[so cheap, so easy]: Emily Henderson's Dowel Coatrack

Have you guys seen this? I love it, and I think that even I could handle this. (And, by I, I actually mean me. I could actually do it myself, and not just have the idea then beg Jeremy to do it for me.) I mean, this is right up my alley: a project that entails just looking at the pictures, no reading instructions on this one, folks. Supplies needed are four six-foot dowels, paint, tape, and rope. Paint the dowels, then tie them together. Really.  Check out the full post here.

image from Emily Henderson

[kreyv of the day]

image source unknown

Just a Touch of Paint

I'm definitely a sucker for an all white room, but there's no denying the complete and utter awesomeness of the paint in these rooms. I mean, really, how yummy is that lilac in the first picture, the bold stripes in the second, and don't even get me started on the ceiling in the last.  I love them all, especially the lilac. And, of course I would need the couch to go with it. And obviously, the windows...

image from Bloomingville

image from Daily Dream Decor

image from Design Sponge

[kreyv of the day]

image from Rehme Steel

Color Me Pretty | Painted Interior Doors

First of all, it is totally snowing here in Salt Lake. What in the heck is that all about? I was seriously lying on the grass watching Stella ride her bike on Tuesday, and I swear my face got a little color (or at least I like to pretend that it did). My point is that it was hot, and now it's cold. And wet. I guess Utah always gets one or two snow storms in the spring. And, I most likely, have complained about it every time. 

In other news, I love these interior front doors; and, although I didn't intentionally try to find all yellow, these are the ones that I thought were super bright, happy, and chic! I mean, what screams springtime more than yellow? And snow (not to be confused with yellow snow)?

image source unknown

image source unknown

image from Country Living

Loving Lately | Steel Doors

Know what I'm loving, lately? Steel doors. I'm guessing you probably got that from the title, but I just wanted to be perfectly clear. I guess I am used to constantly repeating myself. Anyway, I love them.  I love steel doors.

image Morten Koldby Photography

image from Cote de Texas

image from The Home Collection via Tumblr

Pretty Lil' Places

I love these little nooks and crannies--even though I have no idea what a cranny is and have never heard it used without the word nook. I think it just means a little space, so we'll run with it. Anyway, love these pretty lil' places--nooks, crannies and all. 

image from Lonny Mag

image from Hammersmith Atlanta

image from Design Sponge

Christmas Trees to Go

I absolutely LOVE these lil' things, don't you? There is something so simple and organic about them, and, plus, you can put them almost anywhere.  They are definitely on my wish list for next year.  P.S. Christmas is only one week away.  ONE WEEK AWAY! Are you ready?!

image from Atlanta Homes Mag

image from Dreamy Whites

image from Golden Sycamore

[in five]: Wallpaper Love

I would definitely hang wallpaper, would you? I should rephrase that: I would definitely love for someone else to hang wallpaper in my home. I can tell you right now that I wouldn't have the patience to hang it myself. I especially love it in a powder room or entry. Or a nursery. Or a kid's room. Oh, and of course wallpaper on a ceiling is pretty much amazing. Yes, those are the places I would hang wallpaper…but not all of those places, just one or two. I wouldn't want to overdo the wallpaper thing. That would be crazy, and I'm not crazy. Really.

image source unknown

image from Jenny Wolf Interiors

image from Interior Design Toronto via Houzz

image from Serena & Lily

image from Domino Mag

[color kreyv]: Coral & Yellow

Bet you thought I was going to post about black and white again, didn'tcha? Nope, not today. Today's bright post is brought to you by yellow and coral--two colors that just play splendidly together. Yellow is a tricky one, so I recommend it in small doses. (Just ask my bedroom from 2002 that was painted yellow, then painted tan the very next day.) And now, for my final thoughts regarding yellow: Yellow is like a Jillian Michaels workout.  It makes a big impact, but it is WAY better when when the volume is turned down. 

image source unknown

image from Polka Dots & Daisies

image from Elle Interior

[color kreyv]: Dazzling Blue

Pantone just released its 2014 color of the year: dazzling blue. Sounds fancy, right? So, what do you think?  P.S. How do I get the job of picking the color of the year? I'd also settle for the job that makes up the names of fingernail polish and/or lipstick. I'm flexible.

image from Elle Decor

image from NY Times

image from Eclectic Living Home

Beautiful Lighting and My Love for Electricity

One thing I've missed out on by renting for so many years is beautiful lighting. And trust me, I would really love a beautiful dining room fixture right about now. Ours is definitely not beautiful, in fact it's ugly--as in purchased from the rejected clearance section ugly. I digress...my point is, these lighting fixtures are beautiful, and I love beautiful. 

Guess what else I love? Electricity. On Friday, ours was out for about 12 hours. Now, before I continue, I know it could be a lot worse (a lot), and in the grand scheme of things, 12 hours isn't really that long...if you like to camp. I don't. I mean, it's not like I'm one of those people who just can't live without the internet or heat, but, I really do like both of those things. Sorry, but I'm not sorry. 

The best part of the day (and by best, I really don't mean best at all) was when Mr. Hubs told me about a work party. Yes, he told me that day--post working electricity. My hair, oh my hair...it was in dire need of a hair wash. In fact, it was in dire need of a hair wash two days prior to Friday, but all I thought I had planned was a play date at McD's, so I wore a beanie. I went to the work party anyway, with greasy hair and make up that was applied with no lights. Four words: Wife. Of. The. Year. 

image from La Grange Interiors

image from M. Frederick Interiors

image from Decor Pad

[color kreyv]: Mint Green & Pink

Is it just me, or is everyone thinking Ummm, whoa. Where did summer go? Don't get me wrong. I don't feel one bit bad about it, because I LOVE fall (and I try really hard not to think about what comes after fall). Anyway, like it or not, here are some bright, sunny, pink and mint pictures for those of you who just can't seem to let go of summer. For the rest of us, we can enjoy these too, because let's be honest, they're just plain pretty.

Black & White Gallery Walls

I am hoping that SOMETHING will go up on my walls this week. First stop: living room gallery wall. I am wanting to do something completely different than my last gallery. I'm thinking 9-12 large, black frames with black and white photos. I can't wait to get them up and give this pad a little bit of personality. Here are some inspiration pics. I'm in love, you?

image from Samantha Pynn

image from Gianetti Home via In Good Taste

image from Shelterness

How to Create a Vignette

When I design a room, I start with the big things: the rug, furniture, window coverings, lighting, etc. The last step is the styling. Styling is what pulls a room together and gives it personality. (Think of it as the jewelry, scarves, and killer stilettos of an outfit.)

Vignettes are a great way to style a room. Every room in your house probably has a vignette or two (or three), whether you know it or not. A vignette is just a display or arrangement. Whether or not design rules exist is debatable, BUT there are definitely certain arrangements, layouts, and designs, that are more visually pleasing. Here's one easy way to create a vignette:  think tall, medium, short, layer, layer, layer.  I actually don't think about "rules" when I design, but when I think of my own house or clients' homes, I find that I've subconsciously used this formula again and again, just because it looks right! Of course, there are several ways to create a vignette, but this way is a great place to start, and it always works!

image from Lilypad Cottage

image from Better Homes & Gardens

image source unknown 

image from Apartment Therapy

Linking up at

Mom on Timeout

[color kreyv]: Beige

Just when I think I'm over a color, I see a beautiful space, and it totally changes my outlook. I'm not really over beige, I'm just over the shade of beige in my own home. I have a feeling that would be the case regardless of the color. After all, it's been that way for almost three years. Don't we get to change the color of our house every three years? That was my understanding. Anyway, these spaces are absolutely gorgeous. The soft beige with the white gives contrast, but it's not an in your face contrast. Make sense? Probably not. I've had one of those days where I haven't stopped going. I'm exhausted. It's late, and I'm rambling...and by late, I mean 9:21.  I'm a wild one, that's for sure.

image from Linda McDougald Design via Decor Pad

image from Lonny

image from Decor Pad

[kreyv of the day]

image from Tara Pearce via Est Magazine

I [heart] Wallpaper

First of all, thanks for all of the love yesterday. You made my day. For reals, or fo rizzle, if you're a fan of Snoop. Second of all: wallpaper. I still love the idea of wallpaper in an entry or a powder room. The crazy thing is, I think that we've been in undergrad, medical school, and residency for so long that things have been in style, out of style, and back in style again. So, according to my calculations, that means that by the time we are done, it will be out. BUT, by the time we pay off our debt and get in to a house (like a good house) it will be in again. What can I say? I like to look at the glass half full--fo shizzle.

image from Ferm Living

image from Domino Magazine

image from Madison & Grow via West Elm

Dirty Little Secrets: Living Room

Today I bring you a few more secrets...these ones are a little more obvious. Like my door art. I bought a $30 door at the Depot. It was the cheapo hollow kind with no door knob--perfect for a pretend canvas and super light. My entry hooks are made from the top of a dresser. Let's just say that Ikea furniture is so super fun to watch being put together, especially when you are missing parts. The extra top was sent to us during this fun experience. Of course, the top was one of the things we already had. Extra top=entry hooks. Works for me. And finally, the basket in the last pic...

When we first got our TV (hung too high, needs to go in an armoire), we had to get rid of our armoire, because it was too small. I didn't want the TV, and the deal was that no cords, cable boxes, or anything of the sort could show. We originally had a console table underneath with no storage. I found the basket at World Market, and it worked great. We could hide the cable box, but the remote still worked through the holes. If I had it my way, the whole darn thing would be hidden. It's like, hi, nice to meet you, there's a big eye sore on the wall, and it's the first thing you see. Don't worry. I'm not bitter. I will get an armoire big enough to hide that thing. Either way, that thing will disappear.