Re-Styling and Self-Regulation

I have a lot of stuff. I'm no hoarder or anything but I have significantly more than I need (I mean, don't we all?). The problem isn't that I can't get rid of stuff (I'm an excellent purger of things), but instead that I just don't want to get rid of my things. I have really great things. As a compromise (with myself; is that weird?), I decided I could keep all the things I love as long as they extra stuff fits in a small box in my closet. Yes, I have to rotate my toys decorative items out like a child.

This is embarrassing, but here is my secret stash:

It's not pretty but on the other side of the wrapping paper is a box full of frames, decorative objects, and other miscellaneous items that I love but don't have space for it right now.

Recently, I noticed that the shelf above my sink and the open shelving above my stove were getting a little cluttered. All my pretty things were getting a little out of hand so I did a little restyling and streamlining.

BEFORE

AFTER

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Most of this stuff just got shuffled, but if you ever see something where before there was something else, you can pretty much guarantee it is from my secret toy box.

An Amateur's Guide to Styling the Top of Cabinets AKA Dead Space Styling

I had a request (a while ago) for a post about how to style the top of cabinets. It's a great post idea because decorating unused space is hard to do. The top of cabinets are generally too high to store things that will be used regularly so they are basically just dead space (hence the trend to take cabinets all the way to the ceiling or have open shelving). I really enjoy decorating but it's hard even for me to style dead space.

In this house I do not have open cabinet tops so this isn't really an issue for me.

But I do have a large bookcase and I plan to get another one soon which is essentially the same thing - dead space that isn't accessible but it still needs .... something. 

Here is the current state of the top of my bookshelf. A stack of books and twin greyhound statues. Nothing fancy or striking. 

But the request got me thinking because eventually (hopefully sooner than later) I will be getting my dream bookcase which will have six feet of dead space that I will have to fill so I did some research. Here are six objects or collections you can use to help fill any dead space in your house (top of cabinets, bookshelves, ledges, etc):

1) Globes. 

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I love this trend of layered globes. The best part about this version of dead space decorating is that you can get globes for pretty cheap if you look hard enough. The globe in my entry way is from a thrift store for $12. Yesterday at a thrift shop I saw a black globe (those are much harder to find) for $25. It would be a fun collection to start because you can always have your eye out for one. You can also enlist your friends to look for you too. Besides being affordable, this look is also great because it has such a strong color impact. To further add to the visual appeal you can stack them on books or put them on stands to give the look a more layered feel. 

2) Baskets.

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Baskets can go kitschy-country fast, but what I like about the baskets in these images is that they are big and bold. If you put a few small baskets up on top of cabinet they are going to look lost and sad but large baskets will fill the space better. I also like how the texture and color of the baskets contrasts so nicely with the white kitchens they are in. If you have stained wood cabinets try white baskets for a similar look. 

3) Your (fill in the blank) Collection. 

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Whether you are a collector of wine bottles, milk glass, vintage thermoses, or vintage tins; dead space is the perfect place for your collection. My theory on collections is that they look better all in one place. For example, I collect pencil sketches from the places I travel and I found that I like them best all grouped together as opposed to spread out around my house. The visual impact of a bunch of like items in one place is very strong. 

4) Monochromatic Layering. 

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It's simple; pick a color and get a bunch of items in that color. Go! 

5) Plates.

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Decorative plates were once reserved for your granny but times are a changin'. I don't own a decorative plate but I get the appeal. My good friend collects state plates and they look awesome hanging on her wall. You could do a certain color palette, florals, toile, or Little House on the Praire commemorative plates... the options really are endless. It could be something that you start to collect or it could just be a matter of visiting a few thrift shops and seeing what you find. 

6) Framed Art.

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Everybody knows I'm obsessed with gallery walls so it's natural that I'd want to stick art up there. It's actually a small miracle that I haven't stuck art above my cabinets yet (although I've thought of it often).  This also a pretty inexpensive way to decorate dead space. I like both the uniform look and the messier leaning look, either could work depending on the space. 

I hope that was helpful! I really enjoyed looking around to find all these images, makes me want to start collecting stuff. Just remember, as long as you don't resort to fake ivy and birdcages (like my Mom in the 90's) you are good!

Decorative Items Make Me Happy

Christmas was almost a month ago and I have yet to share some of the cool stuff I got as gifts. Well, better late than never. Here are some awesome things I got as gifts some of which I asked for (and have blogged about wanting previously) and some were lucky good guesses.

Do you notice what is different in this picture?

I got a white ceramic tortoise shell! Before I had a Singin' in the Rain poster there. I love that movie and I've had the poster for about 10 years, but it was time for a change up (plus, I didn't want to drill another hole). 

But I love the tortoise shell there. I like how the light sort of spot lights it. 

 

The tortoise shell is from Nate Berkus' Target collection. I blogged about the shell here and here and I'm pretty sure I told my Mom like five times that I wanted it for Christmas so I was very excited that I got it. 

My Mom is a major Nate Berkus fan so she also picked up this black and white chevron urn. I love it! I love a good black and white graphic print so it fits my style perfectly. I have a feeling this piece will be traveling all over my house but for now it is in the kitchen. 

Here's another think my Mom picked up for me. It is a sweet little spice jar from Anthropology. The name plate is chalkboard but I lost my chalk so I haven't written anything on it yet. I love the red lid and how it works perfectly with my other kitchen stuff. I keep matches in it.

My Mom also got me this awesome chain link from the Nate Berkus collection (I told you she was a big fan). I featured it in this post. I don't know what to do with this really, I just like it. It has moved around the house this past month, but at this moment it is on a side table in my living room. 

So those are few of the cool things I got for Christmas. Oh, I also got this:

But I somehow missed taking a picture of it. I've wanted this for like two years so I was very excited to get it! 

I love decorating but I can't go out and buy everything I want all the time so Christmas is a good time to ask for stuff like this. One of the major benefits of being unmarried is that my parents still buy me lots of gifts! 

Happy Friday!

Blue, Baby Blue.

I did a crazy thing the other day. I painted my room super blue. Not just regular blue, it is seriously super blue. When I moved in my room was a creamy white. The walls were clean and the paint job was pretty new so I didn't touch it for the first seven months. In fact, for those seven months I tried to convince myself that I liked white walls. Why you ask? Because white walls are so artsy and cool. See proof: --

Source: https://www.ikeafamilylive.com/en/room/uncluttered-bedroom-779 --

Source: http://www.countryliving.com/homes/decor-ideas/bedroom-designs-gallery#slide-49 --

Source: http://ticktockclock.tumblr.com/post/5934694451/uydurrukcu -- I mean seriously, so fresh, bright, and classic. Here is my attempt at white walls: --

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-- ...eh...kind of depressing, right? Somehow my 'white' didn't translate as cool, hip white. It was more like 'I'm a renter white' which is silly since I own the home and can do whatever I want. So after months of convincing myself I liked it, I changed my mind and decided to just go crazy. I'm really drawn to super saturated colors. Like these: --

Source: http://www.mixandchic.com/2012/04/home-tour-stylish-victorian-rowhouse-in.html#comment-form --

Source: http://prettystuff.tumblr.com/page/9 -- I was especially inspired by designer Emily Henderson's office space. I loved this blue.

Source: http://www.stylebyemilyhenderson.com/blog/?currentPage=2 -- That isn't the best image but from other photos I could tell I really like the color. And since one doesn't want to mess around with shades that extreme, I color matched the exact color she used. It is Loyal Blue by Sherwin Williams and I had it color matched from Behr. It was only slightly scary because, hey, it's paint so it's an easy fix if I don't like it.

What do you think? I really like it! Is it crazy bold? Absolutely. But I lived with "tranquil" white for a while and it just wasn't me. I'm no photographer so the color reads weirdly in some of these photos but the truest likeness is the photo of my bed. It's very royal blue. It's deep and my art and furniture really stand out now. In the future I'll add some lighter curtains or Roman shades to lighten it up a bit. I also may switch out that black bookcase for something lighter, but for now to darkness doesn't bother me. In fact, I feel like I'm in a warm cocoon of blue.