Closed concept with limitless possibilities

By their nature, bathrooms are never open concept spaces. Save for large closets, they are the only rooms of the house that don’t have the pressure to tie into the decor throughout the home if you don’t want them to. This gives us a really exciting palette to work with. You can go bold with dramatic colors without overwhelming the overall style of the home.  

Bathrooms typically have boring and predictable fixtures. A shower/tub, a toilet, a sink. Usually white. Those constants give a little permission to go all out without risk of being gaudy or even all that maximalist. I invite you to look at how you can pattern drench, too. Same print and coordinating fabrics for the walls, shower curtain, bathroom towel, rugs and other decor. It’s a unique space to add unexpected fun! We all need a little more fun, don’t you think?

Bathrooms are the most affordable room to wallpaper

If you’ve ever done any wallpapering, you know that it’s a bit of an art & science that adds up quickly in cost. One of the benefits to wallpapering a bathroom is that there’s just a lot less surface area you need to contend with. They’re usually smaller rooms, sure, but they also tend to have at least some tile or glass that eats at the square footage as well. 

You can get away with one wall too, like in this powder room space I designed. The sink and toilet we were working with are nothing special, but with less than one roll of wallpaper and a few intentional touches, this little bathroom now has immaculate vibes.

What about moisture?

I totally understand any concerns about moisture in the wettest room of the home. As long as there is proper ventilation, a well-wallpapered room is just as durable as paint. Prep work is also very important here and makes all the difference. Use the bathroom fan during showers and baths consistently and crack windows open as weather permits. I’ve designed MANY bathrooms with wallpaper, including bathrooms of my own, and no regrets. 

Feeling inspired to go bold in your bathroom? Here are some of my current favorite wallpapers for bathrooms:

• Dog Wallpaper
• Sweet Floral Wallpaper
• Wallpaper for a vintage yellow bathroom
• Black and white bathroom wallpaper
• Kids Bathroom Wallpaper
• Fabric By The Yard with matching wallpaper

Affiliate Links: purchases made through the links above may pay designer commission.

And please drop me a line if you would like to put our heads together on your upcoming home design project.

The post Should You Wallpaper Your Bathroom? (Yes.) appeared first on Fortune House Shop.

Her home needed to feel like if it were carefully picked up and dropped in another place, it would still feel like New Orleans – not in a tacky way of course, but instead in an honoring of New Orleans character. 

See below for some New Orleans home style inspiration and then photos of the client’s final product at the end that tie it all together!

New Orleans is an old city

There are a lot of old cities, and other parts of the world are far older than a lot of Americans can imagine. But you know what I mean when I say “old city,” right? The roots go deep, and there are more layers to the culture than a croissant at a French bakery. Even in rebuilding itself after Hurricane Katrina, the city didn’t lose its beautiful, community-based oldness. My client and I figured out together that this new-build needed some old touches to reflect the city it’s in.

In the midst of the project I found this beautiful antique door at Ricca’s Architectural Sales over in Mid City NOLA. Bower Home got this to custom fit into our client’s home, and it was a great example of lifting something from forgettable to absolutely signature.

We knew we wanted to incorporate custom moulding on the walls that would be similar to the historic trim in older houses. Bower Home sourced, crafted, and installed beautiful millwork for us! Now the whole house looks period-appropriate. 

New Orleans character and style come from its color and vibrance

You are not going to walk around any other city in the US with so many yellows, reds, purples, pinks, and greens. (You should know that pink and green consistently light a fire in me). Even the most outspoken of sports fans don’t have anything on NOLA’s vibrance. These are regular homes of regular people! Show me purple and yellow trim on the same house someplace else Honey, I dare you. New Orleans is not afraid of color, and you shouldn’t be either. 

The organic wall of it all! There is something about how the greenery and structures of this city work together in a unique way. It is just full of life! In many places, plants almost have a somehow sterile nature to them, very man-designed. In NOLA it honestly just feels like we’re all in this together.

Relatedly, art in New Orleans really has something special, and I’m excited to keep exploring that on my blog here. For now I’ll talk about what we had in mind for this Bywater project. Art here isn’t necessarily “maximalist” but minimalists would be uncomfortable. There’s a lot of reliance on organic shapes, community-based messages, lots of vibrant color of course, black lines, extremely… analog? I’ll include some photos of NOLA art I’ve come across recently, but also please do check out @cubsthepoet on Instagram. Christian Davenport is VERY delightfully New Orleans. 

New Orleans is a Black city

NOLA may have heavy French influence, but this city is Black. The majority of the city’s population is Black, the people who built it were Black, and this client, too, is Black. This huge part of NOLA was missing in my client’s home, and we leaned heavily into Black, in style and most notably in the wallpaper of the dining room (you’ll see below).

Bringing it all together

This was one of my favorite projects to date. I think you’ll see why. Oh, and send me a note if you’re looking for some more style and character in your New Orleans home!

The post Infusing Historic New Orleans Character Into A Boring, New-Build Home appeared first on Fortune House Shop.

Adding a rug to any room instantly grounds the space and makes it feel cozier and more polished. My favorite style of rug to achieve the ultimate balance of modern geometrics and traditional craftsmanship is a vintage kilim rug. One-of-a-kind vintage rugs can be difficult for consumers to source by themselves as they’re often reserved for high-budget and custom client work. Here, I’ve gathered some of my favorite vintage kilim rugs, along with a collection of modern replicas and accessories to give you exclusive access to this usual trade-only product. Here are some of my favorites from the collection: Shop The Entire Collection Here *Affiliate Link: purchases made through this link pay designer commission.

Vintage Geometric Beige Brown And Blue Wool Kilim Rug

This one-of-a-kind vintage rug by Rug + Kilim measures 5×7 feet and would be stunning layered over a sturdy jute rug. I love the pastel colors blending with the aubergine and sage.

Vintage 1950s Mid-Century Kilim Pink Runner Rug

Made with hand-woven wool originating from Turkey between 1950-1960, this vintage mid-century Kilim runner enjoys the distinction and gentility of a seldom-seen pink colorway, gracefully accented by a play of golden-beige and cream hues lending a complementary sense of depth and gravity to the medallion field design.

Vintage Kilim Style Pillow Cover With Tassels

For a less expensive way to add vintage style and texture to a room, I love seeing lilim-style pillows layered with luxury fabrics like velvet. The tassels on this pillow add a sweet touch.

Vintage Mid-Century Moroccan Berber Transitional Pink And Beige Wool Rug – Confetti Accent

Originating from Morocco in 1950, this vintage midcentury Moroccan Berber rug has a combination of both distinct and subtle symbolism with particularly unique colourways. Hand knotted in durable wool, the eye-catching hot pink lozenges symbolizing femininity are complemented by parallel open-angled lozenges, commonly representing the transition into womanhood and maturity. A more uncommon feature of this piece is the especially finely woven sparks of confetti-like rainbow hues throughout the beige field, indicating an almost celebratory tone to the piece complementing its imagery.

1960s Vintage Zeki Muren Distressed Rug With Art Deco Pattern

Hand-knotted in wool, a distressed style rug from the celebrated artist Zeki Muren with abstract and art deco inspirations is one of his latest pieces to join Rug & Kilim’s Midcentury Pasha collection. This Turkish drawing from circa 1960-1970 boasts Western abstract modernism with a unique personality where a geometric pattern stands imbued in grey,black,yellow,orange,green tones lending versatility to suit different moods and styles. Carrying distressed low pile height consistent with age and the technique of this lineage, a perfect shabby chic rendering in Boho style—well suited for living rooms and drawing rooms in monochrome and neutral tones. A thoughtful choice for maximalist interiors, though the possibilities are limitless. 

Kilim Upholstery Fabric by Kravet

For custom pieces or to DIY wall tapestries, this fabric from Cravat comes in two color ways and looks like vintage kilim.

Modern Kilim (Cotton) Woven Rugs and Accessories

For budget infusions of kilim style, I’m all for buying a modern nod to the vintage classics. Use these items wisely. A 2×3 rug doesn’t have to be a door mat. You can install it on the wall as art or use it as a bath mat. These rugs are thin and could be used as a table runner on a large rectangle table. Get creative with these items under $150!

This is a small selection of vintage style rugs from a much larger curated collection available for you to purchase via Side Door.
Click Here To Shop The Full Collection Through Side Door.
* Affiliate Link: purchases made through this link pay designer commission.

The post Designer Obsession: Vintage Kilim Rugs appeared first on Fortune House Shop.

Warm colors are back on trend just in time for the Fall season! Of course, if you’re like me, you’ve long loved accenting a room with a bold pop of orange undertones. Whether it’s coral, rose, or rust, an auburn infusion can make any room feel more collected and warmer. Pumpkin Spice Latte, anyone?

Here are my favorite warm-toned furniture and accents of the moment: Shop The Collection Directly Through Side Door. *Affiliate Link: purchases made through this link pay designer commission.

Click to Shop: Metro Aksel Accent Chair by Urbia Imports

Artfully designed with meticulous ergonomic precision, the Aksel Accent Chair offers a fusion of comfort and style. Fully upholstered, this chair features a tight seat and back, providing both support and allure. Its gracefully curved arms and legs, generously cushioned, enhance both comfort and sophistication. Engineered for proper seating posture, it maintains a sleek, space-efficient profile, making it an ideal choice for contemporary spaces seeking comfort and aesthetic appeal.

Click to Shop: Metro Aksel Sofa by Urbia Imports

Artfully designed with meticulous ergonomic precision, the Aksel Sofa offers a fusion of comfort and style. Fully upholstered, this versatile piece features a tight seat and back, providing support and allure whether seated or reclined for rest. Its gracefully curved arms and legs, generously cushioned, elevate both comfort and sophistication. Engineered to promote proper posture, it effortlessly maintains a sleek, space-efficient profile, making it an ideal choice for contemporary spaces seeking comfort and aesthetic appeal, whether for lounging or for a comfortable sleeping experience.

Click to Shop: Romi Velvet Footstool in Antique Rose by Soho Home

A nod to the warm and inviting textures of Soho House Rome, our Romi footstool is fully upholstered in cotton velvet with fluting and a piped rim to add intrigue and definition. Compact and versatile, the footstool doubles up as extra seating for guests, or as a side table with a tray on top.
Cotton velvet footstool
Fluted detail
Piped rim
Fully upholstered
Inspired by Soho House Rome

Click to Shop: Silvanus Rug in Rust by Soho Home

Our Silvanus rug is inspired by the timeless, woven wool styles found throughout the bedrooms at Babington House. Hand-knotted in India by skilled artisans, each one takes up to six months to make, with 22 knots per square inch making it feel super-soft underfoot.
•Traditional-style rug in natural and rust tones
•Hand-knotted with 22 knots per square inch
•100% wool pile
•Made in India
•Inspired by Babington House

Click to Shop: Atolla Brick Tassel Table Lamp by TOV Furniture

Draped with luxurious tassels, the Atolla collection will add warm lighting and textural elements to your space. Available as a pendant or table lamp, it’ll be a unique decorative addition.
Soft textural
Cord length: 98″
Switch type: On/Off
Max 60 watt

Click to Shop: Edina Marble Coffee Table by Four Hands

Product Information:
Dimensions: 15.80″H x 24″W x 24″D
Weight: 81.2lbs
Color: Rusty Marble
Material: Solid Marble

This is a small selection of rust and rose colored home decor from a much larger curated collection available for you to purchase via Side Door.

Click Here To Shop The Full Collection Through Side Door.

* Affiliate Link: purchases made through this link pay designer commission.

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The post Free Design Ideas: Decorating With Rust and Rose Colored Home Accents appeared first on Fortune House Shop.

For Rent: June/July 2024 only. 3 bedroom / 2 bathroom FULLY FURNISHED house. Pets welcome (with additional refundable security deposit). Fully fenced backyard. Off-street parking for multiple vehicles (including a space big enough for a large camper). All utilities included.

Washer/Dryer. Dishwasher. All appliances. WFH welcome. Two designated workstations with free 100 mbps internet. 1804 Russell St 37206. Walk to Shelby Park, Frothy Monkey, Lockeland Table, Urban Cowboy, Bill’s Sandwiches, Lipstick, 5 Points, etc.

Let’s take the tour!

The front yard boasts a beautiful herb garden and a giant front porch for lounging. Off-street parking includes the driveway which can fit up to four vehicles (additional parking in the back, if needed).

The living room and dining room are connected but not entirely open-concept, providing some coziness.

The dining room features a modern table and chairs seating up to six. In the Living Room, you’ll find a large reclining sofa with chaise, perfect for lounging and watching the included streaming services on the Samsung Frame TV. Free streaming services include; Hulu, Netflix, Max (HBO), Disney+, Samsung TV Plus channels, and Peacock.

From a central hallway, you can access the front rooms (living and dining rooms), kitchen, first floor bathroom, downstairs bedroom, and a staircase that leads to additional living spaces.

The full kitchen includes a Kitchenaid refrigerator with built-in ice maker and internal water dispenser. For cooking, you’ll utilize a dual fuel range (gas cooktop with an electric oven). After meals, the Bosch dishwasher makes for quick clean-up of dishes. A Cuisinart coffee maker can be programmed to start automatically every morning. Or you can enjoy the freshest coffee with a French press. Stainless steel pots and pans, ceramic dishes, and glasses/mugs are included to make your stay easier.

To the left of the kitchen, you’ll have full access to the laundry room featuring an LG Steam Washer and Dryer. One of the two access doors to the backyard is through this room as well. This door includes a doggie door for your pooch’s access to their fully fenced backyard. It can also be sealed if you have cats and need to keep them inside for safety.

On the other end of the hallway, you’ll access the ground-floor bedroom. This bedroom features a Queen bed with a pillowtop mattress, cotton and linen bedding, a Blue air purifier, Roku Smart TV with streaming apps and Roku Channels. This room also features a desk for working and an additional patio door for access to the back yard.

Directly beside the kitchen and adjacent to the bedroom is the staircase which leads to two additional bedrooms, one bathroom, a bonus living space, and an additional dedicated workspace with a wireless printer to which you’ll have access.

Upstairs, you’ll find an office nook with ample desk space as well as a reading nook with access to a record player to take advantage of the phenomenal acoustics provided by the high ceilings.

The central hallway leads to two additional bedrooms.

The first bedroom to your left features a Full sized bed with a Twin-sized trundle for additional children’s sleeping arrangements.

This room also features a cozy reading nook for a small child, a Roku Smart TV with streaming apps and Roku Channels access.

Down the hall, you’ll find the Principal Suite featuring a King-sized Sleep Number bed which can be adjusted to your desired softness or firmness and a full bathroom.

The principal bedroom also features views of downtown, a Samsung Smart TV with streaming apps and Samsung TV Plus channels and two dressers (plus walk-in closet) for clothing storage.

A very large Principal bathroom is also in this suite. It includes a tub for soaking, vanity with two sinks, and shower with rainfall showerhead and a handheld shower wand.

For Rent: June/July 2024 only.

3 bedroom / 2 bathroom FULLY FURNISHED house
Pets welcome (with additional $500 refundable security deposit).
Fully fenced backyard.
Off-street parking for multiple vehicles (including a space big enough for a large camper).
All utilities included.
Washer/Dryer.
Dishwasher.
All appliances.
WFH welcome.
Two designated workstations with free 100 mbps internet.
Russell St East Nashville 37206.
Walk to Shelby Park, Frothy Monkey, Lockeland Table, Urban Cowboy, Bill’s Sandwiches, Lipstick, 5 Points, etc.

$3800 /month. All utilities and 100 mbps internet included. Fully furnished. Fully fenced backyard. Washer/dryer included.

Contact Teri – teri@tmoorehome.com for details.

The post Summer Rental in Nashville, TN’s Coolest Neighborhood appeared first on Fortune House Shop.

Christmas can be the most joyous time of year. Or it can be a fireball of anxiety and chaos. This year, I choose joy. So if you’re also craving a Christmas that’s just a little more laidback and fun-focused, you’ve come to the right place! Here’s how I let loose and let my family enjoy the holiday without all the micromanagement of years gone by.

There was a time in my life when I had two Christmas trees; a fancy tree the guests were allowed to see and a family tree. The fancy tree would always be front and center in my home for hosting our annual HOA’s Holiday Party.

That tree was pretty fancy and I was fancy right alongside it. (see more of the fancy tree here: Traditional Holiday Decor On A Budget)

Then we sold that house and downsized into a historic California Bungalow. With only 1200 square feet of living space and a lot less storage space than our suburban home, I decided to cut our Christmas tree allocation in half. Downsizing Christmas to one tree for the whole family meant that I had to completely re-think the way I approached decorating our Christmas tree.

If I was going to make sense of the collection of mismatched, vintage, and handmade ornaments from my wife’s youth plus allow additions that my daughter makes every year, I had to lean into it. The result?

A COLORFUL, FUN, + NOSTALGIC CHRISTMAS TREE

The first year we leaned into the family Christmas tree was 2019 and we haven’t looked back since. Here are the elements I use to make our family tree feel intentional and not haphazard:

Since Christine’s family celebrated each year with hand-crafting Christmas ornaments, we decided to carry on that tradition with our own daughter. Every year, we add a new ornament to our tree that she has made or painted herself. The collection, which we plan to pass along to her when she moves on from our home, started with her six month old handprint salt dough ornament and shows off a bit of her evolving personality every year:

They’re not perfect. She’s pretty young. But part of the joy in accepting the nostalgia of Christmas is letting go of perfection and just allowing memories to happen (more on that later but don’t worry I’m a neurotic and too much laissez faire can be detrimental to my brain).

As our family evolves, so do our hobbies and interests. We’ve begun marking each of our own personalities and tastes with fun new additions to the tree. We call this The Personality Collection. One of us picks or receives a new ornament every year to mark a milestone event, a thing we really love, or just something funny we saw in a store. Last year, our daughter was hellbent on getting a rocket ornament so we had our local gift shop order one for her (shout-out to the ladies at GiftHorse for never laughing at me when I ask for something wild).

This year, I added a super special and sentimental ornament to the tree. It’s the first time I’ve added anything that felt like it came from my childhood and not my wife’s or my daughter’s childhoods, despite being brand new.

If you follow me on Instagram, you probably know about the long-standing joke that, because I grew up on 90s public television, Tom Silva is my dad and Martha Stewart is my mom. It’s funny because my personality is a lot like a combination of those two and also what eight-year-old gets up early on Saturday to watch This Old House?! This one. Me. I did that.

Last year, I entered a giveaway on Instagram to win a set of hand-turned and painted ornaments made by Tom Silva and his lovely real-life daughter, Kate. I won a set and now I get to stare at these beauties every Christmas:

Simple creamy white globe ornaments (plastic!) fill any holes and provide additional contrast against the dark greenery of our tree. These are probably ten years old so at this point, they basically are vintage!

AN ARTIFICIAL TREE THAT LOOKS REAL

For years, I believe that I had to buy a real tree to get that perfectly vintage look. I was wrong. I admit it.

A few years ago, we bought the older version of this tree and letmetellyou. It’s showing a bit of wear and does need some fluffing after being stored every year but even so, I will hold onto this tree for as long as I can because IT COMES PRE-LIT and it has plastic-tipped branches that look so real.

It comes in three pieces that click and lock together to automatically connect power. I don’t have to find the end of the strand of lights to connect to the next one. The second all three pieces are in place, it’s ready to light up via the little foot peddle on the floor or the handy remote that controls all the different color and twinkle pattern settings.

You also read that correctly. The lights are LED so they’re energy efficient and they don’t get really hot like traditional Christmas tree lights. Just look at all the color options!

POM POM YARN GARLAND

I purchased two skeins of this pom pom yarn from a local craft store almost a decade ago. It’s since been discontinued but I did find a wired version that’s still available. You can purchase that here.

Even if you can’t find the exact yarn I use, you can still employ the method with a chunky yarn or a traditional acrylic sweater yarn that’s been knotted to look like pompoms. Either way, you can save a ton of money by using non-garland garland on your tree AND you can tie bows on your gifts with your leftover yardage (yarnage?)!

Because the yarn is really thin, you want to drape it around the tree for a bigger impact. This way, it’s taking up more visual space than it otherwise would if you just spun it in a circular pattern around the tree.

The next step is to add a tree skirt to cover that ugly fake tree base. Eventually, it will be disguised with wrapped presents but until I get around to procuring and wrapping said gifts, I use another cheap hack:

Every year, we spend about $15 on a new ornament for the family and another $5 on a kit for our daughter to make her own. This method has saved me time and a ton of money that I don’t spend on changing my Christmas theme each year.

My tree isn’t the most visually stunning Christmas tree you’re going to see today and I don’t want you to think that I’m implying my method is the best method. Christmas, to me, is about joy. Our family’s colorful, fun, and nostalgic Christmas tree brings me so much joy. I hope it’s brought you a little joy and some inspiration as well.

Here are links to the items I’ve talked about in this blog post and some fun ornaments to get your collection started:

You
can see all of the creative Christmas trees my fellow bloggers and
friends have created by clicking the links below:

 

 

 

Monday

 

 

Casa Watkins
Living // Up To Date
Interiors // Mocha Girl Place // Kate Decorates // House of
Hipsters // Monica Wants It

 

 

Tuesday

 

 

The Happy Housie // SKG Designs // Delineate
Your Dwelling // Cuckoo 4 Design // Room Bloom
Design // My Sweet
Savannah

 

 

Wednesday

 

 

Iris Nacole // PMQ For Two // Stacies Spaces // Rebecca Propes // Liz Morrow
Studios

 

 

Thursday

 

 

Au Petite Salon // Taryn
Whiteaker Designs // The Honeycomb
Home // Daly Digs // T Moore Home // Love Your Abode

 

 

Friday

 

 

Haneens Haven // Our Fifth House // Seeking Lavender Lane // Two Twenty One // Amber Oliver // Zig and Company

From here, head over to Yuni’s post at Love Your Abode and tell her I
said “hello!” She’s a doll. If you don’t know her, allow me
to introduce you to one of your new favorite people.

The post A Colorful, Fun, and Nostalgic Christmas: My Home Style Christmas Tree Edition appeared first on Fortune House Shop.

I’m not one to make a wishlist for people to buy from. I think it’s kind of tacky and, if I’m being honest, I think a person should only buy a gift if they know the recipient well enough to pick something special for them.

But as our gift-giving lists have expanded to colleagues and neighbors, I realize that choosing the perfect gift for someone we may not know intimately is one of the biggest stressors of the holiday season. So I’m here to help.

Here’s my curated list of items that even a snob with too many conflicting personality traits (like me!) will love;

The following post contains affiliate links. As an Affiliate Marketing Associate I earn commissions from qualifying purchases. This helps me keep the free content coming.

Thanks for your support! xoxo

GIFTS FOR THE DECORATOR

I am beyond obsessed with BluDot. Their modern powder-coated furniture and home accessories straddle the line between simple and artistic so, so well. My wife actually bought me a pair of these candle holders last Christmas and I was impressed, you guys.

The company is based in Minneapolis and is known for their compelling design work.

I happen to really love them because I have insider information that their work environment – for office, retail, and manufacturing line positions – is bar none. They treat their employees well and that really means something to me.

While some might consider diamonds and designer bags to be luxury, I’m a simple gal. My definition of luxury is: anything that makes me feel nice. The best home decorating luxuries are soft textiles that cuddle my skin.

This chunky knit throw is a bargain at $20 but it looks and feels like luxury to me. For a more impressive gift, pair it with a nice candle or a mug for tea. But even if you add nothing, this throw blanket is enough to impress on its own.

Don’t buy anyone a pet. Never do it. It’s not cool. They don’t want a new responsibility for Hanukkah or Christmas. If you have the urge to gift someone a pet, give them this instead.

These adorable balloon dog sculptures come in an array of colors to match any home decor and they’re just, like, really fun. Who can remain in a bad mood when looking at these guys? No one. Not even The Grinch. Not even I.

I love coffee table books as gifts. They’re expensive (for a book!) so we tend to not buy them for ourselves, making them the perfect gift to give.

This hardcover coffee table style book is full of inspiration and calming photos for your recipient to enjoy over and over again. There’s just something about flipping through a real book of photographs that Pinterest and Kindle can’t compete with. It’s a luxury in itself. Plus it’s heavy as shit so the recipient will mentally clock it as noice.

I’ve linked to my local bookseller (who offers shipping!) above but here are some slightly less expensive but still nice coffee table books that you can get from Amazon;

As always, I appreciate when you shop through my links but I also would really encourage you to shop locally whenever possible. A dollar spent in your local economy is worth so much more than a dollar spent with a global corporation. That said, you do what you need to do. If bargain gifting is what your budget allows, I’m not judging you.

I have a sentimental set of wine glasses from my wife’s aunt. But if I didn’t, I’d have these in every color available. I love them so much.

They’re lightweight but look substantial on display. The muted colorways add a little fun to every bar. If you have a wine and design lover in your life, this is the gift.

Plus they’re from DWR which is known, almost exclusively, for being expensive so that box is going to feel special for the recipient.

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GIFTS FOR THE NEUROTIC OVER-ACHIEVER

I have two digital google calendars, a day planner, and a wall-mounted monthly calendar. What do I want? MORE CALENDARS.

I really want this full-year overview calendar from Schoolhouse. It’s not meant to track daily life. It’s meant to provide your year at a glance and I truly believe it could help us all feel more positive by looking forward to the upcoming months’ fun ahead of time.

When the year is over, your recipient can flip the calendar and frame the gorgeous blueprint artwork on the backside. This is the gift that truly keeps on giving. Buy me one. kthx.

Wherever I find collections of items, I am compelled to contain them. Whether by the front door for mail or on my desktop for incoming task items, I have stashes of little gathered paper items everywhere.

But I’m not a paper hoarder and here’s why: The stacks of responsibilities don’t mimic the chaos in my brain because I use attractive storage systems like these little powder coated trinket trays from HAY Designs.

Y’all my back hurts. Because I’m a dummy who sits at a computer all day long, contorting her body to zoom in on the tiny little design details that go into every moment of my job. Where does my laptop sit? Wherever I am at the moment and directly on whatever horizontal surface I can find.

Friends don’t let friends need daily chiropractic adjustments. Get the dummy in your life this laptop stand. It’s really cool looking and it folds up to travel in your dummy’s laptop case. Let’s end the epidemic of Dummy Posture this holiday season.

My love of corralling items doesn’t stop at horizontal surfaces. Wall hooks are literally one of my favorite human inventions. If you think this wall hook obsession means my entryway is cluttered with hanging coats, you are incorrect. I will install hooks in literally every room. Entry for coats? Of course. Bathroom for towels? Check. Bedroom for robes? Duh. Kid’s room for artwork or other miscellaneous BS? Most important.

This wall-mounted rack is a knock-off of a popular Eames design. It’s smaller which makes it easier to fit into your decor. It’s roughly one-third of the cost, too.

Every scatter-brained neurotic knows that keeping up with time is the most important part of any day. I’m just realizing it’s currently 1:00 am because 30 minutes ago, I told my wife I was coming to bed and 30 minutes ago was 9:45. I need clocks. Your pals need clocks.

This clock can be wall-mounted or can sit on a desk or bedside table. It also has a handy thermometer which, in my opinion, makes it the perfect clock for your bathroom morning routine. Timeless yet also stylish, it feels like a more expensive Schoolhouse piece but it’s actually from Target (the collection which shall not be named don’t judge me). It’s freaking cute, you guys. Perfect for your work spouse so they never forget lunch dates again.

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GIFTS FOR THE ACTUAL FANCY PERSON

I used to think wine enthusiasts were the most obnoxious snobs on the planet and then the IPA got popular and let us off the hook! Beer drinkers love talking about beer but don’t you dare try to buy them a case of beer. You will not find the one they like. You will think you found the coolest beer and you will be wrong. You are not cool.

Get them a really neat bottle opener instead. Like this tasseled bottle opener from Whitney J Decor.

Whitney is one of my colleagues; a fellow Interior Designer from New Orleans, and good friend. She’s a bursting ray of sunshine every morning. I really mean that. For months after finding out I’d been struggling with depression, she texted me every morning to remind me that I was bringing good to the world and how much I was loved. I adore the lady.

Go buy everything in her shop. You won’t be disappointed.

Fancy people like Beyonce so they’re going to freak out when you tell them you’ve purchased them a pair of earrings that were featured on Beyonce’s blog. BECAUSE THESE EARRINGS WERE FEATURED ON BEYONCE’S BLOG.

It makes me feel fancy when I wear my Bobbi Made This earrings. I’m a devotee. I own five pairs now and you’ll see them a lot if you follow me on instagram. You’ll also notice I’m wearing them in my headshot photo on the blog. I’m not kidding. They’re my favorite earrings.

Don’t let the vibrant colors I’ve chosen here scare you either. She offers neutrals as well.

Wine drinkers are still fancy. Throw around words like “lush” and “bouquet” and “tannins” and try not to sound fancy. You can’t, NPR.

I actually own one of these fancy wine stoppers from DesignPretty and it perfectly complements my glitzy personality just right.

While you’re browsing Oneka’s shop on Etsy, check out her entire line of geode home decor items. I have bookends and have also really always wanted one of her lamps. hint hint

One morning, in my early 20s, I stumbled into boy BFF’s bathroom all hungover and discovered Kiehl’s. He had a whole toiletry kit full of little white bottles of magic. I’m not sure what made it feel fancy to me but my first thought was “Is he rich?” Kiehl’s came from the mall and not the drugstore so that made it special. Or maybe it was the branding.

Either way, Kiehl’s products are now my favorite skincare products and I think you should share that love with your friends or yourself.

For anyone who has never used Kiehl’s skincare line before, this gift set is a great introduction. It’s a wash and a lotion. No complicated routines. No overwhelming scents to irritate or cause breakouts. And it feels fancy because it’s from The Mall.

Okay bedding is expensive. But it should be expensive. You sleep there. Your skin touches it. Your sleep dictates your health in a lot of ways. If you’re going to splurge in any facet of someone’s life, make it their bedding.

I love linen and washed cotton sheets. But have you tried velvet????? These velvet shams from Ballard Designs are a lot less expensive than they seem.

Ballard is a staple brand in any designer’s home. Even those of us who tend to sway more modern will return to Ballard for basics. They’re quality. They’re reliable. We trust them.

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SECRET SANTA / WHITE ELEPHANT / CO-WORKER GIFTS

Even people who don’t love playing games will be charmed by the cute nostalgic design of these game sets. Giving a colleague a game as a gift is also a subtle way of challenging them. Be the tiger.

Showing up with a gift set from Williams-Sonoma is an advance-level power move for any office gathering.

You see, a gift set from Williams-Sonoma doesn’t just say something about the person you’re giving it to. It’s actually a statement about you. They open the gift and immediately, they have a visceral experience. Ooohhh it’s faaaannncy in here. I guess [insert your name here] must really love to bake. I bet they host large gatherings at the holidays and have sets of table linens and shit.

Your recipient won’t be the only one paying attention here. The boss is going to see this too. Give someone a gift set from Williams-Sonoma this holiday season and get yourself that promotion. *Results may vary. Promotion not included with purchase of this gift set but you can bet your ass they’re gonna assume you wash your legs.

There are two types of coworkers who deserve something from this Tranquility Gift Set Collection;

The first is your work buddy. Because you know what they’ve been through and they need a break. Here you go, babe. Take a long bath and light this candle and pray that the healing powers of these crystals can wash off all the evil this workplace has put upon you.

The second is your work enemy. Pray for peace, my dude. You’re gonna need it.

I don’t know who needs this book, but you do.

Know someone who’s waiting to humiliate their friends because they can’t tell the difference between a cold Coor’s Light and a local microbrew? This tasting flight set is going to rock their world.

It’s also the cheapest thing on this list so it makes the perfect gift for the guy who works in IT whose hobbies include bashing people who get error messages from the printer and whatever Tom Delay is up to these days.

I hope this list of 20 items you can buy for someone you don’t know or potentially don’t care about at all has made your holiday season just a little brighter and easier.

Happy Whatever,
Teri

HOLIDAY DECORATING IDEAS + DIY CRAFTS

The post Affordable Holiday Gifts That Will Impress Your Friends, Neighbors, and Colleagues But Not Your Mom Because Your Mom Can’t Be Impressed appeared first on Fortune House Shop.

I hate installing curtain rods. There I said it. In fact, I detest the task of hanging curtains so much that I often choose to forego having them at all in my own home. Recently, I opted to use just roller blinds in my own bedroom and I’m so happy with the modern look of naked windows:

But clients want curtains. They make a room feel polished. If windows are the eyes of a space, the curtains are the mascara. Installing window treatments makes the windows pop and instills a luxurious mood in the space.

Over the years, I’ve seen many tricks to install even curtains. Those tricks often include a myriad of tools; laser levels, traditional levels, measuring tapes, etc. They can be complicated and those hacks often allow for human error. Even just a millimeter miscalculation can result in wonky and uneven curtains.

So today I’m going to show you the one fail-proof way to install curtain rods in your own home and get even curtains every time. And all you need is a piece of trash.

The following post contains affiliate links. As an Affiliate Marketing Associate I earn commissions from qualifying purchases. This helps me keep the free content coming.

Thanks for your support! xoxo

MY NO-FAIL LEVEL CURTAIN HANGING GUIDE

STEP ONE: using a flat piece of cardboard, cut a 45 degree notch out of one corner.

This will allow you to place your guide directly above and beside the window trim. This method works best if your windows have moulding installed around them. The trim will allow your cardboard to rest in place on the edge of the moulding.

If your windows do not have trim, you can still use this method by holding the cardboard in place on exactly the 45 degree edge while making your template markings (step 2 and 3).

If your windows aren’t square, you can still use this method by incorporating a level to make your own 45 degree angle, using the highest and widest points of the window and marking it on the wall.

STEP TWO: place your cardboard with the 45 degree notch situated around the window trim (as pictured). On your cardboard, mark where you want your rod to land, in relation to the window and ceiling.

The cardboard should rest on the edge but if it moves, use a strip of delicate painter’s tape to secure it in place while you make your pilot holes (next step).

If your windows do not have trim, you can still use this method by holding the cardboard in place on exactly the 45 degree edge while making your template markings (step 3).

If your windows aren’t square, you can still use this method by incorporating a level to make your own 45 degree angle, using the highest and widest points of the window and marking it on the wall.

STEP THREE: bring your cardboard back to ground level and place it on a horizontal surface with the rod’s screw holes resting where you made your previous mark. Using a pen, mark the holes where your screws are to be installed on the cardboard.

If your rod comes with separate hanging hardware (most curtain rods have a hook style bracket that allows the rod to rest inside it), follow this method, using only the hardware hook portion of the rod to make your guide.

STEP FOUR: place the cardboard back on the wall using the same corner method as before. Use the screw hole markings you just made to drill your pilot holes. Drill through the cardboard and into the wall.

This will BE your template that you’re going to use on the opposite side of the window and on each subsequent window so use care and make sure you go into through the cardboard and into the wall.

STEP FIVE: place the cardboard to the side (do not toss it!) and install your wall anchors.

For drywall, you can use the anchors included with your curtain rod. Use a hammer to gently tap them securely into place, as shown.

If your curtains are heavy (like velvet), I recommend using these self-drilling drywall anchors as they grip much better.

If you have plaster walls, I prefer these molly bolts.

At this stage, your window will look like this:

You will have installed anchors into the right side of the window but do not place your bracket just yet.

STEP SIX: flip your cardboard over so it’s a mirror image and place it on the window trim on the left side exactly as before. You should have drilled through the cardboard so that your holes will line up exactly evenly – and angled identically – on the opposite side of the window.

Follow steps four and five from above.

Your window should now look like this:

Note that on the top left side, there is no anchor installed. That’s because I ran into a stud while drilling my pilot hole. If this happens, you will not need an anchor as your screw will be secured directly into wood.

If you have lathe and plaster walls, you may find the lathe tricks you into believing you’ve found a stud. Drill past the lathe to make sure your anchors will be secure.

If you aren’t sure which material your walls are made of, a good way to determine is by knowing the age of the house. If your house was built before the 1950s and has never undergone a total gut renovation, you most likely have plaster walls.

Now you can install your curtain hardware and your curtains!

If you are installing multiple windows in your home, I recommend saving your cardboard template to use on every window. This promotes continuity throughout the home when all your window coverings are installed at the same height and width.

HOW HIGH TO HANG CURTAINS

a brief explanation of curtain lengths

To make a room feel taller, hang your curtain rods 4-6 inches above window frames. Extending the rod 3-6 inches beyond both sides of the frame makes a window feel grand and allows more light to shine through when drapes are open.

If you have a tray ceiling, like the one shown in my client’s home above, you’ll want to leave 2-3 inches of height between the rod and the ceiling to keep the curtains operable.

The length of your drapes can have great impact on the look of a window too. For a clean, casual look, hang drapes so that they fall just a 1/2 inch above the floor – especially if you open and close your drapes frequently.

For a luxurious puddle effect, like the one I created in the image above, add 6-8 inches to the rod-to-floor measurement of the drape.

LAYERING CURTAINS

For additional warmth and dimension in a room, consider installing layered curtains in contrasting fabrics and colors on the same window.

You can do this by installing a sheer panel on the interior of the rod and a thicker panel on the outside, as I did in the image above. Or you can use a double panel hanging rod to allow the curtains to move freely and independently of one another.

CURTAIN HARDWARE MATERIALS

Depending on the style you want for your home, you may choose to use curtain rings to secure your curtain panels to the rod. This gives a sophisticated and more traditional look to the space, as seen in my traditional dining room design pictured above.

Metal curtain rods and hardware will have a more modern feel while wood rods convey a traditional aesthetic.

If you’re on the fence, know that wood rods can be custom cut to any length and many final options are available to create the look you want. These rods come at a higher cost than adjustable metal rods. Since curtains can be expensive, consider your entire room budget as you make your decisions on materials.

Remember that you don’t need curtains to create softness in a space. I often use custom roman blinds to incorporate textiles in many of my projects, as shown above, without the visual clutter of a room filled with fabrics.

I hope this guide helps you determine the best window treatments for your style and budget. Remember to pin it for later so you can refer back when it’s time to hang your own window treatments in your home!

I’ll be back soon with more updates to inspire you and DIY projects to help you learn.

Until then, stay safe and sane.

xoxo
Teri

DECORATING ON A BUDGET ISN’T ALWAYS EASY BUT I’M HERE TO HELP.

Commenting on this post is disabled so I can focus on our upcoming projects + client designs but that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to hear from you. Send me your questions and comments on Instagram by either commenting on my latest post or sending me a direct message. I really love to chat it out!

* this site contains affiliate links + advertising*
I get a commission when you buy through my links that goes towards the costs of hosting this free tutorial site.
Site operating fees are expensive but my commission costs you nothing. thanks for your support!

MORE SIMPLE DIY HOME DECOR PROJECTS TO TRY THIS WEEKEND

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The post How I Install Perfectly Even Curtain Rods Every Time Without A Level appeared first on Fortune House Shop.

I actually did it. I actually finished our Bedroom Suite and I couldn’t love it more! What follows is essentially a photo dump of every little element that makes our new bedroom feel especially us…

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I get a commission when you buy through my links that goes towards the costs of hosting this free tutorial site.
site operating fees are expensive but my commission costs you nothing. thanks for your support!

We’ve come a long way, baby! Here’s where we started in the bathroom:

Now here’s the finished space:

We painted the walls black, installed a better pattern on the floor, and added accents with Danish vibes to truly allow the artwork to sing.

The showstopper is the wallpaper I installed on the front of the Ikea vanity.

The other accents in the space were kept minimal in color palette but I still wanted to add visual interest by combining different patterns and geometrics. I used another Marimekko pattern on the shower curtain:

As I ordinarily do, I added a strip of fabric to the bottom of a standard shower curtain to bring the height to 84”. Unlike my ordinary style, I used a patterned curtain with a solid stripe this time. Look at me! Going wild!

With the black and white striped rug, the circular pattern feels just unique enough to make a statement but not overwhelm the space with additional colors.

I added hardware to our freestanding IKEA cabinet and then carried the wood from that cabinet onto the mirror beside the shower by adding strips of wood veneer.

This mirror serves as our daily dressing mirror and the hooks beside it allow us to hang our lounging robes. Of course we have family robes in grey scale. Of course we do. Here’s how everything flows with our art choices in the bedroom:

And now let’s take a look at the bedroom before:

And now the bedroom in its completed state:

The bedroom feels so much more peaceful now without all the chaos of clutter. And, because I know you want to know where I got this bed, I DIYed it. Well, I reupholstered our existing storage bed in two Marimekko prints!

Initially, I’d planned to only reupholster the headboard in the Marimekko Unikko pattern but I felt like this room needed something else to balance the florals.

Marimekko Ajo (stripes) to the rescue! This fabric added an additional layer of geometry to the bed in a fun and unexpected way.

I also love how it pulls the stripe from the bench and the duvet without overpowering the room in stripes.

Looking direct at the bed, you hardly notice it. But then, from the side, it’s additional fun!

Here are the accents we added that we are happy to let shine:

This bedroom and bathroom suite is a real homage to our family. It’s inspired by my wife’s favorite artists from the 1980s/90s and by the spirit of breaking rules.

Over the past year, both of us have aged more than we expected. 2020 was a hard one for us and this space is a reclamation of our sense of youth and playfulness.

This room is a celebration of coming out of the dark. It’s another testament to black and how darkness doesn’t have to feel heavy or burdensome.

By now, everyone should be revealing their completed spaces for this season’s One Room Challenge. You can go check in with everyone else by clicking this logo image:

If you’d like to catch up on the entire progress of this Principal Bedroom / Bathroom makeover, you can read all of the updates from this season’s ORC here:

Below, you’ll find design concepts and shopping lists for everything I’ve used into these two rooms:

DECORATING ON A BUDGET ISN’T ALWAYS EASY BUT I’M HERE TO HELP.

Commenting on this post is disabled so I can focus on our upcoming projects + client designs but that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to hear from you. Send me your questions and comments on Instagram by either commenting on my latest post or sending me a direct message. I really love to chat it out!

* this site contains affiliate links + advertising*
I get a commission when you buy through my links that goes towards the costs of hosting this free tutorial site.
Site operating fees are expensive but my commission costs you nothing. thanks for your support!

The post Modern Art-Inspired Bedroom + Bathroom: Spring 2021 One Room Challenge Reveal appeared first on Fortune House Shop.

We’re one week away from the final reveal of this combo Bedroom/Bathroom space and it’s time for some styling! I’ve been clear that I am most inspired by art in all my designs. The instances of artwork and design in this space are singing. Here’s how I’m pulling it all together …

The following post contains affiliate links. As an Affiliate Marketing Associate I earn commissions from qualifying purchases. This helps me keep the free content coming.

Thanks for your support! xoxo

Last week, I showed you how I wallpapered the drawer fronts on the vanity and I’m honestly still not over it. I stare at it a lot. I love it so much.

Modern Bathroom Accessories

Fortunately, I was able to stop staring at my beautiful vanity long enough to tie up some loose ends this week:

Like this little shelf between the mirrors. It’s holding our family’s daily grab-n-go paper products like cotton swabs.

I also added these fun cups for storing our individual toothbrush and toothpastes:

These porcelain cups feature a typeset designed by Arne Jacobson in the 1930s. This font is a staple in Modern Scandinavian decor and fits right in with the other Danish elements we’ve incorporated. For an extra layer of black and white, I also used his font on the wall hooks where we store our towels:

Since two of our family members share the same first letter of their names, I didn’t feel obligated to designated one hook or cup for each of us. Instead, I was able to play with the alphabet a little. Alphabet decor is a trick you see incorporated most often in children’s spaces but I like the playfulness it brings to this otherwise-grownup space.

While I’m still awaiting the shipment that has our shower curtain, bath towels, and fabrics for the bedroom upholstery, I was able to find some new hand towels that complement the modern aesthetic and speak to the colors in the vanity without overwhelming the space.

I also used my free time this week to finish the vinyl tile installation and add the new rug you see above.

The addition of the black in the tile brings the room together. There may not be a ton of color in this room, but the visual interest isn’t subtle. The repetition of black and white in varying patterns adds a layered element without overwhelming the space with color.

Why neutral? When we rebuilt this house, I made a conscious decision to use only black and white wall and trim colors in order to bring the feeling of a modern art gallery. We have a large collection of art and it grows every time we travel. Unfortunately, we’ve never had a home where we could display most of our modern artworks because the styles of our previous homes didn’t match the art we love most.

All that changes now.

MODERN ARTWORK

The entire concept for these two rooms was born out of our artwork. The first piece, below, was given to our daughter as a gift when she was born by one of our closest friends and her play aunts:

It was damaged in the tornado, but I was able to salvage it. This original graffiti-style piece was created by Nashville-based artist, Mayeli Art and served as the inspiration for bringing in street style to this room.

While I was traveling, I found a beautiful print by New Orleans-based artist Veronica Casares Lee that had the colors and overall tone we were looking to incorporate in the bathroom.

Her print, above, complements the existing art pieces (wood block and Jonathan Adler Acrylic Pill Statue) I’d already intended to use in the space.

The artwork shone above is from our collection. We’ve had both these pieces for a number of years and, once cleaned up from the tornado debris and storage, they’ll be installed behind the bed to offset the window. When complete, the installation will look like a trio of artwork with our original historic window as the centerpiece.

OTHER BEDROOM / BATHROOM UPDATES THIS WEEK

After months of debate over which handle style to install on the freestanding storage cabinet, we finally handed on simple edge pull handles so we can more easily access the items we need.

To add another wood element, and offset the starkness of the black and white, I applied a simple veneer edge banding to the existing white Ikea mirror. This moment, by the shower, will call to the wood on the mirror vignette and the freestanding cabinet.

WHAT’S LEFT TO BE DONE?

It wouldn’t be an ORC if I weren’t stressed ‘til the last minute, right? There’s a lot that still needs to happen and a lot of materials we’re still waiting to receive. Here’s my list;

• custom shower curtain – waiting for fabric
• bed reupholstery – waiting for fabric
• art installation – waiting for two new pieces
• styling
• possible surprise project (if the materials arrive in time)
• pro photographs of the completed spaces

Here’s where we stand as of today:

Do you think everyone else is farther along in the game by now? You can go check in with everyone else by clicking this logo image:

If you’d like to catch up on the entire progress of this Principal Bedroom / Bathroom makeover, you can read all of the updates from this season’s ORC here:

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Below, you’ll find design concepts and shopping lists for everything I’m incorporating into these two rooms:

See you next week! Until then, stay safe and sane.

xoxo
Teri

DECORATING ON A BUDGET ISN’T ALWAYS EASY BUT I’M HERE TO HELP.

Commenting on this post is disabled so I can focus on our upcoming projects + client designs but that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to hear from you. Send me your questions and comments on Instagram by either commenting on my latest post or sending me a direct message. I really love to chat it out!

* this site contains affiliate links + advertising*
I get a commission when you buy through my links that goes towards the costs of hosting this free tutorial site.
Site operating fees are expensive but my commission costs you nothing. thanks for your support!

NEED MORE HOME DECORATING IDEAS + INSPIRATION?
THESE ARE THE MOST POPULAR THIS WEEK:

The post Modern Black Bedroom / Bathroom Art + Accessories: ORC Week Seven appeared first on Fortune House Shop.