The I.Design Box » Decorating & Accessorizing

A Cozy Blanket Rack for the Family Room…

Darcy — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 02:53:34 +0000

It’s a new year and time for a few new projects around the house. After being partied, fooded (I know that is not a word but it fits how we felt), and full of wine for the season my hubby and I decided we would just stay in for New Year’s Eve. I was feeling a bit under the weather anyway after the party the night before (stomach bug or something) and wasn’t sure how I would make it through another party without getting someone else sick. Given that we were at home for the night what better time than to add a little something to the family room in the basement?

This past fall on an excursion to Rocky Mountain National Park to photograph the elk we wandered through a number of shops in nearby Estes Park. My husband saw a rack of coat hooks made of old railroad nails for a low-low price of $85. Are you kidding me? Well that sparked an idea that we thought we could do for less. We needed a place for blankets in the family room and what better way than to hang them on cool rustic hooks within reach of the sofa? … Yes, this was my husband’s idea and I just executed it.

Materials used:

Scrap rough-sawn pine from the location where our log cabin is in the process of being built (more posts on that in the future)
Iron coat hooks acquired for half-price from a local craft store
A few screws
Total cost… about $12 (not including the blankets)

Once in place we hung the blankets and I added my cowboy hat for a little something extra.

On a recent excursion to an antique mall I picked up a cowboy bench. It’s a funny little piece that was an impulse buy for $20. When I brought it home I wasn’t sure what on earth I was going to do with it. Now it has a perfect home… a “not-so-vintage” 1970s inexpensive piece that looks just right next to the blanket rack.

I have to say I am happy with the New Year’s Eve project. So simple yet so satisfying… and just the touch of coziness our family room needed.

Pretty Pillows …

Darcy — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 14:48:36 +0000

We all know that an easy way to change out a look in a space is with throw pillows. Why I love a good throw pillow…

Ability to add seasonal decor
When you want to add a punch of bold color but don’t want to make the long term commitment… a pretty pillow is the way to go.
When your furniture is looking dingy it is a quick fix to hide tired spaces with a bold pattern… your guest’s eye will go straight to the funky bolster hiding that chocolate stain you have worked so hard to remove… but couldn’t.
Pretty pillows fulfill the home decorators need to change up a space frequently and on a budget.

Recently I fell in love with a bicycle motif pillow I saw in the Restoration Hardware catalog.

Of course it wasn’t priced in the catalog and I didn’t take the time to find it online…. thank goodness because one day I came upon a similar pillow at Homegoods for the fabulous price of $16!

I later found the Restoration Hardware inspiration online at a low price of $29 just for the sham (um, I would have spent a good $50 had I purchased it instead of my pretty pillow on a budget). By the way… the pillow I REALLY liked from Restoration Hardware isn’t even for sale, it’s the one with the single vintage bike.

The throw pillow… so simple yet such a big statement.

A neutral base + punchy pillow = style!

Pssst… houndstooth is coming on strong! Almost as strong as ikat. Love it.

Not going for a punch of color? You can still achieve a statement in a monochromatic scheme by choosing a visual texture. Classic and beautiful.

Thanks for visiting and listening for a bit on why we all love a good throw pillow! It’s such a basic and simple thing yet can have so much impact on a space.

Magnificent Murals…

Darcy — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 18:07:58 +0000

The wall mural is a fabulous option in place of wallpaper because it is taking a piece of art to the next level. Get graphic, colorful, and inspired by a great notable artist. This Warhol inspired mural makes this room pop with contrast and style.

Perhaps not a “new” idea but putting a twist to something we’ve seen before this space really makes a city skyline stand out by keeping the rest of the space simple in just two tones of color. You would think it would be the red that stands out but in this case the wall mural is what makes this living room inspiring.

Instead of painting a wall a vibrant color in order to create a “focal wall” try the wall mural. It will be the conversation piece of your home. This bedroom alone is nothing unique in terms of design and decorating but it has certainly been spiced up with a collage of murals. Visually interesting and the murals and warmth, a lot of bang for the buck as they say!

One room that has historically been the go-to place for decorative wall murals is in a child’s room. There is no easier way to create a bit of whimsy (HGTV slang) than with a mural. It’s child friendly too! This super sweet graphic would make any tot wake up from a nap with a smile.

If you would rather not commit to a full wall mural that is either painted or applied like wallpaper then maybe mural inspired wall art is the way to go. Easy enough to change once you tire of it but in many cases they are much more expensive than an actual mural. Just a little something to consider…

No matter your preference in style and design. The wall mural can certainly make a statement AND give that designer touch to your home.

(19th) It’s a Trendy Tuesday…

Darcy — Tue, 10 May 2011 19:28:11 +0000

A leftover trend from 2010 that is still going strong in 2011 is the use of the mounted animal bust. Do not be mistaken, the trend is a contemporary resin version of the traditional hunter trophy. Coming in all price ranges and animal types from a European mount (i.e. bleached antlers only) to a full rendition of a deer head or perhaps a moose this trend adds a bit of traditional quirkiness to any style.

Keep the animal bust in shades of white, black, and neutral creams and tans.

Group them together or use one as a statement piece.

Get inspired by this trend and combine two trends into one by creating silhouette art of an animal bust.

Whether your resin animal bust hangs over your fireplace…

Or above your bed…

This trend is sure to become an interesting conversation piece in any space. So have fun with it and don’t take it too seriously!