Feeling Inspired

I mentioned here that our outdoor living area is increasing in square footage this year. We have a gazebo that is enclosed on two sides that was primarily being used as storage for the first three years we lived in our house. (Lawn mowers, old work out equipment, golf clubs, etc. You know, all that ugly stuff that men seem to acquire that takes up a lot of space!) After a little reorganizing and getting rid of stuff we don't use anymore, we finally have a wide open space for me to work my decorating magic on! The covered structure is 14' wide by 19' deep and is located just off our patio (aka the 'outdoor living room' as we like to call it.) I've been going back and forth trying to decide what I should do with this newly acquired space. Outdoor dining area? Hang some hammocks? Built in banquet seating? After flipping through the latest Crate & Barrel catalog I had an 'ah-ha!' moment. Take a peak at my inspiration for the gazebo;

Our space is going to feature 'his & hers' hammocks, a low table with floor pillows to sit on as well as a built in banquet-style bench for extra seating and lounging. I'm also on the hunt for some lanterns to hang for ambient lighting as well as some other tropical accent pieces. It's going to be the ultimate chill zone that feels like you're on vacation rather than just hanging out in the backyard! At least that's my plan. . .Take a look at my inspiration for the bench;

via BHG

This budget friendly, do-it-youself bench made from cinder blocks is the perfect solution! I can't wait to get started (next week - fingers crossed!) on my new project of transforming our gazebo into an easy, breezy chill spot. I'll make sure to take some pictures along the way!

Quick Before & After

Although I haven't had time yet to get around to styling and taking proper pictures of this bathroom remodel I've been working on, I'm dying to share it with you! The before shot is quite horrendous and not for the weak of stomachs (LOL!) The walls were a faux finish metallic purple paint and the vanity dated back to the 60's. Brace yourself, it's pretty bad. . .

Here's a quick shot of how things are looking now;

There are still a few missing components (like an updated and centered light fixture and accessories) but all in all this bathroom remodel is moving along quite nicely! I get giddy when I look at the new countertop and subway tile backsplash - SUCH a huge difference. Oh, and the although the purple paint job might have been pretty many years ago, the gray walls looks so fresh and updated now. Like I said, I'll share more details and better pictures with ya'll sometime soon!

Painted Ceilings

Poor, poor ceilings. . . they are constantly being neglected in homes and it really is a shame! Any time you go to paint a room, DO NOT forget about your ceiling. For many years I have stuck to my tried and true method of choosing the ceiling color in a room I'm redoing. Take your wall color and go 2-3 shades lighter on the paint chip sample and whala, you have the perfect color of paint for the ceiling. Well, we all know that equation gets boring after a while. Why not mix things up a bit and paint your ceiling (aka, the 'fifth wall') a completely different color?! It's a huge trend in interior design lately and I love the idea of getting creative with your ceiling paint color choice. Whether you choose a hue that compliments other accents in the room, or go completely crazy and introduce a new color on the ceiling, it's bound to have a big impact on any space!

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I'm working with an online-design client right now to help her transform several rooms in her home. When selecting paint colors for her living room, I suggested painting the ceiling a bold shade of turquoise to compliment the gray walls and to match several of the accessories in the space. (You can see the room design here.) I was ecstatic to hear that she was on board with the unconventional selection I made and I was even more thrilled when she sent me pictures of the room after the painters had gotten to work. I'll share some photos with ya'll once the room is complete!

So what do you think about the idea of getting creative with ceiling paint colors?! Have you dared to try it in your own home? I've been contemplating repainting my kitchen sometime in the near future and would LOVE to get bold with the ceiling paint color. Oh, the possibilities!

Party Decorations!

This weekend we had a birthday party for my step-son who turned 16. Thank goodness the weather cooperated, the rain moved out and sun shining skies made it possible for us to use our outdoor living  room and backyard for most of the party. (Our small little house only fits so many people!) Anyway, the party was a success, lots of family and friends and a good time was had by all. I decorated the dining room as well as the entire patio in navy blue and lime green balloons, streamers, banners, the works! Of course I turned to Pinterest while party planning for a few ideas. Here's some great inspiration for you if you are planning any type of party and want to get creative with the decorations or make your dollar stretch further;

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The possibilities really are endless when it comes to using inexpensive supplies like crate paper, tissue paper, balloons, cardstock, ribbon and fabric to create awesome, affordable party decorations!

Electrifying Hot Pink!

Call me crazy but hot pink has definitely been on my design radar lately! This passionate hue is bold, eye catching and sure to leave an impression. It's not suited for the faint of heart, but if you have a hint of courage it can easily be incorporated into your home!

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via Haute Look

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What do you think of this hot hue?!

Room of the day

How gorgeous is this bedroom designed by Meredith Heron?! I'm in love with the dark navy walls and the turquoise night stand. The combination of those two colors is brilliant! I think the zebra print bench adds a bold graphic punch to the otherwise neutral and tailored space. The overall feel in this room is very traditional, but for some reason I am really drawn to it (does that mean my design style might be growing up a little bit?!) I do still love me some modern, bold and funky rooms, but maybe, just maybe I might be learning to love traditional style a little bit more. . . What do you think of this gorgeous master bedroom? To see more of this Victorian rowhouse in Toronto, go here.

Moving Outside

As the weather is slowly starting to warm up I am beginning to spend more and more time outdoors on our patio and in the backyard. . . Last summer I transformed the unused patio into an actual outdoor living room. It was seriously the biggest improvement I feel like I made to our home to date. It was like adding a room onto the house, without the construction costs of course! I added a seating area complete with coffee table and end tables, loads of potted plants and colorful outdoor throw pillows. On hot days and warm evenings you can find my husband and I sitting on our back patio, sipping wine, eating dinner, reading magazines, or just chit chatting about how our days went. (So much nicer than sitting in front of the TV!)

This year we decided to tackle the back yard landscaping, add a vegetable garden as well as clean up and re purpose our huge unused gazebo area. Our outdoor living space will be increasing in size and I can't be more excited! I've been pinning away on Pinterest all sorts of ideas and images that inspire me and thought I would share some with you today!

To see all image sources, go here

As for my personal taste, I think that I lean towards bohemian and eclectic inspired outdoor spaces. It's all about no-fuss when it comes to outdoor living. I love finding thrift store furniture that works great outside. Outdoor rugs, pillows and fabrics will soften any outside area. Oh, and of course the more plants the better! Anything that is tropical looking or has pops of color is definitely my style! What is your outdoor living style?!