Home decor, DIY, Do it Yourself, Renovation, Bedroom Designs
VINTAGE……the new cool word in decor. Well, not so new, it’s been around for a few years actually, but gaining more and more popularity. What about “modern vintage?” Isn’t that like “jumbo shrimp? Maybe, but “vintage” is much cooler. Really, vintage can refer to a time-period or simply classic design.
Mantels? Gorgeous!
No fireplace? No problem!
Is there anything prettier or more nostalgic than a mantel decorated with pine boughs, poinsettia blossoms and candles?
We used to have a beautiful mantel in our first home. I really miss it. I loved decorating it from Spring to Winter and especially for holidays. A mantel can be a stunning focal point.
So, you ask, what if I don’t have a fireplace? Well, shelves aren’t just for books you know! Do some research and check out the beautiful mantels available and think “mantel minus sides (if applicable) = shelf = mock mantel.” A big, bold shelf hung low on a wall above a leather ottoman would be a striking vignette. I have the perfect place for this. I think I’m going to do it!
Think outside the box. These beautiful pieces of art are too good to go to waste. Think, think, think! Where can I put one of these? My kitchen? My bedroom? Oooo! My bathroom!! I know! The entryway…….so many ideas, so few walls.
I know, traditionally speaking mantels go over fireplaces. Well, remember those distressed brick walls we’ve talked about? You can create a stunning “fireplace scene” using the electric heaters that look like a small fireplace, distress a wall with brick (not very hard), add a mantel and voila! I actually considered doing something very similar to this in our basement bathroom but we didn’t have quite enough room unless we eliminated the door. Not the best idea! 🙂
Remember: Mantel = big shelf. If you don’t have a fireplace, use some of these mantel ideas to create an impressive look on a shelf, and put it anywhere you want. Dazzling!
Don’t you just love to walk through a misting system when you’re out shopping or at an amusement park in 90+ degree weather? I love it!
Well with the summer sizzle around the corner I have been re-wanting a misting fan in our backyard for the kids to play in so I went on the search for a DIY and on the cheap misting system. I really wanted one that would attach to a privacy fence surrounding our patio, but decided that it would probably keep our patio furniture too wet. But if you’re a lucky one who has a pergola or an arbor away from things you don’t want wet think about attaching one to that. How fun would that be? And great for the plants, too.
I needed to find a more portable option; one maybe that I could stand by our hot tub (which isn’t so hot in the summer, but makes a great little pool for the little ones), or one that I could just stand on the grass and let the kids run circles around. I’m also thinking of a lazy day on a lounge, reading a good book while my legs and feet are being cooled and freshened by a soaking summer breeze…mmmm…… mmmmm. Sounds nice, right?
Well, guess what? These are easy, fun, and cheap! YAY, all the things I love in new ideas. The basic items can be found at your local Lowe’s or Home Depot. All you need are:
A fan ~ you can get a floor model or one on a stand
Tubing
Misting nozzles
Some connectors
Plumbing fixture for faucet
Zip Lock ties
These really are all the basic requirements. You will need to be able to connect to a GFI outlet and also your outdoor faucet (or hose as an extension).
There are some great instructional videos on youtube to create a misting fan here. A more complex system that can be attached to a patio or pergola and can be found here. (http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/how-to-install-an-outdoor-misting-system/index.html
You can also purchase the parts separately or order them online. Not expensive at all.
I’m so doing this!
Attention Closets!
I guess I have an affinity for lizards….mmmm…….no I don’t, but I do love the Geico Geco and Lowe’s Valspar Chameleon. I just love to watch the commercial and see the lizard change colors to match his paint cans.
And THAT’S what I love about paint; that and it’s cheap!….for the result you get. If you want to do stripes, DO IT! Start in a closet if you’re a chicken J. TIP: I’ll tell you a secret. Back many years ago while on a very tight budget I bought some paint from WalMart. It was very good paint. Not nearly Valspar quality, but still good paint and a fraction of the cost. And you know what else is great about paint? If you don’t like it, paint over it. Simple as that.
Here are a few ideas:
I would love to do this to either a closet or a reading corner of a child’s room. Throw some brightly colored throw pillows on the floor, a cool rug, and a set of book shelves and you’ve got a darling modern library for the little ones or a teenager. HECK! I would LOVE this in a craft or hobby room, right?
Poppytalk offers these instructions for this adorable “swatch painting.” “All you need to do is grab a heap of paint samples from the paint store, make a rectangular stencil. Paint in strokes to emulate water colors –not painting perfectly, let dry then hand write with a thin sharpie the color names on each rectangle.”
Following are some more pics for you chameleon closet painters out there!
Do you remember, not too terribly long ago, that mixing stripes and plaids was a big fat NO-NO? I’m sooo glad times have changed.
Decorating with patterns is a fun and fabulous way to add more and more pizazz to a room. Now, I will admit, this style of decorating can be a bit tricky; it’s not really an “anything goes” kind of deal. There can be some misses with your hits.
Here are a few tips:
Let’s start simple. Let’s choose pillows to practice your layering. You can do this in a store and not have to buy a thing. Just for fun. Arrange some pillows on the floor or better yet a nearby chair or bench. Once you have something you feel comfortable with and like, take a picture of it for future reference and decide if it’s a hit or a miss. This will get easier with practice, I promise.
Now, notice I said the “complete picture”, not the only picture. There are thousands upon thousands of colors, patterns, and textures to choose from. These are decorator’s guidelines and we all know that our inner decorator is the boss! Have fun and love your result!
