Beadboard

I love, love, love beadboard. It's a classic look that goes with anything and never gets old. It comes white but that doesn't mean that it has to stay that way. You could paint it if you'd like but try to stay with lighter, neutral colors if you're placing it in formal areas. On the other hand, in bedrooms spice it up and paint it a bright color. It ornaments the wall and makes the space feel clean and sleak. It's been around since the early 19th century used by the Victorians in mostly less formal homes and spaces. You can install beadboard anywhere, that's the beauty of it, but it is commonly placed in foyers, hallways, and bathrooms. There are three ways you can install it: 1) Wainscoting - which is where 3/4 of the wall is paneled, 2) Dado (pronounces day-doe) - which is where only the lower portion of the wall is paneled and 3) depending on the room, sometimes full paneled walls look great too. You can buy the beadboard at any local home improvement store and install it yourself! It comes in a couple of different sizes which are based on where exactly you're putting it.

Here are a few beautiful applications of beadboard:

bathrooms - notice thinner sheets in the bathroom and thicker sheets in the hall

bedrooms or sitting areas - a little higher than 1/2 of the wall

dining rooms - full paneled

ceilings



hallways and stairwells



kitchens covering cabinets

kitchens covering walls

living rooms - full paneled

wainscoting beadboard - a small shelf has been added

children's room - good example of colored beadboard

dado beadboard - just above the chair line

To learn how to install beadboard click here.

Chalkboard Paint

When I was a kid, I LOVED to color on walls in the staircase. Who doesn't? My mother didn't approve but I just liked the idea a big 'ol clean canvas to mess up! (I even colored on the fireplace..) You may have already heard about it or used it, but I just think chalkboard paint is the coolest thing. I don't know why it wasn't around when I was little. Not only does it come in black, but every other color in the rainbow, too.

Here are a few ideas that you can do at home with chalkboard paint:

Paint a strip on your kitchen canisters, on a piece of wood attached to your bins, or on the back of a cabinet door for messages or a to-do list.



 

Be brave and paint a whole wall or if you're not feeling that just a framed section of it looks great too!



Wish I had a playroom this cool.



 

Other Ideas:

 

There's so much you can do with this stuff! And when it gets messy, warm water with soap will get it right off! I don't know if I could paint a whole wall, but I am looking forward to making some label or something with it. It's just too cool!

You can get the paint from Lowe's or Home Depot. Chalkboard paint pens are also available for small projects. Pick up some Scotch Blue Painter's tape for perfect lines to paint on.

Have a wonderful afternoon!

Coffee Tables

It's always a question if coffee tables are appropriate or not. One of my dear teachers is very opposed to coffee tables. She says if you have end tables then a coffee table is not necessary. She says she likes to be able to walk directly and sit down and not have to squat and tip-toe around a big bulky piece! She's a hoot.

This ensemble literally cracks me up because I could just see her now cringing at these awful tables and how freaking close they are to the couch!

Don't ever think this is okay...

Celebrity Wednesday

Every Wednesday I am going to post a room from a celebrity's home. I love to see what the rich folks up in Hollywood are up to.

This week it's the good 'ol Miley Ray Cyrus. I'm not a huge fan of hers but I have to say her sense of style is quite unique. She got her inspiration from the Viceroy Hotel in Santa Monica, California. In an interview she said, "I wanted it to be girlie and fashiony, kind of like a boutique."

I'm always a fan of teal and zebra but she threw in a little brownish, purpleish color in there too. Not too bad for a rockstar! The light fixture is great too! The taborets on the end are the best part about the whole room! So adorable and expensive that her feet should not be pressed down on them!

Her dressing room is a little punky but it's cute. The wallpaper is fabulous and I'm a HUGE fan of long mirrors that sit on the floor. I'd love to see her closet that's attached to this dressing room!

She's cute, she's funky and I really like her punk rock style she's got going on. Daddy's little girl, for sure!



Fun Stripes

Stripes are a great pattern that can almost (I dare to say all) always go with any style. A new trick I've learned about painting stripes on a wall is using the high gloss and flat tense of the same color. That made hardly any sense. Take this beautiful oceanic themed room from one of my favorite shows, Color Splash with David Bromstad, for example:

Can you see them? I promise they're there!

And how about this color scheme?? LOVE.

They are so suttle but so gorgeous!

 

Here is a closeup of the stripes!

The room itself is to die for but I just love the simplicity of the stripes. In the episode it took them a little while to do but it was so worth it! And the best part about them is, you could do them anywhere: in a kitchen, bathroom, or a bedroom! Instead of just painting the walls a normal shade that's so boring and overused, spice it up and try this! It's definitely on my top 10 of "Remodeling Natalie's Room" ideas!

See the whole episode here.
(Make sure you check out that killer built in bookcase! So clever!)

Princess Bedroom

As you well know, I am an interior design student and I want to start posting photos of homes and rooms that I love. I think it's very important to stay up to date with the industry and make sure you know what new trends are out. The first picture is this beautiful bedroom:

Every time I see this bedroom, I think of simplicity and elegance. I like to think that if there was such thing as a grown up princess, she'd have a room like this!

The colors are so neutral with a splash of hot pink. The zebra chair is my favorite part simply because I've always wanted one! And those lovely curves in the bed go along with the curves of the room. The whole design is exquisite!!

Have a great day!

...and the home of the brave.

As we approach the Fourth of July, it is important to remember what the true meaning of this important holiday is. Not only is it the number one BBQ day of the year, as I've just learned, it's the glorious day our land became a nation. Let us all celebrate with family and friends the freedom our soldiers fought for then and continue to fight for today.

I stumbled across this adorable stamp written by a child and couldn't resist. Sometimes it's the young ones who show us big kids what it's all about. It's a simple but so perfect quote, "One small fight can lead to war, but one small kiss can lead to peace." If we could all capture the true meaning of this little girl's words, our country would be unstoppable.

Here is a card I made, just so I could get this quote on paper. I'll probably end up sending it to my grandmother or something. More Independence cards will be made this week! Have a fantastic weekend!

Go Braves!

For my birthday, Jimmy and I drove to Atlanta, GA to watch a Braves games. Boy was it fun! Best birthday ever! We had Steak n' Shake, went to the mall, and saw the game! I was so sunburnt the next day it was unreal! I also got a Chipper Jones t-shirt! At Hobby Lobby today, they had really cute baseball paper so I got some to make him a thank you card just for coming along and making my birthday so special.

Here it is!

Dad's Day!

Dads are the foundation of a family and deserve only the best! Who doesn't love their daddy? Like most girls, I'm a daddy's little girl. My dad, growing up and even now, would do anything for me. Number one thing I love my daddy for: helping me in school. Staying up till 2 am helping me with my drafting for three quarters in a row shows a lot! I love my dad! Show your dad you love him too! Buy a card or make a handmade one yourself!

Here's the one I made my dad!

Here's another daddy's day card I made for someone! Both are $5.50.

Hope everyone has a fantastic Daddy's Day Weekend!

Admitting I'm Indecisive

I decided to change the layout once again. I think I'm okay with this title and these colors, at least for now. Not so much card making recently; too much school work and family problems. I need simply one day to lock myself in my craft room and go at it - cards, decor, bags, etc. My next project is converting an old jewelry cabinet into a perfume cabinet. Will post before pictures soon. :)