orb

Here's a reminder of what her new house looked like before we painted.

We started hanging some of the new Pier 1 items (this white garland is beautiful!) and it was starting to look so pretty that we were inspired to tackle this faux stacked log project that Ali and I had been talking about doing in here for months! Does that ever happen to you? Sometimes I need a little encouragement to get going on a project! :)

I made a paper template of Ali's arched fire box and cut a piece of 3/4" plywood to fit inside it snugly and painted the plywood black. I bought just a few dollars worth of eucalyptus logs from a tree service company and cut them down with a miter saw in random lengths and used Liquid Nails to attach them to the black plywood backing.

Isn't this a fun project? It was pretty easy to do and it makes such a statement in the room! It looks so cozy with all of beautiful holiday decor we used here!

You guys know how much I love a good layered garland! I started with the white garland hung on removable hook strips and then added in a bit of greenery and sparkly leaves, as well as this adorable star garland.

I also hung a few of these pretty gold ombre stockings. I love how these look against Ali's white fireplace!

Also, how cute is that faux snow leopard pillow on Ali's navy blue midcentury modern chair? It is gorgeous in person and it only cost $25! Such a score.

The space above Ali's mantle is big and tricky to decorate around. I decided adding some bigger pieces up there would help with the scale. We propped up a giant mirror and layered on a few pieces, like this cute wooden horse (we added his little neck decoration) and this adorable 'Tis The Season chalkboard sign.

We wanted to hang a wreath on top of the giant mirror and this mixed-metals ornament wreath was the obvious choice! I picked up some extra wide hot pink satin ribbon and tied a bow the Martha way, which is easy and fool-proof!

Instead of the around-the-tree-and-through-the-hole method, she recommends the two-bunny-ears method.

It's easier to make the bow symmetrical this way!

I used a couple of picture hanging strips to hang the ribbon on top of the frame of the mirror. I love how it adds a layer of color and texture!

Also, guys, how amazingly great are those agate slice stands?! I LOVE them and think they look so great in the holiday mix!

The little pre-lit gold tree is another favorite. I just added a few starburst ornaments to make it even prettier!

We also used this faux shearling runner as a mini tree skirt. Cute, right?

After Thanksgiving, we'll go pick up our live Christmas trees and add the rest of these pretty ornaments to the room. I'm loving how everything looks so far though! Pink is such a pretty Christmas color!

This post is brought to you by Pier 1 Imports.

Book Club: Inspiration for the Holidays (and Beyond!)

2015-11-18T17:11:00.000-05:00

I LOVE the holidays! Surprise! I'm so unique!

But really, who honestly doesn't love an excuse to give sweet presents and throw parties and spend time with loved ones and decorate their homes with pretty things? AND NEED I MENTION THE FOOD.

I love decorating for the holidays so much that I have a couple of shelves of magazines that are holiday-only. It's such a treat to dig them out every November and rediscover a few of my old favorites (most are Domino or MS Living/Blueprint (RIP)). And every year I make a special trip to my local bookstore to comb through the special issues to see if there's anything I'd like to add to my holiday collection. (#print4ever)

This Style Your Season magazine was released from One King's Lane (which means there are no external ads and hardly any text - just one amazing editorial photo after another). It's really, really good.

It's full of all kinds of amazing floral shots and tips for decorating for the holidays in thoughtful, easy ways. Like the idea of arranging your most favorite ornaments in a pretty bowl for your entry console or coffee table. This is a GREAT idea for those of us with multiple sets of Christmas ornaments. I have a dwindling set of antique mercury glass ornaments (a few have shattered each year - sob!) and I think I'm going to set them out in a vintage bowl tonight. We're going with a more restrained tree this year (who even am I?), so a pop of color on our coffee table will be welcome!

There are some really great interiors shots in the magazine too - it's not all Christmas all the time. This guest bedroom set up is so fresh. I'm really loving that canopy! I'd love to do something just like this in Claire's room - pretty ribbon trim and all.

Here's another amazing guest room. I was looking at the issue with my sister, Ali, and we're thinking this image will be the inspiration for her bedroom redo that we're hoping to tackle sometime soon. Soft but not boring!

And you know how much I love a great upholstered-wall linens closet. I have a client that wants something just like this for her linen closet and I can't wait to show you the project!

Pretty stuff, right? I restrained myself and only posted a few of my favorite scans. The whole issue is a goldmine of glossy-paged inspiration. Have you seen any other not-to-be-missed holiday mags I should add to my collection?

All images are scans from Style Your Season except for image #3 (my desk)

Gifting Vintage This Year

2015-11-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

I love getting and giving vintage and antique gifts! Don't these pieces feel a little more special to you, too? Like they already have a soul. :)

I love having these special gifts scattered around the house. They're little reminders of the holidays, vacations and people that I love the most! Michael gave me the large Italian floor mirror for Christmas a couple of years ago and it was such a surprise. I LOVE it.

My mom gave me this Russian silver filagree bowl a few years ago and we use it for holding guitar picks on the piano. It's so delicate and such a unique piece.

I have a couple of really special pottery pieces that I love to keep out too.

My family has helped me grow my art glass paper weight collection over the years too. My great grandma collected these and they always remind me of her.

This little antique wooden obelisque was a gift from a dear friend, just because. Isn't it pretty? I love having it out on the cerused secretary.

Are you a Chairish shopper like I am? I use their app and website all the time for client work especially (I've been scouring it for this client!). It's such an easy way to find well-curated items at really fair prices.

My friends at Chairish invited me to curate a list of my favorite items (most are under $200!) that would be great for the gift-giving season. Check out my (huge) list here! I would love to get any of these for Christmas. (Hint-hint, Michael!)

x-benches // runner // brass and marble sculpture // bentwood chairs

mudcloth lumbar pillow // pyramid terrarium // abstract painting // rattan coffee table

dining table // green lamps // morovian star pendant // turquoise ming chair

side tables // calder-style mobile // abstract painting // faux fur stool

This post was a collaboration with Chairish! Download their amazing app here to make it even easier to buy and sell amazing vintage finds.

New at IKEA!

2015-11-14T16:13:00.000-05:00

Have you seen the new IKEA line called Sinnerlig?

It was a collaboration with British designer Ilse Crawford and it's super beautiful. Gorgeous, organic glass and stoneware, baskets and pretty textiles, as well as a couple of great furniture pieces.

My very favorite piece (which apparently is only available in stores right now) is this steel, acacia wood daybed. Isn't that jute webbing amazing? It's like all the best things about midcentury design in one beautiful (and super affordable) piece.

I'm so inspired by the jute webbing. I have this old bench that I got on the cheap at a thrift store and it's still sitting in storage because the caning is ripped on the seat. I bet I could do something cool here with this webbing idea!

PS There are a couple of new rugs in the 2016 line that aren't a part of the Sinnerlig line, but they're still really great!

They're all between 5x8' and 8x10' which is already a pretty great size, but if you need a bigger size, why not try this idea?

images from IKEA and Instagrammers: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5

Incorporating the TV

2015-11-11T00:12:00.001-05:00

It is such a huge challenge to incorporate a TV into a room without it making too much of a statement! In past homes, I've had good luck with hanging a gallery wall around the TV. This was the stair wall in our brownstone. Hanging art all around our TV, especially a couple of bigger art pieces that were similar in size, really helped it to fit into the gallery wall.

In our current home, we had our carpenter build a nook for the TV into the fireplace surround, which I painted black. I think it really helps to camouflage it when it's not on!

Recently I had to snap some photos of this great idea I saw in my husband's office building. I thought this beautiful frame was such a clever way to conceal the sides of the TV and the wiring.

And here are a few more of my favorite solutions. Most of these require some "building in" the way that my fireplace solution did, but check out what a difference it makes! All of these rooms look amazing, despite the big TVs!

Burnham Design

Vogue Living

Remodelista

Sunset

Elle Decor

Southern Living

Apt Therapy

Cool, right? I'm dying to try one of those last two ideas in my bedroom! Have you had any luck with a great TV-hiding solution?

Mini DIYs: Toy Animal Hooks and Agate Drawer Pulls (and a Give Away!!)

2015-11-04T15:43:00.000-05:00

Have you guys heard of Sugru before? It is a moldable glue that sticks to pretty much anything and cures just by exposing it to the air! It's as easy to use as playdough or air-dry clay before it curies, and turns into flexible rubber overnight.

It's a DIYer's dream because you can fix, make or improve basically anything with Sugru. They have just launched two new kits that make home hacks easy and fun. The Sugru Starter Kit comes with a mini-booklet of ten cool home hacks, along with five packs of Sugru in a cute little tin. (a cute gift idea!)

The Sugru Kit Guide, comes with five packs of Sugru, the same mini-booklet and tin, plus all the accessories you need to complete the ten hacks!

I tried a few of the projects from their guide around our house over the weekend. I made some little hooks for Evie's room using Sugru to attach plastic toy animals to the side of her bookshelf.

It's so easy to do - you just put a good-sized ball of Sugru on the toy animal feet and press them firmly on to the surface you want to attach them, and then just tape the toy in place on the wall while the Sugru cures overnight.

Super cute, right? Evie was ALL about them!

I loved this idea from the Kit to make hooks with Sugru in my kitchen by my range to hold my phone so I can listen to music or podcasts and reference online recipes while I cook without getting my phone dirty. Sugru bonds great to brick and ceramics, so you won't need a drill!

I love that you can repair broken low-voltage USB charger cords (under 24 volts) with Sugru! We had quite a few of these that needed to be fixed. :)

You can do it a little thinner than I did, but I liked the idea of building in a little handle to pull making it easier to use.

Probably my favorite Sugru project that we tried was making these one-of-a-kind pulls using screws and agate slices.

The trick is to find screws with a flat top and a nut for tightening on the back of your drawer and use Sugru to attach them to the agate slices. Sugru is great for sticking to awkward surfaces, like these super glossy pieces of polished stone!

Claire was really loving these pulls so I'm thinking these new pulls might have to make their way to her nightstands!

There are a million ways to use this cool product! And great news - Sugru is giving away Sugru Kits to four readers today! And one of those winners will also get a $100 Amazon voucher. Just check out the Sugru site and pick your favorite project and leave a comment here. (Open to readers world-wide!). The winners will emailed next week. Good luck!

And thank you to Sugru for sponsoring this post!

Carnations? (Yeah, Carnations!)

2015-11-02T16:02:00.003-05:00

Carnations aren't usually my first choice, but lately they've been my go-to flower. They're SO cheap!! And they can be so pretty when they're bunched together in the right way. The trick is all in how you cut the stems!

I got three bunches of pink carnations for just $12 at my local grocery store (Fry's Marketplace always has a ton of great options). Can't beat that, especially considering they last for several weeks!

You'll want to use a bowl that has a wide mouth and is only about 5-8" tall. And definitely use the floral preservative too!

Here's the secret to getting carnations to look like a more expensive flower: Using a sharp pair of scissors, cut off one individual bloom at a time, right at the base of the stem. If you just cut down the main stem and leave the blooms so staggered and far away from each other, they'll always just look like lame carnations. Cutting them down individually and bunching them up tricks the eye!

Once you've cut them down, make a big pile of the blooms.

Bunch them together with all of the petals right up next to each other. And then trim the stems so that everything is the same length (whatever length works best with your vase).

You'll be left with big bunches of blooms that end up looking more like peonies and less like straggly carnations!

Once you have them all bunched in your vase, just fluff up the flowers that have sunk down. I also like to pull out some of the little green buds. I think they help to break things up.

Pretty, right? If I change the water every few days, I can get these carnations to last two or three weeks! Do you have any good tips for getting grocery store flowers to stay fresh? (PS Here's another one of my favorite grocery store flower tips!)

Working on Gracie's Room

2015-10-29T20:31:00.000-04:00

We have a big group of guests coming to stay with us over the holidays and I've been hustling to get our girls bedrooms more finished/comfortable in time. I actually sort of love having an excuse to get house projects done! Gracie's bedroom needed the most help and I feel like we've made some good headway this month.

I had my upholsterer recover this old headboard in a pretty light blue velvet that I bought at a local fabric discount store called Boca Bargoons (awesome name, right?). The frame is queen-sized though and Grace has been sleeping on a super old full-sized mattress that didn't have any support.

We ended up getting another Leesa mattress for her bed because we've loved the one in our master bedroom so much. And let's be honest, the convenience factor was a big one! The mattress ships (free!) to your doorstep (in a much smaller box than you're expecting) and then you unpack it on your bed frame and watch it grow to full size in about five minutes. It's crazy easy!

Their mattresses are 10" tall and made of three layers of unique foam, including memory foam and another type of foam that's perforated to keep your mattress nice and cool. (IMPORTANT when you live in the desert like we do!). Isn't the mattress itself so pretty? Seems like a shame to cover it up with bedding. :)

We've had our Leesa mattress in our master for about four or five months now and I have to say that I really, really love it (just like these 1500 reviewers). It's the perfect combo of soft and supportive. I don't have the best back - mine goes out all the time - and I feel like this mattress has made a world of difference for me! I've been feeling great lately.

My Grace has the sweetest heart - she loves it as much as I do that Leesa donates a mattress to a shelter for every ten sold. When I told her that she said "Well now I'll really sleep better at night!" Ha!! Kids are the best.

Between the amazing new mattress and bed frame, we're both feeling pretty great about her room situation! Isn't that blue velvet so pretty? We also put up some new art from Kristi Kohut in her room that pairs so well with it! On the other side of the room we hung an old French poster above a vintage dresser I bought off Craigslist and painted. We're getting close in here!

Kids rooms are my absolute favorite to decorate! It's so fun to get crazy with color and pattern - and I love a space with no rules. :)

This post is sponsored by Leesa. The first 50 readers to redeem the promo code LGN75 at checkout get $75 off their order! Stressed about ordering a mattress sight-unseen? Don't be! Leesa has a 100-day risk-free trial period!

Happening Lately

2015-10-27T04:19:00.000-04:00

I think it's high time for a old school style brain-dump post! Here are a bunch of random things on my mind lately:

1) We're hiring! I'm looking for another designer to join our team based in my studio in Mesa, AZ. We especially need more helpers that know CAD and the Adobe suite. Please apply! We're a fun bunch and we've got a ton of exciting projects on the books right now and we need all the help we can get!

2) Because we're growing so fast, I'm considering moving my office out of my house this year. It is so convenient to work from home, especially with the baby, but it's also hard to shut it down, you know? Also, I've always dreamed of a retail shop. One of my girls, Megan, used to work for a cool design firm in a beautiful building that had a retail shop downstairs and their design offices upstairs, which always seemed pretty perfect to me. They've since moved and Megan works for me now (and Camelback Flowershop is in the space), but I think the concept is a great one that works well for a lot of design teams.

(pretty Megan!)

(pretty Camelback Flowershop!)

I've been poking around, looking for cool places downtown to fix up. We'll see if anything comes of it, but it sure has been fun to be on the hunt and to dream! All of the spaces I can afford right now need a ton of work, like former banks (with vaults!) and transmission shops (!?), but they all have some decent potential. :)

3) Craigslist is still loving Kayla. She found this BEAUT of a sofa for us that just needs some upholstery love. Can you even handle the lines and those legs??

4) I'm obsessed with this over-sized subway tile we're using in a local client's master bathroom. Wait til you see the satin brass fixtures! Hubba-hubba!

5) My parents sure have a pretty drive way. I'm so glad I can drive up to visit them and get a little taste of the seasons!

6) Check out these amazing semi-flush sputnik chandies that just got installed in my client's new closet. Lucent Lightshop (a local company that I LOVE and use all the time) came through for us yet again! So good, right?

7) Margot is crawling like a champ and her latest trick is the most adorable clap you've ever seen. If anyone in the room says "Yay!" she immediately starts clapping with fervor! Her tiny, chubbiest little hands kill me.

She's also really getting into books. She makes the highest pitch squeal whenever I put this Richard Scarry book in front of her. She LOVES the giant cat page and kisses it over and over again. It's like she is breaking my heart on purpose.

8) We call Margot "Bunny" a lot so I immediately wanted a print of this bunny art as seen on the Dwell Studio site. Anyone know the artist?

9) My doctor's office had a super old issue of Lucky in the waiting room and it was such a treat to revisit this great article on Claiborne Swanson Frank. What a gorgeous photo, start to finish!

9) I've wanted a bluetooth Tivoli radio forever and I finally bit the bullet recently and I have to say, it is everything I dreamed it would be, and more! We use it in the studio to listen to podcasts and all sorts of random music (and I mean RANDOM - everything from Dixie Chicks to Kanye to Fleetwood Mac) and the sound quality is amazing. And it looks so pretty sitting out, so, you know, win-win. :)

End of brain dump! It feels good to catch you up. Life is good. Though I feel generally like it is all going by way too fast (how's that for sounding OLD?!).