my mood BOARD

I am taking an e-course series called Blog Boss by Holly Becker of decor8.

Our guest instructor, Fiona Humberstone of the Brand Stylist, taught several lessons  about color psychology.  I answered a series of questions about how I want my blog to look and feel: fresh, eclectic and creative (too name a few).  I also want it to look professional.  Teal is a creative color so I used cyan.  Both cyan and this fuchsia raspberry color are bright and clear colors that are a Winter scheme.  I hope the site is still approachable and friendly like Spring, with cute fonts.  Lots of white background space keep it clean, so my images of all different styles POP.

Creating a mood board is a great way to brainstorm and bring focus to your brand.  Plus, it's really fun to do!

Here is my mood board for my re-design, or sprucing:

Do you feel this reflects my blog design and feel? Or do you have a suggestion? Please tell!  

I still may tweak my colors......hmm.....

I'm also reworking my logo, so stay tuned!

natural and NEON

My husband and I just moved into our new townhouse in Oregon 5 days ago.  And let me tell you, they weren't kidding when they said it rains A LOT!  

To counteract the murky and gloomy weather, I think I'll need to use bright colors to energize our new home, and make it sunny even when the clouds are looming outside.  You've probably seen how neon has made it way onto the scene, and I think it's staying for a bit.  This might be the perfect opportunity to play with this electric color palette! (......and hopefully my husband won't go crazy....haha).  

A little bit of neon can go a long way, so I want to use it in touches that will pop in the space, and not overwhelm it.  I also want to embrace the nature of Oregon, so here are some inspiration images to combine natural with neon:

These adorable planters are perfect for succulents or air plants.  Plus, even I would be able to keep them alive!

The neon stripe pattern makes this wood bowl pop!  I would use this concept for large wall decor.

This could be a DIY project.  Just painting one plane of a piece of wood (painted) furniture is a subtle way to update it's personality.

These simple wood block houses feel Scandinavian, but with a neon twist~

I love the dip-dye technique on the legs of this wood stool.

This is an interesting concept, but I would execute it a bit differently...

I would also like a DIY for a clock for the kitchen wall, maybe just a geometric square clock painted in half, or.....How would you incorporate this 'missmatch' of natural and neon together?

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SOURCES

Mini planters - BirdAndFeatherCo

Bowl - nicoleporterdesign

Nightstand - Heart Home

Block houses - applicata (photo by: Maria Riazzoli)

Stool - Fab.

Wood casings - Interior Design Magazine

to climb or DISPLAY?

Everyone needs a bookcase in their home, right?  I just moved two white bookcases half way across the country, as a matter of fact.  It's up to you whether you store books on it, but odds are you have a collection or some favorite objects you'd like to display.

What a great idea!  Maybe you already have a ladder in the garage that you never seem to use.  Simply paint some planks of wood that you can get cut at your local hardware store, and slide them on to different steps of the ladder.  Secure planks to ladder, just to be safe.  Then the fun part- accessorize!

This ladder shelving unit is so bright and airy, and even perfect for an outdoor space.  The tin flower planters are the perfect touch to complete this vignette.

Which room would you use this "outside the box" ladder shelf unit in?

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SOURCES

Photo: Design & DIY Magazine

beautiful autumn TREES

Today I crossed over the last time zone, and am back to Pacific Standard Time.

On Wednesday, my husband and I packed up our 12 foot UHAUL trailer, and left Chicago for Oregon.  It took us almost a week to drive to Portland.  That may seem a bit long to some of you, but have you ever towed a trailer larger than your car up the hills/mountains of America?  Well, I can tell you that it feels very long when you're inching along at 20 mph up a hill!

I was enamored by the beautiful leaves of fall turning colors, I especially love the bright, golden yellow trees.  I just cannot get enough of them...

(You can even see my car and trailer in the background) 

Don't worry, I took so many more photos on my regular camera, and video footage too!  I hope you get a moment to enjoy these beautiful fall leaves before they blow away~



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SOURCES

Photography: my ME

cottages in WHITE

Have you ever been in a white room?

It can be very stark and cold- especially if there are lots of modern furniture pieces and reflective surfaces.  However, a white room can also be comfy, bright, cheery, and fresh.

See these beautiful white cottage rooms I have been collecting on Pinterest that have a contemporary touch to them:


Glossy white painted plank floors, with white netting from the ceiling, and natural woven baskets below the metal frame are the perfect touch.

A white, slipcovered 3-cushion sofa with loose back pillows looks like the perfect spot for an afternoon nap.  Plus, check out those exposed ceiling beams.

Penny round white tiles on the floor, and slats up on the wall contrast the modern white vanity and mirrors beautifully.

The white wainscoting adds some dimension to these bathroom walls, and repeats the molding on the mirror over the pedestal sink.

And lastly, these white boots turned vases, are just so charming it makes me smile.

Do you feel the warmth emitting from these white cottage spaces?


To see more cottages that catch my eye, follow my board "charming COTTAGE"




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SOURCES

Bedroom with woven baskets below: Foster House
Living room with sofa: anonymous
Bedroom with storage bed: House Beautiful
Bathroom with double sink: Better Homes and Gardens
Bathroom with pedestal sink: Better Homes and Gardens
White rain boots: LOB Design

chevron FEATURE WALL

Tonight I added some new pins to my board "up on the WALL."  I came across several beautiful wall papers, and this painted wall treatment.

A few weeks ago I was discussing how to make a feature in a bedroom without a headboard.  This is a great example of a low cost way to create a feature wall in an office if you do not have a large built-in book case or storage unit.  It's clean, graphic, and energizing quality is perfect in a workspace.  Plus, everyone needs a little shimmer!

See the entire workspace tour at Shalyn's "Paint it Gold" Workspace

To see more wall designs visit my Pinterest board "up on the WALL"

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SOURCES

Photo: apartment therapy

diy bridal SHOWER

I flew out to California last weekend for a Bridal Shower for my new sister-in-law.

Yellow was also a color at my wedding, so I was able to use the extra paper lanterns for this occasion.    My new sister-in-law was also at my wedding, and it was special to share them with her this weekend.

We had appetizers and wine in the backyard as guests arrived

I made these personalized water bottle labels.  I found this geometric, grey and yellow scrapbook paper at Michael's Art and Crafts.  I cut strips that were 3" H x 10.5"L.  Then I printed a personal message on the sticker labels by Gartner on my printer.  I wrote, "Bridal Shower honoring Bridget Moreno Henkin."  For a final touch, my niece added the stick-on rhinestones, just like on the invitation.  Everyone loved them.  It's so easy to do, and it's easy on the purse strings.  Try it at your next event!  

I used other scrapbook paper in complimentary patterns for the rest of the decor.  I found a grey and white stripe, a bold black and white polka dot, a very small yellow and white polka dot, and a black and white design filled with words about wedding (bride, groom, love, family)

I was planning to make garlands with these circles of paper, but in the end (and for the sake of time) I attached them to the plates I hung on the wall.  Yes, that's right!  I hung paper plates on the wall in a grid pattern in the living and dining room to tie the two rooms together.  This was my 'missmatch' idea for wall decor- taking it outside of the box.

The invitation was used as the inspiration for the cake.  It was almost too cute to eat, but we still managed to!  (It was so yum- red velvet cake, the bride's favorite)

Congratulations!!