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Tag: home decor


new read by terrain

26
October

book bag on bench

Who knows us better than our good friends?  It always amazes me when my friends think of me in a special way…like shipping me my favorite ice-cream from Ohio when I’m bedridden!

New Terrain book

The latest act of kindness from a friend was a gift in a nonedible variety.  If you follow this blog, you know one of my very favorite stores is Terrain.  Well, Terrain came out with a much anticipated book titled Terrain:  Ideas and Inspiration for Decorating the Home and Garden.  Of course, any Terrain lover should own a copy – don’t you think?  But, I hadn’t preordered one because my budget has been very tight lately.

I stopped at a friend’s house to find she had pre-ordered me a copy (which means a free Terrain tote bag was included!) of the book!  OMG!

fall page in book on table

The book contains 400 pages of Terrain inspiration – spanning every season.  Greg Lehmkuhl, Terrain’s creative director, and all the wonderful gardeners of Terrain edited this beautiful book.

I am SO happy to add it to my collection!  I think I need to display it in a special spot in my home the way my friend Phyllis did in her home.  (The photos today on Friday field trip were all taken at her house.)

terrain book open on table

If you want to bring a really fabulous hostess gift this Thanksgiving, consider ordering a copy!  And, for all my followers who don’t live near a Terrain, you may enjoy this book even more than those of us who do!

Love quote

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a fabulous weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Comments Off on new read by terrain | garden, gift ideas, good reads

hobknobbing

22
November

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Changing up knobs or pulls can instantly update a piece of furniture.   These days, great hardware can be found at discount home stores as well as specialty stores.

My very favorite place to buy furniture hardware is Anthropologie because they have a great variety and some really unique pieces.  Because Anthro hardware is on the pricey side, it is best to choose their hardware when you have a really special piece or you only need one knob!

variety-of-knobs-at-anthro

A small sampling of the large hardware selection available at Anthropologie.

For multiples of hardware – like a dresser that may need 10 pieces, it is better to try online hardware resources, Target, or HomeGoods.   Very often, HomeGoods will have packs of multiples at a very affordable price.

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The top photo shows an Ikea dresser with the standard hardware. The bottom photos show switched out pulls purchased online.

 

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Another Ikea piece with updated hardware purchased from Home Depot.

I almost always change up hardware on the furniture pieces I redo, but you don’t need to save hardware changes for when a piece is refinished…it is easy to change the hardware any time!  I recently changed up my dining room knobs from a casual look to a more streamlined, elegant look.

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One word of caution – if you are replacing a pull that has more than one screw/hole – be sure to measure the spread before you look for a new piece of hardware.  Some of the older pieces of furniture require a different size spread – if this happens, it  makes your job a little more time intensive because you would need to use wood filler to fill in the old holes and drill new ones to accommodate the new hardware.

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I found these nautical inspired rope pulls in a multiple pack at HomeGoods and used them on this Ikea dresser redo.

Replacing the hardware on your furniture can give it a whole new look!  Take a look at some of your older furniture…can you picture it with some new knobs or pulls?  I hope I have inspired you to thinking about updating a piece of your furniture by replacing the hardware!  Maybe check out some black Friday deals on line!

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I used Anthropologie compass knobs on this coffee table redo.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a blessed Thanksgiving!  I am thankful to have you join me on pleasure in simple things.  Stop back on Friday and I will share this year’s Advent calendar that you will want to make – a super easy and fun design!

xo Jackie

Comments Off on hobknobbing | diy, inspiration, style

6 paint tips & revere pewter

8
November

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I have always loved neutrals and my living room color scheme has been gray and beige long before greige was a word…it is an official word now, isn’t it?

greiges-pleasure-in-simple-things-blogWhat is interesting to me is the popularity of the Benjamin Moore color Revere Pewter.  I think it has a lot to do with the popularity of Pinterest.  Someone posts a gorgeous room on Pinterest that uses a specific paint color and everyone wants the color used in that gorgeous room!  Or, maybe the paint company posts a couple of great room photos and the mention of the paint color causes it to go ‘viral.’

Granted, I think Revere Pewter is a gorgeous neutral, but I think there are a lot of gorgeous neutrals.  And, even though Benjamin Moore may be the preferred paint of decorators, we don’t all have a decorator’s budget.

If you have respect for Consumer Reports, you know that Benjamin Moore paint is rated higher than Behr (available at Home Depot), but not by much!  The biggest difference is in the price.  Benjamin Moore is a much higher priced paint and if budget is a concern, this is something to think about.  Maybe buying the most expensive paint for one room isn’t a big deal, but it may be a concern when painting an entire house!  If you are a new home buyer and have to repaint an entire home….saving $10 to $20 on each gallon of paint is a huge savings!

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I guess my point is, you can easily get the same color you admire in a magazine without paying the price of the most expensive paint.  By taking a little time to compare paint swatches, you can save some money on your paint choice.

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I am using Revere Pewter as an example above since I am fascinated with its popularity.  Aged Beige by Behr, though a little lighter in shade, is very close to Revere Pewter and a great color. Glidden’s Fossil Grey is almost identical to the Revere Pewter.  If you need a less expensive paint choice to achieve the same look, this may be the way to go.

So, comparing paint samples would be my first tip when choosing paint – here are all 6 paint shopping tips!

Collect tons of paint samples (in all brands) and bring them home.

Remember you can use color matching to match a color in a less expensive paint.

The smaller the sample, the darker the color will appear.  For a truer color, grab a larger paint swatch.

Look at your samples in the light of the room you are painting and surrounded by the furniture/curtains, etc. you will be using.

If there is more than one color on the swatch, remove the ones you are not using…the way colors look are influenced by the surrounding colors.

Don’t pick the paint first!  Buy the most expensive item first!  This is so important.  There are a lot less color choices in furniture or curtains then there are in paint colors!

Happy painting!

Thanks for stopping by!  Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Comments Off on 6 paint tips & revere pewter | diy, inspiration

a vermont country home

25
October

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I must admit, I have never really considered a move further north than my home state of Connecticut.  I have tent camped in every state in New England and I certainly appreciate the beauty of them all…but, to live?

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vermont-pleasure-in-simple-things-blog-barn

Why would I never move to Vermont myself?  That infamous four letter word…s-n-o-w.  But that is exactly one of the reason’s my childhood friend Donna loves living in Vermont.  Although skiing every day in the winter is not a motivator for me, it is part of the appeal of living in snow country for Donna and her husband!

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Ready for winter! Donna’s son and the rest of the University of Vermont lacrosse team made short work of stacking up this stockpile of firewood!

 

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Today, I am sharing a little bit of the home that could actually make me consider a move!  With a wonderful sense of style, great resourcefulness and vision, and unique collaborations, my friend and her husband have created an amazing home inside and out!

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Though frost was called for during the week, a couple garden plants were still hanging on!

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Starting with a wonderful respect for the view and using many reclaimed materials from the area, this couple has spent the last five years creating a home that is uniquely their own.

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I hope you have enjoyed the photos of this home and its amazing views.  If you want to see a few sneak peeks of the inside, I have shared a few photos on Facebook and Instagram…you will have to wait till spring for a full inside tour! :)

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Thanks for stopping by!  Remember to take pleasure in simple things…like visiting childhood friends,  Jackie

Comments Off on a vermont country home | field trips, garden, inspiration, travel

meeting thom filicia

7
December

Designer Thom Filicia

I first noticed Thom Filicia when he was one of the “Fab Five” on the Emmy-winning television show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.  For me, he was number 1 of the 5 because he was the one that tackled the interior design part of the segment.  His witty, warm style made him a natural as an on-air personality and, after “Queer Eye”, he continued to spread his decorating advice on Style Network and HGTV.  His talent as a designer has earned him many accolades, including being named a “Top 100 Designer” by House Beautiful.

fabrics by Thom Filicia

I got the chance to meet Thom when he visited Wakefield Design Center in Stamford, CT to sign copies of his newest book American Beauty:  Renovating and Decorating a Beloved Retreat.

Designer Thom Filicia

A fan of Thom’s design aesthetic, it was a bonus to get the opportunity to see Thom’s new fabric collection for Kravet during my visit to Wakefield, the destination for this week’s Friday field trip.

Meeting Thom was great.  His personality is consistent with his on-air persona – very warm and instantly likeable.  He spent a good amount of time socializing and telling stories as if he were attending a family gathering.

When the time came for him to sign his new book, he continued to engage everyone in stories of the fixer-upper he bought and transformed in Skaneateles Lake, New York – a place he discovered during his childhood and brought to life in his book.

Elm Street Books in New Canaan was on hand with copies of Thom Filicia’s newest book, American Beauty: Renovating and Decorating a Beloved Retreat.

I couldn’t decide if he chose to sign books in orange sharpie to match some of the inside pages, or as a nod to his alma mater (Syracuse), but either way, the attention to detail was noted.

A photo of Thom Filicia, one of House Beautiful’s “Top 100 Designers”, at a recent appearance in Connecticut.

All in all, a really fun night.  I got the chance to meet some really great people at Wakefield Design Center, the opportunity to talk to some great designers, AND the chance to enjoy a glass of wine with Thom Filicia.

Thanks for visiting.  Have a great weekend, Jackie

A little trip back in time for any other “Queer Eye” fans (Don’t we all have this on our playlists?):

 

1 comment » | celebrity, field trips

5 ways to add design personality

18
September

The best part about home design is adding your own style to your decor.  I would like to share 5 simple tips that can add instant design personality to your home.

INCORPORATE FAMILY MEMORIES.  A great way to anchor your home decor is through pieces that have special family meaning.  How wonderful to see an old family item passed down through the generations, or something that has special meaning in your family, every time you walk into a room.  If you don’t have something like this already, it is easy to collect some items from other family members that you can incorporate into your decor.  I have done this a lot over the years in my home.  I even have one room in my home aptly named ‘the nostalgia room’ that is decorated entirely with old family items and photos.  An old black and white family photo framed in a spectacular or trendy way, or a piece that reminds you of a particular family member, can create instant personality.  An old sign from a family business, your grandfather’s favorite fishing pole hanging on a wall, your grandmother’s favorite lamp – anything that has some family significance can make a creative design piece with personality!

A great way to anchor your home decor is through pieces that have special family meaning.

ADD TEXTURES.  Varying the textures of the materials you use in your decor adds great visual interest.  Incorporating different textures into a room full of neutrals gives instant visual interest and is a design element all on its own.  A monochromatic color scheme is instantly transformed with the use of varying textures.  Think about mixing textures you love when you purchase items for your home.  Any color scheme is enhanced with a clever mix of textures.

Varying the textures of the materials you use in your decor adds visual interest.

CREATE ORGANIZATION.  The way you choose to organize not only makes you feel great by creating order, but also can serve as a design element.  If you look at organization in this way, it is a simple step to add style to your home.

One way I do this in my home is in the way I organize my books.  The way I incorporate them into my decor is the way I cover them.  This is the simplest, but most beautiful way to turn books into a design element.  Use your favorite wrapping paper, nautical or street maps, old sheet music, or even brown paper.  Think about your interests and the color schemes of the rooms where you shelf your books.

Closets can be organized in a visually pleasing way using baskets or attractive containers.  Keep your rings in a pretty dish that matches your decor when they aren’t being worn.  In the kitchen, utilize attractive jars to house those daily calcium tablets!

The way you choose to organize not only makes you feel great by creating order, but can also serve as a design element.

USE SOME PLAYFUL PIECES.  As in life, it is not a good idea to take your decorating too seriously – add some fun accessories to give your home decor personality and to make you smile.  This is an easy thing to accomplish with little expense and can be utilized anywhere in your home.  I like to find playful kitchen items that can make even the most mundane task seem fun.  There are plenty of ways to add whimsy to your decor, particularly in accessories.

As in life, it is not a good idea to take your decorating too seriously.

REMEMBER OUTDOORS.  Don’t miss the opportunity to utilize great decor outdoors.  Simple items can make a big difference and this is especially true outdoors.

One example at my home was my clothespin holder.  The holders traditionally sold for clothespins were visually annoying.  I bought a basket for much less than a traditional clothespin holder and stained it using leftover stain from my house…now I love the way it looks!

White plastic doorbells are another eyesore, but SO easy to change up.  House numbers are also an easy item to replace and can be a big visual element – a great way to showcase your personality by the style of numbers you choose.  Planting your seasonal flowers in colors to complement your front door is an easy way to make your plants a great design element.  Adding design features to your garden is also an instant way to add personality and can make your weeding session more fun!

Be sure, also, to use pieces you really love for outdoor dining or entertaining.  I love the acrylic water glasses I found for my outdoor entertaining.  Clearance racks are filled with outdoor dining accessories at this time of year and some smart purchases now are sure to put a smile on your face come Spring!

Don’t miss the opportunity to utilize great decor outdoors.

Hope you enjoyed these five simple tips to easily add your own design personality to your home.

Need some ideas for something in your home that you’d like to turn into a design element?  Send me an email, I would love to help!

Thanks for visiting, Jackie

3 comments » | style

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