Sometimes you just have to....

How perfect is this...especially with the kids on Spring Break and the fact that I am just enjoying spring time in Arizona with family and friends!

I will admit that I have been feeling a little anxiety about not blogging since I really just started this blog and I am already taking a break! But don't worry. This break will leave me refreshed and full of great post ideas for when I return!

And as a little teaser, I'll let you know that I have at least three new projects going on in our house. I can't wait to share them with you when I return next week. You'll just have to wait and see!

Love of Beauty is Taste. The Creation of Beauty is Art.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Art is a great way to make a house feel like a home. Whether it is hanging on walls or displayed on shelves and tables, a room with fabulous art definitely makes a statement. It adds personality and character to your home and shows off your individuality. And really, who doesn’t want to show off their individuality? I know I strive to be unique and have my home be a good representation of our family.

The downside of Art? Anyone who has walked into an art gallery knows that art isn’t cheap. A lot of art is expensive. And I mean, very expensive. Over the top expensive!

Check out No. 5, 1948 by Jackson Pollack that was purchased for $140 Million!

So can you still have fabulous art without spending $140m? Absolutely! Art doesn’t have to be expensive! There is no need to spend your life savings on art. I mean, come on, we need to save those pennies for cute shoes and trips with the kids!

Here are some ways you can display fabulous and unique art in your home without spending a fortune!

1. Look around your house! Use what is free!

Calendars, magazine ads, menus, pretty cards, maps, a puzzle you've put together, a collage of postcards from a trip, family photos, leaves or branches from the backyard or other items from nature. Pieces that are just decorative can be put directly into a frame and displayed.

I bought and framed this puzzle for my kids bathroom from Pottery Barn Kids because it matched their shower curtain! Not only is it super cute but it went along with the theme of the room.

Here is a calendar used as wall art..

2. Buy art books

Art books are another option. I know this may sound shocking to those of you who were taught to never deface a book, but you can find wonderful photos of famous paintings in large books. Other books with fabulous photos are books about birds, furniture design, architectural structures, historical art, regional art from places such as Spain and Italy and also children’s books. Children’s books have some of the greatest illustrations and are vibrant and fun! Select pictures that will coordinate with your decorating scheme.

eclectic kids design by Lauren Liess Interiors

3. Use Your Camera

Get out there and take some photos of things you see as beautiful or different or even just funny! You can take pictures of the kids, the family, flowers, houses, interesting architecture, or everyday items that appeal to you and your family! The possibilities are endless! And you will have one of kind art that others will be drooling over and asking where can they find it? Another option for your photos is to have them transferred to canvas. Again, you will have inexpensive, original artwork that will look like a million bucks!

Look at this gallery worthy display...


living room design by blogger Michelle Hinckley

4. Go to Art Fairs and Student Art Shows

Check your local paper for any information in the arts and culture section regarding art shows or fairs. Most cities have an art association that puts on art fairs to showcase local talent. These fairs are a great place to find art that is being sold for considerably less than in a gallery.

Go down to a college or university art department and get a schedule of the year's student art shows. Because students have little to no experience the art is very inexpensive, and you can often find some really nice pieces.

My hubby and I went to a historic home tour a few weeks ago and I stumbled upon a local artist, Joshua Dean Wiley, that I fell in love with. I purchased a canvas and I am waiting for it to be framed by Michael’s. I can’t wait to get it home and on display.

Here is one piece that he has available on his website...I adore this one as well!

5. Consider prints.

Not everyone can afford oil on canvas or an original watercolor; that is why they invented prints. Today, it is easy to find prints of your favorite paintings, great quotes, and even really cool abstracts. Etsy is a great place to start your search! You can easily make a print look like a million bucks with the right frame and matting!

This one is from madebygirl...you already know I LOVE her prints!

contemporary kids design by other metros media and blogs Made By Girl

6. Removable Wall Graphics

These are fantastic! Your imagination is the only limitation you’ll bump into when you create your personalized decorating style with removable wall graphics. They’re easy to apply and easy to remove. No matter what you’re taste or style, you can find a wall graphics that seems custom made for you. In fact, you can have them custom made. You can have your family name or kids names made to use on surface you'd like. You can make an entire wall appear intricately painted, create the look of a hand painted mural or just send a message to your guests.

What about mixing wall graphics with family photos? Don't you just love this?

image by blogger Thriftydecorchic

7. Enlist the kids

Frame your kids drawings or paintings! Or give them a canvas or board and glue gun (if they're old enough), and let them go nuts on a personalized project. Who knows, maybe your child will turn out to be the next Jackson Pollack!

kids design

8. Think outside the box

What about using just frames to create a wall effect? Got a lot of frames in different shapes and sizes? Just paint them all a great color and hang! You can use this same repetition technique with other items as well. Just figure out what you want to display and multiply! You can display plates, clocks, or take any of the ideas above and multiply! Instead of hanging just one page from a book, frame eight of them and hang as a grouping on an entire wall. What a statement that will make!

Here is one from Classically Amber..

This one is just cool...

eclectic patio design

So there you have it! Lots of ideas for getting some new and interesting artwork on your walls.

I hope I've given you a little bit of inspiration to get you going!

If you come up with any other ideas you'd like to share, please comment!

Happy Monday!

Do you every have days where you feel like you've been happy and smiling all day? Today has been one of those days for me!

In honor of my happy, smiley day I am bringing out some smiley faces designed for the home!

Tacky, yes, but oh so cute!

Doesn't this just bring a smile to your face?

How about a candle for some ambiance...

Every kitchen should have a few smiley faces around...

Wouldn't this be a cool conversation starter if you had one in your office?

This would definitely make cleaning a little more fun..

And how about some fun pillows...

And last but not least...to reflect your beautiful smile...a smiley face mirror!

Are you surprised I came up with so many smiley face items for the home?

Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised, which of course, led to more smiles!

But please keep in mind.....These items are all in good fun!

Please do not start buying up all the smiley face items for your own home! :-)

Have you heard of Etsy?

I thought Etsy was a household name until I asked a friend if she checked Etsy for some cute pillows and she looked at me with a blank stare.

For those of you who don’t know about Etsy, it is an online marketplace where people set up shops to sell physical goods that they have made by hand. Knitters, graphic designers, jewelry makers and many other artists use Etsy like millions of other people use eBay.

Etsy is not limited to the United States. Check out this pillow that I found that I can’t wait to buy for my house and it will ship all the way from India!

The Home Centric

Half of Etsy's website traffic comes from outside the US. So, where do all these people live? The company's survey of almost 1600 international sellers showed that these members come predominantly from the UK and Europe, with healthy chunks from Canada and Australia. At least you know that the items around your house aren’t the same ones that people have seen so many times in so many other homes since it came from the same catalogs that grace every mailbox in the country!

So just how do Etsy sellers promote their shops and get their goods sold? Their personal blogs are the number one way. Bloggers are taking over the retail industry! How cool is that?

One of my favorite things to do is surf Etsy for the coolest accessories I can find – it is just so much fun to see what new items show up every day! There are so many categories with so many beautiful and unique items; things that will make you want to buy, buy, buy!

There are definitely some Etsy finds that may be a little over the top or even tacky, but if you work it into an otherwise tasteful decor, it works and can even add that little bit of wow factor that we all strive for! It can add a punch of personality and interest that sets your room apart from even the most well designed spaces.

Wouldn't he be cute painted a high gloss white?

More importantly though, a good find can make you happy! I just purchased a fun art print for my office from an online blogger, madebygirl. I just received it and I can’t wait to get it framed and hung!

I cannot believe some of the treasures I’ve found and they’re very reasonably priced. I decided to do some digging on Etsy to show you just what you can find that I think is cool and splurge-worthy!

Pillows by Couple

Cool Wall Vinyls by Simple Shapes

Fun Clock from Joom

I know, I lOVE pillows!

Lampshades from StudioJOTA

Hopefully I've inspired you to spend some time perusing Etsy! I would love to know what one-of-kind finds you've uncovered!

Who Inspires Me?

One question that always comes up as a designer is “who or what inspires you? For me, I find inspiration in everything and everyone!

Right now the colors of spring are inspiring my new projects around the house. Bright green and white are reminiscent of spring. The words that come to mind are vibrant, clean, alive, and growth. How’s that for inspiration? Who wouldn’t want their spaces to project those feelings every time they walked in?

Can you see how this image translates into this:

Doesn't this room just sing the praises of spring? I Looove it!

I am also inspired by celebrity designers. Sarah Richardson is high on that list for me. Her designs are modern and neutral with a touch of class. She does such a great job of layering her rooms in a way that allows the eye to travel from one beautiful detail to another. I don’t think there is anyone out there who wouldn’t love a room in their house designed by Sarah! Here's one of Sarah's designs that evoke feelings of spring!

Another source of inspiration for me is design magazines. This is one area where I have a little problem. OK, maybe a BIG problem! I always thought a girl couldn’t have too many magazines but when you have to create spreadsheets to keep track of them all, you know you have too many! Those worth mentioning would be Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Dwell, Better Homes & Gardens, House Beautiful and Traditional Home. These always bring a smile to my face when I see them in my mailbox.

Dwell had spring fever with their February Issue. OK, the cover reflects recycling but it sure looks like Spring to me!
These days you can’t just stop at magazines. We now have online magazines that are great as well! Lonny Mag, Rue and Matchbook are coveted and anticipated just as much as those that arrive by my trusty mail carrier!

And last but not least, blog feeds that come directly to my inbox! I subscribe to far too many blogs but I love, love, love them and the information and inspiration they provide. Some of my favorites are Colour Me Happy, Dreamdesignlive, Younghouselove, Simplified Bee, Designsponge, Tobi Fairley, and Addicted to Decorating. Trust me, you can go from one interior design blog to another and next thing you know five hours have passed and you’re wondering why you're so hungry and why it is so dark outside.

For me, inpiration is everywhere. See, even Confucius knew a thing about beauty and inspiration...........
Thought I'd add one more image to get your Spring juices flowing! Rejoice, Spring is here!