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Family History Design

 

Do you want to bring your family history to life?  I have so many clients that ask me how to showcase memories in their interior design.  This can be pictures, mementos, etc.

I think it is a great way to teach your children about their heritage or even to remind us of the happy times. 

One tip is to do a grouping in the same color frames and all black and white.  This is a way to get people to focus on the subjects, not the color. Not to mention, being distracted by all the frames.

             

The next thing is to add personal mementos from that person or even special pieces with a picture.  This helps you feel like you are surrounded by things you love.  A few pictures and a couple items is all you need to make a statement and without a feeling of clutter.

                     

                

              

These are pictures of my relatives.  It is a great way to have them with me and a fun way to express what makes you who you are and share it with others.

The key is to keep the frames in theme with the metals and colors in your room. DON’T over do it!  I love groupings, but less is more! Keep the pictures all color or all black and white. However, if you do choose to mix colors of photos, then I advise you to have all the frames the same color, to have some unity to the grouping.

Happy Decorating!

Tips For Organized Armoires & Drawers ~

        

Spring Cleaning and Organizing?  I was! 

This time of year, I go through my clothes and my children’s clothes, getting ready for Spring and Summer.

I have two boys, So needless to say, it needs to be done to remove Fall/Winter items to donate or store for the next Fall/Winter.  Then it is necessary to get those items out of storage for the new season upon us.

I go through my oldest boys closet and drawers. Then, I move the sizes he can not wear and put them in my youngest sons room in storage boxes for the next Fall/Winter. Some of the items may be donated or thrown away depending on wear. I then make a list of new items needed. (T-Shirts, shorts, pants, underwear, swim clothes, shoes, etc.).

Then, in my youngest sons room I go through all of the clothing and make a donate pile and replace with items from storage for this Spring/Summer. I also make another list of items he may need too.

The next thing to do, is organize by color and style in specific drawers or shelves. 

For pants I make different piles, “comfy pants” or sweat/wind pants, khaki pants, shorts and jeans. The t-shirts are sorted by color and pajamas are organized by sets.

This makes it MUCH easier to pick out an outfit for them or for them to pick out an outfit by themselves. No rummaging through piles of clothes trying to find the perfect blue t-shirt. This is a HUGE time saver when everyone is in a hurry. Not to mention, it keeps the armoire or drawers neat; because, you can go straight to the item you need.

*This also helps for that vacation you are planning for quick packing!

I hope this helps in your Spring cleaning…

Happy Organizing!

Need a Great Hostess Gift for the Easter Brunch Your Invited to?

Rebecca Embroidered Bunny Napkin, Set of 4

Need More Money Saving Spring Décor Ideas?

My client asked for help with shopping for Spring and Easter décor items.  She wanted an organic natural feel.

Challenge: Under $100.00

For me…not a problem!  I LOVE challenges.  I knew exactly where to go.

Hobby Lobby (a craft store that has so much more!).

I found 2 ceramic bunnies, purchased some spring silk branches, 2 branches with feathers on craft sticks, 1 grapevine hanging basket, 1 package sheet moss, 7 paper mache eggs and 1 metal white-washed bunny.

Ross a discount store.

Purchased 2 large nests with eggs and 3 small nests with eggs. White tea set with tray and butter dish with rhinestones…they were too cute to pass up.

Drum Roll Please……….. All of this for under $50.00!

I removed the pillar candles, placed a craft nest and 3 decoupage eggs.

I added glazed ceramic bunnies, butter dish, 2 mini nests with little eggs and scattered candles on the table.

(I had found this darling chalkboard easel with tray a while back for this client.  I loved it because it changes with the seasons' and Holiday’s and always a great way to leave welcome messages.)

I added silk floral branches with white buds, giant craft paper mache eggs and found a ceramic bird figurine of the homeowners to add more interest. hen I carefully placed the new tea set to welcome guests to sit awhile.

Candlesticks with craft nests, a large paper mache egg and craft feathers carefully placed peeking out from under each egg with a white-washed metal bunny for a whimsical touch.

(Any of these craft eggs would be beautiful with metallic paint in gold, silver or chrome applied for a glitzy or more formal feel.)

Hanging grapevine basket stuffed with sheet moss, carefully placed spring sprigs and craft paper mache eggs, to greet your guests!

Holiday or seasonal decorating can be inexpensive and always fun!

Happy Decorating…on a budget!

Need Tips for Organizing Toys?

 

Toys Toys and MORE Toys!!!  What to do with all those TOYS?  Well, I have a few tips that have made my life easier and hopefully yours too!

Toys have a tendency to be all shoved into one place or thing.  A closet, under a bed, cabinet and toy boxes. But, there is a better way…

Kids get frustrated when looking for that certain toy or that certain accessory.  So how do you make it easier for kids and parent/caregiver?

Bins!  There are so many shapes, sizes, colors and made out of many different materials.  So the options are endless.

Here are a few ideas for those many types of toys.

Here are my son’s Star Wars action figures. He wanted to be able to sort them by human, animal, droids an their weapons.  I found this at Wal-Mart, for under $10.00 and it is locking and interlocking. This way he has each category and can access them easily and keep them organized easily.  This is also great because it is portable to take Grandma’s house or on those long car/plane trips.

This is an open canvas bin that sits on a shelf with many others.  They are sold everywhere.  I get mine at Wal-Mart because they are always under $10.00 and they go on sale too! I love that you can slide a label in.  Notice the label has a picture too.  I normally print them out on the computer so I can get the font I want and size. Then you can add a picture of the item.  I added the picture for toddlers who can’t read, but can recognize the picture and are capable of “clean-up”! This is a great teaching tool too. This helps them with reading and recognition. They feel more helpful around the house too.

This canvas bin is great because it has an attached lid.  This is great for those miscellaneous toys kids have, that may not have more than one in the category or not enough to warrant an entire bin.  I put those items in baggies and label them (eg. walkie-talkies, matchbox cars, etc,) that way they are still grouped in the baggie for an easy find and contained in a neat container.  This is under my armoire in our living room for my kids and guests kids.  They ALL know where the toys are. This makes for an easy clean-up.

I bought these clear plastic bins from Wal-Mart too. They were all under $2.00 apiece. They hold all of my son’s “collections”.  From rocks, to playing cards and of course more LEGO’s.  He has certain Lego collections that he prefers to have separated. This makes it easier to build them. I also keep all the instruction booklets in plastic gallon bags for later reference. Then, the open shelving holds his collection of Star Wars toys.

They are all concealed in the armoire that I purchased from a shop with unfinished furniture for under $200.00.  I stained it myself. 

He loves it because he has his toys in his room and they are easily contained and cleaned up.  Mom is happy and so is he!

Happy organizing and Happy playing!