Create a personal statement in your home with a custom Gallery Wall

Gallery walls can transform a room in minutes.  It is one of the quickest way to transform a bare wall from bland to interesting.

Creating a personal statement in your home is sometimes hard to pull off, as infusing your personality into a room can come off as garish or over cluttered.

A unique art gallery wall will convey your personality without overpowering your space, just follow these steps:

• Place artwork at eye level
• Choose a color palette within the same family that will complement your space
• Use your own photographs to create a story
• Combine low and high end pieces
• Layout artwork on the floor before hanging
• Choose frames that are unique (vintage) but in the same style
• Mix things up by including drawings or illustrations
• Keep heavy pieces to the bottom  

    "The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance".

                                                                          Aristotle

Here are a few gallery wall examples:

                                   All photos courtesy of HGTV

                           Let your personality shine with a custom
                          Gallery Wall.  I hope these inspired you.

          Shop wall art here: http://amzn.to/1WKJIuc

Fashion Friday: Steal Beyoncé's distinct fashionable style

Beyoncé  knows a thing or two about fashion and style, she's been setting trends for years and has influenced a generation.

The latest issue of Marie Claire magazine features some of her trendy summer looks, mixing patterns with classic pieces, casual with chic creating a sort of uptown/downtown style, see below:

Classic blazer paired with cutoff denim shorts

Color blocked side slit dress with a punch of  yellow  

Long sleeve graphic T-shirt mixed with cutoff shorts

Little black dress teamed with black biker jacket and sexy heels  

White blazer, Guns N Roses T-shirt, distressed jeans with a high ponytail  

Striking a pose with an all white outfit with nude accessories  

Which is your favorite Beyoncé outfit?  Comment below.

Have a great  weekend!

All photos courtesy of Marie Claire magazine  

DIY Tuesday - How to easily remove outdated wallpaper on a budget

If you just moved into a fixer upper and want to tackle removing the existing wallpaper but were reluctant to, below is an easy step-by-step guide to removing outdated wallpaper:

Materials You Will Need:

Dish Detergent

Fabric softener

Tools Required:

Drop cloth

Step ladder

Wallpaper scraping tool

Putty knife

Sponge

Spray bottle

1. Place drop cloths at the bottom of the walls that are going to be stripped and remove all switch plates and outlet covers from wall.
2. Turn off power to the room.
3. Cut small holes into the wallpaper so that the solution can permeate through to the adhesive base.
4. Mix together the fabric softener and hot water in a large spray bottle. Use small batches of solution at a ratio of one to one, keeping the water as hot as possible.
5. Spray a section of wallpaper with the solution and let it saturate the paper before stripping it.
6. Start pulling the wallpaper up from the bottom and use the putty knife to remove the rest of the paper, repeating this process until all of the wallpaper is removed.
7. To remove wallpaper adhesive, mix a tablespoon of dish detergent and hot water and wipe down the wall with a sponge until all residue is removed.
8. Rinse wall with fresh water and dry with a towel.

For more DIY projects visit: http://www.diynetwork.


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                                  Photo courtesy of Target.com

6 Luxurious Coastal Living Bedroom Ideas

Seaside living is tranquil, serene and relaxing.  Creating the coastal style in a bedroom is simple and rewarding as it will turn an otherwise boring bedroom into an airy sophisticated retreat.

A must-have when going Coastal is to bring design elements that are true to the this style such as:  white furniture/white slipcovers, rattan rugs, blue color palette (navy, turquoise, seafoam or cobalt blue), striped or plaid patterns, nautical symbols, and linen fabrics.

Decor Tip:  Keep things light, and airy and be sure to add an accent color such as yellow, red or green to anchor your space.

6 Luxurious Coastal Living Bedroom Ideas:

                                                            "Luxury  is in each detail"
                                                                                                  Hubert de Givenchy

                                                  All photos courtesy of Bing images

Design a private and functional space by adding unique room dividers

Room dividers create a sense of privacy while adding more usable space to your interiors.

Interior decorators and designers use room dividers to:

• Add character to a room space 
• To divide a room making it more efficient and functional  
• To create privacy within a room (home office)
• Hide clutter
• Home staging
• Decorative focal point

Contemporary room dividers are bold, ornate and are made from unique materials such as leather, teak, wrought-iron and pleated fabric.

Below are a sample of room dividers from HGTV:

A fabric divider behind the bed creates a focal point in this elegant  

bedroom  

This divider separates the master bedroom from the bathroom,

 talk about  privacy!

A mirrored ornate divider is used to hide clothes clutter

                             An entryway is defined thanks to the clever use of this divider

 
                   Creating more room space with dividers is affordable,  practical and beautiful.
                                   For more inspiration visit: http://www.hgtv.com/

Houseplants - a great addition for a more healthy home

Houseplants are sometimes  overlooked  as a decor accessory but it is one of the easiest ways to update and uplift a space.  Not only are they beautiful but they help to improve the quality of your indoor air by removing harmful  toxins found  in  the  home such as benzene and formaldehyde.

The best indoor plants to improve air quality

are:

Aloe Vera
Gerbera Daisy
Snake Plant
Ficus
Golden Pothos

Take a look at these beautiful rooms found on Pinterest decorated with houseplants, they are doing double duty here.

Snake Plant

Ficus

Fig Tree

Hanging Golden Pothos

Tip:  Some houseplants are harmful to pets, so check with your vet or do some research beforehand.

7 gorgeous backyard ideas you can create for your next holiday party

Now that the Holiday season is here whether it be Memorial Day, 4th of July, weddings, garden parties, etc., our backyards will be the center of attention as we take our celebrations outdoors.

Creating that perfect setting starts with planning (invitations, menu, theme and party supplies) and lots of inspiration.  Below are 7 gorgeous backyard ideas to get you on the path to success.

This backyard glows with romance thanks to string lights and lanterns

                       A simple but creative kids garden party.                                

        Create an intimate setting for a gathering of close                friends with a tablecloth, napkins and florals.          

DIY lighting, plants and a rustic table provides a welcoming spot for your next barbecue.

                          A garden party table all decked out for a
                          wedding shower or anniversary party.

Back to basics with this rustic but elegant backyard feast.

Charming is the theme of this party table with potted flowers, candles and a printed tablecloth.

All photos courtesy of Bing images

Have a safe and happy Memorial weekend!

DIY Tuesday: How to easily paint over the wood paneling in your home

One of my first DIY project was painting over the wood paneling in our living room. My first instinct was to remove the paneling and install drywall, but I knew this was going to be a huge and costly project. After doing some research, I discovered that I could easily paint over the wood paneling by following a few simple steps, thereby saving myself valuable time and money.

Here are the materials you will need:

Mild detergent
Sandpaper
Primer (preferably Kilz)
Paint brush and roller
Painter's tape
Interior latex paint
Spackle
Drop cloth

The first step is to place a drop cloth on the floor and remove any dirt from the paneling with a mild detergent and water as a clean surface will give you a better result. After the paneling has been washed and dried, fill any holes or scratches with spackle and sand the entire paneling smooth. Remove any trace of dust with a damp cloth. Mask off the ceiling, baseboards and trim with the painter's tape. Now you are ready to prime. (This step is very important, as paneling is a very slick surface and the primer will help the paint to adhere to it.) Use the brush and cut-in the edges and corners of the paneling with primer as it is easier to use the brush in these areas. Apply a coat of primer to the paneling using the roller. After the primer has dried typically this takes about 24hrs, paint the paneling with an interior latex paint of your choice.

Simply painting over the paneling has transformed my living room into a bright, cheery and welcoming place.

Here are a few rooms with painted wood paneling that will inspire you:

                                                                All photos courtesy of Pinterest


What was the first DIY project that you tackled?

Add a splash of color to your kitchen with Williams-Sonoma cookware

The Williams-Sonoma name is known for its premium line of distinctive, quality cookware and kitchen tools with exquisite patterns and vibrant colors.  This luxurious brand will not only transform your kitchen but will ultimately make you a better cook and hostess.

These  brightly colored cast iron enamel pots will make

you enjoy cooking again.

       These colorful grill pans will suit any decor

                                 style whether modern or country.                
                                       

Add striking copper accessories for a unique and

interesting flair.

                               A bold red Kitchen-Aid mixer says it all.

All photos courtesy of Williams-Sonoma

Experience the luxury at:
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/

Fashion Friday - Shop Jessica Simpson's amazing fashion accessories from HSN

Friday is a good day to update your closet for the week ahead with the talented singer turned fashion designer, Jessica Simpson.

Below is just a sample of her exclusive line available only at HSN.

Purple and black cat eye sunglasses with case.

Suede cutout platform heels for work or weekends.

A crossbody bag with handle available in seafoam, peach and black.

A floral and romantic fragrance with citrus notes, how fancy!

Photos courtesy of Bing images

Browse her collection at hsn.com.

Enhance your kitchen window this spring with a pretty herb garden

During the spring and summer months my weekends are designed for easy, do it yourself projects that I can accomplish in a day or two such as a kitchen herb garden, very easy and the cost is minimal.  I love cooking with herbs but find that over time buying them from the grocery store can be costly, so I got into my gardening gear this weekend and finally planted my own herb garden!

If you have been longing to start a kitchen herb garden of  your own check out these beauties below.

Colorful stenciled containers  

Recycled paper pots

Chalk board painted pots with twine 

                                    Save your soup cans and tie a pretty ribbon around
                                                                 your Masterpiece

                                                                                                  All photos  courtesy of Bing images.


Your garden awaits...have a happy weekend!