Blog Spotlight: Inspiration for Decoration

Inspiration for Decoration is the simplest yet greatest blog if you need photographic inspiration of amazing interiors. The posts have ranged from DIY gigs you see on other blogs to professional work. I HAD to share this round because the blog featured 24 (TWENTY-FOUR!!!) posts on Sarah Richardson's work. I died all over my laptop when I got home from work.

Check out this amazing living room:


Go now and breeze through the posts of Sarah's work, then keep going. You'll find something there for your inspiration folder! (I sure did!)

Craft Storage

When I moved into this one bedroom, I had to take my "Craft Room" and find a place to shove it. My brilliant mother (Hi, Mom!) took one look at my soon-to-be apartment and gave me the idea to use the laundry room as craft storage. I don't have a washer and dryer and already had a lot of my crafting things in rolling carts, so they could roll any where.

BEFORE move-in:



Let me be honest, I like to keep things. Like papers I wrote in high school, magazines, scrap paper, and I have an affinity for office supplies. I did not think I could get everything inside this closet, but with some musical chair-like actions, I feel it's generally organized. I mean, I know where everything is...

NOW:



I purchased the hanging shoe rack on the left during the Dorm Decorating season for a mere $6. I currently have odds and ends here, but I plan to better organize my fabrics by color (ROYGBIV, naturally).

I love using clothing organizers for craft storage. I keep my scrap fabric pieces and ribbon in an over-the-door shoe organizer. Because the laundry doors are bi-fold, I've enlisted my coat closet door for this additional craft storage.



I'm pretty pleased with how the storage works... especially when the doors are closed!



What do you use to organize your odds and ends?

Martha Stewart Stools

Boy oh boy, could that post title be TOTALLY misinterpreted. If I get increased traffic out of it, I'll die. I'll jump for joy, then I'll die from laughter. Getting my mind out of the gutter...

I was at my local K-Mart looking for curtains that were supposed to be on sale, when I traveled back to the furniture department. Have you looked at K-Mart's furniture department lately? (I don't live near an Ikea, so I've got to get my kicks somewhere.) Country Living has a new line of furniture out that I'm loving... especially after I saw the price tags. This chair, upholstered in what looks like linen with NAIL HEAD TRIM is less than $130.


(Let's pardon the quality pic, okay? It's courtesy ME from ye' ol' Blackberry.)

There's also a storage ottoman you can kind of see in the background, in the same fabric with the same NAIL HEAD TRIM. For the same price as the chair. I was so excited about these finds, that I nearly missed what was lurking behind me in the shadows...

Two flat packed boxes that said "Martha Stewart" and "$20". From the not so fancy outline drawing on the box, I knew they were the shape of bar stool I was looking for and they were only $20 each. I had no idea what color they were, but I figured I could paint whatever it was. I loaded the beauties up, waved good-bye to my pretty chair and storage ottoman and rushed home to bust open these sweet heavenly boxes.

When I got home, I was amazed to find that the stools looked exactly like the some of the stools I was straight drooling over at Ballard Designs and they were the perfect shade of creamy white. Here's their close up:


Here they are at the bar in my living/dining room/kitchen/hallway:


Here's the Ballard Designs twin (which is probably better quality, but I won't tell my cheap-o's):


I have had two meals at this bar and the stools are quite comfortable. Not a bad find, eh? And yes, I did just do an entire post on stools. And that makes me giggle.

House of the Week

I love this house. LOVE love. Look at the exterior:


The floor plan isn't too bad, either.




The photographers did an amazing job, really showing the light spilling in and lighting the beautiful woodwork.


All photos courtesy of DreamHomeSource.com

51 Days 'til Halloween!

This is my favorite Halloween decoration. I was so excited to share it on the blog that I didn't even clean it off before snapping it's pic. The pumpkin is hollowed out and the first year I filled it with candy for trick-or-treaters and last year I placed a potted mum inside. I fell for it the second I saw it at Target. I'm hoping to spend some time this weekend spook-ifying the apartment.

Are you decorating for fall yet?

House of the Week

(Image courtesy of Architectural Designs)

I picture this front porch with casual tables and chairs, a porch swing, a mug of coffee and a couple cozy blankets on an evening like we had last night. Dense fog rolled in across the valleys, it was cool out and the bugs were loving the weather. What a great night...

I also think the artists that do the facade rendering are speaking directly to me, because they always draw these homes in the woods. No busy streets and crowded yards here...

Baby Girl Nursery

Great news! My friend has made some decisions and.... Bedding has been chosen! Furniture is selected! Let the projects begin! Baby Grace will have a great nursery and I'll also be planning her sweet Mom's baby shower. You've been warned that there may be a bit of baby fever for the next few months.

Speaking of nurseries, I made this wreath for my cousin's sweet baby girl and when I do Baby Grace's, I'll have it properly documented for the blog. I'm also hoping to make one for my own door for fall and maybe a few for Christmas.... I love this time of year!