THE gallery wall

Y'all...I don't know if its more embarrassing how long I've gone without blogging or how long my pictures and frames sat around before I hung my gallery wall? Lets just say they were both overdue.

I don't think I'll be spending hours writing blog posts anymore trying to make them "pinterest-worthy".  I have more important things to do like spend time with my husband and work on my fitness :) but I do want to give you a glimpse into whats going on around the house. Be warned: these are all phone pictures.

So I'm going to start by showing you the progression of my gallery wall. It all started with this daunting 7' x 11' wall that I had no idea what to do with. I searched high and low for a console table long enough that wouldn't break the bank. And then World Market came to my rescue and created the Everett Foyer Table. It was perfect!! Its no wonder its so popular with other bloggers because there aren't many other offerings in this size and price. AND with their sales (which they have often) + my member discounts I basically got it for nothing!

So then it was time to determine the style for my gallery wall and what I wanted it to include. Uniform or organic? Matching frames or not? Frames only or add wall decor? So many decisions!! I knew I wanted to include our wedding canvas and a mirror I got while at the beach. I also love the look of the ikea ribba frames. Once I collected all of the frames, it was time to fill them. I wanted each piece to have a special meaning so that it becomes a conversation piece when we have people over. I want to tell the stories of how each thing landed in my home.

Here is the console shortly after we got it (this is 2014 fall decor)

This mirror now resides in the guest bedroom. It was temporary until I could find another mirror for the living room.

After Christmas blah...I knew it was time!!

Artie decided to help me with the layout. I wish he could've unwrapped all the ikea frames... (p.s. the pics below that didn't make it on the gallery wall are actually going to go in our master since they are more personal)

 If I'm being honest...I didn't really measure everything out. I mostly eyeballed it. It took about 2 hours to get everything hung. That is not including cutting out templates for each frame.

 Almost finished!!

 All done...just in time for the 3 gatherings that we hosted!!

I've got a few more tweaks to make. I am going to paint that crate. (Those are Tim's records by the way. He bought a record player!) I will also probably relocate the wire basket and books so that I can center the wicker basket. And I actually bought this lamp for the guest BR so I may be switching that out. 

Well it's been a long process but so worth it!! Is there a project you are procrastinating at your house??

Countertops: Get Over Granite

Part of my job as a designer is to help our clients make selections and if we are doing kitchens and baths then that means tile, countertops, cabinets, etc. You get the point. We are constantly striving to give the client the best product for their budget.

It seems as though everyone has an expectation that their kitchen should have granite and stainless steel appliances these days (probably because of HGTV). Well I hate to break it to you but that stuff costs lots of money. Most people want it but don't realize how much it could set them back. So now I'm gonna take the blindfold off and open your eyes to some other great options for countertops. That is not to say that granite isn't amazing but there might be a better choice for your budget or situation.

Marble (requires a lot of maintenance and can be very expensive)

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Butcher Block (beautiful, unique look, moderate maintenance)

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Laminate (affordable and fairly low maintenance)

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Concrete (requires a lot of maintenance but very customizable)

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Solid Surface (Consistent look, practical and easy to clean)

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Stainless Steel (Antibacterial and stain resistant, expect patina)

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Do you have any of these surfaces in your home???

The Pink Fox Designs

I love sharing ways to spruce up your home and make it "you". I gave you the Ultimate Guide to DIY art, how to paint chevron curtains, why you should use chalk paint, and how to focus on the Details and add character to your home.

When it comes to finding art for your home my two favorite options are doing it yourself or buying from a local/small business (like ones from Etsy). You may have noticed Kirsten Ann's logo at the bottom of each post? Her Etsy shop >The Pink Fox Designs< is incredible and I am so excited that I get to show it off.

Here's a little blurb from Kirsten: "At Pink Fox Designs I sell my digital printed posters, original photography prints, wedding invitations, logos and business/blog branding, and printable paper goods and stationary. I also have been expanding to designing mugs and other decor. My style is best described as light, feminine, simple and clean. I'm a web and graphic designer with a love for photography who enjoys making everything around me beautiful."

Here are some of my favorite prints from her shop:

Order Here

Order Here

Order Here

My design inspiration pt 3

**Be sure to link-up to Design in your Home with Jackie and I and you could be featured**

Hey lovelies! I hope you've been enjoying this little series about who inspires me. So far I have told you about Nate Berkus and Candice Olson and shown you some of their amazing work. Today, my blog/interior design friend Lauren from Enjoying the Journey is going to tell you about who inspires her.

When Samantha asked me if I wanted to join her on this series I knew I could not pass up the opportunity to share who inspires me.  As I started going down my mental list of designers that inspire me I started getting overwhelmed.  How in the world was I to choose only one?  Well, I didn't.  I actually choose two, a couple if you will.  But before I tell you who this couple is, I feel that I must first share with you a few of my runner ups.

-Dorothy Draper
Talk about legend.  She paved the way for what us women know as interior design and I cannot imagine this industry without he style and poise.

-Barbara Barry
And I quote "Underneath all I design lies the solid belief that beauty is a positive force."  Need I say more.

-Genevieve Gorder
In my book, she can do no wrong.  If you are like me you have been following Gen for years on her many television ventures and her genuine, real style makes me love her that much more.  Read this amazing article and you too

So now, for the main event!  My Number one choice for which designer(s) inspires me is:
Charles and Ray Eames

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What I like about the Eameses:
-Power couple.  They knew how to live together and design together.  Just look at how he proposed to Ray with this letter!
-Trend setters.  Charles and Ray set trends and pushed boundaries that had never been touched before.
-Passion.  When designing they asked the hard questions.  Does it interest and intrigue us?  Can we make it better?  Will we have "serious fun" doing it?

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The list of buildings designed by the Eameses may be short, but the impact that they had on architecture, furniture and interiors is lasting.  Mid- century modern is my absolute favorite style of architecture and they not only did it well, but they were great at it. 

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"The details are not the details.  They make the design."

-Charles Eames

Have you heard of these designers? Who inspires you??

How to: Give your home character

**Be sure to link-up to Design in your Home with Jackie and I and you could be featured**

I shared that we are house hunting so you will probably be seeing a lot of home related posts (not that you weren't already).


Do you have a cookie cutter house?? You know like this one? Haha...I mean one that looks exactly like its neighbors? Do you need some help making it you?


Here are some ways to make your cookie house stand out. (note: Some of these are very expensive ways to accomplish this and I am not saying these have to be done to have a beautiful home).

Architectural Elements

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-add feet to your kitchen cabinets or bathroom vanities
-add crown molding, chair rail, or beadboard

Flooring

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- paint them! (some people will probably cringe at this one)
-rip up that carpet (okay I am not opposed to carpet but I think hardwood/tile/laminate with an area rug is way better for living spaces)


Lighting

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-choose cohesive lighting to carry throughout your house but don't be afraid to pick out a unique dining chandelier or a fun foyer pendant
-and if you can't afford new fixtures, try painting or altering your current ones

Ceilings (this is a great way to set yourself apart)

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-add wood planks or even wallpaper
-make a faux coffered ceiling


"Built-ins" (this one doubles as extra storage space)

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-you can fake it till you make it or shell out lots of money on this one.
-frame spaces (ex. put bookcases on either side of a fireplace)

            

My design inspiration pt. 2

Its time that we talked about who inspires Me in the design world. I am always showing you mood boards and telling you my profession is interior design, but what keeps my creative juices flowing (besides Pinterest andHouzz)?

I have decided to break this up into a little mini series instead of giving you all of them at once. This will also give me lots of time to think about where my inspiration really comes from.

The first designer that I shared was:
-Nate Berkus (pt. 1)

Another designer that inspires me is....

Candice Olson

That's probably another familiar name to you because she is a designer for HGTV.

What I like about Olson design:

-she is not afraid to try new things

-makes great use of small spaces

-nice use of color, contrast and lighting

-can create amazing things on a small budget

-they are bold and make a statement








What else does Candice do?

She has written 6 books, has a rug collection with Surya, a paint collection with Benjamin Moore, a wallpaper collection with York and the list goes on.

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