As an interior designer, you’d think that designing outdoor spaces would be easy for me. hint hint it’s not! Decorating patios, decks, outdoor living spaces..it’s a whole new ballgame and it’s not the simplest. One of the main reasons my deck sat vacant for 8 months after I moved it was because I had no idea what to do with it and even more than that, I couldn’t afford to make it look nice. That’s what I thought at least! Outdoor furniture is so expensive…am I the only one who is always stick shocked by how much an outdoor sofa is? However this year, I decided to do what I can with what I have and stretch my dollar far to make my deck useable and cute! I learned a lot while I was piecing it together and ended up transforming my deck for under $50. Now I want to share some thrifty ways I did this with you! Don’t break the bank! : Prioritize money If you have a budget, no matter how small, prioritize the bulk of the cash towards furniture. Furniture is the base of the space (obviously) and even if all you can afford this season is a new set of chairs, you can still bank on that and thrift for the accessories. I use 75% of my funds for furniture and then 25% for decor. : Lighting Maybe your house is like mine – there is one dingey outdoor light from 1985 that gives off […]
Best online rug stores: on a budget
Shopping for rugs can be annoying, overwhelming, and truly like you are spinning tires. If you order it online, you can’t always tell the true quality and the colors can appear different in person…and if you go in store, you can feel limited by the choices unless you’re dishing out major bucks. I’ve had experience with amazing rugs, so-so ones and ones I will never buy again, and i’m going to break it down for you! my favorite online rug stores RUGSUSA RugsUSA is by far my favorite place to rug shop! Not only is the selection enormous (pretty much every rug your mind can imagine) but their prices are hard to beat.When you buy your first rug, you get 40% off your purchase. On RugsUsa, there are constant sales – I’ve gotten PROMO codes for them up to 80% off, and they have free shipping on all orders within the US. I’ve bought many rugs from them – and they carry everything from $10 matts to $4,000 wool rugs. AMAZON No surprise that Amazon is on the list, right? Amazon pretty much has everything your heart desires..delivered to you in 2 days (Hello Prime), so when you want to see that area rug right now in your living room, you pretty much can. The only issue is Amazon can make it difficult to return (if you don’t like the rug). I’ve ordered 3 rugs now from Amazon, and haven’t had to return a single one though because I loved […]
how to decorate & keep the peace
What’s more challenging – moving in with someone or deciding on a decor style for your home? How about doing both? Combining and compromising on style when you move in with a significant other can be quite the task. It can be super rewarding and fun to find a style you love together..but how about when your styles clash? Or you both has strong taste opinions? Don’t let that be something to fight about, and don’t let clashing styles hold you back from creating a beautiful home! There are many ways to combine styles, compromise, and find a happy balance for decorating your home with your partner (and contrary to what HGTV might show you – it doesn’t have to be one sided! My Story Let me start with how Brian and I did it. I, of course, felt like I needed 100% control over the design of our home. I was in fact the one with the design degree, however I quickly learned that that’s not the answer to a harmonious house. He didn’t have a strong opinion on the furniture or decor, as long as it was comfortable and functional, I got the green light. For instance, we went shopping for sofas together and tried them all out! If Brian thought it was “lounge-able” and I liked the style, it was a winner. It’s been that way for everything, and it’s worked great in our home. We also both have our own spaces to do with what we […]
DIY Beaded Chandelier
If you don’t think lighting is important in your home’s decor – think again. Especially in entryways, lighting makes a first impression, and you want it to be good! I have been eyeing up beaded chandeliers for months now, trying to find one that wasn’t going to break the bank – to no avail. That’s when I decided to DIY one (okay this is a partial DIY!) Entryway design My entryway was like the rest of my 1970’s house – bland and beige. Wood trim, brown doors, peachy-brown walls and brown carpet. Makes me itchy just writing that! I have big plans to brighten and lighten the whole space – but at this stage, I am working on the lighting. I love mixing elements – smooth and textured, light and dark, etc. That’s why I LOVE beaded chandeliers. They work with a lot of styles as well – eclectic, coastal, boho, even classic. Since my house is a little bit of everything, I figured this was a style I could live with even when I change out furniture and decor. Inspiration My inspiration was this $299 beaded chandelier from Pottery Barn Kids. I loved the flush mount style – which is perfect for a room with low ceilings where you still want to create a dramatic impact. I also loved the twine and tassel – it makes it a little more casual and bohemian. However, my budget for my entryway is only $400, so spending $300 on the light fixture […]
DIY Wood Desk
At I sit here, writing my blog post at my newly built DIY wood desk, I’m so excited! Maybe it’s the fact that I worked from home from a 30″ child’s desk for 2 years or the fact that this crate desk turned out better than I ever expected it too! Sometimes I go into DIY projects just hoping for the best, because i’ll be honest, as many DIY wins i’ve had equals how many DIY fails I’ve had too. Live and learn baby, right? I am the kind of person who spreads out all my papers, has about 10 mugs on my desk, and two monitors going at all times, so I need a desk that was long. I scoured the stores and online sites, only finding cheap looking computer desks that spanned over 60″ OR desks ranging in the $3 – 5k range – so I knew I had to get crafty. Crates & Old Wood? I’ve always loved reclaimed wood, crates, vintage wooden items, industrial things, etc. You get it! One day as I was mindlessly shopping at Michaels Craft Store (so just another Monday) I came across their crates, $10 a pop, and thought, those would make great shelves. A few more trips to the thrift door and salvage yard, and I had enough crates, lumbar and hardware to craft a desk that would work for me. The way I constructed the DIY wood desk was all through trial and error, but now that it’s been in […]
