"From mom's to mine" - Entryway Re-style

Being that my profession is an Interior Designer, I often get asked for tips or advice on color selections, fabrics, or even furniture. Sometimes I am asked to go shopping with various friends or just to help them re-examine their spaces to make them more functional. Last year I helped a dear friend repaint the exterior of his house, from a salmon pink to a nice blend of greens and tans. (Although he has yet to replace the salmon pink garage door! Get on that!) Sometimes its help hanging art, or putting together a piece of furniture. I am always around to give tips and tricks to help make a your space the way you want it to look.

Case in point; last weekend. I have a dear friend who needed help with their entryway. Her and her husband bought her childhood home from her parents and her brain was stuck with what to do with her entryway. Her mom had it one way, and she couldn't get around the way it always was. They went and bought some really lovely pieces to go along with functional storage to try and make it an easy place to put mail, coats, shoes, etc. without looking dumped and disheveled. She kept throwing me ideas and we just stared at the wall for about 20 minutes. My brain trying to figure out the best way to incorporate all her needs in one little space and still have it be inviting.

We had discussions of old items, and some plants. Whether to use them or not. Her husband did not want to use them and in fact they no longer went with the style they were looking to create. A modern-traditional blend. Blended styles are very common because it gives a homey lived in look, but can still be dressed up to look formal. So here are some tips that I gave her while we plowed through her stuff to figure out how to create her perfect space.

1. If you don't love it, don't keep it. If you as a couple aren't in love with a particular piece, send it away to somebody that will love it. Keeping things because you feel like you should creates clutter, and clutter always turns into chaos. You want your home to be in order and a place of solace and relaxation....not chaos.

2. When choosing items, everything doesn't have to "match" or be completely symmetrical. To create the blended look you need a mix of contemporary/modern items mixed in with your traditional look. Wood colors need to blend, but don't necessarily need to match.

3. When hanging items on the wall sometimes its easier to figure out the look by laying your arrangement out on the floor to get an idea of what it will look like finished. It might not exactly go up on the wall the way you lie it out, but at least you'll have somewhat of a plan, which leads to less work for the husband putting the holes in the wall, and less holes in the wall.

4. Play with scale and arrangements. you don't always have to have the same piece in a line. look for other patterns that create interest. Lean artwork on shelves and play with heights and textures.

5. If you have empty frames, hang them anyways. That way you'll have the complete look done and a gentle reminder to print photos for the frame!

6. Have fun! Choose things that you love and if you mess up it's ok. Design and art is always about taking chances and doing things a little different! If you get stuck, start with a clean slate. Pull everything off the walls and just start again. You can always put it back!

Without further ado.....the finished look:

Not completely finished, but she was very happy with the results. She has a functional and nice looking entryway. Sometimes all you need is another set of eyes. Great style lady! 

"Cowboys and Angels"

Ok, So I kind of fizzled out on my music posts. I don't know why. They are easy peasy posts. So, We are changing that. So....here we go with my weekly favorite song! This is one of my new favs! Makes me swoon every time I hear it! Enjoy!

"Cowboys and Angels" - Dustin Lynch

There's a want and there's a need
There's a history between
Girls like her and guys like me
Cowboys and angels
I've got boots and she's got wings
I'm hell on wheels and she's heavenly
I'd die for her and she lives for me
Cowboys and angels
 

We ride side by side
A cloud of dust, a ray of light
My touch is her temptation
Her kiss is my salvation
She's sweet, I'm wild, we're dangerous
Cowboys and angels

I'm not sure why her path crossed mine
Accident or grand design
Maybe God just kinda likes
Cowboys and angels

We ride side by side
A cloud of dust, a ray of light
My touch is her temptation
Her kiss is my salvation
She's sweet, I'm wild, we're dangerous
Cowboys and angels

There's a want and there's a need
There's a history between
Girls like you and guys like me
Cowboys and angels

Travelville....Kimball Style

Ok, in trying to figure out what we are going to do and see in Boston, I decided to look up just exactly where we are going for this wedding we are attending on the 25th. It's in Roseville, CA (reminds me of Pretty Little Liars, yes I know that's Rosewood Pennsylvania, it's just similar) and being the planner that I am I needed to know just how long it would take to get there so I Googled it. 6 hours!!!!!! SIX! One, two, threefourfive, SIX! Ugh. We were planning on going up Saturday morning before the wedding and turning around on Sunday to come home. Sigh. This is still the plan but that's a long freaking drive! On the 30th we are heading up to the lake with our friend so I also looked at where that is located. It seems that within a week span we will be driving upwards of 1,000 miles!

I decided we were going to make the best of these drives, and since coming home from the wedding we are driving straight through the state capital, Sacramento, that we should stop and have a touristy moment. So I went to the Sacramento City website to see what things we could do there. Of course their is the Capitol Building and museum. The California State Railroad Museum. Which would be really cool, but it costs so we will discuss. The Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum, which is free and looks interesting. The one that tops the list though (Sarcasm) is the Wells Fargo History Museum. I suggested that to the hubbs, via text message so he didn't hear my sarcasm, and he said that it would be interesting. Um.....HELL NO!! (I will probably eat these words, cause knowing my curiosity we will stop their anyways) Anywho, we will decide where to stop and get a snack! But I think it's important that since we have the Bucket List, and we are going to be right there, that we should make a point to stop, smell the roses, and enjoy a little lunch in the Capitol of the state where we reside. Oh and of course take PHOTOS! Stay tuned!

My mouth literally fell to the floor!

So you have read my battle with my hair (here and here). Last year I chopped over 10 inches off. Enough to donate to Locks of Love. I had a very edgy A-Line cut that I got sooooooo many compliments on! Everyone, including myself loved it, with the major exception being the hubby. He despised it! Mostly because he loved my long locks. So in an effort to appease him I promised to grow it back out. In doing so, I hadn't gotten a haircut in almost 10 months! (except for a bang trim) The front was grown out and the a-line just looked strange! It was driving me banana's! A couple of weekends ago I was helping with my grandmother's garage sale when I overheard my cousin say she was getting her hair colored. I thought "hmmm I should call my girl and get an appointment." I must have 'thought' that out loud because my cousin said that she would call her gal and see if she could squeeze me in while her color set. 2 hours later we were jamming to music (in no A.C.) on our way out to the valley to get a trim. It was a great excuse for her and I (my sister from another mister) to catch up and talk about what's going on in each others lives. Upon arrival I had an image of Jennifer Aniston (one I am sure the stylist has seen thousands of times before) downloaded on my phone. She went away clipping and I walked out with a new do! I loved it, but the question was.....would D?

I went home and he didn't really jump up and down, just said "I'm glad it's not short." I think he was getting used to it. So I thought he didn't really like it, but it didn't bother him. This past weekend we met up to go out for his brother's birthday. Afterwards we went to help a friend with some house stuff and he complimented my hair (which that day I thought looked so disheveled from measuring in the heat.) When we got home, D looked at me and said "I thought you looked really pretty tonight, and your new hair is my new favorite style. I like it more than it being really long."

Say what?!?! You mean I don't have to grow it out to model long ever again! Praise the lord in heaven! With this shocking turn of events I just smiled and said thank you, but inside I was screaming for joy! Although the hairstyle is nice, I'm thinking about letting it get a little longer, I miss curling my hair! Ahhhhh.....and the saga continues!

Puss in the Corner Wedding Quilt

As is tradition for weddings of people near and dear to our hearts my mom and I decided to make her dearest friends daughter a quilt for her wedding that was this past weekend on 8-11-12. This quilt was not difficult, but it was ambitious. We used the Puss in the Corner pattern, but a queen size quilt required 99 blocks, plus borders! Needless to say it was a divide and conquer project. We picked out our fabrics, mom cut everything and shipped me off with half of the blocks to assemble. 50 in total....I got to do 1 more because she was doing the borders, quilting and binding. (I think I got the easy end of this project ;-P) I sat at my sewing machine for 8 hours sewing those blocks. A girlfriend came over and we chatted while I put that little machine to work! Once they were all done I shipped them back with my mom and she quilted and assembled the quilt. I turned out so beautiful! The fabrics were spot on perfect and I wanted it for my bed!

Yesterday, before heading back out to the ranch, my mom stopped by the house to pick up some stuff. The bride and groom were there and she asked them to open the gift from us. She told me that they loved it! So each and every time I am proud of our hard work and effort that we put into the quilts! It's so worth it!

Finished Quilt!

All my blocks

Mom quilting away

We're both looking forward to the next project! I have some little things in the pipe-line to finish and post! It requires hand sewing.....boo. That's the one thing I hate. I like machine sewing! Stay tuned!

They Say Its a Heatwave

Ok, so I'm sitting here in the humidity and heat waiting for a day-porter to come and unlock a suite I'm supposed to measure. So I thought that I could be a little productive and blog.

We as Southern Californian's are SPOILED! We have the mildest weather across the board, but we always forget it when we actually have weather! A little rain, humidity, or the unthinkable SNOW and we are crying and whining. I am not saying that I am not guilty of it, because I am. I hate being hot and I hate being cold. I like to be a consistent temperature all the time! Now I live in one of the numerous valleys that we have in Los Angeles. Not only are they hotter than the coastal and O.C. areas, but I live in the closest valley to the desert. Humidity smashed with desert heat = misery to me! I am just waiting for the cool down to come and fall to begin!

What also comes with fall?! The holidays are right after. But what's special THIS fall is we are booked for the beginning of October to visit family in Boston! Yay! We are both so excited we can't stand it. We'll get to see the leaves change, and visit new states and hopefully try new things for our bucket list too! If you have any suggestions on things to do in New England, please shoot them my way. The only things that are guaranteed right now are fried clams and Salem. Help! We need ideas!!!!

Happy Friday!

Lone Star Tee Refashion

So the hubbs kept asking me to find him muscle shirts. Things he can wear out to the gym or when were out being active, such as a lake trip. Well looking on the internet and in the stores I realized that these shirts were the same cost as a regular tee....and my husband has a TON of tees! (As most men do!)

I had already started making him cutoff tees by removing the sleeves of a couple of shirts. Here's the thing, you get a ragged rolled edge of cotton that hits right at the end of the shoulder so the person looks hunched over. (IMO!) Even when you cut the sleeves off, instead of seam ripping them like I did, it still looks unfinished and ratty....which is ok for the gym, but everywhere else....big NO NO! So I took it upon myself to figure out a solution. The hubs had a couple of store bought muscle shirts already. I looked at them to see what about them looked better. *The indents of the sleeves were in more and the arm holes were slightly bigger then a standard tee. Also, the edges were hemmed for that nice finished look. Done! I figured that I could do exactly the same thing and for much less with what we already had! I did make a trip to a local thrift store and found the gem pictured above and a couple of others for only $4! I also took 4 of the hubbs existing shirts that I already had removed the arms and fixed them up. Here's what you need:

T-Shirt (Old, new, thrift store....whatever!)
Seam ripper (optional)
Scissors
Pins
Sewing Machine
Template (I used an existing muscle tee that fit him well)

1. Ok the first thing I did was seam rip the sleeves off. This is an extra step that I did, and you could just start at #2. I wanted to see how large the armholes were and where they hit on my hubby's body.

Sleeves Seam Ripped

2. I took an existing shirt that fit my hubby well and used it as a template to cut the arm holes on each side of the shirt.

Template to cut

Cut holes

3. I turned the shirt inside out and folded over a hem about 1/2 inch down all around
the arm hole and pinned as I went.

Pinning away

4. Sew a 1/4" seam from the edge of the shirt. (I have a nice new(er) machine that has a stop on the edge of my foot that shows me exactly where 1/4" is! Error proof!)

1/4" seam

5. Since I don't have a surging option on my machine I just sewed another seam 1/4" on the inside of the first seam to keep the hem down and from rolling! I tried to hide my back-stitching on the top seam or on the back.....since I have limited thread colors some show up more than others! :-S

Double 1/4" seam

6. Turn the shirt right side out and admire your work, make your hubby do a fashion show and pat yourself on the back for a thrifty re-do!

Fin!

Here's the finished products. I did the 3 "new" i.e. thrift store shirts and the 4 that I previously started (I found another white one going through his drawer!) The man now has enough muscle shirts to wear one every day of the week. Looks like he's gonna be nice and cool on our lake trip! My fav's are the Transformers one and the Irish Pub.....it's so SOFT! I might steal it for a sleep shirt!