Get to Dippin…

March 27, 2013

Sara Silver . DIY, Home Projects, Inspiration

Little Bit Funky

Dip painting is one of my favorite trends this season and right now it’s everywhere; and I can’t get enough of it! From kitchen utensils to dressers and chairs this easy and trendy style of painting is a quick way to update to so many things around the house.

I have two beside tables that will be getting this treatment over the weekend! What you do have lying around the house that could use some sprucing up? Here’s some inspiration to get you motivated to give this trend a try…

The Sweet Beast

Atkinson Drive

Honeybear Lane

Source Unknown

Chic Cheap Nursery

Tuinieren.nl

Poppytalk

The Fancy

Simple Song

Kirtsy

How To Decorate With Natural Materials…

March 26, 2013

Sara Silver . Home Design, Home Projects, Inspiration . Organic Home Design

That’s My Letter

One of my favorite things about doing this blog is seeing how creative other people can be and finding new inspiration for home design. In keeping with the Spring theme I started looking for natural decor; bringing the outside in. Before researching this post I’d seen the tree branch center pieces and wall art made with wood but look at this amazing piece! It’s an IKEA circular mirror affixed to plywood and surrounded by wood trimmings. It’s stunning, right? Can you see this in your entryway or above your dresser?

Shelterness

I don’t know why this feels so perfect; maybe because it’s a bit like camping in the comfort of your own bed. I love that trendy, in regard to this design, also happens to be free. This is really beautiful.

Wohn Idee

This piece is a nice mix of modern and organic and on top of that, it would be so cheap to put together! A wood or metal end table painted a bright color with wood trimmings attached to the surface. I’m sure this could be done for less than $20…I might have to try it this weekend!

Inspirations by Ivy

Are you inspired to head out to your yard and start gathering branches yet? An electric chandelier created from tree branches might be difficult to create but this…so beautiful with the hanging tea light holders and strung up with ribbon. Simple and gorgeous.

Design In White

This is a basic cube with wood trimmings and branches affixed to the outside with an added glass topper. In a white room this is again a really nice mix of organic and modern. In a city home or apartment where having a tree in your yard is a luxury (I lived in Philadelphia for a time and the view out of my bedroom and kitchen window was a brick wall) this is a perfect way to bring the outside indoors.

Wed Loft

The centerpiece above was clearly set up for a formal event but I can easily see one of these being used on a family dining table. Gathered branches displayed in a large glass vase and small hanging tea light holders is all you would need to pull this look together.

Flower Power…Spring Inspiration

March 23, 2013

Sara Silver . Inspiration . flowers

A Creative Mint

I’m in Charlotte, NC and although you would think that because we’re down south it would be warm and balmy in March, it’s not. It’s cold and rainy. On top of that I’m lying in bed recuperating from a cold, drinking Theraflu, blowing my nose and looking at pictures of flowers. What can I say…flowers make me feel better and on top of that I’ve been blogging about Spring and flowers are one of the best parts about this season. I thought I would share. If you’re stuck at home like I am today, browse through the pics and then hit the link above and follow me on Pinterest…lots of photo inspiration there, as well.

Happy Saturday!

A Creative Mint

All Things Shabby and Beautiful

Jungle Seeds

Kittens and Pitbulls

EarthShots/Graham McPherson

Creature Comforts

WonderDecor

Style Me Pretty

5 Reasons to Decorate for Easter…

March 23, 2013

Sara Silver . DIY, Home Projects, Inspiration

We Heart It

Spring is officially here and Easter is on the way! I’ve always filled the house with Spring decor but have never really been inspired enough to decorate for the Easter holiday itself. This year, though, I’m going to give it a shot! There are just too many cute ideas to pass up, from wreaths to baking to egg decorating…if you’re crafty or a DIY’r the Easter possibilities are endless. Here are 5 projects that have inspired me to get my house Easter ready this season. I would love to hear from you as well…do you have a favorite Easter project or a new one you’re anxious to try out this year?

#1. Easter Tree

The Creative Mint

Eggshells painted with a Spring floral pattern are secured to a cherry blossom branch with string to make this beautiful display. The eggs were hollowed out as opposed to hard boiled. Maybe you guys know how to do that but I’ve never tried it before…here are the step by step instructions courtesy of eHow:

http://www.ehow.com/how_15776_hollow-egg.html

#2. Tea Cup Floral Displays

Emporio 74

This display is as much for Spring as it is for Easter and I love it! If it’s not practical for you to keep your table set all the time (for me it’s not) try putting together the place setting and displaying them on a bar or coffee table.

#3. Coconut Nest Cupcakes

Martha Stewart

If you have a cake stand with a glass cover these can be displayed before they’re eaten. The recipe yields 40 so maybe you can feed your family half and insist they wait a few days before eating the rest : )

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 cups cake flour (not self-rising), sifted
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (2 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 1/4 cups sugar
6 large eggs, room temperature
2 cups buttermilk, room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 recipes Basic Vanilla Buttercream
3 cups shredded sweetened coconut, toasted
Pastel-colored candy-coated chocolate eggs, for garnish

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees with racks in the middle of the oven. Line 40 standard-size muffin cups with cupcake liners; set aside.
Whisk together both flours, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a medium bowl.
Using an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 4 to 6 minutes, scraping down sides of bowl as needed.
Reduce speed to medium and add eggs one at a time, beating to incorporate fully after each and scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Reduce mixer speed to low and gradually add flour mixture, alternating with buttermilk and ending with the flour. Beat in vanilla. The batter should be smooth and very thick.
Fill prepared muffin cups halfway full with batter; transfer to oven and bake until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.
Using a 2-inch ice cream scoop, scoop buttercream on tops of cooled cupcakes; sprinkle buttercream with coconut, pressing to adhere. Using your thumb, make a well in the center of each scoop of buttercream; fill with chocolate eggs. Serve.

#4. Shimmering Ombre Easter Eggs

glo

glo

glo

So very fashionable, right…ombre is everywhere so why not on your Easter eggs! Glo has a great full tutorial on how to get this look right…follow one of the picture links above.

#5. Colorful Deviled Eggs

Recipe by Photo

I want to make these for our next get together or even on a Sunday afternoon for the family to snack on. They’re almost too pretty to eat – take them to a church function or Spring baby shower. They are officially now a must for Easter dinner.

7 Inspiring Wallpaper Designs…

March 22, 2013

Sara Silver . Home Design, Inspiration . wallpaper

matchbook

Wallpaper used to be that thing that you pulled down and painted over as soon as you moved into a new house but guess what…it’s making a comeback. From designer lines to more affordable ones carried by Lowe’s and Home Depot..there’s something out there for everyone. In fact, there might be something out there for you!

Osborne & Little

This is from a designer line but even if it were ridiculously expensive, a little would go a long way. Can you see this on an accent wall in an entryway or bathroom?

Flat Vernacular

The wallpaper from this company is hand drawn and hand printed in Brooklyn, NY. $100-$300 per role and I must tell you, the website is amazing. Check it out!

Flat Vernacular

I had to show you one more from this site; look at all those colors!

Aimee Wilder

Very cute screen prints by Aimee Wilder and great nursery wallpaper as well. A little of everything!

covet living

Love this…wallpaper centered on the wall and framed.

Pip Studio

Really pretty, traditional floral paper. If you live with a guy this may be a hard one to pull off, though.

The Psychology of Colours…

March 21, 2013

Sara Silver . Home Design, Inspiration

The Psychology of Colors infographic

After posting the infographic on food & wine pairing yesterday I started to think about what a cool way this is to share information. ‘Data Visualization’ relays info with pictures, and if you’ve ever been on Pinterest than you understand how powerful that can be.

I started looking into infographics in relation to home design and came across this amazing one on the Psychology of Colours. Did you know that painting a nursery yellow can encourage crying or that using lavender in your living room can help you relax?

If you’re about to embark on some Spring cleaning and possibly painting check this out. Lots of little known, interesting facts about colors and the relationship they have to how we feel!

*On a side note, the website Visual.ly has an endless amount of these infographics on every subject you can imagine and makes it very easy to embed them on your blog or website.

Enjoy!

Moms Know it All

This is a Man’s World…10 Masculine Bedrooms

March 20, 2013

Sara Silver . Home Design, Inspiration . Masculine Rooms

#1.

A Touch if Luxe

#2.

House of Chappel

#3.

Flourish Design and Style

#4.

The Lennoxx

#5.

Decorology

#6.

I See Cubed

#7.

All Season Home Improvement

#8.

Millenion Design

#9.

Visualize Us

#10.

CoCo Pearl

Decorating with White…7 Key Pieces for Spring!

March 19, 2013

Sara Silver . DIY, Home Projects, Inspiration . White

Better Homes & Gardens

I did some earlier posts on colors that are popular for the Spring 2013 season but one color (or lack there of) that never goes out of style is white. It’s clean and crisp and provides the perfect back drop to let all of your other color loves pop!

It may not be practical to turn your whole home into a visual display of lily white but there are a few key pieces that can help you achieve the look on a smaller scale.

#1. White Slipcovers

Dreamy Whites shabby-chic-style-family-room

Photo by Dreamy Whites. See more shabby-chic style family room designs

This is a scary piece to incorporate if you have kids, or pets, or wear shoes or like to sit but opting for fabrics that are more forgiving, like white denim as opposed to white linen, can help make this a reasonable choice for your home and family.

#2. White Dining Table

Desire to Inspire

If you’re a DIY’r this is a project you may have already considered more than once, right? I have! Painting your table white or bringing a white table into your dining space gives you endless decorating and redecorating possibilities. From changing out the table linens to adding a fresh vase of flowers…there’s not much you can’t do with a white table this Spring.

#3. White Accent Lamps

Inspiration for Home

Another easy to do DIY project. Start with a white or clear base and a white lamp shade. Add white ruffle lace or any other white embellishment to give your white accent lamps a custom look for Spring.

#4. White Coffee Table

A Beach Cottage

I am unintentionally promoting my love of DIY in this post but really…a repurposed door, a pallet, a new white coat of paint on a thrift shop find. Freshen up your living space and get creative at the same time this Spring! Besides, a white coffee table looks even better after you’ve stained it up with coffee rings and scuff marks.

#5. White Drapes

Centsational Girl

Framing your windows with white drapes can make the whole room look larger; that and they filter in the Spring sunlight in such a pretty way! No matter what colors you having going on now, adding white drapes will instantly make your room feel fresher and ready to welcome in the warmer weather.

#6. White Flowers

Jenny Steffens Hobick

Put them everywhere! Arrangements around the house lighten the mood and help bring the outdoors inside…there’s nothing that says Spring like flowers! My favorite…white tulips. If you haven’t had enough of DIY in this post…try making the flowers yourself!

House of Smiths

Follow the picture link above for the complete tutorial.

#7. White Accents

One Kings Lane

Home Made Simple

A Stylish Design

The Homesteading Cottage

If you’re not ready to commit to painting or changing out your drapes try picking up smaller accent pieces to spread out around your house to welcome Spring into your home!

10 Beautiful Photo Ledge Displays…

March 19, 2013

Sara Silver . Home Design, Home Projects, Inspiration . Photo Ledge Display

s.a.s. interiors

I have been a little obsessed lately with photo gallery walls and repurposing picture frames so the next logical step; photo ledge displays! I love these as an alternative to the photo gallery wall because having the ledge gives you so much more versatility in what you can display and the added shelving makes it much easier to define and highlight a space.

Here are 10 expertly done photo ledge displays; maybe they’ll encourage you to take the plunge and start putting one together in your home.

#1. Photo Ledge Children’s Art Display

Apartment Therapy

#2. Photo Ledge Flashcard Display (LOVE THIS!)

Young House Love

#3. Shabby Chic Photo Ledge Display

My Sweet Savannah

#4. Office Photo Ledge Display

Finding Silver Linings

#5. Photo Ledge Trinket Display (ok, no pictures here but this is really stunning!)

HouseBeautiful

#6. Stacked Photo Ledge Display

As I see it

#7. Modern Photo Ledge Display

Apartment Therapy

#8. Headboard Photo Ledge Display

Snuut Architecture

#9. Black and White Photo Ledge Display

Bless Your Heart, Virginia

#10. Hallway Photo Ledge Display

House of Wentworth

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!