Friday Finds ~ A metal managerie

Enjoy these cast-metal animals from West Elm to liven up your book case or mantle. You can have your own chic zoo!

Art Smart ~ Hold on to Spring!

{FLORAPALOOZA Vase}

What a gorgeous original vase for your home from red hot pottery's etsy shop.

It reminds me of springtime, while is sit here looking at the leaves changing for fall!

DIY Tips & Tricks ~ Make Your Own Napkins

{Photos from a backyard wedding}

I am constantly on the hunt for fun DIY home decor ~ I've been recently on the hunt for fun DIY wedding decor that can be used at the wedding and in my home afterwards. It's a great way to save money all around!

I came across a backyard wedding, who writes about her DIY wedding and items she used to make it happen. She went around to thrift stores and found fabric, washed it, and cut them into squares. Then using pinking sheers she cut the edges so they won't fray and look decorative! Genius!

What a great way to save money in the long run by not renting napkins for one day, but instead making your own and then having them for the wedding ~ then for your home! Double the fun!

She found bed sheets, but I'm sure you could find other fabrics at fabric stores like:

1. Marrimeko (my personal fav, pricier, but many cool patterns)

2. Joann Fabric

3. Hancock Fabrics

4. Fabric.com

Dandy Chandy Tuesday ~ Fancy Smancy Flower Power

And our final chandy in Italia was spotted in a drug store in Orvieto. It was pink glass and had a flower inspired design, that is all that needs to be said! Look closely at the detail towards the top of the chandy, too bad we couldn't get a closer shot (the woman running the store thought we were crazy for taking pics of her light!)

Design Tip of the Week (10.26.09): Rethinking an Existing Concept

A fun way to bring interesting "pieces" into your home - you know, the kinds that people talk about when they visit - is to find a reworked or modernized interpretation of an old concept. Are you scratching your head? Well basically many designs out there are re-interpreted versions of something we already know and love. So think of it as a twist on the traditional. We recently came by a great example of this in a modernized version of the very traditional cuckoo clock. Then we kind of went cuckoo looking for more to share. Here's what we found.

Filigree Cuckoo Clock


Decoylab's Cuckoo Clock in Aqua


Orangita Cuckoo Clock from Anthropologie


Cuckoo Clock by Tobias Reischle

Easy Fix Friday ~ Dawn's Sink Dilemma

Today we wanted to share with you an Easy Fix that we helped our reader Dawn with in her kitchen. She was actually the inspiration behind starting Easy Fix Friday! :)

Dawn is a regular P4D reader who won our Dandy Chandy Giveaway back in June! She was so happy and we began talking with her about how she is having her home built, and how the contractor unfortunately did not complete the job and left MANY unfinished projects. Dawn sent us pictures that showed how the contractor left two HUGE square holes on either side of the sink (not to mention many other unfinished projects)!!!:







We gasped in horror and knew she needed our help FAST! Right away we told her to measure the square holes, and suggested to find and glue 2 beautiful square ceramic tiles on both sides of the sink. Dawn loved our Easy Fix idea, and check out her wonderful new sink with our advice and some elbow grease from Dawn:




Great job Dawn! We are SO happy to see that a contractors HUGE mistake can be a relatively easy and unique fix. We know all projects that contractors may mess up or not complete aren't as simple as this was ~ but by tackling a little at a time it's helping Dawn & her husband reclaim their home. And we can't wait to see the dandy chandy she won from us hanging in her home~but we know she has many other projects to tackle, best of luck!

If you have a home or decorating dilemma you need some speedy advice on, email us at primed4design@gmail.com and you could be featured on Easy Fix Friday!

Art Smart ~ Magical Mural

My partner in design & co-blogger Jen just finished this really fun mural last week for Owen, a 2 year old who was moving to his new "big boy room." His parents wanted a mural on the wall so he would be in love with his new room (and so his old room can go to his new sibling on the way.)

Owen loves everything about cars and trucks of all kinds ~ this is what Jen came up with:








We think Owen will have no problem adjusting to his new room! Kids rooms should be magical~

If you would like a mural of any kind, please contact us at primed4design@gmail.com.

A slideshow of all the fun murals Jen has done can be found here.

Interior DecBROrator ~ Covering all your bases

As the DecBrorator of the month for October, I decided to go with a baseball theme in honor of the playoffs. Growing up in Ohio during the glory days of the Indians, fall and playoff baseball are synonymous to me----not so much anymore, but I digress. Also, growing up in Ohio I was accustomed to lots of space, greenery and pretty much all the comforts that you leave behnd for the city life in a place such as Washington, D.C. So, for all you other Midwesterners or people who had to trade in the spacious house you grew up in for a tiny cell...errrrrrr "apartment" here are some DecBrorating tips from me, Mr. October.

A Single- Man in the Mirror
Using mirrors is a great way to give the illusion of more space or depth into your apartment. Plus, if you are like me they also serve as a reminder of how incredibly handsome you are. Either way, mirrors are a great addition to any apartment for those looking to provide depth and space. I personally like these tiled and tin mirrors from Mexico.

Tin with Tile Mirror - La Fuente Imports has a good selection of these mirrors.


Tin Mirror (from my abode)


A Double- Breathe Easy
Plants are a great way to add color to your apartment and also give you the benefit of feeling like your not trapped inside your apartment. Furthermore, studies have shown that common houseplants such as bamboo palms and spider plants not only make indoor spaces more attractive, but they also help to purify the air!.
Below is a picture of what I like to call the enchanted forest in my apartment. BONUS- You don't even have to be a green thumb to have plants. If I can do it, anyone can.


A Triple- Hall of Frame
Framing pictures of your favorite sports teams or places from your hometown are a great way to bring a piece of home with you to your domicile. I have pictures of Ohio's native Lebron James that I took in Cleveland, framed, and put on display in my apartment (see below). Total Cost: $20......Thank you Michael's and Shutterfly. I also like framing posters of concerts or other events that I have been to. Framing pictures or posters yourself is a low cost way to spruce up your apartment and at the same time show people who you are and what you enjoy.



A Homerun- Play with Fire
If you grew up with a fireplace, moving into an apartment without one (with the only hope of recreating one is the gas stove) is quite a disappointment. Well rest easy because I have the solution for you - CANDLES. I like to use candles to make up for my lack of a fireplace. Specifically, tea light candles and lots of them. Not only do they provide you with the "feeling" of warmth that you get from sitting by the fire, but they are also set the mood or ambiance for that special someone. AND, for the guys, they also have scented candles so you can get that bar smell or dirty sock smell out of your apartment. Guys, I can't guarantee you that candles will get you from first base to home in one night, but you'll have a better chance with them than without them.


{image from couchkarma.com}

{image from ungenitabeautyblog.com}

Thank you and please address any fan mail to the P4D girls and they'll be sure to pass it along.

Mr. October

Dandy Chandy Tuesday ~ Italian Vineyard Chandy

And now we'll take you to a small vineyard where a modern oasis for travelers sits in the middle of grapes and olive trees. The overall style of this hotel was just great and so were the chandy's they had in their indoor/outdoor dining room. Visit Agriturismo La Rocca Orvieto if you ever pass through Umbria.

Design Tip of the Week (10.19.09): Mix and Matching Shutters and Doors

Living in DC, the city of rowhouses and shutters, a way to make your house stand out is by choosing an intersting shutter and door color. Of course when deciding on color combinations take into account the color of your house. But when it comes to shutters and doors, you can really dare to be different and have a little fun. Or go classic and give your house a touch of elegance. Your choice!

Different hues of blues and a red door.


Purple shutters and a hot pink door!


Navy shutters on a light yellow brick (navy door not photographed)


Red shutters, grey exterior and a white door. (personal fave!)


Stark white exterior with blue, blue, blue shutter and door.


Classic black and white (with a black door).


If you think your house is missing a little pizazz, painting your door can really add a punch of color and character. If you have the space around your widows, consider installing shutters to frame the window.

Friday Finds ~ Mr. & Mrs. Muse

If you are looking for a unique gift to give ~ look no further than Jonathan Adler's Mr. & Mrs. Muse Salt & Pepper shakers, so cute!

Art Smart ~ Tuscan Folk Art Landscape Painting

{Colorful Tuscan Folk Art Landscape Painting ~ by reniebritenbucher}

Gooooooood Morning! :) I was doing my usual perusing through etsy and came across this fun & colorful folk art style painting of Tuscany. It made me think of my co-blogger Chrys who just got back from her honeymoon in Tuscany! Lucky girl! Enjoy this nice landscape with its fun splash of color everyone :)

Our Faves! ~ Jewel Tones

Jewel tones are all over the scene right now in home decor. They are rich and interesting and can be incorporated into a room to provide impact, class, and character. However, jewel tones require a little bit of an eye so that they are used to their utmost potential. The Swell Table Lamp from Crate and Barrel is a perfect high gloss jeweled addition to your home. Peacock blue is our fave!

Dandy Chandy Tuesday!

To continue our chandy tour through Italy, here was one of the best ones. It was enormous, awesome, eye catching, innovative....and in a gelato shop in Capri! Who would have thunk it?

Design Tip of the Week Rewind! (From 8.11.08): How to Decorate a Small Space

Bringing one out from the archives for ya! Lots of good tips for those of you with some space limitations.

Small rooms always seem daunting to us as we struggle to find ways to use them efficiently and maximize their potential. We all have had to face this challenge, whether its our small city apartment, a small nook in the house that is dying for some love, or that glorified walk in closet the realtor called a "third bedroom". Color, placement, and design can all work together to create the optical illusion of a comfortable and airy space. Here are some simple tips to help make any small space open up:


*Paint the room all one color, including the ceiling, which will eliminate the visual separation that occurs when the ceiling is a contrasting color. Use cooler color hues like a light blue or a mint green to create a feeling of openness and calm.

*Expand a rooms size by using furnishings that increase amount of "negative space" rather than opting for bulk pieces. Negative space is a design term that describes the areas of emptiness surrounding the objects in your room. For example, a couch on legs versus one that has a fabric skirt at the bottom creates more negative space because you can see under the couch from all angles. Another example is using a glass side table with a simple base or a chair with an open back and visible legs.



*Use mirrors! See our August 4th for tips and examples of how to use mirrors to create more open space and depth in your home.


*Declutter the room and try to find multi-functional pieces that you can store your unsightly stuff. Need an ottoman? Than choose one that has storage space in it.

*Reduce the use of patterns. Stay simple by getting furniture with solid color fabrics and incorporating some simple patterns for accents (like throw pillows).


*Stay away from heavy drapes. Instead of choosing those rich floor length curtains, use shutters or blinds. They take up less room, increase negative space when open, and the horizontal lines of shutters actually widen the space.

Lets face it, sometimes the illusion is way better than the reality. :)
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Friday Finds ~ Rehabilitated Dinnerware

The best way to contribute to the environment is use what we have. And Sarah Cihat does just that. She rumages through secondhand stores and thrift shops to find the dishes that nobody wants. She then puts her own mark of creativity on them(reglazes and refires them)and literally recreates ugly old dishes to fun, chic and innovative dishware. Visit Sarah Cihat's site and check out her patterns and her contribution to the sustainability movement.

OCTOBER Primed4Design{er} of the Month ~ A lofty idea

Former East coasters, Bette and Steven, made their pilgrimage to the mountains of Colorado and designed this bright, open, modern and just plain fun loft. Designing a loft is no small task, while the space is open and airy, this actually can be more challenging to decorate than a house with several rooms. The challenging thing about loft apartments are defining the spaces so that the open layout doesn't end up looking like one room. Bette and Steven did a great job at creating individual but cohesive living areas to suit all their needs. Thanks to Bette and Steven for sharing pictures of their Denver loft.







A very important element in loft spaces are lighting. Since the floorplan is wide open, lighting is what defines a space and separates it from the other areas.





The outdoor living space is whimsical and inviting with outdoor furniture designed to look like a modern and plush living room...so fun.


And to top it off, you get this view.