Amanda's Nursery, Look 4

Look 4 above is the same as Look 3 except:

• Lighting - Portfolio 14" Metallic Ceiling Flush Mount from Lowes, and Baby Bunny LED Night Light from Ebay
• Walls - Triangle Banners from Land of Nod in Light Pink and Hot Pink (hung from the ceiling), and Wall Shelf from Urban Outfitters
• Dresser - CraigsList Dresser (40" length, 18" width, 30" height), shown painted as described in Look 2
• Windows - IKEA Tupplur Roller Blind in Gray
• Mirror - IKEA Utsira Mirror (attached to the armoire in Look 1)

Amanda's Nursery, Look 3

Blush Pink Nursery with Revised Goals (Look 3)

The title of this mood board might be deceiving since the goals haven't really changed - however, certain things needed to be changed. For example, the glider chair from Look 1 is actually going in the living room, not the nursery. As another example, the room is carpeted and not hardwood as shown in Look 1.

Products / Features Shown:
The crib, armoire and knobs, baby feet artwork, and wall treatment are as listed in Look 1 in my earlier post. The crochet mobile, love print, bunny alphabet art print, nursing pillow, hearts banner, and elephants artwork are as listed in Look 2 in my earlier post. Additionally:

• Lighting - 13 3/8" Polished Nickel Flush Mount from Lowes, and Metal Flower Night Light from Amazon
• Flooring - Shaw Batter Angel Cloud Textured Carpet from Lowes
• Family Portrait - Take a DIY family portrait using these tips
• Window Treatment - Clear Bubble Finals from Land of Nod (optional) plus any Nickel Curtain Rod, Dark Blackout Liners from JCP and Swiss Dot Curtain Pains from JCP*
• Dresser - Find a dresser from Craigslist like this one**
• Baby Mat - Pink Bear Bestever Baby Mat
• Storage - Wall Book Bin from Land of Nod, and Bin Collection in Pink from Land of Nod

*Other options for window treatments:

• Dark Blackout Blackout Liners from JCP mentioned above, plus any fabric that is hemmed to make panels, plus Nickel Curtain Clip Rings from Land of Nod
• JCP Home Textured Blackout Roman Shade in Soft Gray (hang two next to each other for a wide window)
• Custom Milan Thermal Roman Shade in Cool White from JCP
• IKEA Enje Roller Blind in Dark Gray
• IKEA Tupplur Roller Blind in Gray

**Other options for dressers from CraigsList that could be refinished as desired: this one, this one, this one, and this one.

Inspiration: The same as in Looks 1 & 2, except with more appreciation for the room's small size.

Mood Board - Amanda's Nursery Two Different Ways

Blush Pink Baby Girl's Nursery - Look 1

Products / Features Shown:

• Crib - Babyletto Crib from Amazon
• Dresser / Changing Table - South Shore Libray 3-Drawer Chest from Amazon (31 1/8" length x 16 1/2" wide), outfitted with Decals by TrendyPeas on Etsy, shown with Summer Infant Changing Pad from Amazon (32" length x 16" wide), outfitted with Aiden by Aiden Oh Girl! Changing Pad Cover from Amazon
• Small Armoire - Hemnes Wardrobe by IKEA (26" x 70 1/8"), outfitted with Pink Glass and Nickel Knobs from CKP
• Wall Treatment - Allen+Roth Paintable Beadboard Wallpaper from Lowes hung at chair-rail height
• Chair - Babyletto Madison Swivel Glider in Slate, used with Bobby Nursing Pillow in Owl from Amazon
• Windows - Restoration Hardware Opaque Relaxed Roman Shade in Fog
• Artwork - DIY Tassels, DIY String Artwork, and DIY Baby Footprint Butterfly Artwork
• Lamp - Maddox Floor Lamp from Overstock

Coral and Pink Baby Girl's Nursery - Look 2

Products / Features Shown are the same as in Look 1 above except as noted below:

• Dresser / Changing Table - Fjell Pine Dresser by IKEA (37 3/4" length by 21 5/8" wide), refinished with Amaryllis (color SW 6591) Paint from Sherwin-Williams, and a Summer Infant Pink Changing Pad Cover from Amazon
• Chair - The gilder is the same as the one in Look 1, but it is outfitted with a Pink Pillow by Moomsi on Etsy (a matching pink quilt is available), and a Gia Nursing Pillow from Amazon
• Windows - Same Roman Shades as in Look 1 but in the Optic White color
• Artwork - DIY Heart Banner, PaperFinchDesign Alphabet Art on Etsy (in nickel frame), Elephant Print by DeliveredByDanielle on Etsy (in nickel frame), and Love Print by FieldTrip on Etsy
• Rug - Tuscan Trenton Baby Rug from Rugs USA (5' x 7')
• Mobile - Crochet simple shapes and hang them (e.g. stars, hearts, or balls), or choose this Pink Elephants Mobile by YarnBallStories on Etsy

Inspiration: My friend is expected a baby girl! She was interested in using a white crib, the colors blush pink and/or coral, and in avoiding overly busy patterns. She is very crafty, and I expect she could DIY a lot of the items shown above herself!

Olioboard Round 2: Green, Silver and Wood Tablescape

I wanted to continue to experiment with Olioboard, a free mood board tool. You can see my first attempt to use Olioboard here, in a modern seating area with red accents.

Products: All products shown above (the tray, cabinet, table, chair, pillow, dinner plate, bread plate, napkin and placemat, silverware, tumbler, wine glass, pitcher, and vase) can be found on my Olioboard for this room.

Inspiration: I wanted to create a dinnertime tablescape that would suit a casual meal served either inside in a dining room or outside on a veranda (obviously, the cabinet would stay inside). I wanted to use soft, subdued colors. However, if you added some pops of orange or yellow, this arrangement could easily work for you in the fall.

Olioboard Mood Board - Modern White Room with Red and Black Accents

I created the mood board above using Olioboard.com, a site which lets users create mood boards for free! While there are some drawbacks, Olioboard is a decent option if you don't have Photoshop software (either Elements or the full version of Photoshop) and you don't want to use MS PowerPoint (which let's face it, who does?).

• The main drawbacks I found were: 1) Olioboard only lets you add products via their site so you don't have as many furnishing options as you would if you did it yourself (such as via Photoshop); 2) sometimes white products do not display properly and are semi-transparent; and 3) some of the products Olioboard suggests are no longer available so you can't buy them after you create your dream mood board.
• The main positives I found were: 1) it is free; 2) it is relatively easy to use; and 3) it's easy to share your creations via social media (e.g. Pinterest, Twitter, etc.).

Products: All products shown in this mood board are visible on the Olioboard site for this creation.

Inspiration: Olioboard lets you choose a background image, so I chose the polar opposite of my real home in order to have some fun. The image I chose was of a very modern home with a very open floor plan. Although I usually do not decorate with the color red in my own home, with colder temperatures and winter creeping in, I felt inspired to add some warmth to this room via the color red.

Household Command Center How-To

With back-to-school season in full swing, home organization is at the top of many people's priority lists. Below is a helpful infographic as well as detailed tips.

1. Have a true outbox by having a container for outward bound items that actually goes outside your home on a regular basis. Try carrying a backup such as the Herschel Supply Co. Retreat Backpack from Urban Outfitters, even if you're a non-student. Just place your forms, letters, etc., inside. You could also use a tote bag, large purse, or anything else that works for you.
2. Keep your last three months' worth of receipts in an organizer such as the C-Line 13-Pocket Expanding File in Coupon Size from Amazon with tabs for each month. After three months, most stores won't take back the item. If it's a particularly expensive or important item, move its receipt to your easy-access records area (tip #8) once the three months are up.
3. Sometimes we still receive paper cards such as invitations, holiday cards, and thank-you cards. For invitations, you could input the information immediately into your electronic calendar (tip #5). However, if you're like me and enjoy saving the paper cards too, use magnets such as Magnutz Super Strong Magnets from The Container Store to stick the card to your fridge, thus keeping all your cards together. This is especially handy for bulky invitations that include additional information, for example a paper map, as well as for cards that include photos you want to share with visitors to your home. After the event (for invitations), or a period of three months (for other cards), discard the item or place it in your mementos storage area (tip #8).
4. For items you consistently need, such as medical records and pet sitter notes, create an easy-access records area. The specific kind you choose is a matter of personal preference. I like to use a two-drawer metal file cabinet with hanging file folders, which could be personalized in a variety of ways, such as with DIY Spray-Paint as Dollar Store Crafts has done. You may prefer using one or more of the following systems instead: a cloud-based digital file storage system (such as Google Drive), a removable electronic hard drive (more reliable than your laptop), a regular three-ring binder, or a scanner and your desktop home computer.
5. Use a digital calendar that you can access from both your cell phone and your computer. I like to use Google Calendar, which has many features including: the ability to create recurring events, the ability to create multiple calendars, the ability to create shared calendars, and the ability to invite someone to an event.
6. Have a system in place to make gift-giving simple. First, consider creating an electronic wish list that you can send to family and friends. You can also create electronic wish lists for your children and even your pets. I like Amazon's wish list because it is an ongoing list (it never expires) and because, with the Amazon Wish List Button, you can add items from non-Amazon sites to your list too. These lists are especially good for forgetful people. Second, add important birthdays to your digital calendar as yearly recurring events (tip #5). And third, schedule designated shopping days on your calendar. For example, if you know you have three birthdays to celebrate in the same month, designate a day at the beginning of the month to buy all three gifts.
7. Keep a to-do list, and preferably make it an electronically-accessible to-do list that you can see on your cell phone. How many times have you lost a paper to-do list? One example of such an app is the "Do" App by SalesForce on iTunes. However, there are many other options to choose from - just search for "to-do list" or look under the "productivity" category in your app store. Other kinds of list apps (such as for grocery and/or shopping lists) may also be useful to you.
8. Act to file mementos immediately. If it's important, save it and pack it up as soon as possible, such as in an IKEA KVARNVIK Box with Lid, a plastic bin with a lid, or an archival storage container. If it's not important, toss it. Filing mementos as soon as possible decreases the changes that they will be lost or accidentally damaged.
9. Keep a small desk calendar nearby so you can see the big picture at a glance while taking up minimal space. This useful National Wildlife Federation Calendar Magnet benefits charity as well.
10. And finally, store school and office supplies in one location. There is no reason why you need a pen cup in every room of your house. Having multiple locations for these supplies increases the odds that you will over-buy some items and/or run out of others because you don't get to see everything you have at a glance. For pens and other desk suppplies, one option is the Acrylic Drawer Organizer Set from The Container Store.

Green and Gray Video Game Playing Room

Products shown:

• The wall color, desk, desk chair, sofa, blinds, decoy ducks, and electric fireplace insert are those listed in my previous post, Black and White Woodland Den Mood Board.
• TV - Panasonic Viera 50" 1080p 600Hz Smart Plasma HDTV at Best Buy
• Game System - XBox 360 on Amazon
• Media Cabinet - West Elm Staggered Wood Console
• Storage Basket for Video Games - Allure Misted Green Utility Basket from Wayfair
• Recliner Chair - Lazy Boy Ferguson High Leg Recliner in Cobblestone
• End Table - Cala Hammered Drum Table at World Market
• Comfortable Ottoman - Emma Tufted Storage Ottoman in Velvet Sea Green from Home Decorators
• Engineered Hardwood Floor - Lumber Liquidators Quick Clic Engineered Brazilian Koa 7/16" x 4-3/4"
• Rug - Cozy Shag Rug in grey from Home Decorators
• Mantle for Fireplace - Thick Black Walnut Lumber / Reclaimed Wood Mantle Slab by thelumbershack on Ebay
• Paint for Fireplace - Sherwin Williams SW 7006 Extra White
• Art Photo 1 - Vine Maple Leaf by Stuart Westmoreland on Art.com
• Art Photo 2 - Colorful Asepn Leaves on Snow in Colorado by Julie Eggers from Art.com
• Art Photo 3 - Frozen Maple Tree Leaves by Daisy Gilardini from Art.com
• Colorful Pillow 1 - 20 x 20" Braemore Big and Bold Ikat Grass Green Ivory Pillow Cover by Playpurdys on Etsy
• Colorful Pillow 2 - Green Pillow Cover Dandelion Chartreuse by EastAndNest on Etsy
• Colorful Pillow 3 - Floral Green, Yellow, Ivory Pillow Cover by Loubella1 on Etsy
• Tall Plant - Strelitzia Nicolai, information and photo from Ambius
• Desk Lamp - Demijohn Table Lamp in Metallic Green w/ Cream Shade by Shades of Light
• Desk Plant - Generic aloe plant
• Ceiling Fixture - Philips Forecast 14 7/8" Satin Nickel Art Glass Ceiling Flush Mount Light from Lowes

Inspiration:
The homeowner saw my previous mood board, Black and White Woodland Den Mood Board, but requested some changes. Most notably, he wanted more color and more of an emphasis on video game playing and TV-watching, not studying. He also wanted a room that looked more comfortable, less formal, and less graphic.

Black and White Woodland Den Mood Board

Products, listed by room area:
Fireplace Area
Electric Fireplace from Wayfair
Fireplace paint color is Requisite Gray by Serwin Williams (cool neutrals - SW 7023)
Ivory Antique Hand-Painted Duck Decoy on Ebay
Brown Vintage Hand-Painted Duck Decoy on Ebay
Enchante Quatrefoil Mirror by Kohls, already owned by homeowner
On the Walls
Wall paint color is Sherwin Williams Marshmallow (warm white - SW 7001)
Bamboo Roman Shades by JCP
Risor Screen by IKEA, which will conceal an awkward pipe
American Flag on Distressed Wood by MangoSeed on Etsy
Drum Shade Ceiling Light in Cream and Spa colors by Shades of Light
Desk Area
Leksvik Desk by IKEA
Malkolm Desk Chair by IKEA, already owned by homeowner
Rustic Arc Table Lamp by Shades of Light
Bookcase Area
Anna 2-Shelf Bookcase by Home Decorators
Document Storage Boxes Set by Home Decorators
Black Vintage Wood Hand-Painted Decoy on Ebay
Books, homeowner's own
Couch Area
Klippan Sofa in Skinnarp White by IKEA, already owned by homeowner
Couch Feet by Thirteen Colonies on Etsy in natural finish
Stockholm Leaf Pillows by IKEA
Rochelle Plus Heated Throw Blanket by JCP
Coffee Table
Origami Coffee Table by West Elm
Accent Chair Area
Sandby Chair in Blekinge White by IKEA
Blue 18x18" Pillow Cover by Blossom Pillow Co. on Etsy
Lack End Table in Birch by IKEA, already owned by homeowner
Rug
Oriental Weavers Caspian Framed Rug by Kohls

Inspiration: This is for a room that does not get a lot of light - the bright colors and white will help to expand the perception of space. The homeowner already owned the white sofa, the black-and-white leaf pattern pillows, and the black desk chair, so the black and white color scheme was an obvious choice. However, pops of light blue were added for visual interest.