Friday, August 29, 2008

Friday Finds: Decorative Objects Under $20

Even though it's rainy here in the DC area, we are VERY happy it's Friday!

Check out all these fun decorative objects we found from Ikea, for under $20:



FJÄRRAN Bowl with stand {$4.99}



BRODD Decoration, horse - assorted colors {$12.99}



IKEA PS JUTANÄS - Decorative figure, set of 5 {$19.99}



ÄNTRA Decoration, couple {$19.99}



SALONG Vase - Assorted colors {$7.99}

Since we all seem to be spending a fortune on gas & groceries these days - an easy way to cut costs is on decorative objects for your home! :)
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Thursday, August 28, 2008

Finders Keepers!

Good morning everyone,
This weekend we are looking to get into some consignment shop/thrift store rummaging! What better way to find unique items for your house - just give it a fresh coat of paint and a new home. Buying items and reusing them is also environmentally friendly.

We have noticed there is always a plethora of glass in consignment shops - vases, plates etc. You could buy a few all in one color - green, blue etc. and put them together in one room, or here are a few tips from the DIY network on updating any glass you buy:

Decoupaged Glass Plates

Painted Vases

Here are few more cool DIY tips we have seen on countless HGTV shows:
*Buy an old consignment shop chandelier (make sure it works) - spray paint it black, white, silver, etc - all one color basically. It gives it an updated, modern look!

*Buy an old consignment lamp (make sure it works), give the base an update - spray paint the base all one color, buy a new lampshade and you're done! :)

Also, if you are looking to go consignment shop rummaging, and want to get rid of any clothing, jewelry, accessories, and household items, bring them to Finders Keepers & "the proceeds donated to Doorways are tax-deductible and helps Doorways achieve their mission of providing housing, comprehensive services, and advocacy for women and families to help them use their own and community resources to rebuild their lives and end homelessness and eliminate partner violence."



Donate, help others, & shop all at the same time! :)

Finders Keepers, LLC.
5906 Washington Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22205
(703)241-9227

Hours of Operation:
10 am - 6 pm Monday - Saturday
12 pm - 5 pm Sunday
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Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Retro Fabrics

Continuing on from yesterday's post about pillows-we found these awesome retro fabrics for all you DIYer's out there. The would make great pillows, cushions, etc. The possibilities are endless. Especially if you have a more modern look to your home, these patterns would look great!

The Marimekko fabrics are so beautiful:











And check these out in the retro section:






Time to break out the sewing machine! :)
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Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Pillow Fight! :)

A great way to add a splash of color to a room is with pillows. Check these out below from World Market. All of the pillows here are $30 and under! You know we love a good bargain!









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Monday, August 25, 2008

Design Tip of the Week (8.25.08): Colors, Colours, Couleurs!

Color can have a significant effect on how you feel both mentally and physically. This is why it is very important to think through the colors you use in your house to create an agreeable color palette that meets all of your needs. Here are some of the basics in the psychology of color:



*Cool colors, located on the blue side of the color spectrum, are often described as calming. Certain shades of tranquil blues actually cause the body to produce calming chemicals and can also reduce a person's pulse rate. This is why blue is a very popular bedroom color.



Green is also a common color used to cool and soothe the mind. Hospitals tend to use light green in their rooms to provide a calming effect on the patients. Green is also the easiest color for the eyes to process.



Another functional use for cool colors is to open up a space. Cool colors recede from view so it makes the walls feel like they are further away. This is a good tip for those trying to create the illusion of more space in their homes.



*Warm colors, located on the red area of the color spectrum, creates a cozy feel and brings warmth into a room. Colors such as reds, oranges and yellows are used to create energy in a room.



Yellow is associated with optimism and concentration, but be warned, it can sometimes be hard on the eyes.



Red is the most energizing colors on the color wheel, it has been found to raise blood pressure. Warm colors are also appetite stimulants, this is why you will find these colors in many kitchens and restaurants.

P4D will follow-up with this posting to present more interesting facts on color and how you can use it effectively in the home. We will profile individual colors and share with you how these colors effect your psychology as well as the best ways to use them.
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Friday, August 22, 2008

Friday Finds: Mythic®paint


Watching the HGTV Network this week, we came across commericals for Mythic®paint - below is from their website:

Mythic®paint is a non-toxic, ultra low odor paint that provides the durability and coverage you expect from a premium paint without the off-gassing VOC’s and cancer-causing toxins that emit years after drying. Stronger, safer, smarter paint.® Now that’s a breath of fresh air.

Mythic®paint's website is full of information, and we are loving the 1950's look and feel of their branding. I guess they are trying to go back to the time right before all the bad stuff started pumping into the air! ;)

You can order the paints online, and we found Ace Hardware in Washington, DC sells the paint products -

It's really important to be aware and be proactive about the environment, as well as your families health. Certain things are definitely worth the extra money-

Happy Friday!
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Thursday, August 21, 2008

Homebody DC






For you "I like unique furnishing" types, check out HomebodyDC - we think the name is really cute, and the furnishings are snazzy!
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Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Twigs & Berries :)

Ok, ok, the title today was a bad Austin Power's reference, sorry about that ;) It's the middle of the week, forgive us-

Simplicity is always key in any room of your home (see our decluttering tips from the Monday 8.18.08 post). A very elegant, simple, AND cost effective way of decorating is using vases and twigs/bamboo sticks:



These mulberry sticks above will look great in a large vase on a large dining table, or on the floor against a dark wall. And here are the stylish clear vases to place them in. (Great prices on the vases!)




Bamboo gives your home a nice Asian twist - these bamboo sticks would look great with some dried flowers on a side table (or by themselves), or on the floor in a vase in one of the more open rooms you have.

Also, are you wondering where the berries come in? WELL, we know it's a little early for holiday tips, but here is one anyways:
Buy some white twigs or gather some longer sticks from your backyard; buy a bag of cranberries and put into a clear vase; buy a can of white spray paint (if DIY) or take the bought sticks, place in vase with cranberries, and voila - an awesome, simple centerpiece (perfect for Thanksgiving!) Jen's mom is crafty, we credit her with that cool tip. She came up with the idea a few years ago for Thankgiving, and it looked great! Pictures to come around the holidays - stay tuned. :)
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Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Stickers for Grown-ups!

We are definite lovers of anything that has to do with letters & the words they make (Chrys-Researcher/Writer, Jen-Graphic Designer, and both professional bloggers! Chrys despises the word blog, but she now admits she has one). ;)




So when we found these wall decals, we think an interesting thing to do would be to put up a poem in your room, and for you romantics out there, propose with prose (cheesy huh?). Hey, it's imaginative-who wouldn't think it's cool to walk into your house to find "Will You Marry Me?" spelled out on a wall.

Enough about that mushy stuff! Check out all of their other amazing wall decals like:




Perfect for a bedroom wall! (Chandelier and Bamboo)


Perfect for a dining room wall!


Perfect for a kid's play room!

There are so many interesting wall decals available at blik surface graphics.

The coolest part about them is they completely transform a room with very little time & effort, and can be removed/or moved around when you feel the urge.

We know a few people in the DC area with these decals in their homes, we will get some photos posted very soon.
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Monday, August 18, 2008

Design Tip of the Week (8.18.08): Feng Shui Tips to Clear Out The Clutter!


Why is it that clutter seems to build up so easily in our homes? No sooner do you have a clearout than it seems to start creeping back in – one pile appears in the hallway and before you know it, it has spawned other piles that go down the hall and up the stairs.


Clearing out your clutter is the first aspect of feng shui,
the ancient Chinese practice of furniture placement and energy flow. Improving the flow of energy (chi) in your home and creating good feng shui is believed to improve different areas of your life, bringing about increased wealth, career success and better health. But when you home is full of clutter, the energy that first comes through the front door will struggle to move smoothly around the rooms if it keeps encountering piles of junk stored in the hall, hidden behind doors, sofas or crowding surfaces in kids’ bedrooms, the kitchen or bathroom. The slow, sluggish energy that this creates then has a negative effect on you and your family, often making you feel confused, blocked, lethargic, depressed and reluctant to progress or move on in any area of your lives.

Clutter hotspots
So which are the worst areas in the home where clutter tends to gather?
*The door and hallway – Piles of children’s paraphernalia, shoes and bags, boxes and newspapers stacked around here makes a bad impression for visitors and can stop energy entering positively, and prevent new opportunities coming in.

*Attics and lofts –
these can become veritable dumping grounds for our past. They are often full of mementoes and memorabilia that creates a heavy, oppressive energy that is constantly hanging over us – old love letters and tokens, old school books, diplomas, old appliances and sports’ gear and ancient board games – all gather here.

*Wardrobes in bedrooms –
these are havens for old clothes, items that no longer fit and shoes that are too tight or never worn. Most people only wear about 20% of their clothes. Your wardrobe should reflect the person you are now, not who you used to be.

Clear out and move on
So have a big clearout, be ruthless keep only what you really like and want. Do a few hours here and there and see how you lift your home’s energy and atmosphere. It is truly liberating, once you create a shift and dump that rubbish that has being annoying you for months, you will soon notice new exciting things starting to happen.

Clutter clearing tips
*Go round each room with a pad and assess your junk, highlight the priority areas to sort out first.

*Do one small area at a time,
focus on clearing out a drawer, cupboard or a wardrobe – don’t overwhelm yourself.

*Get together five bags or boxes and label them: Junk, Charity shop or friends, Things to be repaired or altered, Things to sort and move and Transitional (keep in the loft for 6 months, if you don’t miss them, throw them out). Sort out all your clutter into these bags.

*Don’t hold onto presents you don’t like
just because a friend or relative gave them to you, give them to charity or someone who will like them.

*If anything is broken,
get it mended or get rid of it as it promotes negative energy.

*Remember linking yourself to past relationships
won’t let new ones come in, so keep a few romantic mementoes, but throw away the rest.

We say decluttering the house isn't just reserved for "spring cleaning", anytime of the year is a good time to get rid of unwanted junk! :)

(Tips from http://feng-shui-your-home.com/get-rid-of-that-clutter)
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Friday, August 15, 2008

Friday Finds-Fountains Under $100

Summertime is still in effect-and in honor of the great weather we are having, here are some interesting fountains for your balcony or patio in the city, or for you lucky ones with a big backyard garden~



How cute (and reasonably priced!) is this blue fountain? It would go perfect on your balcony in the city-surround it with a few plants for a great zen area. It is even solar powered! Save the earth while you relax ;)


This fountain is very sleek, and could go on a patio/balcony/or garden in the backyard. Again, we are loving the price of this one as well! And the fact it is made out of resin, but looks like stone is great - it is lightweight for you to move around.




Just looking at a buddha statue can be relaxing - place this buddha tabletop fountain somewhere in your home, or outside in the center of the patio table. The copper/stone colors give it a great earthy feeling, and hearing water always makes you feel like you are on vacation.


For you DIYer's out there, why not make your own fountain? This is from our reader Nichole:
"Having a water feature in the backyard is by far my favorite attribute of the space. Dave really wanted a pond and, on top of that, knew that he needed a fountain to circulate the water. So, having gotten the idea from The Family Handyman, which I highly recommend to any homeowner, Dave knew he could create his own fountain. He purchased a beautiful ceramic pot and stand from Chinatown, brought it home and drilled a hole large enough for tubing to run through it. He filled the pot with beautiful stones and water plants, created his own pump (for circulating the water), and viola, a fountain! The price was right - the whole project cost less than $100!"

Thanks Nichole! Now, go enjoy the outdoors this weekend everyone!
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