Category: entry way

Warm and Eclectic Home Tour

Warm and Eclectic

This house tour is one of the best I’ve come across in a really long time. The home is so warm and eclectic, mixing furniture and decor from different styles and times. I really love a home that seems to be decorated with objects over time from travels and life well lived.

The home belongs to stylist Natalie Nassar (she does a lot of work for Ballard Designs, so you might recognize a lot of their stuff). The textiles through out the home are amazing, and all the rugs are from an antique market in Atlanta. You may recognize the photo below from a post last week, which is when I discovered the tour.

I’ve included some of the Q+A’s from the house tour, which can be read in full at How To Decorate by Ballard Designs.

Ballard Designs: There’s an immediate warmth when we step into your home. How do you create that warm feeling with furniture pieces and accessories?

Natalie Nassar: I really like to mix different styles of furniture and accessories. I have a lot of mid century modern things, antiques, classic pieces and global looking pieces. I have found that I like the mix because it makes my home feel more collected and not so stale.

BD: It seems like there’s no space in your home that’s too small to be styled or given proper attention. What are your strategies for giving mundane or functional areas personality?

NN: As I mentioned before adding plants like cacti and succulents really helps a space. Green life can change everything! Also I use a lot of trays and containers to wrangle accessories or functional things in. For example, I keep my kitchen scrub brushes in a cylindrical vase and my soaps are sitting on a tray so it looks neat. I love to use different decorative bowls for accessories and for functional use.

BD: So many people struggle with making their home both stylish AND functional for their busy families. You seem to have struck that perfect balance! How has your home changed since your 18-month old Noura has joined the family?

NN: I have tried to keep the house in the same state that it was pre-Noura with just some alterations. Of course you have to baby-proof once they start to move about but there are a few little adjustments I have made for organization and ease for her and me. I am naturally a very neat and organized person but once Noura came into our lives a lot of that went out the window! I had to learn to relax and realize that things can’t be perfect all the time in the house. Usually the house is a wreck until we put her to sleep at night and then I straighten up. I find that cleaning up at the end of the day De-clutters my brain and refreshes the space for the next day to begin.

1. Baskets are key! I have 2 large baskets from ikea that look great and hold a lot of toys. Makes for easy clean up to throw toys into baskets at the end of day.

2. If you’re like us, furnishing your home seems like a constant thing so make sure you’re making smart purchasing decisions. When choosing upholstery, go for something not too light in color and that is durable. I know Ballard offers a lot of great outdoor fabric options that don’t even look outdoor. These fabrics hold up well to stains and are great for high traffic areas. Also Scotchgard your new pieces! For picking coffee tables, I recommend choosing things that don’t have sharp corners. Our coffee table is not an upholstered ottoman but there are no sharp edges to it.

3. Choose a pretty throw or blanket to cover up the seat cushions on your couch. We are always on the couch with snacks or crayons or things that can be messy which is just real life- a pretty covering is great because it looks good/can add color and style and protects your couch!

BD: You mentioned in our podcast episode that you typically choose more neutral colors for your large furniture pieces so that they’re more versatile long term. How often do you move things around or switch up accessories?

NN: I personally like to choose my big pieces in neural colors. If you ever want to move pieces around, it makes it easier. I always keep in mind that we might move one day. Of course, I move accessories around all the time. It freshens things up and makes things look new and different. I change the pillows and textiles out on the couches and swap bedding probably once a year. It really can make a difference!

BD: So many people struggle with making their home both stylish AND functional for their busy families. You seem to have struck that perfect balance! How has your home changed since your 18-month old Noura has joined the family?

NN: I have tried to keep the house in the same state that it was pre-Noura with just some alterations. Of course you have to baby-proof once they start to move about but there are a few little adjustments I have made for organization and ease for her and me. I am naturally a very neat and organized person but once Noura came into our lives a lot of that went out the window! I had to learn to relax and realize that things can’t be perfect all the time in the house. Usually the house is a wreck until we put her to sleep at night and then I straighten up. I find that cleaning up at the end of the day De-clutters my brain and refreshes the space for the next day to begin.

April 9, 2018
How to decorate the tricky spots in your home

We all have those spots around our home that we never really get around to decorating because they are so out in the open or so oddly configured that we get stumped about what to do with them. I’ve found examples of what some of those trouble spots might be and some potential solutions. Enjoy!

In front of tall windows: What a nice problem to have! I would definitely add some green in the form of house plants. Also, select furniture that won’t obstruct the natural light coming through, such as a bench with skinny legs, or make a reading nook full of abundant natural light by adding an upholstered chair with a narrow profile.

via Pinterest via PopSugar

A small or non-existent landing: This is my problem. I have a rancher and my front door literally just opens up in the middle of my living room. A good tip that I’d never heard before is to hang a gallery wall to define a foyer. “Instead of placing your photos and art sporadically around the room, cluster them together. This move deliberately defines a wall as your entry, sectioning it off from the rest of an open layout” – Good Housekeeping. Genius! Also, piles near the door are a fact of life (especially when you live with a husband like mine.) A small console for mail and keys (a narrow shelf is also a great way to keep floorspace free!) is a must. A basket for shoes is also a good idea.

via Pinterest via Good Housekeeping

Under a staircase: Don’t waste this precious, precious space. I tried to find some ideas that don’t require you hire a carpenter and pay a small fortune for some custom cabinets, etc. The above is probably built in, but you can find a desk that fits nicely under the stairs, and then use the wall space to hang additional shelves – floating shelves are inexpensive, or utilize the wall as a gallery wall!

via DecorPad

Behind the sofa: Maybe this one is a bit obvious – but it’s a fun and easy place to freshen up. I think a sofa table is a great opportunity to show off a collection. Have some new family pics printed and arrange the frames on a narrow sofa table. Or, gather small souvenirs from your travels and display them as a conversation-starting collection!

via Pinterest via Apartment Therapy

Small kitchen wall or corner: Install shelves that will fit and use them as a place to display your prettiest dishes or cool kitchen gadgets.

via BHG

What spots around your house have you stumped? What spots have you come up with clever solutions for?

May 5, 2016
A modern minimalist home that is also cozy!

A minimal interior that’s also cozy seems like a bit of an oxymoron, but it is possible. And a space that manages to pull it off is ultimately much healthier. It’s been proven – less clutter, less stress.

A key element in a minimal style home is clean lines. There is no rules that clean lines need to be straight lines with hard corners. The curved lines of the sofa and the arm chair create a sort of symmetry that lets the eye relax.

Carefully edited knick knacks and books create less opportunities for dust to settle, and makes cleaning easier. If you have a lot of sentimental objects you like to keep displayed, then rotate them so you get to enjoy them but keep your space minimal.

Angular planes of the pendant are more restful to the eye than an ornate chandelier. The panoramic window creates a tranquil landscape effect.

The entry is very important too to your homes health. A stoop that is easy to keep clean means less dirt being brought into the home.

More proof that minimal can be cozy! Tailored throw pillows make the living room warm and inviting without extra “fluff”

I’ve been working on moving more and more items off of my counter tops. It makes food prep much easier, counter top cleaning much easier, and cleaner visually. Obviously, I can’t stress the importance of keeping your home clean. Most of our exposures come from dust, and even knowing this I am not vigilant about dusting. If you have the means I highly recommend a service like Snapclean.

See more of this home and read more about it at Not A Paper House

April 5, 2016
Filling in Spaces

When decorating a home, sometimes there’s a wall that just stumps you. It’s either an awkward size, a really large wall, a corner, or just a space you’d like to give a little more character. Either way, there are a few tricks I use to fill up a space that needs some love:

via brit.co

You can never go wrong with a large wall print, a plant, and a console. Extra storage and something pretty to look at it are my first attempt at filling an empty wall.

via homedit

Corner’s can be more difficult! A collage of pictures is a great idea, a ladder with blankets, a corner table with a plant, or maybe even a beautiful basket could be a great solution to a corner problem.

via unexpectedelegance

For an entry way, I love a bench seat where you can sit down and take off your shoes, and there are some great ways to fill up a wall with DIY wall art that won’t break the bank!

via 11magnolialane

I love the look of shelving as a wall filler on your way or in a kitchen. Using things you already have around the house and fresh flowers is a great filler.

via huffingtonpost

A large mirror is a wonderful way to fill an empty wall. It also helps with smaller rooms, bounce natural light around, and make the room feel larger.

via justthebeesknees

How would you fill your empty space? Leave a comment below!

January 13, 2016
When life gets hectic, it’s the little things..

Phew…sorry for the neglect this week! I have a lot of major deadlines this week..my average bedtime the past two weeks has been 3 AM. Anyway, I figured I’d take time today to post some eye candy, not only to inspire you, but also to give me a much needed break from my current projects. Here are some little (and big) pleasures to indulge in if you can…

a peaceful soak

a meal enjoyed without TV and catching up with those you live with but don’t necessary get to talk to everyday!

A beautiful place to read…

The piece you’ve had your eye on for ages and finally get to bring home

Little details that make life beautiful

What makes your life beautiful?

via 1. Mag 91, 2. Design Interior, 3. TradHome, 4. Adore Home, 5. ?

March 29, 2012
A bright, airy, and elegant home

A lot of super luxe and elegant homes are often done in richer, darker tones, and heavier fabrics. I thought this home was interesting in that it still looks very refined and elegant, but is also very airy and bright.

The ceiling in this bedroom is AMAZING. Can’t beat the light, either.

Another amazing ceiling. It almost feels like a giant lighthouse!

What do you think? Do you like this elegant and light look?
via TradHome

August 29, 2011
3 Top Tips when using Flooring Rugs

Rugs are a great way to bring a new lease of life to a tired looking room. However, before you make your selection you should consider these three tips, as rugs can be used in many different ways in a home or office.

1. Placement:
You’ll need to think about where you place flooring rugs if you want to avoid trips and falls at home or in the office. Irrespective of which room you place a rug try not to have the corner in the middle of a door opening as this can lead to a potential tripping hazard. It is a good idea to use rugs in high traffic areas just so long as the larger part of the rug is in the doorway.

via Nesting Newbies

2. Sitting Areas:
You can create an inviting sitting area in a room simply by placing a sofa and chairs around a rug. Pale or light colours, with a low-key design offer a more intimate space in which people can sit and talk. Circular or hexagonal shaped rugs are also ideal for cosy seating areas. By placing the front feet of chairs and sofa onto the edge of the rug, not only will you be reducing any potential trip hazards, you’ll also provide sufficient rug surface for people to have both feet on the rug itself. This will help to make people feel more at home and at ease. You could also place a flooring rug under a coffee table to create a central focal point in the seating area.

via Anthology

via Maison Marigold

3. Open Areas:
One of the most fashionable ways to use flooring rugs is to place them in areas which have no furniture, such as in front of the fire-place or in the middle of a room. Placing rugs in open areas can help add a new dimension to a room more especially if they are a contrasting colour to the flooring; they can provide a different texture which will give a room more personality and help ground a colour scheme.

via Casa Diez

*disclosure: this is a sponsored post from UK Flooring Direct

July 27, 2011
Minimal but not cold – gorgeous Scandinavian spaces

Today is a hectic day, and these spaces just emanate calm and order. However, like some spaces that are super orderly and clean, these still have warmth to them. What do you think?

That green is just the right value to compliment the wood tone but not compete with the black.

Love the coffee table

I’m usually not a fan of “stripes” or other painted graphics, but in the hall like this is doesn’t seem trendy to me. Notice how it goes up the molding? It’s like the owner’s personal little gallery space.

image via KML Design

March 30, 2011
Beauty from Domino – Rooms in a neutral palette

Our beloved Domino is gone – but luckily I snagged all the images I could before the website went under. Here are some gorgeous interiors showing neutral done right. Enjoy!

Kathy Ireland’s bathroom

I love grays like the one in this bedroom

ADORE this entryway. What a nice view to enter and leave the house to.

via Domino

February 16, 2011
The CL 2010 House of the Year – and it’s all eco-friendly (and beautiful)

Eco-friendly is getting prettier and prettier every year, making it not just easy on the earth, but easy on the eyes. Country Living put together this idea house full of inspiration. The house is actually a modular, pre-fab cottage, and available for purchase by the public. Read all the details for the house, rooms, and resources here.

What do you like about this house? Not like so much?

I LOVE the entryway. What a great space to see first thing when you walk in the door after work.

What do you think of wallpaper on the ceiling?

You may think all of these framed prints cost a fortune, but really all you need to accomplish this look are some basic frames, and then a used book of botanical or nature illustrations. Carefully remove the pages that you like and insert them in the frames!

A dream closet

December 28, 2010