My very favorite design hack is finding cabinets and drawers with visual appeal to hide all of the wonderful clutter in your life. We finished the daylight basement with the intention of having a multi-purpose room to use as a play area, workspace, and makeshift guest bedroom. Today I am sharing the storage units we found online at IKEA that are the perfect units for small to large spaces!
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(design by Caseworkit)
We started on our first home project of the year this week with a $500 powder room makeover challenge! We have gotten to work with some wonderful companies this past year on renovation projects, but we really want to be able to share more budget friendly ideas with our readers. Designing your home doesn’t have to drain your savings account! The powder bathroom we are renovating is on the main floor of our home, so it is the most used. Read on for the before picture, and what we have started already…
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This past month, we worked with Emily Harris and North Georgia Brick to take a standard dry wall in our studio room and convert it into an aged brick wall. (Or as close to one as you can get without it actually being aged!) We have worked with Emily before on our dining room walls, and love how it transformed the entire feel of the room. Our area doesn’t have any homes older than early 90’s so we thought we would tackle the challenge of making a space your own outside despite it’s standard build.We are sharing a timelapse video today of the entire room from start to finish….
(source)
We have a couple home projects underway, and one of them is a multi-purpose room in our daylight basement. Since we are going to be using the space for an office area, school desk area, and even a makeshift guest room when we need it, I started thinking about what I want the room to feel like for everyone who will use it. You have probably heard that paint colors can effect our psychology and emotions in different ways! For instance, colors can contribute to lifting our spirits, helping us feel calm, and even lower our blood pressure! My mother in law of Pillar Design works on dental office designs, and has told me how important it is for her to choose colors that can help patients relax. (Because raise your hand if you anxiety levels rise when walking into a dental office.) I find it fascinating, so I thought it would be fun to share a brief run down of the color spectrum and the psychological effects these paint colors can have.
As part of our daylight basement remodel, we set apart a space for a bathroom that was adjacent to both the boys’ room and the multi-purpose room. There are no windows, but I didn’t want that to limit us from trying out color! Sharing the process behind this windlow-less bathroom renovation, and a tour today!
Since we rent our home, the easiest way to make a nice change to a room is a good rug. Whether it be wood floors or carpeted rooms, adding a rug over the floor space has been such a refreshing change of atmosphere in our home. I admit I have a thing for good textiles so I love the hunt for a rug that fits brings a room together. We have a good deal of foot traffic in this house, so when it comes to selecting a rug, I have seen the difference in quality revealed in the appearance of the rug within months. I’ve realized that it is well worth the effort to find a quality piece then settle for one that will have to be replaced in a few years. Here is a little more about the rug I chose from Loloi Rugs to replace the smaller stained carpets in our bedroom, and a cool background story on how this rug was made!
I wanted our room to stick with the calmer colors that we have going. The way the light pours in the windows was enough to brighten up the room without need for anything to take away from all the glorious morning light. Having used a Loloi rug in our guest room, I was familiar with the quality and trusted the craftsmanship. We ended up going with the Dorado rug which maintained the neutral tones, but added some really cool texture with the cowhide detail and the contrast pattern.
There are several types of hand craftsmanship that Loloi rugs uses. Hand tufted, hand woven, hand tufted, etc. They are assembled in India by the hands of skilled artisans for every step in the process, as opposed to using advanced machinery. I love that purchasing these rugs supports these artists and their craft. Weaving is more than a livelihood for these artisans–it’s the preservation of a proud legacy. They typically learn the trade from their mother or father, and then use their experience and knowledge to teach their sons and daughters one day too. Life in in the weaving villages is far different than anything we’re accustomed to in America. Instead of machines there are looms. Instead of engineers, weavers. Natural light floods the space. Chickens and cows roam the gravel roads just outside. To really get a grasp, you have to see this short video of these artisans at work. Fascinating isn’t it??
You can view and shop the full collection of Loloi Rugs here. So many stunning options of styles and colors. Good luck on choosing the one!
*Thank you Loloi Rugs for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.
Happy weekend!
Here is a quick tip for a cozy room as we head into the cooler months:
Updating a room’s quilt, comforter, or bedding can be pricey. If you go with neutral tones for bedding, you can always work colors in with your blankets and throws. I rotate mine from room to room, and always feel it gives the room a much cozier feel no matter the season. Doubling up your throws also gives a corner or bed space a welcome feel. I stacked a few for our guest room. What do you like to try to give a space a warmer look? Candles? A bunch of books? Maybe just a basket of chocolate?
Also, we are giving away a beautiful hand woven blush Chiapas throw as pictured above. Have you heard of Ara Collective? Sarah travels the globe, and curates items for the shop that employ artisans in these countries and offers them a chance to thrive in their talents. To win a Chiapas throw, head on over.
Cheers!
*Pillows , grey throw , and animal vase from Anthropologie.
