Decorology

Category: lighting

  • Making a galley kitchen work!

    Making a galley kitchen work!

    For those of us who love to cook, we tend to look down at a galley kitchen as a non-functional environment. Here are a few ways you can make a galley kitchen work for you!
    For the long galley kitchens, consider taking away some of the upper cabinets so it doesn’t feel as cramped. Maximize your storage and minimize your items to only the necessities. You might also consider getting a hutch in your dinning room to hold the extras. 
    galley kitchen - narrow width, door at end and store cupboard
    Keep it clean! Make sure the counter tops are cleaned off and there’s nothing in the way of the floor. It will make your walkway look bigger and give you a roomier feeling.
    Keep it well lit! A bright kitchen is a happy kitchen. Natural light is always a better option but if you can’t get that, any lighting will work. Make it feel bright and airy!
    Small footprint but the stud height creates a sense of space. Like the white and wood together.
    via nytimes
    If you can, open up one wall to make it feel more open and easier for entertaining. 
    How would you decorate your galley kitchen?
  • Feminine Fun Home Decor

    Feminine Fun Home Decor

    Every home could use a little feminine touch! These below give me so many ideas for my own:
    Pastels with black and white always catch my eye.
    Simple decor pieces can bring in a simple touch of elegance. 
    Brightening up a place with some fun color will do the trick!
    Something shiny will work too.
    Mixing them all together is a makes it a collage of feminine fun.
    Throw pillows are a great option if your other half needs a little more masculine touch.
    What would you do to add a little feminine touch?
  • This Years Backyard Must Haves

    This Years Backyard Must Haves

    I am getting my summer parties planned and excited for some outdoor time! Here is what’s on my list for this years backyard must haves:

    Comfy seating!
    Beautiful plants!
    Outdoor Lighting!
    A Fire Pit!
    Friends and Family to share it with!
  • Light Bright Kitchen

    Light Bright Kitchen

    Light and bright does not mean you have to do head to toe white! If you are looking for a nice bright kitchen without it being completely whitewashed, here’s a little inspiration that can help:
    Ilot central, carreaux de ciment, chêne clair, fenêtres arrondies... and so on...
    A light natural wood will never steer you wrong! It goes great with the light and airy feel and looks clean too.
    Not into wood? A simple gray or tan can keep your kitchen nice and bright and pair’s nicely with white accents for a timeless feel.
    Guehne-Made - Kansas City | Home Remodeling | Home Styling | Custom Woodworks | Custom Furniture: Home Tour | A 1927 Tudor Mansion
    If you are dying for a little color stay on the pale end of things. this light blue is almost white but it’s not! Paired with white upper cabinets and a blue back splash make this kitchen feel colorful, light, and airy.
    Home | Jillian Harris, light gray cabinet, faux tile wood floors, gray and pink bathroom, pink and grey bathroom
    If you have more of an eclectic style you can use a variation of different natural hues that tie together to complete that bright kitchen you desire. 
    Industrial warehouse look kitchen with exposed red brick and sunlight with wooden beams. Love the hanging iron pans - adds so much character!
    If dark hues are more your style, go big on lighting and natural lighting. Nothing is brighter than the sun! 

  • Mixing metal finishes: gorgeous inspiration

    So, I have a conundrum in my master bath. I want to change our light fixtures, but I don’t want the light fixtures to match the finish of our faucets and towel racks. I spent some time looking for inspiring ways to mix metal finishes this afternoon, and turns out that it actually makes a space look better balanced when there is a mix of finishes. Below are some of my favorite examples:

    This bathroom is closest to ours.  Our faucets pretty much look just like that, our vanity knobs are dark, and I want to get light fixtures with a chrome finish.  Looks pretty good to me!
    Nickel finish faucets look nice with the dark finish of the sconces and mirror frames.

    via Houzz


    Love the gold and chrome here.
    via White + Gold


    One challenge I’m having is picking a fixture type for our bathroom ceiling.  The ceiling in our bath is very high, and the fixture there now is more like a foyer light, and very tuscan looking, which just isn’t our style.  Here are some fixtures types I’m considering.

    I like semi-flush, but with the fixture so high up would it provide enough light?

    I also like this style pendant, and it is tall enough to be suitable for a high ceiling.
    via Decor Pad

    I really like this option.

    Via Joss & Main

    I really like these pendants, but I would need something wider.


    Traditional Bathroom     by Irvine Interior Designers & Decorators Blackband Design

    A clean and simple chandelier could work too.
    What style fixture would you use for a bathroom with a very high ceiling?
  • Outdoor Window Treatment Inspiration

    Outdoor Window Treatment Inspiration

    Sometimes all it takes a little extra something to create an eye catching exterior. Since windows are a major part of the homes exterior look, I wanted to give you some good examples to liven them up a little…or just dream!

    Adding some simple window boxes and beautiful flowers can drawer your attention to the gorgeous windows.

    A pop of color with the shutters makes these stand out, as well as them not being the typical shutters you’d find. I love the simplicity of it.

    Adding an arbor and some great lighting can drawer you attention in. I also love that these shutters are the same size as the windows and doors!
    It could even be as simple as painting the trim a contrasting color to make them stand out! Get outside and get creative with your outdoor windows. Find a way to make your home stand out from the rest.
  • Inspiration for incorporating yard sale and flea market finds

    Inspiration for incorporating yard sale and flea market finds

    Since it’s the yard sale time of year, I thought I’d show you some inspiring ways to mix in those great flea sale and yard sale finds. It doesn’t really matter what style decor you have.

    via Southern Living

    white kitchen, professional range, french doors, glass front cabs, gorgeous chandy
    via indulgy

    Here’s another example of a what vintage lighting can do adding it with a barn style table and barstools gives it a charming rustic feel. 
  • A Welcoming Front Door

    A Welcoming Front Door

    Adding an extra touch to your front door can set the tone for the rest of your home. It can also make a guest feel at home the minute they pull up! Here are some tips to help you bring your front door to life:

    choose a bright color like yellow + large house numbers to make your front door stand out
    via bhg

    Make sure your house number is legible. There’s nothing worse than having that uncertain feeling on whether you are walking up to the right house or not! Also be sure that it’s visible throughout the entire day and going into the night. Outdoor lighting can be a great problem solver in this case.

    love the urns with flowers spilling over. great front door. like its a lighter shade of black and that its not high gloss
    via pinterest

    Keep it simple! Leave enough room for your guests to be at the front door and not feel overwhelmed or cramped while they are waiting for you to answer. The extra breathing space is comforting and relaxing.

    28 Lovely Colored Front Doors
    via architectureartdesigns

    Add a friendly sign. Nothing says you’re welcome more than a welcome sign! Adding a little touch to remind them you are happy they are coming puts a smile on everyone’s face.

    amazing blue front door
    via flickr

    Get creative! Adding an extra touch like window decor is stunning. It gives everyone a little eye candy which is great for small doorways where you might not have enough room for planters or decorations.

    This color palette projects a warm and hospitable home just beyond this door.
    via indulgy

    Show some personality! Don’t be afraid to bring out things you love to to decorate your front door. It’ll help your door stand out from others and can also be great conversation starters!

  • Have Fun with Lighting

    Have Fun with Lighting

    I have a love/hate relationship with lighting. When it’s done right, I love it. When it’s done even a little bit wrong, I hate it. Let’s not even get into how much most of it costs. It’s easy to let lighting be an after thought when we’re mostly so focused on furnishings and room layout. A lot of the time I have trouble even considering lighting until most of my room is put together. The good news is is that there is an endless selection of lighting styles out there to find a piece that not only matches your space, but can really take center stage and make a positive contribution to the room. You can make it a talking piece of your space or use it to add a little color!

    If you are starting from scratch and need to locate all of your lighting fixtures, there are tons or retailers online and with showrooms to find what you need. One example is homebase lighting. Homebase is a leading home enhancement retailer selling amazing finds for your home and garden. I particularly love their Habitat Lighting section!

    I’m a sucker for lighting in unexpected places – like this chandelier over the island.

    Between the options of ceiling fixtures, floor lamps, decorative lamps, pendants, and outdoor lighting the options can make the task of choosing daunting.  That’s why I allow my room to make the decision for me.  Of course, if you find a lamp or fixture you absolutely love,  the room will follow.

    Of course, your lighting doesn’t need to scream either, a chic little piece can do it’s job well in the background.

    There are a few things to consider when selecting your lighting, like how much natural light is in the room, how much light you’ll need at night, and where you will need direct lighting and ambient lighting. If you already have enough light in the room adding a fixture or lamp for decorative features can be a little more flexible.

    You can really go dramatic in the dining room because you don’t have to worry about people hitting their heads!

    Don’t forget to be a little creative! You can get get a hollow glass lamp and fill it with something fun or meaningful. This gives you complete control of the final look and style for your space. Just because you need a little light in a room doesn’t mean it has to be purely utilitarian – make it something worth looking at too!


    This post is in partnership with homebase.co.uk

  • Pretty Swedish interiors that will take your breath away

    Pretty Swedish interiors that will take your breath away

    I don’t know if I’ve seen a Swedish home I don’t like – look at how pretty these are!

    Great lighting in this room…pretty sure that pendant is Ikea.

    How great would it be to walk into your home to a fire like this?

    Have a fantastic weekend everyone!

    via Alvhem Makleri