Cool way to display your photos

I subscribe to the awesome service, Groupon, where you can purchase coupons that are usually pretty insane deals (there is a minimum amount of coupons that must be sold; it's group purchasing power on the Web!).

Anyway, today's deal really caught my eye because it's for this cool service called CanvasPop -- you can have any digital photo turned into one or multiple canvas art displays. You upload the photo from anywhere and alter it how you want it (you can also use digital art you've created instead of a photo). The Groupon is for 50% off ($80 for $40)!

I'm considering this for our bedroom revamp (yes, still a work in progress!) and using some great photos from our hiking and backpacking trips. Eye-catching art that's very personal. I love the idea. Check it out!

Thanks for reading,
-amy

Update on bedroom update

These projects always take longer than you anticipate...don't they? :)

I'm nearly done painting...will finish up this afternoon (ran out of paint and had to get more!). Since I decided to go with two shades of a cool green, the painting has been more laborious than I thought because I have to do a lot of "cutting in" by hand (painting the trim, corners, and other places the roller can't get to). It takes a lot of patience and a steady hand, and I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to projects like this, so it's taking longer that I thought...and I lost some steam there for a bit. But I'm back at it today!

I've already learned, or been reminded of, some valuable lessons with this project and I thought I'd share with y'all:

(1) Prep work is never time wasted. My husband, the contractor, calls this "the 5% most people don't bother to do." But it makes a big difference in quality later, as I've just witnessed first hand. If you take the time to patch and fill any and all small holes, it makes painting go more quickly later because you're not trying to get it to soak into holes in the drywall. And caulking around windows and all the trim helps your paint lines look more clean and crisp (it can even help with cutting in at times, as it gives you a smooth surface).

(2) Write down your paint calculations in terms of square footage so that you purchase the right amount, and don't forget to include the ceiling and your second coat. And yes, using high quality paint means you use less...but you will almost always have to do a second coat. (Sometimes a third, if you're doing a really dark/rich color.)

(3) Wash your paintbrushes often. Even in the middle of a project. Because it really sucks and takes a lot of time and water to get them clean if you wait a few days...!

(4) If you're running low on paint and don't think you have enough to finish the project, STOP in a place that makes sense and will be easy to blend, such as a corner or a the end of a coat. And SAVE some of the paint from the original can. That way when you buy a second can, you can mix them together and ensure you have a close match. (Even though they mix the paint by computer, there can be some slight color variance from can to can.)

I'm hoping by the end of this week that not only will the paint be done and dry, but we'll have all the furniture and lighting in as well, so I can take a great "after" photo to show you. Wish me luck!

-amy

Bedroom revamp on a budget

So we've decided to spruce up our bedroom. Okay, not entirely honest. I decided I wanted to fix it up and then convinced my husband it was a great idea! Not only do we get a nicer space, but it's a great practice project for me and I get to blog about it :)

We already moved our bed into the smallest bedroom a few months ago. As they recommend in Feng Shui, we prefer having a room solely for sleeping and lovemaking; our dressers are in another room (my office actually). This helps keep our bedroom a calm, comfortable, uncluttered space. If you have the space/ability to do this, I strongly encourage it! At the very least try not to have any work-related stuff in your sleeping room - it's not good for you to see everything you "should be" doing as soon as you wake up. Makes it harder to shut off your brain and truly relax.

But back to the bedroom revamp. Above are some before pictures of our small, simple room. Blank canvas you might say! Later this week I will post on my progress: first step is to develop my "concept" - I'm envisioning a calm, comfortable, zen-like space with a cool, monochromatic color scheme (pale blues, greens, and grays) and modern, dark wood furniture. And very thick curtains to help block out sound - we're rather close to railroad tracks that can be disturbing.

Stay tuned for updates later this week...my goal is to finish the room by the end of the month, and to do so for under $600. Wish me luck!
-amy

I'm ba-ack...with a fun design tip

First I must apologize for my lack of posting...perhaps I assume too much that in the whirlwind world of the world wide web my absence was noticed! Regardless, *I* have noticed my lack of posting and it's been bugging me. Time to get back on track and start posting at least once each week, as it helps me focus on things other than homework and housework. That is my new goal - and feel free to "nudge" me if needed :)

And now for my design tip. I have recently started training with a professional real estate stager to learn more about this subsection of the interior design field. What I thought was all throw pillows and flowers is actually much more involved and interesting! I've learned lots of cool little tips that you can use in your own home regardless of needing to "stage" it to sell.

The one I'd like to share today relates to hanging art on the walls. I had no idea what a difference a few inches can make. Most of us (me included!) hang our art WAY too high on the wall. A good rule of thumb: hang a piece of art only 2-3 inches above a piece of furniture. If it's in a hallway, make sure it's at eye level for the average person at 5'4" tall. By bringing the art piece down, it makes it feel more grounded and makes it easier to be admired by you and your visitors.


BEFORE


AFTER


Here is an example from my own home. We hung this beautiful picture a photographer friend gave us over our fireplace...but after my first staging, I removed it from the hook and just leaned it on top of the mantel. It makes a small but significant difference! The picture now feels like part of the mantel "grouping" and not like something just floating on the wall. I hope you agree that it looks better :) And I encourage you to walk around your home and find places where minor adjustments can have a big impact on how cozy and planned your space feels.

Thanks for reading,
-amy