Decorating Princess

It’s ok to paint your fingernails orange because it is temporary and an easy fix. However, there are some things you just want to get right the first time like furniture, it’s expensive, and you’ll probably have to live with it for years to come. No pressure. Take the new absolutely free “What’s your Furniture Style?” quiz. My furniture style is eclectic. How close am I? Leave a comment and let me know.

Remember the episode of “Friends” called “The one with apothecary table”. Phoebe kept brining home furniture from a national home store and told Rachel it was from a flea market. This Apothecary Media cabinet reminded me of that. It’s a great place to store all of your DVDs, CDs, and clutter. I heart this piece it makes me want to buy more CDs. I say I heart things when I really really like them. This Apothecary Media cabinet is 40% off for only $179.99.  Click on the picture for more information. It’s a great place to store all those “Friends” DVD’S.

I just finished watching the romantic comedy “Must love dogs”. As far as movies go, I didn’t hate it. One of the saving graces was Sarah’s house. It distracted me from being bored or guessing the plot of the movie. It was the equivalent to a shiny object to a cat. The house had a very homey feeling without being cluttered or too old lady-ish. To copy this style on a budget you will need:

1. Kitchen: The kitchen is the gathering spot of any home. This kitchen was one of my all time favorite kitchens, and the inspiration for this post. I loved the glass cabinets with the colorful vases inside. This could be achieved in any room. Just take a bookshelf and paint the outside white. Then paint the back of the bookshelf the same as the wall color. This will give the appearance that this is a built in shelf. Add your favorite colors of glassware. This really gave the kitchen a trendy feeling.

2. Warm walls. “Must love dogs” uses warm yellows on the walls. They keep the color from being too overwhelming by using tonal colors. Use a couch, and curtains the same colors as the wall for a soothing effect.

3. Accessories: Make your home a place the whole family wants to gather with vintage touches like handmade quilts, and crystal doorknobs.

For my dream house I want every room to be themed like a country. I have chosen a Spanish style for the kitchen because it is warm and uses colors that will be very appetizing like yellows, oranges and reds (hence why fast food restaurants always use these colors and never lavender or blue). I’m trying to do each makeover for under $1000, but since I don’t own my house yet, I’ll assume that some things will be able to stay, the countertops, appliances and sink.

1. Kitchen Cabinets: I will paint the cabinets an off white. This will add a little more warmth than white, and will be an inexpensive fix. Plus the light color will add some contrast to the room and also keep the room from looking too “themey”. Themey should be a word but it isn’t. For the cabinet hardware I’m going to use iron. This will add drama and contrast and it will be ok to spend a little more on them because I saved so much by painting the cabinets. These iron handles are $9-$10 each. I will use the first handles on the cupboards and the second on the drawers.

2. My dream kitchen includes an island. It is my favorite workspace because there is so much room and good task lighting. I want the island to be a different color than the cabinets. This will make it feel like a piece of furniture that has been in the house for ages. Plus I wanted some wood cabinetry in the kitchen but didn’t want the expense of having all wood cabinets. It might have been too overwhelming to have so much dark wood, so this island is a great alternative. It has an: oak veneer wood finish, marble top, kitchen butcher block, drawer , built in wine rack , towel rack and casters for $297. Mixing and matching countertops and finishes is very popular right now, so this is a great way to update your kitchen, and add more workspace.

3. I love chandeliers in kitchens. They are unexpected and add a touch of elegance. Like all the other accessories the chandelier will be iron. This is a mini chandelier that I will hang over the island it was $207 and has been marked down to $115. I love the unexpected circular shape, it is very Spanish in style.

4. Art: For artwork I want to continue with the iron work. These candle holders are arched which is a common architectural element in Spanish Design, as is candle light. These pieces are only $19.99 each, so I will buy three, and hang them on one wall, like windows. It will add interest to a plain room. All of the ironwork in the room is a slightly different finish. This gives a feeling that these things have been collected over time and are antiques, instead of making the room feel like a restaurant. Click on any of the pictures for more information on the products I used.

I want the wall color to be taupe, almost the wall color in the island picture. This will bring continuity throughout the entire home. I have only spent $625 so far, so this leaves a little money for a terra cotta tile floor. This is very Spanish style, and it will add that beautiful orange, well terra cotta, color, without being loud. Add in the cost of paint, and a new kitchen faucet and I will be close to $1000. Not bad for a kitchen makeover.