What’s not to love about this apartment in Barcelona?! Black and white. Wooden accents and green plants. Huge windows and herringbone floors. It’s so simple, yet so sophisticated!
Image Credit: Nuevo Estilo
Tag: Bedroom
Fixer Upper Friday—Kid Friendly Seattle Renovation
So I’m in the middle of binge watching Six Feet Under…again. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend that you take this weekend to veg out and remedy that (also, no worries, this post doesn’t have any spoilers).
***I don’t know how long this link will be active, but you can watch the pilot episode on HBO’s site right now without a subscription.
If you have seen it then the next thing I’m about to say will totally make sense to you: I absolutely LOVE Brenda’s apartment. It’s such a beautiful space that I always search around for similar design styles. Brenda’s apartment is kinda like my litmus test for decor. Simple and sleek but at the same time full of character and awesome architectural features. ***Which TV/Movie homes would you just love to live in? Comment below!***
So in my constant quest for Brenda-esque apartments, I found this really awesome space featured on Design Sponge. While it’s definitely more colorful, the space boasts the same kind of serenity and function that makes Brenda’s place so amazing. And the floors! OMG, wait until you see the floors!
This is a renovated, 100 year old home located in Seattle. Sarah and Daniel Dupuis‘ design aesthetic is swoon worthy and their cost effective DIY projects are off the charts cool. They’re even listed on Airbnb, so we might have to pack our bags! We can even watch Six Feet Under when we get there! Check out this beautiful space…
Don’t forget to comment!—Which TV/Movie homes (past or present) would you just love to live in?
Image Credit (Six Feet Under): HBO.com
Image Credit: Rafael Soldi
Fixer Upper Friday: 5 Steps to Getting That “Fixer Upper” Style
So I just binge-watched the first two seasons of HGTV’s Fixer Upper. I suppose I’m a little late to that party, but I absolutely love that farmhouse style! I love the paint colors, the simplicity, and the character of all of the designs. Joanna, Chip, and their entire team are some super talented folks, so is it even possible for a novice like myself to get that look? I think so!
Here are five easy steps to help achieve that “Fixer Upper” style:
1. Start with a neutral palette with some subtle light paint colors. In almost every one of Joanna’s fixer uppers she uses neutral paint colors and brings brighter colors in with a pop here and there. This gives a nice simple, fresh, and clean slate for your design. [Though the picture above gives a sampling of Sherwin-Williams paints, Joanna just launched a new paint line this year to make the process even easier. Find it here.]
2. Mix your materials and textures. Joanna uses a variety of mediums and materials- wood, metals, leather, cloth, etc. Hardwood floor is almost always a design feature in a Fixer Upper house. Wood elements help your space feel warm and inviting. But don’t stop there…. Layer textures with a high-pile textured rug such as a jute. You can also bring in the warmth of wood with a piece of wooden furniture.
3. Use something architectural and unexpected as a decor center piece. Whether it be large shutters behind your couch or some old windows above your fireplace. This is my favorite aspect of Jo’s designs. I love seeing how she uses different architectural and industrial pieces so effortlessly in her designs. Items like these are found at antique festivals and shops. Your not going to find these one-of-a-kind pieces at your normal home decor store. The hunt for the treasured item is half the fun.
4. Use greenery. Nothing says fresh and clean like a vase of flowers or some greenery. These do not have to be living plants. Hobby Lobby has a great selection of faux greenery that fit the “Fixer Upper” style.
5. Declutter and find new uses for things you already have. All of Jo’s designs appear effortlessly simple and fresh. She does not clutter or over decorate- and almost all items have a useful purpose. Sometimes less is more.
The “Fixer Upper” style is not something you can achieve over night. Although Jo makes it seem that way on the show. But hours of planning have been spent before she ever even steps into”design day.” This style takes time and will evolve over time. Just as it has with Joanna Gaines. If you look back at some of her first design reveals you can truly see how far she has came as a designer. But starting with these 5 basic steps will get you on the right path to your very own fixer upper!
All Images: magnoliamarket.com
Source: Plum PrettyHow to get that “Fixer Upper” Style: Design Challenge —
Before and After Home Tour: Interior Design Ideas
I absolutely love this redesign by Sara Story. Her amazing eye for design transforms this 70’s nightmare of a house into a beautiful, cozy home. Check out these before and after pics!
For more details and to shop some of the looks from this design, follow the link below!
Source: Sara Story Massachusetts – Interior Designer Decorating Ideas
Fixer Upper Friday: Drop Cloth Curtains
So in the attic suite of our fixer upper #1, we’re lucky enough to have 8 windows that let in a ton of natural light. I love the natural light, but finding window treatments for these windows has been a serious hassle. I wanted to show off the character of the window (the odd shape of the window frame is to die for!), continue to let in natural light, while at the same time making sure that I had some privacy. That’s been a tall order as it turns out, but one thing was for sure. I could almost hear that these windows were screaming for linen curtains.
I absolutely love the look of linen curtains. The natural texture, the neutral color, and the design versatility win me over every time. The price, however, is a different story. I did a quick internet search for some fabulous linen curtains for the window above, and I was completely caught off guard by the price.
$203 for one curtain panel?! A curtain panel that I would have to hem and stitch to suit the size of my window. No way. I determined that for that price, the neighbors were just gonna have to watch.
[SIDE STORY: My bedroom window directly faces the bedroom window of my teenage neighbor. One weekend, she randomly approached me while I was doing some yard work and kinda awkwardly stuttered, “have you been sleeping well?” Kinda creepy, no?]
So yeah, I really needed some affordable curtains that let the light in, but at the same time took privacy to the next level. I had no choice but to think outside the box.
It didn’t take long for me to find some awesome ideas on Pinterest. You guys are so amazingly creative! So many of you have been getting the look of linen for less by using standard painting drop cloths as curtains! Repurposing is totally my jam, and I immediately raced to Lowe’s and bought some drop cloths. The package above was only $5.98 and measured 4ft by 5ft. The cloth is already hemmed and ready to hang. Ugh! So perfect! Check out this close up of my new drop cloth curtains and compare it to the $200+ curtains below.
Here are the more expensive panels:
I am so happy with these curtains that I just had to share it with you guys! The natural light still floods in, and you really can’t see through them to watch your neighbors sleep (sorry, creepy neighbor chick).
Have you made any unconventional window treatments? Please don’t hesitate to share!