Decorative Halloween Crafts – Part Two

Decorating a pumpkin with buttons can look cute, and you can save the buttons to use the next year. Choose buttons of assorted size that are in fall colors, you probably even have enough buttons around the house for this if you do any sewing. You can either hot glue the buttons onto the pumpkin, or you can thread wire through the button holes and spear the wire into the pumpkin. You can go for a random look, or you can arrange the buttons into a face.

There are lots of types of wrapped candy that comes in Halloween style wrappers. Buy an assortment of this type of candy, and simply staple the ends of the wrappers together to make a long garland for decorating. These can look very cute wound around stair railings, displayed on tables, or displayed on mantles.

Spray painting pumpkins with metallic paint can look fun and different. If you want to make these pumpkins even more dazzling, try sprinkling glitter or confetti onto the pumpkins when the paint is still wet. After the paint is totally dry, use a black marker to draw on faces. Display as a table centerpiece with orange candy next to it in clear jars.
Replacing the lights on your porch with orange bulbs can give your porch a festive feel, especially if you display lots of lit pumpkins on the porch too.

I hope these ideas help with your Halloween decorating this year!

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Up against a brick wall...

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above photo: source unknown

Exposed brick walls. How do I love these...? Let me count the ways:

• A good brick wall conjures up a sense of history in a home. The more aged the brick looks, the better.
• A brick wall needs no adornment. It stands alone, naked, and still looks great.
• A brick wall is the perfect feature wall. How can your eyes not be drawn to its strength and character?
• Warm colour is added to the room naturally. Brick warms up the space, so even an all white palette seems cozy.
  

  photo source: Country Living

• A brick feature wall makes a statement. Everything looks better against it, and it is the perfect backdrop for a great chandelier/lighting fixture, a stand-out piece of furniture, a great flooring material. Basically, it is the starting point to an amazing room.
• A brick wall naturally looks better uncluttered. It is the pattern, texture, colour - and it invites more, but in a restrained way. It can hold court with other great elements, but not too many. In essence, a textured wall - like brick- coaxes the eye to steer clear of visual clutter. It is our job to take the less is more cue.
  

  photos (above and below): Wish magazine

***Note to self: Add a brick wall to my dream home list. What's on your list?

A Few Updates...

Just wanted everyone to know that, although I mentioned I would be hosting another great give-away with Matthew Mead this week, we have had to postpone it until next week (technical difficulties). However, the contest will begin next week, and I will give you advance warning: trust me, you don't want to miss out on this one, as there a few extra goodies being thrown into the prize barrel. I also thought I'd let you know that today is the official release of his new book, Entertaining Simple. It's in bookstores everywhere, so check it out!!

Also, if you are wondering where all my blog links are, don't fret. I had so many that they were starting to take over! So, I have created a whole new page where I can fit as many as I like. Just look to my right sidebar for the blog button link, and it will take you there. Because I have more space, if you would like to be added just send me an email. Also, I try to visit as many blogs as I can, but have you seen that list? I think I am going to have to do a rotating schedule...I limit my blogging time to late evening, for the most part, so it gets tricky...

How do you manage to be a friendly blogger to all your favourites?

Decorative Halloween Crafts – Part One

It is already time to start decorating for Halloween! Here are some fun crafts you can make for a very low cost to decorate your house.

Buy three small pumpkins of increasing size. Clip the stems off of the two larger pumpkins. Find a decorative vase with a mouth wide enough to set the largest pumpkin in. Next, stack the two smaller pumpkins on top, with the smallest pumpkin on top. You can also place fall leaves between the pumpkins.

A large bowl of small pumpkins with fresh leaves and berries added into the mix can look very nice as a centerpiece. If you fill the bowl halfway with water before putting the items in, you can keep pieces of leaves and vines alive for awhile in the water. If you want to go more simple, don’t add water and use pressed fall leaves instead of fresh leaves.

It can look very cute to cut a hole in the top of a medium sized pumpkin, remove the pulp, and fill it with water to use as a vase. Use your pumpkin vase to display fall colored flowers.
Chocolate oranges can serve as a treat and as a decoration. Just cut pieces of black electrical tape into triangles or other shapes to make pumpkin eyes, noses, and mouths. Then, roll electrical tape into a thick piece to use as a stem to put on top of the chocolate orange. Display them until Halloween is over, then enjoy them as treats!

Bottled lemon-line and orange soda can be turned into Halloween decorations in just a few minutes. You can simply use a black marker to draw pumpkin faces on them, or other scary faces.

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A little ditty...

Well, I just received word via email that my blog has been nominated for a little something over at Divine Caroline, which is a great site devoted to sharing inspiration and stories for people like you and me. So, if you are so kind as to take the time to pop on over there and vote for me, I will blush pinker than I have in a long time. You can easily register, then vote away!

Thanks everyone!!

Sunday Dinner...

Ever since I was a young girl, Sunday dinner has been a tradition held close to my heart. With five siblings, mealtime was often served dine and dash, with little emphasis placed on the intricacies of setting a table or the Norman Rockwell image of a family gathering to slowly dine and reconnect over a meal. Indeed, protecting one's food from nipping brothers was more of a priority than sitting straight in one's chair and keeping elbows off tables.

Sundays, however, were the exception. I have many olfactory memories of roast beef cooking in its savoury juices, Yorkshire puddings bubbling away in muffin cups, and the distinctive scent of turnip and broccoli wafting through the kitchen. Whether tucked away in my room reading or outside, playing, the delicious scents would inevitably find me, and the rumblings within my belly would begin. One by one, my siblings and I would wander out to the kitchen, voicing the question, "Is supper almost ready, Mum?" Often we'd be sent back to where we came from so as not to be in the way or, conversely, given a job such as stirring the gravy, setting the table (one fork, one knife, paper napkin...), or of you were a strong boy, given the job of mashing the potatoes to creamy perfection.

photo source: wikipedia.org

As our mother served up our plates (which she always heated in the oven for us), we'd bellow to each other to come to the table. Manners were always minded a little more, conversation would extend beyond requests of "Are you going to eat that?", and although elbows still resided casually on the table, it felt special to me. I imagined that people driving by would glance in the window, smile and dub us very Norman Rockwell indeed. Sunday dinner and all its traditions were very important to us, and made us feel very civilized, almost refined, and definitely warmed us through and through. Sunday was even special enough to warrant dessert, a real treat in our home. Usually it was one of my mother's apple pies or crumbles, or sometimes it was simply sticky pudding cake straight from a box. Either way, the special nuances of the meal have remained with me, and Sunday dinner is a tradition that I carry on with my own family. Times may have changed and my own husband often assists with the meal and its preparation, but the meaning has remained the same: Sunday is a special day, deserving of a fine meal, and is a day where we come together as a family to eat, laugh, and sadly, are subjected to my husband's favourite radio show: classic country. Oh well, it can't all be perfect!

After all, our last name isn't Rockwell, is it?

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This post is dedicated to my "long-suffering mother" who has cooked more meals than she could ever count; and to my husband, who made the entire Sunday dinner today in all its glory. Dinner hasn't tasted that good in a long time...and I didn't once ask, "Is it ready yet?"

Indoor Plants for Decorating - Part Two

If you want a plant that can survive for up to a year without watering try the Ponytail Palm. This amazing plant won't tolerate being watered unless the soil has completely dried out first. This plant does require lots of light, and even does well in direct light. This palm has a thick trunk with lots of long ribbon like leaves growing out of it, it looks a little bit like, just as the name suggests, a ponytail.

Amaryllis is especially pretty in yellow, called golden goddess. The flowers are a soft yellow color and trumpet shaped. The flowers are huge, they can be up to seven inches wide on 20 inch stems. This flower is grown from a bulb. This plant likes bright indirect light and should be watered infrequently, only when soil dries out. It grows to a height of 20 inches. It should be planted in early to late winter.

Aspidistra are very low maintenance. In fact, they have the nick name the “cast iron plant” because they are so tough. This plant has tall wide leaves that taper off at the ends. This plant will tolerate wet soil, drought, extremely dim light, and temperatures as cold as 28 degrees.
Boston Ferns do well in a humid bathroom. They have lots of frilly light green leaves that hang down below the pot, and for this reason they look wonderful hanging. They need indirect light to do really well, although they will survive in dim locations too.

Pothos vine is another very popular houseplant. It likes bright but indirect light. It will tolerate direct light, but the leaves won’t look at pretty. These plants are every easy to maintain. It is best to keep the soil moist. This plant does well as a hanging plant, because the vine will grow quite long and look nice.

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The Wow Factor...

(my girlie wearing glittered glasses and chatting on the phone...oblivious to me!)

As you may know, I love to take the ordinary, and inexpensive, and make it extra special. I glean inspiration from magazines and decorating books, and often look at the ideas and think: a) how can I duplicate that on my budget and/or accessibility from my small town and b) how can I tweak it and make it better, or just my own?

Like many of you, I scour the Dollar Store, department stores, hardware stores and thrift shops to see what calls out to me as a potential project. Typically, I don't make things all that much, but what I do do, is wield a can of spray paint and glitter things with aplomb! As I type this, I have Martha Stewart's lovely silver glitter stuck between my fingers...a side-effect of my latest adventure with my two favourite mediums!

I spied this crown early in the summer at Winners/Homesense. I absolutely love the image of the crown, almost as much as the chandelier! Looking at it in its original form, it didn't hold a lot of appeal to me; however, visions of it sparkling with regal purpose inspired me to add it to my cart, for the royal price of $16.99. After carefully smuggling it inside (my dear husband would not have shared my enthusiasm for it), I hid it in my usual spot, and promptly forgot about it...until yesterday!! Out onto my ugly gravel front path I went, and added yet another colour to the stones. A finishing dusting of glitter, and this is the beauty I ended up with:

Another project I just completed was this drum shade. I also purchased it at Winners, for the grand price of $14.99. Now, it was pretty handsome to begin with, but like most women, I figured I could change it into something even better! So, after poking around in my crafting supplies kit (my junk drawer), I found what I was looking for: the fun, and always whimsical, pom pom fringe!! Just about everything looks better with that, so while I was cooking dinner, I was also heating up the glue gun, and embellishing...too bad dinner didn't turn out as fancy!!

Speaking of cooking, I made pancakes last Sunday (as I always do); and because I had spent part of the previous evening flipping through Matthew Mead's new book, Entertaining Simple, which he had just sent me (thanks Matthew!), I was inspired to try one of the many great ideas in the book. Now, I have to tell you, there are so many easy and creative ideas in this book, you'll be instantly party planning and making to-do lists!! I won't get into too many details yet, as the book won't officially be released until September 30 (mark your calendars, ladies!!), however, I will show you what Matthew inspired me to do with my pancakes that morning:

Seriously, who would have ever thought of that? Pancakes on a pedestal!!

How pretty is that??!! When you think about it, isn't that where a pancake should be? I mean, doesn't everyone love a delicious, moist pancake...dripping in maple syrup and butter...with yummy add-ins like tart blueberries, fresh apple slices, and chocolatey chips?? FYI: those are the kinds of pancakes I make each Sunday, the apple being my favourite.

Now, has anyone ever priced the Silver Sage silk drapes at Restoration Hardware? Well, they are a pretty penny indeed. But look what I found at our local Zellers (Cdn) store! They may be faux silk, but the package said colour: Silver Sage, and they are a perfect match to the wall colour in my dining area! And since I was due to take my summer curtains down, the price couldn't have been better either: I spent only $14 a panel! Made my heart do a flip-flop, I tell you!!

So, in case you need reminding, hunt, root, search, scour the most unexpected places for what you are looking for. If you find something that will almost do, think of ways to repurpose it and make it work for your home. Oh, and stock up on a little spray paint and glitter while you are at it. Now, I'm off to work some bargain magic in someone else's home!!

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***Look forward to another great, BIG giveaway involving Matthew Mead next week. It is bigger and better than the previous give-away with even more chances to win!!

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Now, what projects have you done lately on a dime??

Indoor Plants for Decorating

Plants can really bring life into a room. They look great and can be very easy to maintain. The trick is knowing which ones are easy to maintain so you don't have to put much time into them.

Cacti can be wonderful for decorating. They require almost no attention and they look quite interesting. They can be purchased in pots with several types for a varied look. Cacti do like bright light and won't do well in a dark area. They do well and look great in windowsills. They should not be watered very often.

Chamaedorea Palms are elegant and exotic looking. They can grow up to six feet tall and really add a tropical look to your home. They do like bright indirect light and won't do well if they don't get it. They don't need a lot of water; they should be watered only when the soil gets very dry. These plants look perfect as accent pieces in corners.

Chinese evergreens are a plant that likes low light. They can even survive with just a reading light. The leaves are a beautiful silver gray mixed with dark green. The soil needs to dry out totally between waterings. This plant likes warm areas and won't do well if the temperature is below 45 degrees.
Braided Ficus Trees are very popular for indoor use. The leaves are dark green and the stems twine together in a pretty way. They are several feet tall, so they can really be a nice decorating piece. These trees do well with low light or bright indirect light. The soil should be kept moist.

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Improving Cabinets on a Budget

Repainting cabinet doors can make them look much better. You can also add some simple wood trim to flat cabinet doors to change their style. These are easy fixes that shouldn't take you more than a weekend, and they are also very inexpensive.

You will need 1/4 inch MDF, woodfiller, fine sandpaper, paint and a paintbrush, a screwdriver, a tape measure, a hammer, a nail punch, and a scraper.

First, take the cabinet doors off of the cabinets using a screwdriver. Remove the handles from the cabinet doors next. Now measure the cabinet doors so you'll know what size your MDF needs to be. You will want the MDF to border the cabinet doors in approximately two inch strips, but you may want more or less depending on what looks right with the size of your cabinet doors or drawer faces. You want two strips of MDF to run vertically on each side of the door all the way from top to bottom. Then, you want two strips to run horizontally at the top and bottom between the two vertical strips. You may want to take the trips to be cut by an expert, so you can get the precise cuts that you will need. Attach the MDF to the front of the cabinet doors with panel pins and a hammer. Use woodfiller to cover the holes when you're done. After the woodfiller is dry, sand the surface until smooth.

Now you are ready to paint the cabinet doors. You will probably need two coats of paint. After they are dry, reattach the handles and hang the doors again.

If you don't have flat cabinets to begin with, you can still paint your cabinets and refresh them. You can paint the inner panel a different color than the outer trim and paint the kitchen walls to match the inner color. This can look pretty cool.

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Make a Framed Fall Decoration

This is a simple project that will not take long. It will add Fall spirit to your home, and you can use it year after year.

First, you need a frame. This part is totally up to you. Choose a frame that matches the other frames in the room where you want to display this decoration.

Next, you need some colored paper to put inside the frame. It can look cool to select paper that is the exact same color as your wall. If you do this, it will give the illusion of the leaves and writing (this will make sense soon) being in between layers of glass. I like this look, I think it makes the decoration look more expensive.

Now, print a message on the paper, leaving at least 3/4 of the paper free for fall leaves. The message can be as simple as "welcome", an inspirational quote you like, or anything else really. You can use your computer and printer if you want, or you can hand write or paint the message.

The last step is to take some bright Fall leaves and glue or tape them to the paper. The arrangement of the leaves is up to you. When you're done insert the paper into the frame and your project is now complete.

You can prop the frame on an entry table or coffee table, hang it on the front door, set it on an easel, or hang it on the wall. Remember to use it next year too!

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Seasons Change...

Well, the boxes were finally cracked on my fall decorations, and the first place I addressed was my fireplace mantel. Considering I hadn't dressed it up for summer, a change was long over-due. My fireplace is visible from every corner and is truly the focal point of my living room (considering my puny television is hidden away in an armoire...sooo passé). Thus, the time was right for a little decorating make-over!

I have to say, I am pretty pleased with the outcome. I incorporated many of my favourite things: my vintage chemist's bottles, my new/old platter, my love of crows, apothecary vases, and nests, and stepped out of my usual colour palette, and injected a modest splash of autumn's signature colour:

Of course I kept a little blue in the mix...

My love of crows at this time of year is legendary, so I figured he deserved to be elevated on a sweet, little cake platter. I love cake platters...

I thought I'd show you another little fall vignette. Don't be too dazzled by my artistic skills. I can hook you up with an original drawing of that pumpkin if you like...

Decorating with White

Decorating with white is very easy. It is hard to go wrong when decorating with white. The only risk you take is that your home will look boring. You definitely won't have people looking at your home thinking that you made awful choices.

The color white makes most people think of purity. White is also the color of winter of course, and it can make people think of snow in nature. White is a bright color that makes rooms look larger. It is great to use white in a room that is too dark, white does a good job of making rooms feel brighter.

It can be nice to decorate with white because it can be used with any other color. White makes other colors seem to stand out. Too much white in an already bright room can be overbearing. Too much white can also seem clinical, and lack personality.
White and blue is a common color theme seen in kitchens. This color combination looks very fresh and clean. Several different shades of white can be used together to add depth and interest, this can been a very bright and cozy look. White can be used easily with brighter shades of color if you want to go with a bolder look. Often, people who are renting their homes are stuck with white walls. These people can make their homes look much brighter just with the use of colorful furniture or accent pieces. This can create a modern look.

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Stop and Stare...

In the world of design, some things are just so jaw-dropping in their beauty and creativity. Mind you, it often takes a little less to dazzle me, as my expectations are fairly simple. I want imaginative, I want pretty, and it has to make my heart do a little flip. Cost is irrelevant (you know what I mean), while thinking outside of the proverbial box always impresses me.

Here are a few things that have wowed me lately, and inspired me to do a few projects of my own:

This gorgeous letter M would be perfect for the space above my sofa (my wallpapered feature wall, if you will..). They even sell them in the most delicate shade of blue. Check them out here. Their website is amazing!!

This room inspires me to take another look at my painted furniture. Hmmm...which pieces could stand a little jolt of colour?? I love the entire colour scheme. Maybe Sophie's room could use a little refreshing??

photo: source unknown

This gorgeous built-in cabinet has me craving one for my own home. Luckily for my husband, our home is too small for such a project. Maybe in the next house?? I can, however, display dishes in some of these beautiful colours on the open shelving in my kitchen...

photo: Ideal Home Magazine

This lovely, old vessel would be perfect in front of my living room window. It would be the ideal spot for seasonal displays. My junking senses are tingling...

photo: Martha Stewart.com

Doesn't this decadent table skirt remind you of a couture garment that Carrie Bradshaw (from SATC) would wear?? I, too, could channel a little "Carrie" if I owned it... (FYI: I'm probably more of a Charlotte).

photo: Martha Stewart.com

Lastly, I am bowing down to the folks over at Pottery Barn:

I. Want. This. Badly!!!

And I actually have the perfect spot for it!!!

Tidying up some loose ends...

I have had a few question, lately, and am just now getting around to answering them. Please excuse my tardiness; but if you know me personally, I can run a little late sometimes...

Q. What's the paint color on your wall in the chair picture? I love it!

A. Thanks, Kara. The colour of my dining area, bedroom, living room, and front entry and hall is Silver Sage, by Restoration Hardware. I should get a gift card or something for all the times I have mentioned their colour and sent folks their way...

Q. I have been making bread for J because of his allergies. But I can never get it light and fluffy! Do tell...how do you do it?

A. Well, I'm not sure anyone has ever told me my bread is light and fluffy, but no one's ever complained either. I simply fire all the ingredients into my bread machine and then pop the dough (which I let rise for 30 min.) into the oven. Believe me, I have zero tricks up my sleeve...

Q. What kind of bread machine do you have?

A. I have a Black and Decker model, which I purchased back in 1998. So, all things considered, it was a great purchase!!

Q. Where did you get that adorable cat rug?! Can't believe nobody has asked yet...

A. Yes, I love that rug, too!! I am fairly certain I picked it up at Winners/Homesense a few years ago. It would have definitely been under $15, as I rarely pay much more than that ($25 at the most!) for seasonal accessories. I am soooo sensible...yuk, yuk!!

Q. Where and what is Winners/Homesense? (no one actually asked me that question, but I've been asked it before...I'm all about trouble shooting!).

A. Winners/Homesense is the Canadian equivalent to TJ MAXX, and I am beginning to guess, HomeGoods?? It is really the BEST place to go for bedding, accessories, and the like. Their catch phrase is "Winners...you should go", and you really should!! Another plug!! I think I need a gift card from them, too!!

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I have a few thankyou's to hand out:

Tania, from Willibleu, awarded me with this :

As I told Tania, I am always amazed that people actually come by to read what I have to say!! Honestly, I'm pretty boring, and often fall short on stimulating conversation when in group settings. I guess it comes from years of being shy as a child, and from preferring to let others take the spotlight in social settings. I have a very outgoing husband, who can chat with anyone, young or old, and I basically plead with him before we go out, to not wander away...until I have found someone to chat comfortably with!

I also want to thank anyone who has given me awards recently, and to ask their forgiveness for my forgetting to play along. I am terrible with awards, and honestly, they are best bestowed upon others who are more deserving and punctual!! I also want to express my appreciation for any and all compliments or awards you have given me. Blog compliments are the best kind of compliments - because then you don't have to see me blush and make some stupid remark to cover up my embarrassment and awkwardness. I get this trait from my mum!!! She is the queen of brushing off compliments out of shyness!!

Decorating with Black

Black can be a tricky color to decorate with. You want to make sure not to go overboard, or you’ll end up making your home look gothic. But, using a little black can really add emphasis to certain areas of a room, and depth to others.

The color black can look very sophisticated. Black is thought to be a stabilizing and strengthening color. It is said to make people feel more authoritative and powerful.

Black works as an accent color for almost any other color. Black can really be used anywhere, it just needs to be used in moderation. Black is an easy accent color to use. Furniture that is black is an easy way to incorporate this color into your decorating. The color black makes other colors look more striking. It is not a very good wall color, even for just an accent wall.
Black looks good with almost any other color, but the safest combination is probably black and tan. This combination looks classic and it will never go out of style. The nice thing about this color scheme is you can add accent pillows and a few other accent pieces that you can easily switch out with others seasonally, or just on a whim. If you want to go with a bold look, that is very easy to achieve when decorating with black. Black and red can look very striking together, but just be sure to use another neutral color too, so that your theme doesn’t look too dark. I really like black when it is used with a light to medium green. For instance, green walls with black a chair rail and trim would look nice. You wouldn’t want to go with this color scheme in a room without much light though.

This blog is brought to you by nephrology jobs.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood...

Yesterday was a great day. A simple day, but one that was filled with the things that fill you up inside and make you count your blessings, whatever they may be.

Things like:

• Taking a brisk, long walk with a good friend...chatting, laughing, breathing in the now crisp, autumn air. I love exercising outdoors...can't be beat!
• Rescuing my cat from the roof...all by myself!! Let me tell you, it involved danger!!

• Washing slipcovers, and hanging them on the line. Finally, some good clothes-drying weather is here, and the wrinkles just dance themselves out!

• Strawberries and yogourt for lunch. Perfect, sweet/tart berries and the creamiest yogourt money can buy...yum!

• Found: a new "fall-ish" flag, and some decorations unearthed. Waited for my girlie to come home to help me. I laughed at her delight!

• My husband - returned from a short work trip. Back to tea on the porch swing, papa bear's chair filled again, and that perfect someone to plant my newly cold toes on at night.

• This for dinner: new, baby potatoes, fresh beans (finally) cooked just right, mushrooms and onions, and grilled pork chops on the BBQ. I love potatoes the way every full-blooded Irish girl should...so does my daughter...good girl!

• Fresh-baked bread, from my bread machine to the oven. My boys think I "rock" for making this. I know the way to a boy's heart...

• Kids all tucked in, the perfect bowl of popcorn to share, a generous glass of my favourite/cheap bubbly, and this show:

The perfect setting to let the heckling begin!!

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Oh, I almost forgot! Look what Amy at One Day at a Time made for me. She was so excited about winning one of the prizes from my recent give-away, that she figured I needed a coronation or something! Looks like Matthew Mead isn't the only one sporting a crown...!!

Thanks Amy!!

Decorating with Brown

Decorating with shades of brown and tan is very safe and has a classy look. It is probably easier to decorate with brown tones than with any other colors. If you don't like to take risks with your decorating, brown would be a good color to start with.

Brown is a warm color that makes people feel safe and comfortable. Brown is neutral and won't clash with other colors, which makes is very easy to use. Brown is of course a very natural color, which humans have been surrounded by in nature for ages. Brown is classic and will always look good, no matter what other trends are happening.
If you want to use brown shades, but you want your theme to have a little more interest, make sure you use varying shades of brown to offer contrast. Chocolate brown looks great with light tan for example. Make sure you don't use too much dark brown unless the room you are decorating is well lit. If there is not very good lighting in a room, try painting the walls a light tan, and use dark brown for your accent pieces.

If you want to use brown shades with other colors there are several combinations that look beautiful. Blue looks very nice with brown, it is a very classic color combination that it is hard to go wrong with. Yellow can look very natural and nice with brown. This combination looks very warm and inviting. Red looks great with brown too for a more exciting look.

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Decorating with Green

Green is an easy color to decorate with. It is a color that most people don’t mind, which makes sense, because green is a very dominant color in nature. Green is a refreshing color. Most people associate spring and the refreshing optimistic feelings they have when thinking about spring, with the color green. This is a color that can be used almost anywhere in your home. Men and women seem to like green color schemes in the home equally well.

Temporary touches of green can easily be added to the home simply by displaying green grapes or apples. Flowers are another great temporary display of green that will look beautiful in your home.

When used with white green looks very refreshing and spring like. Purple or yellow accents can also be used with green for a fresh spring effect. Olive green and black used together can create a dramatic and elegant look that is beautiful.
Really, green can be used in any room and in almost any quantity. If you use a light colored earthy green you can easily paint all of the walls in a large room without being overwhelmed with the color.

Be careful not to use too much dark green in a space without good lighting or in a room that is too small. Green, like any dark color, can cause a room to look smaller and darker.

This blog is brought to you by physical therapy jobs.

Decorating with Purple

Purple is generally a feminine color that isn’t used too frequently. Purple is a comforting and relaxing color. Purple is also known to be a spiritual color. Purple is an artistic color that has been said to spark creative ideas and feelings.

Purple is said to be both a warm and a cool color depending on the colors that are around it. Purple paired with yellow will seem cool, while purple paired with green will seem warm.

I like purple best when it is paired with green. The combination reminds me of grape vines and summer time. The combination of purple and green is commonly seen in Italian themed kitchens decorated with stenciled grape vines and bottles of wine displayed. Purple is a fairly versatile color because it can be paired with several different colors and provide a different feel with each. Purple combined with white can look fresh and romantic. Purple combined with tan and light yellows can look elegant and classy. Purple combined with pastel yellow can look child-like.

Because of its versatility purple can be fun to decorate with. However, purple seems to be a color that not everyone likes. It might not be too popular in a space that men are going to be frequenting for example. But even among women purple is not always very popular. It is best to be careful when you use purple. Make sure that the people who spend the most time in the space you are going to decorate with purple like the color.

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Leaping into Fall...

photo source: Country Living.

I have done this before on my own porch, using a vintage tartan picnic tin basket. Hmmm...might be time to do it again!!

There is nothing like a little fall weather to get one in the spirit for decorating. But, for some strange reason I have yet to venture down to the basement to poke around in my fall/Halloween decorations. I keep threatening to, but I am feeling a tad uninspired to do so. Part of the problem is that my house (inside) really doesn't lend itself all that well to the warm, rich colours of autumn, and it is too early to decorate for Halloween. Now, I know a lot of you have jumped right into Halloween, but we Canadians are more hesitant to do so, until Thanksgiving is over. We celebrate our Thanksgiving in early October, so we tend to hold off bringing out the orange and black until after the holiday.

photo: Seasons of Cannon Falls: River House

I did venture out to the shops today in search of a new, fall flag. I am extremely picky about flags, as I don't like anything too cutesy, and yet I do like the sight of a flag blowing in the wind. Unfortunately, I found nothing I liked, so again I hit a fall decorating roadblock! Oh well, off to Halifax I go on Friday, so we will see what they have to offer.

outside my home, Fall 2007

I thought had better offer up some fall decorating inspiration to inspire me and those of you who are in the same boat. Hopefully, these images will light a fire under me, and lead me down the stairs to the boxes awaiting me...

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**For those of you who are wondering about the blue pumpkin on the mantel, in my banner photo above, I created it last fall - when faced with the challenge of decorating a beach-inspired palette with shades of orange and yellow. You can read about it here: http://restyledhome.blogspot.com/2007/09/losing-wood-blue-pumpkins-and-scary.html