Everyone Loves a Good Collage!

Hey y'all!  I have been very inspired lately by wall collages-- they are such a fun way to display your personal treasures, memories, and collections without making them too stuffy.  Here are some ideas on how to personalize your home with pictures, artwork, and other trinkets while still maintaining a fun design scheme.

This collage incorporates pictures and artwork of many different shapes, colors, and sizes.  Playing with the size of the mats inside the frame is a fun way to introduce a new element into a collage of framed art.

{Photo from Apartment Therapy}

Another example of how you can use artwork of varying sizes to create a fun and unique photo collage.

Here, the collager again used artwork of varying shapes and sizes, but the large black lifesize cameo-esque bust in the middle draws your attention to the center of the wall.

To change the impact of your photo collage, place the artwork closer together to create more of a cluster of photos.

Instead of hanging pictures on walls, install large shelves and rest artwork of varying sizes on the shelves, accompanied by other fun items such as plants, decorative candles, etc.  I love the ampersands and other letters that were used in this picture- you could use your initials!  Use all possible space when constructing this collage-- the framed art resting on the floor creates a more dramatic effect than if the designer had only used the two shelves.   Also, the black and white is a very chic way to display these photos.

{Photo from Pottery Barn}

This photo collage uses lots of empty frames and mirrors mixed with other fun items (such as a faux deer head, a plate, and an initial letter) to create a very visually appealing wall collage.

A unique idea for a kitchen wall collage would be to use a collection of assorted plates to create an interesting arrangement on a wall.  Be creative with the shape of your collage and the colors used in the plates!

Finally, here are some small wall collages that I've done in my own home recently.  I like to use a variety of items in my own collages-- framed art, shelves, initials, canvases, and other unique design items.

This collage is centered above my headboard of my bed- it was done using items that I already had in my house.  You could certainly get even more creative if you were purchasing the items specifically for the collage!

My roommate and I did this collage to go above our TV console in our living room.  We used fabric covered canvases to introduce new patterns and textures, and the king and queen crowns introduce a different shape to the mix.

{Note:  These collages aren't crooked, I just had to take the pictures from an angle.}

A collage wall is something that you could easily do in your own home without spending any money at all-- just look around and see what unique treasures you have to work with!  It's a great way to infuse your own personality into your home's design to make it a home.

God Bless,

Julie

Cozy Kitchen Seating

I always love it when people put a creative spin on traditional design... it's so unexpected!  One of the trends in home design that I think qualifies as such is banquette or bench seating in a kitchen.  It's such a cozy alternative to dining chairs, and it creates such a warm and comfortable feeling in a home.  Here are some of my favorite pictures of banquettes:

This picture uses a traditional table setting with three chairs and a banquette on one side of the table.  I love how the designer incorporated the black and white stripe on the cushions and popped in an apple green color with the pillows.

In this picture, a rectangular table was again used with two end chairs and a banquette along the wall.  In this design, however, the chairs used are upholstered, which go along with the cozy feeling that the banquette evokes.  And again, the color introduced with the pillows is fabulous!

Here, the concept is similar to the previous two pictures with the table, chairs, and banquette, but the use of a round table as opposed to a rectangular one frees up a little more space and allows the table to be more of a corner piece.

{Note:  I love the photo collage wall behind the banquette and the pops of turquoise with the coffee mugs.  Stay tuned for a post about photo collages.}

I love how this kitchen has the banquette seating in the middle of the room coming off of the island... such a creative alternative to traditional barstools!

Again, this picture is unique in that the banquette is positioned in the center of the room-- I love the curved shape that exactly mirrors the shape of the table.  This piece of furniture could be used in almost any room of the house; it would be great for repurposing someday if this kitchen was remodeled.

This kitchen uses the traditional banquette, but then brings in other upholstered pieces to complete the design.  An ottoman placed between the banquette and a large armchair create a cozy seating area that would be the perfect place to enjoy breakfast and a cup of coffee or hot chocolate on a chilly day.

Finally, while this is not banquette seating, I wanted to include this picture because it provides a non-traditional example of bar seating.  The bench provides a unique alternative to bar stools, while the square yellow stools add interest with their rectangular shape and bright, sunny color.  Think outside of the box, don't mold your designs to fit what everyone else already has!

Consider using this trend to update your kitchen while making it a comfortable retreat for you and our loved ones.  We only get one chance to live our life... lets make it inspiring!

God Bless,

Julie

Seeing Things Clearly

Lucite is a big trend in contemporary home design, but it's easy to integrate lucite into a home that doesn't have a contemporary style.  For those who don't know, lucite is a transparent plastic acrylic resin that comes in a variety of colors.  I think adding an element of lucite to a home is a great and inexpensive way to add a stylish and updated touch to your home.

For example, you could integrate one furniture piece, such as a table or some chairs made out of lucite with your existing furniture.

I love this room because it is decorated with so many colors, but adding any more color would be overwhelming; the lucite coffee table grounds the space without adding too much bulk to the room.

This home office has a lucite chair mixed with a plain white desk and rustic wooden bookshelves.  I've also noticed that lucite furniture with an animal print rug is a common theme-- probably because it looks so chic!

These lucite stools add another dimension to this colorful room-- they prevent it from looking too heavy and weighted down.

Again, using transparent furniture in this room in the form of these stools continues the light and airy feeling that it conveys throughout the space.

{Notice the animal print rug again!}

These lucite dining chairs add a touch of modern femininity to an otherwise masculine, dark room.

Using lucite for shelving provides a chic way to store and organize your home without weighing down a wall with thick heavy wooden or metal shelves.

{Again, see the animal print?  As a side note, animal print such as leopard or zebra is considered to be a design neutral by many, meaning that it goes well with any color, pattern, or style.}

If completely see-through furniture is not quite your style, consider integrating this fun trend through the lighting in your home.

This lucite chandelier would be beautiful when lit-- with the light streaming through the clear resin, it would provide an abundance of light while looking ultra-stylish.

Lucite lamps are another fun lighting option-- using them with a lucite coffee table provides a common theme for the room.

While clear lucite is the most popular because of its light and airy feeling, lucite comes in a variety of colors.

Here, a magenta lucite table adds another pop of color to the room in a sleek and sophisticated way.

This yellow lucite office chair is so bright and happy, its sure to add a touch of cheer to any design concept.

As you can see, lucite can be added to any design scheme to add a touch of modern style to a room.  I hope you've seen this design scheme "clearly" enough to consider using lucite in your house to turn it into a home.

God Bless,

Julie

Heavy Metal?

My favorite thing about a house is the character that comes with it, and nothing says character more than an old historic home.  Not all of us, however, have the luxury of owning the piece of history that an old house provides.  If you love the charm of older houses but instead own a brand new piece of property, installing tin ceiling tiles to accent your house's architecture is a unique way to achieve the look of character that you're going for.  Here are some unique ways to use tin ceiling tiles to spruce up your house's interior:

Using tin tiles on the ceiling in your kitchen are a great way to add vintage charm to an otherwise blank canvas.

These silver tin ceiling tiles are sleek and sophisticated.

There are so many different patterns, sizes, and varieties of ceiling tiles, making it easy to choose those that best fit your style!

The ceiling tiles in these kitchens have been painted so that the ceiling has almost an embossed look, emphasizing the pattern and design of the tiles without the stark contrast of the tin.

Tin ceiling tiles can add character to your home without being applied to the ceiling-- here are a few ideas on how to use tin ceiling tiles in other useful and creative ways:

Covering an entire wall with tin creates an amazing accent wall.

If a wall covered in metal is too much for your taste, think about making just a bed headboard out of tin tiles-- it adds a modern touch without being overwhelmingly metallic.  You can use lots of tiny metal tiles pieced together or...

... three larger tiles placed side by side!  In this case, the more distressed the better!

Instead of beadboard on a wall in a bathroom, why not cover it in coppery ceiling tiles to create a more interesting palette?  

Ok, maybe its an Oklahoma thing, but people here love to cover up a fridge with wood panels to hide it and make it blend in with the rest of the kitchen, and it is SO not appealing to me.  These decorative tin panels make the fridge stand out rather than fade into the background.  After all, shouldn't the food be the star in the kitchen?

The idea of using old ceiling tiles to create a custom magnet board is so vintage chic.  You could frame it or leave the edges raw and untouched to further enhance its vintage appeal.

Finally, turning an old ceiling tile into a fabulous mirror would create a custom piece for any bathroom, entryway, or other interesting place in your house.

Instead of thinking of tin and other metals as cold and unfriendly, consider using these creative ideas to add charm and vintage appeal to your house and make it a home.

God Bless,

Julie

Print Design Inspiration (Mag Style!)

One of the small delights of life for me is receiving a new magazine in the mail.  Something about those glossy pages filled with inspiration and potential makes me giddy, and I just can't wait to open the pages and dive into reading it.  My mom thinks I'm somewhat of a magazine junky-- I guess subscribing to 7 (and lusting after even more) might qualify a person for that description.

Because magazines are such a big part of my design inspiration (I have binders for all of the magazine pictures that I've ripped out), I thought that I would share with you the design magazines that I can't live without.  I am so very sad to say that some of these have been canceled (the print and magazine industry is truly struggling due to the rising popularity of the internet), but many are still up and running, and they are as amazing as ever!

#1. HOUSE BEAUTIFUL:  This is truly my favorite magazine that I receive-- I look forward to it every month, and I love almost everything inside of its beautiful binding.  Even the cover never fails to inspire me!

#2.  ELLE DECOR:  A close second to House Beautiful, Elle Decor conveys a more transitional style (a mix of traditional and contemporary), which I love because it mixes classic and traditional with modern and trendy.

#3.  TRADITIONAL HOME:  As is evident from the title, this publication conveys a more traditional and elegant design style, but it is definitely still current and updated.  It should be a staple in a decorator's magazine repertoire.

#4:  MARTHA STEWART LIVING:  Good ole Martha Stewart... while I realize that she is an ex-convict, I just can't deny her creativity.  Her ideas are more attainable for the busy mother, wife, etc.... this magazine is a kind of decorating-made-easy publication.  She does come up with the most creative ideas, and I love that her magazine has a little bit of everything-- decorating, fashion, recipes, and more.

#5:  REAL SIMPLE:  Another amazing read.  Real Simple is published by Time, Inc., and as the title suggests, it is characterized by its simple and uncluttered layouts, and it is similar to Martha Stewart Living in that it shares life-made-easier ideas to inspire.  While not really a decorating magazine, I think everyone should try this magazine out simply for its amazing ideas and content.

#6:  DOMINO:  One of the most sickening magazine cancellations EVER.  I was obsessed with Domino for the longest time, but I just bought it at the store every time there was a new issue.  I had finally decided to subscribe to it, and then it gets cancelled right after I receive my first issue.  You can imagine my dismay... (sigh).  Let's observe a moment of silence in honor of this legendary publication's last cover, please.

While I know that you can't subscribe to it, I'm sharing it with you because before its cancellation, the editors came out with the Domino:  The Book of Decorating, which is an amazing book that provides an inspiration resource for every room in your house.  It is truly fabulous, and I would highly recommend at least finding it at your local library, if not purchasing it as a permanent design resource.

#7:  RUE:  Finally, the newest magazine in my lineup is Rue.  What is so amazing about this magazine is that it is solely online, so there is no need to subscribe to it, meaning that it is totally and completely free!  Because of lower overhead and operating costs, the magazine is run solely on its advertising income.  What an amazing concept!  While I still love the thrill of receiving my magazines in the mail each month, I can see this becoming the publication trend of the future, with the invent of computers, Kindles, and more.  Rue reports on a little bit of everything (design, fashion, etc.), but it is primarily a decorating magazine.  Best of all, the first issue was this month, so you can hop on this trend from the very beginning!

Here's a link to the first issue of Rue, an amazing new magazine.

Hope this has inspi-read (sorry, I had to) all of you to subscribe to some new magazines for new ideas to  turn your house into a home.

God Bless,

Julie

A "BOO"-tiful Halloween Home

I don't know about all of y'all, but I love decorating for holidays, from Christmas to Easter to Halloween.  It's sometimes easy, however, for holiday decor to look cheesy instead of spirited and beautiful.  Here are some sophisticated Halloween decorations to inspire you to get in the holiday spirit, even on Halloween!

Pumpkins are a Halloween decorating staple and a must-have for your home on this ghoulish holiday.  Here are some unique varieties that you could incorporate into your decor this October.

These pumpkins are a unique twist on the traditional Halloween decor with their metallic patterns of polka dots, checks, stars, and stripes.  They would look so great on a front porch or even inside integrated into bookshelves or on a mantel.

Here they are in a porch display-- so chic!

Even inside your home and paired with apothecary jars full of Halloween candy, silvery pumpkins make every display unique and modern.

Using different colors and shapes of pumpkins or gourds adds interest and variety to your Halloween display.  I also love the black flowers in the vase on the left-- a dark and vampy way to add nature to your home.

If the idea of pumpkins bearing eerie faces or patterns makes you cringe, consider carving your house address number into a traditional pumpkin to display your holiday cheer in a more conservative way.

The tree formed out of the painted pumpkins displayed in this bookshelf is such a creative way to integrate Halloween into your everyday life.

These dark and mysterious floral bouquets in antique silver vases have a gothic edge to them-- perfect for a spooky Halloween night!

Bare asymmetrical branches dripping with Halloween baubles are chic and stylish.  The bangles are Christmas ornaments sprayed deep black, mossy green, and pumpkin orange.

This monochromatic neutral Halloween display uses lanterns, creamy-colored pumpkins, black crows, and lots of other black accents to create a unique porch display that is eerie without being typical.

This decor, while more colorful with its bright orange door, pumpkins, and pillows, still integrates lanterns, candles, branches, and other silvery details for a unique look.  The black feather wreath is a modern update of a traditional wreath made of branches.

These black and white plates mixed with pumpkins, gourds, black glass candlesticks, and fall flowers add Halloween glamour to a home.  The black and white plates could even be kept up year round for a creative wall display.

Halloween tablescapes can be stylish and fun instead of cheesy and typical.  Candlesticks dripping with crystals, black crows, and skull detail plates are gothic without being too dark when mixed with cupcakes, purple hydrangeas, and magenta napkins.  

Decorating for the holidays can add style and glamour to your house if you let it... all you need is a little creativity to turn it into a spirited home.  Happy October!

God Bless,

Julie