Tips for Keeping Cozy this Season
Since first signing up for redfin notifications years ago, I still check out new listings daily. I love looking into houses on the market, seeing the potential and reaffirming our current house purchase. When redfin reached out and asked me to share a tip on how to make a home cozier this winter, It was a no brainer that I would say yes.
Check out the post here to read some ideas but most importantly, see what I had to share. :)
Based on this image, can you take a guess what my tip was? PS this paint color, Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze, also happens to be color of the year for 2021.
image courtesy of Sherwin Williams.
Children's Bedroom Design: Timeless Ideas To Consider
Designing a children’s bedroom can be as fun for you to do as it is for the kids to enjoy afterwards. Children’s rooms are a whole new ball game for colors, shapes, storage ideas, and furnishings. Coming up with creative ways to include the practical elements of a bedroom is a fun challenge.
You might even see how excited the children are when it’s finished, making the project rewarding. Whether you are looking for inspiration or considering a redesign, here are the things that you should know for designing a room that has everything a kid could want. The more innovatively you can combine fun and function, the better!
Make it a happy place
A child’s bedroom should make them feel content. Think unique color combinations, mixing fun patterns and incorporating some of their favorite animals or accessories in the room, which can easily be swapped out when they're no longer obsessed with aforementioned item.
Ensure there is space for creativity
In this bedroom we redesigned, we incorporated a reading nook, a cozy little corner in this bedroom, as a place that little ones, or mom and dad could lounge in during story time. This encourages learning in a relaxed environment.
Let Imagination Run Wild
Kids bedrooms are for more than just bedtime! Their rooms should be fun and inspire creativity as well. Turn the space itself into an exciting place to be, rather than just a room containing a few essentials. I’d like to discuss more high end ideas vs. the traditional "little kid" stuff.
You could build an indoor tree house that they can climb a ladder to get into. Paint their desk with chalkboard paint so they can show off their art skills! Make a building station that encourages critical thinking! Giving kids a creative space allows them to be imaginative and think outside the box. Parents lives will also be much easierif their children really enjoy being in their own rooms!
Make it cozy
Kids need to feel safe and secure, so fill your child’s room with items they can use to self-soothe, like a large soft blanket with enough weight to feel like a hug. Bedding, pillows, and rugs should be soft to the touch, so feel all materials before bringing them into the room.
Have fun with wallpaper! So many options are full of personality. In the coral bedroom shown above, we used wallpaper on the ceiling to draw the eyes up, and truthfully, mother wanted to avoid her daughter peeling the paper if it were on the walls. By installing it on the ceiling, it created an element of surprise.
So let your creativity go wild when it comes to designing your child's bedroom, they do after all deserve the most beautiful room in the house.
If you’d like to talk about decorating a child’s bedroom or you want to add a touch of luxury elsewhere in your home then contact designstiles now for a free consultation!
Boy's Room Before and After
Hey there! Haven't been around these parts in foreverrrr. I don't even know what to say or how to act. A little like that friend you lost touch with and you finally arrange plans to hang out and you don't know if it'll pick up right where you left off, or if there will be a lot of awkward silences.
I'm thinking I'll only really post when I have projects to share. Most of the time people only see the end results and while those are always pretty and rewarding, it's the process and all the behind the scenes stuff that doesn't get too much action. 'Cause who wants to hear about back-ordered items and vendors sending the wrong sized light fixture three times? The before pictures give designers credibility and sometimes even we stand back and are all like, holy transformation. The long process was totally worth it.
So here we go, a young boy's room who went from a more traditional style, to bright, colorful and a little cool.
They live near the beach so we wanted the room to have a casual California vibe with hints of mid century style to reflect the rest of the home's decor.
The boy is a collector and loves displaying his belongings so we had these built-ins installed to show off his personal items.
Not surprisingly, he's a Star Wars fan so we added this wallpaper as a bit of a nod as well as creating some contrast and dimension.
Halfway through the project, clients decided to rip out the carpet and add new wood floors, which really freshened up the room.
This rug is even better in person. Playful stripe with chunky loops to add some texture.
Orange lamp adds some height and picks up the color in the rug, tying in with the custom orange desk.
Bed and nightstand are from West Elm.
We refinished the existing dresser in a two toned effect to keep the room feeling youthful and fun.
His one request was a mirror, so we gave him this canvas wrapped/leather strap round mirror to introduce a new shape into the room.
Desk chair from All Modern.
They already owned the surfboard and couldn't have asked for a better accessory to pull off our beachy look.
So, shall we keep in touch?
Crane & Canopy
Several months ago I pinned these sheets because they're obviously so pretty.
The company behind said pretty sheets is Crane & Canopy. I knew I wanted to share them at some point on this blog but never really found the right time, I guess. Fast forward and rewind to a few weeks ago when their editorial and marketing assistant emailed me because she wanted to feature me on their blog; the right time found me.
So without further ado, Crane & Canopy's embroidered sheets, paired with other items to create a soft and soothing bedroom concept.
headboard // mirror // lamp // chest // rug // sheets
And if you're in search of other bedding, they have lots more options. Check Crane & Canopy out here. And if you want to read a little Q and A with me, go here. Aaaaand if you really have some time to kill, today I'm also over on Spearmint Baby sharing some baby girl nursery picks.
Happy Wednesday!
The Masculine Bedroom
I'm working with a dude to spruce up his love shack. I mean, bedroom. I think guys are a little scared to work with a lady because they fear she'll come in and force pinks and florals. I try but eventually I give in. And in most cases, guys just don't care about decorating. They're fine with ugly, over sized recliners, a big screen tv and use their finished alcohol bottles as decor. That was kinda cute in college but eventually it's time to grow up and recycle those bottles and actually purchase real accessories.
Hey fellas, a decorated space is sure to impress your lady friends. She might even agree to date you.
In case you're in the 1% of guys reading this, some cool, stylish, masculine rooms.
Plaid is rad. It totally is. Brings in the comfort level to this urban loft. It also adds some pattern.
Red shelves make this room feel modern. Nail head trim on the nightstand give the room some edge. Overall great styling.
Stylish and sleek to the max. Every girl you bring to this room will want to marry you.
Clean and neutral.
Here are some (affordable) items I picked for the guy looking to add a cool, cosmopolitan look to his room.
Andy Warhol print for color. Vibrant lamp to bring out the blues in the art. Campaign stile nightstand for elegance and offset the cobalt lamp. Flame stitch decorative pillow for pattern play with the plaid pillow, mixing the modern with the traditional. An industrial clock with brass hands to ensure you're not late for your date, a polished touch. Simple duvet cover gives an easy, casual look. And last, a charcoal rug in a large scale pattern to contrast with the smaller scale pattern of the pillows.
Voilà. No florals or pinks.
Happy Monday!
Room Sweet Room
I skimmed through the latest HGTV magazine while at the grocery store yesterday and came across designer Ramey Caulkins' daughter's bedroom.
"I totally paused"
So cute.
Without sounding like a pedophile, I love childrens' rooms. I sort of wished I only got to decorate those.
They allow you to get bold with the color and pattern choices, and just all around permit fun.
The other day I told TH, I think we're having a girl.
He said, I think so too.
Granted I'm not pregnant nor are we even trying, but maybe I do have motherly instincts. They're called crazy.
And did I tell you TH thought I was pregnant because I wasn't drinking like my usual self?
Me: Um, but I'm still drinking.
TH: Yeah, but I heard you can have a glass a day.
Me: Not of margaritas.
So yeah, no baby but this room is going in the, I think I'm going to have a girl file folder.
Here's the same image taken from the designer's website.
Glad they zoomed out and shot that green chair. I love the look of the vintage-esque fabric. We also get a glimpse of the cowhide rug and bamboo light fixture. I like the styling of the dresser better in this photo. And did you notice the bedside table is striped in this image? Two twin beds is a great idea for sleepovers with her best friend.
A little girl's room that doesn't feel too childish and can evolve with her when it's time make grown up changes.
And speaking of TH, if you've ever wondered his perspective about my blogging, he's the one guest posting today on Victoria's blog, vmac + cheese on her series, The Man Behind the Blog.
There have been countless TH mentions on my blog, now get to know some of his thoughts.
Happy Wednesday!
Bedroom Changes
Whenever I want a change but don't necessarily want to spend the money, I move stuff around. I highly suggest it.
Or, you can hire me and I'll do it for you.
This time I changed some stuff around in our bedroom.
You might remember what it looked like from this post.
It was almost too calm for me, so I quickly got a new duvet cover to bring in some pizzaz.
Note: we get a ton of sunlight in this room. Who needs an alarm clock when the sun's in your face at 6:30 in the morning.
A DVF duvet cover on super sale via One Kings Lane.
My ten dollar art from the living room that I bought at a neighborhood yard sale.
The temporary chiavari chair I've had sitting in our dining room.
A leopard pillow I bought with the gift card Arianna Belle gave me for my birthday.
And a $50 chevron rug I bought at Home Goods. I know, chevron is like so done, but I think I was swayed by the price.
I also finally ended up adding some trim to my cheapo drapes. Too bad you can't make out the pretty design, but you may be able to tell it picks up the wall color.
That's it. Some changes without spending any additional money.
Try this at home.
Happy Thursday!
The Quasi-Affordable Bedroom
Here's a bedroom set-up I created consisting of some of my favorite reasonably priced items and favorite colors.
Actually, it's all pretty affordable except maybe the lamp, a cheery yellow splurge than will guarantee it was money well spent.
Can't complain about a $400 green apple tufted headboard.
Some pretty wallpaper to bring in some pattern.
Pillow shams from Target are a steal and the block print pattern add some global flair that coordinates with the wallpaper and Moroccan rug, which ties in with the blue of the amazon table used as nightstand.
Some woven baskets to bring in a natural element and store personal belongings.
My favorite has to be the floral pillows that accentuate the lilac in the wallpaper and green headboard.
A periwinkle ikat pillow to offset the feminine floral pillows and bring in just one more pattern.
And last, the scallop ruffle duvet cover to add a little texture.
Happy Wednesday!
Bohemian Flair
I think Naomi may have influenced me and has me digging a more bohemian design aesthetic.
I still can't get over her bedroom (photo no. 2). Feminine without being overtly girly. Effortlessly stylish.
The key to this look is in the textiles. And maybe some rattan. Double your points if it comes in headboard form.
Happy Wednesday!
images via Angie Hranowsky, Design Manifest, Sara Bengur
Pretty Room
I pinned this room last week, and I swear I've thought about it every day since.
Something about the combination of the pale lilac walls, vintage lady art and the bold black dresser that has me wishing it were mine.
Feels fairly romantic.
Like if I lived in Paris, this is what I'd imagine my room to look like.
This is all I have for you today.
Happy Thursday!