Frugal Friday at The Shabby Nest!

I linked up to Frugal Friday party at The Shabby Nest today. I shared my Doggie Silhouette Art, which you have already seen but head over there and see what creative ideas other bloggers have to share!

I'll leave you with a few pretty images. I'm off to search for a wing back chair to slipcover. Wish me luck!

Happy Friday!

Emily

Let's Talk Mantels

Hello,

I don't know where you all are but here in S Florida it is hot and getting hotter. I really can't even imagine having a fire in the fireplace but for the sake of having something to blog about....work with me.

A fireplace and a large mantel are on my wish list as a must have for a house someday. You just don't run across many fireplaces in South Florida, it's shocking really.... :)

I am the kind of nerd that has been saving pictures for my dream house for years now that combined with some Internet research has lead me to the following conclusion. There are three most common types of arrangements on mantels.

The first being a symmetrical arrangement, which is probably most commonly found in traditional decor. Here are a few examples:

I'm kinda crazy about things being orderly so I kinda love symmetry. ;)

The next type of arrangement is...you guessed it...asymmetrical! Here are a few examples:

I don't mind the 1st and the 3rd picture because it's not very extreme but personally I think the 2nd mantel would drive me nuts.

The last category I'm going to talk about is decor of varying size. I love this look and I think it definitely is represented by a more youthful decor. I say youthful but I don't mean immature because I think if done correctly it can look very polished.

I think that if I have a fireplace in a formal living room I will probably do a symmetrical look but in a more casual room I will do decor of varying heights. Maybe I will have both!!

What do you think?

Emily

Inspiring Blogger:Urban Grace Interiors

Hello all!

I hope everyone is having a great day! Today I thought I would focus on one of my favorite designers/bloggers Urban Grace Interiors. Those of you that aren't familiar Erika is a wife, mother to a beautiful baby girl, and a has a twin sister named Darby (who's blog I also love and will feature at another time).

Erika is an interior designer and I must say that I love her style. Here are a few images from her portfolio that are my favorite!

I can't even begin to sum up what I love about this entryway!

Copper farmhouse sink? Yes, please!

Again, too many things to list that I love in this picture. In fact, I would have this as my kitchen in a heartbeat!

On a more personal note I must say that I have corresponded with Erika twice over email and she is has been most helpful. The first time was to ask about a Swiss dot wrapping paper she featured on her blog that I fell in love with. I figured it was a long shot since I knew that she was a new mama and a very busy designer. She emailed me back immediately and said she would try to figure out the brand, which she did and wrote back saying she couldn't find any markings on the paper. But really.....I felt like a teenager who had just had contact with their first celebrity. I am such a fan of hers and here she was going out of her way to help me....someone she didn't know from a hole in the wall.

The next time had contact with Miss Erika was when I emailed her for advice on becoming an interior designer. I was thinking of going back to school and was overwhelmed with all the options of classes and programs and didn't have anyone in my life that knows about the business to help me make a decision. Once again, I thought I would put it out there and see if she could shed some light on the subject for me. The same day that I bombarded her with questions about schooling and questions about life and being a designer she wrote me a lengthy message back. It was like I was talking to a friend who helped me to think of some options I hadn't thought of and made my decision that much easier!

So, before I get too sappy on all of you I'll stop. :) But I did want to point out that not only is Erika an amazing designer, I can tell you from personal experience that she is a great person with a heart for pleasing her blog readers and helping out others (even if they come in the form of blog stalkers) ;)

Hope I didn't bore anyone!

Have a great day!

Emily

Vignettes

Hello!

I thought that we could discuss vignettes today. Not sure what I mean?

A vignette is any small, pleasing picture or view (dictionary.com)

In relation to interior design I am speaking of a small grouping of items that tell a story or are pleasing to the eye. Here are a few examples of some pretty table vignettes:

found here

found here

The lenoxx.com tells us that there are most commonly 2 compositions of vignettes...the V and the A.

Here is a diagram to explain the V type of vignette and a few examples:

Here is a diagram to explain the A shape of vignette and a few examples:

What are your favorite vignettes in your home? Are you more drawn to the V or the A?

Emily

Doggie Art

Good afternoon!

This last Friday I ran across this picture in blogland and forgive me but I didn't save where it is from.

If anyone knows let me know so I can give proper credit.

Well, it immediately made me think of our two doggies Tatum (English Bulldog) and Oliver (Papillon) and how I would love to have something like this of them. My creative juices started flowing as I googled English Bulldog and Papillon silhouettes. Sure enough within a minute or two I had pulled two images up that I felt like were good representations of our pups and was printing them off.

A quick run to Michael's and I had a canvas (used 40% off coupon so it was only $5). I blew up and cut out the silhouettes and then traced them onto the canvas. Next I carefully painted in the lines of my tracing and once that dried I carefully went around the outside in a light green.

Since I already had the paint this whole project cost $5 and took about 1 1/2 hours (paint had to dry).

Here's my interpretation with Tatey and Oliver.

I hung it in our entryway where we already have a few pictures of the dogs and where their leashes hang.

A great project for a rainy day!

Emily

More Idea Boards

Hi all! I hope everyone had a nice weekend. We enjoyed having a low key weekend at home.

I thought I would share a few more idea boards I have been working on over the last week.

This first idea board was for someone needing help to accommodate the knotty pine paneling on two of the walls in her living room. I suggested painting the two walls that aren't paneling a spring green and continuing the green throughout the room. Neutral furniture and curtains will tone down the paneling and yet adding fun accessories keeps the room from being too boring.

This next idea board was for a bedroom that had been painted a light blue and had dark furniture but they weren't sure what else to do. I suggested adding neutral curtains and bedding and then having fun in the accessories like throw pillows, art, and mirrors.

This last idea board was for a living room painted a taupe color but they needed furniture and a way to accommodate the brick fireplace and built in shelves in to the scheme of the room. I thought sagey greens would tie in the colors of the brick and the wood in together. I suggested a mirror over the mantel and navy throw pillows on the couch.

I hope everyone enjoyed my idea boards. Let me know if I can help you with one!

Emily

Homegoods Finds

Good morning!

I hope everyone is having a great weekend. The hubby and I went to the beach last night to start looking for driftwood and come home with a lot of great shells!

One of my favorite places to look for furniture as well as home accents is my local Homegoods. I'm lucky enough to have 2 stores within a 10 mile radius! While at Homegoods this week I thought I would take a few pictures of what I found and love!

The first thing I noticed was this lamp for $80.

It's the much more reasonable twin of this lamp from Z Gallerie priced at $269

The next item to catch my eye was this mirror for $99.

Again, the less expensive twin of this mirror from Z Gallerie for $149

A few other things I was itching to buy but don't need was this beautiful beaded pillow

And this pillow, which was a sweet blue gray color that you can't see from the cell phone picture
I love this lamp, not only the shape of the base but also the colored shade....might have to find a way to incorporate this into our house somehow..... (I think this was 39.99)
Last but not least I am so impressed with the collection of colored glass at most stores these days. A few of these pieces are the icing on the cake of tying a room together and/or adding a fun pop of color!

What are your favorite finds from your local Homegoods?

Have a great day!

Emily