8 modern house updates

I work in home building so I am always interested in the latest and greatest home improvements.  I have a huge folder saved with ideas for our next house but really, most of these can be done to the place you live now to give you some modern updates.  Check 'em out

I have pull out drawers now and LOVE them.  They are really handy and a great investment.

I have a stand alone jewelry case with a mirror now but love this idea.

This is a definite DIY.  Our washer/dryer are on the floor and this would eliminate bending over grabbing those little socks and washcloths stuck in the top corners of the washer.  

I have pull outs in my cabinets but definitely not organized like this.  I love this. 

This is a 2-in-1.  We have a big dining room and have considered adding a wet bar for several years.  This is a great option and I love the pull-out drawers.

Ahhhh....a pocket door with mirror.  Love it.  

I love the idea of storage in the form of a pantry style cabinet about the countertop.  I have a KitchenAid mixer and it is SO heavy!  This would be perfect.

Another easy DIY.  It's simple and would eliminate all the chargers plugged in plus, give extra outlets. These are definitely on my to-do list.  Maybe my nesting is still in effect?  :)

Hope you're off to a great week.  Our little one turns a month old tomorrow and we almost can't believe it.  I am headed back to work next week so I am squeezing in all the moments I can these next few days.  Cheers! 

Guest room update

Fall has me the in mood for decorating.  I have been working to declutter and organize as much as possible.  I moved my efforts to our guest bedroom this week.  I still have some work to do but I am chipping away at updates.

We have a new HomeGoods store nearby.  While I have only been there a few times, I have managed to find something fresh each time.  I got some new lamps a month or so ago.  They are a slate blue/gray color with linen colored shades.  I really wanted to go for the coordinated but not matched look but I am almost convinced you can't plan for it...it has to just happen.

My newest update was a new headboard.  Have you heard of Joss & Main?  It has some super deals and really fast shipping.  I had been to Pier One and found some nice headboards and I cruised thru Ikea but didn't really see much that I liked.

I looked at Joss & Main, actually looking for rugs and found a simple headboard that I decided would work for my guest room.  I have been b-e-g-g-i-n-g Simon to change the one in our room but he is a creature of habit and takes a little while to sell.

So, here goes.....my before and after.

Nothing too crazy, but a nice little freshen up.  There were lots of headboard styles but I decided on an oatmeal colored headboard with a little shape and nailheads to finish it off.  Finding ANYTHING less than $300 is a challenge (queen bed) and I scored this for $168.00!  

So exciting.  It has finished legs that only need three screws each to assemble (and the holes were pre-drilled).  Whatcha think?  

Check out the headboard on their website here.

Wednesday Wishlist: A new home!

I am dreaming of a new place to call home.  Working in real estate and specifically new homes, after about two years I am ready to pack up and build again.  We built the home we are in now in 2007 so needless to say I am crawling the walls.  Here are some of my favorite recent pins:

A fancy exterior

A dreamy kitchen

Neat storage ideas

Christmas tree decorating tips

Have your Christmas tree up yet?  My husband surprised me last week with a beautiful tree, nearly 10' tall. This is our tallest tree yet so I looked online for some decorating tips.  Here are the best that I found online combined with my personal experience.

1. Get the right sized tree stand.  We tried to make our old tree stand work but the tree was unstable.  We went up to Lowe's and got one a better fit for our taller tree.  What we picked {HERE}

2. Once Simon trimmed the trunk and placed it in the stand, I let it settle in for a day or so so the limbs could fall some. (Notice my nieces in bathing suits...in late November.  Florida kiddos)

3.  Lights.  I found a lot of recommendations online about how many lights to use.  Generally, online sites recommend that you use one 100-light strand for every foot of tree height.  At the stores near me, lights are sold in 150 and 200-light packages.  Green coated wires are a must to hide them in the tree.  Lighting techniques vary from winding around the tree like a cone to separating the tree in "triangle sections" to wrapping individual limbs.  I ended up using five 200-light strings.

4. This tip I found online and it was so helpful.  Place your largest ornaments on first to help cover bare spots.  This was great advice.  I also hung my heaviest ornaments which also helped fill in some bare spots.  Here are some close-ups of my ornaments.

5.  When placing the rest of the ornaments, spread out your colors.  I used red, silver and white ornaments so I did my best to use them in combinations of three at a time, using one of each color.

6.  My last piece was my tree topper.  I have a couple glass options to top the tree but ended up going with a medium sized bow that had hanging ribbons.  I could stand to upsize my bow if I come across something I like.  Here is a shot of the nearly finished tree.  I still have a train to add around the base and of course, gifts!

7. Lastly, what to do with those broken ornaments.  Well, I seem to get a few each year that break somehow.  Mostly, the hanging portion breaks off making it impossible to hang.  I gathered up my bunch of broken pieces and swapped out my centerpiece apples arrangement for a seasonal look with the spare/broken ornaments and a few small pine cones. Cute huh?!  Merry Christmas!

Fall Decor Ideas

Fall is here.  I will miss my summer tan but I love the change of seasons.  Boots, scarves and chunky knit sweaters, I love them all.
My husband doesn't like a lot of stuff "stored" around the house so I try to keep boxes of extra accessories to a minimum.  I go all out for Christmas every year but this year I am thinking of adding a season and doing some fall decorating.  Since I am a rookie for this season, I looked online for some inspiration and Pottery Barn always has beautiful looks for each holiday.  Here are some of my favorite fall looks.

Any advice for a rookie fall decorator?  Send it my way.

Model home decorating: A little old, a little new

Working for a new home builder means building new model homes for visitors to tour.  We usually add a few new model homes each year and last month we finished the first new model home of 2013.
We owned some of the furniture and added some new pieces from Ashley Furniture.

The Adams Homes 2,430. 4 beds + 3 baths 

We owned everything in the guest bedrooms.  

The master bedroom is mostly new from Ashley Furniture.  

The formal living room is all new.  We opted for an upholstered bench instead of a traditional coffee table.  We owned the formal dining room set and added an accent wine rack to keep it modern.

Both seating areas ended up with new furniture and both got a neutral sofa with a mix of floral and striped pillows.  We chose an oatmeal colored sofa set but mixed and matched the end tables so it wasn't too matchy-matchy.  

We combined modern and traditional in the kitchen accessories to keep with the flow of the adjoining formal living room and family room.

I just ordered new furniture for a new model home in Sebastian and we'll be moving in the next couple of weeks.  I'll post some more pictures once we get it put together.