Dressing your walls

What's on your walls?  The real estate that makes up the walls in our homes is huge and should be dressed to reflect the success of your family.  It's generally the first thing or at least the biggest thing people see when they enter your home.  They will sub-consciously size up the color, the trim, the artwork and arrangement of your walls. Let them speak volumes of what you value and what is important to you. 

One of the most common mistakes of squandering this real estate comes with hanging things on the wall.  We are either too scared to put anything up for fear of putting it in the wrong place or we throw caution to the wind and drive nails in willy nilly hoping that in the end, it all looks good.  If we don't think it through just a bit, we can end up with pictures hung in just the right place for an All Start Basketball player, too high. 

Here are some key ideas:
1.     Consider the space:  A little tiny picture will get lost on a huge wall.  Likewise, a huge picture will be crammed on a little wall.  Balance is what you are going for.  If all you have are little pictures and big wall, group the pictures to create a statement. 

2.     Hang pictures at eye level.  

3.     When hanging pictures over a sofa or large furniture piece, the standard rule of thumb is to hang the picture so the bottom of the frame is no higher than 6" from the top of the sofa

4.     Pictures don't always have to be hung.  Consider mounting a shelf and resting the pictures on the shelf

5.     When grouping pictures either on the wall or on a horizontal surface, use frames that are similar in style, color and size.  You want people to notice what is in the frame, not be distracted with the frame itself. 

6.     Have the proper tools.  A level, a pencil for lightly marking, a ruler or tape measure and picture hangers or screws that are appropriate in size for the weight of your picture.

Hope some of these tips were helpful...now, go hang some pictures!

Monogram Tutorial

I have really been trying to find some new ideas to do with my front door.  One problem is that the paint is peeling off in some places but that is getting fixed this week...hopefully.  The other problem is that I am just tired of the same old door decor, the round wreath with cheap silk flowers. 

For this weekend home craft, I decided to make a monogram letter covered in moss for my front door.  This is such an easy thing to do and took me just over an hour and less than $6 in supplies.  You don't have to cover your's in moss. You could wrap it in a fun textural fabric like linen or burlap, modge podge or glue handmade paper flowers to it.  The skies the limit, be creative.  Here are the steps to creating your own...

1.  Using a heavy cardboard or mat board, cut out the letter you desire along with a long strip about 2" wide.   2.  Take the strip of cardboard and glue it along the edge of one letter, then glue the second cut out letter on top to create a 3-d letter.   3.   Begin gluing sheet moss all over the sides and front.   4.  When finished gluing the moss, wrap green floral wire around the letter to secure it all.

Add an organza ribbon and you're done!  You could also add some dried flowers or quality silks to add a splash of color.

This project could be easily modified for use with any material.  Wouldn't this be cute in a nursery too?  It's really easy to do small things around the house.  I can't wait to get this front door painted!

What's your style

Photo from Thrify Decor Chick

I love to look through magazines and let myself be inspired with all the different materials and finishes available for the home.  Magazines are easily accessed and even easier to rip and tear through to start files of the things you love.  More on files next week.

My next favorite pasttime is blogging.  There are hundreds and thousands of design and decorating blogs that cover a variety of topics from DIY projects to trends in furniture and color.  Today, I have found some pretty cool blogs to inspire you and help you find that place in the design world that feels like 'home'. 

My number one favorite pick is of course Pinterest.  What?  You haven't been to Pinterest yet?  It's a fabulous community where people 'pin' all their favorite things they find on the internet.  The catagories range from art to quotes and everything in between.  You can start your own pinterest board and collect your own favorite things.  I like it because it's an easier way to bookmark the things and places you want to remember. 



Photo courtesy of Miss Mustard Seed

 Miss Mustard Seed is another fun design blog.  Located in Pennsylvania, Miss Mustard Seed creates wonderful pieces from thrift store finds and hand me down furniture.  She has some real great ideas if vintage antiques is your thing.

Don't forget to check out the Thrifty Decor Chick.  Her style is simple and easy to achieve.  I really like her clean lines and no nonsense look.  She has some great ideas I think you will love. 

I know of so many people moving across town and across the State and Country.  What better time to get inspired then when a big move is in your plans.  If you aren't moving...well...Spring is threatening to come...really.  Let's get things spruced up!

Let's Roll

While you've been slumbering at night, I've been working really hard on the formatting for this new blog.  The possibilities are endless when it comes to material for an Interior Design blog. 

 It's funny, a friend was over earlier in the week because her husband was kind enough to work on some 'fixes' for my computer and the kids pulled out their old scrapbooks to entertain her so we had a good laugh perusing those.   I was amazed at how lame of a scrapbooker I was back in the early days yet in my mind, those pages rocked!  Now, I have left traditional scrap booking in the dust and have moved on to digital scrap booking.  Anyways, my point is that towards the end of my scrap booking era, the pages were much better.  Better graphics, more creative...they had just evolved.

I expect the same thing is going to happen with this blog.  It may start out kind of lame...but will evolve and hopefully, with a little help from you, will evolve into something worth reading.  So, don't be shy, comment, comment, comment... ask questions.  Now's your chance to get some free advice!  I'm kind of thinking that if I get enough questions, I could do one whole post a month or even a week of a compilation of questions and the answers for everyone to take advantage of, sort of like a 'Dear Abbey' column... only Ask Kat.  We'll see.

So, without further rambling... here is the loose schedule of posting events...

Mondays- 'Makin it Monday'  On this day, I will post a home craft or project that can be done when you're in a  weekend warrior kind of mood.  Many will be projects I tackle myself.

Tuesdays- 'Tips, Tricks and Trends'  For this post, I will offer up some simple ideas you can do in 5 min to make your house look more pulled together. 

Wednesdays- 'Word to the wise'.  Let's get a little more serious about the world of design.  Articles regarding such topics as What to do with collections, clutter, uses of color, how to combine patterns, living small, living large, what does that color say about you and many more topics.  On Wednesdays, I will also have guest bloggers posting.  I already have a great Designer signed up!!  She is from Memphis and has a sharp eye for accessorizing and pulling together unique and exciting looks.  You won't want to miss her.

Fridays- 'Find your groove'.  Fridays, I will post some of my favorite design/creative blogs to inspire you to find and create beauty all around. 

So, what do you think?  This is the format I will start with and see where we end up.  It's exciting to think about the possibilities.

Inside Story

Inside Story is not just a name, it's a Phi-los-o-phy.  Trends come and trends go but your values and beliefs remain the foundation of your life and your Home should reflect You not the glossy pages of this month's current design magazine.

I believe your home should mesh seamlessly into your life and keep pace with your busy young family, or the altering lifestyle of the empty nest.  It should be clear in its message of who dwells within it's walls...Your home should tell a story..Your Story...What does your home say about you?  Come along...let's find out!