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

A few short hours

We all have them. The project that needs to be tackled, but is so large (at least, in your head it is!) that you can't bring yourself to start!.I have several of them right now in fact - a basement utility room overflowing with holiday stuff and recently acquired items from my dearly departed grandma; my office that appears to be exploding with school-related stuff. And in these situations I have to remind myself to START SMALL.

It's amazing how much you can accomplish in just a few short hours. And often by chipping away at a project, you do a better job because you don't wear yourself out.





Here's an example of an office/closet area that got out of control for a friend/client of mine. She was overwhelmed, so I came over one afternoon and we tackled it together, in a matter of 3 hours. We made a goal of just getting everything sorted into "like with like" piles. By the time the trash and donate piles were removed, we were both amazed at how much extra space there was! We used the bins and boxes she already had to get things in better order for the time being. And at her own pace, at later dates, she sorted through boxes we'd labeled, "Photos for sorting later," "Toys for my niece," "Old computer software," etc.

So remember, sometimes a few short hours can make all the difference. Don't be afraid to tackle a project in stages. Better that then not at all!

Happy sorting,
-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

Time-Saving Tips to Get Organized

I recently stumbled across this article on HGTV.com and wanted to share. It has some great ideas for how you can squeeze in tasks while you wait -- at the doctor's office, for something to finish baking, for the bathtub to fill... It can feel very satisfying to get a few important items crossed off the list!

And speaking of, there is a pile of school work calling my name :)
-amy

p.s. For example, just now as I was waiting for something to print, I took the over-flowing paper recycling basket to the bin outside. Yay.

Think More Storage, Not More Space

Long before I became a student of interior design, I've been an admirer and enthusiast of great design and architecture. I've always been drawn to places that were well laid out (otherwise known as good "space planning"), streamlined, warm, interesting, and cozy.

I have a collection of books and magazines I regularly pick up and reference that I call "design porn." :) As I started researching today for a school paper, I accessed my library for one of my favorite reads: The Not So Big House by Sarah Susanka. And couldn't find it! No, I'm not unorganized (wink) - I forgot that this was a book I'd borrowed from someone and don't actually own. Off to Amazon I go...this is a must-have book, in my opinion!

Ms. Susanka's books all focus on the topic of doing more with less. Most of us don't really need 2000+ square feet to live our lives; what we really need are better designed spaces that truly accommodate our lifestyles and our belongings. I'm a strong proponent of this philosophy. The hardest part for me being in design school is the idea that new is always better. It's not! Reuse what you have. Not only is it the "green" option, but it's also the more affordable way to go. And if/when you design or shop for a home or remodel your current place, think about storage, storage, storage. This is what most homes lack, even (and especially) the gigantic ones. And this is where Sarah Susanka excels: she uses concepts from boat and RV design to work storage into every place in a home, in a stylish and functional way. It's so cool! Check out her website if you have a chance and get inspired to streamline your home :)

Happy New Year!
-amy