Revamp Your Laundry Room for Spring

If you have an average, boring laundry room, try adding a fresh coat of paint, a fancy new light, or a hanging laundry rack. The picture below features a clean white paint color on the cabinets (don't be afraid to paint over that outdated wood,) uncluttered and clean hardwood floors, and a gorgeous light fixture.

Image above from never-without.blogspot.com

Image above from Stagetecture.com

This room utilizes a coat rack and has calming blue and white paint colors.

Drying rack from Ballard Designs http://www.ballarddesigns.com/beadboard-drying-rack/42106

Gallery804.com has a lot of beautiful chandeliers in all sizes, and some that are very inexpensive. This one (above) is only $99, the perfect size for a laundry room, and is 100% crystal. http://gallery804.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=2508

Don't hesitate to visit this site! Most of their mini chandeliers are on sale right now. Here is some more eye candy from their site...

Not to mention that any of these would be perfect for a bathroom, in a reading nook, a walk-in closet, or over a kitchen island.

One last tip: consider a counter over the washer and dryer...

Image above from Michellelalala.blogspot.com

A Different Kind of Inspiration

The greatest thing you can do is be the change you wish to see in the world. Eventually you will run out of donation money, or time to volunteer, or room for adopted animals or children. At that point the only thing you can do is help yourself to change the world.

Here are some simple ways to make a big impact by doing something very small...

Go paperless
Fix your animals
Be generous
Ride your bike
Walk
Carpool
Buy energy efficient products
Buy local & seasonal
Do it yourself
Plant a tree or flowers
Rescue an unwanted pet before buying from a store or breeder
Don't buy bottled water, use a water filter and a reusable bottle
Try previously loved items before buying new
Give your things away instead of throwing them away
Buy less packaged food and more unpackaged food (such as a head of lettuce instead of bagged lettuce)

Art by Tipi on DeviantArt http://tipi.deviantart.com/gallery/?offset=24#/d8z0zy

Soothing Bedrooms That Aren't White

I know a lot of people are afraid of having a pure white room or simply don't like their spaces to be entirely white, so here is some inspiration for comforting bedrooms that are not white.

Image from The Nest

                               

Image from the movie Sex and the City 2

Rachel Aswell

Nickey Kehoe via Decorpad

Image via Room for Color

via Things That Inspire

Waterleaf Interiors

Studio Ten 25 Interiors

Ten Great Bathrooms

Over the past year I have learned that if you still have a sliding door to your shower or a non-white sink (unless its a vessel sink) or toilet, fixtures that really don't match, or a gold faucet, your bathroom is simply out of date. If you have wallpaper in your bathroom, vinyl, vertical blinds, or anything from before the 90's...well, you need a makeover. I highly suggest watching the DIY channel. Here are ten great bathrooms to get you inspired.
1. Murdock Young via The Style Files (http://style-files.com/)

2. Sneak Peek of a Portland Four Square via Design Sponge. (http://www.designspongeonline.com/2009/03/sneak-peek-portland-four-square.html)

3. A half bath in the John Saint Denis house tour from Apartment Therapy. This could easily be inspiration for a full bath if you picture the shower right before the towel bar, opposite the toilet. (http://gallery.apartmenttherapy.com/photo/john-saint-denis-house-tour/item/198929)

4. A bathroom by James Michael Howard (who I will post on very soon) via Decorpad. (http://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=12450&index=3&searchQuery=James Michael Howard&searchType=photos)

5. One that is very similar to the last is this bathroom by Anne Chessin via flickr. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/foxandthehound/5350827907/in/set-72157625105483436/)

6. For those of you with very, very little space, check out Dehlia's bathroom from Apartment Therapy. (http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/small-cool-2009/small-cool-2009-dehlias-calm-cool-collected-tiny-division-50-082155)

7. Also, this post from Apartment Therapy. (http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/bathroom/converting-a-closet-into-a-compact-full-bathroom-110561)

8. Christina Murphy Interiors via Decorpad. (http://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=81256&index=0&currentPage=0&searchQuery=chevron bathroom&searchType=photos)

9. A Haskell Harris bathroom via Decorpad. (http://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=63803&currentPage=0&index=7&relatedPhotoId=67090)

10. And I saved the best (and least realistic) for last. Also from Decorpad, Colleen Duffy via Cottage Living. (http://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=63155&currentPage=0&index=16&relatedPhotoId=81109)

Inspiring Kid's Bedrooms

I do not have kids, but with all the inspiration out there I found it hard to resist sharing pictures of kid's rooms that I've found online. Maybe this post will help someone that stumbles on it, or maybe I'll use these ideas myself someday.

                              

via norske interior blogger

Everyone loves a window seat and a non-horse rocking chair!

via bohemian hunter

I swear that if I ever have kids they can have their pick between a tipi (teepee?) and an indoor tent.

via norske interior blogger

The simple chandelier is essential, I think. It seems to bring up the quality of the room, as do most chandeliers. The tea table and chairs beside the bed is adorable.

I'm sorry, I have no clue where I found this picture. But I love the round crib!

This is the Borgen Castle by VeraVera. If you have a free corner, make the most out of it.

via Apartment Therapy

This would be even cuter with bunk beds - it would create a tree-like effect.

I do not remember where I found this picture, but the stenciled tree is exactly the same in both pictures.

I love this colorful bedroom via Ohdeedoh.

Love the idea of an indoor swing in the main living area or in the bedroom. When your kid outgrows it, take it down. (But I doubt they ever will.) via ModernPrairieGirl.com

Kate Dixon's circus room via Design Sponge. Love the ferris wheel toy storage.

I love the origami mobile here that was handmade. Picture from Eleanor Ribeyron's flickr photostream.

If you have DIY skills or know someone that does, this fairy bedroom from alldoing.com is super cute.

And a little tip: if you plan on your child having a lot of sleep-overs, a trundle bed works wonders and saves space at the same time. Otherwise, give them a few extra large blankets or sheets and make them create a tent in the family room.

No Headboard, No Problem

Whether we should buy a headboard or not was one of the first arguments my husband and I had after buying our house. He did not see the point in getting one until our pillows started sliding behind the matress. Needless to say, I won the argument. But for about, say, twenty dollars, you can have the look of a headboard for minimal cost and effort. Take a look at the following pictures. First you will see headboards painted on the wall, and then a shelf in place of a headboard.

via Attic Mag

via C & K Interior Designs

via Apartment Therapy

via About.com

Personally, I would love to try a painted-on-the-wall pagoda headboard ala Mary McDonald.

Also, a tip for the day: if your clothes are taking over your closet, consider the sleek velvety hangers now sold at places like TJ Maxx or Bed, Bath and Beyond. They really do work!

Off Topic

Everyone has something that when they see it or hear it or read it they end up having no bodily control over what happens next. For some people, they may be in a bookstore reading something juicy and come to a very, very funny part and have an involuntary fit of laughter, soon after shrinking in their seat from the confused glances from nearby shoppers. For some, it might be word-vomiting the catchy "I know, right?" as soon as someone says something they totally understand and would have said themselves, and then realizing how idiotic it sounded for an adult to say that. I can make my husband cry on command by playing an ASPCA or Humane Society commercial, although unfortunately it doesn't lead him immediately to the animal shelter. I, incidentally, am blessed/cursed with an ability to squeal uncontrolably when I see a cat that I want, which ninety percent of the time is a lynx-point siamese, and it is usually followed by, "Can I get another cat?" I have five now. But cats are like decor here at my house. In fact, the cats have their own furniture. So, I now introduce you to my kids. I mean cats. Since no one is reading this anyway.

Halcyon

Sen

Dusty

Setsu

Reese