Elegant Nursery

Source: babylifestyles.com via Kimber on Pinterest

Love the way this nursery is designed. Using white makes it feel pure and natural. By furnishing with mirrored pieces gives the nursery an elegant style, while keeping it baby-friendly. The shag rug also gives a soft textuire and brings in something playful.

To paint the ceiling or not?

The ceiling is the fifth wall and many decorators and designers feel that keeping the ceiling white is like “throwing a sheet over the room” (Christopher Lowell said that years ago). But there are a few conditions to consider before painting the ceiling anything other than white:

1) Is your ceiling heavily textured? In many old houses, the ceiling is patterned (and God forbid, “popcorned”) and therefore very difficult to paint well. Also, painting it anything other than white will call attention to it and maybe that’s not what you want. One solution is to have your ceilings replastered to match your walls and painted, but if that’s out of the question, I would stick with white.

2) Is your ceiling a smooth plaster? If so, you should definitely paint it. How lucky you are! >

2A) Is your ceiling really high? If so, you can paint it virtually any color that goes with the rest of the room. If you’d like to bring the ceiling down visually, consider a color darker than your wall color or a warm color (both will advance and appear to bring the ceiling down to a level that’s more in scale with your room). Also consider adding crown moulding if it’s not already there. The moulding will also bring the ceiling down by calling your eye’s attention to it. And it really finishes the room.

2B) Is your ceiling low or average height? Consider painting it a tint of the wall color. If your walls are a medium blue, then your ceiling would be the very lightest blue on the color swatch or even lighter (white with a dash of blue). This will help to round out the room and make the ceiling part of the overall decor — not just that white sheet over the top.

3) Does your room have enough light? Bright white ceilings do help bounce light back into the room so if your room is already dark, pay special attention to the ceiling color. White can be used effectively, but light tints on the ceiling will also reflect light. Just avoid a ceiling color that is going to absorb all the light and leave the room dark.

4) Are you painting a guest bath? I like to paint the wall color right up over the ceiling in a guest bathroom. Doing that makes the room feel larger by blending the walls and ceiling together and avoiding sharp lines and corners.

5) Are you painting a bedroom? In what other room do we lie around and stare at the ceiling? Why not paint it something interesting. In a bedroom, the sky’s the limit (literally) — from puffy blue clouds on a backdrop of sky blue to a quilt of squares in different colors. And in kids’ rooms, the ceiling is just one more space to use your creativity.

Organizing Pantry

Get It Done: How to Clean Out the Pantry

Houzz- Kitchen Remodel, Bathroom Remodel and More »

Browse Bath Products on Houzz- For Example:

Bath Mats · Bathroom Faucets · Bathroom Mirrors · Bathroom Sinks · Bathroom Vanities And Sink Consoles · Bathtubs · Toilets · Towel Bars And Hooks ·

Decorating with different patterns

Because you will more than likely repaint your children's rooms several times as they grow up and their tastes change, the sky's the limit when it comes to your creativity and color use. For a younger child, try bold colors and large, geometric shapes. Be sure to ask your child what his favorite shapes and colors are before beginning.

Cozy up

Love the idea of creating a bench-style seating at the base of a staircase. Gives a cozy look and it also works as a functional space for when kids need to put on their shoes in the morning.

Source: homedesignpins.com via Lisa on Pinterest

Soft color palette

Neutrals and blues give a room a tranquil and relaxing vibe. If you feel it's not enough color, pop in some coral whether it's a pillow, throw blanket or accessory piece.

Why work with an Interior Designer

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Using different textures of pillows on a sofa

Shades of Grey

Source: houzz.com via Erica on Pinterest

Grey wall colors look sophisticated and elegant, and they can have a peaceful, calming effect on a room. But depending on the undertone, each grey also has its own distinctive characteristics. For example, pure greys are clean and crisp; bluish greys are pretty and light-hearted; green-based greys are more serious and grounded, while greys with purple undertones add a touch of mystery and warmth to a room. Grey walls look best when they have a chalky, flat finish. A glossy sheen does look sleek, but it also brings out the coldness in greys. Deep, dark grey color looks stunning in powder rooms, formal dining rooms, living rooms and bedrooms (but it needs to be balanced with white or cream) as shown above.

Stacked pumpkins for porch

Love this idea of stacking pumpkins in your favorite planter or urn. Even add foliage to the bottom under the pumpkins.

Source: momdesigner.blogspot.com via Tiffany on Pinterest

How to transform your closet into a pantry

Instructions 1 Choose a closet near your kitchen. Any closet will work, but you'll quickly grow tired of trekking food across the house every time you want something, especially if you have to go to another floor. For this reason, bedroom closets and storage trunks tucked in the basement rarely make good pantry storage. 2 Pull all stored items out of the closet and find them new homes. Remove any shelving, hooks or hanger bars you won't be using. 3 Repair any damage (such as holes in the drywall) if necessary. Once all drywall patches are dry and sanded smooth, use a mixture of hot water and vinegar to scrub the entire closet. Don't forget the ceiling and floor. It's important to remove any insects and their waste. Paint the closet if desired. This task is much easier before shelving installation. 4 Use a stud finder to install heavy duty adjustable metal shelving bars in your pantry cabinet. Adjustable bars work best because you can reposition the shelves as needed over time. Keep the bars close together and always in studs; they must withstand a lot of weight. Bars installed in drywall alone are not safe to handle the weight of pantry storage. 5 Measure the size of your new pantry cabinet. Purchase pre-fab shelving and brackets to fit. (Bear in mind the wider the shelf, the less sturdy it becomes.) You can also cut your own shelves for a custom fit if preferred. Use treated lumber at least 1/2-inch thick; sand, polyurethane and lightly sand again once dry. Wipe shelves clean. 6 Bring out your largest food storage containers. Use them to help with shelf placement. Place the bottom shelf first and work your way up. Adjust shelving as desired and fill your new pantry. Tips & Warnings Be certain shelf width is appropriate for the brackets. If the shelving is too narrow, you'll end up with a gap at the back that small items can fall through.