Caring for your leafy friends

Howdy All!!

Today I’m replanting some of my orchids.  I got these 3 cute brass vessels at a thrift shop that just opened a few blocks from my office.  $20 bucks total.

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Seriously, I think I got the only 3 worthy pieces in there… sometimes I wonder how these places can stay in biz?!  And for a new place it was remarkably dirty.  And cluttered.  But enough of my brain-wandering, did you know that orchids actually require quite a bit of care?!  And truth be told, I have yet to meet a plant that doesn’t require some form of TLC.  Trust me, my black thumb has killed almost every variety of plants you can think of – even those supposed plants that you’re told don’t need water.  Yup, they need water.  I’ve mythbusted that sucker!  So, in my years of loving plants but not doing so well at actually giving them love, I’m trying to be better.  And guess what?  They are actually not dying… so fast… anymore. 😉

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Polished these up and they look really shiny, but old – in a cool way (picture is not giving the full effect).  You must use the special orchid blend of soil and they do need a mineral supplement every few waterings.  Not too much, even for me.  And they seem to love the direct light in the mornings by my sink so if your orchid is not blooming again, try that.  Only change the soil after the flowers have withered and only water a small bit once a week… how much to water??  Remember those juice glasses from Denny’s (so tiny)?  Just that.

But doesn’t every home need some green?  It feels better, it smells better, it’s just better.  It’s worth the effort, peeps!

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Have a wonderful 4th!  I’m off to chase the kids around Big Bear!!  Bye!

Turquoise and Navy – Boy’s room inspiration?

Hi there friends!

So, I just found out that one of my bestest friends in the world is having a boy!!  She already has a little boy (who is my son’s bff) and a little girl (that is soon to be the bride of one of my twins) so, she’s got aaallll the baby gear.  What she needs now is design inspiration (!!!) so that her new tiny joy can have a space all his own.  And let’s be real… besides having the actual baby, the best part about being a parent is getting to decorate with all the fun and colorful kids stuff!!  (Can you tell I’m in boring cabinet world at the moment with The Mother??)

Of course, she’s got it covered, but since I can’t get enough of this stuff, here are some ideas and maybe what I would do.

I’m loving the combination of turquoise and navy!!  It works anywhere, but how cute for a little boy?!  Something bright and poppy mixed with a color that can work as a neutral to keep it all grounded.  LOVE!

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Fresh, happy, beautiful.  Here’s a little inspiration board I put together… Let’s call it Robot Cool!  I think my boys would dig it… they really love robots… and cars… and squirt guns… and bugs.  They like a lot of stuff, but robots seem much cuter than a room full of bugs; Plus we can leave that design gem to the crumbs they drop 24/7!!1Congrats GF!!  You are a great mom and great friend!  Maybe you will let us do a little project for you and post it for all?!  Project!!  (Said in my opera voice, of course.)  And anyone else out there embarking on a new decorating mission – maybe you’ll consider this awesome color combo!

Tootles!

Mark Hampton – Part II

It’s Friday and school’s out!  Oh, yeah!!  (The Snicker song just came on – I know you know it!!)

And I’ve got Mark Hampton’s chapter on wallpaper on the brain – fun stuff to think about, if ya ask me!  And although he was most known for using chintz, I want to share a few of his ideas/thoughts on the wallpaper subject since (not only was it my favorite chapter) it might just inspire you to wallpaper a room or two!

1.  Strongly patterned wallpaper very often makes a small room look larger.  “It seems larger because you immediately have a point of reference.”  This trick works the best in tiny rooms.

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2.  Often, a wallpaper allows several patterns to play together in an “orderly” way; meaning it can unify lots of patterns, making the space have a sense of purpose rather than looking random.  It can unify lots of “disparate elements or decorating that you love but that you find difficult to mix.”

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3.  Wallpaper can be a great background for art… seems counterintuitive, but a patterned background can have a calming effect when there is a combination of drawings and paintings.

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4.  The fear of wallpaper creating a “fussy” look is an opinion of taste not a fact.  A room can look sleek and modern in wallpaper.

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5.  In rooms where the furniture is moved frequently, wallpaper works great because when the arrangement is changed there are no “blank” areas on the walls.

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6.  Wallpaper is also perfect when your room lacks architectural interest.  “If the existing architectural details are bland, the mood of the room becomes far more assertive with the help of a good, strong wallpaper in a definite style.”

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7.  And finally, wallpaper is great when your walls are in bad shape or you love to move pictures, since it’s perfect for hiding nail holes!

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All Fabulous reasons to look into some wallpaper!  But really, I just love it ’cause it’s soooo purdy!  But, hey, if it can make your rooms look bigger, walls look smoother and artwork smarter – then all the better!!  Cheers and TGIF!

You can even wallpaper your exterior!
You can even wallpaper your exterior! Not such a square box anymore.
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This ain’t your grandmas floral!
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Lots of prints and colors… yet, surprisingly calm and cozy.