High Style, Low Cost Ideas with Design Manifest!

Today Naomi from the blog Design Manifest is here to share a cheap and chic lil project with you. I'm a huge fan of Naomi's blog. . . her style is so unique and inspiring! I love reading her posts, there is always something fresh and new that I have never seen before. So you can only imagine how excited I was that she agreed to stop by today!!

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Hi everyone, I'm so happy to be over here sharing a little makeover. I used to consider myself incredibly un-handy. Drilling, hanging, recovering felt overwhelming and out of my realm. But little by little I've tackled small projects and gained confidence. If I can do this stuff, anyone can!
 
Last year I found these great stools from JC Penney. They were inexpensive and I loved the faux bamboo look, so I scooped up two of them. I knew I could simply screw off the top and spray paint the base. The shape of the cushion seemed easy enough to recover too.

I love stools because they can be used anywhere and are such an easy way to infuse personality into a space. You can go a little bolder because they are small. Plus the look is easy to change out. I opted to give them a bit of oomp by spray painting the bases fire engine red.

And then I recovered the tops in a pretty Balinese fabric my Mom had leftover.

They instantly felt more exotic and custom to me. Whenever I see them, they bring a smile to my face.

8 months later, I've moved and the decor of my new place is heading in a whole different direction. So I'm actually planning to change up the base and fabric on top. In a way it makes me sad to lose this pair, but I can always change it back if I want. Plus I'll always have the pictures!

So Cindy Crawford Stools VS My Stools... who wins in a boxing match?

** These particular stools are no longer available, but I wanted to point out that this could be done with any piece. Just find a stool with an interesting shape, add a bold color and a new fabric that makes you happy and boom amazing new stools for you!

Thanks so much for having me over, Mary! It was fun to share.

xo,
Naomi

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Did you know that Naomi is lucky enough to work as a father-daughter team with her dad, designing and renovating houses?! She's also pretty talented in the Ikea-hacking department if you ask me! Check this out:

And here's what the finished Ikea Rast cabinets looks like in her home;



I told ya the girl was brilliant! Happy Friday, everyone! :)

 

Patio Progress

I mentioned here that I am slowly but surely making an outdoor living space at mi casa. It's coming along at a turtles pace but I am getting excited about how it's turning out so far! Last week my honey came home with two end tables he picked up at a thrift store for only $10 bucks each. (I've taught him well ;)

They will be squashed together and used as a coffee table in the seating area. I love their beachy-distressed look!

We've hung cafe lights and I can not tell you how adorable they look at night. Sort of like this;

via Apartment Therapy

I purchased these Imperial Trellis knock off indoor-outdoor pillows from Target online recently, but am still waiting for them to arrive;

available here

I finally figured out what I am going to do with my old surfboard that is collecting dust in the garage. . . I'm going to hang it on the wall, on the patio!

We have purchased and potted several plants for the space, including some Japanase maples and my favorite, succulents!

via Flickr

I found an outdoor rug at Big Lots yesterday that was only $39.99. It looks a lot like this more expensive version;

available here

My mom recently gave me an old Adirondack chair that I plan on sanding and painting. I'm thinking a fun turquoise. . . or maybe red?!

Here's what my honey got for Father's Day. . .

. . . A pair of stone foo dog statues. I think they will be happy living on the patio perched next to a Japanese maple tree!

When it's not a million degrees outside I have been enjoying our newly habitable patio. It was formally just an ugly slab of bare concrete that we never used, but now I spend more time out there than in the actual living room!  I'll be back soon to show you some photos of the actual, finished space.

What about you. .  .Have you been doing any outdoor living lately?!

Wedding Wednesday!

Today is going to be a quicky. . . I just thought I would share with you a project my sister worked on recently. Her bestest friend in the whole wide world is getting married in August and so as the Maid of Honor, she was in charge of hosting the bridal shower which took place last weekend. For table decor she borrowed my glass jars I have been saving and made cute vases for flowers out of them!

Don't you just love the way the Instagram ap makes everything look cool and artistic?! I really must start using it more often!

Considering. . .

This print for this project I am working on at my house;

It's on sale for only $15 right now!! Thoughts? 

To see more of Jen Ramos's prints, posters and custom art, go here. To see her fabulous collection of custom paintings available for purchase, go here.

House Envy

Recently I had Sue from The Zhush stop by for my Friday's guest post series. At the time I mentioned that she has a gorgeous home. . . Well, you're in for a treat today! Here's some photos of her home that were featured in Cottage & Gardens Magazine early this Spring;

Sue worked with designer Lauren Muse of Muse Interiors to renovate and redecorate several rooms in her Pound Ridge, New York home. I think the outcome is nothing short of breath taking. As much as I love the living room and all the gorgeous, custom upholstered furnishings and pale color palette, I think I would have to say Sue's office (above) is my favorite room in the house!

All images taken by John Bessler and via The Zhush

DIY Nailhead Inspiration Board

 via Live Creating Yourself

 via Urban Grace

via Suzie, Decorpad

via Green Street

I was inspired by these inspiration boards to create one of my own over the weekend! Since I am in the process of making over my (soon-to-be) step daughters bedroom, I thought it would be great for her to have a place to pin up things that inspire her. When I was her age (ten years old) I had a bulletin board in my room and LOVED having a place to put all those little special things.

I used an old bulletin board I had that measured 24 x 36.

I purchased 1 yard of linen fabric from Joann's for $4.99 and several packages of silver decorative nailheads.

I ironed the fabric to get all the wrinkles out, then stapled it to the front of the bulletin board. Here's a view of the back after I finished stapling;

Next up, the fun part! This step took the longest, as I can sometimes be a perfectionist. . .

An hour later it looked like this;

Here's what the completed board looks like hung over the dresser in Jordyn's bedroom;

I think I will leave it up to her to fill it up with whatever she wishes.

This project was so easy. It cost somewhere around $10 to complete and I think it turned out super cute!

High Style Low Cost Ideas with The Way We Are!

TGIF! In keeping with the spirits around here, I have another friend stoping by today to share with you some chic and cheap decorating ideas! Leah from The Way We Are is here and I couldn't be more excited! She's honestly one of the nicest people ever, she has a fabulous home and and a gorgeous (growing!) family. If you aren't farmiliar with her blog, go check it out!

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First of all I am so honored Mary asked me to do this guest post! When she asked me to talk about my absolute favorite thing... decorating on a budget.. I was even more thrilled! I am constantly doing little projects using very little money. Today I wanted to share with you all my latest two makeovers that cost me very little.


The first one is a coffee table that I found on Craigslist that was listed for $15. Whenever I get something off craigslist I always ask for a cheaper price so I ended up getting this table for $10! I decided to spray paint it with Rustoleum's white gloss spray paint and viola a gorgeous coffee table at a very affordable price!

The second project is a rug that I purchased at Ikea. On it's own it's a very plain ho hum rug but with a little masking tape and paint...

Tada! The rug cost $40 and the paint $25. I think it is a very chic rug for the cost of only $65!

I hope I have given you some good motivation and great inspiration to tackle your own inexpensive makeover projects!

Thanks again Mary!

Luvs

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Thank you so much Leah! Can you believe this girl is 7 months pregnant and still tackling projects like this? I applaud her! Take a peak at a few other rooms in Leah's house that she has worked her DIY magic on;

Can you tell I love her house and all of her creative, colorful, fun ideas?! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. Adios!