Sea Glass Inspired Decor…Bringing the Beach Indoors

June 3, 2013

Sara Silver . Home Design, Inspiration . beach bungalow, Beach Decor, paint color, sea glass

Better Homes and Gardens

Close your eyes and picture the ocean – the roar of the waves, the warm sand on your feet – the call of the sea gulls and the sun on your skin. When I saw this collection in Better Homes and Gardens that scene is the first thing that came to mind. The colors are so soft and distinctively nautical; I can almost smell the salt water. Honestly, it makes me want to redecorate my whole home into a beach bungalow. If you feel the same way, here are some more sea glass inspired decor ideas to help you bring the beach to life in your home this season.

Pop Sugar

I love the drift wood and sea glass wall hanging. If you’re one of those people who like to scour the sand for shells and glass this would be a great project to display what you find this Summer.

Source Unknown

Delight By Design

Weathered white or gray is a perfect backdrop for a sea glass or nautical theme because it mimics the sun bleached, salt water worn wood found along the ocean front. Also, whites and pale grays will let the cool blue and greens of the sea glass take center stage.

Martha Stewart

Esty

Source Unknown

Houzz

The paint color on these walls is Sea Salt by Benjamin Moore. The blue/green is so subtle and beautifully beachy; if you’re considering doing a beach themed room this would be an excellent place to start. Continue with colors that reflect the overall picture of an ocean scene in your mind – white couch for the white clouds, soft khaki’s and browns for the sand – if possible, find a rug that helps pull it all together.

BrightNest

Sea Shell; Supply / Esty

Cottage Home

To break up the monotony of the pale blues and greens of an ocean theme try adding in touches of coral, peaches and pinks. In small doses they’re a lovely compliment to the cool pastels of the Summer season.

The Art of Picture Placement…

May 15, 2013

Sara Silver . Home Design, Home Projects, Inspiration

Decor Pad

My idea of picture placement is holding a frame or frames up to the wall, guesstimating where they should go and then hammering in a series of nails (it should really be only one or two nails per picture but I have yet to convince myself that closing one eye and squinting is not a replacement for a level and a template). I’m trying to work on this. I created a post a few months ago full of photo gallery wall templates and in an attempt to hone my skills I gave one a shot on the wall above my bed. Here is the before and after…

Reclaiming Your Castle

I love the results but the series of templates I came across today are the best yet – they give you the placement and the frame sizes you need to create a beautiful gallery wall. I’m almost inspired to start on another picture project! Check them out and see if they can help you master the art of picture placement.

Adorable Decor

8 Steps to the Perfect Table Setting…Elle Decor and Nate Berkus

May 8, 2013

Sara Silver . Home Design, Inspiration . Table Setting

Elle Decor

There are plenty of posts out there on how to set a table for a get together or dinner party but I love this one by Nate Berkus for Elle Decor because it’s so simple. The table is worn and the centerpiece is made up of things you have lying around the house. After all, it’s not about what you have, right…it’s how you put it together!

If you’re hosting a Mother’s Day brunch or dinner over the weekend this might come in handy.

STEP #1. START WITH A BLANK SLATE

Elle Decor

You should be inspired already; chances are you’re starting out with a table that looks better than this ; )

STEP #2. GET YOURSELF A TABLECLOTH

Elle Decor

I tend to gravitate towards bright colorful tablecloths, especially this time of year. If you start with a simple pattern like stripes though, or one with a neutral base, it’s easier to build on. Berkus suggests customizing your linen – find a fabric you like and hem the edges or have someone like your local dry cleaner do it for you.

STEP #3. ADD A BIT OF CONTRAST WITH A TABLE RUNNER

Elle Decor

This is where a good eye comes in handy. Find something that matches but doesn’t? I think that’s the idea. Look for hints of color that will continue throughout the rest of the setting in dishware and in the main centerpiece.

STEP #4. GET THAT CENTERPIECE GOING

Elle Decor

Grab things from around your house – pretty serving trays, vases and glassware with varying heights. Nate’s rule: keep it low. Too much height and people have to stand up to talk to each other across the table; not good.

STEP #5. PUT TOGETHER THE FIRST PLACE SETTING

Elle Decor

When creating the place settings, Berkus suggests that you use one classic piece paired with an unexpected one…interesting. Here he used a classic plate with gold flatware for a touch of glamour.

STEP #6. MIX THINGS UP

Elle Decor

Let lose a little; your plates don’t have to match as long as they stay within the same color palette. If you’re a thrifter like I am this is a great excuse to sort through some of those donated dishes and come up with a really eclectic mix of styles and sizes. Add a pretty napkin to introduce a new pop of color.

STEP #7. FLOWER POWER

Elle Decor

Here Nate suggests keeping it simple. Instead of a mixed bouquet of flowers, try staying monochromatic and sticking with a single flower species. Use three to five vases to create height and movement.

STEP #8. ADD LAYERS OF GLASSWARE

Elle Decor

Use wine and water glasses in metallic or clear glass – those beautiful little gold ones are by Jayson Home and I love them. What a pretty detail to add to the table, right?

So, are you inspired to start setting your table?!?

Design Inspiration…Robyn Glaser and Emily Henderson

May 6, 2013

Sara Silver . Home Design, Inspiration

Robyn Glaser

Design Milk asked Emily Henderson, HGTV designer and host of Secrets from a Stylist, to share 5 of her favorite things. She’s on of my favorite designers and it turns out that one of her favorites is prop stylist, Robyn Glaser.

Robyn Glaser

Have you ever found yourself flipping through a magazine and being drawn in by the set design and add concept as much as the merchandise being featured? Well, that’s Robyn and her clients include Anthropologie, Target, Tiffany’s, Harper’s Baazar, New York Magazine, Neiman Marcus and Urban Outfitters to name a few. On top of that she also does cook books and food editorials including Bon Appetit and Food Network Magazine.

Robyn Glaser

Looking at her portfolio reminds me that there’s an art in putting things together – but what strikes me the most in her set design is the casual way that life is represented. A crowded dining table, a messy couch, an ordinary dining room with extraordinary color. It’s life – the beauty is in how you look at it.

Robyn Glaser

Which brings me back to Emily Henderson and why she’s always been one of my favorites. Whether it’s a $5,000 couch or a thrift store save, Emily brings it all together in a beautifully livable way. Style should be relatable and comfortable and both of these women do a really good job representing it that way.

One Kings Lane / Emily Henderson

Emily Henderson

So, where do you get your inspiration from? Do you have a favorite designer or magazine that inspires the look of your home?

Chalkboard Paint…Fussy or Functional?

May 2, 2013

Sara Silver . Home Design, Inspiration . Chalkboard Paint

Poppy Talk

Chalkboard paint is everywhere…and on everything. This crafty little paint has worked its way from the classroom into our living rooms, and our kitchen walls and furniture – it’s all over the place! Is it a passing trend or a new staple in home design?

Interiorspl

Here’s what I think; the flexibility of chalkboard paint is awesome. If you use it on your walls it allows you to be creative and fun; changing up the theme of your bedroom or den with the swipe of an eraser.

Dwell

One of my favorite applications is the chalkboard wall in the kitchen. I love this one because it’s practical – shopping lists, phone messages, weekly dinner menus and calender events; it’s functional and trendy.

Johanna-Vintage

The same applies for the home office; it’s much harder for your husband to tell you he’s forgotten to pay the water bill when the due date is written on the wall behind his head, right? (Don’t tell my husband I said that).

Inspired By This

And of course, awesome idea for the kid’s rooms…

Muliccia

Weekday Carnival

So, what are your thoughts on chalkboard paint…fussy or functional? Would you use it in your home?

Interiorspl

5 Ways to Incorporate Vintage Pieces In Your Home…

April 29, 2013

Sara Silver . Home Design, Inspiration

Apartment Living

There is a delicate balance between adding used vintage pieces in your home and having your living room look like it was transplanted from the staging area at Goodwill. Balance. It’s something I’m still trying to master but in the end, adding vintage pieces to your home bring a character and depth that you just can’t find at your local Rooms-to-Go. It can be tricky but it’s worth trying to figure out – you’ll end up with better quality furniture and you’ll have something cheap and trendy to brag about when your friends stop by. So, win-win.

Here are 5 Ways to Incorporate Vintage Pieces In Your Home…

#1. Look for Solid Wood

Apartment Therapy

If you come across a vintage piece of solid wood furniture, chances are it’s worth refinishing. If we’ve learned nothing else from HGTV we should at least know this, right? Paint it, stain it, cover it with wallpaper…the possibilities are endless. Look for pieces with sleek, classic lines and vintage character – something that will fit in easily with your existing decor.

#2. Find a Sofa with Good Structure

Babble

I Love Copper Jewelry

A statement piece like a sofa is an excellent way to incorporate a vintage vibe into your home; the key here is to look for good structure. Weigh the cost of reupholstering and whenever possible, look for a sofa that may just need a good cleaning rather than a complete makeover. Try pairing a vintage couch with modern throw pillows to pull everything together.

#3. Look for Vintage Light Fixtures

A Sort o Fairy Tale

Oak Ridge Revival

I see old lighting fixtures every time I walk into a thrift store and lately I’ve been forcing myself to give them a second look. I love the contrast of old and new; a rusty vintage light against a clean white wall. Lighting gives a room so much character! If you’re too conservative to bring in big vintage pieces, try starting with an old lighting fixture…it may catch on!

#4. Find Statement Pieces

This Next

Deborah Hall Lifestyle

Esty

Like a lighting fixture, a simple vintage statement piece like a coat hanger or drying rack can add so much visual interest and depth to a room. Try adding a fresh coat of spray paint to modernize the piece while still maintaining the vintage framework.

#5. Look for a Vintage Throw Rug

Spearmint Decor

T&G Interiors

This might be the hardest to find at a decent price but there would be no better way to add a little touch of vintage love to your living space than to find a beautifully worn vintage rug. Even against polished wood furniture, a vintage rug just makes it feel so homey, right? I need one of these!

5 Cheap and Easy Coffee Table DIY Designs…

April 23, 2013

Sara Silver . DIY, Home Design, Home Projects

Design-That-Inspires

#1. Hairpin legs attached to a flat surface such as a worn piece of wood or a salvaged door make this a quick and easy coffee table DIY project.

Knick of Time

#2. Vintage trunk painted shabby chic style; the added legs make this a really cool conversation piece and functional table.

Retro To Go

#3. I know, I know…you’ve seen this pallet turned into coffee table idea so many times…but it never gets less cool. Low to the ground and mobile this is the trendiest and cheapest way to DIY a coffee table.

Lowes

#4. Lowes got all artsy on us and found an industrial shortcut to the DIY coffee table. Making two or three of these can create a really cool focal point in your living space.

Happy and Harried

#5. Remove the backing from a thrift shop chair and paint a funky color. Use as a coffee or corner table and spark some visual interest in your home.

Creating a Dining Room Space…Apartment DIY

April 22, 2013

Sara Silver . Home Design, Home Projects, Inspiration, My House

Reclaiming Your Castle

Last year my husband and I rented out our home and decided to rent an apartment closer to work and to my children’s school. The location is perfect but the apartment is a bit older and very cookie cutter as apartments go. Since we’re limited to what we can do on the inside I’ve turned my attention to our furnishings – lighting up the space and making it feel more like a home.

This weekend’s project: creating a dining room space.

Reclaiming Your Castle

This is where we started. I’m big on repurposing so we picked up this lovely dining room set (I say that sarcastically) off of Craigslist for $70. It came with 6 chairs, a buffet and hutch so the price wasn’t bad.

The major issue with repainting this set was the fact that is was covered in a lacquer coating. Since we have no outdoor space, sanding or spray painting wasn’t an option which lead me to our local Home Depot to ask for a little advise.

Reclaiming Your Castle

They directed me towards Kilz Original Oil Based Primer. It smells like nail polish remover but wow, this stuff will cover just about anything. It recommends two coats but I found that one was more than enough. I allowed the primer to dry for about 30 minutes and then applied two coats of white semi-gloss oil-based paint.

Reclaiming Your Castle

I anchored the space with a throw rug (IKEA; $19.99) and created a wide runner with a curtain panel I picked up at our local thrift store, still in the box from Target ($9.99 / originally sold for $24.99). While I was there I grabbed a set of 8 stoneware mugs ($0.49 a piece) great for juice or coffee in the morning and 4 matching pillows to use as cushions ($1.00 a piece).

Reclaiming Your Castle

I love fresh flowers in the Spring but keeping those on the table can get a little costly. Baby’s Breath is a great alternative…it’s cheap, lasts forever, and the wispy white flowers are perfect for the season.

Reclaiming Your Castle

Our apartment does have a separate dining room but it’s directly off the front door and has no windows…who wants to eat there! I split off the buffet table that came with our dining set to be used as an entryway table and it’s also destined for a new coat of paint.

Reclaiming Your Castle

Design Trends…India and the Far East

April 15, 2013

Sara Silver . Home Design, Inspiration

Two Worlds Arts

If you’re anything like me you’ve been snooping through magazines and hitting up Pinterest for some inspiration on livening up your home for the coming Summer months. From colors, to materials, to patterns and trends it can really be overwhelming!

With that in mind, I’ve decided to dedicate Mondays to featuring some of the better home design trends I’ve seen out there. The goal is to keep your space interesting; not just for entertaining but so you and your family can stay entertained! Adding a few small trendy pieces around the house keeps your home looking fresh and inspired without breaking the bank.

INDIA AND THE FAR EAST

Elle Decor did a trend alert on Far East home decor recently and I like this one for a lot of reasons. Colors from India and the Far East are bold and vibrant (perfect for Summer) and the angles and shapes of this style are visually interesting.

Take a look at some examples of this current trend; can you work the Far East into your home this season?