Tag Archives: interior design

Guests Are Coming

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The holidays are approaching and I’m sure you’re going to have guests.  Today I’d like to share a few tips to prepare for their arrival.  Aside from the usual dusting.(lol).. it’s always good to refresh the sheets.  I always give them a quick spray with  a favorite linen spray.

Have a welcoming station nearby to show them how happy you are to have them.   I created this with two unused items I had lying around the house.  This little project cost me $3.50 to make – you can view how to here

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I leave a spare key for them to use (just in case I’m not home and they need to get back in)

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Utilize the dresser drawer space for spare toiletries.

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(don’t think I’m crazy, but yes, that’s a burned out candle) I keep that tucked in there, because even though I can no longer use it, the smell is still strong, so it acts a freshener ( I remove it prior to the guest arrive and place it back in there when they’re gone).  That one candle keeps all the drawers smelling fresh.

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One special touch is to get a photo of who’s coming (if you have one) and place it in frame, it’ll make them smile when they see a photograph of themselves in your home.

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Have ample room for them to place their luggage.  A trunk at the foot of the bed is always good to have to stow the pillows and for guests to place the suitcase on.

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A small bedside lamp or overhead lighting with a low watt bulb is always good at night when the ceiling light is too bright.

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A soft bedskirt placed across the end of the bed can also be a foot-warmer for additional comfort.

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Keep a trinket dish on the nightstand to hold small jewelry items (i.e rings, necklace)

Of course having magazines or books are also good to have for late night reading materials.  I really enjoy having guests come and truly cherish the moments while they’re here. Making guests as comfortable as possible and providing that home-away-from home feeling not only gives me joy, but knowing I made their stay a pleasurable experience,which ensures they’ll be happy to come back.

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I hope I offered some wonderful tips that will help you make your guest’s stay with you all the better.  If you have any other tips, please share – I’d love to hear them.

Sending smooches..

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A Few of My Favorite Things

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As we countdown for the holiday festivities to begin, everything begins to feel like its crunch time – such as, making sure the house is clean, gifts are wrapped, fridge is stocked and the barcart is set for guests to arrive .  Now that the grand opening is over, I stopped stressing and can now digress, relax, do a couple of makeovers and … oh yea.. bring in the New Year.  Your thrifty girl has been busy catching up with emails, blog hopping (which I looooove) and planning more make-overs.   But before the year is over, I just want to share with you a few of my favorite things..  Through my blog-world I’ve met so many inspiring women who continue to amaze me with their extraordinary talents and it’s such a pleasure to be amongst their cyber/company.  I hope you follow along with me to visit these wonderful women and see a part of their world that they so graciously open their doors to share with us.

Linda over at LindaG Loving Home  is by far one of the best seamstresses I’ve ever met in my life and her exceptional designs mixed with impeccable taste demonstrates how to sew beautiful custom accents for your home.  Her blog is all about creating that special touch and loving your home.  Look at this beautiful quilt she made and used it as a table cover. It’s just one of many stunning designs she created.  For a burst of inspiration, hop over to her blog and get ready to be inspired.

I’ve always admired a beautifully set table, but Alycia over at Tablescapes at Table 21,  is a woman who surpasses the description of beauty. The first time I ventured on her blog, I think I spent at least 8 hrs just oooing and ahhhing over each and every design she created.  Her bubbly personality, mixed with a keen eye for details and descriptions while creating the perfectly well-dressed table is definitely one to follow.  As I told her, as soon as I hit it big- I’m flying her in to design the big bash party..(this girl can dream big can’t I…but hey..you never know)..

Next, there’s Ginene over at Fox and Finch Antiques.  Ginene is my kindred shop mate.  She and I share the same love of all things beautiful and vintage.  She has been such an inspiration by maintaining her lovely shop, while also painting beautiful pieces she restored for shop merchandise.  From reading stories about her walks through her neighborhood to offering tips on cleaning vintage clothing, her blog is one that I love to read.  (isn’t this bed the absolute gorgeous!!)

I recently became acquainted with Ariene over at Dress My Room Interiors through Instagram.   I love her fab-glam style. She is definitely on point with her perfectly blended style of high fashion glam mixed with a bit of vintage.

Not only is she hitting Charlotte’s retail scene with her high style and fab interior designs, but she and co-founder Quintel Gwinn just recently launched The Olive Guide.  This is the best Go-To online guide for entertaining with style while also offering great tips on home-styling by showcasing other interior designers. If you like to entertain, whether it be large or small, visit the The Olive Guide for great inspiration.

So in closing, I hope I’ve given you a bit of inspiration and I especially hope you’ve enjoyed meeting these fantastic women as much as I have.   Peace and blessings —

Dining Room Reveal

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Happy Friday Everyone !!    Here’s a quick math question –  What does $132.00 + 1 cool brother + a peach cobbler =?   The answer – One beautiful dining room  🙂     The week has ended and so has my dining room makeover… Yipppppeeeeee..    I’m so happy with the new look.   When I told my husband I wanted to do it.. he re-informed me.. we have a strict budget.. $100.00 was my budget, so I took on the challenge.  He didn’t think I could do it.  Well – guess what –  I DID!!!!  ( slightly over by $32.00 – but hey – that’s ok..I’ll forgo this week’s manicure & pedicure and d.i.m it – that’s do it myself)

Ok…. let’s look at the before….   I’ve had this set almost 25 years.. and it’s still in great condition.

I grew tired of the black and it needed a new look.  Although its not dreadfully ugly.. but the color was all wrong.  The wall color blended too much with the furniture and the floor.  I love the fabric of the window treatment and that was my inspiration.   So without much ado.. here’s the after..

Did you say “Wow” ???  or at least smile   ???    ( I hope so)

Paint and fabric is all it took.  The wall color is Pantone Illusion Blue and I painted the furniture with Krylon metallic brushed nickel.

The chairs look fantastic with its new make-over

The print on the chair fabric has that exact paint color

The antique music cabinet went from this:

To this by using Martha Stewart Metallic paint

Re-arranged  a few pieces and art.  It was re-placed in this corner

 

I gathered a few other items I already had to pull the look together

The vintage swan dish holds air plants.  I made the table runner about 15 years ago and it still looks great.  Instead of making another one for this table, I just neatly tucked the sides in for the appropriate length.

 

I was skeptical about the “Goodwill find” mirror (I purchased this a few weeks back for $15.75) but mixed with a few plants  it gives this corner a great look (my speaker dummies as a plant stand)

Pots purchased from Goodwill came in handy for a pop of color and an antique lamp base is used as a stand to give it height

For the tabletop – I had a mirror runner made for $20.00.  The ends were given to me by a co-worker who was going to throw them away but thought to give them to me instead (thanks Pat 🙂  )

The beautiful painted vase was a thrift store find for $8.00 (and of course the feathers I already had)

The wick dipper sits daintily close by as my candle jewelry.  These handmade beauties were created by LindaG who also created the Bohemian Butterfly.  I still have a few more for sale.  If you would like to order one, please contact me.  They are the perfect candle accessory – use the swirled end to dip the wick into the melted wax and lift it back up – there’s no smoke in the air,  just a lingering fragrance from your candle.

 

I had the bar cart for about 13 years.  It was one of the first items I bought when I moved south.  I truly lucked up because back then they weren’t so popular.   I paid $80.00 for it.. what a steal of a deal…

The vintage crystal ice bucket holds faux roses, while the white ice bucket was a Goodwill item for $1.00

The lady statue holds a favorite plant

 

A closer look at the window treatment fabric

 

A perfect blend

 

Since we couldn’t afford a new set – I created a new look…. which saved us a lot of money

The metallic paint has the perfect glossy sheen.

The hubby had to give me a high five.. because this is Mission Accomplished!

Here’s the tally – Wall paint  $43.00

Spray paint    $28.00

Fabric     $33.00

Vase      $8.00

Mirror runner  $20.00        Total spent  – $132.00

Cost to pay my brother for paintng the walls   –   1 Peach Cobbler  (he loves my cobbler)   🙂  He’s a real cool guy..  Thank You Anthony!!  You Rock!     I think I feel a dinner party in the making  :-).  I hope you enjoyed my makeover – if so – holla at me.  🙂

If you’d like to have a makeover styled by me, I’m up for the challenge.  Remember – fab doesn’t always have to cost a fortune.

I hope you all have a Super Cool – Fun-Filled weekend.

Smooches,

 

The design makeover is featured on www.Houzz.com

 

 

Got my “W”s!!

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I’m so excited,  I finally got  “W” monogrammed on the twin headboards- turned window treatment  that were above the master bedroom windows.   They’ve been plain for a while waiting for me to get my nerves up to try doing it myself.

A few weeks back our town had an auction and few people donated some items for the charity event.  There were a pair of painted Palmetto tree wine glasses donated for the silent auction.  They were really nice and I was told a local artist painted them.  Come to find out the talented artist has a shop right across the street from my house (duuuhhh)  boy did I overlook that hidden jewel.  I’m going to introduce you to Ms. Peggy Brickles very soon.   But moving along with my excitement.  I asked her if she does stenciling and she sure does!  So I picked out the letter and gave her a feel of how I want it to look.  Thank God she read my mind….   🙂    which I believe is part of the hidden perception of what artists do.. they visualize what you’re trying to convey and bring it to fruition.  OK –  So.. down comes the headboards (omg! can you say dust – chuckles…  ah-choo, ah-choo)  and I took them to her (dust free of course)  for her to work her artist magic on them.    A couple of days later I get a texted picture of the finished product and my jaw dropped..  PERFECT!!!!  It was exactly what I wanted… I couldn’t wait to pick them up.   This is how they turned out.

 

 

Didn’t she do a FANTASTIC job!   I applaud Peg for putting the cherry on top of my unfinished sundae (so to speak).   I got them home and up they went..

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Even the hubby liked them..

SeaShells Jackpot!

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Hey there –  finally it’s starting to smell like spring and I’m sooo happy.  I see the daffodils and tulips popping their heads up from underground preparing us for all the beautiful colors to come as nature changes her season.   With warmer weather comes the influx of yard sales – YIPPEEE! – and you know how I love those yard sales.   There was a one in town this past weekend and there were lots of goodies – but I took it easy buying .. the prices were excellent.  I’ve been wanting sea shells but they’re so expensive in the stores.  A small bag runs about $4.00-$5.00  and there are usually small ones inside.  But look what I got for $4.00  –  It was the Sea Shell Jackpot!

     

I was so happy because I’ve been wanting some to put inside my apothecary jars for a spring look, so, those came right on time.  I changed up the the foyer cabby with a new look..  I still had the fall display on it, so with spring coming it was time.

So from this:

 

I went to this:

The shells and clear glass brightens up the space.  This little cabinet has really been a real winner.  You can see the transformation here.

What a difference $4.00 made