The Shops of Utah Valley

While in Utah this week my main goal is to do the shopping for all the grandkids that live here. That would be 8! That way when we fly back on Christmas Eve we won't have to bring a ton of extra stuff or ship it all. Brilliant, don't you think?

Well, Grampa was sweet to volunteer to watch the little girls while Jen and I went out to do it. Love that man he is so good to us! We left the house about 9:00 so not much was open that early. So we decided to drop by Shopko. Well, we got all the kids things there and were done by 9:45 just in time for the stores to open so we could see if there was just one or two other little things they might like...and if you believe that... It was actually play time for Jen and me!

Can I just tell you that Utah has the best shopping around? Honestly, where we live cannot hold a candle to it. Check this out...

One of our favorite haunts!

Great decorative door for sale!

Witch Time!

Camo Jen

Jen and her Pumpkin Love!

More Pumpkins!

Lovin' the Ornamental Cabbages!

Beautiful Store

Who can think of Sugar Plums yet?

Happy Halloween!

Get your Broom!

The Veranda~So Posh and Beautiful!

Double Click this one if you like Sparkle like I do!

One of the greatest pleasures I have in this life is spending a day like this one with my girls!

Is Your Master Bedroom Your Refuge?

September 25th, 2008 by Bonnie

Here's the LINK

Often times I am asked, “Where do I begin to decorate in my home?” This answer may surprise you, but I usually suggest beginning in the most neglected room in the house, the Master Bedroom! Some people find that strange since it is the least viewed by visitors. This may be true, but keep in mind that you decorate primarily for your own family. When making your home a comfortable and inspiring environment-the master bedroom is very important.

Many times when I enter a home to do a redesign consultation, I find that the master bedroom is a catch all for everything. It is not uncommon to find unsightly gun racks, sporting equipment, bags of stuff being donated to charity, craft items, dirty clothes, old newspapers, etc.

Whether you are single or married your master bedroom should be your retreat from this hectic, crazy world. If you are a young mother it is particularly important. You need a special place for just you and your husband. It should be relaxing, romantic and inviting. It is best when oozing comfort and warmth created by using lots of texture and beautiful fabrics. It can feel like a nice 5-star, luxury hotel room but better as you add your personal touches. This need not be overly expensive as you can purchase many things at reasonable prices. Your room should never be cluttered with anything that does not belong in a bedroom. Try making it mentally and physically relaxing and adorn it with things you love.

Recently I helped a client redesign her bedroom. Look at the stunning results.

This room is the epitome of sophistication, elegance and romance!

Remember that lighting is so important in a bedroom. Often overhead lighting is way too harsh. However, in this room a chandelier has been installed replacing a ceiling fan and look how beautiful it is! Add a dimmer switch to create the setting you desire.

New taller bedside lamps were purchased also and we have found that buffet lamps look perfect in a bedroom and actually cast reading light where you need it, when the bed has been elevated.

Dated pink and blue wallpaper was removed and a nice warm paint tone was selected that compliments the new bedding. Always pick your bedding first and then choose your paint. Most people want to do it the other way around and that is much harder.

The bed will be the focal point of the room so make it beautiful with textiles, various textures and decorative pillows. Make it a lovely relaxing retreat for yourself and your spouse. Have fun creating your own personal retreat. You would be surprised how many men enjoy having a beautiful bedroom. I have had several call me and say, “Thank you!” They didn’t even realize it was important to them until they experienced the difference it made in their lives.

Two Precious Punkins!
Zachery with his perfect little pumpkin last Fall

1. The color: PUMPKIN
2. Excited grandchildren that love picking out their own pumpkins.
3. Carmelized Apple Cider From Starbuck's.
   
4. Local Fall-Fest activities
5. Dried, salted pumpkin seeds
   
6. Nesting
7. Bringing out the cozy blankets and throws
8. Watching movies near the fireplace with Hubs
   
9. The anticipation of the entire Holiday Season
10. Crockpot cooking
11. Candles and candy corn
    
12. The crackle of leaves beneath my feet
13. The smell of fireplaces burning in cozy homes
14. Goards and other seasonal decorative items
15. Carving Jack-O-Lanterns with the kids
    
16. Not having to dream up costumes anymore!
17. Pumpkin bread
18. Corn stalks and hay bales
19. Scarecrows
20. Red, gold and yellow leaves on and off the trees

Melissa over at one of my favorite blogs is running a great posting carnival with Mr. Linky.

I am going to link to that now with this post and if you go here you can see what others love about autumn How about you...what do you love about this great new season? Join in the fun and use Mr. Linky to post your 20 top things about Autumn that you treasure.

Nix This Please!

I have been enjoying this sight for a some time and this morning the Nester had the funniest decorating post up that I have seen in a long time. I could not agree with her more! Click here to enjoy.

Outside The Box

I saw these flowers on Simply Stated and thought they looked so pretty. I wouldn't have thought to put them in black and white vases and that made me ponder "thinking outside the box" when creating new possibilities for our homes.

Sometimes in decorating our spaces we become so emotionally invested in the comfort of things as they've always been, that we don't try anything new. That is one reason why another pair of eyes is often helpful.

One thing that I have learned as a professional home stager and redesigner is that change is difficult for all of us. That is why when our Interiors by Design team goes into a home to stage or redesign it, we need the home owner to be gone for the day. It is hard for them to envision the change while it is in process. Clients are strongly influenced by the emotional aspects of the changes and the preconceived notions they have carried with them for so long. It is best to go with the "big reveal" when the project is complete.

How are you when it comes to changing things? Are you open to the suggestions of others? Have you been pleasantly surprised trying different options? Poke a hole in that box you are in and peek outside. It is fun and besides, what's the worst thing that could happen? It is better to look for the possible benefits. Without trying...how will you ever know?

Flickr

Try These Things To Help Get The Process Going

• Look at your room with a critical eye. What works and what doesn't?
• Get rid of the space fillers you don't love.
• Get some furniture slides and start trying different furniture arrangements.
• Make a wish list of things you'd like to add to the room as your budget allows. Rome wasn't built in a day!
  
• Allow yourself a few days to get use to the new arrangement. Adapting to change takes time.
  
• Enjoy! Make your home a place you and your family love to be.
• If you need assistance call a qualified professional for

Try Something New!

The Appeal Of Redesigning Your Home

This is another of my article published on Blissfully Domestic


Tuesday, September 9th, 2008

Did you know that redesigning is the most economical way to decorate your home? With redesigning and home staging coming on the scene less than two decades ago, many people are unclear about what the difference is. The easiest way to remember is:

• Staging is for Selling
• Redesigning is for Dwelling

Each of these aspects of interior decorating has a specific purpose and although many of the same design principles apply, the methods and end results are very different. Redesigning is what most of us will find most helpful as we do a lot more dwelling than selling.

We live in a society with a mindset that things are primarily disposable. If something breaks and needs repairs, or if we are just tired of it, we often just go buy a new one! With the current economy, many are rethinking that mindset.

Redesign is the re-purposing and recycling of things we already have and love. Often just a new arrangement will make a world of difference in how inviting a room is. What could be more prudent and resourceful than that? Don’t get me wrong, I love shopping and getting new things for our home as much as anyone. But I save money by buying and keeping the big pieces we really love and adding new accessories. Redesigning gives new life to your treasured furnishings and is budget friendly as well. Often it has less to do with what you have, than it does with the placement of your furnishings and accessories.

Before redesigning this room was uninspiring and boring!

By proper furniture placement and accessorizing with things you love, it works!

In one day and without purchasing anything new, this room is now beautiful, warm, and inviting!

Here Are Some Ways To Begin Your Redesigning

• Remove the clutter and get organized. Allow yourself to take time to do this. Do a room or a drawer at a time until you feel great about the results. See Fly Lady for some help.
• Look at ways to improve the look of what you already have. Do you need a coat of paint on the walls or some elbow grease on that favorite piece of furniture to update and lift the room?
• Can a great slip cover make your sofa feel fresh and new again?
• Can a can of spray paint and some fabric make your old lamps look awesome?
• Make a wish list of things you’d like to purchase and shop your own house before buying more stuff. Often there is a thread connecting the things we love. Are you a seashell lover or a collector of brass candlesticks? Find a way to use them differently than you have in the past.
• Enjoy the process as you go along. Decorating should be fun and reflect who you are and how your family lives. Form should always follow function for comfortable living. Take your time and build on your accomplishments.

Updating to blend with your current color scheme and style is a great way to redesign and recycle something!

One Helpful Tip: Have an overall plan for your home but work on only one area at a time. Follow the plan until that area or room is completely done before moving on.

The homes I am called in to redesign are often ones that have a little bit of something in the works in each room and nothing completed. This is overwhelming and discouraging for all of us. Having one room that is beautiful and completely done is great motivation to keep redesigning.

If you are not a DIY person, you may prefer to have a professional redesigner’s help. Check here for an IRIS Trained Redesigner in your area. You will find the fees very reasonable. Gone are the days when you had to be wealthy to get some help creating a beautiful and functional home. And the best part is many rooms can be completely redesigned in less than a day! You can have a lovely day out and come home to the big reveal! You can have that same experience you’ve witnessed on HGTV a thousand times!

* All photos: Interiors by Design

When not writing for Blissfully Domestic, Bonnie can be found redesigning and staging homes for sale through her company, Interiors by Design, on the west coast. She also enjoys writing on her own blog (interiorsbydesigndefined.blogspot.com)

Blissfully Exciting

Monday, August 25, 2008

Blissfully Exciting

Don't Anyone Burst These Bubbles!
We Are The Dancing Queens!
Mamma Mia!

I have some exciting news! The site Blissfully Domestic was looking for some contributors to write some articles in their fields of expertise, so I submitted some things I have done. And they selected me to be one of their writers! I really love the posts on this site and I am so excited about this.

I will be writing about decorating, home staging, marketing for real estate sales, etc. This is the perfect blend of what I love doing...design work, writing, photography and media communications. Wow, who knew something could be so totally suited to my needs and such a perfect fit? I feel very blessed! I will keep you posted on it all. They are launching a big new site redesign on the Tuesday after Labor Day. I need to have my first entry in by then. In the mean time, check out the link to the site if you haven't already. It's a fun one!

I am so nervous and excited!
They sent me the lovely official badges you see on the sidebar.