Mix-And-Match Livingroom Grouping

As we've updated other rooms throughout our house over the past several years, our livingroom furniture has gotten displaced. A leather chair now resides in our master bedroom. The recliner has a new home in the basement. The couch we purchased when first married has replaced the stained, cream/baby blue/mauve floral couch from my college/single days in the basement.

While we have been on the look-out for livingroom furniture consistently over the past year or so, this weekend things really came together. Here's how it happened.

We purchased THIS at a benefit auction some 5 years ago b/c no one else was interested in bidding on a used, gold & avocado lamp with a tacky lampshade. Go figure!

This weekend, while looking for a totally unrelated item at our local thrift shop, I spied this chair priced at $200. Initially I hedged at the cost but upon closer inspection made the purchase based on the following criteria: (1) chair was brand new, (2) covered with high-quality (nuetral but not completely plain/solid) fabric & a solid/sturdy frame, (3) VERY comfortable but still structured and (4) slightly over-sized. These characteristics matched up with our 'requirements' but the price was several hundred dollars less than what we'd been able to find at retail.

We purchased this item at another benefit auction earlier this month. Its unique shape & bright color makes it a perfect 'statement' piece without being too over-the-top.

And then there's THIS. A scarf purchased for $2 at an open-air market in Ethiopia. One of my favorite 'decorating techniques' is mixing in things with sentimental value; this scarf makes me smile with fond memories everytime I walk past.

Put it together and what have you got...bibbety-bobbety-bibbety-bobbety... Ahem! I guess I have been reading too many childrens books lately :) THIS: A unique & bright sitting area for any everyday space.

Livingroom MakeOver

Several months ago, we found a faux oil painting that both Blake & I immediately loved, loved, loved! We had been looking at pictures for above our livingroom couch for a number of years and this one was IT. There was only two small problems. (1) The painting was not quite large enough to fill the space available (general rule: the picture/picture display above a couch should fill at least 2/3 of the wall space) and (2) We found the artwork at Marshalls (a discount store) & knew that finding a duplicate/corresponding image would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.

Nevertheless, for the past several months we've looked at numerous stores without success & decided to come up with an alternate solution. ENTER: Hobby Lobby's 90% off home accents sale. Last night we found just what we needed for pennies on the dollar!

Combining the painting (which, did I mention, we LOVE!) with randomly-sized photo frames, we were able to extend the size of the display above the couch while keeping the focus on the painting itself. For less than $100, ($70 for 3 foot-by-3-foot painting + $24 for frames), this is what the wall in our livingroom currently looks like.

A simple solution for 'enlarging' a piece of artwork that is too small for its designated space.

A Beautiful Couple -- Inside & Out...

This past weekend was the wedding of our good friends, Dan & Deanne. The weather was fabulous, the planned activities fun but the best part of the weekend? The obvious & outrageous love these two have for one another and for the ONE who brought their lives together! I assisted the couple as wedding planner and throughout the past months have often been reminded of just HOW MANY details are required to coordinate a weekend & wedding for close to 300 guests. BTW: Thanks, Mom & Dad, for all your efforts in planning my OWN wedding some 7 years ago!

Blake did all the artifical florals which included 30+ reception arrangements, corsages, boutonnières, the cake (which I think turned out fabulously!), etc. Although the wedding weekend was not without moments of stress & some minor glitches, it seemed as if these details were not apparent to the guests and MOST importantly... to the bride & groom. PTL!

Here are a couple of pictures from the weekend. First the fabulous cake which was so yummy...

Because of the size (specifically the ceiling height) of the reception hall, we used a combination of tall and shorter arrangements to fill the space; using all short arrangements can get lost in a large room. Here are the two centerpieces which Blake designed. The bride choose to use a combination of hydrangea, calla lillies & roses with various grass accents.

Since we specialize in artificial florals, we did not design the hand-held florals carried by the bride & bridemaids but I've included a shot here showing the dazzling flowers & color combination...

May God bless your marriage, Dan & Deanne! May life's challenges be shared and may life's joys be greater than ever you could have imagined them to be. Keep your eyes on Jesus; He is a faithful guide. We love you both!

Party Planning Tips...

This past weekend my cousin, Matthew, graduated from Morton High School and is planning to continue his studies at Bradley University this coming Fall semester. Although not 'certified' caterers, Blake & I enjoy preparing and presenting food and we able to caterer his graduation party on Sunday afternoon for family & friends. For those of you who might be planning an upcoming graduation party or a future get-together, I thought I would pass along some tips we have learned from party planning throughout the years.

1. Plan Ahead. Collect ideas from a variety of events you attend throughout the year; creative ideas can be gathered from business meetings, wedding receptions, birthday parties, magazine layouts, etc. Identify characteristics/styles you find appealing & notice which ideas are effective AND those which miss the mark.
2. Know your audience.Determine the number of guests who will attend the event and plan accordingly. For example, a larger sized group may demand simplicity when choosing a menu OR the adult/child ratio may impact your food choices and/or seating arrangements.
3. Make Wise Food Choices. While it is always fun (and adviseable) to try out a few non-standard or specialty foods, be sure your menu centers around food that will be found pleasing to the majority of the guests in attendance. Also, it is best to plan a menu which includes a combination of foods which can be made ahead of time and those which require last-minute preparation.
4. Make Lists. Once your menu is finalized, print each of the recipes required & a corresponding shopping list organized by specific store location where you plan to purchase the item. You'll also want to make a ToDo list of tasks to be completed prior to the date of the event and those which need to be accomplished the day-off. These lists should be organized in the order in which the tasks need to be accomplished.
5. Presentation! Presentation! Presentation! We use differently shaped and sized white and claer servingware so depending on the type of event, the bowls & platters can appear formal or understated. Even the most simple food can gain extra 'pizzazz' when arranged in a unique and/or creative manner. Arranging food at different height levels creates more of a 'food display' and avoids the 'cafeteria-line' appearance.

Springtime! Springtime!

As I mowed the yard for the first time this season, completing it exactly 17.5 seconds before a rainstorm blew in, I found myself often glancing at our front door. Although I am not an inside 'seasonal' decorator (i.e. if you come to my house at anytime except around Christmastime it will pretty much always look the same), there is something inviting about having a front door display that changes with the seasons.

After we finished painting our front door a couple of summers ago, Blake mounted a black wrought iron basket to the door. Since our front door is also black the basket kind of blends into the background. The permanent basket makes it simple to change the design of the front door arrangement and offers security for blustery and/or stormy days.

So here is a picture of our current front door. To me it says, "Hello, Springtime! Glad you are here & please stay awhile!"

What's in a Name?

Looking for a fun & creative way to bring your child's bedroom to life? Have you searched & searched for images/artwork which reflects WHO your child truly is and still have come up empty? Well, nothing symbolizes your child more perfectly than his/her very own name.

It's easy to personalize your child's room & allow the walls to reflect your child's personality, most favorite colors or interests. I recently re-discovered the art of decoupage. Decoupage is most simply defined as..."the process of placing a picture onto an object for decoration." It allows for instant customization & color-coordination of lettering which can be displayed anywhere in your child's room (or throughout the house).

For those of you with jam-packed schedules who cannot image tackling yet another project (and where would you store the newly purchased craft-store supplies anyways!?)...I would love to step in and help. Following are the details of the 'official' launching of my not-so-official business venture :)

FONT. I am currently offering only 1 font design in which all the letters are capitalized and edges are painted white. Height of each letter is approximately 9-inches (varies by 1/4-inch depending on the actual shape of the character itself).

DESIGN. Share one or more of the following details about the room where the letters will be displayed: (1) the color scheme. Example: chocolate brown & aqua OR pink & purple, (2) style theme of the room. Example: trains & planes or anything with wheels OR pastel flowers & butterflies, (3) specificly desire pattern design. Example: stripes & polk-a-dots OR gingham & flowers. Based on these details, I will select paper designs which coordinate/compliment your ideas. If you want the lettering to match a VERY specific color, I request you send swatches and upon review, I will advise if I am able to match the color accurately.

HANGING. Each letter can be wall-mounted utilizing a 'keyhole' slot on the back.

COST. $8.00 per letter + cost of shipping. For names which exceed six letters in length, cost for letters seven & beyond are reduced to $6.00 each. Cost of shipping is estimated at $7-10. NOTE: I may be able to accomodate personal deliveries; please inquire.

TURNAROUND TIME. 2-3 weeks from receipt of your order. I will attempt to work more quickly, if necessary.

NOTE: Jonah & Jared are the names of two of my nephews. These names were completed this weekend with the assistance of my SIL, Penny.

If interested in placing an order, please post a Comment or contact me at designsbyblake@hotmail.com. Thanks!

An Easter or Springtime Arrangement?

Hosting Easter dinner at your home? A bright floral arrangement can add elegance to your diningroom!

Looking for a unique Mother's Day idea? A floral or plant design is sure to bring a smile to the heart of your wife or mom AND it won't be headed to the trash within a few weeks!

Wanting to add some sunshine to a coffeetable, fireplace mantle or bedside table? We can create a design with your favorite flowers to match perfectly the decor of your home.

If you are interested in placing an order for a Springtime design, drop us a line using the email address noted in the titlebar. We can customize an arrangment to meet your expectations & your budget.

NOTE: We will be in downstate IL for the Easter holiday & available to make to-your-door deliveries on Saturday, March 22nd.