A great center piece can really help create the vibe and atmosphere you’re going for. Get creative with it, they don't have to always be flowers. Here are a few quick, easy, and budget friendly tips.
Summer- the centerpieces can be as simple or as elaborate as you want. You can dress up a simple glass vase with a few slices of lemon or lime and wrap it with some string for an extra cute touch. Put in fresh flowers with a contrasting color to create a more dynamic look or go with the same colored flowers for a more chic and formal look. A Fall centerpiece on the other hand can be entirely made up of materials you can find in your yard. Unless you live in the city…take a walk down to the park. Go in search of leaves that have turned orange or red, collect a few interesting small branches that can easily fit in a vase or on a decorative tray. When Winter comes, recycle those branches you have collected from the Fall centerpiece. Wrap them half way with white yarn to create a whimsical snowy branch look. Pair the branches with a few acorns in large mason jars for an ultimate rustic winter look. For a full Spring season decor, use moss and candles for a simple yet practical look. All you need is a tray, some moss from the craft store (or the yard) and candles. Alternate the height and width of the candles for more visual interest. For Easter, place a few colorful eggs on the tray around the candles. You can even place some small Easter themed animals for a very whimsical forest vibe. Hope this post helps you in the seasons to come. Tell us about your creations in the comments below or show us on Instagram by tagging @dennison_dampier. Until next time, Paulina
0 Comments
Playrooms are one of my favorite rooms to organize. I love coming up with creative ways to place toys for easy access and visibility…Also, I’m not going to lie, it’s fun! Wall shelving and storage units are perfect for quick and easy storage solutions. Take a look at the suggestions below.  This unit is well under $200 and completely customizable when it comes to storage options. You can use anything from decorative baskets to clear containers.  This shelf is only $15 and it is perfect for storing craft supplies as it is easy to clean in case of messes. You can make the color a bit more kid friendly with a coat of spray paint in your color choice.  The Kallax shelf is probably the most popular and practical for later use. It can be easliy styled to later fit a grown child or teenager.
Of course these are just a few extremely budget friendly solutions. Don't be afraid to splurge a little more for those key pieces. They can later be used in different parts of the house, after your kids outgrow the playroom…it will happen before you know it. Hope this helps. Let us know if it does and if you'd like to read more of our weekly design tips and tricks. We love to write them for you. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @dennison_dampier for more updates and quick tips. And like us on Facebook! Until next time, Paulina Whether you are renting a place with carpeting or are looking to spruce up the living room (or any area for that matter), rug layering comes in real handy. It adds visual interest as well as extra comfort. I put together a few mood boards to give you a better idea of how easily you can layer. The first shows you a modern rustic spin on rug layering. The rug underneath adds a nice pop of color to this darker decor layout. With the cowhide rug on top it not only adds visual interest but also comfort. A glass top table is a great way to showcase the layered look. I chose the wood top coffee table with wrought iron base to give it a more rustic feel but also show off the rug layering.  The second board shows you a bit more of a glamorous and simple look. I love the play on symmetry and organic lines. The black and white stripped rug adds symmetrical stability to the area were as the organic Agate patterned rug adds interest and color. I styled the final look with metals, glass, and marble accessories. The patterned chair creates an additional visual interest on the level of the natural eye view. This way your attention doesn't go straight to the floor but travels all over the room.  The final look is a bit more Mid-Century Modern. Pair a natural low pile rug like sisal or wool with a more plush and colorful rug. This will make your minimalist space seem more cozy. Keep the decor simple and use the colors from your rug to style the room with pillows or throws. Having solid colored furniture lets you play with pattern and texture on accessories. Go nuts!  Of course you are welcome to use this technique in any room. Be creative and outgoing with your rug choices, they make the space reflect you and your personality.
Let us know in the comments what your favorite look is. We are on Instagram @dennison_dampier so tag us in your versions of rug layering. Like us on Facebook and leave a comment for what you want to know next. Until next time. -Paulina  Some would say I get a little crazy with organization, especially the ones who see me organize my groceries on the check out conveyer. What? I like to think ahead…When all my groceries are packed according to location in the pantry it becomes less stressful taking them out once I’m home.
Having everything in its correct spot makes finding things so much easier, therefore making cooking more fun and stress free. When it comes to organizing your pantry keep in mind the items you use often and items with short shelf life. Try to keep them the closest to the entrance so they are the first thing you see and they are easily accessible. Compartmentalize any free flowing items such as fresh fruits and vegetables and small condiments like chips, popcorn, and general snacks. Keep everything coordinated by size and packaging if possible. For example, place pasta and grains in clear containers for easy visibility and practical storage. Loose items such as flour and sugar can be placed in separate containers as well to avoid messes and bugs or simply placed into zip-lock bags for a more budget friendly solution. Feel free to label! You can label individual items or a shelf ( baking essentials, breakfast food, school treats, etc.) which makes it easier to locate items for visitors and yourself. Hope this gives you a good idea on how to organize your pantry. We now offer an organization service if you need any help. Let us know in the comments what you think or if you have any great tips and suggestions. Check us out on Instagram @dennison_dampier for more inspiration photos and project updates. Have a great week. Until next time. -Paulina  Sadly Summer is coming to an end and Fall will soon come knocking on our doors. You are probably preparing yourself with new outfits for the cool months ahead but what about your garden?
Winter is coming...which means it is time to plant Fall plants now while it's still warm. The sunbathed soil is perfect for incubating fresh roots. Here are just a few Fall essential plants to keep your garden looking Summery colorful year round. Trees- this is the perfect time to plant trees. Frequent rain and warm soil are ideal conditions for new roots to sprout. Vegetables- Any cool season veggies are great. Planting this early gives them sufficient time to root and be ready to eat in no time. Start with broccoli, carrots, kale, and brussel sprouts. Any Spring blooming bulbs- They tend to use the cooler weather to build up their roots. Try planting daffodils, Siberian squill, or English bluebells for a rich color pallet. Leave a comment below if you would like to hear more of our Garden Buzz. Check us out on Instagram @dennison_dampier. Until next time! If you are like me and love to update your home every season or so, this post is for you. It would be insanely expensive to purchase new furniture every time you get bored with one. Best solution…up-cycling! Any time you have a piece of furniture you are looking to change, simply upgrade it with a new look. Whether its changing the hardware or painting it a different color, these tips are easy enough to do yourself. With the dresser below I went with a subtle change but one that had a great impact on the piece. It made it look less mainstream and more one of a kind. I decided that changing the color would be too much of a hassle, I didn't want to drag it out of the house for all the prep and such. So instead I went with an easy fix. Maybe next time the client will let me paint it. What do you think? Let me know in the comments.
Here are a few design tips on up-cycling key pieces:
Nightstand- If it has drawers, change the hardware to something interesting. Anthropologie has some funky knobs. Dresser- If you like the hardware it currently has go for a color change. Make sure to prep your furniture before applying any paint. Take a chance on an intricate design or a bold color. Chairs- If you have wooden chairs with that yellowish tone, sand them down and re-stain or whitewash for that bleached beachy look. Coffee Table- If you have a glass top, change it to a smoked vintage looking glass. This will add interest and be a great conversation starter. Dining Table- Yes, the table can be easily updated without having to spend hundreds on a new one. Start by evaluating the piece. What do you want to change? The color, the finish? Then prep accordingly. All supplies can be purchased at any home improvement store. Let me know in the comments below what you would like to know next. Check us out on Instagram @dennison_dampier and like us on Facebook. Hope to hear from you! -Paulina  The desk is the most common clutter area, especially for students and people who work from home. It is so easy to over stuff your workspace with post-its, crumbled paper, pencils and pens and just plain junk. This can create such a stressful work environment. Let me tell you about some great ways to declutter your desk and the must-haves to make your desk practical. The photo below is a great example of a minimalistic workspace. Clutter free desk will help you focus and get the job done. Try to keep only the items you use often. Don't over clutter your desk with pieces you think you may need. Store away any items you don't use much. Keep the top of your desk as simple and as practical as you can. Adding interest with a pen holder, a plant, or a photo frame will make your desk more personal and pleasant to be at. Here’s a decor tip…swap the plastic trash can for a practical and aesthetically pleasing basket. Art is a great way to personalize your desk space without using up actual space. Feel free to hang personal pictures or inspiration photos. For this client, I used a surfing photo which doesn’t create a distraction but is calming and relaxing instead. Let me know in the comments below what you think and if you would like to see any desk organization DIYs. Follow us on Instagram for updates and inspiration photos. Like us on Facebook for more updates on projects. -Paulina   Sooo cute! Is probably the first thing that popped into your head when you saw this enchanted looking exterior. But what awaited me inside was no fairy tale. I could hardly get my foot through the door with all the stacked bins of books and junk. Before the project began the client and I established that this will become her outdoor library where she can store all her amazing books and have a little getaway when she needs. This amazing fully finished shed went through a huge transformation by decluttering and organizing the existing items.  We focused on trying to fit all of the books since we did want this to resemble a library. However storage was very limited so we needed to make a quick trip to IKEA and purchase 2 bookcases…it was downhill from there. We started of by removing everything from the room. Having a clean slate to look at helps to visualize the potential the space has. As soon as the bins were out I knew I wanted the daybed to be the focus of the room. It was perfect for relaxing with a good book and looking on to the yard.  Next, I started separating the books by color and placing them on the new bookcases. according to size. From largest to smallest. Then alternating between propping them vertically and horizontally <—this helps create interest. I placed a few smaller items and sculptures to make an interesting visual as well as give them a new purpose. We were tight on budget so I made sure to utilize as many pieces as possible. Anything we couldn't keep was given away. With some organization and little decor tricks this drab forgotten shed turned into an enchanted outdoor library sanctuary where you feel like any moment a unicorn might show up. Yeah thats how magical it is. - Paulina    Ps. Everything was very budget friendly and I ended up decorating with existing items. The only items we have purchased were the bookcases. ($25 each)
Monty Don is one of my favourite gardeners. In this video his powers of description and sense of humor and wonder lead you on a journey through the most beautiful gardens of Italy. This show he has done is just so inspiring! A gem to watch. I hope you love it as much as I do and it inspires you to do something wonderful with your own garden. -Tara Arched windows are an amazing feature in a home but can be difficult to dress. Home owners tend to leave the arch open, and although that may look nice, it’s not always the most practical… especially if you want to hide out from the sun. Well look no further! Here are 2 options of how you can dress your arched window. First, this is something you can actually do yourself if you are the crafty type. Measure the size of your arch and the entire window. Take a ride to your local fabric store and purchase the amount of fabric you will need for the arch and drapes. Go with Sunbrella fabric, it’s great for drapery use because it takes forever to fade after being exposed to the sun. Cut the fabric to the size of the arch. Fold in the raw edges and sew over. Attach evenly spaced metal eyelets to the arched drape you had just done. Screw in hooks to the ceiling and hang the arched drape by hooking the eyelets on to the screwed in hooks. VOILA! You have yourself an arched window treatment. Option 2: Hire someone to do this for you. It will save you a lot of headache if you are not into sewing and being crafty. Hope you enjoyed this little tip. If you would like to see photos of the DIY process of arched drapery leave us a comment. Help us give you what you want by leaving a comment or suggestion of what you'd like to know next. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram for design ideas and inspirations. -Paulina  |
AuthorsMary Dampier, Tara Dennison and Paulina Brajczewska. Archives
October 2016
|
RSS Feed
