Creating Clutter Free Zones

AFTER - Organzied, minimized and beautified

Creating a beautiful clutter-free zone. 

So many times I look around my home and wonder what I can do to change it up. I get bored with things staying the same for too long. I know, not everyone can relate. But, can you relate to seeing clutter when you look around your home? Sometimes all it needs is a little de-cluttering and looking at something with a fresh set of eyes.

Here are my quick and EASY steps to zhuzh it up. 

• Look at what is practical and necessary 

Is there anything that you can eliminate, combine, replace, minimize?  For example I took the three oil containers that I had on my shelf, combined two and stored the third in the pantry. Phew... I also eliminated the spices that we don't use all the time. I removed the decanter that was crowding the glasses and just collecting dust.

• Look at what is important

I chose to keep the wine glasses that I recently acquired at a thrift store, even though there are so many of them, because I love them and they bring me a lot of joy to look at every day. And the little plant cutting that reminds me to stop, breathe and water it once in a while. 

• Look at what is beautiful

I have a handful of small details on these utilitarian shelves, that are there just because they are beautiful. The blue vase with the dried yellow flower tufts. These actually came in my Mother's Day bouquet that Eric a gave me last May. Aw.... I love getting fresh flowers. Who's with me? And the mirrored black carving just creates a little visual balance to that top shelf. 

BEFORE - So messy and cluttered!

How to Style by Thrifting 101

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Thrifted Items Above include: Mirror, Teal bottle, Books, Brass plant holder and Picture Frame

Below: L,top Woven Wall Basket. R,top Wicker Wall hanging, Painted Basket L,bottom Artwork R,bottom Brass Vase, Vintage Porcelain Mexican Peacocks

I love to thrift shop. I used to do it a lot when my kids where little and we didn’t have a lot of money to spend. I would hunt for kids clothes, in good shape and outfitted my four kids that way. It became quite a thrill to find the good deals. Now as my kids are older, their tastes have become more refined and we have a little more money, I don’t shop like I used to.

Now when I go, I’m looking for those unique, items that can be used in homes, my home and even for clients. You’d be amazed at some of the great things I’ve found at thrift stores. I love to find brass items, interesting baskets and vintage artwork, to name a few. I love to find old books to use for styling or decorating a shelf, an old vase with a little tuft of pampas grass adds just the perfect touch to your interior design scheme. One trick I use is to hang baskets on the wall. They add the perfect amount of depth and texture to make a wall display interesting and not just the norm.

So whether you have an older home that may be in need of a remodel or a brand new construction home, vintage and thrifted items add that special, unique touch that we all are looking for.

Styling for the Holidays

How many times have you thought? How am I going to decorate my house this Holiday Season? Do you get stuck, bored and unmotivated? Well, I sure do. Every year, I see all these crafty ladies posting their newest idea. And I think, I don’t have time for that… So, to me the best tips are the easy and cheap ones. This year I went to my local Trader Joes and picked up a live garland and a live piece styled with it’s own bow. So easy and affordable. $7.99 each! All I did was add a few things that I already had and voila a centerpiece and door hanging. I’m a minimalist and this comes in handy when reaching for Holiday decor. Since I try and only keep and store my most favorite and treasured pieces. Things that I use year after year and only add to occasionally. For example, every year I buy each of my children a new ornament. I have been doing this for 18 years now. My intention is to give them to the kids as they start having their own homes to decorate for the Holidays. It’s such a fun tradition to see them hunting through the decorations for their special ornaments.

Eli, our oldest at 18, probably enjoys this process the most. He has a great, meticulous eye for ornament positioning.

Lucas, our 14 year old, getting in on the action. I think he may have hung one or two ornaments…

Interior Design Styling Tips

Do you ever feel like you just don’t now what to use to style your house? Do you ever just want to hire a designer to tell you where to put what? Here are my top tips for styling anything. A shelf, coffee table, end table, mantle, or dresser.

First off, start by gathering a few of your favorite items. Thinking about balance, color and texture. I always start with an item that adds height, a base and a smaller decor item. For example, use a small vase with a few dried flowers, sitting on top of a vintage book that matches your color scheme, add a string of The Design Renegade’s wooden beads resting beside to bring balance. I like to style in odd numbers, it usually feels the most balanced. But, don’t be afraid to break the rules every once in a while, you might surprise yourself.

Now style away, you’ll be coming up with cute little vignettes all over your house.