Inspiration Board #6

Well, it's about time to share another inspiration board with you, isn't it?! It's only been...ummm.... Let's just say it's been WAY too long! 

Ready for that design board? I'm all into spring colors. I always am this time of year. Frankly, I love them year round. So, my inspiration today is coming from this photo I took at Biltmore House when we were there last month:

"Yellow & Red Tulips"

B.E. Photography

Where does your mind go when you see that gorgeous combo of bright yellow and orange tinted red? For me, these are the images that immediately pop into my head:

sunshine,

popsicles,

fresh cut grass,

colorful flower beds,

spring showers,

energy,

life,

blue skies, 

&

bright new green leaves....

and then I ended up with this fabric being my next and main jumping off point:

Recognize this? It's the fabric I fell in love with about a month ago!

Braemore Selim Punch

Those colors and pattern just scream the need for a whimsical and fun room! I pulled together a breakfast room based off these two images. One that would be fun to sit in and energizing each morning. This was my final result, which you can also view each piece of independently on Pinterest:

Inspiration Board #6
B.E. Interiors

I started this board on March 26th and I'm just now finding time to finish it up and post it! Funny. When I started blogging it was to build my business as well as to connect with like-minded people all across the globe. Now, I've been incredibly blessed with as much work as I want to take on and struggle with finding time to blog! My, how the tables have turned. I've never felt so content in what I'm doing. I've been incredibly blessed! The best part is that it seems to be constantly evolving. 

I started out redoing pieces to sell in a consignment/antique shop. Now I'm doing mainly custom work from furniture to drapery to design consulting (which is my favorite) with custom painted furniture running a close second. I still have dreams of one day having my own fabric design label, but that would just be a big plus at this point. If I've learned anything, it's that being open to whatever the good Lord puts in front of me brings the greatest joy.... not me trying to plan out the future. He keeps bringing bigger and better stuff as time goes by and I'm constantly excited to see what's next:)

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Flor Creativity

"Needlepoint Stripe"

I'm completely obsessed with a product and have been for some time. Have you ever checked out Flor carpet tiles? The possibilities are endless! I think that is why I'm so in love with them.

"Martha Stewart Velvet Twist"

"Home Movies"

Somewhere around five or six years ago I discovered them, but was REALLY sceptical because all I could think about was the old carpet tiles that were around when I was a teenager. The ugly, hard, Berber, industrial things that I thought were incredibly ugly and uncomfortable.

"Finer Things"

"Coming Along"
LOVE this one and how it is the look of sea grass but super easy maintenance!

Then I discovered Flor. Ahhhhh! Carpet tiles....you have come a long way, baby!

"Martha Stewart Lattice"

"Crossroads"

If you know anything about me, it's that I love design. BUT, I am also a realist, frugal and very practical. One of the fantastic things about these babies are that you can pull up a tile to clean it or replace it. How much better can it get if:

1. you have kids,

2. you have pets, or

3. you entertain a lot!

"Arabesque"

"Sweater Weather"

The tiles aren't all cheap and your custom rug won't come out necessarily cheaper than a standard size rug, BUT when you factor in being able to save it by replacing one or two tiles versus the whole thing, it's worth paying the same or a little more for.

"Modern Mix"

"Suit Yourself"
Great sisal look!

Do you have any idea how many times I've pulled on the reins when contemplated buying an expensive rug because I couldn't bare to sink a small fortune into something that my sweet babies could ruin in a split second? My readers witnessed that as I contemplated a new rug for my dining room this summer!

"Sheer Indulgence"

"Weave a Story"

"Yeah, Baby!"
This is so fun, yet not overboard with the soft colors!

"Soft Spoken"

To top it off, their catalog has some great product shots in wonderfully designed rooms. So, I get inspired to design in other ways as well. And just so you know, Flor has no idea I'm writing this. It's not because I'm being paid to. I just really like this product and wanted to tell you about it:)

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Facelift on the Cheap: Part 1b

When trying to figure out how to title this little mini-series, I wasn't sure if each post should be a new part or subsections of a part! Since this is more of a mini-update the first post, I'll just title it section b. Confused? Yeah, me too.

I went hunting for some inspirational images to get the imagination going on how to update the rental kitchen. It's not in the budget to do a big overhaul, so I've got to pick and choose what get's an update and what's livable for a while longer. Here's what I found:

via DecorPad

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via The Painted Cottage

via The Painted Cottage

via DecorPad

via Kitchen Source

via Country Living

via Home Hinges

Anyhoo, I've been racking the old brain with ways to update those cabinets in the kitchen and bathrooms. The homeowners agreed to get a whole new one piece counter top/sink for the MB in timeless finishes: white and polished chrome. We went with those since the light fixture they just installed over the vanity was polished chrome and white, plus those are two colors that are not likely to ever be dated.

Glacier Bay 61" vanity top with integrated sink
via Home Depot

Glacier Bay Teapot Faucet
via Home Depot

I am also going to be stripping of the chipping paint from the vanity, then applying a fresh coat of dark stain to offset the new white top.

Next, I started playing around with inexpensive and fairly simple updates to the cabinetry mainly in the kitchen. The issue is lack of time, but in the business world, is there ever enough time? Not that I've ever experienced!

How do you take a fairly simple cabinet door that is REALLY dated, but still in good shape, and make it modern without completely replacing it?

Here's a couple of ideas:

If you like white, buy inexpensive 4'x8' sheets of MDF beadboard and cut to size to fit the entire front of the door. Cut lattice stripping (probably 2") and apply it along the edges over the beadboard with construction adhesive and finishing brads. Caulk where the two meet and put a coat of paint on them. Simply screw onto door fronts and caulk where the two meet on the sides to make it look like one piece. Apply new hardware and reattach doors! You could even possibly leave the old stain/paint color on the cabinet frames with the doors going white as I've shown in the renderings I did for the homeowner to look at below.

To scale renderings with white bead board refacing and white subway tile applied over the laminate back splash created in Adobe Illustrator.

Then there was the option of stain instead of white. The problem with this would be the need for real beadboard vs. 1/8" MDF wallboard. All of the real deal stainable is way too thick to overlay. Now, if you were to build totally new ones, it would work as an insert.

After sending the renderings to the homeowners, we decided to stick with stained wood and do something a little more permanent. So, I went back to the drawing board and changed out the white for "stained" veneer overlays that would be glued on along with 2" lattice trim. The veneers would be stained and the cabinet frames re-stained in a more current tone like MinWax Dark Walnut.

There's your update for today. The next step is to go in and strip down a vanity and restain it. Then the trim. I'm thinking I should hit the hay so I can do some work on Monday! Have a good night and if time permits, I'll post updates this weekend. I'm taking lots of pictures!

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Kitchen Organization Inspiration

I don't know about you, but when the new year rolls in, I am sooooo ready to send the Christmas decor packing! As much as I love Christmas, I get a twitch with all the clutter decorations that come out after about a week.

The area that I am currently focused on trying to get organized is my kitchen and pantry. That room drives me crazy! When we moved into this house, I was pregnant with baby number three and everything was just kind of thrown into a spot. It hasn't been properly organized since. Gee. I wonder why?! In our previous houses, I've always had a spot for everything and everything was in it's place. This house has turned me on my head! Wait...maybe it's not the house. Maybe that's just what having three kids (boys) does to you!

Anyhow, I went on a hunt for some inspiration. I've got to get this place whipped into shape. Clean counters and everything having a place out of sight if possible makes me so happy! For a long time I've stashed kitchen/pantry organization ideas into a "Dream" file to be used for building my dream home.  I'm needing some direction so I pulled them out and went hunting for more. Want to see? I KNOW there are plenty of you out there who need to do a little organizing as much as I do, and dreaming never hurt anyone:)

Traditional food containers and storage design by Etsy via Houzz

I love the old blue Ball canning jars. I'm slowly building a collection to use as storage like the below picture.

Me likey!
via beachbungalow8

Cabinet and drawer organizers design by Los Angeles general contractor JDL Construction 

via Houzz

Modern cabinet and drawer organizers design by Lowe's

via Houzz

Cabinet and drawer organizers design via Houzz.

Cabinet and drawer organizers design by Amazon

via Houzz

Traditional food containers and storage design by Stonewall Kitchen via Houzz.

Food containers and storage design via Houzz.

3 Tier Expanding Spice Shelf Rack via The Container Store.

Source unknown.
Book shelves on either side of the cook top.

Can rack via The Container Store

Mirrored pantry door for a little visual expansion!
via Centsational Girl

Great entrance into a huge pantry!
via Atlanta Homes Magazine

pantry via Better Homes and Gardens

Adding a little background to the mundane is genius!
via House of Smiths

Sliding Cup Rack via The Container Store

Magnetic Knife Rack via The Container Store

Maxing out the storage possibilities!
via Home Crest Cabinets

Make use of the end of those cabinets! Easy retrofit.
via Home Crest Cabinets

Slide out storage for the awkward pots and pans.
via Home Crest Cabinets

Another spice storage option.
via Home Crest Cabinets

Spice storage pullout option.
via The Container Store

Love this knife storage option! Under mounted and pull down.
via The Family Handyman

Another way to hide the command post!
via The Family Handyman

Finally! A pretty under shelf basket (Vinea) that isn't so utilitarian looking!
via Organize

Wall Door Lid Rack via The Container Store

White Elfa Door Rack System for the pantry.
via The Container Store

Wrap N Bag Organizer via The Container Store.

Under sink pullout via Rev-A-Shelf.
If I had a really little dog, I'd put a curtain here and stick the dog bed up under there! Mine always wants to sit at my feet anyway when I'm at the sink. Plus, there's a heat vent directly underneath...built in heating pad!

These are one of my all time favorite gadgets! I just bought some today to retrofit into my sink cabinet and the bathrooms are next:)
Pullout Tray Caddies via Rev-A-Shelf

Wasted under cabinet space is a pet peeve of mine and these rock!
Single Swing out Pantry Shelf for Under Cabinet via Rev-A-Shelf

Gotta have a hidden place for those PRISTINE white hand-towels. Right? Not in a world with kids!
via Rev-A-Shelf

There you go. Some of the organizational goodies that have caught my eye. Everyone has different needs, but these would make me a very happy girl:) Beware, though. You could go broke with all the cool gadgets out there!

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p.s. I'm such a goofball! I titled this wrong and posted it with a future post heading!
At least I caught it, right (wink, wink)?!