FHD’s Top 10 organizing tips
Thursday, December 29, 2011 by {darlene}

Below is a list that I often give to my clients. I believe that a clutter free home is the number one decorating tool that any person, in any home, can use to change their home: today!

Beautiful spaces are not filled with junk. It is as simple, and as blunt, as that.

FHD’s Ten Organizing Tips

1. For most of your organizing: Do little bits; often

2. “Hide the Uglies” by using beautiful storage solutions

3. Attack what will “stay done” first; do daily maintenance second

4. Set a timer for effective organizing

5. Pick one drawer or closet per week; tackle one per week. In one year, you will have tackled 52 spots! Keep a list if that will help to motivate you

6. Make a commitment to invest in storage materials

7. Accept that it will get worse {messier} before it gets better

8. One step at a time. Don’t listen to the voice that says “There is too much to be done; why bother”

9. Post an inspirational magazine photo nearby, as you organize

10. For big projects: Schedule organization days onto your calendar; take them seriously

Happy Organizing!!

{find these pics and more inspirational organizing pics on my Inspiration: Organizing Pinboard}

* * * * * * * * *

don’t forget! only THREE more days to enter!

{have you entered the FHD monthly giveaway yet? Someone will win! Why not you? FREE eDesign {and a gorgeous turquoise necklace from TaraLynEvans.com – this month only}! click below or here to enter:}

Labeled: organizing | 9 Comments
lessons in design :: buying something you REALLY love
Tuesday, December 27, 2011 by {darlene}

I have a decorating philosophy.

Okay, well. You caught me. I have SEVERAL decorating philosophies.  But one of them is:

Buy things you REALLY love, and then work them into your home.

1. I am not talking about things you think are pretty, or lovely, or nice… but things you REALLY LOVE. Things that “speak” to you. Things that are “You!”

2. Once you have purchased that lovely amazing thing, make it a priority to add it to your home. What’s your hang-up?:

For some of you {ahem. me!}, that may mean actually committing to hanging something on your wall, making the trek to buy the supplies, and getting out some dusty power tools.

For others, that may mean giving away that “so-s0” item that is already hanging there, looks “okay,” and you got on a “great sale.” Part with it, I say!

Well.

I bought something I really love. And guess what? When I bought it {…I almost didn’t. Like so many of us, I am quite careful with any expendable income I have}, I had NO idea where I would put it. I just KNEW that I loved it, and decided: I will FIND the perfect spot for this gorgeous-ness.

And, bit by bit, I plan on building my home that way. By starting with an overall vision, and then buying things that meet my vision, things I REALLY ADORE! Things that fit into my Vision Design Words. And avoiding things I like, but don’t really love.

And, I am going to be taking some of my own advice and get it on the wall.

Wanna see my goodie?

Which, by the way, I got here {Click below on those cute pachyderms and go sign up. You will not regret it!}

Last night, I found the perfect spot. The spot where this beauty was meant to live all along. Right there, above my bed:

 

How about you? What prevents YOU from filling your home with things you truly ADORE? {and here is just food for thought: usually – but, not always -it is not just money. While most of us here on planet earth don’t have endless money, or even extra money, for decorating, most of the time it is not our only hang-up.}

Is it perfectionism? Is it the inability to replace things you have “out-grown?” Is it decorating paralysis? Is it laziness? Is it fear?

Don’t wait to be surrounded by the very things you love. Instead, define your vision. And then, bit by bit, edit away the things you don’t love, and fill your space with the things you DO love.

Love.

not like. Love.

Labeled: lessons in design, vision | 7 Comments
ditto :: vamping up traditional lines with drama
Monday, December 26, 2011 by {darlene}

Happy {ditto} Monday!

I am giddy over the discovery of Tyler Dawson, a California based designer who, I think, is brilliant at taking the classy and simple lines of the traditional, and vamping everything up with a twist of drama and color.

Check out this amazing living room designed by Tyler. Let’s dissect it together and see how we can ditto some of her crazy-gorgeous design skills:

DITTO :: {WHAT I WOULD STEAL FROM THIS SPACE}:

  1. TRADITIONAL LINES, WITH COLOR AND DRAMA ADDED AT EVERY CORNER. What I think gives this space such high-gloss glamour, while still preserving the endurance and livability of farmhouse simplicity, is the fact that her canvas begins with traditional lines. A classically shaped sofa – revamped with dramatic velvet and fun pillows; traditionally classic french chairs – revamped with gutsy-colorful fabrics; The classic form of an oriental rug – revamped in magenta! And why have eggshell walls when you can have pale pink walls? The feeling is still classic … but with a twist.
  2. DARK AND DRAMATIC DRAPES.  I love drapes! I can’t help myself. And, I would ditto these drapes because I love how the deep, dark, chocolate fabric contrasts with the pale walls. And I love how the long gold accent trim adds a vibrant touch that adds height to the room, and ties into all the gold accents in the room.
  3. GOLD ACCENTS. Love that gold chandy, the gold chair, the gold tables, the gold tape in the drapes, the gold in the painting, and the gold pillows. Perfection! While there are gold touches everywhere, they are all done in small doses and they don’t overpower. Excellent use of a punch color.
  4. MIXING METALS AS A BASE, THEN ADDING COLOR ON TOP.  Mixing metals is a design technique that I truly love. You can read more about my love for mixed metals here, and see my Pinterest board on Mixed metals here. In this space,  I would ditto how Tyler used her gold accents, then grounded the room with silver-velvet sofa. Then I would definitely ditto adding lots of fun color on top!
  5. A HUGE, BOLD PIECE OF ART, THAT ADDS COHERENCE TO THE COLOR SCHEME.  The huge artwork in this room is bold, and offers a truly modern contrast to the traditional lines. I love using bold, modern art as a way to liven up a space and infuse creativity. And, like Tyler, I find modern art to be the perfect way to vamp up traditional spaces. I used this concept in one of my recent designs of a formal foyer.
  6. THAT WHITE FRAME. I would definitely ditto that chic, white, thick, shiny frame that surrounds the art! It ties into, and contrasts all at once, the classical crown molding that frames the room. Think art frames are a detail that don’t matter?? Of course not! Just look at what this frame does for this room.
  7. YELLOWS, ORANGES, FUCHSIAS, AND CORALS.  GUTS!!! Could the color accents in this space get any gutsier? And yet, they are all employed in classical ways. This makes the room fun AND grounded at the same time. LOVE this BRILLIANCE! Ditto!!

WEIGH IN.

WHAT WOULD YOU DITTO {STEAL} FROM THIS SPACE, 1-7? OR SOMETHING ELSE?

I LOVE HEARING YOUR THOUGHTS!

* * * * * * * * *

so exciting! six more days to enter

{have you entered the FHD monthly giveaway yet? Someone will win! Why not you? FREE eDesign {and a gorgeous turquoise necklace – this month only}! click below or here to enter:}

Labeled: ditto, mixed metals | 4 Comments
merry christmas from our home to yours
Friday, December 23, 2011 by {darlene}

Joy to the World

The Lord is Come

Let Earth receive her King

Let every heart prepare Him room

And Heaven and Nature Sing.

If I could send each of you a Christmas card, that is exactly what I would do! So, here is a card, from our home to yours. May you and your families have the merriest and most blessed of Christmases.

 

{last Christmas, our family started a new tradition. I thought you might want to know about it: On Christmas morning, we sit together and read through this amazing book, photographed by my cousin Jonas Bendiksen. Then we reflect on our many blessings, and how we have so much… when so many have so little. Then, we pour through the Gifts of Compassion Catalog, the World Vision Catalog, and the Samaritan’s Purse Catalog. As a family, we decide which gifts we will offer to Jesus this year, “for His birthday.” Our boys delight in this giving… as we delight in our children being “cheerful givers.” Thank you to Ann Voskamp, for inspiring our family to participate in this amazing gift. A gift we give, that gives to us in ways eternal and always.}
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Labeled: here at Fieldstone Hill, traditions | 2 Comments