Style it 5 ways: Gold Tray

Hi guys!  I'm back to my Style it 5 ways series! Today I am talking about this cutie little gold tray, from my Target run a week ago.  What I like about this tray is that it is a little pop of happy with its shine and the gold is just a touch of trend to add to any space right now, and is easy to swap out when that's no longer the case.  We don't always need to make huge commitments to trends.  Styling with classic pieces that you enjoy sets the perfect foundation and allows for small less expensive trend pieces to take center stage and keep your home feeling fresh and current.  

1. As part of a table-scape

Here is an example of mixing the trends with classic pieces and even some antique pieces.  Here I put the tray on the center of the table and placed an antique sugar bowl and creamer on top for serving coffee to my guests.  Or not.  I think it also looks cute as is -- even if your only guests for the day are all under the age of eight and think coffee smells like burnt toast.  Don't be afraid to mix the old with the new, to mix medals, and to mix expensive with the inexpensive.   It's all part of creating the layered, collected-over-time look that I have talked about.  

2. On the entrance table

When you enter the door, set your things on this tray and never ask the question, "Where did I put my keys?" again.  Here, the tray does more than just provide a place to set your things, it also creates an organized look to what otherwise might seem like clutter.  "No, honey, I didn't just come home and throw my stuff down, I set them on your cute tray."   

3. On your bathroom vanity

I love the way this looks in the bathroom and again, makes a collection out of things you might just otherwise have sitting on your counter.  The tray really pulls it all together and makes it feel on purpose.  

4. In your kitchen

In the kitchen, this tray is the star when leaning against your cutting board or cheese trays.  The shine of the tray brings nice balance to the raw wood cutting board behind it and makes this little counter spot feel special.  And again, a great place to add just a touch of trend -- with only a $20 price tag. 

5. As a (covered) dessert tray 

The back of this tray very clearly says that it is not food safe, but I placed cupcakes on it that were wrapped in paper, so viola.  Problem solved.  You could also place a small doily or napkin on top and serve bite sized appetizers.

And there you have it!  Another round of Style it 5 ways!  I have one more item to come (the glass and gold box) and then that wraps up my first installment of Style it 5 ways.  Thanks for reading!

30 Second "Art"

I mentioned that I like to mix the old with the new.  I also like to mix investment pieces with really inexpensive pieces.  Mostly because I'm not a billionaire.  But also because inexpensive pieces, specifically handmade inexpensive art pieces are a really easy way to make your home personal.  And, bonus (!) they are one of a kind.  I know, I had you at cheap and easy.  Let's just hope that wasn't also your nickname in college.

Now, there is a trick.  Unless you are for real an artist, you can't have only handmade art in your home without it feeling like a preschool.  The trick to happy walls is creating a collection of handmade "art" while mixing in more investment art as well as displaying a happy smattering of family photos (candid and professional).  If your home is made up of those three, it will feel personal, pretty and polished.  Here are some really cheap and easy "art" ideas that take about 30 seconds to create.  No exaggeration.

Remember when your babies were so tiny, their hand fit on a 3"x3" canvas?  Me either.  But these canvases are pint-sized proof.  Just paint the palm of your child's (or grandchild's) hand with kid friendly paint from the craft store and have them lay it on the canvas.  Add their name or initials and the year and you're done.  Easy.  Also, my kids loved the way the brush felt on their skin.

I saved a key from each home we have lived in together and superglued them to this open frame.  To the average person it could be just any keys, but to me, they are places where we put down roots, lived together for the first time, and started and grew our family.  When we moved into our historic home, the previous homeowner left us some keys to various original doors and locks, so I did the same thing with these keys and grouped the two frames together-- much better than keeping them in a junk drawer.

On a shelf in our family room I have a letter opener that belonged to my husband's grandfather laying next to a pencil with the company logo, from his first job in his industry.  Art can literally not get any easier than just setting something unusual on the shelf.

 I was once at a friends house and I noticed that on her vanity in the bathroom she had a darling little tiny love note from her husband in a frame.  I love that.  I would have borrowed the idea, but my darling husband's idea of a love note is "Hey, I bought milk."   And hey, he did.  And hey, I don't have to.  What's not to love about that?

But I am sentimental, so to follow suit, I saved an envelope with my name "Johanna" written in my grandma's handwriting that I just popped in a frame.  I tucked it on the small dresser in my closet and it reminds me of her every morning. (Note to self: I really should polish that frame.  Or not.)



The first time your child learns to write his/her name, save it and put it in a small frame for their room.  If they come home with a really fun project from school that they are proud of, put it in a shadow box.  If you don't want to hang it permanently, you can always put it on their dresser or yours.

Frame a grocery list or a recipe in a loved ones handwriting to display in your kitchen.  My dad did the grocery shopping when I was growing up, and he always made his lists on this specific green paper.  No other lists or notes were ever written on this distinguishabel paper except the grocery list.  A few years ago,  after he had just been to the store, I asked if I may have the list and I put it in a little frame.  It rests on the open shelves in our kitchen.

These are just a few ways to make really easy art for small spaces in your own home.  None of them require you to be Picasso, but all of them are uniquely priceless.

Sources: 

3"x3" canvases 

similar key frame 

small frames 

Style it 5 Ways: Natural Wood Basket

Earlier this week I started a "Style it 5 Ways" blog series (or do you think we should call it Finds 5 Ways?  Five Way Finds?  I do love alliteration.  Hmmm....  I digress... ).  Anyway, I went to Target and found some fun finds and brought them home and styled them 5 different ways and am sharing them with you.  

I opened the series with a set of lanterns, and up today, the much requested basket.  I was immediately drawn to this baby because I love the large open weave and the geometric pattern that is created with the wood.  And any chance you have to add a natural element into your home, you definitely should.  It makes your home feel comfortable and gracious.    

1. Empty and on its own

Just because it is a basket, doesn't mean you have to fill it.  And in this instance, I think especially because it has such a beautiful open weave, leaving it empty and placing it somewhere as a piece on its own, is really nice.  It allows the eye to go through it so it doesn't take up so much visual space.  I placed mine by the fireplace because I liked the way it brought balance to the natural element in the wreath on the fireplace and also I really liked the juxtaposition of the shiny lanterns above to the muted natural wood of the basket.  

2. As a log holder

I am a believer in making even a very functional item as beautiful and as interesting as possible.  So instead of a big bulky log holder by your fireplace, try filling a basket or a bucket with wood to fuel your fire.  You can carry the basket out to the wood pile outside, fill it up and bring it inside for easy use.  And, if you have a gas fireplace and don't have a need for logs, this basket would still look really cute next to your fireplace, filled with birch logs for a more decorative affect.  

3. As a plant stand/cover

I love bringing the outside in, but since you can't plant that tree in the floorboards, why not plants its roots in a pretty basket or tub?  This is a simple way to add some interest while not taking away from the beauty of the plant.  And adding this extra touch makes bringing the plant inside feel more intentional and finished, and less like you just stuck a plant in the corner of the room.

4. As a blanket/pillow holder

As far as I'm concerned, there is no such thing as too many pillows.  And sometimes when you want to kick back at the end of the day with Bravo and a glass of wine, a spare blanket and a place to rest your head it just the ticket.  Tuck this basket next to the couch filled with extra cozy goodness and you're all set.  Plus, they look super cute in there, right?!  

5. As a chandelier

Don't be afraid to think outside the box.  The open weave on this basket makes it perfect for the light to filter through, and the geometric shape casts beautiful shadows on the walls when lit up.  Simply drill a hole in the base of the basket and install a light kit (I promise this is easy) and have an electrician (or a handy husband) hard wire it to an existing ceiling light box.   (I wasn't going to use the basket in this way permanently, but if I were, I would have run more wire through so that the lightbulb hung about 4 or 5" lower.) 

Buy the basket here and get to work!  I can't wait to hear how you used yours!

Style it 5 Ways: Lanterns

Do you ever go decor shopping and find something cute but think, "Where would I put that?"  You're not alone.  So last week I went to Target and picked out some new decor items that I think are common pieces that a lot of us gravitate to time and again.  I brought them home and had fun playing with them and wanted to share 5 different ways that you can incorporate them into your home.

I shared a picture of my finds on my instagram  page and asked my followers to vote on which items I should kick off my "Style it 5 ways" segment on and of course, the lanterns won.  We all have major love for lanterns.

1.The Mantle

Displaying items on the mantle is maybe the most common place that people talk to me about wanting to style.  I, myself, often get stuck in the mantle rut.  It's often times a focal point of the room, so it's important to make it welcoming and interesting.  I have an entire blog post on mantle-scaping in my back pocket so be sure to be on the lookout for that.  In the meantime, I'll say that some easy ways to create interest on the mantle are by incorporating color, and by layering items to create dimension.  

2. Coffee Table 

Again, layering is the name of the game here.  Also, grouping like items together and displaying them close together in little clusters is appealing to our eye and helps us look across the table without it feeling too busy.

3. Dining Table Centerpiece

No one says you have to only put a candle in a lantern.  Here, I made the lantern a small terrarium.  Thinking of new ways to use common accessory pieces is a great way to create interest with your decor.

4. Entry Table

At a table right inside your front door,  a lantern is pretty and inviting.  Mix in some fresh flowers for extra credit.  

5. Outside your front door

Don't limit where you place your decor to only table tops and mantles.  These lanterns are especially pretty grouped at the front door because as you look down into them you are surprised with a little extra pop of gold.  And nothing would make your guests feel cozier than being greeted by these beauties glowing at night.  

So there's my lantern love!  Be sure to stop back to see which items I style 5 ways next! Thanks for reading, y'all! 

Shop the lanterns here: Big and Small

3 Tips When Adding Molding

Our master bedroom and bathroom was part of an addition to our 1917 home.  It features a vaulted ceiling which equals a whole lot of vertical space.  However, while all of that space is great, a large expanse of space can easily feel empty and cold and we really wanted the room to feel like a cozy oasis that we could retreat to after our three toddlers were tucked in, preferably in their own beds.  Vertical space in a new home means a lot of drywall which can feel sterile.  Adding molding to this space brought the character that we wanted and helped to tie the room into the rest of our home.  

As I mentioned briefly in the last post, molding is a really easy way to create character in a space that is otherwise lacking.  This is perfect for a new home build, or really any home where the character isn't otherwise built in. I chose this molding with clean lines to be a nod to the craftsman style of architecture in the original part of our home. Below are what I think are a few attributes to consider when choosing molding for your own home.

                 1. The overall geometric space of the room

Because the ceilings were tall and there was a lot of vertical space which felt rectangular, and the overall general footprint of the room was also rectangular, I decided to go with a grid that included rectangular pieces in the middle.  Had the ceilings been a little lower and the room more over all square shaped, an all over square grid would have been really unifying and interesting.  In here, I think a square grid could have became too busy.  

2. The color of the molding and room: 

There are a lot of windows in here, and that was designed to bring light into the space.  To maximize the light effect we chose to paint the molding all white.  The light from the windows really reflects off the molding and gives a very fresh feeling to the room.  However, because there is so much wall space, I chose a darker wall color to achieve the warm and cozy feeling we were also hoping for.  I think this chocolate brown color is really rich and sexy.   And, the juxtaposition of the darker wall color and the white molding work together in here to create a warm and intimate, yet light and bright space at the same time.

3. Amount of molding for the room

Take into account the amount of molding that you want to do in the room and beware that while you want to create a shining point of interest, you don't want to overdo it and risk it being too busy.  To create a cohesive space in this particular room we chose to continue the molding all the way around the room.  If you have a smaller space, a statement wall with floor to ceiling molding can make a really cool impact. 

Adding molding is one of my favorite ways to add character to a space and create a big impact.  And what's better, is it can often be done in just a day or two!

Sources: 

Rug: West Elm from years ago but similar one here or here 

Bed: Pottery Barn

Bedspread: Anthropolie also old similar here or here or here 

Chandelier: Ballard (bronze 9 arm)

End of bed stools: From a local shop but love the one

Fake it 'til you make it - Creating Character

Okay so all this talk about finding the beauty past all the yuck.... weeeeell, sometimes it just isn't there.  But fear not!  In that case, you just create your own.  When we bought our house there was a lot that you could tell used to be beautiful, it just needed to be gussied up.  There was buried beauty- walls closed off and hardwood floors covered up in the era of separate smaller rooms and olive green kitchens.

If your home has no character, fake it 'til you make it, sister.  One easy way to create character is with molding.  Even a chair rail adds visual interest.  If you have a modern home, iron and glass are awesome.  If you have an historic home, look to the style of the home or the year it was built for suggestions on what would have been popular back then.  If your home was built in a time when including architectural elements wasn't the focus, add them in whichever style you like.

Our now kids bathroom is a perfect example of a space where we had to create character.  When we first moved in, there was a lovely 1960s vibe happening in there and it was certainly spacious.  But we were running a hallway right through it to access the new master bedroom a bathroom, so it was a great time to update this baby.  And no one was more excited than I, when her day finally came.  Since I really loved the tub, I knew that it had to stay.  But it needed to be refinished and spruced up a bit.  And it needed to also function as a shower, since it's the 21st century.  Jason wanted to bag the whole thing.  He wanted to sell the tub and put in a regular tub/shower situation.  (I know, I gasped at the thought too.)  Fortunately, I am stubborn and refused to compromise.  Phew.  That was a close one.

The sucker literally weighs half a ton, so once it was unhooked from all the plumbing the specialist came onsite to refinish it. The fumes were so toxic no one could be in the house for the weekend.  Party at Grandmas!  It also had to be turned 180 degrees to face the other direction, because the roof lines didn't allow for enough head space to accommodate a shower head.  Everywhere else in here, we had to add details to create character and make the space interesting.  When it was time to pick out finishes, I wanted it to reflect the time period of when the house was built.  Nothing original remained in this bathroom except the tub.  So we brought in new, old features.  We chose a small hexagon tile on the floor and more period plumbing fixtures and bought mirrors that had some etching on them that looked antique.

 But here's the thing.  It's not 1917 anymore.  So the rest of the space is just fun and more "of today" because those are the things we like.  I really believe in mixing in the old with the new.  It makes your house look more lived in.  It makes everything appear as if you didn't just go out on your lunch break and buy it all off of page 32.  If you have a cool antique dresser, there are no rules that say you have to display your great great grandmothers bedpan on top of it.  Put contemporary art on top if you like modern.  Or better yet, paint the dresser aqua.  And I know, it's often hard to paint antique furniture, and I'm not saying that's always the answer- the point is just that your home should make you happy and it should work for you.  In the case of the bathroom we chose square sinks, and tiled the walls 3/4 of the way up and added a fun iridescent tile border.  We painted it a very pale purple by Benjamin Moore called Hint of Violet, because at the time it was shared by two little girls and I couldn't imagine that they would ever be so lucky as to have a brother.  I found the shower curtain at Anthropologie and fell in love and it inspired my main color theme.  Lastly, I added the accessories to match and when John did come along, we got him an orange towel to match the orange hues in the shower curtain.  And the towels are of course monogrammed.  I love a monogram. 

Below are a few more details we chose and a step by step tutorial on how to style your bathroom.  

New fixtures in a old style to match the time period

clawfoot and hex floor

Start with the basics.  First, I chose a shower curtain because that occupies the majority of the visual space.

Add a rug for more visual interest, and to keep little tootsers warm. (Don't be afraid to use something other than a bathmat)

Add some accessories on the vanity. Functional soap dispenser and cups (these are heavy duty plastic so if they break they won't hurt my babies).  Add some fun accessories too, to make the space happy.

Since it's a bathroom, why not a picture of the kids playing in the bath?
And since it's a bathroom in a home built in 1917, why not an antique soap dish? 

Add some towels.  Hooks are easier for kids than racks.  And yes, any kind of personalized embroidery is always a good idea.   

Add some stools to help the little ones reach the sink- and you're done!  

 (In case you were wondering where the toilet is (What's that? You weren't? My bad.) it's opposite the tub- and that's a linen/laundry closet on the right)

And Tada!  You did it!  You're done!  Scrub a dub dub, enjoy your loves in the tub!