decorating

Model Home Decorating Ideas

One of my most favorite ways to get decorating ideas is to go model home hopping. That means I take my camera and my BFF and we find all the new construction model homes and take a tour.

The best thing to do, if you model home hop, is to be honest with the sales person there. Don’t pretend to be a potential home buyer. It’s a waste of their time. Tell them you are just out looking at model homes for fun and they will leave you alone. They are actually used to people looking a model homes for decorating ideas.

Here are some pictures I snapped yesterday. Now I have even more ideas running through my head!

The butler’s pantry in this home is also a bar area.

I took this picture because I liked the color of the cabinet. Notice the plain, boring mirror on the wall! Tisk Tisk!

I don’t need to say anything about this photo, but I will… Look at that ceiling!!! Love it.

The wall behind the bed is covered in wall paper. Makes a great accent wall!

Look at the arched windows in this photo.

The ceiling in this photo is covered in wallpaper. The back wall is painted a chocolate brown. I’m not a fan of dining rooms, but this is a pretty space.

This builder did frame out the mirror. Do you see how they added an extra horizontal board?

A cute kitchen eating area.

Bright and happy master bedroom.

Beamed ceilings! Ahhh… someday.

In this bedroom, board and batten was used as a headboard effect. This has my head spinning with ideas!

Beautiful staircase. The dark wood against the white! Love.

I took this picture because I like the hallway floor. Although the different levels could be dangerous in the dark! (If you’re me!)

White/Cream cabinets.

Love this lighting over the kitchen table.

These gorgeous lights are hanging over a kitchen island. I wish I would have asked where they came from.

Have you ever model home hopped?

By Laurie|February 2nd, 2013|DIY Decor, FYI (ideas & info)|10 Comments

Dreaming of Redecorating

Happy Monday!

Well, I just redecorated my whole house… in my head! Have you been to Kirkland’s lately or looked on-line? They have some fabulous pieces. I wonder if Hubby would notice the house or the bank account if I redecorated. My guess is definitely the bank account. I can hang a picture on the wall and be tired of it before Hubby even notices it’s new. HA!

Check out these beautiful pieces…

This piece would look great in the entryway or as a sofa table.

I would use this piece as the mail center. Mail in the baskets and phone books in the cupboard. Yes, I occasionally look up a number the old fashion way.

I love this as a night stand.

OMGosh! I want this as my sewing/craft table! Please?

Media console for the one and only flat screen TV we have! I love this!

Night stand for my daughter.

Night stand for my son. Maybe in black.

Bench at the end of the bed or in the bedroom somewhere.

Kitchen bar stools. They would brighten up the kitchen.

Another night stand or end table.

I LOVE this one. It’s only 12 inches wide. I would love to have it in the front door entry way. Something different from a console table.

Just love the colors. It’s happy!

More color!

Message board for the kitchen or in my daughter’s room.

This is just different. I like different!

By Laurie|August 6th, 2012|FYI (ideas & info)|2 Comments

Creative Ideas for Maps

Before I was married, maps were never a part of my life. I guess because I never went anywhere that required visual aide to get there. Not that I would have actually been able to read a map anyway. That would mean knowing if I were headed North, South, East or West. I’m lucky to know my left from my right.

But when I met my Hubby, one of the first things I learned about him was is love of maps. Whenever we went anywhere, here or in another country, his favorite phrase would be “Let’s consult the map”. And he would hold it in the palm of his hands, up to the sky, like it was a little piece of Heaven.

Now maps are in my life too. Not to read them of course, but to use them as inspiration for DIY and decorating! (You didn’t really think I have learned which direction is which, did you?)

I found some very creative and inspiring ideas to do with maps. Some of which I can’t wait to get started! Click on the picture to see the source and directions. (If there is not a link, it’s because I could not find one.) Enjoy and create!

Hubby loves maps and I love pillows. It’s a perfect match!