Hometown for the Holidays

Greetings!

It is hard to believe Christmas will be here in less than one week! I have spent much of my time after Thanksgiving decorating my home, both inside and out. It's an evolving process! This year I wanted to channel my inner Martha Stewart and display holiday decorations with vintage charm and handmade feel. My front porch is one of my absolute favorite spaces in my home and I wanted to create a space that utilized more than just lights and retail decorations. Here is what I came up with, I hope it inspires you to get crafty, enjoy!

Vintage Sled. To dress it up a bit, I added some fresh cut pine boughs and a bright red bow. Adorable!

Here is the vintage sled, my absolute favorite revamped red rocking chair, and my Charlie Brown Christmas tree. (Please excuse the extension cord in the background!)

Tis' the Season!

Christmas is of course one of my favorite times of the year! I love transforming my home (inside and out!) into a bright and festive array of both handmade and store bought decorations. This year, I fell in love with bulbs! Plastic, glass, you name it, I have placed them everywhere. Not only are they beautiful and available in a wide variety of colors, they are also extremely affordable!

Try placing them in a basket or glass dish to add a pop of color and some shimmer to otherwise ordinary spaces.  Or, hang them from light fixtures and curtain rods with fishing line to create instant whimsy. 

Instant Christmas! I filled an over-sized lantern with bulbs of various colors and textures.

Filling everyday baskets with colorful bulbs adds instant sparkle to a dark corner.

Hang bulbs in varying heights with fishing line from light fixtures and chandeliers. These pink and green bulbs added magic to an ordinary light fixture.

Welcome Back

And I'm back!

I have been in heavy duty decorating mode since I took a break from my Master's Program in Counseling  two months ago. I have done many do-it-yourself projects and with the holidays quickly approaching, I plan to continue! I have even pulled out all of my projects and supplies from my Interior Design bachelor's program, which has really got my brain moving in the creative direction.

This is a lighting project that was designed in an earth friendly home. It was one of my favorites, and I just thought I would share!

Stay tuned for some of my favorite holiday decorating tips and ideas. They don't have to cost a lot of money and many can be done with supplies you probably already have in your home.

Until next time...

Color Psychology

Last weekend I watched part of the How I Met Your Mother marathon running in honor of Mother's Day. Some people hate that show but I think it is terribly funny :-) Anyhow, the characters were dining singly for Valentine's Day all dressed up in various shades of purple because it was representative of Pride.

For some, color plays a big role in home design and life in general. Did you know the color you paint your walls can have an impact on your mood and even evoke a physical response? This is not an exact science, and in many instances can have completely opposite effects on two different people. The rooms in which you choose to display various colors can also make a difference.

Check it out:

Warm colors like red and orange represent energy, tension, and passion. These colors may be best suited for rooms that promote a lot of activity, such as the kitchen. Physically, the color orange can actually increase one's appetite. For this reason, many Feng Shui designers strongly suggest keeping bright orange walls out of the kitchen (but in a restaurant or food store, it might be genius!). Cool colors such as blues and greens have a more calming and soothing effect and make perfect color choices for the bathroom or bedroom.

No matter what colors you love, keeping balance is key. Following the 60/30/10 rule is an easy way to keep all of the colors you love (more on 60-30-10 later!).

I encourage you to enter any room in your home and take note of how you feel when you arrive. A simple color change may make all the difference! If you aren't sure, consider a color consultation from an Interior Designer (like Alyn Design).

Happy thoughts!
~Amber

Design from your Jammies!

In light of trying to get a portfolio going of awesome design projects, I have been doing tons of research as to what types of services would be most appreciated by my clients. I have been reading a lot about online interior design services. I think it is a wonderful idea! Customers take measurements and photos, answer an interest and lifestyle questionnaire, and chose their favorite ideas from places like Pinterest. After the design is complete, they receive a box full of goodies that include space planning ideas, drawings, paint and fabric selections, images of accessories as well as a shopping/price list of where to go to purchase the fantastic finds! This gives the client the opportunity to complete the design on his or her own terms based off of the designer's ideas. Genius!

This can be done for any room in the house, and can be as detailed as the customer wants it to be. Here is an example of a pricing list from one company I found:

Via homegrowninteriors.com

Here is an example of what one online designer presents her clients with at the end of the project:

Via Hillary Nichols @boxofdesign.com

 As you can see, these designs are done at a fraction of regular interior design fees. Now, the tricky part. I need some practice. Leave a comment if you would like to be considered for a free design in the box project!

Be Inspired!

I love color! I always tell people not to be afraid of it. Yes, you can pair orange with purple or green, blue with pink and black with brown! The trick is to find the right tints, tones & shades. If you are looking to add some pizazz to your home by adding some color but don't know where to start, you can always look to fashion and wedding trends for the hottest combinations. Nature also gives some amazing hints!

Here are some combinations that might surprise you~

Hints from the Beach

Purples & Orange

Light Blue & Red

Lime Green & Turquoise

Grey & Yellow

As you can see, the possibilities are endless! If you fall in love with a color, I guarantee there is a way to work it into your space. Be bold, daring, and experiment, you can always change your mind later!

Choices and Changes

Welcome!

This is it. Post number one of my first blog. Ever. I am doing this on a whim and am hoping for the best. Long story short, I am a creative at heart, stuck in the 8-5 office rut, who has decided to go back to her roots and do the things she loves - which is a little bit of everything - interior design & decorating, wedding design & decorating, custom artwork, murals, anything that gets my creative energies moving and keeps me from getting lost in numbers, letters, and day to day work structure. I am an eclectic personality (you'll see). Come back to visit often - I will offer tips, tricks and design projects that are practical and attainable for us regular folks as well as my own two cents on a wide variety of topics. I hope this blog inspires and motivates others to do the things they love, take a chance, or make a change in a part of life that may be lacking.Thank you for visiting! As always -