stairwell art

I've always loved a pretty art collection in the stairwell. Now that I have stairs in my home I have no idea how to handle them. I thought I would put two message boards there for my children's art, I would love family pictures the whole way up and I would also love a mix of old and new photographs and paintings that have meaning to us.

The problem is....I need  our home to function for our family. My dad is handicapped and he can get upstairs, but it isn't without effort. He uses the railing on one side and the wall on the other. I would hate to put more obstacles in his way. It wouldn't be a big deal except our television is upstairs in the loft. Plus, he enjoys helping with little home improvement projects up there.

{domino}

{metropolitan home}

{unknown}

We can leave it blank or hang the artwork higher. I may have to spy extra close when he goes up next. BTW my stairs are not this fancy. Maybe someday.

Any advice?

in memoraim

Happy Memorial Day! And a big thank you to all those have defended our country and those who still do today. We always make a point to visit a Memorial Day service at a local cemetery or memorial and I highly recommend it. Last year it even included a patriotic camel...we'll see what this year holds.

{homecoming by Earle L. Bunker}

did you see?

There has been so much goodness around the blogosphere lately. Did you see Jenny's diy sputnick chandelier?

She's pretty much a genius! One day I hope we can be bff!

Kirsten did a brilliant post about being a better designer. 

{lonny}

Nicole made such a cute printable for us!

ALSO:

• I'm looking forward to John and Sherry's art reveal.
• Loved Caitlin's apartment inspiration. I think coral is universally flattering to wear, why not to decorate? I'm also excited for her to be in the states.
• I really want to make one of these when I get a new desk

What have you seen lately?

on my mind

Message boards

I'm about half way done with a few message boards for my stairwell. I suddenly am putting one in each kid's room and want two more for the office. Obsess much Amber? Here's some inspiration:

{kirsten krason}

{jenny komenda}

{bryn dunn}

Gotta go finish painting before the kids wake up!

desired designer

SARAH RICHARDSON

Tell me you know who Sarah Richardson is. If you don't you should be ashamed of yourself! She is a genius, through and through. I wish we aired her shows at the same time Canada does. Sheesh. But, we are finally getting Sarah's Summer House. I wish we could watch Sarah 101 because it looks amazing...maybe next year. 

Well, before you think I'm a stalker {I'm not I swear!} let me show you why she is so great:

I want to live in this dining room forever, I could totally sleep there.

 

I love her attention to detail and her timeless style. Watch her on Saturdays with me please!

{and in other news...I have borrowed a camera and will be posting a project and some corners of my home next week. rip to my old camera if it was run over OR shame on you to whoever found it and didn't turn it in.}

sleeper sofas

I have been thinking about our office slash guest room a lot lately. The floor plan is all drawn out and I know exactly what it needs. I wish that meant I could buy everything I needed and install it this weekend! The design calls for a sleeper sofa. This way it can be the guest room we need it to be but still be a place that will function day to day. I have been looking for sleepers for fun {yes fun!} and it's amazing how terribly ugly or terribly expensive they are! Plus, I need them to be less than 81 inches long to fit on the right wall.

Here are a some contenders:

{source}

{my fave!!! a little impractical!- source}

 

 {crate and barrel}

 

 {crate and barrel}

{looks a little funky but very nice in person. RCWilley}

When you look around there are actually some great options. Especially when you can go a little longer than I can. I hate to think that whatever I find will most likely be more expensive than my sofa, love seat and sectional combined...maybe we need some more searching. I will be on the lookout for floor models, sales and damaged goods!

I would look to craiglist but due to asthma in our home I don't like to buy used upholstery. Maybe it would be cheaper to have it reupholstered? But that is doubtful. I will share with you what happens along the way!

picking paint

I had a question about how I pick paint. I am not a paint expert but I do have a way that I like to do it. I really try to go with lighter paint colors because I think they bring more light into a room. I tend to look at the colors I like and go one shade lighter. 

I do love a room painted a dark color but only if it has a lot of crisp white throughout the room.And the room would have to be quite large.

{domino}

{zooey d-domino}

 But I like more neutrals at the moment. 

{decorpad}

{unknown-via little green notebook}

Here are some of my favorite paint colors:

Benjamin Moore Hazy Skies

Love any of Glidden's off whites because they are so light and airy but not white. And also love their neutrals.

I buy most of my paint from Kwal. It's not everywhere but I can get it at a great price and it's a high quality paint.

I love a neutral grey. Grey undertone in a color will make it more versatile. I always choose blues with grey in it. That's what I did in my living room.

 {l & s- current wish/inspiration fabric}

My fail safe and favorite way to pick a paint color is to find a fabric that I love for the room and pick a color out of that. I like to start all room designs with fabric or a rug.

Hope that helps! More on this to come!

be still my heart

My heart literally skipped a beat when I saw this.

{People have asked me what I want to do when all the kids are in school. I have to admit that one of my dream jobs would be to design window displays. I would especially love to do so at Anthropologie. Maybe someday....}

Eddie Ross is a genius. You have to check out his blog. It's filled with beautiful things, great ideas and lovely pictures. His portfolio does not disappoint! 

I have a semi secret project in the works currently. A surprise from one person to some girls. This window display was a huge inspiration. I cannot wait to share more on this project as it gets closer. I will share some projects along the way. Install is not for a few months though. So I will have to keep you in suspense.

a sad sneak peek

I had grand plans of showing you all my living room today. Sadly, it's becoming abundantly clear that the noise of something falling out of the car in Target's parking lot was not nothing. It was, in fact, the camera that I had just fixed. I swear I looked but couldn't find anything down there! Luckily the memory card was empty. I am going to have to beg, borrow or steal a camera {most likely option #2} so I can get you pictures on Monday. Until then here is a sneak camera phone peek.

before:

 And after a little while:

The room has a bit more to go and a few projects to finish but I will share along the way. This picture will have a lot of changes over the next few months. Things will have to happen in real time because some things will just have to wait.

*********************************

In the meantime, I would love to help with any of your design dilemmas or questions you have. Anything from furniture fix ups to fabric choices. One reason I started this little blog was due to all the questions I have been getting lately. Send me your inquiry, with a picture if you can and I will pick a few to blog about. If I do not share on the blog I will definitely email you back.

kids incorporated

 I'm starting to realize that all the toys are not going to live in the bedrooms like I want them to. Maybe someday...not today though. I am going to have to work on incorporating toys into the loft.

I know children's toys are not always cute and they shouldn't be part of the decor but since they are giving me the downstairs I should let them be a part of upstairs. Right? I think so!

Check this bad boy out!

{via trad home}

I hope my upstairs loft/multipurpose/tv room/living room can have this much joy someday. I love it! This room will serve as my inspiration room when the time comes. Hopefully sooner than later.

wish list

The room I seem to be most worried about is our family room. It is right there when you walk in. It did not have one piece of furniture when we moved in and remained bare for the first few months besides an occasional chair or twin bed waiting to live upstairs. It is nearly finished now but we will have to wait a while on the rug and coffee table. I have new side tables to paint and the lamps may or may not be changing but it is oh so close.

I would love to get two of these lemongrass grass cubes to use as a coffee table. They are the perfect size and could easily be moved around for the kids to roll around. I would worry about those corners though.

Another option I love would be two of these X benches.They are the most reasonable price out there. Of course with these I would have to recover the cushion. But you know there's a print I've had my eye on for that.

And if money wasn't an issue you know I would get one of these beauties

And as long as we are in my little dream world I would need this rug to complete the room

In reality we will most likely end up with something that will have a very nice before and after post. But it's always fun to play!

did i mention a budget?

After my excitement of my first official post is wearing off I realized I left out one major thing I will cover here at noted...decorating on a budget. Everyone should have one! Mine are small for now with dreams of growing someday in the future. I have a few client projects in the works currently. One budget is teeny tiny and one is quite glamorous for what the project is.

I will show you how I stick to my budget. Which at times is by not shopping anywhere for anything. When people ask me where I bought something I usually say "When in doubt I got it off Craiglist or at Home Goods!" I also make myself sound fancy by saying it is vintage instead of thrifted sometimes, depending on who I am speaking with. I like to feel fancy!

That budget thing can get in the way! But it can also be a big blessing. I think every room needs to start with one thing...HOW MUCH? This is more important than what style {that post is for another day}. Big or small, it's crucial to know what can be done and how to make the most of every dime. I would rather stretch my budget than my wallet any day!

One of my design idols is Kristan Cunningham. I loved Design on a Dime while it was in it's prime. It was especially fun for me because I lived in LA and I could shop at the places they shopped in segments. But Kristan's team was the only team I watched.

As a side note: I totally served Kristan a BBQ chicken salad in my serving days after she shot a segment at the mall by my restaurant. After serving dozens of famous people and keeping my cool, I made a fool of myself when I came to her table. She was super nice and by the time they got their drinks I was able to make fun of myself a little. And that table will live on in my heart forever!

Back to the post! I am still inspired at the images from Kristan's rental home she remodeled on a budget in 2009. Check out all the pictures HERE. Simply gorgeous! Her kitchen redo was $1000. One thing she has always been able to amaze me with is her space planning. That is something that money cannot buy {or maybe it can} but is perhaps the most important part of the room...oh wait I said that was the budget. Darn! Well it's all key to the best possible room.

What do you think a reasonable budget for one room would be dear readers {all five of you on day 2!}?  And what are your favorite ways to stretch your budget? I'm interested in your thoughts. Do tell!

my new notebook

If you know me at all you know that I always have a pen, a pencil and a notebook with me.  In my notebook I make lists, write ideas, keep measurements and dream up floor plan upon floor plan. It drives my husband crazy I think! Only because I can never just sit down and watch a movie. I'm always there note taking.

{image}

For ten years I have been obsessed with home decor. TV shows, magazines and blogs {oh the blogs!} I have wanted to add my own blog to the mix for a long time now but never felt like it was the right time or circumstance for me. The time has come and although I'm not quite sure what my little blog can add to such an amazing world of inspiring designers I would like to give it my very best.

Join me and I will show you my home, my favorite things, decorators and designers I admire, before and afters and current projects I am working on. I cannot wait to share my decorating notebook with all of you! Welcome to Noted Home!