Gorgeous Grey Cabinetry
I spend so much time in my kitchen, because of course, it’s my favorite room in the house. In anyone’s house for that matter. It’s the heart of the operation, the pulse of the family structure- I could go on and on, but you catch my drift. Lately I’ve been noticing the most gorgeous grey kitchen cabinetry. I chose grey for the majority of the walls in our home because it’s the perfect cross between soothing and sophisticated. It’s also the perfect neutral backdrop for endless color combinations. Since grey works so perfectly in all other living spaces, why not extend the magic into the kitchen?
Glam Powder Room Dreams
Powder rooms are the most neglected rooms in the average home. They’re really lovely conceptually- essentially just little handy bathrooms for guests to use so they don’t need to use your private one, and have a chance to go through your medicine cabinets. But because they’re so small, and rarely used by the people that actually live in the home, they don’t get nearly as much love as they should. I too, am guilty of powder room negligence. But those days are over. I’m on a mission to take my teeny half bath from a boring practicality to a glamorous sanctuary. You’re welcome, random house guests!
The Plan for my Powder Room Makeover:
Wallpaper:
I’m totally crushing on wallpaper for my boring little half bath. Not your grandma’s antiquated, floral, dining room wallpaper, but rich, beautiful, and modern. In large doses, wallpaper can become a little aesthetically (and financially) overwhelming, but it’s an excellent option to inject some livable drama into a small space. My favorite Pinterest powder room inspirations (sprinkled throughout this post), feature beautifully wallpapered powder rooms- clearly a sign that I should follow suit!
Artwork:
Artwork is an interesting concept in a bathroom. Why shouldn’t we have lovely images to contemplate while handling our business? If nothing else, it’s pretty and makes the room seem well planned. I found two square frames with weird ocean themed prints at the thrift store recently, and this will be the perfect place to use them. I’ll replace the art with some cute prints for a fraction of the cost of new artwork.
Accessories:
Accessories do for any room what they do for any outfit- round it out; take it from standard to special. There’s currently an unframed mirror spanning the entire wall over the sink and toilet, and it just has to go. A smaller, more decorative mirror will definitely make a nicer statement. I’m also thinking a couple of lovely hand towels, a small vase for fresh flowers or some other small plant, and a few scented candles. We have to remember that powder rooms are typically small spaces, so we can't overwhelm them with a bunch of little tchotchkes and collectibles, no matter how many times our inner crazy ladies tell us to.
I’ll keep you all updated on my search for wallpaper and my art project. This project definitely deserves a before and after post. In the meantime, do you all have ideas on other ways to make my powder room as splendid as it deserves to be?
It's Spring. Curb Appeal Matters Again!
When I first started my home search, one of the top three selling points on my list was curb appeal. Does the house look like every other one of the block? Does the front yard have landscaping potential? When you park in front of the house, do you get a good vibe? I nearly drove my very patient realtor insane. Thank goodness he has daughters my age. I’m sure it helped. As our search wore on however, curb appeal crept lower and lower down my list. It was hard enough to find listings in my desired area, in the price range, with enough space and so on and so forth. How could we possibly be bothered with curb appeal?!
So in the end I settled on my lovely 1920’s colonial that sits on a block surrounded by other nearly identical houses. Go figure. Two windows on the front, or one big one. Walkway on the left or walkway on the right. Brown shutters or darker brown shutters. Boring, boring, boring. So in an effort to make my house stand out from all the rest, I’m on a mission to increase my curb appeal in the easiest, most cost effective ways. The snow has finally melted. Time to get it popping!
A Front Door that Pops
One of the easiest ways to revamp your curb appeal is by updating your front door. The front door is the entryway to your home, and says a lot about the people who live inside. It’s like shoes…for your house. Flimsy plastic doors are a no no. I’m in the market for a glass one to show off the fun, bright front door I’m planning on. I’m currently deciding whether or not to paint my current door, or buy an already beautiful one like these fab ones I’ve been crushing on.
Dramatic Shutters
My shutters are weird muddy brown color (like the majority of my neighbors’). And it’s just so incredibly drab against my beige siding. Gotta go. I’m looking to contrast the lightness of my siding and brick with dark, maybe even black, shutters. You can find shutters for about 30 dollars apiece at any large hardware store. Definitely a buy, not a repaint. Below are some beautiful houses with dark shutters. Much more stately than mine.
Thoughtful Landscaping
Last summer, boyfriend, (with the help of a decidedly stylish neighbor with a decidedly stylish front yard), did an amateur landscape job on my front yard- just a little shaping and a little planting. Two fledgling hydrangea bushes (as they are my absolute favorite), and a few baby bushes. They did a great job, but I think the yard needs a little more punch- maybe a few potted plants? And does anyone know how long it take for hydrangea bushes to mature? I'm impatient.
Jazzy Accessorizing
Like any good look, my yard deserves some accessorizing- and I’m not talking kitchy garden gnomes and flamingos. I’m thinking a jazzy mailbox and a more stately address plaque. Ours has a couple uneven numbers and likely has been hanging on the house since 1939. Definitely on it's last leg.
Anyone have any other suggestions on practical ways to get our curb appeal popping? It’s spring! Let’s be the envy of our muddy brown shuttered neighbors!
The haute in domestic
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