To be entered in this giveaway:

1. Leave a comment on this post here with your idea of how you would use the stencil design.
2. For additional entries mention this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or your blog, and leave a comment on this blog for each post.  You will win an extra chance to win with each post, but be sure to leave a separate comment for each.

Contest is open to US and Canada residents, and ends Sunday June 3rd at midnight, PST.

One winner will be drawn at random and announced on Monday, June 4^th.

This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.

And a little later, I’ll have details for how you can win this amazing damask stencil, so subscribe to this blog and like us on Facebook for updates…

More details to come on how you can win this stencil also provided by Cutting Edge Stencils.

The first room is a bedroom in a model home.  I am about to publish a post on that entire project providing tips for staging to sell, so stay tuned.

Before photo…

Before photo of bedroom at Quatama Crossing, Hillsboro, OR

After…

After stencil accent wall has been painted behind the upholstered bed

Stencils are great for accent walls.  Typically you wouldn’t want to put a bold design on more than one wall in a room.  Not only that, you save time by only creating one accent wall.  Additionally, a single accent wall can really create a great focal point in a room, adding an amazing WOW factor!  Notice the added drama created by the vertical stripe behind the bed above,  and how it makes the ceiling appear taller as well.  Painting the stencils on top of the stripe adds a creative dimension, and replaces the need for artwork on the wall.

Below is the same stencil which is called the Casablanca All Over stencil that you can purchase online from www.cuttingedgestencils.com.   Cutting Edge Stencils has many impressive stencil designs and styles.

A small home office after a makeover including a stenciled accent wall

You can view the before and after photos for the small home office makeover shown above in this blog post here.  I chose the Casablanca stencil because I was tempted to layer on the dandelion stencil as shown below.  (However I decided it would be too busy for this tiny room.)

I love the look of these layered stencils.  Below they were used on artwork, but this same concept could be used in stripes painted floor to ceiling on a wall.

Layered stencils in artwork.  If you like these stencils, see giveaway details below.*

Below is an example of a more traditional look created by a damask stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils, which also will be given away by the Fusion TV show.  Like the Fusion Facebook page for upcoming details on this stencil giveaway.

This 24″x30″ Nadya Damask stencil is included in the giveaway, and normally sells for $39.95.

The same damask stencil in a different room

The great thing about using stencils is that you can always paint over them if you make a mistake.  It is a bit more work than using wallpaper, but you can save a few hundred dollars.

It is important to follow the application directions.  You want to use a good foam roller brush and definitely have handy-wipes within reach.  You can purchase these tools as well at www.CuttingEdgeStencils.com…

Essential stenciling tools available at www.CuttingEdgeStencils.com .

Also I followed the recommendation to use a spray adhesive on the stencil.  I sprayed on the adhesive in a separate, well-ventilated area, and just waited  a couple minutes before using it so that it wasn’t too sticky.  It was much easier than taping the stencil to the wall…

Stenciled accent wall in progress

The stencil kit came with this edging stencil shown below.  To finish the edges, you can simply bend the stencil to fill in the spots…

This edge stencil came with the main stencil and allows you to fill in the edges.

Also when you’re using an interlocking design, it helps to wipe off the edges of the stencil with a handy-wipe while the paint is still wet so that you can see where you’re matching up the design on the next painting spot.  Below you can see how I have done this with a smaller stencil that allows you to fill in spots where needed…

I smudged some stencil lines a little when I started to work too fast and didn’t blot my roller enough on a paper towel (see video instructions).  However, I was able to quickly clean up the lines with a smaller brush.  The key is to take your time, and don’t pressure yourself to get it done too quickly.

Cutting Edge Stencils provides this amazing level that simply slides onto the edge of the stencil.  This allows you to easily see if your stencil is level before you start painting…

Important stencil level tool

If you’d like more tips and ideas for accent walls, check out my posts Accentuate with Accent Walls and Tips and Trends in Wallpaper and Accent Walls.   A DIY post is on the way covering how I made the day bed, and the bulletin board in the small home office makeover.  Subscribe to this blog and “Like” us on Facebook for notifications.

* *Enter a Giveaway for the above Casablanca Stencil and the Dandelion Stencil valued at $59 total!**

To be entered in this giveaway:

1. Leave a comment on this post with your idea of how you would use the stencil design.
2. For additional entries mention this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or your blog, and leave a comment on this blog for each post.  You will win an extra chance to win with each post, but be sure to leave a separate comment for each.

Contest is open to US and Canada residents, and ends Sunday June 3rd at midnight, PST.

One winner will be drawn at random and announced on Monday, June 4^th.

This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. 

.

Before – There wasn’t enough work space in this tiny office below, and the floor was constantly being used to compensate for the lack of desk and storage space…

Click on photos for larger view

Before photo of teeny, tiny home office space

It’s helpful to have some inspiration when re-doing a room, and I posted my inspirational office images for de-cluttering in this blog post.

After –  custom-made built-ins, a day bed, and a stenciled accent wall were added making this room an extremely efficient small home office space…

After: Custom shelving, built-ins, desk and day bed have been added, plus a stenciled accent wall.

I designed the day bed frame above to hold a spare twin mattress I happened to have on hand, allowing this room to also function as an extra guest room.  Who would have thought you could squeeze all this in to such a tiny space eh?  I’ll be posting about how I made this day bed and slip cover shortly, so subscribe to this blog or “like” me on Facebook for updates.

If you’re lacking in square footage to create the work space you need, utilize the wall space!  In other words, add shelving and built-ins up the wall to hold your office materials.  (See this post for tips on decorating shelves.)  As you can see above, a wide shelf has been added to the back wall, and not only did I add an 8′ wide custom desk top, I added an additional long, narrow shelf above the desk.  I found these amazing brackets at Ikea that you can attach to a desktop  to add a shelf above your desk…

Desktop bracket from Ikea

I primed and spray painted the above brackets so they would blend in. These brackets were only $5 ea. from Ikea:  Click here for more details.

As you can see in the before photo below, the small desk size that is typically put in a small home office just was not doing the trick!

Before – The work space was pretty tight and not being used efficiently.

After: Custom made DIY built-in closet, shelving and an 8′ long desk were added.

The color scheme for the room makeover was taken from the flower picture in the before photo, plus the colors groove with the colors outside this room.  I love the warm colors!  Also, I spray painted the file cabinet and small drawer units.  I did no sanding…  I just used a spray primer first, and then two coats of a spray paint.  I also added a protective clear coat.  Spray paint has come a long way, and I have to admit that I’m addicted!  And I don’t mean to the fumes ( ;

This was my inspiration for the built-ins.  This style is great for a mid-century modern home…

Click on photos for larger view

Great inspiration for a mid-century modern home. I’ve had this for years, and I don’t remember the source. If you know, please inform me so I can provide credit.

 Here are some other great examples of home offices that take advantage of the wall space….

Another example of utilizing the wall to gain work space.  Source:  Decorating magazine.

Source: Bolig Magazine

Tomorrow there will be a TV segment airing in which I’ll be demonstrating how I created the stenciled accent wall shown below.  This TV spot will be airing on Fusion on KOIN 6 at 8am in Portland, OR.  Stay tuned and I will also post an article with images demonstrating the stenciling process, and how I made the fabric covered bulletin board, along with giveaway details to win a stencil!

More to come on creating this accent wall with stencils!

Source

If you haven’t started already, now is the time to start working on your outdoor oasis so that you can enjoy it as soon as summer begins… (I can’t wait!)  Great places to get started on now are the more time consuming projects that will help create shade.  However as I always say for indoor rooms, you should have a design plan before you get started.

Start with Plan

Your outdoor room design plan should include a layout plan, ie the “floor plan” for the space.  For example, I’m going to add a structure to surround two lounge chairs in one of my outdoor rooms.  This structure will need to fit in a certain floor layout, and I need to make sure the two new custom lounge chairs will fit in that space.  I’ll also want to add an outdoor area rug, fabric panels and lighting.  It will be similar to this structure below and I can’t wait to get started!  Stay tuned for more details on this project…

A free-standing structure to hold fabric panels for shade

Source

Below is another way to construct your cabana haven.  You can use less expensive material for the construction of this structure, (such as piping rather than wood), and notice how the fabric creates the top of this cabana rather than the ceiling made of wood above…

Source

Or why not create a smaller version of a shade canapy.  This is a great concept…

Source

Below is a luscious example of a pre-made canopy structure with custom outdoor fabric.  If only we had this setting for our backyard…

Source

Outdoor fabrics have come a long way, in fact they’re being used indoors more and more for their durability…

Resource

Design Plan

Consider Purpose of the space

–Rest & relaxation:  Lounge chairs, cushions, pillows

•Save vs. splurge

–Dining area

–Entertaining

–Cooking

–Privacy

Outdoor Space Components

–Shade

–Seating

–Dining table or accent tables

–Planting containers

–Firepits

- Bar

–Lighting

–Ways to stay cool

•Water fountain, misters, shade, umbrellas, canopies, draperies, trees in containers

.

Projects to Get Started on Now…

In addition to creating a shade structure to hold fabric panels or a canopy, here’s another great and easier DIY project for adding shade, privacy, and a great design element for your outdoor room.   Create a free standing screen which you can make from attaching shutters or doors together.  This is also a great way to renew and reuse salvage products…

Source

Below:  Notice how the trees and shrubs in the containers add to the shade and privacy factor, especially in combination with the door screen and free-standing umbrella.  You can use tropical plants in place of evergreens when using containers, and then just move them indoors during the cooler weather.  The products below came from Al’s Garden Centers in Sherwood, OR…

Source

DIY instructions

I also like the look of custom-made canopies such as the ones shown above and below.  Plus large umbrellas can be a bit spendy!

Click here for DIY details and source

I hope you’re feeling inspired to turn your outdoor space in something spectacular.  There is more to come on designing outdoor spaces, including some great DIY projects!   Subscribe to this blog or fan us on Facebook for notifications.

I’ve been in process of redecorating and reorganizing a small office room in my home.   Fortunately it’s not the only office space in the home, because it is an extremely small space!  In fact it’s such a small room, that it’s been necessary to reorganize it at least every two years, and to step back and look at the processes for how paperwork and office functions are dealt with in that room.

Source: www.EcoManor.com

This room above is one of my inspirations.  It’s from EcoManor, the home of Laura and Rutherford Seydel.  (It is the first ever LEED-certified manor home and the first LEED residence in the South, specifically Atlanta Georgia.)

I love the warm colors and how un-cluttered the room is.  If only it was possible for my tiny home office space to look this simplified, but unfortunately it’s not possible, and you’ll see why once I post the before and after photos.  In the meantime, it never hurts to have inspiration to clear out as much clutter as possible…

Source: www.Ecomanor.com

This time around I’m adding in some custom designed built-ins including adding a small closet, a custom-made day bed that holds a single mattress, and repainting some of the office furniture.  All of this work has forced me to move all  the paperwork, work piles, filing systems, and office supplies out of the room as the areas are being worked on.  Stay tuned and subscribe to this blog, as I’ll be posting before and after photos soon.  In the meantime, I can offer some helpful tips as I’m going through this process…

1. Clearing out the space that needs to be re-organized really does work!  You may have seen it recommended before on HGTV or by professional organizers, and it can appear so overwhelming.  But guess what?  It doesn’t have to be, and that leads me to tip #2…
2. You don’t have to clear out the entire room at once as you transform the space.  That takes up a very big chunk of time, as in several days, something most people don’t have the time or motivation for.  Plus it’s really not convenient to live with your office stuff scattered about or stuffed in storage.

Selling excess and unwanted ”stuff” can help you raise money for what you do want…

1. Hold a garage sale to help clear out unwanted items, while raising some funds at the same time.  Garage sales are especially great for getting rid of small items that accumulate, pile up and clutter up a room.
2. It definitely helps to advertise your garage sale on www.Craigslist.com and/or in the classified ads of a major newspaper in your area, even on their online classifieds.  Or better yet, organize a neighborhood-wide garage sale, advertise it well, and split the ad costs with your neighbors.   Here in Portland, OR, I would advertise in the Oregonian classifieds, and post the sale on www.OregonLive.com .  It is worth it to advertise, since garage sales are a lot of work, and you want a good amount of traffic to make it pay off.
3. Craig’s List, www.Craisglist.com, can work well for selling larger items.  It’s a little more work, since you need to post photos of the sale items for the listings to be effective, and you need to repost them every week.  I’ve used both of the above routes, and they vary in effectiveness according to the time of year.  For example, spring is an excellent times to hold garage sales.  (There may be ordinances in your neighborhood that limit the quantity you can hold over a period of time.)
4. Tax deductions for donations tend to net less proceeds, however you will save a bit of time.
5. Taking your designer clothes and accessories to a consignment store is another option.  There are also consignment store options for home furnishings, such as www.upscaleconsignment.com here in the Portland, OR area.

Here’s a link to an inspirational video for de-cluttering I ran across on www.MSN.com:

Click on image to view video on www.MSN.com

I recommend watching part 2 of the video as well, but here are the tips summarized…

Click on image to view video on www.MSN.com

I hope I have helped to inspire you to get going on de-cluttering your home.  We all have at least one area that needs it…  What’s yours?  I’d love to hear about it, and it helps other people to hear they’re not alone!

Windows on a tall wall before custom window treatments

Click on photos for a larger view…

After custom window treatments and faux iron have been added to tall windows.

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Before window treatments

After window treatments have been added

Source

Before window treatments

After window treatment has been added to a formal dining room

Source

Before window treatments have been added

After drapery panels have been added to a dining room

Source

Before window treatments, and re-decorating

After photo of finished room with drapery panels added

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Before window treatments

After window treatments

This is a model apartment that has just been updated at Quatama Crossing in Beaverton, OR.   The rental market is doing really great now.  This particular apartment complex is receiving single mothers as their largest clientele, and wanted the updated decor in the spare bedroom to reflect this trend by changing it to a kid’s room…

Spare bedroom before:

Before: The room was a cramped second bedroom in a model home apartment.

After the transformation to a more spacious teen room

Use an upholstered headboard lengthwise on a single bed to create a comfy lounging space that can double as an extra sleeping space.

This is also a great option for adding a sleeping space in a den.

Cover the headboard with a slip cover that can easily and affordably be changed.

After: The upholstered headboard with the twin bed is also a great option for a den

Add color with wall accessories, since teens tastes can change quickly.

Wall vinyl is a fun, easy, and an inexpensive option for dramatic wall décor.

Before photo of opposite wall

After: The room appears much more spacious

Add a side chair…   Refurbish a flea market find.

Chair before- A flea market find that cost $15.00

Chair after painting and recovering the cushion

Sheer draperies are an in-expensive drapery option.

Paper lanterns come in many colors and are a low-cost option for adding a pop of color in kid’s rooms.  Online resource:   http://www.partylights.com/Lanterns/Lanterns-by-Color.

Avoid mistakes and unnecessary spending with a design plan in advance

A floor plan is a necessary component of a design plan

You can add a little glam to your decor with your accessories, such as this gorgeous mirror…

Decorating accents with bling.  The paint color really helps to enhance this mirror!

Mirrored furniture is another great way to add a touch of class and glamour to your home, whether your tastes are traditional or contemporary.  Here are some updated mirrored furniture pieces from one of our suppliers…

Light fixtures are another way to add just a touch of glam and glitz  , without over doing it…

Add a little glam to your kitchen without over doing it

Below are a couple light fixtures that are better suited for a commercial setting, but I had to include them…

This looks more like art than a light fixture but it’s gorgeous.

Fun creative, yet glamorous light fixtures

Small touches of glam added in the bedroom below through the light fixtures and mirrored bedside stands help add to the overall luxurious feel to this room…

Add a little glamour in your bedroom design

Glam added through mirror, light, and knob on side table

Painted furniture isn’t just for shabby chic interiors!   The contemporary living room below demonstrates how white furniture is a great companion to bold fabrics…

Not so shabby painted furniture options for a transitional / contemporary interior design

Painting furniture has been a fun trend for turning shabby, flea market finds into chic pieces among the do-it-yourselfers on a low-budget, and now furniture manufacturers are catching on to this great trend and introducing high-end painted furniture options for quality, brand new furniture.   Whether you have distinguished, high-end tastes or you’re out for a great look on a dime, there are some really fun looks that are popping up in the interior design world.     Check out these example photos below and let me know if you agree….

 

This is what I mean by adding a splash of color!…

Great splash of color on a piece that is easy to change.

Source

 

Painted tables in a contemporary setting. Source: Somerset Bay.

Yellow is a current color trend used in interior design.

The aqua color is still pretty popular.

What a creative combination! Photo provided by Flor.

A fun eclectic mix of mid-century modern with a traditional metallic table.

Silver metallic finishes on furniture are gorgeous!

Source

Painted furniture with words or pattern

Mixing in metallic paint highlights is a great effect when combined with an aged finish.  How creative!…

Source

Love this balanced mix of finishes in this kitchen cabinetry…

Every home should have a little bit of rustic decor in it.

Why do you want to mix it up a little?  So that your décor won’t look like you just pulled it off the showroom floor of the local retail furniture store.  You can base your design around one of these styles, or you can craftily mix them in as one or more of the three elements I will cover in the next three blog posts.   In this article I will start with “rustic” décor.

Rustic décor:

Rustic décor adds warmth to a room.   It can work with most styles, from modern to traditional.

Great example of mixing modern and rustic decor in this photo from Rejuvenation Hardware

A creative mix of modern and rustic.

How great is this look?!? Source: www.TheDecorDivas.com

Notice the rustic touches mixed into this room.

How fun is this pool table from www.PotteryBarn.com?

The stylists at www.Flor.com did a great job of inter-mixing in a touch of the rustic look in this photo… 

Another great example of mixing in a touch of the rustic look. Source: Flor carpet tiles.

Consider mixing in a rustic cocktail table or some old doors as a large-scale wall decoration…  

Look how great these old rustic doors look as large-scale wall decor!

Great rustic cocktail table. Source: www.TheDecorDivas.com .

Love this rustic storage option! Source: www.TheDecorDivas.com .

Love this look from OMyGosh!

Here's a modern twist on a traditional French-country fabric design available from www.TheDecorDivascom .

Unique light fixture from www.TheDecorDivas.com .

There's always a spot for a rustic clock. Source: www.TheDecorDivas.com .

Even just a light fixture can add a touch of the rustic look.

Rustic accent wall in a photo shoot by Rejuvenation Hardware