DIY Tips & Tricks ~ Staggering Pictures

Staggering pictures is a creative way to show some originality and character in your home. Arranging them is half the battle, so instead of putting many holes in your wall, here is a great strategy for laying them out. For the step by step click here.

Use paper cut outs to arrange before committing! Love this idea, so simple.

Dandy Chandy Tuesday ~ Modiss Mossi Chandelier

This chandelier reminds me of jewelry ~ strings of pearls with colorful diamonds dripping from them. This is the kind of chandelier that would really shine/stand out among a traditionally decorated house. The contrast of the very modern chandelier with traditional furniture ~ say for example in a dining room with crown molding, dark wood furniture, etc. would really be fantastic.

Don't forget to enter our giveaway here of the perfect summertime accessory ~ a gorgeous ice bucket/wine cooler!

Design Tip of the Week (6.27.10): What To Do With Open Wall Space

Happy Monday Everyone! Don't forget to enter our giveaway here of the perfect summertime accessory ~ a gorgeous ice bucket/wine cooler!
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Gabrielle submitted the following design dilemma: After 3 years, my living room is almost complete but I have one huge wall behind our big couch that's just naked. What do I do?

This got me thinking about the many couches that sit in front of empty walls. Or how many couches fade into their surroundings. Here are some solutions for Gabrielle and some ideas of how to change your living room look.

1. Paint the wall behind your couch a different color. If the room allows this, picking a contrasting color to create an accent wall is a good way to add some depth to your living room.

{Photo from Casa Sugar}

2. A mirror. Its an easy way to elegantly fill an empty wall white adding more light to a room. Mirrors will also make a smaller room appear larger so this is a perfect solution for a small living space.


3. There is something about uniformity in design that makes a room look clean and crisp. Find some similar pictures or postcards and frame them in the same frame in a line. Picture frames with over sized matting as seen below are a great way to fill your walls!

{Photo from Apartment Therapy}

4. Wallpaper! SO many different types. SO many designs to pick from. A fun way to create a great focal point in your space. You wont need to hang a thing if your wallpaper speaks for itself.

{Photo from Urban Sardine}


{My Home Ideas}

Friday Finds ~ Anchors away

Do you have a wandering door that likes to slowly close when your not looking? Well don't lose your anchor, a good sailor's knot will do the trick! My love of nautical has found a new level with the Knot Doorstop by Two's Company. Available from Haus Interiors for only 45 bucks!

Don't forget to enter our giveaway here of the perfect summertime accessory ~ a gorgeous ice bucket/wine cooler!

Art Smart ~ Pet Portraits

A portrait fit for the little king of your house. Custom pet portraits by Kristen Dougherty can capture your furry friend forever.

Don't forget to enter our giveaway here of the perfect summertime accessory ~ a gorgeous ice bucket/wine cooler!

Our Faves ~ Shopping for a Cause

Good morning! I have to say I love shopping, but I love shopping even better when I know the money is going to a good cause. Check out this gorgeous pillow cover from The Hunger Site store. It is an Indian Appliqué Pillow Cover based on Indian floor paintings called Mandanas. The colorfully patterned appliqué of the Tree of Life comes in Blue or Green. It's a perfect way to bring in a global, earthy feel to a room. Purchasing this pillow will fund 25 cups of food, it doesn't get much better then that!

Don't forget to enter our giveaway here of the perfect summertime accessory ~ a gorgeous ice bucket/wine cooler!

Dandy Giveaway!

Hey guys, check out our awesome giveaway of a beautiful ice bucket/wine cooler, don't forget to enter here.

Primed4Design Summertime Giveaway!!

Our friends over at CSN Stores were nice enough to donate another item for our readers to win! They offer products for every room from platform beds to fun home accessories. So all you have to do is submit a design dilemma for P4D to to help you with. Need to figure out your color palette? Looking for a new look for a room? Having problems laying out your room or picking the right accessories?

Submit your design challenge to us as a comment to this post and we will come up with a design solution AND....you will be eligible to win the Star Home Jardin Wine Cooler and Ice Bucket.



Invite your friends over to admire your new look and have a drink! We will announce the winner on Friday, July 2nd! So submit your design dilemma and we'll help you out. Its a win win!

Friday Finds ~ Teacup Planter

I have officially fallen in love...with this teacup planter from Garden Artisans. It would be perfect for the center of your outdoor table, or in the center of your dining table. It's great because it's a pretty centerpiece that people will love to ask about.

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

Art Smart ~ Framed Sculpture Art

{Sea Glass Series, Number 6}

I love the feeling I get when I look through Paint Square's etsy shop. It's all very minimalist, yet it makes me think of different things...like the beach, the sky/horizon, etc. It is a great way to do a room in a beach theme, without doing seashells and blue everywhere, this evokes a feeling of the beach without the literal translation.

Each square consists of numerous meticulously hand-painted pieces of scrap wood that once combined truly transform into a simple, yet colorful work of art.

DIY Tips & Tricks ~ Give Vintage Furniture a New Life!

I've been having a great time decorating my cute Miami studio with a beachy, laid back vibe. I have some new furniture and some old furniture, and nothing says they can't be mixed together for a vibrant look.

I have a stool that was my grandmothers from the 1970's. It's in great condition, but the blue round pillow cover is a bit worn and out of date. So I went to a local fabric store down here and bought the most amazing fabric, it was on sale and I got a few yards of it for only $15.00!!!

So for now I have placed the new fabric (shown in the after photo) over the cushion to see what it will look like, and man does it look pretty great! I am unfortunately not the best at sewing, so I am going to get my friend's grandmother down here in Miami to make me a cover with the fabric.

Grab an old piece of furniture, grab some new fabric, and grab the nearest grandmother to give a great new look to a vintage piece of furniture!

Dandy Chandy Tuesday ~ Miami Chandeliers, Part 3

Hi P4Ders! Goodness it is muy caliente down here now in Miami! :)

Let's take another tour of yet another fabulous hotel down here in Miami that is chock-full of dandy chandy's. Check out the gorgeous photos above of the Whitelaw Hotel. From the lobby to the bedrooms, this cute little boutique hotel is a girl's dream! Hot pink walls really makes the white chandeliers stand out, it's very modern shabby chic. The rooms are very reasonably priced, I think you should grab some of your girlfriends and come on down and stay ~ and visit me of course! :)

Design Tip of the Week: (6.14.10): Revisiting a Fun Bathroom Concept

P4D posted about this topic last March and if you have the room, it is such a fun idea for creating a fabulous bathroom...

When you think of how to decorate your bathroom I bet most of us don't integrate a sitting area. After exploring some bathroom designs that had sitting areas I started to really love the idea...a lot. A beautiful bathroom to primp + a relaxing area to chill = my kind of room! If you have the space, hey, why not have both? Here are some integrated sitting areas in stylish bathrooms that were from Kitchen and Bath Ideas, a great resource for pictures and inspiration!

Friday Finds ~ Fun File Folders

Happy Friday everyone! :) Head on over to our favorite online store, Shope Madison Belle for these blue bird file folders. A perfect way to add some pizzaz to your home office/filing cabinet. Because we all know bills end up lying around on the desk...at least make your desk look pretty!

Art Smart (6.10.10): Cork Art!

Check out One of a Cork for some amazing cork sculptures. A great conversation starter and perfect for accenting your extensive wine collection!

Our Faves (6.9.10): Luxurious Organizing

Love this Ann Gish Silk Bedside Caddy. Great way to remove things off your night stand and keep your stuff hidden in an elegant organizer. Comes with a matching eye mask!

Dandy Chandy Tuesday ~ Miami Chandeliers, Part 2

One of my favorite things to do down here in Miami is walk around and take in all of the art deco buildings/hotels. In fact, I live in an art deco building...No...its not hot pink and yellow...thought I wish it was. Pictures to come very soon!

Many of the smaller boutique hotels down here can be really affordable and just as nicely decorated as some of the larger, more expensive hotels. What these boutique hotel rooms may lack in size, they usually make up for in style. You don't need a huge room anyways because you will only be there to rest your eyes!

Check out all of the pretty images above from the Penguin Hotel that is located right on Ocean Drive. Ocean Drive is the quintessential area that you think of or see advertised for Miami. It was renovated in 2006 and all the rooms are unique, each appointed with one wall entirely covered with a picture portraying flowers, nature and other natural elements. AND EVERY ROOM has a Czechoslovakian crystal chandelier in it! Notice how one nice crystal chandelier can make a room more elegant, it's SO simple. Maybe now you understand why we have an obsession for chandy's? :)

We are such huge fan's of interior design/environmental design, so it's fun to see when a hotel makes every room different, yet the same in a fun, elegant way.

Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams ~ White Party in DC this Thursday!

Our favorite furniture designers Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams are having their 2nd annual WHITE HOT PARTY this Thursday night (7-10pm) at their store in Washington, DC and are hoping you can attend! Lady Bunny’s djay-ing, and there will be delicious bites to eat, of course.

Dress code: White, of course! Letting all you DC area readers know about this, it should be a blast! Please RSVP to RSVPDC@mgbwhome.com

Design Tip of the Week (6.7.10): Backsplash ideas

A great way to instantly change the look of your kitchen, update it, or give it a splash of color is with a new backsplash. Here are some baksplash styles you to help you give your kitchen a facelift.

A two tone stainless steel backsplash arranged in a diamond pattern.

{Photo from HGTV}

A homey feel with beaded board and repurposed bricks.

{Photo from Better Homes and Gardens}

A fun blackboard backsplash is both playful and stylish.

{Photo from Apartment Therapy}

Subway tires provide a clean look to a room, try out mini subway tiles as a backsplash option.

{Photo from HGTV}

Add some artwork to your backsplash like this peacock tile mural. Center a mural behind a stove of a sink to provide a focal point in your kitchen.

{Photo from Armenian Ceramics}

Friday Finds ~ Tumbled Marble Coasters

Ohhh, check out these tumbled marble coasters from Great Rooms Decor. They have a huge assortment of coasters featuring wine labels from France, Italy, California, and Australia. Perfect gift for the wine lover in your life, or for a nice housewarming gift!

Art Smart ~ Attention Cycling Enthusiasts!

LUDO BIKE. BRUGES, BELGIUM - Enjoy this brushed metal print(18 x 18") from mediumcontrol.

DIY Tips & Tricks ~ Multitiered Magazine Rack

You don't even understand how PERFECT this idea is for my new home in Miami! I have so many magazines that I need to organize, this multitiered magazine rack over at Readymade is a great idea if you have a home office. First I need to buy some tools for my new home...and find a handyman...and find the Ikea around here since I just moved...but otherwise I'm loving this! ;)

Dandy Chandy Tuesday ~ Miami Chandelier Month!

Well Helloooo P4der's! I (Jen) am blogging live from the heart of Miami Beach! Chrys is still running P4D from DC, and I've taken us down the East Coast & am now living in Miami!

I thought it would be fun this month of June to feature fabulous hotels and the chandy's in them every Tuesday. There really are some wonderfully designed hotels down here, including the Viceroy that was decorated by the one and only Kelly Wearstler. Check out the photos above from the Viceroy, so fun & fabulous!

She also has a GREAT book called Hue. I suggest you guys check out, chock full of inspiration!