Bold Walls | Kids' Rooms

Okay, so how cute are these kids' rooms? I love the bold walls done with just paint and wall decals. This is a great way to go to make a big statement. And, the best part: it's cheaper than large art pieces. The other best part? It can be removed and/or painted over if you're like me and change your mind every other day you change your mind.

image from Raising Miss Matilda

image from Sissy + Marley

image from Apartment Therapy

Seeing Spots and Loving It | Polka Dot Rooms

It's June. Whaaat?? I have to say, it's kind of a relief to have May over with. It was SO busy, like something-every-night busy. It was rough for this little homebody. In fact, I napped on Saturday and Sunday...and both were equally awesome, by the way. So, speaking of awesome, are we loving these polka dot rooms, or what? I know the quality of the bottom picture is so-so, but I had to show it, because I love the use of polka dots in such a sophisticated space.  It says, "Hey, I'm sophisticated, but I'm fun, too."  You know, if rooms could talk. And if I could hear said rooms speaking...

image from Annixen

image source unknown

image from The Aestate

Planking (Walls, Not People)

In case you thought I had turned into some extreme body planker over the weekend, I thought I had better clarify that I am talking about walls and not making my body completely straight while lying in random spots--not that there's anything wrong with that. I just haven't gotten around to it lately.  But, let's talk walls...

I love the way a planked wall gives interest and texture to a space, and I think the black planking is especially chic. It takes the cottagey (which is so not a word) vibe to a whole new level.  And I think I like taking things to a whole new level, don't you?

image from Judith Balis Interiors via Houzz

image from Room Zaar

image from Real Living

White Brick and Character (Not the Fake Kind)

I love the look of exposed white brick. It's kind of just cool and casual without really trying. I love the texture and character it adds. Funny thing about "character". During medical school, we lived in a house with character (AND charm according to the landlords). Little did we know that in this case, character meant old, creaky, and cold. Really, really cold. And it was in Wisconsin. Where the winters are frigid. It was a piece of crap. Yes, Mom, I just said crap on my blog. Twice. To this day, my husband hates the word character when describing a house.  I guess if I want my dream loft in a super cool city, I will have to use a different word to describe it. But don't worry--I'm pretty handy with a thesaurus.

image source unknown

image source unknown

image from Orla Kiely

Eclectic Gallery Walls | How To

My bloggy friend, Leslie asked for tips on how to create an eclectic gallery wall without making it looking too busy.  An eclectic gallery wall is WAY easier to hang than a gallery that is perfectly aligned and symmetrical, but it can also seem more complicated to design.  There aren't really rules, besides just making it look pretty, but here are a few of my tips:

1 | My first tip when creating an eclectic gallery wall (meaning items/frames of different sizes, colors, and shapes), is to lay a mock plan on the floor. This will give you a general idea of where you will place items.

2 | Start with large items, and work your way out. Hang up the largest items first, and then fill in the blank spaces with smaller items. 

image from Decor Pad

3 | If you are too nervous to go too "freestyle", then use lines. You can arrange frames in a rectangle or square, or even align your frames on top, bottom, or both.

image from Beth Dotolo

image from Desire to Inspire

image from Skona Hem

4 | Use the same color of frames. Using the same color of frames will give a sense of unity and cohesiveness, although different colors of frames works well, too, depending on your preference.

image from West Elm

5 | Use a symmetrical layout. An eclectic gallery can still be symmetrical. The frames, artwork, and colors are the factors that will make it feel eclectic.

image from Pottery Barn

6| Just go for it! If you're not ready to just start hammering, use painter's tape and/or cut-outs to try out different layouts on your wall.  And, if all else fails, it's just a few holes in the wall. That's what spackle is for.  Just ask Mr. Hubs.

[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

The Great Wall of Stella | My Gallery Wall

Yes, the great wall of Stella is up. This larger than life display of our little princess is proof once again, that she's kind of a big deal (around here at least)! If you missed the post on how to hang this gallery wall, go here.

Love Hate Relationship | Chalkboard Paint

One DIY area I haven't ventured into is chalkboard paint. I love the way chalk looks, but I hate the way it feels. I love the writing all over the wall, but I never like the way my own writing looks. I love the the look of having chalkboards in a kids' space, but I would HATE the mess. You see my predicament, here? It's the red lipstick thing all over again: I love it on other people, but I just can't do it myself. What are your thoughts on chalkboard paint, love it or leave it?

image from Better Homes & Gardens

image from Scout for the Home via Decor Pad

image from House of Fifty

[kreyv of the day]

image from Country Living

Floor to Ceiling Wainscoting

I love the look of floor to ceiling wainscoting. It's such a modern way to introduce texture, interest, and warmth to a room. And, from what I hear, it's not terribly difficult to install--especially if you install the way I do: watch someone else do the work. 

image from Houzz

image from Young House Love

image from New England Home

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

I [heart] Restoration Hardware

Hi y'all! (I totally can't pull that off.) How was your weekend? Ours was packed with family fun and business, and I'm kind of pooped. (Stella would then say, "I'm peed.") Speaking of busy, I think I'm really ready to start styling this place. I've got some plans, but we'll see where they go. Hopefully, I'll have something to share this week, but it's a slow movin' around here! 

I was looking through RH's Baby & Child catalog, and I think I just kind of want to live in every single one of their rooms. They are uh-mazing. These were three of my faves...and I think that someone should really do the rope picture thingy. Isn't that adorable? These rooms totally inspire me. To spend money.  Ahhhh! I don't want to spend money, but I want to buy stuff--story. Of. My. Life. I need to win the lottery. 

al images from Restoration Hardware

[in five]: First Five Purchases

Let's just get one thing out of the way: I have been a total slogger. That, my friends, is a word I made up for one who slacks on his or her blog. Her, in this case, is me. I'm tired. Those 25 hour drives just take it right out of you. Plus, we're kind of a big deal here in Utah (with our moms). They want to spend all sorts of time with us Stella. The good news is that almost all of our moving piles are put away. I still have nothing on the walls, and I probably won't for 21 more days. That is when Husband takes his anesthesia boards, and then I can bug him about things to hang up and projects and such.  He can hardly wait.

In the meantime, even though I am tired, I am not too tired to think about things I want to do with this place. (If that ever happened, I'd probably be dead, because I am pretty much ALWAYS think about someone's house.) I don't know why it is that when you move, you pretty much think you need all new stuff, but it's just the way it goes.  These are the things I'm going to purchase first: bath mat, frames for gallery, birch brackets, floor mirror, and bins for the playroom. (Links are under pictures.) So far, I have only bought one thing: the floor mirror. And that is only 20 percent. I seriously feel like such a failure.

Zig Zag Bath Mat from West Elm

image from Samantha Pynn (frames for gallery)

Ekby Valter Bracket from Ikea

Mongstad Mirror from Ikea

3 Sprouts Bins from Target

First Things First | Above the Couch

In one week, it will be April. That means that we will only have three months more in St. Louis before we move to Utah. Moving is such a pain, BUUUT it also means a new space to decorate. Of course, I've been thinking about important things like what I'm going to put over the couch in our next place. There's just one problem: We don't exactly have a wall over our couch. Or a place to live. I feel a mini freak out coming on.

image from Tobi Fairley

image from Lonny

image from Room & Board via Trad Home

[so cheap, so easy]: Wrapped Shoe Box Tops

I know I'm due for an original project of my own, but things come up (i.e. Stella's Halloween costume that I decided to make myself, but had no idea what I was getting into. Typical Jamie.)  Don't worry, I'm working on a couple of things.  This project will totally make up for me being a slacker, and really, isn't that what the world wide web is for--ripping off other people's designs?!  So here it is: wrap shoe box lids in fabric.  That's it! I love these on the wall and layered on a shelf.  Plus, it's a project that doesn't take a whole lot of commitment.  If you don't like it, you're out some fabric (that you probably already had), some hot glue, and a shoe box lid. My kind of project!  

image from Houzz

Up the Wall

Are you as in love with wallpaper as I am? I know the hubs is thanking his lucky stars that we can't install wallpaper in our home, but if we could, I'd be all over it. (What I really mean, is I'd be all over begging him to install it.)

While in Utah, we've been able to visit my little bro and his beautiful wife, Jesi, who has wonderful taste, by the way. They are expecting their first baby in January. When we went to their house, they showed me the wallpaper samples they are looking at for the nursery. It was so beautiful, and I am SO jealous! I know their baby girl's nursery will be to die for! I can't wait to see it, and I really can't wait to meet their new baby girl! You better get to wallpapering, Mac, you're going to be a daddy before you know it!

image from Design Sponge

image from Bazaar of Serendipity

image from Cococozy

[so cheap, so easy]: Embroidery Hoop Decor

Are you impressed that I know what an embroidery hoop is? Yeah, I just got lucky. I had to google it to double check myself. I am seeing these wall hangings all over the place, loving them, and thinking, how hard can they be? (I think I'm right this time. These are not hard to make!)

All you need are some hoops, fabric, and scissors. Cut your fabric to size, put it in the hoop, and put the hoop together. There you have it, a cheap and easy way to add color and pattern to your wall!

image from Ohdeedoh

image from Lushlee

image from Vancuver Media and Blogs