Thursday, October 18, 2012

The Chirping Moms- Mudrooms!

I am so excited to be guest posting on The Chirping Moms today! 
Check out their blog- they always offer so many fantastic ideas and giveaways! 





Guest Post: Organizing Your Mudroom
Organizing and then keeping a mudroom in tact can be a daunting task! It’s the one place where you feel it is okay to dump everything and not worry about what it looks like. You get home with a bunch of groceries and you just throw things down, forgetting that you left it a mess because it is out of sight.  Believe me, it’s not just you- everyone does this! 

Your mudroom is the last thing you see when you leave the house and the first thing that greets you when you get home.  Your mudroom should make you happy, so why not make it a stress-free environment?  



As a designer who works in a lot of new construction, I often spend quite a bit of time with my clients designing this room. If it is a large enough space, I love having custom built-ins made. It is really simple and any carpenter can quickly make this for out of inexpensive materials found a local building supply store.  If you are to go the custom route, my favorite approach is giving each member of the family their own section.

  
Here is a photo of a mudroom that I recently designed.

Or, if you are a limited in space and do not have room for a custom built-in storage unit, there are some great pre-made ones online. Pottery Barn has the Olivia collection where you can build your own mudroom.  You really only need a bench, maybe some storage below, and then add hooks on the wall above.


One of my clients is a very organized mom. Everyone has their own cubby and set of hooks that is designated by name tags. It is the responsibility of each family member to keep their section clean, whether it is by putting away their shoes in their cubbie section, or storing their hats and gloves in their own basket.


In lieu of a label maker, order initial wall décor from Etsy. These 5”x7” customizable options from StARTingCreations are really fun! Just put hang them above each person’s cubbie and you are good to go!


And if labels aren’t your thing, why not give each person their own color basket? I love The Land of Nod’s Strapping Storage bins, and they come in a multitude of colors. Why not let each kid pick out their own color so they know which one belongs to them!


My other favorite storage bins are from The Macbeth Collection. Pick one of their patterns if you’d rather keep it consistent but monogram each family member’s name on the front. These always add a punch of color to any room!
Last but not least, have a section in your mudroom for messages. It’s a great place to put reminders or notes for other family members.  If you are up to the challenge, why not paint an entire wall out of Benjamin Moore’s Chalkboard Paint? It is easy to apply and comes in so many colors!

 You can also contain the chalkboard to a small section by creating a frame on the wall with decorative moulding…

Or, just use it on a door!



To wrap up, here are my keys to success for a mudroom that’s functional and fun:
      Give everyone their own space, whether it is a cubbie section or simply a storage bin.
      Make sure everyone’s space is clearly marked.
      Don’t be afraid to have fun whether it is with colorful bins, a chalkboard wall, or just a fun rug!
Anyway about it, little things can help make your mudroom a happy place so it isn’t that messy room that stresses you out!


Good luck organizing!
Elizabeth 

Friday, October 12, 2012

Fabric Friday

It's been a hectic couple of weeks, so I apologize for the lack of posts! 

I can't believe it's already Friday...this week went by so quickly! I was at the Merchandise Mart several times this week shopping for clients, and I spent quite a bit of time on the 6th floor walking past the future home of Quadrille. ! 

So, this weeks Fabric Friday is dedicated to Quadrille in anticipation of their new showroom! 
Hurry up and open! 

I have always loved South China Sea's 'Java Java' print. It is one of those versatile fabrics that I could use in a traditional or transitional home. 


 



  


  


 


It comes in so many colors! What's your favorite

Happy Fabric Friday! 




  

Monday, October 1, 2012

Wanelo- Want, Need, Love

Every Monday, I am going to focus on one item that I really want. Today, it was going to be bookends. 

I'm obsessed with elephants- I can never have enough elephant objects in my apartment. 

Aren't these just so much fun? 

Featured by Apartment Needy

Well, this blog post has taken a bit of a turn. Instead of featuring different elephant bookend options, I want to focus on Wanelo, where I found these bookends. Wanelo stands for "Want, Need, Love". I think this site was founded just for me as I constantly say "I love and need this". I mean, after all  my Monday posts are for things I want, right !?!  

Wanelo is a store curated by it's members. What I love is that it features unique items that you just can't find anywhere else. It reminds me of a pinterest where I can actually buy what I like! 

Here are a few things that I found today. I encourage everyone to join. Such a cool site! 









Friday, September 28, 2012

Fabric Friday

It was a striped velvet type of week! 

I recently reupholstered two chairs for a client in a striped velvet (pictures to come when done). I was telling a fellow designer friend all about it, and she mentioned that she was all about striped velvet. She shared with me the Toro FR stripe from the Kabuki collection at Villa Romo. 

I'm in love! 






I love that this can be used in both formal and informal settings. I would totally upholster the back of dining room chairs out of this fabric! 






I'm really liking the green and purple combo! What color wave do you love? 


Monday, September 24, 2012

Pagoda Lamp

I am really into Chinoiserie right now, and all I want for my bedroom are Pagoda lamps flanking my bed. 





I love this one from World's Away. It comes in so many colors that I am not sure which one to pick! 








What color would you do? And where would you place it? 


Friday, September 21, 2012

Fabric Friday

I am all about wallpaper this week- more specifically, bold wallpaper! 



I am loving Osborne and Little's Minaret wallpaper. I recently went on a house tour on the North Shore of Chicago (more to come of that next week), and I was inspired by a powder room that I saw. Such a bold (and sometimes dark pattern  like Minaret) in a room creates drama and beauty. I believe that it is okay to go all out in a Powder Room. Not that your guests will be spending a lot of time in there, but it's a great way to make a huge impact in a short amount of time. Believe me, they will remember that Powder Room! 


 
  


Here are some other photos of Minaret found in other rooms of the house. While I wouldn't be opposed to using it elsewhere in a home, I still love it in a Powder Room.



Happy Friday everyone!