Wonders of Wallpaper!

Let's talk about important things: wallpaper.  Loooove me some wallpaper.  We're not talking about your grandma's wallpaper, featuring the primitive lady washing her clothes on the washboard down by the stream (just me?).  Wallpaper today is colorful and vibrant and F-U-N, fun!  

One awesome thing about wallpaper is that it's a great statement maker.  It can really make a room by stealing the spotlight in a good way.  As in a, "Oh, hello, don't mind me.  Just sitting here on your walls being fabulous." kind of way.  Wallpaper is a commitment, but if you find the right one, I think you'll find that the two of you are very happy together.  There is even some less permanent peel and stick wallpaper now, that might help if you have commitment issues hesitations.

I especially love wallpaper in a small space.  It makes the room feel so special.  Like a little jewel box.  We put wallpaper in our powder room downstairs a few years ago and I still love the way this peeks out of the room into the family room.  It turns an ordinary, purely functional room into a design showstopper.

I also love wallpaper on a large scale as a feature wall.   Our mudroom addition off the back features a 20 foot wall two stories high, which lets in awesome light.  However, it was a lot of white wall.  So I knew that if I wallpapered this wall in a fun wallpaper it would bring warmth and an unexpected surprise to the room.  Since the room is in the back of the house, and not easily viewable from everywhere, I knew I could be a little more bold in here.  But when I calculated the cost of wallpaper to cover a 20 foot wall, I had a hard time biting the bullet for a rarely seen mudroom in the back of the house. Buzz kill.

I started looking into other options and a friend of mine told me about a stencil.  Now, when I was a kid growing up, I had a stencil border of hearts and flowers in my room (it was AWESOME, by the way) but just as wallpaper has evolved, (thank you wallpaper Jesus),  so have stencils.   And low and behold we found a stencil in almost the exact same pattern as the wallpaper I was debating not sending my kids to college to afford!

Now, since the walls were in fact so tall,  we did have to hire someone to come in with scaffolding and paint the stencil for us.  It looked to be a tedious job, but she did a great job and when people see it they always compliment our "wallpaper".  In fact, you have to get really close and run your hand along the wall to tell that it is actually a stencil.  The best part? We spent about a third of what we would have spent on the wallpaper.

So, the lesson here today is: yay wallpaper!  Go for it!  But if your piggy bank won't allow for the wallpaper that you want, try for the stencil!

And speaking of stencils, here's an example of a custom stencil we did in my daughter's room.  It might be an upgrade from the hearts and flowers of my youth.

Where have you wallpapered?  Anyone have an awesome stencil story?  I can't wait to hear!  Thanks for reading, friends!

Some favorite wallpaper brands:
Thibaut
Abnormals Anonymous
Schumacher

A great stencil sight:
Cutting Edge Stencils

And if you're local, I have the name of a good stencil applicator.  Let me know!

5 Tips for Styling Shelves

Styling shelves is one of the things I am asked most often to help with.  And I get it- they can be daunting.  What do I put on them?  Do I have too much?  Too little?  Big open shelves can be hard to style.  Often times we get stuck or in a rut.  So I decided to give a few basic tips on styling shelves that will hopefully help.

1. Start with the Big Stuff

First, gather and group everything that you think you want to put on the shelves. Then,  an easy place to start styling, is with the biggest pieces that take up the most shelf space.  Start by placing these on the shelves, that way you have a better idea of the space you have left.

2. Create Balance

Look at your shelves as an entire unit, not just shelf by shelf.  If you have a large picture frame at the top shelf, you don't want another large object right underneath it.  It will start to feel heavy and lopsided.  Instead, you want to create balance on the shelves.  For example, if you have a stack of books on the first shelf on the right, maybe on the third shelf stack some additional books on the left.  Or, place an object of similar size on the left as you did on the diagonal above.  Creating balance on your shelves is pleasing to the eye and helps to make them feel like each shelf is related to the others, which helps make the shelves on a whole seem cohesive.

3. Layer

Consider the depth of your shelves and use it to your advantage.  Place some items at the back of the shelves and some more near the front.  Don't be afraid to overlap.  You don't need to see every single inch of every single piece to get the visual benefit.  This creates a really nice layering effect that gives a lot of interest and feels very thought out.

4. Add Unexpected Pieces

Adding an unexpected surprise to the shelving, is a little added bonus.  It helps make the shelves personal and uniquely your own.  Mixing up the textures, and the materials that you place on the shelves makes them feel collected over time.  Despite their name, bookshelves are for more than just books.

5. Edit

Stand back and look at the finished product.  Take things off that feel too heavy or that aren't working in the space.  Move things around to try them in different spots on the shelves. You also don't have to have every inch of the shelf filled.  Open space helps make the shelves feel less crowded and more like a collection than just a place for stuff.   Try not to have the "but that goes in the dining room" mentality.  Being flexible and creative in the ways the items are presented is key.  Sometimes something that has lived in another room for years, even, is just the perfect thing to finish off your shelves.  Plus, the next time someone accuses you of being inflexible you can say, "I'm TOTALLY flexible! Just last week I moved that vase from its place in the family room, to the living room!"

I hope that you benefit from these basic shelf styling tips.  Remember, you can always change them, add to them, take something away,  or redo them all together.  Be creative, and have fun displaying your favorite things.

Thanks for reading, friends!  I hope you're having a great week!

Bunnies and Chicks and Eggs, Oh My!

Did you check out this fun little Easter craft from the other day?  We are enjoying it on our front porch.   Today I thought I'd share a few more Easter decor ideas with you.  Mostly, when I think of Easter decor, I think spring.  And when I think spring I think renewal and rebirth and flowers and greenery.  It's about opening your windows and letting in the light and the air, right?  In the spring, I like to try and do the same thing with my decor.  Air things out a little bit.  Get rid of the heavy and lighten things up.  And specifically for Easter, a bunny or two never hurt anyone.  

In my house, I have three little kiddos.  So I do like to do a little Easter banner, and I set a few eggs out.  But if that isn't your ideal decor idea, even just setting out a big bunch of tulips gets the job done. 

I love the tassels on this banner from Target.

Anything green and living is great for Spring decor.

Here is our Easter tree with the glass eggs.  I also added my three little bunnies- my kids like to guess which one is represents each of them.  

 I added a few eggs to these lanterns for a subtle Easter nod. They'll be easy to take out after Sunday and the mantle will be back to spring.

 Just a few simple ways to spring a little bunny bounce into your decor and have your home Easter ready! I hope you have a lovely holiday with your families!  Thanks for reading!

Trimming the Easter Tree

Last week I kicked off Easter by sharing our Easter table all set for dinner.  Toady I am back to with a fun Easter craft for you to try!

When my friends Sarah and Mika showed me these adorable little Easter egg trees they made with their families, I knew I wanted to share it with you!

For years, as part of our Easter decor, I have been hanging glass eggs on some twigs in a vase and setting them on the buffet in our dining room.  This reminded me of that family favorite, but was a way to incorporate the eggs we dye each year as a family.

What I love specifically about this tree, is that it can include ever member of the household, and unlike the hard boiled eggs,  these decorated eggs don't need to be refridgerated and instead can stay out for the season to show off their pretty colors.

Now.  I'm not a crafter.  Mika and Sarah are both teachers and they are wonderfully patient and creative.  Those are not my strongest suits.  But, I still wanted to give it a whirl and I'm telling you, if I can do this, you can do this.  (We don't need to mention that I had to go back to them and their very specific instructions several times.)

And I did it.  And then I wrote down step by step instructions on what you need and how you do it, for those of us that don't hold crafting at the top of our resume. It's really not hard at all.  I promise.  Here goes.

What you need:
1. Regular, uncooked, out-of-your-fridge eggs (I like to dye white eggs because brown eggs don't take dye as well.)
2. A drill with a long skinny drill bit on the end
3. Fishing line
4. Toothpicks
5. Egg dye

What you do:

Step one:
Take your eggs and drill a small hole in both ends of the egg.  The egg carton supports the egg nicely while you drill. You will need to put a little pressure on the drill, but be careful not to put too much pressure or push the drill speed too high, or you'll have scrambled eggs.  You just want a little pressure on the egg so the drill bit goes in and you just want to drill the hole slowly.  By about egg number 3 this is easy peasy.

Step two:
This is where things get weird.  You have to blow out the whites and the yolks.  Yes, with your mouth.  I know, but just stick with me- it's not as gross as it sounds.  Put your mouth over one of the holes you drilled and blow the eggs into a bowl.   I'll use my eggs to make a quiche for an Easter brunch.

Step three:
Dye the eggs using your favorite egg dye kit.  Just as you would dye hard boiled eggs.  Some of ours tended to float on the top a bit since they are hollow, so luckily, I had an egg dying assistant who was happy to keep turning them.  After you dye the eggs, set them aside and allow them to dry.

Step four:
While the eggs are drying, hunt for sticks in the yard.  We clipped a few from our forsythia for some added color, and added those with some sticks from the yard.  Pop the sticks in a vase or a jar (Mika uses and old coffee can covered in paper and her kids decorate it with markers and stickers). Fill the jar with a little water (if you have living flowers) and a few rocks for weight.  If you are short on sticks in your yard, you could shop the grocery for flowering branches or, go to your craft store and use artificial branches as well.

Step five:
Take a deep breath and put your patient pants on.  Then take the fishing line and tie it securely around the toothpick.  High five your family when this part is done.  It's oddly the worst part and yes, has nothing to do with the eggs.  (My husband did tell me after the fact, that if you use thinner fishing line, it's a lot easier to work with.) My toothpicks were strangely oversized, so I had to clip the end of them a bit.

Step six:
Thread the toothpick into the egg, keeping the fishing line out.  The toothpick keeps the fishing line in the egg so they can be hung. After the fishing line is secure, tie the opposite end of the line together, for hanging.

Step seven:
Hang the eggs on the tree.  Happy Easter!

 Looks pretty in almost any room in the house!

Think you'll try it?  Post a picture in the comments when you're done!  I can't wait to see how creative you guys will get!  And be sure to check back again this week when I'll be sharing some Easter decor ideas!  (If you're trying to follow me and/or subscribe you have to do that in the regular web version- not from your phone.) And follow me on Instagram @johannampatterson to see the lamb cake I'm making for Easter dinner! Thanks for reading!  

Setting the Easter Table

Spring has sprung, friends!  And in our house, Easter prep is in full swing!  With every holiday, I always get the most excited about the decorating.  Sometimes just a few easy switches can really let your home set the stage for the season.  Whenever we host people for dinner in our home, I always think about the table decorating first, and the food we're going to serve, second.  Luckily, my husband helps pick up the slack here for me, so I can be left to fluff pillows and arrange flowers, while he focuses more on filling bellies.

I got to work setting an Easter table setting today and thought I'd share a few details with y'all. 

The first thing I think about when setting the table is the color theme.  For Spring, I wanted it to be bright and fresh and alive.  I started with the plates and the table coverings.  I chose a bright and colorful plate that just screams SPRING(!!!) and paired it with my more subdued china as well as a gold charger for a little bling effect.  Who doesn't love a little bling?

 Next, I had to think of the table coverings that would compliment the plates.  I always try to work with what I have first, versus buying something new that might be so seasonally specific that they lose their versatility in my linen storage.  In this case, I chose a very pale pink tablecloth that was my grandmother's and to add an additional pop, topped it with a similarly colored table runner I found at Home Goods years ago.  

Because my plates and the table runner are both a busy pattern, I wanted to chose a solid colored napkin that would bring balance to the individual setting.  These light pink napkins are a near match to the tablecloth and help create a cohesiveness on the table. To top them off, I slipped some bunny ear napkin rings I found in the dollar spot at Target recently.  The gold detail on the ears compliments the charger and brings a playful feeling to the table.  Adding an element like this makes the table feel less formal, which always makes people feel more comfortable.  

The centerpiece is always my favorite part of planning the table setting.  It is the showstopper.  I usually like to keep a centerpiece low so that you can see over it, but since I was setting the table today for a smaller crowd, I went for the drama that height brings so easily.  However, when adding height, I always make sure that people can still see through or around to each other to promote ease of conversation.  Since the centerpiece doesn't stop right in the middle of the sightline, conversation can still easily happen around it.  

Flowers are my go-to in any centerpiece, because their beauty really makes a statement.  Specifically for this springtime Easter dinner, I wanted to pack a powerful springtime punch with tulips.  Any chance you have to bring inside what is happening outside the windows, is a great launching point for your design.  I always make my own arrangements and I try to keep them fairly simple.  I go to the grocery store and buy flowers in all of the colors that I need to match my table decor, and then I deconstruct them, cut them down to size and rearrange them.  I am planning a whole post on flower arranging, down the road to explain exactly how I do that, in greater detail.

 

 Next I focused on the details.  I wanted to make the setting feel less formal and again, bring an element of outdoors in, so I set wood pieces on the table to add an unexpected element to the flowers and added some other wood pieces as well, in varying sizes to make it feel more organic.  Then, I placed Easter trinkets around the table, adding some small baskets and nests and bunnies to really bring the season alive.

And there you have it!  Just add family and ham and maybe a little wine and you have Easter dinner all wrapped up!  

Be sure to check back next week for an Easter craft and maybe a little Easter decor, too! Thanks for reading!