[so cheap, so easy]: Decorating with Branches

I'm not sure what my fascination is with sticks and branches, but it's true: I love them. I love the natural, raw, way of them. I'm pretty sure I have them in every room in some form or another. Stella often brings me sticks from outside, because she knows I love them, and I even keep those. When Christmastime rolls around, I have been known to have Hubs join me on a stick hunt, because I like to add them to my Christmas tree or put them in vases and hang ornaments from them. I finally talked him into just letting me store them for the next year, because sometimes those stick hunts get pretty cold. Unfortunately, the sticks from last year have found new homes around our house, so we will need more this year. I have a beaut of a branch that I found in the canyon while riding horses with my family one day. I've been mocked for that thing, but I have grand plans for that thing. I mean, really, look at all the amazing things you can do with a branch. Oh yeah, and they're free. P.S. Does this post make me sound weird or obsessive, or like a stick hoarder? It's okay if it does. I'm okay with all three.

image from Fawn DeViney

image source unknown

image from Canal Vie

Would You Rather | Beach vs Mountains

You know when you talk to someone you haven't seen for a while, and they ask you what's new? I swear, I can never think of anything. Is my life really that boring? I mean, I guess I could tell them how awesome the Costco samples were this week. (They were really  awesome.) Or, that I finally bought these a-mazing vases from West Elm, which really are amazing, btw…and on sale. I need something better to say.

I have a solution. We need either a cabin in the mountains or a beach house. That would be exciting, right? It would definitely give us something to do on the weekends. And, I promise, I would invite you all to come whenever you wanted, because I'm nice like that and because this is all pretend. So, which would you rather have: beach house or cabin? Since the sky seems to be the limit on this here blog, I think I probably need one of each. Don't worry, you can visit both.

image from Maisons Du Monde

image source unknown

image from Pendleton Catalog

image from Atlanta Homes Mag

image from Elle Decor

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

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Love from My Love

If you've been reading my blog for a while, it will come as no surprise that I love me some sticks. Add some Christmas bulbs, and forget about it! LOVE! I don't know what it is about sticks, because I'm sure as heck not outdoorsy. I've always told Mr. Hubs not to buy me flowers--just not my thing. But, yesterday, when he braved the 20 degree morning and went and gathered branches, so that I could have a vase of branches and Christmas ornaments--well, now, that's just plain and simple: true love...and perhaps the only low maintenance thing about me!

image from House and Home

image from House and Home 

image from Birch and Bird

[kreyv of the day]

image from Digs Digs

Five Must Have Home Accessories

I think it's time I tell you about my other man--Nate Berkus. I've never been into talk shows, so I was excited when he started a show about interior design (and this, that, and the other). I'll be honest, the first time I watched the show, I was a little bit disappointed. I wanted less serious talk and more interior design talk. But, now I love it. I record it every day, and, as nerdy as it is, I sometimes take notes. Okay, I said it. I take notes. Let's move on.

I decided to start a repeating post titled, "Nate Says." This is kind of a joke at our house, because many a time, I share Nate's advice with my hubby. I start the sentence with, "Nate says..." Jeremy laughs at me, but I know he secretly loves it and probably takes notes himself. So, with that being said, this post is about Nate's five must have home accessories.

1) Mirrors

image from Decor Pad

image from Casa Sugar

image from Design Files

2)Books

image from Material Girls

image from Real Living

image from Real Living

3)Something from Nature

image from Nesting Newbies

image from Rol Vn

4) Silver Frames

image from Pottery Barn

image from Pottery Barn

5)Original Art or Sculpture

image from B-Metro

image from Life in a Venti Cup