Gilmore is a 27 year old who loves decorating and is a self-proclaimed expert on just about everything. At least she likes to think so. Copyright 2011. Consult a design professional before beginning your project.
Orange has gotten a bad rep in decorating. I think because of the orange velvet couches in the 70′s. In that case, it was just too much orange. Decorating shouldn’t burn the retinas. Orange is my favorite color. It is also one of the few words in the English language that doesn’t rhyme with any other word. I love this color because of how dramatic & cheery it is at the same time. I like to use it in small doses so it isn’t overwhelming, like a throw pillow, or piece of art. Maybe bright orange isn’t for you, so try a different shade like a terra cotta, or even brown. It’s not as scary as people make it out to be.
March 6th, 2007
It only took me eight years
I’ve been shopping for new furniture for my mom’s living room for umm only about eight years. So, I’m always on the lookout for the perfect pieces, so I was excited when I came across this furniture store called “Great Priced Furniture”. I love that you can sort the furniture by the room you need, just by clicking on a main category such as “Bedroom Furniture”. There is furniture for every room in the house, living room furniture, dining room furniture, even the kitchen! They have a selection of kitchen islands that are to die for, this is an affordable way to get the hottest new trend. They have some really great pieces, & even items that are on sale. It’s all so pretty I don’t know how I will choose.
March 6th, 2007
Bathroom Makeover: Accessories
Last it was time for accessories. I think one of the biggest changes I made in the bathroom was to take everything out that wasn’t necessary. This left it with a clean, fresh look. I did hang up two small pictures, & my mom took down the wallpaper border. Our one accessory were candles, which I think every bathroom should have, especially if you are going for the feeling of a spa. We found this bronzeish candle holder at the thrift store for $3, but it looks much more expensive. The candles were the perfect shape & came from the dollar store. Always check the dollar store for candles, they usually have some very expensive looking ones.
March 6th, 2007
When you shouldn’t DIY
There are some DIY projects that just aren’t fun. They can even be dangerous if you don t know what you are doing, such as electrical work. Maybe, you just got over your head in home improvement & there is now a big gaping hole in the wall that you don’t know what to do with. This means that you will probably have to hire a contractor to help you. This can be just as scary & intimidating as the project itself. How can you avoid all of those horror stories about contractors that we have all hear?
I just read this article about home improvement certfications. It really helps clarify the different kinds of contractors, & the certifications that they have to go through. Understanding this well help you know who you need to call & what you can expect them to do. For instance, to become a Master Electrician, the person must pass an exam & have been employed for seven years under a master electrician. Yes, I said seven years. This is also a great site because after it explains to you all the different kinds of home improvement contracts, it will help you find one in your area. The article is easy to read, & the site is simple to navigate, so be sure & read it before you find yourself in a DIY project that you don’t know how to get out of.
March 6th, 2007
The 1990’s: Umm, I just threw that out
The 90′s also had another movement called "Shabby Chic". Basically anything that came out of the dumpster, or was by the side of the road on trash day, was considered "Shabby Chic". Here are some characteristics of this style:
Mismatched fabrics: This style taught us that checks & florals go together.
Randomness: There were a lot of architectural elements in this style. Hanging windows on the wall to serve as picture frames, old doors being salvaged into coffee tables. If you could find a porch post, bring it home, we’ll turn it into something.
Vintage accessories: These may seem cool at first, the old compacts, picture frames, & hat boxes. However, they crowded the room. It was very "Shabby Chic" to put 500 picture frames on one small table.
The lamp: I don’t know how everyone who was decorating in the Shabby Chic style ended up with the same lamp. This lamp has a brown background with grandmotherly flowers on it.
Another must have for the shabby chic was that you had to have a sky painted on your ceiling. All of the other shabby-chicers would point & laugh at you if you didn’t. This sky didn’t have to look like a sky, & could even dominate the entire ceiling & walls.
After people had fished out furniture out of the trash, it needed a little spruce. This meant painting it white & distressing the edges. Oh, how we loved to distress furniture.
Never fear, it sounds a lot worse than it is. This is a very easy update to give the Shabby Chic look a little spruce.