Green and black guest bedroom

This room is a mix of modern streamline looking bedding and traditional elements like the brown leather bed, paintings, end tables, and accessories. It's attractive and going for a transitional look...not my favorite execution on transitional rooms but is has some things going well worth mentioning.

1. Sure go ahead have different end tables....but kept some consistency with matching lamps and keep the table heights the same!

2. I like the height of the pictures relative to the tables. The shades are a bit big don't ya think? I like that they are complimentary paintings of the same series and not different artists or themes.

3. I like the suede/microfiber bedding on it's own. I love custom bedding don't you?

4. I soft headboards (versus metal). They are a MUST when you read in bed or sit up and nurse a baby.

Granite....Smanite I have laminate kitchen counter tops!

Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE granite counter tops. I just won't fork out the moolah at this stage in my life. I also believe you have to work up to something marvelous like granite...I couldn't have it in my 20's! We built this house 5 years ago and only had 1 child. It's what we could afford and I am still proud of our home today.Here is my favorite laminate from Formica called Jamocha Granite. It looks like granite but it's a laminate. I get compliments on it ALL the time!One of the draw backs of laminate is the "glue" seams. Make sure you get a good installer who pays attention to the details. This seam is over done and bugs me a bit but I get over it. :0)

It's a new year...and lot's going on already!

Hello everyone! I have been Missing in Action on here huh? This break has been really nice. I really haven't been on the computer. It's been a time of rejuvenation, holiday fun, organizing, cleaning, cooking, playing with the kids, eating out, going on dates, and planning 2010 here at my house.

A new update from my house: We decided to finish our basement to include 3 bedrooms and a bathroom. We already have a large family room area finished when we moved in 5 years ago. So, I have lots of designing and planning to do. I hope to share lots with you. The bedrooms are first till we meet with the plumber.

My husband took off the week in between Christmas and New Years and worked like a dog! Here's the 3 Bedroom update!
Framing DONE (we hired it out before Christmas)
Electrical DONE (Hubby did it all)
Speakers/Co Axle cable wiring ALMOST DONE (Hubby did it all)
Heating and Ventilation DONE (Hubby did it all)

We are trying to do a lot (but not all) of the work ourselves. I'll take some pictures and show you something soon.

I won't go back...to vertical blinds EVER!

I hate sliding glass doors with vertical blinds. I have this set of doors in my house. I love them. The doors have mini blinds inside the glass and you can open and shut them OR move them up, down. No kids or pets break them since they are inside the glass. Home Depot and Lowe's sell them. I HIGHLY recommend them!

Good lookin' home accessories!

I've been shopping and want to share some neat accessory ideas with you.

I like the assortment of decorative ball out on the market. Click on photos to enlarge. They look neat in decorative trays and metal "dishes". I found these at a local Ma and Pa type shop.

I think every home needs some tall fake grasses placed in a neat black tin. Why not find a spot in your home this weekend that needs some height and fill it with some tall grasses?

This "scrolly" metal piece would look nice in an entertainment center next to some stacked books. Happy fall shopping and accessorizing.

Fall cleaning and freshing up silk plants

Yes, we grow a lot of live garden plants....but I admit I have some fake silk plants in my house and on my front porch.Here's one that was looking dingy and dusty.
The BEFORE picture!

So to help spruce it up I use.....



Silk Splendor!! I buy it at Michael's arts and crafts for $5.99 a bottle. I like to use a 40% off regular price coupon. All you do is spray it down outside and let it air dry and the grime and dust is gone!! I highly recommend this product.


The AFTER picture when it's been sprayed and drying. It's already an improvement.

A fun basement!

I was visiting my family in GA this summer and we went to their friends house. Their basement was a party basement and included a: pool table, sports/TV watching area filled with memorabilia galore, a work out room, and a home theater room with a movie screen, and what really caught my eye was the.....

Stage with a Theater curtain-Literally. You really can't see the curtain very well, sorry about the dark photo. Wouldn't your kids love a stage in your basement?

I have the urge to PURGE so I am taking a week off from blogging.

Hello readers. I, Staci herby declare a personal week off from blogging and e-mailing. I am going to work on my personal pack rat tendencies (NOT SHOWN-this is the organized basement area of my basement). I am too embarrassed to show the other area.I am actually looking forward to this adventure. Don't miss me too much, I'll be back. This is our goal by next summer!A finished basement work out room! Note to self: GO FOR IT, PURGE and Organize!!

Can you relate? Do you wig out that you have too much stuff and clean, organize, and purge like a bandit sometimes? I do...and so I am off off to get started.

Summer projects-Hardware for kitchens or bathrooms.

Are you feeling the dog days of summer today? Well, how about a couple hour home improvement project this weekend? Maybe new hardware for your kitchen or bathroom cabinets? I liked this knob for $2.97 each found at Home Depot. Lowe's has in stock hardware too. Go for it!

Office Wainscoting

This wainscoting is amazing. I like bead board in bathrooms but I LOVE this application in a home office right off the front door. Do you have an interesting wainscoting in your home? Do tell or show!! Leave a comment.

A big TV on a BIG wall-What to do?

Hello! For my new readers, I am an Interior Designer and I designed this built in entertainment center for a client in Farmington, UT three years ago. I was going through some digital pictures and found it and thought I would share with you. Now a days we aren't buying those honker TV's units but the concept was worth sharing-

Built in's on big walls work great. I am not impressed with the wall mounted floating flat screen tv's now a days. In most living room applications the hardware makes them stick out too far and show the hardware behind when you walk by them. Don't get me started on the cords, etc. It's not attractive. I often have clients ask how it should be handled. Well I say HIDE all that junk in furniture or a built in. That's my not so humble opinion!

Here's a picture of the large scale wall-HUGE huh? The wall perpendicular is faux finished and has huge windows on it. This space was airy and full of light!

What accessories do you put on your decorative dressers?

Are you looking for accessories ideas for a bedroom dresser, night stand, or a bureau in the hallway? You are not alone. Many of my clients ask for help in this area.

I like this arrangement. It wouldn't last in my house because the throw would be pulled and everything knocked down in an instant. But I guess I could try it. The designer worked in mini groupings of 3, varying heights, different textures, and the colors are in the same autumn tones. Very nice. Here's a mini accessorized version for a nightstand.

Be inspired help our U.S. economy and shop at Tai Pan Trading Co., Bombay, or Target this summer for items like these! :0) Have fun.

A great family room!

Ah what an inviting and warm family room!

I like:

• The simple and elegant fireplace accessories. They don't take away from the stone work....actually I LOVE IT! I believe art work makes a house a home.
• Notice how they hung the window treatments. They are decorative (saves money too).
• I like the coffee table accessories and varying heights. My kids would break those but they look great!

Traditional and Modern elements mixed together=Beautiful

Home show tour Beauty!!!

I LOVE this kitchen- It's a nice mix of modern and traditional elements. White cabinets, nickle fixtures, silver hardware and lighting, metal bar stools, black and stainless appliances, warm dark wood floors, some glass cabinets, granite counter tops, a separate island with a contemporary pendant lights. The blue table is a NO-NO. It was for brochures only.

I like everything about this vignette. I enjoy the colorful graphic photo. I like the position of the tall silver vases next to the photo. I love green walls and white crisp trim. It is just like my house. Go figure that's why I LOVE it.

I have dark floors, white trim, and green walls just like this in my house!!! I like the modern and traditional elements mixed together. Carpet is just ok. Overall = Inviting!!!

Ditto on the colors and elements!

Toilet decorations!

Do you decorate your toilets tops? I sometimes feel inclined! This is my master bathroom toilet room. It just needed something simple. I found this cute little fake potted plant with purple flowers that coordinated with my bedding and bath items. I think the scale is great for this application! :0) I got it at Kohls or JCPenny once upon a time for about $7-8 on clearance, of course!