27
Ok, yes, I know it’s not September yet. But I’m already thinking of what I want to get with next month’s budget! First things first, our bedroom. I won’t be able to buy everything from the boards that Decorist put together for us, but I do want to get started. I liked the headboard from their first design board, but we’re thinking of doing a full bed frame instead, so we can hide our box spring and so it feels more finished. And instead of white, I’m thinking maybe blue…or grey...or yellow…or beige. Which color you prefer with my bedding? The prices also vary a little by color.
Blue - $711.55 / Grey - $730.95 / Yellow - $899 / Beige - $854.05
I also want to get a few accessories for our bedroom. I won’t be able to get all these items this month, but I’d like to get a few. We’re thinking of putting sconces on either side of the bed and moving our current lamps to the living room instead. Do you know of any good sources for wall sconces? I’m not sold on the ones I put in this round-up…they’re just an example.
After that, I’d like to set up my dressing table area with a pretty mirror and a lidded basket for my curling iron, blowdryer, and straightener. I also eventually want to get a rug. The one I picked out from Lulu & Georgia is currently sold out, but I’ve been wanting it for awhile, so I’d be willing to wait a little longer.
Brass swing-arm sconce - $109 / French gilt mirror - $419 / Lidded basket - $115 / Painted desert rug - currently sold out
Lastly, I have a few things I want to get for fall, wardrobe-wise. I’ll definitely be looking for coupon codes or waiting for sales before I can get most of these...but since it’s only a wish list, why not? Here are the pieces I have my eye on.
Black suede booties - $169.95 / Orange high-rise trousers - $49.95 (plus 20% off sale) / Lace top - $49.95 (plus 20% off sale) / Faceted cuff - $55 (plus 25% off) / Black Archive boots - $298 / Grey polish - $14 (coming soon)
So…that was a huge list and I obviously don’t have enough money to get all of it! What should I get first? I’m thinking the bed…and maybe that Anthro top. Don’t forget to tell me which color you think would be best for the bed!
And I’d love to hear what’s on your wish list for September, too.
25
Do you guys remember the post I did back in May about a gorgeous bedroom makeover with Decorist? I seriously loved those before and after photos (such a big difference!), so when Decorist offered to let me try out their services myself, I wasted no time in saying “YES!" I’ve been procrastinating/struggling with our bedroom, so that’s the room I picked to get some help with. I just got my two design solutions back, and I wanted to share my experience with you and get your opinions on what I should actually implement. Oh, and if you have a room that you could use some help with, be sure to read through to the bottom of the post; Decorist is giving away a mini-makeover to one of you…woohoo!
So, here’s how the process worked. Once I’d signed up for my mini makeover, I filled out a short questionnaire about our style, colors we liked, what we wanted to keep from the current room, and what we were hoping to achieve. I also sent over dimensions and some “before” photos of the room itself (above). Here is what I said: Our bedroom is 12 ft x 12 ft. It only has one small window so it’s fairly dark, and I don’t like the beige carpet (but it’s a rental, so that can’t be changed). Overall, I feel our bedroom is plain and boring, because we really haven’t taken the time or money to do anything with it. There’s nothing on the walls, no bed frame, etc. so it feels pretty unfinished. The area where I get ready in the mornings is really ghetto. I just sit on the floor in front of a $5 floor mirror from Ikea. I’d like to have this area be more organized with maybe some lidded baskets or a dressing table/side table of some kind (no curling iron cords snaking up the wall!). Overall, I want the bedroom to feel more cheerful, considered, and finished.
We like our duvet cover and bedside lamps. My favorite colors are pink and mint green. His favorite color is sky blue (which I also like). I’d like to mix in some wood or natural tones with some soft pastels as well as bright and cheery colors. I want it to feel happy, but also restful. We’d love to get a headboard or bed frame (I’m partial to tufted, upholstered ones, but it doesn’t have to be), and I like midcentury style nightstands.
It took about two weeks from the time I submitted my information to when I got my boards back. My designer (Audrey) did a great job of finding pieces that fit my style and my budget. For example, I’d sent her this $299 West Elm nightstand as an example of what I wanted, and she found this super cute and very similar one at Target for $91.99! I also really loved some of the creative ideas she gave us, which I probably would not have thought of on my own. For example, in the first design board (below) she suggested using a Parsons desk as a dressing table on one side of the bed with a nightstand on the other side. I’ve never really considered doing mismatched nightstands, but it makes so much sense! Especially since our bedroom doesn’t have space for a lot of furniture.
Besides the design boards, which helped to visualize what the room could look like, Audrey also provided shopping lists. Each item is clickable, so it will be really easy to shop once I'm ready to make some purchases:
Here are her notes for the first design board:
Headboard: I love your idea for a tufted upholstered headboard. This one from Target blends a tufted style with a wingback shape, and the neutral color allows your fun textiles and accessories to shine.
Vanity & Stool: No more starting your day on the floor! I’ve included a couple of console tables that can serve as nightstands on one or both sides, or they can stand alone as vanity tables. A clean white Parsons desk is a timeless and versatile piece that you can use in a variety of ways over the years. I’ve also included a stool that can double as a surface for extra books or can be used as a chair when you’re getting ready. I love that it can slide right under the console to save floor space when not in use.
Nightstands: Your nightstands could definitely be keepers, but in case you’d like additional surface area I’ve added a few more options. This mid-century piece is affordable and stylish, and it incorporates a wood tone like you’d been seeking.
Rug: When layering a rug over carpet, it’s best to pick a smaller size that provides a nice accent while not looking like shrunken carpeting. This 5x8 find has a large-scale geometric pattern that adds color to the space without feeling too busy.
Accessories: I’ve added tons of cheery accessories in your favorite colors to brighten up the space and give it life. Mirrors will reflect light around the room and be useful at the vanity area, and breezy white curtains are always in style.
And here is the second board she gave us:
Headboard: This Urban Outfitters piece is a bit of a splurge, but it’s also quite the statement! The colors are gorgeous and the wood background adds that natural and rustic touch you’re looking for.
Vanity & Stool: An acrylic console takes up no visual weight and leaves plenty of room for baskets below. The silvery industrial stool adds a new style to the space and a nice metallic accent.
Nightstands: This blue piece is has loads of storage and brings in a happy new color.
Rug: Here we have another 5x8 option, this time in a deep gray that really grounds the space and keeps the colors from feeling overwhelming. The subtle pattern and wool texture also add interest without feeling too busy.
Accessories: Again we have colorful accessories that coordinate well with the headboard and your gorgeous prints. These gray West Elm curtains go nicely with the rug and will provide extra light filtering when you need it.
Overall, I was really happy with how the process went and with the suggestions that Audrey made. I haven’t really been using the desk we got for my “home office” (turns out, I still prefer to blog on the couch while watching Netflix…), so we already moved it into the bedroom for me to use as a dressing table. YAY! It was a simple solution that has already made a world of difference. We’re now deciding what other elements from these boards to keep, and which ones to disregard. What do you think??? Which board is your favorite, and what pieces do you like best?
One of the best things about using Decorist is that we’re still in total control of our room makeover. We’re free to mix and match elements from the two different boards, purchase them on our own timing, and add/subtract anything we want! So if we want to buy everything now and have it be done, we can do that. But if we’d prefer to spread out our purchases over the next few months, we can totally do that too. There’s no pressure to buy everything all at once.
If this process looks like something you’d like to try (and I do fully recommend it), it’s your lucky day! Decorist is giving away a room makeover to one of you!! Click here to enter the giveaway. Good luck!
AND if you’re ready to get started now, they’re offering a special promo code for At Home in Love readers: $10 off a mini-makeover using the code decoristathome.
So, you know that room that you’re always embarrassed to show people when you give them a house tour for the first time? No more excuses! Let’s get that room in shape!
Thank you to Decorist for partnering with me on this post.
20
I’m excited to announce that I’m a new contributor over at the Bali Blinds blog! They posted my first project for them yesterday: these easy peasy DIY birch log candleholders. This project is really quick, inexpensive, and doable. So no excuses! Check out the full tutorial here. I think these candleholders would make great gifts around the holidays, and the birch logs will pair well with other seasonal decor as we transition into fall and winter. I was inspired by these votive holders on Terrain (which sell for a whopping $48), and since I still had two sizable birch logs left over from this project, it was a no-brainer!
You can totally make these with regular logs as well…but I do think the birch is oh-so-pretty.
Don’t forget to check out the post on Bali Blinds to get a list of supplies and step-by-step instructions!
11
I recently came across the blog Hammer and Heels and instantly LOVED it. Amanda is so cute, and her apartment is beautiful and super inspiring…and then there's the fact that she decorated the whole thing for $500. Whaaaaat?! I know. As soon as I read that, I knew I had to find out more about this girl, so I asked Amanda if she could share some of her insight and advice with us. I think you all are going to love her (and her apartment) too!
1. Can you tell me a little bit of your background, and how you got started with Hammer and Heels?
I grew up on a farm in Iowa and loved decorating and DIYing ever since I was a kid. I remember flipping through the JCPenney catalog and picking out all of the home furnishing I wanted for my future home. I was always decorating my family home and rearranging my bedroom. I went on to school and got my degree in marketing. While in school I had a few internships. One in particular was an eye-opener for my career and made me realize I really wanted to do something creative that I'm passionate about. During that time I started reading blogs and I admired how close-knit and inspiring women were in the blogging industry. I decided to start my blog, Hammer and Heels, as my own space on the Internet to share my passions with others. It's one of the best decisions I've made!
Patience! I search for items I love and watch them like a hawk until they go on sale. As for thrifting, I have to give most of the credit to luck. I spend lots of time searching Craigslist and hitting the thrift stores until I score something great. It's important to keep an open mind when thrifting and think about how you can make something work with a little TLC. Most importantly, I know my budget so I do my best to stick to stores that are in my price range. I like the challenge of decorating on a budget!
I'm totally into clean, modern with a touch of mid-century and rustic. As with any trend, everything in moderation. It's important to mix and match styles and trends so nothing is too "perfect". A space that reflects just one style can feel stale. I'm all about a lived-in feel that doesn't look like you're trying too hard. It's kind of like fashion. You wouldn't wear an outfit that combines all of the latest trends. That's just too much going on. Pick and choose the ones you love, and mix them for a balanced look.
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