The Evolution of a Home Office Space…

March 17, 2013

Sara Silver . Inspiration, My House . home office

Reclaiming Your Castle

We have a beautiful little sun room in our apartment; the idea was to fill it with my comfy slipper chair and use it for reading but yeah, that never happened. With two kids, finding quiet time to read usually happens after 10PM and by that time I’m already in bed.

So, my husband has been asking me to make that space into a little home office and yesterday I finally gave in. Besides, it gave me a place to put my new candlesticks!

Here’s the evolution of that space…and I guess the point is, rethink the use of space in your home. If you have a neglected corner, turn it into a home office, or maybe add a bookshelf or a reading nook (if you’ll use it). If you get to this post early enough maybe you can make it your Sunday project today!

Reclaiming Your Castle

Crate&Barrel and Blue Candlesticks…

March 17, 2013

Sara Silver . DIY, Inspiration . Candlesticks, Spring

Reclaiming Your Castle

I hope everyone is having a good weekend! I attempted to blog a bit last night but I fell asleep with the computer on my lap; it’s been a long week!

So feeling much more rested this morning I headed over to Crate&Barrel for a little inspiration and as always, it didn’t disappoint…see how happy I look! : )

Reclaiming Your Castle

One of the things I loved the most was all the blue in Crate&Barrel’s Spring collection. From patio furniture to cookware it was everywhere and although I would have loved to buy it all, I left with $6 worth of Spring cupcake wrappers and decided to try and recreate the look on my own.

Reclaiming Your Castle

Crate&Barrel

I had a set of cheap candlesticks that I picked up from a thrift shop for $2.99 a piece. They’re a sturdy metal and have, as I’ve heard it referred to on many a design show, “good bones.” They seemed like the perfect thing to bring all that pretty blue into my house!

Reclaiming Your Castle

I would add in the step by step here but all that it really involved was picking up a spray paint suitable for metal in a color inspired by my trip to Crate&Barrel. That’s what I did and here’s what I ended up with!

Reclaiming Your Castle

It’s amazing what a little paint can do, right?

Reclaiming Your Castle

Using spray paint is a really cheap way to bring new life to old pieces. Get a little color inspiration; find out what’s trendy and if the color fits your personal taste use it to update a few things around your house!

5 Perfect Mason Jar Makeovers…

March 15, 2013

Sara Silver . Inspiration . mason jars

Pottery Barn

What is it with mason jars…they’re everywhere! This past weekend I bought the ones you see above as part of a gift basket for a bridal shower and although I can’t exactly explain why…I love them (as does the rest of the world apparently). Pottery Barn didn’t dress them up at all other than throwing on wire handles, which admittedly makes them all the more loveable, but they’re selling them for $9.50 a piece! You can’t be mad…that’s kind of genius given their current popularity (I bought them!) but the DIY possibilities are endless and far less expensive. Here are a few of the best ideas I’ve seen for repurposing mason jars.

Bourbon & Books

Every time I see something like this I wonder why I didn’t think of it first…so cute and easy to do! These mason jar wall sconces are secured to drift wood with a leather strap. Let me first say that I love the contrasting masculine and feminine in this example; the flowers against the worn wood and leather looks amazing! Can you see these over a pair of night stands in a beach themed bedroom…or filled with flowers and lined up in a row above a bed for a DIY headboard (hey, I might do that!)?

Emily Henderson

If you’ve ever watched HGTV you’ve probably seen Emily Henderson…and if you’ve seen Emily Henderson then you can’t help but love her unique sense of style and design. She was given the task to fill a large shelving unit for minimal cost and what did she use…mason jars! Throw a little paint in the jar (Emily recommends using flat paint) and then use a brush to paint the inside. Let it dry and then do another coat or two until the inside is completely covered. To finish the look she spray painted the lids gold for a little extra pop. The gradient effect is incredible; Emily mirrored a paint chip color strip to get the look…genius!

oh-lovely-day

So, I love this idea. The fact that the pictures inside the mason jars are black and white just adds to the vintage feel the jars already have. These would look so cool lined up side by side in a bookshelf or grouped together in the center of a table. Can you see little tea lights interspersed between the jars reflecting light on the pictures…that would really be beautiful!

Esty

I love a clean kitchen and for me that’s having everything put away and streamlined. It bothers me having a hand soap dispenser sitting on the side of the sink messing up my visual zen! : ) This mason jar soap dispenser is the answer. It’s cute and functional…I love a DIY pieces with a purpose!

Apartment Therapy

How beautiful is this people, really? This is a great idea whether you’re hosting a large get together or serving an intimate meal at your own table. The various heights of the jars create lots of visual interest and in my opinion you can never have enough candle light! This is sweet…and the lack of other table decorations make it perfectly simple.

Spring Color Love Part 2…Poppy Red!

March 14, 2013

Sara Silver . Inspiration . Color, Poppy Red

Carmen Marc Valvo

I’m loving the Spring 2013 Pantone for Grayed Jade…but Poppy Red is running a close second. Red is such a richly distinct color and although it’s generally seen in association with cooler weather and the holiday season, I think little bursts of red around the house this Spring could be really fun!

Here’s some Poppy Red Inspiration!

Lex Croft

Update The Metroplex

The Bride’s Cafe

Pottery Barn

Houzz

Tom Jones

Martha Stewart Weddings

Dribble

Flora Fauna

beachbabyblues

Update Dallas

Decor Pad

LuLusWoobies / Esty

Wallpapers Kingdom

Grayed Jade…Spring Color Love!

March 13, 2013

Sara Silver . Inspiration . Color

Pantone

I’m always interested in finding out what colors are trendy for the upcoming season and for Spring 2013 these are it! You’ve seen them on the runway and that always translates itself into interior design.

Nicole Miller

From the pallet above my favorite is the Grayed Jade. Part muted green and part bright gray, it’s a perfect neutral for walls and throw pillows and would look great paired with almost any traditional Spring colors. Consider using this color on your walls…can you imagine how it would make your pinks and yellows pop? Here’s some inspiration!

Re-Do It Design

TwoBlueMunkeys / Esty

1768 thirteenth st.

Patina Vintage Revival

The Excited Bride

The Bold and the Beautiful

Adventures in Jewelry

Posy Rosy

Habitations Robert

JillianReneDecor / Esty

Easy Weekend DIY Chalkboard…

March 11, 2013

Sara Silver . DIY, My House . Chalkboard

Reclaiming Your Castle

This was a busy weekend! Saturday I had a bridal shower in the afternoon and my friend’s birthday party in the evening but Sunday was DIY day! I posted the buffet style serving dishes yesterday that I turned into a Spring centerpiece for our table, but I also decided to try out some chalkboard paint and repurpose a frame I picked up at Goodwill.

I neglected to take a picture of the original frame but once I had it pulled apart I started painting.

Reclaiming Your Castle

I used Krylon for both the frame and the chalkboard; firstly because they were on sale and secondly only Krylon had the exact color of obnoxious pink that my daughter was insisting on. Start by cleaning the glass with alcohol. Allow to dry and spray on one coat of the chalk board paint. Let that dry for about 15 minutes and spray on a second coat. I stopped here at 2 coats but I think spraying on a third would be even better. Remember that there’s glass underneath so the sharp edge of a piece of chalk could scrape the paint off.

Reclaiming Your Castle

I thought spray painting the frame would be the easy part but I was wrong…for one reason. If the frame is finished with a wood gloss remember to go over it lightly with sand paper to prime the surface for paint. I used like 5 coats but finally we got here.

Reclaiming Your Castle

Allow the frame to dry and insert the painted glass back into the frame. Technically you are supposed to allow the chalkboard paint to set for 24 hours but the waiting was unbearable!!!

Reclaiming Your Castle

I will definitely need that third coat of paint…but I suppose it can wait until next weekend : )

Thrift Store Centerpiece DIY…

March 11, 2013

Sara Silver . DIY . Thrift Store Projects

Pier 1 Imports

Hi! I hope everyone had a good weekend! I did some shopping around and ended up in Pottery Barn (yesterday’s post) and Pier 1 Imports today and came across this caddy of buffet style serving dishes for $18.95. Cute, right? But these strike me as the kind of thing someone gives you as a house warming gift and then ends up at the Goodwill a year later.

Case in point…today at my local Goodwill I found these!

Reclaiming Your Castle

Honestly, I know I would never use this set up to serve snacks or food and the colors aren’t great but I couldn’t help myself…I bought them for $4.99.

First thing to fix; the colors! Martha Stewart makes a line of paints for glass and ceramics sold at Michael’s for $3.50 a bottle…a little of this goes a long way. I picked up yellow and blue in an opaque finish to achieve full coverage on the dishes.

Reclaiming Your Castle

To begin, I washed and dried them. I painted a single coat on each dish and allowed them to dry for about an hour. After a second coat the painting was done! To set, Martha Stewart’s craft team suggests that you either cure the dish for 21 days or bake in an oven set at 350 for 30 minutes. I considered waiting a month to set the paint but then decided 30 minutes in the oven sounded a lot easier : )

Still not convinced I would use these for food service I started thinking about what else I could do with them. I did a post on centerpieces a few days ago and I love the blue and yellow color combo for Spring, so I came up with this…

Reclaiming Your Castle

My husband was kind enough to grab me a few small plants from our local Lowe’s store and they fit perfectly into the serving dishes! I love it! Bringing plants into the house and onto the table instantly makes it feel more like Spring.

Reclaiming Your Castle

Pottery Barn Outlet Love…

March 9, 2013

Sara Silver . Inspiration . Candles, Decor, Gifts

Everything beautiful in the world is inside Pottery Barn…just thought I should let you know.

7 DIY Spring Centerpieces…

March 9, 2013

Sara Silver . DIY . flowers

I love the change in the seasons, particularly going from the muted colors of Winter to the bright, fresh colors of Spring. One of the best ways to bring that feeling into your home is by creating a centerpiece for your table. Here are a few ideas for you to consider this weekend…

#1. Robin’s Egg Blue Vase, Yellow Branches

Nicest Things

One of my FAVORITE color combinations for Spring! Go to your local craft store for the branches with yellow buds. Paint a terracotta vase blue (get a small sample size of paint from Lowe’s or Home Depot which should be plenty for this project and cost around $2.50).

#2. Flower Nest

Better Homes & Gardens

The House of Smiths

This would be beautiful with live flowers but you could create the same look with DIY flowers made of crepe paper streamers. Dip your eggs in yellow dye and rest on white serving dish or bowl.

#3. Glass Cylinder and Decorative Paper

Hostess With The Mostess

It doesn’t get much easier…take all those glass cylinders you have lying around the house and cover them with beautiful Spring scrap or wrapping paper. Embellish with ribbon.

#4. Gathered Branches and Pink Flowers

Better Homes and Gardens

On your next long walk (if you don’t take long walks, stop reading this and go take a walk!) gather some branches 🙂 Break out the hot glue gun and pop some pink flowers off a cheap arrangement. Adhere the flowers blooms to the branches and display in a glass vase.

#5. Egg Cups and Cupcake Paper

Better Homes and Gardens

So fun! Layer cup cake paper inside an egg cup and fill with Easter candy.

#6. A Little Bit of Everything

Better Homes and Gardens

Glass dishes, flowers, eggs, branches, butterflies…not sure there’s a better way to display Spring. Nest your eggs in flowers set on glass dishes. Surround with branches; attach craft butterflies with hot glue.

#7. Mixed Vases and Fresh Flowers

Elizabeth Anne Designs

Arranging a collection of vases in glass and white ceramic allows you to spread one bouquet out to fill a larger space and let’s every flowers and plant take center stage. Add tea lights around the base for a stunning display.

Does Your Home Reflect Your Style…

March 8, 2013

Sara Silver . Home Design

The City Sage

The Visual Vamp

I was watching Wreck-It Ralph with my kids tonight and listening to the voice of Sarah Silverman when I was reminded of an article I saw in InStyle magazine, October 2011. InStyle did a spread on Sarah’s home, designed by FORM Los Angeles and I remember being struck by how perfectly her home seemed to fit her. From kelly green walls and old family photos taped on exposed brick walls to a striped black and white painted bathroom; it seemed much more like a home lived in than a home on display.

A lot of us strive for the perfect home but what good is perfect design if you can’t live comfortably in it? And why can’t you display that creepy clown figurine if you want to, right?:) Here are some examples of beautiful rooms painted with individuality.