Spruce Up Your Home for Spring

When you are living in your home day-in & day-out it is easy to become bored your with decor.  Changing a few items in your home each season helps bring your home to life. By simply adding a couple of fun pillows, a spunky shower curtain, or colorful napkins you are energizing your home!  You will be amazed at the difference these minor changes will make.  For spring and summer don't be scared to add some pops of color. I picked a few items that will help spruce up your home for spring- take a look!

I recently purchased this Elisabeth Michael shower curtain in a coral chevron pattern to add color to my grey bathroom.  I found mine on One Kings Lane (if you are not a member you must join!) but you can shop her Esty store for great pillows, shower curtains and drapes.

Adding seasonal elements to a tablescape is one of my favorite things and is so easy to do! When I was in Gift Gourmet & Interiors last month I came across these seersucker napkins by Kim Seybert and fell in love!  The seersucker with the neon stitching is perfect for a spring table.  Add even more color to your table with these colorful bamboo utensils.  They are available in tons of hues and with a price tag of only $9 for a set of three they won't break the bank.

Stack a few of these colorful lacquered boxes from the container store on your desk or end table.  Really make an impact by stacking varying sizes in one color. The orange reminds me of hermes boxes!

Chic Shop LA is a great place to find unique pieces on the internet.  Their hand painted pillows liven up a stuffy room.  Add a finial to the top of a lamp for a super quick change.  They have tons of choices- my favorite is the turquoise!   

Jonathan Adler has so many pieces that will liven up a home, but I am dying over this lacquered orange queen anne mirror. 

Enjoy!

-a.e.h.

Black on Black on Black

I adore rooms with black or dark grey walls.There is just something really sexy and glamorous about a dark wall. Especially if they are done in high gloss or lacquer. I seriously cannot get enough.  I thought I would share some of my favorites...

I went nuts over these black lacquered walls. How incredible does the peacock blue on the chairs look against the black walls?! They are perfect. March 2012 issue of Elle Decor

I love the traditional wood paneling on the walls with the sleek dark color. A modern approach to traditional living.  AtlantaHomesMag.com

via decorpad

Via Pinterest

Atlanta Homes Mag.com

If the walls were lacquered, you removed the antlers & added some large art AND replaced the lampshades this room pretty much equals my dream master bedroom.  via Thedecorista.com

Aren't they gorgeous?!
 
-a.e.h.

Stool School: How to Use Garden Stools Inside

Lately I have really been loving the look of a garden stool inside the home. A garden stool is very versatile.  These little guys can be used as a seat, ottoman, end table, a great home accent, or even a bedside table.   Buy a colorful stool as a quick way to spruce up a dull room- double them up for twice the impact!  Garden stools can fit in with any type of home decor and are a traditional piece that won't go out of style.  Pick one up at your local goodwill or thrift store, add a coat of colorful paint and you have a cheap & chic new piece for your home!

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10

Don't you love them?!

-a.e.h.

Great Finds For The Home: Under $150!

1. Robert Abbey Delta Table Lamp (comes in tons of colors!) 2. Avenue Six Curves Tufted Ottoman 3. Parsons Desk Less than $80!!! 4. Diane Von Furstenberg 5 Piece Gold Tone Place Setting 5. Pre-order Deborah Needleman's(former editor of Domino Magazine) book The Perfectly Imperfect Home: How to Decorate & Live Well 6. Illustrations by Emma Kisstina 7. Happy Chic by Jonathan Adler Ceramic Accent Lamp  8. Modern End Table 9. Lucite Tray 10. Acadia Gray & Cream Wastebasket

Hope you are having a great Monday!

-a.e.h.    

DIY: Decorative Tray

I am a huge fan of DIY projects but only if they don't look like a DIY project.  There is nothing worse than hearing, "Did you make that yourself?"....If it didn't look homemade they wouldn't be asking.  I was excited when I came across this how-to for decorative trays a few months ago on Martha Stewart.  These trays are super easy to make and add a quick splash of color to any coffee table!  



Are you going to try making one of these fabulous trays for your home?

-a.e.h. 



Hooked on the Breakfast Nook

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day so shouldn't there be a special place in your home to enjoy it?  I remember going to a friend's lake house when I was little and seeing their adorable breakfast nook.  From then on I was hooked! 

Love the blue and white and the pops of color the children's art work provides Via Elle Decor

Via Houzz.com

Love the bright pinks and orange in this room Via Pinterest

There are tons of great elements here! Love this!  Via Tumblr

Love the green and coral!  Via Sunset.com

Via House of Turquoise

Via My Design Chic

I pretty much adore everything about this breakfast nook!  The chairs, the art, the coral cushion...sigh!



I love the mix of masculine and feminine pieces the designer used for this area! Via My Design Chic



Interior designer Palmer Weiss' retro breakfast nook

I love this table and the curved striped bench! Via Pinterest

Hope you enjoyed these breakfast nooks!

-a.e.h.

What the hall?!

Now I'm not a homeowner, but I often find myself spending hours and hours daydreaming about what my perfect home would look like. I have ideas for how I would want my kitchen, bedrooms, living room, and even bathrooms to look! One room I hadn't really given much thought to though was the hallway! Check out these interesting ways to decorate your hallway.

Love all the different frames and personal touches via Young House Love

Love the clean look of this white hallway, but the different white frames (without pictures!) add interest to the walls via flickr

Love the colors and the chalkboard via Design Sponge

Love the stripes and the touch of turquoise via pintrest

Obsessed with this graphic wallpaper and wide plank wood floors via Interiorly

What do you think of these hallways? How have you decorated yours?

w.e.r.

Raising the Bar: Part 1

I believe that having a well stocked home bar is very important! That is why this week I will be bringing you some tips on how you can create your very own!   When done right, a home bar is something that reflects your personal style.  Take a look at some of these for inspiration!

All images Via Pinterest

Keep checking back this week for home bar necessities, cocktail recipes, the best bar carts, colorful stemware, and more! 

-a.e.h.

Bring Summer Inside

Today is the first official day of summer!  To celebrate, I want to share with you some of my favorite summer finds.  I believe you should change out a few things in each room of your home every season. This helps you to stay excited about your space year after year without making any major renovations.  Although it is a small change- switching out a pillow, throw, or even serving on seasonal plates or platters can make a huge impact.  If your walls need some color, but you don't want to commit to a crazy paint color try finding a colorful print (like below) to frame and hang.  You can even frame a colorful piece of wallpaper or wrapping paper! 


Polka Dot Glasses, Blue Milk Glass, Storm Lantern, Orange Crush Lamp Finial, Monogrammed block letter cocktail napkins, Vintage Marbro Murano Lamps in Apple Green, Watercolor print via Pinterest



Do you have any plans to bring summer inside?
  - a.e.h.