Designer in Teal

August 13, 2013

Details

*I have been working on some blog updates and I want to share them with you. I have a new and improved ABOUT ME page. If you want one like it, let me know and I am sure we can work something out! ALSO, I added a button on my left sidebar for my DESIGN SERVICES. You can now purchase mood boards directly through the Paypal button The page also gives a break down of what's included in the price and includes many examples of previous boards.*

I shared this post a while back as a guest post over on Jackie's blog but I just loved it too much not to share it on my own space. And I also wanted it to be a REMINDER that the design in your home link-up is still open. We extended it for another month so be sure to add your room or house tour and it could be featured right here!!

Rules:
1) Please follow your host (Designer in Teal) and co-host (Jade and Oak) via Bloglovin.
2) Please only link up your own work. You can show off a bedroom, living room, bathroom, kitchen, etc. You get the idea. Exteriors/patios are also welcome!
3) Have FUN!

When designing a space there are a lot of layers to making it feel like home. So I want to share a few ways with you on how to finish your space.

Some areas to focus on in your living room/den are bookshelves and coffee/end tables. Yes they are supposed to be functional but they can also be pretty stylish.

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Another area to quickly spruce up is your kitchen. You don't want to go adding a bunch of useless things that clutter up your counter space but thats what shelves are for! Or if you are going to put something on the counter, make it something pretty and functional like vintage canisters.

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And finally one of the most overlooked places: the entryway! A mirror can help make a narrow hallway feel larger and its always nice to have a console to drop your keys on.

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So, are you ready to go and make your house a home? I hope you have enjoyed my detail inspiration :) Thanks for having me, Jackie!

XO Samantha

August 8, 2013

Apartment Updates- Bookcases, Shoe Storage & Dining Chairs

I keep telling you that I am so excited to get back to blogging and yet all week I couldn't think of anything to write about. Well, lucky for you I ~~finally~~ have an idea!

How about I share some updates to our apartment? I am very happy with the state of our home right now but the designer in me will always find things to change. The majority of our furniture was given to us, brought from home or came from our college apartments. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that but some of it just isn't my style.

We have finally found some bookcases to replace our basic 3 shelf ones that flank the tv.

We are going to get 2 of these beauties tomorrow!

Crate and Barrel

Another piece that we need for the living room is shoe storage or organization for the entryway. I haven't found anything I really like yet. Who knows...maybe this will be my next DIY project?? :)

pebbles

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crates

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baskets/bins

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Now onto the "dining room". I say this in quotations because its more or less an area, not a room. The existing table and chairs were given to us from my Aunt Eva and I have used them for about 3 years now. Will probably replace the chairs first and worry about the table later because we might have a larger dining room when we move again. If we bought a table now it would probably end up being too small.

I have my eye on these!!

Target

Target has 2 of these for $99. World Market has 1 for $119.

Not everyone would want this for a dining room chair because it is informal and is probably not going to be super comfortable. I however adore this industrial look and you can't beat 4 dining chairs for $200, right?? Amazing!!

These inspiration images will probably change your mind if you are on the fence about them.

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Have a GREAT WEEKEND!!!

August 5, 2013

SLP Sooner or Later

Meet Lauren

Lauren blogs over at SLP Sooner or Later. She is one of the sweetest girls I have "met" through blogging. She just got married on July 20th (like my bestie Olivia) and went on her honeymoon to Costa Rica!! We are planning a skype date very soon. She has been asking me for blog advice but I know I can learn a lot from her as well. And maybe I can even see a sneak peek of her wedding pictures?!

"Hi! I'm Lauren, a twenty-something, nursing home speech therapist, almost wife to Dustin, fiercely loyal friend, trying to learn how to do it all...sooner or later."

Blog Design: Burlap/linen background with purple and teal fonts done by Clarke Creative

Blog content: texas life, wedding details, speech language pathology and more

Been blogging since: February 2012

More about Lauren:

Favorite Food? Sushi

What do you like most about blogging? I love the friendships that I have made. Blogging feels like a support network for whatever stage and place you are at in life. It gives you the opportunity to get a "sneak peek" into other people's lives and experience things from another point of view.

Place you must travel to? Europe. I'm dying to travel abroad.

Early bird or night owl? Early Bird

An essential start to your day? Cliff Granola Bar (my go-to quickie "breakfast")

Biggest pet peeve? Repetitive tapping or smacking. I can't stand when people sit and tap their pens/pencils!!

Daily Blog reads? Obviously, Designer in Teal! But also, Hooah and Hiccups, Little Baby Garvin, Forever Newlywedded, It Is What You Make It, Mrs. Laura Beth and Wifessionals, but the list could go ON and ON!

Have I convinced you that you need to know Lauren yet?? I promise you won't regret visiting her blog!

p.s. Don't they make a cute couple??

Lauren's Social Media:

Twitter/ Facebook/ Instagram/ Bloglovin

Want your own spotlight post?? Head on over to my sponsor page to see how you can get one!

August 4, 2013

Getting real

I saw the questions for this week's Sunday Social and knew I had to participate. I love this link-up because it allows you to learn more about me without me having to take hours writing a post.

1)What are 3 items you can’t live without on a daily basis (water, food, shelter, and clothes don’t count) I don't want this to be a superficial answer because I really don't need these things but they do make my life a little more enjoyable: my phone, my coach wristlet,

2)What is your all time favorite book? Why? Am I really supposed to pick one? I really don't read much but when I do I get really invested the book. I guess I would have to say The Help. I also love Nicholas Sparks and Jodi Picoult books (even though I usually end up crying).

3) What is something you’d like to accomplish before the end of 2013? Well I made a list of 13 goals for 2013 but one that I am focused on right now is being more involved at church. I still want to join a small group and make some friends at Hope.

4) If you could go back and relive any year of your life which year would it be? 2012! This was actually a really easy question. It was my last semester at VT, graduation from VT, wedding, honeymoon, starting my blog, getting a job and moving to Richmond!!

5) What do you wish people knew about you without you having to tell them? That I get let down very easily. I can't stand when people make promises they don't keep.