Meaning Behind the Color: Turquoise

When selecting colors in design for a particular space we need to think in ways that reflect us as individuals as well as what the space is being used for. A quick example, red is used in dining rooms for a sense of appetite as well as in a bedroom for romance. This brings us to one of my favorite colors, turquoise! I did a little research to find out why I love this color so much and came up with some interesting information that I would like to share with you!  Turquoise represents open communication from and between the heart and the spoken word. It relates to the electronic age and the world of computers, and communication on a large scale. Also, it is the mid color between the extremes of red and violet, turquoise is the color of balance, for the emotions, thoughts and speech. Turquoise is also representing self-sufficiency and has the ability to tune into its own needs and find the way to success.  Turquoise also enhances the ability to focus and concentrate, assisting with clear thinking and decision-making, and the development of good organizational skills. Lastly one of my favorites,  it is calming yet invigorating, restoring depleted energies. Now the amount used in key, too much and it can create an emotional imbalance, too little and it can lead to secrecy, lack of direction in one's life.  Now that you know a little more about this great color, here are some spaces I think represent a healthy amount of turquoise! Enjoy!

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DIY Decor Ideas: Easier Than You Think

If you are the creative type, like me, you sometimes want to create your own piece of furniture instead of buying one. Nice quality furniture can get pricy and usually you feel obligated to keep it for a long time because you invested so much into it. Well not every piece has to be like that, you can mix old and new, inexpensive and expensive and even store bought and DIY furniture. I have built a few piece over the years for my own home and have started to incorporate piece I make into a few on my client's homes. Some are simple, just a little sanding and some paint, others take a little more planning. If you have never challenged yourself to make a piece of furniture you should try, you will be surprised at what you can do. Take a look at some of these examples and enjoy!

Is your bed all lonely with no headboard? Well for about $100 you can make a custom one! Easy to do any doesn't take up too much time!

 One of my favorites, the penny floor. Now this is time consuming but it is a less expensive option t a traditional tile floor. I am still collecting pennies for our bathroom!

 

Palettes have become a popular item for many home decor ideas. some make headboards, a wood wall, table or how about a shelf!

I recently stumbled on these planters made form concrete pavers....OMG it is going on the list of projects for the house. Don't worry, as each of our rooms are completed I will share them with you! :)

Last but not least, these are the tables we made over the weekend for a project. Made fromindustrial pipe from Home Depot and some wood we stained in a walnut finish. We are pretty pleased with the way these turned out! Maybe we will have to make more!

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Design Tip: Adding Accent Colors to a Neutral Palette

Color is a difficult thing for many people when designing a space. They know what they like just maybe not the right shade or don't know how much to use.  It is your home, so do what makes you happy but for those of you who don't know exactly how to pull together a space with what makes you happy, here are some pointers! Enjoy!

 Let there be one dominate accent color. Lots of blue on the wall and a single object in red.

 Don't want too much color? Try a neutral palette with a few pieces in a bright colors. Also this makes it easy to change your color scheme when you feel the need.

Bright white is always a great choice when adding really bold colors in a room. It lets the accents speak up. 

 Want to use more than two colors? Of course you can!  Make sure they have enough contrast and are given a neutral background.

Bold wallpaper is always a great way to introduce a color. Make sure to leave the rest of the room neutral enough so the wallpaper is the focus and nothing will compete with it.

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Storing Wine....Creatively!

Wine storage for those of us who lack a cellar or just don't have a large collection of bottles these are some great storage ideas for you! Some of these ideas are DIY which is always fun others are ideas for when you decide to finally renovate that kitchen you have always dreamed of! Wine storage is something people often look over and just simply buy a table top rack that holds few bottles.  That doesn't seem like a very creative idea for your precious wine collection, does it? You want your display to standout and house your wonderful collection for all to see. Here are a few ideas to get your thinking. Enjoy!

 

 Above the cabinets in the kitchen has always been a place to store bottles, but what if you could integrate your storage system? This kitchen shows the holes in the brick wall but this could easily be done on a typical wall or any material for that matter, just make sure to plan for it when designing your kitchen.

 

 Ah concrete, one of my favorite materials to use in design. Inexpensive, industrial looking and durable.

 Postal tubes are great for shipping drawings or anything that can be rolled up easily, but wine storage? Yes, please! Cut them down to your desired size, arrange your design and ta da! Easy on the wallet so you can buy more wine to store in your DIY storage system.

 This teardrop design is simple and sleek and a perfect piece for modern designed interior.

 Reclaimed wood is another one of my favorite materials to use in design. This can be a DIY project that is sure to hold your all of your bottles.

Oh the classic wine cellar look. If you can get your hands on one or two these would make great storage for a small collection. Can either be free standing or mounted on the wall!

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Design Details: 5 Tips for a Perfect Kitchen

When designing a kitchen there is a lot that goes into it. Things that you may have never thought about until your designer brought them to your attention. Things like what counter top edge or a handle or knob for your cabinets do you prefer. These are things that can bring your kitchen together and make it reflect you.  Whether you are doing a few small kitchen upgrades or gutting and starting over these are some good things to keep in mind. Enjoy!

Tile: Stone? Glass? Ceramic? Think about how you cook, do you splatter occasionally or are you as neat as can be? These make a difference when selecting a tile for your back splash and even your floor.  Stone is a natural product which many people like but if not sealed properly it can be prone to stains and if the stone tile is heavily textured it could get food particles stuck in the crevices. Glass is pretty easy to clean,  not usually a good idea for floors. Now it can show fingerprints and water spots but those disappear once you wipe it off. Ceramic tile is a good inexpensive option and durable.  Ceramic comes in a variety of colors, sizes and shapes so if you are looking for ceramic you will can easily find something you like.

Lighting: Overhead and Task Lighting is important in a working kitchen. Usually when doing a remodel recessed lights are a great choice but don't forget about task lighting. Under cabinet lighting is a great choice fr task lighting. Overhead light can be blocked by your shadow when doing tasks like cutting veggies. Make sure not to overlook this important detail that can make cooking in your kitchen more functional. 

Counter Tops: Granite? Concrete? Wood? Granite has reigned champion for many years now and yes it is durable, its a rock. But there are other options and regardless what material you choose think about the finished edge of your counter top. Bull nose is commonly used in more traditional designs or a rounded bevel edge but think beyond your neighbors kitchen. If you are going for a more modern look then maybe a 90 degree edge is best.  Granite is abundant but who knows how long we will be able to source it. Keep in mind granite does need to be sealed and every year or so you could reseal it to keep it looking great. Concrete, this versatile man-made material is making a splash in the residential interior design world.  Concrete counter top fabricators can make exactly what you want; you can get any color you want by staining it and you can also get additional materials set in the concrete. I have done a concrete with recycled glass set in it and it turned out great! So no it doesn't have to be just grey. Wood Counter tops are making a comeback! For people who do a lot of prep work (chopping) a wood counter could be your own built in butcher block! But some prefer only doing a certain section of their counters in wood. Also wood can be used as an interesting bar material. A slab of wood with a live edge can be a great accent in a kitchen and even a conversation piece. 

Cabinet Hardware: Handle or Knob? Think how you grab to open a drawer or cabinet. This will help you make a comfortable decision.  Some prefer knobs that are easy to grab others prefer pulls or a handle style. If you have a tendency to brush against the cabinets and snag your clothes then something with a smooth edge or doesn't stick out too far is probably what you want to keep in mind when looking for new cabinet hardware.  Also placement on the drawer or cabinet can make a difference in ease of use.

Cabinet Finish:Gloss or Matte Think about the other elements in your kitchen. Did you go with a glossy glass back splash or high gloss counters? You want some variety in your materials. Try to not make every surface the same gloss level. If you have high shine on back splash and/or counters then consider doing a more matte finish on cabinets. If you go with a natural stone that has a matte finish then high gloss cabinets can be a good choice to create more interest. 

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Dislplaying Art and Photos Creatively

Walls are the perfect location to display your memories, your art, family photos, even your kid's artwork! But sometimes these areas get over looked or they are just too large of a space to work with...well here are some DIY examples to get you over your fear of hanging art correctly and creatively! Enjoy!

 Black and white are the classic color combo and this is because it is easy to add any color to them! These floating ledges are prefect for many various frame sizes and you can rearrange easily when you want to update your decor or photos! The overlapping frames give the idea of chaos but the colors give the feeling of order.

 This grouping of single photograph is a great way to display your most recent photos! Easily changeable, and if you have photos with a white boarder if gives a gallery effect.

 Don't think you have a well balanced group of artwork? Think again! Scale and balance are what makes this display work. Centered on the wall and making smaller groupings to balance each other works wonders.

  Bands of flat canvas strips hung in a grid formation lets you displace your kid's more recent works of art! Use metal clips to hang the art! This will also allow your kids to hang the art themselves!

Evently spaced out, mixed frames are always a great choice for a home. It gives a collected feeling. Also very east to continue to add more frames as time goes on.

Have some fun with your rugs!

Rugs are an easy way to bring some fun into a room. Bold patterns and unique materials will make a statement in your space as well as give you a soft surface to roll around with your pet. These examples stood out to me as standalone additions to any room.

  Solid colors and smooth texture lend an organized feel. The asymmetrical lines here step away from traditional but show a controlled look. 

 

  Again this rug brings a playfulness and lighter mood to a space. Just don’t leave markers laying around teenagers. 

 Dreamweaver makes some unique rugs. This one is actually made the ends of men’s ties that they gather from tie manufacturers and arrange into a unique pattern. Definitely an eco-friendly rug! No waste!

 Multi colored, textured rugs have come back into style in the last couple of years. Chunky wool and shag are a few good examples of this. I like the playfulness this rug can bring to a room. 

 Got some old, torn t-shirts that are too worn to wear outside but can’t bring yourself to trash them? Get your DIY on and turn them into a fun rug for your home! A great way to show your personality and a great talking piece. 

 Bright bold lines are great for a large space. Here the lines bring your attention down, filling the void left by smaller furniture and provide personality just when you need it.

Another one made from repurposed materials, this time old blankets. The irregular shape and unique colors are perfect for a kid’s room, or any space that needs a touch of chaos.

Hope you guys enjoyed today's inspiration! Fell free to leave a comment.  Tell us what you liked and if you are in need of inspiration and its not here.....we will find you some!

 

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