Pretty Bridesmaids Luncheon

Hello friends! I've been busy with weddings and family vacays and very little internet access (or time), but I wanted to pop in and share some pics I snapped at the gorgeous luncheon my sister-in-law threw for all of her bridesmaids! It was perfect. <div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglZABbgM5a4QRgi00nhy0oedmFykrvdZ5_S5JmV1pU7gm3B2frUe0p-RrdXayOkFaWwW4RFMcbIeVk5JsAL_tn-wv_MEgRXkrpVTOKRBT15T0Ynmw8Zu6dLxm9lXz0W_BRLiWIFnLDE8/s640/blogger-image--510070983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglZABbgM5a4QRgi00nhy0oedmFykrvdZ5_S5JmV1pU7gm3B2frUe0p-RrdXayOkFaWwW4RFMcbIeVk5JsAL_tn-wv_MEgRXkrpVTOKRBT15T0Ynmw8Zu6dLxm9lXz0W_BRLiWIFnLDE8/s640/blogger-image--510070983.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJMfs1-_BdgI4o3YQuFcUiMfFGnXUdSBbDtRFM1fImf1QDib15TzEDoPUib1RBo38gbb981YzukINHK_cKEf4dMZ9vAes7FPaBIXgnWCnA2QitU28JxdI1Tdz4sWPEIrJ9yT6JGAVKpo/s640/blogger-image--1633518955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJMfs1-_BdgI4o3YQuFcUiMfFGnXUdSBbDtRFM1fImf1QDib15TzEDoPUib1RBo38gbb981YzukINHK_cKEf4dMZ9vAes7FPaBIXgnWCnA2QitU28JxdI1Tdz4sWPEIrJ9yT6JGAVKpo/s640/blogger-image--1633518955.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIL37pzsuFiKuBlO57VC9xPOL9QIoiWd2RTOPNpdAyTM_tF1EbHSNzjQMHMBR_fJZMG1ee87MEZQ6m4xa4o1jDewgldrrBahMICjGOY-HicXaKPSzaxWcjgbgSqaOdza-uHdesBJXRATA/s640/blogger-image--460323929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIL37pzsuFiKuBlO57VC9xPOL9QIoiWd2RTOPNpdAyTM_tF1EbHSNzjQMHMBR_fJZMG1ee87MEZQ6m4xa4o1jDewgldrrBahMICjGOY-HicXaKPSzaxWcjgbgSqaOdza-uHdesBJXRATA/s640/blogger-image--460323929.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlJ0_DrJ5RHbOh-Kl_w2W5onXZ0Kcfg8WlRRpNoIw_58I-weI8oi871_bE08J91ULn2KGJL_9otgxcKnDIWHXMcvgY7Kw0btnQWGHIip_daS6Nup134u4P7666J3sdeZmTGShr1Mp6hs/s640/blogger-image--614445709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlJ0_DrJ5RHbOh-Kl_w2W5onXZ0Kcfg8WlRRpNoIw_58I-weI8oi871_bE08J91ULn2KGJL_9otgxcKnDIWHXMcvgY7Kw0btnQWGHIip_daS6Nup134u4P7666J3sdeZmTGShr1Mp6hs/s640/blogger-image--614445709.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I loved the simple row of white vases with pink peonies down the center of a long table. The Tiffany blue bags on the chairs brought in a pretty pop of color. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I believe The Wildflower Floral Design did the decor. They also did the wedding and it was stunning. I can't wait to share some pics from that too! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Also, thanks Bistro 31 in Highland Park Village for the delicious food, drinks and great service! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(I'll link up to everyone when I get back from vacay!) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br><div><br></div><div><br></div></div>

Pretty Bridesmaids Luncheon

Hello friends! I've been busy with weddings and family vacays and very little internet access (or time), but I wanted to pop in and shar...

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Thoughts on choosing dark kitchen cabinets

 Questions  about the wisdom of  choosing dark  kitchen cabinets keep cropping up in my reading and client discussions. Of course there are no absolutes in decorating.  You can make anything work or look good if you have the skills, and using dark cabinets in any room  requires a deft hand.<br /><br />If you want your dark cabinet choice to work and have the longest style staying power, consider the following:<br /><br /><h4>Let the cabinets shine</h4><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikao3um7BCQLvpHRsOkX-YRcpi2rzGLRVbbkt-xPO7_CfFBnPNdEWUWjB7HjP5RLAb7H9uoB3tFJo_q7sU8CzjUhAnkCIyWPBi2ilSuixei5slFpvUFjEr5H-JH49t-WuRCUublYQY7WHM/s1600/dark+contemporary-kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="dark cabinets high contrast " border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikao3um7BCQLvpHRsOkX-YRcpi2rzGLRVbbkt-xPO7_CfFBnPNdEWUWjB7HjP5RLAb7H9uoB3tFJo_q7sU8CzjUhAnkCIyWPBi2ilSuixei5slFpvUFjEr5H-JH49t-WuRCUublYQY7WHM/s1600/dark+contemporary-kitchen.jpg" title="Thoughts on choosing dark kitchen cabinets" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.houzz.com/discussions/137108/Are-dark-kitchen-cabinets-out---everything"> source</a></div><br /> When I work with clients who want everything that they consider trendy in one space, I always discuss the wisdom of this approach.   Something has to be the star in a space and you should decide in the beginning what the star will be.  When you choose dark cabinets they demand centre stage, and everything else should support them and make them look their best.  Using lots of white or very light colours with dark cabinets is the way to go to get that sophisticated, rich, classy look that many people are after when they choose dark cabinets.   <br /><br /><h4>Use  in open area spaces </h4><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp5SSyw2VHyjDoTaKxAiUhyCc1ZQwv_cQGrZrjDk7OxBBqdnH97-we0tkHLL4DOcspJZLAvbfFgDhIinN2gJXN5gBpHfO62-aBUqppRE3vg9chLoJb8lpNoiQkWqcHLSwrxhEDfkci5HGk/s1600/dark-+cabinets-open-area.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="dark cabinets open concept" border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp5SSyw2VHyjDoTaKxAiUhyCc1ZQwv_cQGrZrjDk7OxBBqdnH97-we0tkHLL4DOcspJZLAvbfFgDhIinN2gJXN5gBpHfO62-aBUqppRE3vg9chLoJb8lpNoiQkWqcHLSwrxhEDfkci5HGk/s1600/dark-+cabinets-open-area.jpg" title="Thoughts on choosing dark kitchen cabinets" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">  <a href="http://www.houzz.com/discussions/137108/Are-dark-kitchen-cabinets-out---everything">source  </a></div><br />Dark cabinets work well in large, open area spaces where the wall colours are lighter rather than darker. The dark cabinets help to balance and ground the space. . <br /><br /><h4>Have breaks in the dark flow </h4><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOCefqSyf2gX5SgHHuBoA-bTUu3t_-Yr0AVI30yXjy0rqwp6bj1l0rP4ZMPRXJC9QryIt_U__ZxsSQSahuMb27DkE_KxM-hKeDr5g7g3H7Qsy_tG-KUR1ZrZd8dsZgxn_o8RSll2LLpSwA/s1600/dark-gray-cabinets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="open spaces with dark kitchen cabinets" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOCefqSyf2gX5SgHHuBoA-bTUu3t_-Yr0AVI30yXjy0rqwp6bj1l0rP4ZMPRXJC9QryIt_U__ZxsSQSahuMb27DkE_KxM-hKeDr5g7g3H7Qsy_tG-KUR1ZrZd8dsZgxn_o8RSll2LLpSwA/s1600/dark-gray-cabinets.jpg" title="Thoughts on choosing dark kitchen cabinets" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodrenopin.com/?p=7099"> source</a></div><br /> Leaving lots of wall space free of cabinets and/or having glass with light interior cabinets can do a  lot to balance a darker cabinet colour.  Having contrast with the floor is a must to create a lively space.<br /><h4>Mix dark and light together</h4><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/1162214/kitchen-contemporary-kitchen-toronto"><img alt="mixing light and dark kitchen cabinets" border="0" height="265" src="http://st.houzz.com/simgs/2081989a0ff468af_3-0506/contemporary-kitchen.jpg" title="Thoughts on choosing dark kitchen cabinets" width="400" /></a></h4><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houzz.com/pro/braamscc/braams-custom-cabinets" style="color: #444444; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none;">Braam's Custom Cabinets</a></div> <span style="font-weight: normal;">If you are afraid of too much dark but like the look why not do a mix of darks and lights together? </span><br /><h4>Questions to consider: </h4><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> Is there enough contrast with the floor? </b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIyYQ285Rf9JY8basU9WPjqIWYIeApzNumIga3CvuCR0HotAf_8iuH6f1q2Ukmqgg_k7yR1fN6Sg1Gz0fhyTqyA58EVhSzSAxeuZiA3GeeqDxQ8akzow0Jp8MG4LBzoYq2mFr6e2LZ7BJl/s1600/dark+-cabinets-dark-floor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="dark kitchen cabinets dark floors" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIyYQ285Rf9JY8basU9WPjqIWYIeApzNumIga3CvuCR0HotAf_8iuH6f1q2Ukmqgg_k7yR1fN6Sg1Gz0fhyTqyA58EVhSzSAxeuZiA3GeeqDxQ8akzow0Jp8MG4LBzoYq2mFr6e2LZ7BJl/s1600/dark+-cabinets-dark-floor.jpg" title="Thoughts on choosing dark kitchen cabinets" width="316" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=88344">source  </a></div><br />When you choose dark cabinets your floors need to contrast with the cabinets or you are going to have the "bear cave" look that happens when your floors blend in with your cabinets. This is not an attractive look for  smaller spaces.    Even thought the floor above does have some contrast with the cabinets, I would have chosen something a tad lighter to open up the space.  Again, no absolutes, only considerations and photos often lie.  This is a lovely space.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b> Is there enough contrast between elements?</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPpdWmnE8E5wKrUE6DsXnqVvPmcNY_cz32i01MO2juMtD3qG6iNsytB4sBDnrUPeWnhTuxufdVWbTmPp3pSs-PREX8KondfvjPJx9uuDvXFTv25-IeyGPELDu1dYS9zy0VPOjCp4IWcFt/s1600/no-contrast-dark-cabinets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="dark kitchen cabinets contrast " border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPpdWmnE8E5wKrUE6DsXnqVvPmcNY_cz32i01MO2juMtD3qG6iNsytB4sBDnrUPeWnhTuxufdVWbTmPp3pSs-PREX8KondfvjPJx9uuDvXFTv25-IeyGPELDu1dYS9zy0VPOjCp4IWcFt/s1600/no-contrast-dark-cabinets.jpg" title="Thoughts on choosing dark kitchen cabinets" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.luxurykitchenideas.com/dark-wooden-kitchen-cabinets-design/dark-kitchen-cabinets/">source</a></div><br />This space is unusually dark.  It is the perfect kitchen for someone, but I would venture to say that it would not be a selling point for many buyers. <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Can you have too much  pattern?</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKMy2kC8Kz6UbqNv2rzE8j96H_bRJqJb7renyjATbx-SSBl-A3iLLIfd6SbSCVoWa21_Xr0KnnFkjCajMFJRlgiFf77Gb1zgVLBXnnmRK7htfBOzRzj1cJr9QZEScNmp7FOu6cFpozP36/s1600/dark-+passe-kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="patterned countertop and backsplash" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKMy2kC8Kz6UbqNv2rzE8j96H_bRJqJb7renyjATbx-SSBl-A3iLLIfd6SbSCVoWa21_Xr0KnnFkjCajMFJRlgiFf77Gb1zgVLBXnnmRK7htfBOzRzj1cJr9QZEScNmp7FOu6cFpozP36/s1600/dark-+passe-kitchen.jpg" title="Thoughts on choosing dark kitchen cabinets" width="328" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kitchen-design-angel.com/kitchen-cabinet-colors.html">source  </a></div><br />  When you have darker, busy countertops  and then have patterned backsplash you are setting up pattern competition, and it can look very busy in a small space. My rule of thumb is patterned counter, plain backsplash.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Do you have enough lighting?</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/215247/Rocky-Ledge-Kitchen-transitional-kitchen-boston" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img alt="adequate kitchen lighting dark cabinets" border="0" height="267" src="http://st.houzz.com/simgs/b001d3950e287d2e_3-6124/transitional-kitchen.jpg" title="Thoughts on choosing dark kitchen cabinets" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></div><br /><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"> </span><a href="http://www.houzz.com/pro/lda-architecture-interiors/lda-architecture-interiors" style="color: #444444; font-size: 13px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;">LDa Architecture & Interiors</a></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="color: #444444;">Sometimes it is difficult to tell from a photo exactly how much light is in a space.  This space is reading dark even with the obviously adequate lighting from three (probably four with under counter) light sources and light reflection from the white counter and backsplash. <br /><br />Who knew there was so much to consider when you decide to go for dark!  Again, there are no absolutes only considerations and balances.   Happy decision making.</div>

Thoughts on choosing dark kitchen cabinets

 Questions  about the wisdom of  choosing dark  kitchen cabinets keep cropping up in my reading and client discussions. Of course there are ...

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A KC Real Estate Obsession

So the other day while the baby slept and Edward was taking a six-hour bath, I decided to pass the time by browsing some real estate listings (For the record, I was ordered not to talk to him while he played with the bath toys).  I came across <a href="http://www.kansascityhomes.com/Kansas-City/800-W-52nd-St-Kansas-City-MO_64112/1873757.aspx">this historic Kansas City home</a> and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since!  It's just soo from another time (in a good way), and I imagine the person who lived here was or is probably pretty fabulous.  (I'm sure they are also someone I <i>should know</i>, but I'm like the worst Kansas Citian ever - I blame law school and children).  <br /><br />These are real estate photos, which I know don't do it justice.  I'd love to have seen this through the eye of a professional photographer or from the perspective of me sitting in their kitchen with a glass of champagne discussing its history after an in-depth house tour.   <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZuroMeNMxTE5OwX-oKREhqrRc7_cHFV-kqaJEoYn6TwNeqCnptv25qEtSn8D1As36kYVf1q9g13kXBjA4g68hP0vCSYhxJ_bM1qC1OijA_JJX5T2z3EcVqQRoRJM1rokYpBrtUCwU-8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-11+at+6.36.13+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="449" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZuroMeNMxTE5OwX-oKREhqrRc7_cHFV-kqaJEoYn6TwNeqCnptv25qEtSn8D1As36kYVf1q9g13kXBjA4g68hP0vCSYhxJ_bM1qC1OijA_JJX5T2z3EcVqQRoRJM1rokYpBrtUCwU-8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-11+at+6.36.13+PM.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I could really dramatize my household complaints with a staircase like that.  It's not overly grand, but one can choose to pout to the left or the right, which really ups the game.  Like my kids would know that if Mom goes left, she's really not happy with what we just did. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRC01P7HOXA3JTW5dBZ40PLHOrB-Zko8NRHdCi0cZA7wozcfSONUTqx1RBLnzGEPd6-zpAGQ9ZPf0ljNmQNR-48PXQk7a0b9tM7yx5nQBVtC-WCLDK_MtjIe4pfFhb3_JGL8O7Oc7O_a8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-11+at+6.28.26+PM+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRC01P7HOXA3JTW5dBZ40PLHOrB-Zko8NRHdCi0cZA7wozcfSONUTqx1RBLnzGEPd6-zpAGQ9ZPf0ljNmQNR-48PXQk7a0b9tM7yx5nQBVtC-WCLDK_MtjIe4pfFhb3_JGL8O7Oc7O_a8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-11+at+6.28.26+PM+-+Version+2.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />I knew it.  Oil portraits.  Judgy ones, too.  You know I love a good judgy portrait. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhvR2d3qz91rR7K-6Zqe8PlfzLLAWGJ65poK6rZOZ1VvUDlpfzvJiMdTgx8iEGLheZMgnml_Y9JW2qzPNRNUZc2hgJo5ByXcLEmQBVAxDP48trrIUhK9zF7_hVe4uqmjgDxOn2DQk4bI/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-11+at+6.28.42+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhvR2d3qz91rR7K-6Zqe8PlfzLLAWGJ65poK6rZOZ1VvUDlpfzvJiMdTgx8iEGLheZMgnml_Y9JW2qzPNRNUZc2hgJo5ByXcLEmQBVAxDP48trrIUhK9zF7_hVe4uqmjgDxOn2DQk4bI/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-11+at+6.28.42+PM.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love what they did with the kitchen.  It's very "chic apartment in Paris," right?  Ok, I could be making that up, but that's how it seems.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQ78xaRCMAfwcoAouzl-Q7MKLKhjN4At4_0zs9d6pYWNfCZ8O6IaQZQSGqwevDJnMBPnNg_e7ufcpkhAaGko3RDRdvG3bqLddIYZN0YO1k3PYWKqHk6bFkYU3Y7RqsSLzTkq0Eoxc01I/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-11+at+6.28.42+PM+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQ78xaRCMAfwcoAouzl-Q7MKLKhjN4At4_0zs9d6pYWNfCZ8O6IaQZQSGqwevDJnMBPnNg_e7ufcpkhAaGko3RDRdvG3bqLddIYZN0YO1k3PYWKqHk6bFkYU3Y7RqsSLzTkq0Eoxc01I/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-11+at+6.28.42+PM+-+Version+2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx5hWcs9ePxqwxI0TqS0cEKij7X5YSTjAmus5qvMsjOAMV4GmvHj8aP9V_Qf11MvENLq62w6WERY6ymlptoACw7uYQGlLJsbAqZrPaDnazb9RAbkFSjFkkD__1YX_TGaxwGDtbIy_iriw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-11+at+6.28.54+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx5hWcs9ePxqwxI0TqS0cEKij7X5YSTjAmus5qvMsjOAMV4GmvHj8aP9V_Qf11MvENLq62w6WERY6ymlptoACw7uYQGlLJsbAqZrPaDnazb9RAbkFSjFkkD__1YX_TGaxwGDtbIy_iriw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-11+at+6.28.54+PM.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I feel like I really need to see more of this kitchen situation. <br /><br />I love the fabric repeated all over this bedroom.  I wish I knew what it was.  I even love the wall color.  It's so bold and fun, but works well with the fabric. And do you know what it's NOT?  Beige.  Midwest real estate listings provide a lot of beige so I really appreciate this.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZEtoUD10O-eH0AOSJ9CQOk_0eglOtehsCwKAF2NxkLOt8yNeOA2yaRge1Xwm1pbr85_Ui4uJCBAC6R7xdOwrLXNTMF4rQnHV_iGDBV1c3HvPafCaU1baF7JZuOuun8HG-Bn7SU1kwkY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-11+at+6.29.01+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZEtoUD10O-eH0AOSJ9CQOk_0eglOtehsCwKAF2NxkLOt8yNeOA2yaRge1Xwm1pbr85_Ui4uJCBAC6R7xdOwrLXNTMF4rQnHV_iGDBV1c3HvPafCaU1baF7JZuOuun8HG-Bn7SU1kwkY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-11+at+6.29.01+PM.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsaKmv1BHicJhmR-N_ah4WYvm6izpIy7D0hC8J_Vk5zTrf_YNWQg3yeONIcP3IHRDms8hvdfptWiUfPwRcS4GEY6avJM21IatBsT69VIX5aGbPm3CFnJ1kDngYCn_faKp5gm-gxsigcGo/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-11+at+6.29.01+PM+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsaKmv1BHicJhmR-N_ah4WYvm6izpIy7D0hC8J_Vk5zTrf_YNWQg3yeONIcP3IHRDms8hvdfptWiUfPwRcS4GEY6avJM21IatBsT69VIX5aGbPm3CFnJ1kDngYCn_faKp5gm-gxsigcGo/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-11+at+6.29.01+PM+-+Version+2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbThxikT9aghx_3N1qZgn3631tXagG-QFtBnEfbSzOM1D04TQ7pc2sc-7tDaD7aQyh2J458zxSkPQuyaegt4t9aWOBawMRr6KXTMEerM1GzaLNw5hfztzeyam-v7vizj_TmvPbolDsZ2A/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-11+at+6.29.01+PM+-+Version+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbThxikT9aghx_3N1qZgn3631tXagG-QFtBnEfbSzOM1D04TQ7pc2sc-7tDaD7aQyh2J458zxSkPQuyaegt4t9aWOBawMRr6KXTMEerM1GzaLNw5hfztzeyam-v7vizj_TmvPbolDsZ2A/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-11+at+6.29.01+PM+-+Version+3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitNjZjjlIpDrwmrHaKM9g2GCs_sIqgrEJSQe6gNJAEsmLgoGKtfFeoUI6fkoBJdtLY5LwxikKOqGLh7gocUz9P7Z0T-KmRKQlbIDbETKuqpwrMrZm30Px2sKGRBBUpGrpiPSixsMi3yPI/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-11+at+6.29.01+PM+-+Version+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitNjZjjlIpDrwmrHaKM9g2GCs_sIqgrEJSQe6gNJAEsmLgoGKtfFeoUI6fkoBJdtLY5LwxikKOqGLh7gocUz9P7Z0T-KmRKQlbIDbETKuqpwrMrZm30Px2sKGRBBUpGrpiPSixsMi3yPI/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-11+at+6.29.01+PM+-+Version+4.jpg" /></a></div><br />Just yes. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4s5lzINHaNnoyaSDOVjPuNLfEtvG3706hikjrc9w8qkfn2FNDEk-3F-TuR5pMKvw4RyFcv7Xpy-ZZPFkSC-QI1gt2H6Fj11AcdfWbcLlKs6eFnFyDnn4B75ecGRAz_CzFtBMMxezRBA/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-11+at+6.29.08+PM+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4s5lzINHaNnoyaSDOVjPuNLfEtvG3706hikjrc9w8qkfn2FNDEk-3F-TuR5pMKvw4RyFcv7Xpy-ZZPFkSC-QI1gt2H6Fj11AcdfWbcLlKs6eFnFyDnn4B75ecGRAz_CzFtBMMxezRBA/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-11+at+6.29.08+PM+-+Version+2.jpg" /></a></div><br />You just don't see decor like this anymore.  I love it.   <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_IWZFfI4V-3I18MDU-iWdWib-Tl43O5cuNETvXnzykxd1OTD1eexm1NqwazXFSBh7COhj0E8eSc2lFj-vzDV6LKcHgoCPLvJFWZZAC3XHhr0MpNls-CMKp6QsZUiNoj7MsaAV_6ODVQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-11+at+6.29.08+PM+-+Version+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_IWZFfI4V-3I18MDU-iWdWib-Tl43O5cuNETvXnzykxd1OTD1eexm1NqwazXFSBh7COhj0E8eSc2lFj-vzDV6LKcHgoCPLvJFWZZAC3XHhr0MpNls-CMKp6QsZUiNoj7MsaAV_6ODVQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-11+at+6.29.08+PM+-+Version+3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OwUkkn0uYk2n6B5nsHrpzb-QtedWzIEG38O4wvphHiFyG6M57ewGFJbMQq2MduwIY2d9wZKI0NrYIGv97aqTTyxViEDhPVgJ0IkGyNPhaotcoin1hl1G6K4lA6uURD53gECHn8rcMgc/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-11+at+6.29.08+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OwUkkn0uYk2n6B5nsHrpzb-QtedWzIEG38O4wvphHiFyG6M57ewGFJbMQq2MduwIY2d9wZKI0NrYIGv97aqTTyxViEDhPVgJ0IkGyNPhaotcoin1hl1G6K4lA6uURD53gECHn8rcMgc/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-11+at+6.29.08+PM.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />I just really love it all.  I know it's probably not for everyone, but for me it's a style that reminds me of something in my past.  I'm not sure what.  Probably, the interiors of the houses in old movies I used to watch, like Send Me No Flowers or Please, Don't Eat the Daisies.  (hmm maybe I should do a post on those :) )  I used to pass this house all of the time when I would walk around Loose Park trying to figure out why I was in law school again.  My mind always drifted to the houses sitting just on the edge of the park.  There are plenty of other homes in the area that I think I like better on the outside, but had I known that the inside was this inspiring, I would have probably found a way to get myself invited in.  I'm glad, for the owner's sake, that I was unaware of any potential interior obsessions sitting just on the other side of those walls.  <br /><br />You can <a href="http://www.kansascityhomes.com/Kansas-City/800-W-52nd-St-Kansas-City-MO_64112/1873757.aspx">view the listing here.</a>

A KC Real Estate Obsession

So the other day while the baby slept and Edward was taking a six-hour bath, I decided to pass the time by browsing some real estate listing...

Read more »

Summer Stuff, Part 1

<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvpJA7Q8E28W3UbsZAlCpFMX3E1Qc2ml0_iybW-EyhKIUy7WeGnxvFymvuoy0pdZYO74S6jKvk7CQdnS7CEMeEoycRGyB8MuX5PCvtkIgnmXI6-NH2xWhWU8jjo6smxZbH0BzLxPPSDY/s640/blogger-image-2111365938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvpJA7Q8E28W3UbsZAlCpFMX3E1Qc2ml0_iybW-EyhKIUy7WeGnxvFymvuoy0pdZYO74S6jKvk7CQdnS7CEMeEoycRGyB8MuX5PCvtkIgnmXI6-NH2xWhWU8jjo6smxZbH0BzLxPPSDY/s640/blogger-image-2111365938.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Well, I made it to the beach after all. I didn't think I would get to come this year so I'm feeling pretty lucky right now. I'll try and blog random bits from my phone. I wish I could share every moment of my vacation with y'all because I know you would appreciate it all. But then that would be kind of weird, too. Maybe I could do a vacation-style video blog, like when Brooke Burke did Wild On for E!, except it would be the mom-in-a-muumuu version where I read a magazine cover to cover and show you how to sunbathe without ever sitting down. Yes? No? (Just kidding, I will never make you watch a video of me talking about my vacation. That would be absurd.) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Anyway, sorry to be weird. Here's what I have for y'all today. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The house we're staying in has great, neutral bedrooms. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJu7_Upu9BtZ-k7i5ffwJlSJTiu8Yg6sQsCvvNhphdNaFSkN1yJMyXY_EMpnrkEvBBWREGnKPBJv2N-67U3IG3iRi-XQde_VgotkoZkQB3LNcPA3tj7_aPZpSbJ7rpw_cyo8L4bnixIPQ/s640/blogger-image-377662639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJu7_Upu9BtZ-k7i5ffwJlSJTiu8Yg6sQsCvvNhphdNaFSkN1yJMyXY_EMpnrkEvBBWREGnKPBJv2N-67U3IG3iRi-XQde_VgotkoZkQB3LNcPA3tj7_aPZpSbJ7rpw_cyo8L4bnixIPQ/s640/blogger-image-377662639.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdGed3nxffJ8fJwls0DdvBCz9vfA9eWhfFYdAbppgO7Nb5ohYwbr413Jdj5PGcLI96fc_sXdNzkzxP4rGBsWmhS4Us9dKzurNuUnpnsxu1sif6_cy3LzP_5w5t2vN5Zj9C3xTu6xba_4/s640/blogger-image--1038011132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdGed3nxffJ8fJwls0DdvBCz9vfA9eWhfFYdAbppgO7Nb5ohYwbr413Jdj5PGcLI96fc_sXdNzkzxP4rGBsWmhS4Us9dKzurNuUnpnsxu1sif6_cy3LzP_5w5t2vN5Zj9C3xTu6xba_4/s640/blogger-image--1038011132.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div><br></div><br><div>Last night I made this <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">avocado and cucumber soup from It's All Good.  (reminds me a lot of vichyssoise)</span></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9c-pXW2SNsCOZy1sJhbb2YFhwoG2uVaXMymG0wcd6LNlBxJVb6oinyKklPwJqpnjPvTgjEbBtIHlNhdETN1bQHcTNSgF9xSopRLA-pFrY0QRgvKpZqiNV4sN_FFLTweDQiOLE7u7p0Y/s640/blogger-image-1641173822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9c-pXW2SNsCOZy1sJhbb2YFhwoG2uVaXMymG0wcd6LNlBxJVb6oinyKklPwJqpnjPvTgjEbBtIHlNhdETN1bQHcTNSgF9xSopRLA-pFrY0QRgvKpZqiNV4sN_FFLTweDQiOLE7u7p0Y/s640/blogger-image-1641173822.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Even though my girl G probably only owns powerful blenders, I can tell you a regular old commoner's blender will work just fine. </div><br>Tonight, I'm making <a href="http://designerbagsanddirtydiapers.blogspot.com/2014/06/chopped-blt-salad.html">This BLT Salad</a>.  (I think it's my favorite salad ever). </div><div><br></div><div>I picked up the latest Domino magazine at the airport.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM0sCrBqn8KqilWXfMRZkpFBk-Q95_DBX3_SREWKFTyGJEkHYaUxBf32WJjUQmSKKIsCyKGDPJJH3n0IwBCcpZJzEimuyTW-8MKPmDppQaqwfr5RrzL1pbTkmLIsgQdiYCQ-5hxEPQyAI/s640/blogger-image--1886615674.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM0sCrBqn8KqilWXfMRZkpFBk-Q95_DBX3_SREWKFTyGJEkHYaUxBf32WJjUQmSKKIsCyKGDPJJH3n0IwBCcpZJzEimuyTW-8MKPmDppQaqwfr5RrzL1pbTkmLIsgQdiYCQ-5hxEPQyAI/s640/blogger-image--1886615674.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> I loved this little vignette from artist and cover-lady Sally King Benedict's house. Her whole house is great and full of art that's not just her own, although a house full of only her work wouldn't be a bad thing at all!  I just think she's super cute and talented. </span></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47jNxj7aadQZ5kl5FHFuueyWW5EEp1Wxh6hUA9wJCZjoBkO1d2FeOczejpvIHc41YnECU2lCVyJIHvqNmAjys2Sdz5PNR9UMvGwj-dP4D5MJ93w5e-G8bKz64S4gEsaj0KYUgu4PDk5I/s640/blogger-image-1363773782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47jNxj7aadQZ5kl5FHFuueyWW5EEp1Wxh6hUA9wJCZjoBkO1d2FeOczejpvIHc41YnECU2lCVyJIHvqNmAjys2Sdz5PNR9UMvGwj-dP4D5MJ93w5e-G8bKz64S4gEsaj0KYUgu4PDk5I/s640/blogger-image-1363773782.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(I'm pretty sure her artist friend, Mary Nelson Sinclair, whose work is in the above picture, studied under the preschool tutelage of The Suze back in her teaching days. Small world!) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Also in Domino, this Miami hotel, Casa Tua. I've never had a huge desire to go to Miami, but this might change my mind. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJuWrLabQTyLfxH0Gi9yFFHTiZIotZMRCeeTCWdHuJtx2rLep5UctCnz_28nP5G38Xg6ZadP6v_G0cRgaS_dbKLpIB0MSqqU3DGOjATSkfn6zmdmXhW5p7GYDfjU0LNLX8OS9vM8RvXY/s640/blogger-image-151177305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJuWrLabQTyLfxH0Gi9yFFHTiZIotZMRCeeTCWdHuJtx2rLep5UctCnz_28nP5G38Xg6ZadP6v_G0cRgaS_dbKLpIB0MSqqU3DGOjATSkfn6zmdmXhW5p7GYDfjU0LNLX8OS9vM8RvXY/s640/blogger-image-151177305.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznD0Ju6kBMp6es74KQKcpn8um__vQAxkVFMVnHw1MPnMu0On-eMtIQaKVyhiqmgwD6gNCT4aULyHyKAMu46-IkufyPJETcdEbeyXMq_Pqikrzk3-Mv8j2NBJxxuBNLIISW7JjeJ6SS3Y/s640/blogger-image-1633274413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznD0Ju6kBMp6es74KQKcpn8um__vQAxkVFMVnHw1MPnMu0On-eMtIQaKVyhiqmgwD6gNCT4aULyHyKAMu46-IkufyPJETcdEbeyXMq_Pqikrzk3-Mv8j2NBJxxuBNLIISW7JjeJ6SS3Y/s640/blogger-image-1633274413.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymu99ohjycWlIuMBoSeR7NhBqafkK7H0tDWt8Yu__K_NnJH_RoGBR_EajK0sV-2ySP1m2Kgd3xfrOjWhZiVb5HorMgRzv4DZdxFCs5qQKyC7mPqEfNS7vDrbIXFR5JYVe6DHcfEDjHpo/s640/blogger-image--625637711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymu99ohjycWlIuMBoSeR7NhBqafkK7H0tDWt8Yu__K_NnJH_RoGBR_EajK0sV-2ySP1m2Kgd3xfrOjWhZiVb5HorMgRzv4DZdxFCs5qQKyC7mPqEfNS7vDrbIXFR5JYVe6DHcfEDjHpo/s640/blogger-image--625637711.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Apologies for the above. Go get the magazine. It's a good issue! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Have a great Monday! xo</div><br></div><br></div><div><br></div>

Summer Stuff, Part 1

Well, I made it to the beach after all. I didn't think I would get to come this year so I'm feeling pretty lucky right now. I'll...

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My friends know me well ...

<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1OxYgdF9bjyYFhQj5shUXOgDdipr9hVfVJ2ax8Eb7g2ZCtVRRQnTGtoXScsrqo5BLjUF_PPgFDQ5qV3Oy09EBL77LZ0maD2HMTMDLyE7oPSGUrpi8o76KL10pdno4TORU2PiQs2EmUBs/s640/blogger-image--55545714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1OxYgdF9bjyYFhQj5shUXOgDdipr9hVfVJ2ax8Eb7g2ZCtVRRQnTGtoXScsrqo5BLjUF_PPgFDQ5qV3Oy09EBL77LZ0maD2HMTMDLyE7oPSGUrpi8o76KL10pdno4TORU2PiQs2EmUBs/s640/blogger-image--55545714.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My bestie texted me this picture while she was on a walk in Charleston and said, "Whenever I pass this house, I always think, that's Jen's house." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Houses are my love language. So is Charleston. </div>

My friends know me well ...

My bestie texted me this picture while she was on a walk in Charleston and said, "Whenever I pass this house, I always think, that'...

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Bedside Manners

<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sometimes when I have something really important to do, I do something else. 25 loads of laundry waiting for me? No problem! I'll just style up my bedside table. That'll help. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here is the fruit of my procrastination.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AVVZUGE7fU3KrJmPrTLjoMgqga4b5Y2QOkNZHMTQzbWcVIGgFiTkdfza-KYLDjoh0SyDGAislEdk0AgqHV9up1qt7PUWuG2FiF5aOC0v9Zi79e6Lmzr-gbSBDtoX8n1IUG_RCJGJTUk/s640/blogger-image-342334733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AVVZUGE7fU3KrJmPrTLjoMgqga4b5Y2QOkNZHMTQzbWcVIGgFiTkdfza-KYLDjoh0SyDGAislEdk0AgqHV9up1qt7PUWuG2FiF5aOC0v9Zi79e6Lmzr-gbSBDtoX8n1IUG_RCJGJTUk/s640/blogger-image-342334733.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">My bedside table is actually an old desk that was supposed to be a temporary changing table while the baby slept in the bassinet. But I like the surface area it provides. I can clutter up a bedside table like a pro, so it's staying for now. I wish I'd taken a "before." It was pretty special.  </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8FFi2VmFi8Gi1JgjtKIP6WuA13IcAXVvCdG5APwGRSdkacGw3hy3uC6t0kd9TttM7QHxOK1ndOcDx3dy1Tbvx3IIhgIzL3aup0kOqsHLobyLjip0Fu5x2XLJinjcnNth8QqrGntPVCs/s640/blogger-image--1197703444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8FFi2VmFi8Gi1JgjtKIP6WuA13IcAXVvCdG5APwGRSdkacGw3hy3uC6t0kd9TttM7QHxOK1ndOcDx3dy1Tbvx3IIhgIzL3aup0kOqsHLobyLjip0Fu5x2XLJinjcnNth8QqrGntPVCs/s640/blogger-image--1197703444.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I brought up some flowers from downstairs and I've decided I like to wake up to fresh flowers. It sounds kind of cheesy, but it really does brighten up my morning.  Since no one but my family ever ends up in my room let alone the far corner of the bedroom, it often gets neglected. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKted2fVuB0qrgvP2sP4TckU4bF6Rd6I8DK8K6bJBwYYmaUV-y4itTo1weMc7jHcfA6wk0PpyGduE58XpKec4EPWziAqdoR_hh8z8YSsGIxpAl2CUpMRXUBeyJkc0WjgxwTmhL0g-C08/s640/blogger-image-1395460642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKted2fVuB0qrgvP2sP4TckU4bF6Rd6I8DK8K6bJBwYYmaUV-y4itTo1weMc7jHcfA6wk0PpyGduE58XpKec4EPWziAqdoR_hh8z8YSsGIxpAl2CUpMRXUBeyJkc0WjgxwTmhL0g-C08/s640/blogger-image-1395460642.jpg"></a></div><br></div>My bridesmaids spontaneously dancing around me in one of the silliest, weirdest moments that only my crazy friends could create. It's one of my favorite photos. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Also, notice my book, The Wonder of Boys. I still don't totally get boys, but I highly recommend this book.  I'm only a few chapters in, but maybe by the end, I'll understand them a little better ;) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So that's that. Now off to play superhero dinosaur excavator and wild baby entertainer at the same time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>

Bedside Manners

Sometimes when I have something really important to do, I do something else. 25 loads of laundry waiting for me? No problem! I'll just s...

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Have a Lovely Father's Day Weekend!

<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAGHElohfaIP4pQIskk504hwuNWK3lZQfHTXjb7u6YVRRZTOrYRqwO1_2G3OqgBI65Yo_JK8-OAtaAZff2oXefjQTOgdVyjzaqp0aNGdTAdYg3rKNM7xewvN8_HjpVIcA0wXUIW0Gx24/s640/blogger-image--2080616846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAGHElohfaIP4pQIskk504hwuNWK3lZQfHTXjb7u6YVRRZTOrYRqwO1_2G3OqgBI65Yo_JK8-OAtaAZff2oXefjQTOgdVyjzaqp0aNGdTAdYg3rKNM7xewvN8_HjpVIcA0wXUIW0Gx24/s640/blogger-image--2080616846.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-rvoCSKPAjKMuTcCSErVsMNWIjXlYS-InjIonBseXv78Eut4Dy-ziXnjsKNy1qkFFRrx_m1jSU94dPnz4ZICfKHAYnr8cQ83jLUPNh6OnI0UXQnBzzsfF5L8Ioy-NDRC17D3bY22Odg/s640/blogger-image-150166002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-rvoCSKPAjKMuTcCSErVsMNWIjXlYS-InjIonBseXv78Eut4Dy-ziXnjsKNy1qkFFRrx_m1jSU94dPnz4ZICfKHAYnr8cQ83jLUPNh6OnI0UXQnBzzsfF5L8Ioy-NDRC17D3bY22Odg/s640/blogger-image-150166002.jpg"></a></div></div><br><br>Do y'all have any fun Father's Day traditions?  According to Pinterest, Dads only like to drink beer, play golf, fart and eat bacon.  Not that I ever actually do anything I pin, except I may have tried out a few of the Father's Day links below with moderate success.  Trust me.  If it's not super, super easy, it's just not happening at my house.  Edward is notorious for either drawing one line across a page and moving on, or turning the "art project" into "mommy learns how to draw something ridiculously hard like Iceman or Grandol." (I had to look them up, too).  Someone usually ends up in tears.  But it is important for Kip to know just how much we love him and appreciate him as a dad, so it's a small sacrifice for a pretty amazing guy. </div><div><br>Happy Father's Day y'all and have a great weekend! <br><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/11047961561089568/">EASY FATHER'S DAY PINTEREST IDEA #1</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/11047961561089610/">EASY FATHER'S DAY PINTEREST IDEA #2</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/11047961561089564/">EASY FATHER'S DAY PINTEREST IDEA #3</a></div> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.dollarshaveclub.com/">This would be a perfect gift</a> for the Dad who doesn't want you to let him buy himself an expensive gift.<br><br>I mean t<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/175147872977873922/">his is just ridiculous</a><br><br>Farrow & Ball has a new online magazine <a href="http://thechromologist.com/">The Chromologist</a><br><br>My <a href="http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/lancome-teint-visionnaire-skin-correcting-makeup-duo/3549305?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=7379&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-browseresults-_-1_20_D">favorite foundation ever</a> (and it comes with a good concealer) <br><br><a href="http://www.lollialife.com/t/bath-and-body/handcremes">This hand creme</a> smells heavenly<br><br><a href="http://www.littlebeanblog.com/2014/06/pom-pom.html">A super cute and unique gift for a 3-year-old</a> (3 year-olds are all about pretend)<br>P.S. How freaking adorable is my niece??<br><br>A <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/AriannaBelle?section_id=14727300">great pillow sale</a> to check out for my fellow pillow addicts<br><br>A pretty awesome <a href="http://hookedonhouses.net/2014/06/12/before-after-emilys-pretty-new-master-bath/">before and after master bath redo</a><br><br><a href="http://www.scarymommy.com/moms-you-meet-at-the-pool/">10 moms you'll meet at the pool </a><br><br><a href="http://fashionista.com/2014/06/shaving-best-razors-women#awesm=~oH5V9hPMK1j9Do">Why DO we pay so much for razors?? </a><br>(and I love a pink sparkly anything, but is it really a necessary marketing technique for women's razors?  Are we 5 year olds?) <br><br>My friend posted about our fun <a href="http://www.thepottedboxwood.com/posh-in-palm-springs/">Palm Springs Bachelorette party</a> for my sis-in-law<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br></div>

Have a Lovely Father's Day Weekend!

Do y'all have any fun Father's Day traditions?  According to Pinterest, Dads only like to drink beer, play golf, fart and eat bacon....

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5 Tips for painitng small spaces

<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"> The one topic I've written about on my blog that gets attention from thousands of decor happy readers is decorating small spaces.  I think that is because rooms and homes today are smaller than they once were.  People living in condos or apartments must be conscious of using every trick in the book to enlarge their living spaces. So stay awhile and see how colour can solve some of your small space dilemmas.  Perhaps in these suggestions you will find a treatment for your small space. </div><br /><br /><h4><b>Use one colour everywhere</b></h4></div><br />This might seem like an extreme solution but it isn't really.  Using one colour all over a room makes the different planes blend together  to give a more unified look.  You can even use the same colour on the floor and ceiling if you wish.  Since your eye continues to move  freely around the room you have no sense of the boundaries of it.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOQQaRHtQhOlUawlYqV9IOd4Y9swNgfV0Y5XUqB_m0hcIdUKFhEH2K3nbMa47sQDv_IMEfStTur3ALZbBNQeQjamDb9uf7GExbdAfgB2AVsi5BkGn8Vocrb-OzmmBl26Nh5wu_jrsshLs/s1600/31-feature-shubel-0109-xlg-58527044-95455277.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="same colour on walls and ceiling bedroom" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOQQaRHtQhOlUawlYqV9IOd4Y9swNgfV0Y5XUqB_m0hcIdUKFhEH2K3nbMa47sQDv_IMEfStTur3ALZbBNQeQjamDb9uf7GExbdAfgB2AVsi5BkGn8Vocrb-OzmmBl26Nh5wu_jrsshLs/s640/31-feature-shubel-0109-xlg-58527044-95455277.jpg" title="5 Tips for painitng small spaces" width="312" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/beautiful-designer-bedrooms"> source </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If I could change one thing about this room above, I would paint the trim a soft pink too to keep the eye moving. Painting  trim white creates vertical and horizontal lines that your eyes automatically go to and follow. You can see the difference in the room below where the trim is painted out.  The room has an unbroken field of colour that is certainly expansive even though a dark colour was used.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1h0l_rrJZWhLTR16gSG0LPt3ISHm91OBWZPZ0dRWYMTgzXHjLkJz7SVrzJbD6bMjsO4Tv4p7-lo_NbtkecX8AkcAFcH-PIrxxpjf75lY63vBV0oILgsBqoeXQ6jMgBd-Y1ASp8k1z69Y/s1600/1-paint-main-0408-xlg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="painting trim and walls same colour " border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1h0l_rrJZWhLTR16gSG0LPt3ISHm91OBWZPZ0dRWYMTgzXHjLkJz7SVrzJbD6bMjsO4Tv4p7-lo_NbtkecX8AkcAFcH-PIrxxpjf75lY63vBV0oILgsBqoeXQ6jMgBd-Y1ASp8k1z69Y/s640/1-paint-main-0408-xlg.jpg" title="5 Tips for painitng small spaces" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAydqdY49_6iNaq5EPwa1UMIqKbpt8bF5HNk7WsvMeYt7_5YJwOWZimWZg6QUjsinQHY9TGf2kz7vjCYpPyhKWI4w1OYP-csyZw_6QE2mkbwmIdGmIOAjURTrssJeqj-Vxs0KEwQbHJLA/s1600/hbx-0310-Fairley-living-room-3-de-62496405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAydqdY49_6iNaq5EPwa1UMIqKbpt8bF5HNk7WsvMeYt7_5YJwOWZimWZg6QUjsinQHY9TGf2kz7vjCYpPyhKWI4w1OYP-csyZw_6QE2mkbwmIdGmIOAjURTrssJeqj-Vxs0KEwQbHJLA/s640/hbx-0310-Fairley-living-room-3-de-62496405.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/designer-living-rooms">source</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">More blue, but the trim is painted a coordinating colour that is closer in value to the walls decreasing the emphasis on  the trim which seems to just blend in. </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu_b-aas4fRorxC_n-M8Fl_S6onyioN9Xil9puthoQ8o86asXn2Im60IC89EUphUpiEnnsFON3tqlWhQcLzI07mxvGqowOpwDe570-Xq2IzIdc7PZnxhijREI8B3n6iwTpgx3Iwk8H1nIR/s1600/modern-gray-blue-indigo-living-room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="dark colours in small living room" border="0" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu_b-aas4fRorxC_n-M8Fl_S6onyioN9Xil9puthoQ8o86asXn2Im60IC89EUphUpiEnnsFON3tqlWhQcLzI07mxvGqowOpwDe570-Xq2IzIdc7PZnxhijREI8B3n6iwTpgx3Iwk8H1nIR/s640/modern-gray-blue-indigo-living-room.jpg" title="5 Tips for painitng small spaces" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thelennoxx.com/category/browse-by-color/grey/%20">source</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><h4><b>Use cool colours </b></h4></div><div class="description" id="fb_captionbox" style="display: block;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div> The rooms above are using the same colour almost everywhere, but they  are also utilizing another colour trick. Cool colours like blues, blue grays etc. make the walls of a room recede thus making the space appear larger than it actually is. Blues are an excellent choice for small bathrooms, laundry rooms, spare bedrooms, etc.  When walls recede you tend to notice the furnishings rather than the  "box" that contains them. <br /><br /><div style="color: #444444; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><small><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/modern/kitchen" style="color: #444444; text-decoration: none;"></a> <span style="font-size: small;">There's nothing like a cool lavender with white and light grays to expand a space.  </span></small></div><span style="font-size: small;">  </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzkKz4JuXU2X7TR8J1L_wrmkCixxi_fYtTGda_aWJlgr2RdOftPO6HVSxA928jfP_3aO1cg6UraIzy13dt0OrgYdwC25mL6-AVdgFxx4CJiY-hosvE5L3e6DODR-ADetnTEJIUqwMkNz4O/s1600/hbx-powder-blue-master-bedroom-1110-DesignerVisions17-de.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="dark walls small living room" border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzkKz4JuXU2X7TR8J1L_wrmkCixxi_fYtTGda_aWJlgr2RdOftPO6HVSxA928jfP_3aO1cg6UraIzy13dt0OrgYdwC25mL6-AVdgFxx4CJiY-hosvE5L3e6DODR-ADetnTEJIUqwMkNz4O/s640/hbx-powder-blue-master-bedroom-1110-DesignerVisions17-de.jpg" title="5 Tips for painitng small spaces" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/beautiful-designer-bedrooms">source</a><b><br /></b></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><h4><b>Use a dark colour on the walls</b></h4></div><br />That's right, a dark colour!  Would you ever think that would work?  It does because  the corners disappear in the shadows and your eye moves around easily. Darker colours are often perceived as  visually deeper. There are  decorators who take the opposite approach to keeping walls light in a small space.  And the final trick with dark colours in small rooms is to paint them in a semi-gloss or gloss to reflect light.  This approach is not for the faint of heart,  but it can be quite stunning.   If you're afraid to go really dark choose a mid value gray or taupe.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6emuYr3EjOaSIq365KMFOmrgSB8uShuOVXQCpWk8A_vIE7wp-ccaxoFC3HS2MXNs4j_VPBXNjvY0nh7XPmDLasrAqjkzseb3xAgho7smeJ8-0lg4q70_QMZU791EMbxTAh5oMKP3AvJk/s1600/w4091r2-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6emuYr3EjOaSIq365KMFOmrgSB8uShuOVXQCpWk8A_vIE7wp-ccaxoFC3HS2MXNs4j_VPBXNjvY0nh7XPmDLasrAqjkzseb3xAgho7smeJ8-0lg4q70_QMZU791EMbxTAh5oMKP3AvJk/s640/w4091r2-large.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thelennoxx.com/category/browse-by-color/grey/">source</a></div><a href="http://www.thelennoxx.com/category/browse-by-color/grey/"><br /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><h4><b>Use a colour you see outside</b></h4></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Blues and greens give the impression that the room continues beyond the windows. You can paint the walls an outside colour or use one  in your fabric choices.  I love the freshness of the room below. It certainly is reminiscent of  plants. </div><div class="description" id="fb_captionbox" style="display: block;"><div class="description" id="fb_captionbox" style="display: block;"><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMIDXdKjchRUXmwtAIzAVZN893fZq7EYOQxOmwe8UTnbJjxrmw4dLaH0PgYmpOEyd2Qz8zS6JSvJiD6d0jvzA58mtUFzivnEk5lD-a8pd1zdPkb38e4NvRj-ZTKKZrPWqdpVum0cD_4Kq5/s1600/greens-whites-family-room-0606_xlg-39212513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="blue and green living room" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMIDXdKjchRUXmwtAIzAVZN893fZq7EYOQxOmwe8UTnbJjxrmw4dLaH0PgYmpOEyd2Qz8zS6JSvJiD6d0jvzA58mtUFzivnEk5lD-a8pd1zdPkb38e4NvRj-ZTKKZrPWqdpVum0cD_4Kq5/s640/greens-whites-family-room-0606_xlg-39212513.jpg" title="5 Tips for painitng small spaces" width="312" /></a></div><b></b><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip4Fu5V-Be24h2dU1kOl6gX-i0iaXsr7Nxv-CVcozOp1DTrbzX0RMVMg0ka_UAyOibepB3r0X4suTEqUo6ihjsVx3kXfKZYLkTBJePFbTz5pU3CH4ajFcxu_BwIi4_bqsyXw5S3v5k5FB7/s1600/0910-murphy-green-curtains-lounge-06-de.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="blending outside and inside colours" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip4Fu5V-Be24h2dU1kOl6gX-i0iaXsr7Nxv-CVcozOp1DTrbzX0RMVMg0ka_UAyOibepB3r0X4suTEqUo6ihjsVx3kXfKZYLkTBJePFbTz5pU3CH4ajFcxu_BwIi4_bqsyXw5S3v5k5FB7/s640/0910-murphy-green-curtains-lounge-06-de.jpg" title="5 Tips for painitng small spaces" width="312" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/modern-beach-house-pictures-0910">House Beautiful</a><b></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Designer Christina Murphy uses green to great effect  to visually extend this room by connecting it to the view outside the window.  Keeping a simple colour scheme is also visually enlarging.<br /></div><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaXtjMvGTAFeRYj2mkChWa5THMPAdaoQpbT34hQv2T_i_L5f-gP0udik2snKytfuQahEGqJop00kPkvv70_kO-OeNPaNvMosFadFBwDpTc5nIP2nS-u5dvDZB04MwS-ir_6hQgGbLx5IIQ/s1600/khd2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="blending outside and inside in decor" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaXtjMvGTAFeRYj2mkChWa5THMPAdaoQpbT34hQv2T_i_L5f-gP0udik2snKytfuQahEGqJop00kPkvv70_kO-OeNPaNvMosFadFBwDpTc5nIP2nS-u5dvDZB04MwS-ir_6hQgGbLx5IIQ/s640/khd2.jpg" title="5 Tips for painitng small spaces" width="390" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thelennoxx.com/category/browse-by-color/green-browse-by-color/">source </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Everything about this room invites the outside in and blends the two together. Lighter floors always enlarge a space.  There are no dark hardwoods in my life, I like light and airy all the way. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSG95UxP0vyT3qb6Xp_VYyU7SfqLvuRPdrO5BkvaFjUOWgw7iyaJORPoGoKov008hz1v6MNfEVggn5K5iVvkA2uPujGkP4Kx0DRI8Y9AOO0ExfD4YfbtjLiy4Bs99_aOOuGwjofhL_zlfA/s1600/hbx-decorating-redd-5-0709-xlg-96989804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><h4><b>Keep walls and furniture a similar colour </b></h4></div><br /> When you keep the furniture and walls close to the same colour you are blurring the lines between them. As a result the mass of the furniture is decreased and the overall volume of the room is increased.  If you don't wish to have all the furniture the same colour consider having at least  the bigger items like armoires and chests close to the wall colour so they will begin to blend into the room and widen it out. <br /><b></b><b><br /></b><br /><b></b><b><br /></b></div><div class="description" id="fb_captionbox" style="display: block;"></div><div class="description" id="fb_captionbox" style="display: block;"><div class="description" id="fb_captionbox" style="display: block; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/51750/Decor-by-Jennifer-Inc-contemporary-family-room-"><img alt="Decor by Jennifer Inc contemporary family room" border="0" height="256" src="http://st.houzz.com/simages/51750_0_8-2288-contemporary-family-room.jpg" title="5 Tips for painitng small spaces" width="400" /></a></div><div class="description" id="fb_captionbox" style="display: block;"></div><div class="description" id="fb_captionbox" style="display: block;"><div class="description" id="fb_captionbox" style="display: block;"><div style="text-align: center;"><small><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/professionals/6027/Jennifer-Brouwer" style="color: #444444; text-decoration: none;">Jennifer Brouwer</a></small></div><br />I also want the cabinet for the TV to be a lighter colour, but it is undeniably a focal point in the room  and every room needs one. I'd also skip the dark wood rods which your eye travels to automatically because of the contrast, but I also understand why the decorator chose them (all the woods in the room are dark).   Overall I love these two rooms.  They are warm and inviting.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/32352/Alexandru-Apartment-lviing-room-contemporary-living-room-other-metros"><img alt="Alexandru Apartment lviing room contemporary living room" border="0" height="300" src="http://st.houzz.com/simages/32352_0_8-6741-contemporary-living-room.jpg" title="5 Tips for painitng small spaces" width="400" /></a><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><small><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/professionals/4176/Laura-Bielecki" style="color: #444444; text-decoration: none;">Laura Bielecki</a></small><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />I equally love the cool minimal look  of this room, but it isn't for everyone. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="description" id="fb_captionbox" style="display: block;"><div class="description" id="fb_captionbox" style="display: block;"><div class="description" id="fb_captionbox" style="display: block;"><div class="description" id="fb_captionbox" style="display: block;"><div style="text-align: center;"><h4><b>Paint a Focal Wall</b></h4><h4><b> </b></h4></div> I'm not a large fan of painting a focal wall.  I think sometimes it works to great advantage, but most times it is a less than creative solution in a space. This strategy  can work wonders in a small space, Don't be afraid to paint an accent wall a darker receding color thus  making the space look larger.<br /><br /><br /></div><div class="description" id="fb_captionbox" style="display: block;"><div class="description" id="fb_captionbox" style="display: block;"></div><div class="description" id="fb_captionbox" style="display: block;"><div class="description" id="fb_captionbox" style="display: block;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/25616/Living-Room-contemporary-family-room-san-francisco"><img alt="Living Room dark focal wall" border="0" height="400" src="http://st.houzz.com/simages/25616_0_8-3233-contemporary-family-room.jpg" title="5 Tips for painitng small spaces" width="400" /></a></div><div class="description" id="fb_captionbox" style="display: block;"></div><div class="description" id="fb_captionbox" style="display: block;"><div class="description" id="fb_captionbox" style="display: block; text-align: center;"><b></b><small><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/professionals/1806/Harrell-Remodeling" style="color: #444444; text-decoration: none;">Harrell Remodeling</a></small></div><div class="description" id="fb_captionbox" style="display: block;"><div class="description" id="fb_captionbox" style="display: block;"></div><br /> And there you have it.  The only thing left to do is decide which of these solutions will work in your space.  </div><b> </b>Happy painting. <b><br /></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><b></b> </div></div>

5 Tips for painitng small spaces

 The one topic I've written about on my blog that gets attention from thousands of decor happy readers is decorating small spaces.  I th...

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