Dark Done Right!

My initial response to a dark room would be to lighten it up as much as possible! There’s something so airy and light about a bright room that just uplifts my mood. Then there are some rooms that make me second guess my opinion. 
Interior Design Ideas:
Although white kitchens are my favorite, I love a stunning balance between light and dark. 
If you are in love with a dark color wall, the bedroom would be my first choice! Since you spend most of your time sleeping in here, it sets the mood perfectly and there are so many light and bright stunning bedroom sets to choose from to even it out. 
Bathrooms are another great option to try it out dark colors. With the surrounding white tiles and natural light in this bathroom, adding dark cabinets and flooring doesn’t bring down the mood!
If you are wanting to try it out but are unsure if you’ll be happy with it, try it on one wall! Pair it was a nice neutral color and give it some time to see if it fits your space.
Like it. Would you buy this? Corinne Madias Realtor GMAR member Trulia VIP Kw Top producer sells homes in Michigan:
via trulia
Who knows, you might come out with a masterpiece! 

A Look Back at September

What a busy month September was! It’s still taking me a while to adjust to the fact that it’s October already. Here’s was some of our most popular posts in September, just in case you missed any of them!
Wasmachine in natruimte bij Piet Jan van den Kommer & Jolanda Kruse,:
Which one was your favorite?

Creative Apartment Ideas for Space

Apartments can be tricky to decorate. Most apartment rooms duel as more than one functioning room. Often, you’ll find it’s an open floor plan which can cause an issue for dividing the rooms. There is usually a lack of storage too! Here are some creative spaces I found utilizing different ways to make the most of your small apartment.
Most apartments don’t have great closet space. Making a closet space can be simple! Use a sheet to create a wall and hang up a tension rod and maybe a shelf to utilize part of your room as a closet.
Most apartment kitchen’s never have enough storage. A rolling island is perfect for storage and counter top space!
I have seen many apartment rooms that are only big enough for a bed! Ditch the bulky frame and headboard and get creative. It’s amazing how you can create more storage and make the room feel bigger at the same time.
52m² répartis entre deux pièces presque égales, une belle cuisine, et une décoration d’intérieur reprenant les principes de la décoration scandinave, tant au niveau des revêtements de murs, de sols que du choix des meubles, de quoi plaire à la majorité...:
Pair down to the necessities. Too much clutter can make a room feel smaller. Find a happy balance between necessities and decor.
Enjoy it! More space sometimes just means more junk, more cleaning, and more on your to do list! Living with less can be fun. 

Simple Office Spaces that Stand Out

At times we can get carried away with what we want in our home office. Whether it’s tons of storage or inspiring photo’s all over the well, it can get a little overwhelming. A simple office space leaves your mind clutter free and ready to create a new masterpiece. 
These pendants are amazing! Love the light in the space too..incredible! (Remodelista's Francesca Connolly's Home - Brooklyn Interior Design):
via brit
If you are a naturally creative person, you know that most times you don’t need much to be inspired! Sometimes it’s the blank wall that makes our mind imagine what should be there so we can create it.
study, studio, office, home office, desk, interior design, interior decoration, interior styling, styling:
Maybe the room itself doesn’t even matter. Maybe your view outside the window is what you need to get your brain moving. 
Stick to the basic necessities. A chair, a table, a plant, a light, and a calendar may be all you really need.
Great desk. Rue Magazine (February 2012 Issue). Photography by Sean Dagen. Design by Serena Armstrong.:
via ruemag
You  may be surprised that living with less actually keeps you focused and gives your room to grow. 

Gorgeous Versailles, a look at the beautiful details

Versaille is overwhelming in it’s grandeur, and the crowds can put a damper on the experience.  For me, I fount the true beauty in the amazing details and amount of details, as opposed to it’s  overall size and opulence.

The Battles Gallery had an absolutely beautiful ceiling, which you can see in the photo above and the two photos below.

So pretty!

A gorgeous cabinet painted with birds

I loved the carving of these chairs…


I think these gold floral ornaments are so beautiful…does anyone know what flower or plant they are meant to represent?

Candelabras from the Hall of Mirrors. We waited forever to get this shot because of the giant herd of people walking through!

A beautiful medallion.

Some amazing ornate carving…

A small, subsidiary building..not sure what it is, but I loved the tree outside of it.

The grounds were very expansive and beautifully kept

Has anyone here been to Versailles?  What was your favorite part?

Here’s that list again of all my posts from our travels that I’ve posted –

Spain
•Introduction to my European backpacking trip and a list of places we visited
• Galicia – Baiona and Isle de Cies
• Galicia – the coast, some charming vineyards, and Pontevedra
• Santiago de Compostela and gorgeous hidden beaches
• Gorgeous mountain lakes of Picos de Europa
• Stunning mountains – Picos de Europa
• Bilbao and San Sebastian
• Beautiful Barcelona
• The amazing Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona
• Art Nouveau dream house by Gaudi in Barcelona

Italy
• Not to miss – the gorgeous rocky coast of Italy’s Cinque Terre
• More from my summer traveling Europe – amazing Rome
• From my summer in Europe – amazing Pompeii
• Turquoise ocean and vineyards on cliffs – the amazingly stunning Amalfi coast
• My Summer in Europe: Pictures from lovely Florence, Italy
• Enchanting Siena
•Venice
•Lake Como, Italy

Switzerland
•Jungfrau region, Switzerland, Part 1
•Jungfrau region, Switzerland, Part 2

Germany
• One of my favorite cities from my European backpacking trips – Ulm, Germany
• Lake Constance
• Cute HOUSE Overload – the charming medieval homes of Germany’s Romantic Road
• Regensburg, Germany, and Salzburg, Austria  

Austria
• Salzburg
• A charming lakeside village, Hallstatt
• Beautiful Vienna
• Kunst Haus Wien in Vienna

Hungary
• Budapest Part 1
• Budapest Part 2

Czech Republic
• Stunning Prague

Germany
• Berlin

Holland
• Amsterdam

Belgium
• Brussels
• Charming Bruges

France
• Paris Part 1
• Paris Part 2

Buying Handmade

These days it’s all about buying handmade and supporting the small businesses. I absolutely love it and enjoy finding unique home decor items to fit my home.

There are so many reasons why I would choose handmade over store bought. It is truly one of a kind because it’s not mass produced, each item is completely unique.
But even better than that is knowing that you are supporting someone who has dedicated their lives to making these beautiful unique things.
I recently was introduced to this beautiful group of artists called Ephraim Pottery who brought all of their skills together to create these beautiful works of art.
“We are motivated by ideals from the past that have taken on new significance in our modern world. We see a return to working together/collaboration; hand-crafting beautiful objects that have longevity; and taking notice of the small details in the natural world as lifestyle values that have important implications for the ways we live now and in the future.” – Ephraim Pottery
Seeing a group of artists coming together and providing each of their best skills to create a piece of art that brings joy really resonates with me. 
Let’s keep this movement on the rise and take the time to appreciate the handmade community who are changing the way we buy art and home decor. Check out Ephraim Pottery to find all the pieces pictured above and learn more about the artists and what they do.

Make it Interesting!

It is so easy to just pick a chair that fits into our style or color scheme, but why not pick something that stands out a bit. Maybe something interesting?
Let it stand out from all your other furniture and catch your eye.
Give it a little personality with a bright color!
Let it stand out from the rest of your room by picking something that shines on it’s own.
Pick a one of a kind by finding a chair that could be updated to your liking!
Marble coffee table, leather chair, chunky blanket. | From: http://roomdecorideas.eu/:
Whatever you choose, make it something you’ll love to look at every day!

More from my Summer in Europe: Paris Part 2

More from Paris!

The famous glass pyramid outside the Louvre.

At night the Eiffel Tower sparkles.

The lady herself.

The famous Winged Victory

One of my famous works of art – Cupid and Psyche by Antonio Canova

On the Champs Elysees the biggest Sephora I’ve ever seen!

A view from the Basilica Sacré-Coeur

Here’s that list again of all my posts from our travels that I’ve posted –

Spain
•Introduction to my European backpacking trip and a list of places we visited
• Galicia – Baiona and Isle de Cies
• Galicia – the coast, some charming vineyards, and Pontevedra
• Santiago de Compostela and gorgeous hidden beaches
• Gorgeous mountain lakes of Picos de Europa
• Stunning mountains – Picos de Europa
• Bilbao and San Sebastian
• Beautiful Barcelona
• The amazing Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona
• Art Nouveau dream house by Gaudi in Barcelona

Italy
• Not to miss – the gorgeous rocky coast of Italy’s Cinque Terre
• More from my summer traveling Europe – amazing Rome
• From my summer in Europe – amazing Pompeii
• Turquoise ocean and vineyards on cliffs – the amazingly stunning Amalfi coast
• My Summer in Europe: Pictures from lovely Florence, Italy
• Enchanting Siena
•Venice
•Lake Como, Italy

Switzerland
•Jungfrau region, Switzerland, Part 1
•Jungfrau region, Switzerland, Part 2

Germany
• One of my favorite cities from my European backpacking trips – Ulm, Germany
• Lake Constance
• Cute HOUSE Overload – the charming medieval homes of Germany’s Romantic Road
• Regensburg, Germany, and Salzburg, Austria  

Austria
• Salzburg
• A charming lakeside village, Hallstatt
• Beautiful Vienna
• Kunst Haus Wien in Vienna

Hungary
• Budapest Part 1
• Budapest Part 2

Czech Republic
• Stunning Prague

Germany
• Berlin

Holland
• Amsterdam

Belgium
• Brussels
• Charming Bruges

France
• Paris Part 1

Creative Laundry Spaces

Although a laundry room is usually last on everyone’s list to renovate or upgrade, these ideas may get you inspired to get in there and make your laundry room more functional!
Pull Color and Accents from Elsewhere:
via bhg
Having a defined area to fold laundry is something I personally love! It’s also nice for storing things that you use constantly like laundry soap.
Having a place to hang up your clothes as soon as you pull them out of they dryer is nice! Having a hanging area that doesn’t take up much space is even better!
Keeping laundry storage clutter free is not easy. Baskets are a great idea to hide all the clutter but keep everything easily accessible. 
Wasmachine in natruimte bij Piet Jan van den Kommer & Jolanda Kruse,:
Pick materials you love! Great cabinets, drawers, and counter tops can make a huge difference on your mood the second you walk into the laundry room. Make sure it’s a space that you actually enjoy being in!

Preparing your home for cold weather!

We always talk about what home decor ideas would be great for fall but what about home maintenance? Before the cold weather sets in, get your home in check with these  things:
Before it gets cold, go out and check all your outdoor lighting. Soon it will be dark earlier and you will most likely be using these lights more. Clean them up, change the bulbs, and get them prepped and ready for more use!
All you need are 2 traditional rocking chairs and a place to set your cold ice tea.....or other beverage....and rock the afternoon away.:
Simplify your porch, patio, and deck! With the leaves falling, the rain coming, the wind blowing, and soon to be snow, the less you have on your porch the better! Take away all the items that don’t do well with cold weather and keep the minimum.
HGTV's Favorite Trends to Try in 2015 | Interior Design Styles and Color Schemes for Home Decorating | HGTV:
via hgtv
Check your windows and doors! Make sure they are sealed well inside and out and close properly. Weather is one thing that can really damage a home. It’s known for mold, wood rot, and pesky bugs and animals that decide your home is where they want to be! 
From Mini Manor Blog. I love this organizational station for yard and garden supplies. The table (for potting) folds down so the car can come in. The smaller tools are in the bag begin the fern and the larger tools are hanging. Soil in bigger trash can.:
Have easy access to your trash and recycle. Whether it’s in a garage or outside, make sure you have quick and easy access to it! It’s hard to keep a home clutter free and clean if you are having a hard time just getting your trash out of the house!
Minimalist TV room... Probably not dog friendly but so pretty!!:
Spring cleaning in the fall! Before the holiday’s come and it get’s so busy, get rid of all the clutter! Get your home ready for the holiday parties now. If you have time, do a deep clean! If not, just pick up all the extra pieces that are unnecessary in each room and make it feel fresh and new.
What do you like to do to get ready for fall?
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