Kids Space Archives - Page 31 of 36

Small Space Living Series- 180 square feet with Arrows and Bows

March 21, 2018

You asked for it! More content about Small Spaces. Now, don’t go anywhere if you have a big home. Because I know you will enjoy and leave with some inspiration in this new series- Small Space Living. I interviewed someone living in 180 square feet and asked her all of YOUR questions and made sure she shared photos of the closets and behind the scenes. I asked for a video tour too and she shared one! You will enjoy it. Read the post HERE.

Ask a Designer-

I live in a small 3 bedroom 1 and a half bath home on the west coast of Canada with my husband and 2 kids.

The room in the picture is our living room which is basically the whole of the downstairs (the kitchen is just off to the side with a little dining area) The front door opens right into this space and the sliding door to the back yard is at the opposite end to the front door, beside a corner fireplace (I’m standing in the sliding doorway taking this pic).

I’ve tried many different furniture layouts and I think this one works the best.

I currently have a cover over my dark couch, which drives me crazy while I decide on purchasing a custom slipcover for it in white.

We recently took down the dark wood blinds on the windows and put up curtains instead.

I am wondering if there are too many neutral tones in here (lots of woven textures with the jute rugs and many baskets) or if it works?

We do plan on redoing our flooring in the next year or so and probably painting the walls a lighter color.

I would love to hear what your keen eye sees and any suggestions you may have.

Warm regards

Lara

What a nice large open space! I love all the light colors. I think you will like it so much more once you paint it, everything will pop. I love Cloud White from Benjamin Moore (photos HERE of it in homes). Your curtains are hung perfectly! The one thing I can suggest is your rug size- you want the front of your sofa legs to be ON the rug. So in this first spot you could go a size up for sure. It will make the room feel larger. I can’t see the rug to well on the area behind with the sectional, it looks a little small in that space too. Hope that helps!

You can read all about my Rug Tips HERE

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Health In Your Hands Flash Sale

March 16, 2018

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Magic Light Trick- Follow up Post and Video- Adding Light to ANY Sconce

March 7, 2018

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IKEA Finds- What I bought and What I Love

March 3, 2018

I had to share because Target has most of our back deck furniture pieces on SALE (ends today, Saturday). I also found some new pieces I bought to mix in, including a really cute black and white check umbrella. And I went to my friends Annie’s house and so many of you wanted to know where her planters were from. I shared where she bought them then I also found a more affordable option on SALE (ends today too). Read the post HERE. (PS- here house number are like mine, found mine at Home Depot! And she got that purple plant, called Heather at Home Depot too.) I also have a blog post up all about my major finds from IKEA! I really was missing out on some pieces. I shared a video I took when I was shopping in the store too. It must have been a really good time to go to IKEA because I have never seen so much that I liked! Read that post HERE. You can see how I organized this messy drawer…. and this entry closet… If you are wanting to get more organized then you will want to read all about my IKEA Finds DESIGN QUESTION- “Hi! My name is Karla Montero and would love to have you advice on my living area. My house doesn’t feel cozy or like home even that we’ve lived here for two years. Please help me !!! Please help me make this spot beautiful.” You have done a good job so far! You have a rug, plants and your tv is hung the right height! I would say the #1 thing you could do is to add window treatments. I shared on todays blog post my favorite IKEA curtain panels. But if I were you I would remove the wood blinds and add some bamboo shades. It is crazy how much that changes the look. Below is an example… (I would also remove the round medallion that is between your windows because your rod will be too close to it if you hang curtains). You can read my other tips on how to create a cozy home HERE! Hope that helps!!

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Friday Favorites start with Outdoor Furniture and some SALES!

March 2, 2018

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HGTV Full Magazine Spread- 1100 Square Feet Then and Now!

February 27, 2018

Today’s blog post I shared the FULL Magazine spread that we were featured in for HGTV. I also shared what it looks like today! Compared each room and talked about the changes that have been made over a year and a half. It was fun to see the difference, especially the front room and the kitchen. See the post HERE or keep reading for a design question…

1100 Square Feet HGTV Magazine Feature- Then and NOW!

If you are new email subscriber I answer YOUR questions via this email I send out with each blog post. I do this in hopes that it can help MORE than just the homeowner! (I am not taking any new questions at this time) I still have some I am working thru. I will let you know when I can take a question. I might do random selection from my email subscriber list! Pick out 3-4 a week.

Design Question-

“This is my living room – I didn’t get it super tidy for these pics. 😬 but anyway. This room is connected to the dining room in a “L” shaped room formation if that makes sense. I used to have my sofa facing the fireplace but it felt so closed off. I have already ordered a new bigger rug following your suggestions for sizing. I have a vintage style and I like fun textures and colors. My biggest struggle is lighting – it’s super dark in here even with lights on and middle of the day (all the windows look out to our covered patio). Also I’m not in love with my current arrangement – the dresser looks crowded. Help!” Thanks, Melissa

You are on it to get a bigger rug! I would still suggest facing your sofa to your fireplace. BUT I don’t know where you tried it…. If it were me I would move the piano inside the space, to the right where the chalkboard is. And move the sofa back- really open up the room! I would then do the white chairs by the window and move the brown leather chair out.

Ways to lighten it up-

-Paint the rock fireplace white.

-I notice you have a lot of brown accents and that adds to the dark feel- you could paint those or switch them out. And simplify what it on your mantle.

-Add an arch floor lamp that gets into the room more like THIS

-Lighter rug (I know you ordered a rug, but that is an option for all).

I hope that helps! And if any of you have made the changes I have suggested for this “Ask a Designer Series” email me the AFTER! We would all love to see it!

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Wallpaper Sources and How to Install Wallpaper

February 1, 2018

We have wallpaper sources today on my blog and also how to install wallpaper. Trust me, if I can do it you can!

If you are new here I have been answering some of the design questions I received. Unfortunately I am behind and am not accepting any NEW free questions at this time. You can submit a question to the FB group and it could come up in a FB Live. And hopefully I can figure out a way to take free questions in the future to manage the flow better!

Design Question

Carrie wanted to know what to do in her bedroom. We actually talked in our FB Live about this space. And since we are talking wallpaper today- I think that one of the dramatic wallpapers from “Ellie” on my blog today would look so great behind the bed. I would also turn her rug so it is running horizontal with the bed, right now it is making the room look really long. I would also add a dresser or a case good where the green ottoman is- a little too much fabric pieces and she could use more height on that wall.

Design Question

Melissa wanted to know what to do in her room. She wants a headboard and not to spend a lot of money- I would look on Wayfair for an upholstered simple headboard in a light neutral fabric. Then add a pop of pattern with temporary wallpaper behind the bed! Also I would lower the gallery wall one the right- you want to hang art eye level. If she doesn’t want wallpaper she could do something round above the bed- like a Juju Hat (they can be found on Etsy and World Market has them HERE) or even a large flat basket. I would with round to add a different shape and to soften the rectangle windows (those would look great with some bamboo shades).

Design Question-

Caroline wanted to know if she should do wallpaper on that blue wall. This is a good question and I wanted to share it today because I actually wouldn’t do wallpaper on that wall. She has a great graphic roman shade and I wouldn’t want to compete with that, especially in a smaller bedroom. If I were her I would paint the entire room in a medium to dark gray. It would look great with her carpet. You can see some of my favorite dark gray paints in a bedroom HERE.

Head to todays post to see all of my favorite sources for wallpaper including temporary HERE

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Friday Favorites start with the small things that add up to GREAT things

January 26, 2018

Hello!

I wanted to start answering some of your design questions in this email format (I am playing catch up, so if I haven’t gotten to you yet, I will! I am also not taking any new questions at this time, need to catch up.)

This question came from Kerri. She wanted ideas for her fireplace and I think tomorrows blog post will help her and I will address more then. I have my friends fireplace to share with you and the woven woods shades I ordered for her came in yesterday and now I can show that too ( you will love it!). Stay tuned tomorrow!

I did suggest that Kerri move her sofa where the chairs are now. We talked in our Facebook Live last night about creating a focal point. So if your focal point is the fireplace (and it should be in this room) then her sofa should face it. All things should focus on the focal point. Also the sofa moved will define the two spaces and not be so many chairs with the dining chairs.

Hope that helps more than just Kerri!

Pop over to see my Friday Favorites- sharing all the small new things I got and have had SO many questions on Instagram where they came from. I also have a small little design challenge for you! Head to the post HERE.

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Shiplap Wall DIY Tutorial- Inexpensive Accent Wall

January 23, 2018

I have a really easy way to do shiplap on an accent wall or wood planks (whatever you call it:). I have this same feature on a small wall at the end of our hall.

This is the wall we did in the nursery that I share recently. I linked the videos I took on my Instagram Stories- they are helpful to watch and to see the behind the scenes of amateurs trying to do a DIY project- really proof anyone can do this!

See it all HERE

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Kids Toy Organization- Custom Rolling Storage Bin

January 17, 2018

Did you already see what I made for toy storage in that nursery I recently shared?

Well today I have the full 5 minute tutorial for you on my blog. If you haven’t seen the after yet, you need to!

I also shared my tips for toy storage and little solutions to hopefully make life less cluttered with toys.

If you are not at the toy stage in your life you could make this for so many different areas in your home that need a cute storage solution! Think- blankets, pillows, books, winter gear and more!

See the blog post with video HERE

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DIY Sconces to have Light without Power “Magic Light Trick”

January 11, 2018

Alright I finally shared the “Magic Light Trick” today! How we made the sconce’s glow and have some light without hardwiring them or being connected to any electrical source in the nursery we just designed. I loved my idea:) haha and duplicated it in our home.

Below is the BEFORE of our window seat- notice that scroll header?? Well if you haven’t seen on social media yet- it is now gone! And I added a sconce to this spot!

Pop over to see the AFTER! By clicking right HERE.

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How to Build a Window Seat and Built-In Bookcase Tutorial

January 9, 2018

Today I am sharing the full tutorial on how too build a window seat and built-in book shelves! As you know we have a banquette in our kitchen (just like this window seat) I even watched part of it be built and it still seemed hard. But after working on this nursery I am shocked at how easy this was! Honestly.

Really I look at homes so differently now! Every home needs a window seat.

And you will be surprised at what it cost to build this entire wall!! I shared a video of all my Instagram Stories at the end of the post too.

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