Green Boho

The Boho style has made a resurgence lately and we are all about it. The stars of this show might not get top billing but plants seem to be the craze right now. They make the background shot in every magazine, catalog, and home decor retailer’s displays. Specifically you may have noticed succulents rising in popularity as well. But why is adding green so “cool” all of a sudden? These live beauties are like the perfect topping to an ice cream sundae in our room decor. Adding a plant, flowers, or succulents to rooms in your home are not only visually pleasing, they help keep the air in your home clean! Believe it or not, plants have very important qualities other than a nice final touch to your decorating. WE do know for certain that you cannot achieve that holistic bohemian style without the green.

What is Boho? This style of decor is full of rich colors, mixtures of patterns and textures as well as just feeling alive. Boho style is a vibe and a lifestyle and it is not necessarily for every eye. It uses furniture that is old and new or new made to look old. It encompasses recycling and reusing and honoring mother earth. I am fortunate to have a dear friend who encompasses the feel of this style and makes it all her own.

personality shines through with details including bold lighting and this vintage shelf filled with old vinyl and family pictures. You cannot miss the cascading features of the greenery which, when in contrast with the warm wood, really is the queen.

Did I mention personality?! Again, we see a bright throwback retro orange lamp and to compliment, the weedy, creamy colors in this green beauty fit right in. Fun coffee table books create interest and are powerful statements and great conversation starters!

Baskets are essential to the boho vibe. This one is an antique and serves the purpose of hugging and elevating this unique plant in a eye pleasing way. Let us not forget to mention the yummy yellow pot. This vinette adds the perfect touch to an otherwise boring table top.

The boho style is everything between comfort and chaos. It screams look at me! It breathes life into an otherwise drowsy home. Can you say that your home literally breathes? One walk around this home and you feel refreshed and happy. The vibrant colors, natural fibers mixed in with worldly art, family antiques and trinkets give you that vibe. Did we forget to mention the greenery? head to your local greenhouse and find the right plants for your space, light and climate. You will literally feel better. If you are thinking of creating this lifestyle in your own home make sure to truly embrace the beauty of natural colors, and woven textures and don’t be afraid of a little color. La Vie Boheme!

Boutique Bedroom Style

Have you ever had the most incredible stay at a luxury boutique hotel? We have all dreamt about it, right? Why not create your own boutique getaway at home, but without the high pricetag? Below you will find our tips on paint color, lighting, accessories, and decluttering your space to create that serene and calming bedroom you have always wanted!

Where do you start? Take a long look at your bedroom layout. How does it make you feel? Can you change the layout without crowding? Is your furniture the correct size for your bedroom? If you can, play with the layout, move things around and see if it makes you feel refreshed. Sometimes a new perspective can make a huge difference.

Next, pay attention to your clutter. Do you have too much “stuff” in your bedroom? Do you have enough storage for your clothes, shoes, etc? Check out this great storage bench that we found at Target. You can easily store clothes, extra blankets, or just about anything inside and it adds an extra seat as well as a stylish accent piece to your decor. Side tables with drawers are also another great way to hide your “stuff”. Pictured here are mid-century vintage tables that were found while thrifting. There are an abundance of storage options that are available to us through most retailers. Make a list of items that you would like to put away or hide, then place them in a tote to get them out of the way while you are redesigning your bedroom.

How is the lighting in your bedroom? Is it just overhead lighting? Have you tried table lamps or sconces next to your bed? Lighting is everything when creating a cozy and calming environment. The lamps pictured were found at Target for only $40 each! They are lightweight and totally on-trend with their gold details and simple, modern design. Depending on the layout of your room, side tables with small table lamps on each side are a great way to create mood lighting that is convenient, so that when you are ready to doze off, you can just reach over and with a click, turn off the lights and fall fast asleep.

Now comes the most overwhelming step and that is choosing your paint palette. Are you thinking about painting the entire room? Or maybe just an accent wall. If you are not wanting to be married to one whole color change, it can be exciting to introduce one wall with a bold color. It does not matter what size your bedroom is, you can choose a darker, warmer color to help you calm down at the end of a long day.

Do you have a favorite comforter or quilt that you want to include in your design? That can make choosing your paint color easier as well. Take an accent color of your favorite throw pillow and put it on your wall! Make sure to take your time when choosing your paint color. Buy a few samples and give them a chance on your wall for a day or two. Purchasing new bedding can also be a great way to refresh your space. Color trends change every year and so should your bedding! Textures and weight change with seasons as well, so consider changing your comforter or quilt each season to keep it light or heavy depending on the weather.

We all need a getaway, but these days there are so many reasons why we cannot always make that happen, whether it is kids sports, the expense of travel, or simply our safety. The one place we have that can be unique and comforting is our home. We want to help you create a splendid home where you can escape the crazy work days and busy schedules. Follow our tips to create your own luxury boutique right at home and you will never want to leave!

Want to read more Splendid House expert tips? You can check out our latest published collaboration with RedFin where we help you find the right exterior paint for your home! https://www.redfin.com/blog/exterior-house-painting-tips-from-experts/

The Great Guest Room Re-Do Continues....

So what happens when you get a bed, a side table, new bedding, some curtains, and some throw pillows? Are you finished? Does it feel like you would want to camp out in there? How do we know when it is too much….or…..not enough?

Below are a few great before and after photos of the guest room. I removed the shutters from the windows - they were “cute” but not functional and once I removed them, the room really opened up. I searched hi and low for a bed that was comfy, but not too formal and it had to be a neutral color. Important to find a larger piece that is neutral just in case you want to change colors down the road. Keeps you from having to spend more money on a new bed! I found this mid-century gem on Wayfair. It came quickly, and was easy to put together, and it looks perfect! Since the bed is a low profile bed, it does not require a box spring so that saved me some money on the mattress. You can buy low profile box springs - they are a great option if you are wanting more support to your mattress.

I found a couple of great lighting options for the room. The floor lamp I snagged at Lowes (believe if or not!) and I stumbled across the table lamp at Target. I could have also gone with wall sconces on either side of the bed. In this smaller size of a room, wall sconces are a great idea. They tend to be much cheaper, come in many styles, and are a great space saver!

I will admit the I stole that side table from my daughters’ room (I know…just trying to be thrifty) but I am currently searching for a more colorful and slightly larger side table. The accent wall behind the bed is a great contrast for the room and warms up the small space. Don’t be afraid to go bold in a bedroom! This color makes me happy but also makes me want to cuddle up under the covers.

Some items still on my wish list for this room include; a great upholstered bench or chair, a couple of floating shelves, and that great artwork that I have been searching for above the bed. Add a succulent or 2 and some fresh flowers in a stylish vase and the room can be complete. You can have style without spending a fortune! Use what you already have and it can lower the cost which makes more room for the fun stuff!

Cheers to the upcoming holidays and those anxiously awaiting visits and extended stays with their loved ones. Make your guest room extra special this year! Maybe even add a small Christmas tree or pine smelling candle for that added touch. Which ever way you choose to delight your guests, creating a warm, and cozy room helps make their stay a little more like home.

The Great Guest Room Re-do

The guest room…where “stuff” goes to die. Well, the guest room is just about the only room in my mid-century haven that has yet to be touched. These spaces can be difficult to figure out sometimes. They were chosen as a guest room for a reason, right? The space was awkward, or it was just too big of a project so you decided to use it as a “catch-all”. I get it, this is exactly what mine has become. For me it is all of those things…awkward space, light switch doesn’t work, paint color is kind of awful and the windows are strangely different sizes. So here is the challenge: create a cozy, space for guests that makes them feel welcome, comfortable, and “at home” in my house. Where do I even begin?

Before….

awkward windows….

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Let us begin with the color scheme. Since I am the queen of color, this is the easiest area for me to begin. First thing I do is look around my house for inspiration, what feeling does my own bedroom evoke? I want it to scream relaxation, literally hug you with the warmth of the colors on the walls. I am not afraid of bold colors, but for a guest, I want it to be calming, and personal, if only for that short moment they will be staying with me. Naturally I look towards a grayish white for the walls. Valspar’s “Summery Gray” is my choice. This grey is barely grey, it is white to most eyes, but with a touch of a more calming neutral. Mix in one of my favorite and classic color combinations; Navy and Gold and you have a winner! Curtains I snagged for a song on sale on www.Westelm.com . Best part they were priced as 2 panels! That awesome gold tufted quilt was discovered at Target as well as the gold Curtain rod. I cannot wait to find some great textures to add to this combo including pillows, maybe a flower vase or 2 and candles as well as some groovy art to hang on the walls. Stay tuned for updates….

Navy and Gold with a touch of grey…

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The ceiling in this room is slightly slanted as it shows the roof line. So how do you deal with that when painting? Well, this is simple. Take a look at your walls, and then take at look at where the ceiling starts to slant. Are the walls equal in height? In this room, the walls come up to meet the top of the slant. So naturally it makes sense to paint the slant up to the true ceiling. This also gives it the illusion of higher ceilings! This room is very small so anything to help it seem slightly roomier is the key. Take a look below at my “before” pic of the slant….

the dreaded slanted ceiling…

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So….here I am so far. I have chosen my color scheme so what is next? Well, painting is a great start. But I really am looking for a great accent wall right behind the bed. Something that is soothing, but artsy and unique. Shall I go with wallpaper? or just paint? this room needs texture and small details, nothing overwhelming, because, again, it is not very big. Next up is adding a queen size bed, finishing the bedding finds, pillows, lighting…what to do with those cute shutters, and…that accent wall. Stay tuned!

Guest bedroom re-do’s can be a bit overwhelming because you don’t sleep in there, right? There is sooo much to do! One thing at a time my friends. Find those unique pieces and inspirations that will make this guest room feel like home for your guests. It might take some time, but it will pay off when your friends and family are greeted with a warm, homey room to relax in while on the road or home for the holidays.

Little Moments Are the Best Moments....

We have so many little moments every day in our crazy lives. It could be something completely unexpected, from your kiddos actually getting along, to your loved one, or co-worker grabbing coffee for you in the morning. For me, I have all of these moments and I know that I don’t appreciate them as often as I should. The same goes for me when I see incredible design, art, theatre, dance, or an eye catching magazine cover capturing innovative design. I think we all have our passions and those “little moments” that inspire us. Right now I am inspired by the mixture of vintage and modern pieces in a home. The idea that something “old is new again” is not a new concept. Melding an old vintage chair with a new modern pillow, or vase and a succulent is simply divine. This is one of those “moments” that gives that feeling of comfort, and of incredible style. You are bringing back that old couch that you know from your grandmother’s house, but with that new fabulous pillow that you spotted in the window at West Elm or in the aisle at Target. This style doesn’t have to be difficult to accomplish! Check out a couple of my favorite “Little Moments” in style….

Grey For Days

Grey - is it a classic color? Or just a fading trend? I believe that grey is here to stay! For the longest time the "norm" in neutrals was the all time safe color, beige...then grey came along and knocked beige on it's heels. These days you can find grey in just about everything; cabinets, rugs, clothes, the subject of movies, and, of course, paint. The one place where we always see grey is right above us, in the sky. Grey is in nature. Have you ever seen anything in our natural world that does not look stunning next to each other? Colors in nature compliment each other, they blend, so it is no secret that when we focus on these "nature" colors in our homes we find that they make us feel relaxed, cozy, and warm. Think of a tree; browns and greens, all different shades. Then there is the million different plants and flowers and all of their amazing colors. Even the glowing off-white of the moon and dark blue of midnight blend and compliment one another! 

Back to grey and how it matches just about everything. There are so many shades of grey, how does one choose? The best way, as I always say, to choose your grey is to first find a few completely different paint swatches; some on the blue side, some on the black side and everything in-between. There will be some obvious ones that you will cross off your list right away, but for those that keep catching your eye, buy an actual paint sample. A paint swatch is a great start, but the actual paint on the wall is your true test. Grey is the best color for those rooms in your house that maybe you have some real statement piece of furniture that you love that is a bright orange, or a deep blue, or possibly a large piece of precious artwork that has so many colors it makes it tough to choose just one for the entire room. I like having grey on the walls in rooms where I want to use color in all of my accents. Or...in rooms where I am not quite sure how I see it looking in the future. Sticking with a good grey makes it much easier to change your mind on your design in your room without the trouble and mess of painting the walls many times. Below are some greys I have used that I adore! Enjoy!

Sunday Morning Spaces

Sunday mornings around here are quiet, relaxed, and full of great light. Why is lighting important you might ask? Morning and evening light are THE BEST when it comes to getting me in a calming mood. Naturally on a Sunday morning, waking up to a quiet, sleepy household would make you just want to go back to sleep...not in my house. That first glimpse of the sunlight streaming in is what gets me up and going. Not in any hurry mind you, just ready to get my coffee and grab a good magazine that I haven't studied yet. This is the day when I like to sit in my living room, facing the wall of windows, turn on some Van Morrison, and just stare off into the tree-lined front yard. Sundays are also a good day to contemplate life. That sounds heavy doesn't it? Nah...just a good day to reflect on the past week, feel refreshed from the weekend and get focused on what lies ahead. Do you have these spaces in your home? Spaces where you can sit for hours and not realize it? Here are some of my fave views I get lost in on Sundays. Enjoy!

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My Mid-Century Canvas...

What inspires us? Is it a season, or a page in a magazine, or maybe it is your family, job? For me, I find inspiration in many places. Recently, I moved to a mid-century home and I LOVE IT! It does need some serious design, but I welcome the challenge. Luckily for me, the interior has not really been touched and all of it is original. Every time I walk into my home I find inspiration...

We are still making it our own, and I am overwhelmed with possibilities and ideas! It is tough to try and concentrate on just one room but that is what I should do. I want to make sure I get this house right, as this home will be my "forever home" as they say. Mid-Century is all the rage right now and so it should be fairly easy to find the right furniture and accessories for my home. I still want unique items, one-of-a-kind things that nobody else has. My love for antiquing and vintage stores has really inspired me as well. I have a few favorites that I routinely stop in, and, of course, I want EVERYTHING that I see! There is one amazing store called "Funky Finds" in downtown DesMoines that is simply amazing. When you walk inside it's like you are stepping back in time. Their items are truly unique and are so cool. "Cool" seems to be the best way to describe the vibe of the store. I usually cannot come out of there without spending money. The curtains that adorn the small store windows are vintage and are vertically striped...the lighting is authentic, vintage lighting...there are vintage rugs on the floors, and the owners are usually there to greet you at the door! One other awesome thing...they even have candy for their customers! My kids always enjoy that.

Below you will see my first project I went after when we moved in last summer. This is the front entryway, or "formal entry" as I like to call it ( friends seem to enter our back door more often) and I thought it would be an easy first project to tackle! the wallpaper was a 1980's look of full-on floral nightmare! It did come off easily, but what lurked underneath was another story....the glue!!! I simply tried good old hot water and a scraper or putty knife. This seemed to work and didn't take too long. Thankfully the walls are in good shape so there was not a lot of patching to do. The before and afters are noticeably cleaner. I Added a warm grayish blue paint color and a fun chevron striped rug. also I got rid of the light which is probably also circa 1984, and replaced with a mid-century inspired small "sputnik" light in chrome. Not only is it cuter, it also gives off so much more light! The rug I found at Target on sale and the light fixture was a treasure that I found at Menards. All very affordable! although this space is not fully finished ( I plan to paint the trim and doors a fresh white ), You can see how much more airy and open it feels. I also hope to add a fun mirror, possibly a small entry table, and some artwork. I will keep you posted! Enjoy!

Vintage and Made Fair Fun

It was a crisp, sunny morning in West DesMoines at Jordan Camp.  I drove onto a wooded gravel drive ending in cabins.  Trees shading just about every inch of grass, just beginning to turn their autumn hues greeted us as we walked towards the fair.  As I approach the entrance I notice a fun plaid themed sign pointing me to the fair.  No greater setting for a "campy" vintage junking fair than an actual camp.    

Walking in I was greeted with friendly faces all dressed in flannel.  The first booth I noticed was filled with vintage furniture, some was refinished and some was original.  Most of the booths were full of old items and also old items made new again.  Lots of up-cycling was happening!

The theme was all things vintage flannel and vintage thermoses, and camping accessories were everywhere!     

Check out this great display of vintage thermoses!!  These fun displays were scattered throughout the fair.  

If you were looking for antiques there were plenty to go around as well.  No matter what your taste and style there was something for every vintage picker.  The booths were decorated to fit the mood of a warm, fall weekend in Iowa.    

Not only were there whimsical booths to shop in but there was some good eats and fine music as well.  I enjoyed a yummy grilled cheese food truck loaded with tomatoes, bacon, and creamy cheese.  Long, rustic wood benches were placed in front of an intimate stage which provided a perfect spot to sit for a spell, and eat my lunch while listening to some soulful acoustic jams from several talented local musicians.  

Unique shopping this event was indeed.  If you needed stationary, there was a booth for that...if you needed a cool old stool refinished in a bright turquoise, there was a booth for that!  If you just wanted a t-shirt to commemorate the event they were selling like hotcakes.  If a sweatshirt was more your style they had those too.  It was truly a fun event for all; vendors and shoppers alike.  I of course did not leave empty handed.  I found a set of old lockers in great shape with chalkboards attached to the sides.  Perfect for my kids to use for storage and fun messages.  The prices were pretty great as well, as most vendors were willing to negotiate.  Always try to offer up a slightly cheaper price and most vendors will do you the courtesy of working with you.  They want their items to sell as much as you want to buy. 

If you were in the mood for a little goofiness, just step into the fair's flannel, campy photo booth!  For a small price you could get your photo professionally taken with your friends.  

I can't say enough about how relaxing and enjoyable the fair made me feel.  It was a creative atmosphere full of inspiration for all who attended.  If you needed a project this was the place for you, but if you just wanted that perfect unique piece for your living room this was also for you!  I left with some great ideas and my lockers....

If you felt like sharing they made sure you had a place to write it down on their giant inspiration board.  For me, it was this Vintage and Made Fair!  Cant wait until next year!  I hope this post provides you with some inspiration to refinish a project you have been thinking about!  Happy junking!!

Collections On Display

We all seem to be collectors of something, right?  Some of us collect sports memorabilia, or buttons, or possibly even teddy bears....then there is me who collects antique pottery.  I am in love with McCoy pottery.  I have been in love with it since I was in high school (approx. 18ish years ago).  My mother was always a huge collector of antiques.  My house growing up was full of all kinds of things that we were not allowed to touch, or else!  I learned at a very young age when entering an antique shop the phrase, "don't touch" and now I find myself using that phrase with my own daughter.  I used to kind of dread going "antiquing" with my mom, but as I grew older I started to kind of love it, not only because I began buying and collecting my own stuff, but also because this time spent with my mom was "our time", it was special.  My brothers would NEVER go antiquing.  As my love for McCoy grew, my mother realized it was time to school me in everything McCoy.  She bought me my first collectible's book on McCoy pottery and it included a small history, with pictures of different pieces and their collectible prices.  I was amazed at how much there was out there that I had never seen!  It was fun to find an item and then go out on the hunt for that special piece of pottery.  

Some of my favorite pieces in my McCoy collection

What makes my love for McCoy even greater is that my aunt Judy (mom's twin sister) has been obsessed with McCoy for an even longer time than me.  She has walls and shelves, and bookcases full of the stuff.  She is always on the lookout for a special piece for me as well as my mom.  So now that I have been collecting this pottery for some time I really need to begin thinking about how I put it all on display.  

Luckily my home has these great built-in shelves in my dining room that I have now filled with my McCoy pottery.  I now am thinking about how to display the rest of my collection as I have run out of room!  This goes for any collection of your "pretty things."  What good is collecting some really cool stuff if you can't show if off to your friends and family?!  Just like bookcases, shelving is key for displaying but it's not just about where you display, it's how you display everything.  

Grouping by color...well, except the loner green pot.  I need to find it another home.  But for now, this is the only place it will fit!

Color is important when displaying a collection.  Is everything in the collection the same color?  Are they all different colors?  I would suggest starting with sorting by color.  For me, my pottery is mostly yellow, turquoise, and green.  As you may have noticed in my photos, I put a couple yellows together with a green.  I rarely place all of the same colors together as it kind of loses the impact I want to show.  Luckily, these colors all go very well together so I can change my mind and switch things up from time to time.  I do, however try and pair similar designs together to create that cohesiveness.  Obviously some collections will always be the same color, especially if it is a certain glassware.  Or I could choose to pair same items together like all bowls, all vases, etc.  But they would have to be either different colors, or different designs, or both to keep that interesting impact.  

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My built-ins in my dining room; they go all the way from floor to ceiling.  Makes a fun statement when entertaining!

The other thing to consider is the size of the different objects in your collection.  If they vary in size, even better!  For example; if you collect flower vases of various colors and sizes, place varying sizes together but try and put all of the same colored flowers in each to gain some cohesiveness.  As long as there is a theme, either in color or size, you can really make a huge impact with your collection.  I always love seeing a large dinner table lined with varying vases, each stuffed with beautiful pink roses.  The vases may not match, but they don't have to!   

Creating an amazing display for your favorite collection can be fun.  Just remember that things don't have to match perfectly.  In fact, the less they match, the better.  Nobody wants to stare at a straight row of all yellow plates that are the exact same size.  When you make things a little messy it attracts the eye.  Make sure to have at least one common denominator such as color or design, but don't be afraid to show off your collection in a way that makes a dull plate really something beautiful.

The "dots" are really my favorite pattern...so much fun!

 I am sure all of our collections have special meaning.  McCoy pottery takes me back to when I was a child spending countless hours tagging behind my mom antiquing.  I hope to pass this memory on to my own daughter knowing that one day she will have all of my collection on display in her own home.  These beautiful objects that we fill our home with truly define who we are and can warm a home with their rich history and irreplaceable memories.          

Fall, one of my favorite things... →

As we approach those cooler sunny days, and chilly clear nights, leaves falling all around, I get in the mood to pull out my favorite blankets, and change up my décor.  Changing out my summer pillows with warm browns, golds, and rust colors makes me feel all soft and cozy.  Decorating my front stoop is always something I look forward to every year as well.  I love buying colorful mums; they really brighten up the small space.  A fall wreath hung on the front door adds some eye-catching details as well.  Are you in need of some fun fall décor ideas??  Look no further!  I have some fun ideas to show you that won't empty your wallet. 

don't forget the Chinese Lanterns!  Those orange pumpkin looking flowers...they are amazing for fall arrangements!

The first thing I would suggest is buying some fall scented candles.  I love Pier1 for candles.  They always have an seasonal section with different scents.  Their candles burn cleanly and last a long time.  Make sure you trim your wick before burning each time...this helps the candle burn evenly and last longer.  "Spiced Cake", "Harvest Apple", and "Maple Sugar" are a few scents they are featuring this year (my personal favorite is the Harvest Apple).  What better way to start getting your home ready for Fall than burning some yummy candles?  Check out their website at pier1.com/home-décor/candles-fragrance for a variety of candles and decorative Fall candle holders. 

My Autumnal couch!

Pillows are another great way to add some festive fall accents to your home without spending too much.  You can spend as much or as little as you want on pillows.  I prefer to buy one or two new pillows a season, that way I am not breaking the bank.  Look for soft, heavier fabrics to create that warm and cozy feeling.  A cable knit sweater fabric is my FAVORITE to put on my couch.  It is super soft and looks warm and inviting.  Also try and find a velour fabric or a corduroy fabric.  Both are very luxurious feeling and can soften up your space.  Any number of home décor stores offer a variety of accents for the Fall season.  The Fall colors are some of my favorite colors I incorporate all year in my decor; deep plums, dark reds, burnt oranges, and golds are all beautiful and can bring those fantastic leaf colors from outside to inside.  Pair the right fabric and leafy colors and add some texture and you have your cozy couch or colorful chair ready for Fall.  Another way to save on pillows is to by a "pillow cover".  These can be just as expensive sometimes as a regular pillow but usually are made of higher quality fabric and are more durable.  The down side to buying the cover is having to also buy the insert.  Having to buy both can really add up!  I suggest buying just the cover and using your existing pillows as the inserts.  Make sure you measure your pillow to assure that the cover will fit.  Most pillows and covers fit a standard size.  Retailers like Pottery Barn and West Elm offer the pillow cover options as well the inserts.  By trying a cover you might find a better variety of styles and patterns.  Check out www.potterybarn.com and www.westelm.com for inspiration!  Also check out www.target.com for some simple, colorful pillows.  Their prices can actually be comparable to the other more upscale retailers.  If you want to add a more exotic Fall vibe to your home try shopping at World Market.  Their selection is great and prices are comparable to Target, West Elm, and Pottery Barn. (www.worldmarket.com)You can always buy pillows online but I would suggest buying them in person.  Size, texture, and color are super important and sometimes the pictures online don't match the product you receive in the mail. 

Okay, so you have your candles and a few new pillows...what is next?  Well, if you are lucky enough to have a mantle in your house decorate it!  If you have bookshelves or a hutch that is a focal point decorate those as well.  Even a coffee table and/or side tables can use some Fall décor.  Of course your candles can grace any of these places but especially on the mantle they will look fabulous.  If you don't already have some fun, colorful candle holders try to pick up a couple in a brown or copper color.  Any of the fall colors I mentioned will blend well with brown tones.  Candle holders are important for a couple reasons...when burning the candle and the wax melts, it has to have something underneath to catch the drip.  I learned the hard way that burning candles without a plate or holder can create quite a mess!  Not to mention it can also be very dangerous.  The wax stuck to my mantle and it has been a nightmare trying to remove it because of how greasy it is.  If this happens to you, wait until it dries to try and remove it, and then wash carefully with soapy water.  Plates or candle holders are a must!  Lanterns are another decorative and fun accent that I love to use.  You can use them as candle holders as well as a light to guide visitors to your door.  During Fall I keep them inside near a window but when I have a gathering I like to place them outside on my front steps, and light the candles as a sort of welcoming beacon to my guests.  They come in all sizes and I would try Target for these as they are a little cheaper.  No need to spend the big bucks on these as they are all very similar!  Another fun accent are some "fake" fall leaves.  Spreading them around your candles on your mantle or table gives the illusion of freshly fallen leaves.  You can also add them to vases and lanterns with some fake acorns, etc. as a filler.

Notice the leaves randomly placed through the decorations...gives that illusion of freshly fallen leaves.  Also colorful accents; the yellow bud vase, the decorative votive candle holders....and my dear Grandmother

Your home will have the outdoor colors of Fall while maintaining the cozy, and warm feeling of soft blankets and the yummy smells of apples and pumpkin spice.  Your guests will want to linger and maybe sip on some wine or hot apple cider.  It is all of these reasons and more that make Fall my favorite thing...

Finding your color Palette

"Mere color, unspoiled by meaning, and unallied with definite form, can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways"--Oscar Wilde.  

We all interpret color differently.  Blues can make us sad but can also feel serene, relaxing, and calming.  Many times we choose colors for our homes that represent us and our personality and I believe that to be true.  My living room and office are Behr "Grass cloth" (green), and my kitchen is Valspar, "Bay Waves" (light gray). I love "nature" colors.  It is amazing to think about but almost every color you find in nature, whether it is on a flower, on an insect, a tree, the sky, compliments one another.  I also love a lot of browns, and oranges (Autumn is my fav. season).  What kind of color person are you?  Do you love the outdoors?  Take a look around your home and your favorite accessories.  What colors do you like the most?  Let this question lead you to your color story...  

 I often spend months trying to choose the perfect color for my walls or a piece of furniture.  Does everybody have this problem?  Is it because we just don't know if it will match everything?  Are we worried that we won't like it after we get it all done?  I think it is all of the above!  I absolutely love color....but I hate choosing the color.  It is always a long, grueling process for me.  I usually see it on somebody else's wall or in a magazine before I get interested.  I don't even try going to the paint store until I have an idea on what color I want.  Next comes all those paint chips....man are there a lot of those.  It is truly mind boggling that "Grasscloth" and "Grass" are 2 different colors!  I recommend taking several paint chips home that are positioned close together on the shelf.  That way, you are getting the color family you want but in different shades and hues.  When it comes to grays, those are a little tougher.  You have to be careful on these as some are more in the blue family and some are more in the black and white family.  If you want a true gray, go closer to the black family, and if you are wanting a more soft, silvery gray, go closer the blue family.  If you are not sure, grab both!  Getting the right paint color is just a matter of patience and perseverance.  If you like one on the paint chip, the next step is to buy a sample.  Most paint stores will give you a sample for little or no cost.  Next step is to paint several colors next to each other on a prominent spot in the room that you are painting.  Make sure they are large enough so that you can really see them and let them dry and look at them over a 24 hour period.  That way you can see them all in different lighting; overhead, natural light, florescent lighting, etc.  It REALLY helps to see them all together.  Next is choosing the finish; glossy, semi-gloss, satin, eggshell, and flat.  I highly recommend NEVER choosing "glossy" for a wall or ceiling color.  With all of the amazing technology in paint these days, you can buy washable wall paint in a satin; it has a little tiny bit of shine and it cleans easily.  Also, a "matte" finish is not very attractive and shows many imperfections on your walls, and it does not clean well.  I discovered high gloss paint on my ceiling in my kitchen and it has been a nightmare project for me.  I tried painting over it and the paint just wipes right off.  So I tried priming it first and all that did was make the paint peel off the ceiling leaving me with another layer of glossy paint, in a different color....ahhhh!!!  Take it from me...anything but glossy!  

Don't be afraid of color my friends!  It can take a room from: well, we don't really use this room at all, to: Wow!  I love this room, I don't want to leave it.  If you don't want to go bold, don't, but you should at least try a couple different samples of colors.  Check out your friend's walls, look through magazines (I recommend HGTV Magazine!) but remember that paint is just about the least permanent thing you can do to a room.  It's not like a tattoo that you are stuck with forever...it can always be covered up with another color.  Just have fun with it, ask yourself what color/s make you happy and paint your favorite room that color.  Do you have a favorite blanket, or pillow color?  Take that to the paint store and they can match it!  It's magical!  You will be amazed at the change in your emotions and the life it will bring to your room.  When I moved into my home, all the walls were a cream color.  I really didn't have anything against cream until I moved into my home.  After I painted my living room a fun green, it literally changed the feel and the warmth of my home instantly.  Color can change your world, it can boost your mood, and, of course, it can make your house a home.   

This was taken in my living room.  This room was the second room in my home that was painted...the color took months to find but now I love it and have given it away to many friends and family members.  It's happy but also relaxing; that is what I want people to feel when they come into my home.  

Trying on the perfect lamp

As I was wandering through Target the other day and then later through another home store, both filled with lamps, all kind of lamps and lampshades, I realized how overwhelming it is to shop for a lamp.  I am an extremely visual person and seeing a hundred lamps sitting side by side on a shelf frustrates me!  I am also irritated with how similar they all look.  It seems choices are slim with lamps.  But I want my lamp to be special, colorful, not too large...is that too much to ask??  Then not only do you have to pick out the base but then you must find a shade!  All I am asking retailers to consider is to display each lamp somehow in such a way that I can take a shade and place it on top and have that lamp on a detailed display in a room so I could see how it would look.  I want an entire room display, like in IKEA.  I can give them props because this is exactly how they sell their items.  Their entire store is a display!  It's genius and it works.  If we can see it in a room with all of the other furniture we own, with all the details we are more likely to buy it because we know it works.  The same goes for any light fixture.  These are the most difficult items to buy for your home mainly because of their size.  In fact, there are many things to consider when purchasing lighting.  Size being one, but also maintenance.  I was visiting a friend this past weekend and she recently moved into a brand new, gorgeous home.  The first thing I noticed was her awesome light fixture over her dining room table.  It is a mid-century modern looking fixture, very big, and has an almost cosmic look to it.(you can find it at www.lowes.com ) It has at least 15 light bulbs!  Wowza! She loves the light but is annoyed at how many bulbs she will be required to change.  Something very important to think about when choosing lighting!  But let us not forget about size.  Looking at lighting in a large box store can be deceiving.  Those stores where you have no idea if they even have a ceiling or walls because all you see is product.  Be careful about your space and how much lighting it needs and of course,  the actual size of the fixture. 

A general rule of thumb for measuring for lighting is to take the width and length of the room in feet, add those two lengths together and convert  to inches.  That is the basic size ceiling fixture you should buy for your room.  I am a huge rule-breaker myself so this formula is not a "must" but it is somewhere to start if you are clueless about size. Going bigger is always better than getting a fixture that is too small.  Lighting is an "accessory" to any room but it must also be able to illuminate a room properly.  As for lamps, well, I wish you all good luck!  Make sure you have done some research on exactly what kind of lamp you want.  Keep it simple and functional and remember that lighting is the icing on the cake.  I just wish we could all "try them on" like we do with clothing or shoes.  Maybe someday my idea will catch on, but until then, happy lamp shopping!

My living room and my favorite vintage lamp I found in one of my favorite stores in DesMoines... "Calypso 968" it takes a lot of hunting for me to find the perfect one!

Welcome to Splendid House!

Welcome to my first blog post on all things home décor!  I cannot wait to share some of my own home projects I have completed.  I am happy to share my tips and secrets on making your house a splendid house!  Please enjoy some pictures of my before and after's of my own home.  

My kitchen circa 1970's!  This was in the year 2004 when I first moved in.  I was pregnant and desperately wanted hard wood floors!  These floors had carpet on top, then tile underneath, then beautiful wide-plank hardwood!  It was a long process to uncover those babies...

Here is my kitchen as it looks today.  There are still some finishing touches that are needed.  Just look at what painting the cupboards, changing out the drawer pulls and knobs, and tiling a back splash can do!  Not to mention the beautiful floors I uncovered!  It took lots of patience but my husband and I conquered and we were on a tight budget.  We spent approximately $500 and made ourselves a brand new kitchen, but that does not include the cost of appliances as we changed those out as needed and not all at once.  Next will be changing out the light fixtures and finishing the ceiling.  The ceiling will be a challenge as it is covered in high gloss paint...I have tried many things but paint just keeps peeling.  I have decided to go with white bead board to cover the ceiling...now I just need to find some!  Wish me luck.