A SALTBOX

I'm a sucker...

2012-02-24T04:30:00.004-07:00

If you have been reading my blog for a while and have seen my home, you know I'm a complete sucker for custom wall paneling. I love it and I think every home should have some type of wainscoting whether it be part of the wall or all the way to the ceiling, in one room or in all rooms. I believe it has a way of completely transforming a lackluster space into looking very classic, custom and eternally gorgeous!

I try to talk most clients into doing some type of wainscoting to spice up the place and to give their space more of a dramatic "after" look. I am working with a client right now who has just finished adding some classic wainscoting to her nook and living room. I'm really excited to share the "after" photos when the project is complete.

I keep looking around my home and coming up with more ideas of where I eventually want to add some more wall paneling. It truly is an inexpensive way to really give your home a custom feel and add instant character!

I spent too much time on Houzz drooling over all the images of homes that have implemented custom wainscoting. I wanted to share some of my favorite images with you!

Image

There are many more ideas on my pinterest board!

Any fun weekend plans? I will be hanging out with these three mess makers and cleaning my house. I need to make some plans!

My boy is obsessed with food and anything to do with food :)

Stylish window coverings...

2012-02-20T20:35:00.011-07:00

Last week I went over to my friend Mandy's house for a lunch/play date. I didn't bring my "real" camera with me but I asked her if I could take my phone around and take pictures of her cute home. They moved into this home last year and have completely remodeled it. They have done such an incredible job! Mandy has such great style and her home is proof of that, I love all the details.

She has sewn all of the window coverings in her home. You would think she ordered them all from a high-end catalog, they look so professional and flawless! I love all the different window covering styles she used through out her home.

Now that she has tackled most of the projects in her home she has the time to sew window coverings for you. If you are in need of some quality window coverings, you should email Mandy at rigby.mandy@gmail.com. Her website isn't up and running yet but trust me she does an amazing job!

I love the master bathroom with the penny round Carrara marble tiles and the mirrored console with the cute cafe curtains!

Mandy used a stencil to create this look, I love how it turned out!

I wish you could see these roman shades in person, they are made from a heavy white linen. I love the way they hang!

I love the scalloped detail and cute fabric on this window covering in her daughter's room.

Mandy used fabric from Restoration Hardware to make these cafe curtains, they look so nice!

A pretty textured lamp...

2012-02-17T04:30:00.001-07:00

This week has been very uneventful except for today when I hit up the trusty old Home Goods. It was really a miracle, I only found one thing that I wanted to take home and that was this pretty white lamp. I love the shape and the cool texture. As soon as I saw it, I knew that it would have to come home with me! Besides the lamp, there wasn't anything begging for me to purchase. I will have to go back in a few weeks to check out more of the Spring goods.

In other exciting news, I found these pretty pillows for a client on etsy. I so badly didn't want to part with them but they do look really great in her home. I love the funky chevron print and the combination of the two patterns and colors together!

*I am so beyond excited about a "huge" opportunity that is coming up. I will wait to share the details until it is confirmed!

I hope you all have a wonderful, long weekend. I'm looking forward to spending time with my husband!

A guest post from Arcadian Lighting....

2012-02-13T08:32:00.005-07:00

If you haven't heard of Arcadian Lighting before or its just been a while, I would recommend checking out their website, it is chalk full of unique and beautiful lighting options. Jessica has put together a post full of great ways to pull some faux fur into your home. After reading over this post and staring at the images, I am now craving some faux fur around this place!

Hi there! I'm Jessica, a writer for Arcadian Lighting, a website providing a huge selection of affordable light fixtures. Today I'd like to share with you a selection of interiors with faux fur details. There's something very eye-catching and tactile about faux fur that makes it a wonderful choice for decorating your home. I hope you enjoy!

The very basic layout of this bedroom takes on a whole new feel when you add in a fur blanket. But the soft brown color of the fur keeps it very casual and cozy.

This vignette is all about glitz and glamour with its golden decor and fur throw. The sparkling pillows are a lovely accent.

The warm tawny color of this faux fur blanket works perfectly with the golden light fixtures and starburst mirror. The sparkling ceiling light is simply stunning.

The brilliant lime shades in this living room are so modern and energetic. The grey faux fur throw adds an extra bit of texture to balance out the flat geometric shapes throughout the room.

This spacious bathroom has an added touch of luxury with the cushioned seat, faux fur throw and tray of fresh fruit in the middle of the room.

An elegant black canopy and pink headboard give this room a bit of drama and romance. The white faux fur blanket is especially inviting. I love the sparkling three light lamp on the nightstand.

This modern and chic living room is full of sumptuous textiles, from the velvet sofa, to the faux fur throw to the silken curtains. Soft ambient lighting from a unique pendant light and fresh cut flowers please the senses, as well.

Inspired by wildlife, this bedroom has a very eclectic and lively atmosphere. The all-white walls and furnishings help keep the faux animal dÈcor from becoming too overwhelming. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

What do you think of faux fur? For more interior design inspirations and a huge selection of lighting fixtures for every room, stop by Arcadian Lighting today!

Cool wallpaper alert....

2012-02-10T04:30:00.000-07:00

Wallpaper has made a come back in a big way and I don't think it's leaving anytime soon. Have you checked out this line of wallpaper by Flat Vernacular? I was perusing my favorite wallpaper store's blog and they were featuring this line, I was so impressed with all of the options, it's like custom artwork for your walls.

I wish I was brave enough to put some of this beautiful wallpaper in my home. I get too afraid to make the commitment because I change my mind every hour when it comes to design related decisions for my home. Maybe I could take baby steps and line the back of a bookshelf or possibly create some artwork by framing some of these gorgeous pieces. Either way, I must think of a way to use some of this pretty paper!

What are your thoughts on wallpaper? Love it/hate it? If you have it in your home, how have you liked living with it?

Home Goods rarely disappoints!

2012-02-08T04:30:00.001-07:00

I am still trying to pull together pieces for my front room. I'm sure once I'm finally done with this room, I will want to change it up once again. That is the really hard part about constant exposure to the design world. You either want to continually change up your decor/furniture or you want to move and start over. This has been a really good outlet for me to design other people's spaces. I can get out all the creative energy working in their homes.

I found this great coffee table from West Elm for a steal. A coffee table was on the list but I wasn't having much luck finding one that was the right style. I have been wanting to add some artwork to this room so I hit up Home Goods. I love this light canvas I found. The colors work well with what I have going on and it was only $40! I'm not sure if this location will be the final destination but until I can come up with another plan, it might just live here!

Floor runners with a purpose...

2012-02-07T04:30:00.004-07:00

I've had this idea stuck in my head, I know it's nothing new and has been done before but I like to think I came up with the idea...I love the idea of using a floor runner at the foot of the bed running horizontally with a bench, trunk or two small ottomans on top. I think it looks great to have a rug underneath your bed that is quite a bit larger but what about using a floor runner to achieve the same sort of look and to cut cost? I think it would look equally as good and would cost a fraction of the price.

I went online to find some pictures to demonstrate this example and really... I could not find one, maybe I'm onto something. I have seen runners on the side of the bed but not at the foot of the bed?...Have you seen this or done this look before?...Pretend that you haven't :)

I love all of the looks of the runners below and all of them are surprisingly affordable. The next bedroom I design will hopefully have a runner at the foot of the bed to showcase this "new" (wink, wink) idea...

Crate and Barrell

Overstock

Garnet Hill

Via

Obviously the large rug looks beautiful underneath this bed but if you are on a budget, why not opt for a runner at the foot of the bed instead of a full size rug?

I'm craving some Spring around here...

2012-02-02T04:30:00.002-07:00

Alright... I am ready for the flowers to start blooming, the sun to start shining, the dark clouds to go away, the temperatures to start rising and some cheery color to be welcomed in! Winter, I just can't hang with you much longer...

Via

Fashionable clothing for kids...

2012-01-30T04:30:00.003-07:00

I love shopping for kids clothes way more than I love shopping for myself. Small things are always so much cuter! I am a bargainista when it comes to a lot of things and that includes my kids clothing. I love to dress them fashionable but hate spending the big bucks. They are not the easiest on their clothes and they are growing faster than I can keep up with so I love when I stumble across clothing that is quality, nice looking and also fits the bill. Sometimes I justify buying a little more clothes than necessary for my oldest Chloe because I know they will eventually be passed down to Estella and then down to my cute niece! I really have not had to buy Estella much clothing.

I was super excited when I received an email from crewcuts that they were having 40% off their sale prices. I jumped online and purchased the clothing pictured for Target prices. I think their quality is great and you can't beat the attractive styles that they have for kids!

I especially love to buy dresses. There is something so sweet about a little girl in a dress! I rounded up 6 dresses that I would love to have for my daughters all under $25. I never spend over $25 for any one clothing item for my kids so this was fun to come up with a little collage of affordable and unique dresses. I love the various colors, patterns, and styles!

1. Tea 2. Old Navy 3. Hanna Andersson 4. Gap 5. Forever 21 6. crewcuts

Chloe was thrilled when I asked her to stop playing with her toys to come over for a picture in her cute new skirt :)

I am still trying to locate a store that sells cute clothing for boys. I don't know if that quest will ever be over. What about you, where is your favorite place to shop for kids clothing?

Before and after: A living room with a bright future..

2012-01-25T04:30:00.002-07:00

I just finished up working on this lovely living room makeover. I had a lot of fun pulling together pieces and putting a fresh new spin on this space. With the help of my client, we were able to transform her living room in two weeks time.

I think the first and most important step to re-designing a room is to change the paint color. I don't know about you but I'm ready for a light color palette to take over the world. Maybe it's the lack of sun exposure during these wintry months but I'm ready to let the light in!

The existing paint color was in the brown family so the first item of business was to decide on a paint color to really brighten up the space. We decided on agreeable gray by sherwin williams. After seeing this color in my sister in laws new house, I have decided this might just be my go to color for a while.

My client wanted to bring in some dimension to the wall behind her couch, we decided on a fairly simple design using wall molding. My client went hard at work re-painting the entire room, including the mantle, adding 6 inch base boards and tackling the wall molding all in a couple day's time. Not only did she work hard on all of the above but she managed to sell all of her existing furniture pieces on the local classifieds so we didn't have to worry about where to move it all. I love people that just get the job done and she is for sure one of them!

My strategy to really change the look of this room was accomplished by adding subtle texture, bringing in new updated furniture and decor pieces, adjustments to the layout, and using a new refreshing color palette.

Nikole was so great to work with, we were both really happy with the end result!

BEFORE

AFTER

If you are interested in my design services, please email me at stacichavez@ymail.com

Project sneak peek...

2012-01-23T04:30:00.001-07:00

I finished up a living room design for a client this past weekend. By the time we were finished it was too dark for pictures. I am going to go back to her house this week and take pictures during the day time. I had a lot of fun putting together this space, I'm excited to share the rest with you!

Hope you all had a great weekend!

The big black box...

2012-01-18T06:56:00.012-07:00

I get asked this question frequently: How do you decorate the wall and fill in the space around a media console? This can be tricky...I don't think the TV should be the focal point of the room. I like the idea of creating symmetry so the room feels balanced and your eye is drawn to other pieces rather than just the big black box.

My friend had me come over to her house to give her suggestions on what to do with this long wall with vaulted ceilings. First, I suggested that she get a media console with at least a 72" width. This would be a good storage solution and help use up some of the wall space.

Adding texture and dimension through either wallpaper or wall paneling would make things interesting. Since the wall is on an angle, I suggested going from the floor up with wallpaper or wall paneling and stopping at the lowest point where the wall meets the ceiling and making a straight horizontal line from that point going across. I would cap off the wallpaper or paneling up top with molding that is the same width as the floor molding.

If I were to go the wallpaper route, I would go with a light neutral tone with a simple design, grass cloth would be a beautiful option as well. If I were to go with the wall paneling, I would probably suggest a simple ship lap pattern.

I am no pro at maneuvering my way around olioboard to create moodboard's there is a lot I still need to figure out. Here are a few options I came up with.

Tip: I think it works to arrange seating and furniture pieces on the same side of the TV console even if your couch is facing the TV. This allows the console not to be the focal point and is a good way to integrate and at the same time ignore the giant black box.
If built-ins are not in the budget, I like the idea of using floating shelves filled with art, books and pretty accessories. This helps to add interest to the wall, create symmetry and divert some of the attention away from the TV.

Do you have any design ideas or suggestions for this common problem?

A butterfly paper punch, glue, and some pretty paper...

2012-01-16T04:30:00.001-07:00

is the perfect recipe to keep your kids busy for hours. Who would have known that these three ingredients would make 3 wild kids perfectly content? Chloe has such a creative personality, she did a great job lining the butterflies and gluing them in rows according to color and pattern to create a pretty little picture. Eli even jumped on board, I think he was gluing the butterflies to the counter top. Whatever makes him happy works for me as long as it's nothing too destructive.

I'm working on a client's living room. We are making some good progress, I'm really excited about how it's all coming together. Can't wait to share pictures coming up soon. Hope you all had a wonderful weekend! Mine went too fast!

I love these three beyond words!

The virgin bar cart...

2012-01-12T04:30:00.005-07:00

I do not drink but I am a big fan of bar carts for decoration purposes. I picked up this bar cart because I was so attracted to the art deco look, size, the mirrored shelves, the shape and the casters. I wanted to find a unique table to go under the circles mirror and in between my chairs so I was excited when I came across this beauty. I had my husband pick it up and he kept asking "are you sure?" Followed up by "I trust you"... He is slowly but surely learning that little of what I do makes sense. Sometimes I don't trust myself when it comes to decorating my own home so I was a little sceptical but I do like the sparkle it brings to the room.

I decorated it with some finds from around the house until I find some permanent decor to take occupancy. I want to find a table lamp and some unique accessories but maybe if I decide to get really wild, I will forgo the decor and stock this baby full of Diet Coke and Root Beer:)

Just in case you need some more bar cart inspiration, I found some images to convince you that you may just need one of your own.

1. 2. 3. 4.

A modern day Prairie home: Under construction

2012-01-09T04:30:00.000-07:00

I have family with some really good taste and this home is no exception! My sister and brother in law have built and sold three homes prior to the fourth that they are currently working on. I have to say that I have been impressed with all the homes they have built and designed previous to this one. With every new home comes a unique and different design concept. This prairie style home with the Frank Lloyd Wright influence, the overhanging eves, long horizontal lines, open floor plan and the central chimney, definitely is my favorite.

I love to see creativity when it comes to coming up with a unique exterior design concept that doesn't look like all of the neighbors. I have always been a big fan of taking a classic historic home style and putting a modern day spin on both the exterior and interior. I wish all the new residential builders would catch on to the fact that its okay to build homes that have different colored exteriors, floor plans, personality and style. How much more appealing is it to drive through a neighborhood with all different styles of homes than a neighborhood that looks the exact same. Don't get my started...

My brother in law Tyler is a talented artist with a vision for home design. His family owns a residential construction company in Kaysville Utah called Country West Construction.

Can't wait to see what their next home is going to look like in a couple years.

I will go back and take pictures and post them when the home is complete.

I would love your opinion...

2012-01-05T09:13:00.008-07:00

I feel like I have a mental block when it comes to decorating my own house. I can easily give advice to others about their home's and know what would look good but when it comes to mine, I struggle to figure things out.

I sold the mulit colored colored rug in my entryway because the colors have been driving me nuts. I initially bought the rug when we first moved in and I had not figured out what color scheme I was going for in my front room. Now that I have invested in some pieces the rug had to be out of the picture.

Here's whats going on right off the entryway since it might be hard to tell from the pictures. I have a green couch, gray chairs, the tall console table is a weathered gray and my carpet is a really dark brown.

I need to find another flat weave type rug since the door opens over the rug. Have any of you design enthusiast come across a rug that you think would look good with what I have going on? I am always in a hurry to finish things up and knowing me I will just buy something to get it done and it probably won't be the right choice. I would love to know your opinion!

Thank you!

A little picture of what the rug looked like before...

A sea grass bench and some angel wings...

2012-01-04T04:30:00.000-07:00

I have been trying to finish up this little girls room. I had a few ideas of what I wanted to put at the end of Chloe's bed. I thought about maybe doing a bench, two poufs or possibly some ottoman cubes. I was looking online at the local classifieds and came across this sea grass bench. It was brand new and they were only asking $40. I loaded my kids up and had to go grab it, I couldn't pass it up! The quality is awesome and I like the warmth and texture it brings to her room.

Onto the angel wings... when I was doing my Christmas shopping, I came across these metal and wood carved angel wings. I looked at them and kept on shopping. I didn't see any other displays of them through out the store, I think they were the only ones left. I thought about them for several days and had to go back. They are so unique and I love the gold color and thought they would be perfect for Chloe's room. I was so relieved to find them in the same place when I went back to the store. I gave them to her for Christmas, I don't think a 5 year old cares about decor but she actually did really like them, phew!

My husband thinks her room looks too grown up. I know it does and it's not too exciting for a little girl but she is a 20 year old trapped in a little 5 year old body so it fits her well. She has always been wise beyond her years. I think she is smarter than I am. Half the questions she asks, I don't know the answer too. Maybe she will just skip the teen years! Maybe I should find some pictures of Dora the Explorer to frame :)

I found this cool quilted looking vase at Crate and Barrel that I grabbed for her dresser. I took the picture of coral a few years back in Mexico and framed it in a ikea frame. Now I need to find a unique mirror to hang above her dresser. Have you checked out the mirrors on Kirklands website? They have some pretty cool mirrors and the prices aren't bad!

My sister's living room: Updated

2012-01-02T04:30:00.002-07:00

After I finished working on my sister's living room, I was looking over the pictures and realized there was a missing piece. The rug needed an anchor so it didn't look like it was floating in the middle of the room.

We set out to find a coffee table to give the room a more polished/finished appearance. The beautiful, reclaimed coffee table from Pottery Barn was the perfect size and scale for the space. I think the room looks more pulled together now with the added table.

I wanted to find some decorative accents for the new coffee table and more to add to the console table. I love styling furniture pieces with pretty finds! I have been spotting a lot of the wire bird cage look going on. I picked up this cute little cage along with the industrial metal basket to house books for an extra boost of color and texture. My sister is going to find a large candle or plant to put inside the cage. Do you have any other ideas of what would look good to put inside one of these? Also, we tried several different stores for some decorative boxes to put on the bottom of the console table. We had no luck but we are going to keep looking, I think the boxes will look great!

By the way, I love my wide angle lens. Before, I was only able to capture part of this room. It's perfect that I can shoot the whole space rather than just sections at a time.

My only New Year's resolution...

2011-12-31T05:00:00.001-07:00

I make really lofty New Year's resolutions. My main goal for 2012 is to start wearing lipstick, I know this is huge! I need to grow up and face the fact that yes I am in my thirties and Mentholatum is no longer going to cut it. Plus, I need a pop of color to add to this wintry white face of mine.

From now on, lipstick is going to be a part of my morning make -up routine. I am not going to make any other goals because I don't want to be too disappointed if the goals aren't met. If I stop wearing lipstick in a month, I don't think the guilt will set in too thick. I know, I'm really ambitious!

For real, do you have any lipstick brands or colors that you swear by? I am really new to this lipstick phenomena. Wet and Wild was probably the last lipstick brand that I bought.

The following images serve as my lipstick inspiration...

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Hope you all have a wonderful New Year's Eve!!

Chrismas morning re-cap...

2011-12-28T08:52:00.013-07:00

We had such a great Christmas. My kids are at such a fun age! They were so excited Christmas morning to wake up to their new found treasures. I'm glad they haven't hit the expensive electronic phase, they are still into stuffed animals, games and toys. Eli, my 18 month old could of cared less about the presents. He is so into food right now, he could eat all day. He was in the kitchen the whole time trying to find something to eat.

Chloe really wanted me to get a picture of her and Stella with all her old and new stuffed animals lined up on the stairs. Chloe said "Mom sometimes I think my stuffed animals might be real", I will let her believe that! She has such an attachment to those things!

I was super spoiled and got a wide angle lens. I am so excited to say the least. I always wish that I could take a picture of a whole room in one shot instead of just sections. I had fun experimenting with it and can't wait to use it in future design projects. Now I need to go re-take all of the pictures of my house. That would mean that I need to clean and right now my house looks like a bomb went off with all the toys scattered everywhere. I told myself I wasn't going to worry about cleaning up all the toys this week that means that they are everywhere! I 'm trying to not let it bug me, Chloe is out of school this week so as long as they are entertained playing with them, I'm good!

Its kinda sad that Christmas has already come and gone. All the prep work, parties, Christmas festivities came and went so fast. January, February and March are such long, cold months in Utah. I will have to figure out how to keep the kids entertained and make time go fast. Can't wait until Spring/Summer!

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas!

Thank you!

2011-12-24T12:38:00.003-07:00

So many cute cards have been sent, I love every single one!

Merry Christmas!

Guess who made a surprise visit to our house...

2011-12-23T05:00:00.000-07:00

Yep, Santa Clause! The kids were so ~~scared~~ excited to see him! He dropped by the house when Chloe got home from school to check up on things, drop off some treats and ask the kids one last time to what they would like. Stella wants a dolly and Chloe wants an "ugly" doll... yes, there is such a thing I just found out. Their list changes weekly, last week zhu zhu pets were on top of the list. They were really excited for the first 5 minutes and then went back to playing as if Santa were a regular guest that comes over all the time.

Their faces crack me up in these pictures. Chloe always puts her fingers in her mouth when she's nervous and Stella looks very reluctant! I love this time of year with kids, they make everything seem so much more magical!

Goodbye Santa, until next year!

I'm feeling really official...

2011-12-21T05:00:00.003-07:00

I was excited to find my little box of stylish mini cards in the mail yesterday and they came in the cutest packaging. I have been wanting to order business cards for some time now. I forget that you can do almost anything online in this day and age. I dreaded coming up with a design for my cards and figuring out a place locally to get them printed.

I started to do a little research online and came across moo.com. The website had exactly what I had in mind. They had quite a few designs to choose from. I love the abstract print that I chose and as an added bonus they were very affordable. There are about 8 different colored designs that came in the box. I love the small size, why is it that things that are mini are so dang cute? The website was very user friendly and my shipment came really fast.

Do you have your own business cards? If so, do you have a favorite website that you order your cards from? Am I totally behind the times and business cards are a thing of the past?

Before and after: An unoccupied living room takes on a new vibe...

2011-12-19T05:17:00.001-07:00

Fortunately, the empty living room was not bad to start out with. The paint, flooring and fireplace were in great shape. The goal of this room was to create a space where both modern and traditional pieces could coexist. I have become less afraid of mixing styles.

I relied on the design board I had created previous to starting this project. The plan was to stick with a neutral color palette and use silver tones as accents. The tricky part was to try and make the room look interesting by layering textures and materials while remaining within the same color range.

I used existing pieces such as the chairs and sofa and was left to fill in the rest of the blanks. I did not want the room to feel cramped or cluttered so I set out to find statement pieces to showcase.

In my opinion, you can never go wrong with the arc lamp. I love the mid century vibe it brings to a space. I was stoked to find this unique coffee table at a local consignment store, I love the shape and the spindly legs. The lovely Moroccan leather pouf is such a fun accent piece that could double as a footstool. The subtle variations in color and the embroidered design really make this such a pretty piece. The oblong mirror with the wiry frame add some fun texture to the mantle. The goal was to find a really unique mirror that was the right scale to accommodate the width of the fireplace. I had a lot of fun picking out all the accent decor pieces to add character and style to this pretty room!

This was my first attempt at styling bookshelves. It was fun to transform the empty wall shelves into a interesting and unique display of artful objects and books. Bookshelves can add height to a room and become the focal point as well as a statement piece.

I did this plate display on my clients kitchen wall...

I really enjoyed designing this living room and the opportunity to work with my client Emilie!

I am still currently offering my design services at a discounted rate to gain more experience and build my portfolio. Email me at stacichavez@ymail.com for rates.

Stylish Toronto home tour...

2011-12-16T08:27:00.008-07:00

I realize this Toronto home tour might be old news to a lot of you. I know I have pinned the nursery and kitchen on separate occasions through pinterest, I had no idea all of these gorgeous room's belong to one home.

What caught my eye was the stylish contemporary style with the pops of color, the contrasting hues, the pendant lights and wall sconces in the kitchen, the simple decor in the dining room and the style of the buffet table with the abstract artwork above.

I don't know where to begin with the nursery, I wouldn't change a thing. I bought a bird-cage chandelier for my play room and when I saw this image, I knew that I made a good choice. The owner of this home made this lovely fixture. I would love to find the tutorial. I love the flow of the nursery, the Schumacher wallpaper, the citron drapes, the dark floor with the contrasting light colored walls.

I am a fan of the neutral colored master bedroom with the pops of green. With such a neutral backdrop you could have a lot of fun experimenting with different colored accent pieces and switching them out when you are ready for a change.

What do you think of this home, do you like the style?

Come back on Monday, I will be featuring another before and after of a client's living room that I recently finished.

Have a good weekend!

He has me wrapped around his little finger...

2011-12-14T08:16:00.005-07:00

My boyfriends impromptu photo shoot went really well. He was totally happy and cooperative the whole time.

I seriously cannot believe how fast Eli is growing up, it makes me so sad! I took him to the Doctor and he is in the 80'th percentile for weight and off the charts for height. He will probably outgrow me by the time he is 5. Already, he seems stronger than me! I have to hold him as much as I can before it will become too physically impossible. I love this 18 month old baby boy no matter how crazy he makes me!

Before and after: A fresh new look....

2011-12-12T05:00:00.003-07:00

This was a really fun makeover! It makes my day when I leave my clients home and they are extremely happy with the end result. Have I told you how much I love designing? It is always on the brain!

We were working with a small budget so the goal was to keep things simplistic, light, and collected. I think a room can be just as cohesive and stylish when designed with minimal accessories, furniture, artwork etc... than combining a room filled with all of the above

BEFORES

AFTERS

I love to mix materials and textures to give a room depth. The texture on the mirror adds just the right amount of interest to be the focal point of the room.

I added twigs and placed them in a vibrant vase on top of a bar cage side table to bring a bit of the outdoors in. A few decorative pillows can sometimes be the answer to adding pattern and color to a space.

My client had the sofa and chairs with the long lean lines and minimal cushioning. I wanted to maximize the minimalist look by keeping things simple and clean. My client went hard at work by painting all of oak trim in a pure white and she also re-painted all of the walls in this really pretty grey color from Sherman Williams called "amazing grey". The carpet was replaced with the gorgeous dark flooring. What a huge impact new paint and flooring made!

I wanted to add visual interest to the room by using a rug with subtle texture and color to anchor the coffee table and tie together the colors used through out the room.

Of course I couldn't help but hang the infamous Einstein picture on the wall.

We were able to hang her cute family pictures on this wall that was the perfect space.

I love decorating with books! I purchased colorful books from the thrift store to add height to the pretty, little accent table.. another inexpensive way to display decor.

My client is having a baby in March and she has started to decorate the nursery. She has done such a great job, I had to snap a few photos. The wallpaper is to die for it is darling and she also made the cute pictures on the wall. Very impressive!

Ashlie was so great to work with, she has such a fun style!

If you are interested in my design services, please contact me at stacichavez@ymail.com

My sister's home tour is being featured....

2011-12-09T06:47:00.005-07:00

Check it out on 6th street design school...

Have a wonderful weekend!

The Holiday decor at the Chavez home is....

2011-12-08T05:00:00.005-07:00

Nothing too impressive, here are the highlights...Right now Home Goods has some really cool, unique, decorative Christmas trees. I want to go back after Christmas and buy some more of them. I like that they are tall and made of different materials.

I went to buy some festive pillows and I came across this dog pillow that says "Stella" on it, I couldn't pass up a pillow with my daughters name on it. I know it's totally random and not doesn't fit with the Christmas theme but than again my home is pretty random..

I let my kids decorate the tree this year and overall they did a pretty good job. If you look up close you can see stuffed animals, zhu zhu pets, gift tags and some other miscellaneous items stuck in the tree. And of course we hung the stockings by Mr. Moose....

Come back Monday, I'm going to have a good before and after of a client project I recently finished!

Before and after: Goodbye dark, hello light...

2011-12-05T05:00:00.004-07:00

My sister Lisa's living room is done! I had so much fun putting together pieces for this room. She was such a good sport to go along with my suggestions and wasn't afraid to step outside of her comfort zone. She wanted a fresh, light color palette to really brighten things up! I would say the goal was accomplished.

To remain in budget, Lisa chose to stick with her sofa and have new slipcovers made along with new throw pillow covers. I added light creme drapes to both soften and dress up the window. We moved the sofa to a different wall and made the sideboard table and sun burst mirror the focal point of the room. I searched for new landscape artwork and was super excited to find these stunning pieces to tie in all the light colors used through out the room.

The slope armchairs with the sleek silhouette make the room appear more spacious as opposed to the old over sized chairs. We used an ottoman to double as a side table in between the two chairs topped with fresh flowers to brighten the space.

The pale blue wool rug with the diamond pattern adds interest to the room without being too over powerful. I fell in love with the carved wood artwork above the chairs, I knew they would be the perfect fit for this room! The vases and topiary used on the sideboard table add visual interest, scale, as well as texture and color.

I think this room turned out really pretty!

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

*To be fair to my clients, I do not share product sources. Thanks for understanding!

I just finished up with several more clients and I am really excited with the results. I will share the pictures with you soon! I have two spots open in January. If you are interested in my design services, contact me stacichavez@ymail.com

The prettiest little dressed up home...

2011-12-02T05:00:00.005-07:00

I need to get working on feeling the Christmas spirit over here! I don't know what my deal is this year, hopefully sooner than later. Anyone else struggling? My focus needs to shift from the material side of the season to the real purpose. Anyway, back to the material side of things...

I fell in love with this home in Maryland that is dressed up perfectly for the Holidays. Of course I'm in love with the saltbox facade and the wreaths placed on every window. I will be copying this idea for next year. I am going to make myself get motivated to shop for Christmas decorations as painful as it is, once the prices get slashed after the Holidays. I am in love with the wreath idea!

The rich gold hues paired with white on the table setting look so crisp! I love the idea of using tree trimmings and twigs in vases.

The owner made this incredible tree skirt from a vintage Hawaiian skirt she found at a thrift store. Who thinks of these things? Brilliant!! I love the colors and pattern, so unexpected for a tree skirt but it totally works!

The use of the color green through out the home really makes all of the Holiday decor look very streamlined and put together even if the decor isn't necessarily holiday related. What a great idea to use a sash to dress up furniture to look festive.

I'm dying over the back of the chair, it looks as if a tea towel was used to drape over the top, I love it paired with stylish ribbon and a cute ornament.

I want to move in this home for the Holidays, I wouldn't change a thing!

What about you, do you have any Holiday decor ideas you want to share that are 'out of the box' no pun intended...

Thanksgiving weekend re-cap

2011-11-28T08:05:00.015-07:00

We had such a fun and adventurous Thanksgiving weekend, my sister invited us to her home in St. George. The weather was gorgeous in the high 60's the whole time. The kids had so much fun with their cousins swimming and playing at the Sand Dunes.

I did not edit this picture, I just took it at the perfect time...

The kids all wanted to be burried. After about 5 minutes of realizing that they couldn't move, they all wanted to get out. I thought it would be the perfect time for all the adults to go grab lunch and do some shopping. The sand dunes are located in Snow Canyon, I think the scenery provides the best backdrop for pictues, I took a ton of the kids and they turned out so cute!

Chillin at the house...Eli looks like he's ten with his new short haircut. I attempted to trim his hair and screwed up so bad that I had to shave it.

We were so spoiled and lucky on Saturday night. My generous brother in law surprised all the adults with a flight and tickets to go see La Reve in Las Vegas. I felt like I was on a game show and just won a mini-vacation. It didn't seem real.. We ate at Wolf Gang Puck's and it was delicious, I would for sure go back. La Reve was such a surreal and amazing show, I loved it. The whole performance is done in water, the special effects, diving and acrobatics were unreal. I was able to stay awake and that is huge for me!

I love my family so much and love spending time with them!

I am grateful!

2011-11-23T05:00:00.001-07:00

I thought these images from current and past issues of Martha beautifully capture the essence of a fancy Thanksgiving tabletop and feast. I love the use of seasonal colors and items.

I have more than I deserve to be thankful for this season: Here are my top 5..

1. Family

2. Religion

3. Health

4. Friends

5. Home

Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Silver, Fieldstone and Fog

2011-11-21T05:00:00.002-07:00

I have been spotting these three subtle, soft colors popping up in interiors from the pages of design magazines and also in the world of fashion. I think I'm ready to change some of my home decor items to a more subdued, non-flashy color palette. There is something really soothing and cozy about these pretty tones.

I have been working on a client's home and have geared most of my purchases to reflect these soft hues. I'm sure once Spring/Summer comes around, I will be ready to add some more "pops" of color. If you think these tones are lackluster and dull, I believe the following images illustrate how pretty this delicate color scheme can be displayed.

More of my sister's lovely home

2011-11-17T05:00:00.003-07:00

I spent this past weekend with my Mom and sisters on our annual girls vacation in St. George Utah. We ventured off to Zions National Park and Las Vegas too. We had such a fun time laughing, shopping, hiking, eating... it's so nice to spend a weekend away not having to worry about any schedules, kids, meals etc... I love to spend time with these ladies! The only bad part is that now I want to plan another vacation, real soon!

I know I have showed pictures of my sisters home before when I was staying there last. Her home has had even more decorating take place since my last stay. I could have taken many more pictures of the beautiful details. Her home belongs in a magazine, it truly is a stunning home. The talented designers at Heritage Home and Garden are responsible for doing such a gorgeous job with this amazing home!

Guest Casita

Guest bedrooms

Poolside backyard

Basement family room

Basement kitchenette

Office

Guest bedroom

Master bath

Master bedroom

Front Entry

Stair landing

Back deck

Kitchen/Dining area/family room

The Girls trip crew...

We were spoiled and had the opportunity to fly in a private jet with gourmet cookies included!

Can't wait to go again next year!

Fall 2011 family pictures

2011-11-15T05:00:00.000-07:00

This post has nothing to do with design but a whole lot to do with the people that I love the most! We recently had our family pictures done. Why is it so hard to get one picture where we are all looking and smiling at the camera? I guess I may be asking a little much considering the ages of my kids. The pictures capture what life is like at this point in our lives and that truly is priceless. I am really happy with how they turned out, I can't ever have enough pictures of my kids. Now if I can figure out how to make them stop growing up so fast.

Guest Post: Jessie from Mix and Chic shares a designer tip...

2011-11-09T04:30:00.003-07:00

I am continually learning new design related tips and tricks I am all ears when it comes to advice that can help me create a more cohesive space in my home and in client's homes. There are always so many details to remember when decorating a space that it can easily become overwhelming and intimidating. I called on one of my favorite design experts to let us in on one of her favorite designer tips. I want to welcome Jessie over from Mix and Chic.

Hi everyone, I am Jessie, the author of Mix And Chic blog. I blog about chic and inspiring interiors, cool home decor products and anything interior design related. I was thrilled when Staci asked me to guest post on her lovely blog.

I am sure most of you have read or heard many useful tips and advise from designers on how to make a space looks more cohesive and beautiful from books, magazines, blogs or television. But do you know how and what makes a room truly stand out? There are of course many ways to create an outstanding space but the most common way to achieve that is to establish a focal point in a room, one of my favorite designer tips! How, you may ask?

Take a cue from this commercial space for example:

via

What is the first thing that jumps out at you? For most of us, it is the wall of illustrated over sized birdcages with the gorgeous wall sconces. With an interesting focal wall, it creates a huge drama and makes a room stand out. The same concept can be applied in our homes using a smaller scale in a less complex approach.

To establish a focal wall or focal point, one of the most common and effective ways often used by designers is to cover a single wall using wallpaper. It is less expensive than covering all the walls in a room and it instantly delivers a huge design impact. Take these rooms for example:

Fabulous, aren't they? Another approach is creating a gallery wall like this:

Or perhaps, create a grouping of display shelves with your favorite objects as the focal wall.

Looking for more creative ways to achieve a focal wall? Take them up a notch by pairing two ribbons as borders on a wallpapered wall with two wall sconces.

Or perhaps create a wall of leather using nail head trim details? The choice are really endless!

via

I hope you find inspiration in some these examples to create a focal wall in your own home. Transforming your space from ordinary to extraordinary is just a focal wall away!

Thanks for having me Staci! I had so much fun putting this post together!

Brrr, it's cold!

2011-11-08T04:30:00.004-07:00

This is my definition of cozy... what's yours?

Image source:

2.
3.
4.

Come back tomorrow, Jessie from Mix and Chic is going to be over here sharing one of her favorite designer tips.

Yes, more circles...

2011-11-07T04:00:00.008-07:00

I'm on a circles mirror kick, I guess this is my geometric shape of choice. I go through many, many phases and this is my current one. I was shopping at TJ Maxx and came across this unique mirror on clearance for $40, there was no way I could have made myself walk away from it, that would require a lot more self-control. I love shopping at TJ Maxx/Home Goods, it's like a treasure hunt everytime! I found the right location to hang this beauty, I had been on the hunt for either artwork or a mirror to go in between the two windows in our living room. Remember that I already have another gold circles mirror from Pier One Imports hanging in my entryway. I will officially not be buying any more circles mirrors for my house.
In case you want to join in on the club, I found some similar looking mirrors that fit the bill, each for $200 and under..

Entryway

Pier One mirror

I.O Metro

SimplyMirrors.com

Prettyclevordecor.com

Bellahomefashions.com

amazon.com

Do any of these mirrors stand out to you?

My home tour is being featured....

2011-11-04T05:30:00.001-06:00

Check it out on one of my favorite design blogs 6th street design school.

My bramble shade...

2011-11-03T05:00:00.002-06:00

Remember my cool lampshade I bought a while back? I found the perfect base, I was so excited! The pretty little shade has been hiding out in the closet, I had plans on putting the lamp in my front room but the colors went way better in Chloe's room.

I'm always inspired by handy women...

2011-10-31T05:00:00.004-06:00

Happy Halloween! I'm surprised my kids are still sleeping. My oldest is so excited to go trick or treating tonight. I'm excited to hang out with family and do our annual Halloween get together. The girls stay inside and eat lots of good food while the men take the kiddos out in the cold to get more unwanted candy. Hopefully you all have a fun-filled day! Onto the real post....

A while back I saw an image on Emily A. Clark's blog of a wall paneled headboard that she had seen on a home tour. Later, she had posted pictures of a reader that had repeated this same look in her daughters room. I'm a huge fan of wall paneling, I love the dimension and visual interest it adds to a room so naturally the images stuck in my head.

My friend was on the hunt for a headboard but nothing was quite clicking. I told her of a few local furniture stores that could potentially have the right fit. After no success, I had remembered the images of the headboards. I found the blog posts and forwarded them to her, she love what she saw and went to work. She had the necessary tools and paint for the project. Her out of pocket expenses for the mdf wood came to $30. Such an affordable project and I love the end result. I really like that she did the paneling a different color than the wall, I think it really pops! What an accomplishment that she built this herself. I would be too intimidated to tackle a project of this scope. I admire you ladies that aren't afraid to get out the hammer, saw, paint and create beautiful results!

image source

Friend's headboard

*Thank you to those who take the time to comment I LOVE to hear from you!

One unstoppable trend...

2011-10-26T07:08:00.013-06:00

It seems as if every design magazine lately has pages that are full of furniture pieces and rooms with nail head trim. I love the texture, sparkle and interest a little trim can add to outline a piece of furniture that could otherwise be overlooked. People are so creative to think of adding nail head to not only furniture but also doors, bulletin boards etc...What's your take on this trend? Do you like it?

Via

A rattan wrapped desk with nail head trim, two great textures combined.

Via

This is the first that I have seen nail head trim on a rug, very cool!

Via

The nailhead trim plus the pretty green color of this door looks incredible!

Via

The design added to this little table is a great statement piece.

Via

A nailhead trim bulletin board, this could be a easy DIY...and it looks so great!

Via

Love the nail head trim on the headboard and I want this pink Serena and Lilly rug for Christmas!

Fall Time...

2011-10-24T07:43:00.002-06:00

The weather here has been so gorgeous this fall, we have been able to be outside without jackets. I wish it could stay this nice all winter long. We went up the canyon last week to get our family pictures taken with my sister in law and her family too, it was such a pretty setting! I took some shots of the kiddos along the way, I love them lots!

I love a good before and after...

2011-10-20T05:00:00.012-06:00

I mentioned before that my sister and I have been working on re-designing her front room. The room is starting to take shape and I am loving the direction that it's going. Before her front room had a lot of dark tones and had a "heavier" feel. She wanted to lighten things up and head towards achieving a more modern and refreshing feel.
The existing couch is in great shape so my sister wanted to re-purpose the couch rather than spend the money on a new one. In many cases, furniture may just need a little face lift to breath new life into a space and this is exactly what happened. My sister enlisted the help of the talented Shelly to makeover her couch with new cushion slipcovers to go over the existing ones and to make these gorgeous pillows. I think she did an excellent job! I'm excited to show you the rest of the room we're getting really close to being done.

BEFORE...

AFTER...

Don't you think it feels good to reuse existing furniture pieces? I have been really happy with my rocking chair and love seat makeover done by the talented Katie. This has been the year of slipcovers and upholstery.

Penny tile

2011-10-19T05:00:00.005-06:00

I felt famous for a minute when I discovered my penny round kitchen back splash made a small debut on the well known blog 'Young House Love'. I then panicked for a moment when I realized that the picture of my kitchen that was featured under my home tour link was less than impressive. I still don't know why I decided to post that specific picture. The kitchen towel that was very visible in the picture looked like I just mopped the floor with it and than hung it up in it's disgusting state. There was a water jug on the floor, fingerprints all over the stainless steel appliances, my cell phone sitting on the kitchen island. I might be exaggerating a little but not much. Just wanted to redeem my kitchen, it really is not so bad. I'm getting the hang of "staging" a a room before pictures. Don't worry the other side of my kitchen that's not pictured is a total wreck!

I don't know if I have mentioned before but my husband built the cement counter tops in the kitchen by himself. He watched you tube videos and taught himself how, this was his first attempt. I really love how they turned out and would highly recommend them. My second choice for counter tops was carrara marble. I opted out of doing carrara because I read that because it's marble it scratches and stains easily. I did go with the carrara for my master bath and love it in there!

Penny tile in master bath

Happy Birthday Estella, I love you!

2011-10-17T06:00:00.008-06:00

My newest addiction...besides pinterest

2011-10-12T06:30:00.019-06:00

I was searching for a new addiction because I love to have a lot of addictions, he he. I decided I wanted to change up my blog header. I was up until 2 a.m the other night coming up with different designs, the new header I have up is the winner. I am not a night owl at all but I was having so much fun that I didn't want to go to bed. I learned a few things in my photoshop class. I created a button on my sidebar but cannot figure out how to do the html link. I jokingly asked my sister if she wanted a new header and she took me up on it, I designed a few options for her. If you see a new blog header every couple days, you will know that I need to find something more productive to do with my time.

Chloe made this fabulous header and really wanted me to post this on my blog, I should have gone with this one!

"LIVE WITH ART IT'S GOOD FOR YOU"

2011-10-07T09:08:00.009-06:00

This week has been so busy, I haven't been able to keep track of what day it is. I like to stay busy, I work better under pressure! The weather has been so cold and rainy. I'm looking forward to the nicer weather next week. I want to be able to take my kids out to enjoy the fall festivities.

I tracked down some artwork on pinterest that I would be thrilled to display in my home, all pieces are very affordable. Don't you think artwork has a way of bringing a room to life? I wish I was an artist, maybe in the next life. I love that my daughter can sit for hours drawing and coming up with her own "artsy" creations. I am always amazed at what you artist's out there create! What a unique and awesome talent I wish I possessed!

My sister purchased a couple of these pieces for her home. Can't wait to show you the big reveal of her front room that we have been working on the last few months. Just wanted to share these pieces with you, hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

I love this and couldn't agree more!

Images

Our Seattle getaway...

2011-10-05T06:30:00.005-06:00

I just got back from spending the weekend in Seattle with my sweet husband! We had a great time. I wasn't prepared for the cold weather there. I packed one light weight jacket and wore it the entire weekend. I was SO COLD! Everyone was wearing coats and boots. I left the 85 degree weather in Salt Lake not expecting the colder temps.

Some of the weekend highlights include: going to the Pike Place market and eating the best peach I think I have ever had, going to H&M more than once, eating at some great restaurants including Bennett's Pure Food Bistro, and Chaco Canyon Organic Cafe, going to Snoqualmie Falls, going to see the play "Saving Aimee", falling asleep 25 minutes into the play and leaving during intermission because I was so ridiculously tired (it really was a good play I just can't stay awake very well during plays and movies, it's a sickness) and lastly doing a little sight seeing....

Oh and I put a picture of black leggings because 90% of the woman there were wearing black leggings. I didn't' want to feel left out so I bought myself a pair. My husband usually never notices what people are wearing and he was observant enough to point out that the majority of girls were all wearing black leggings paired with a scarf and boots.

I went to Anthropologie and bought these gorgeous coasters. I have a fun project in mind that I can't wait to try out, I will post the results!

Have you ever been to Seattle? What was your favorite thing to do there?

My front room is starting to take shape!

2011-09-29T06:30:00.002-06:00

I have been helping my friend design her front room and I found these great wing back, nail head chairs. I texted her a picture and told her that she needed them for her room. She purchased them and it turned out that they looked way too big for her room. I was always complaining about how I needed some furniture pieces that were to scale with my front room's 20 foot ceiling. Anyway, we decided to swap chairs. I love the chartreuse chairs that I have had but they were not to scale and they happened to be the perfect size for my friends front room. Have you ever thought of swapping furniture with friends? You should try it!
I found this great West Elm arc lamp at Downeast Home for a steal. It didn't come with a shade so I found the drum shade at Home Goods. I want to find a cool coffee table, some side tables, artwork and possibly a mirror. Just wanted to show you the progress of this evolving room.

I love these kids!

2011-09-26T07:08:00.007-06:00

I am continually learning what a tough and rewarding job it is to be a parent. I had no idea what kind of job I was in for before I had my own kids. I feel a huge responsibility to teach my children well and lead them down the right path along the journey of life, I can't think of a higher calling in this life. In the craziness of this world I feel such a huge obligation to raise my children to be happy and to make good choices, this is a challenging job and I know these skills will not be learned from the world we live in. I love them to pieces so its worth every bit of anguish, guilt, happiness etc..that I feel on a daily basis!

Family room changes...

2011-09-20T20:57:00.010-06:00

I have been moving furniture around my family room since we moved in trying to figure out how to get this room to flow. I moved the gray linen couch from my front room into the family room. I don't think it's the perfect solution but it works for now. It is so easy for me to give other people advice and come up with solutions for their space. When it comes to my own house, I feel like I can't figure out furniture placement, scale, colors etc... I wonder why that is? I came across this Ralph Waldo Emerson canvas quote. I love the quote and it just so happens to fit the wall space I was looking to fill (I think)...

The really bad thing about having constant exposure to interior design ideas is that I want to continually change up things around my house and buy new stuff. Maybe I need to pick up a new, less expensive hobby! Oh and I would love a wide angle lens so I can capture the broad picture instead of just sections of interiors. Anybody have a wide angle lens that they love?

There are way too many cute bowls, plates, vases etc right now at Home Goods. It made me want to re-decorate my kitchen shelves too.

I want to be a "guest" so I can use these "guest towels"

2011-09-20T06:00:00.004-06:00

These fouta guest towels are too pretty to be "just" towels. I kind of want to get some to hang in my bathroom and put the ugly towels we really use to bathe underneath these beauties. Don't you think they would look pretty draped over a chair? Starting at $25 a pop, I don't think it's a bad idea to throw some of these around the house. I love all of the patterns and colors.

Image sources

A guest post from Susi over at Design Shuffle..

2011-09-16T06:00:00.003-06:00

If you haven't heard of Design Shuffle, you should head over to their website and check it out! Design Shuffle is an online community that features thousands of ideas and images of gorgeous interiors that are sure to inspire!

Copper is gaining popularity and showing off it's metal glow in homes across the globe.

Enjoy!

Hi, I'm Susi, a writer at Design Shuffle, where you can browse through our tens of thousands of photos and compile your favorite design inspiration for your next design project. As a writer for Design Shuffle, I get to share interior design ideas and trends with fantastic bloggers, like Staci here at A Saltbox. She asked me to do a guest post about decorating with copper. We're seeing it in a lot of new design projects, including copper hoods in the kitchen; copper lights in the living room; copper accents in the bath. Have you noticed this design trend? Are you a fan of copper? Is copper the new black? Here are some of my favorite copper embellished decors.

via Illums Bolighus

Copper is the new darling of metals in design. It's warm, reddish tone is a nice addition to modern and traditional spaces. Love this new penny copper shade designed by Tom Dixon.

via Anthropologie

The copper finish on this classic metal chair makes the design feel fresh. Copper is a warmer metallic than silver or stainless.

via Martha Stewart

Copper in the kitchen is a classic use. Copper cookware is a French made luxury for chefs and is proudly displayed hanging from pot racks.

via Vintage Tubs and Baths

Soaking tubs and claw foot tubs add a romantic, luxurious feeling to a bathroom. A copper soaking tub has a vintage, artisan style that looks amazing in lots of different bathroom designs.

via Segreto Finishes

A shiny copper hood looks beautiful in this cream traditional kitchen.

It has a warm, burnished color that adds an old world charm.

via Anya Adores

Copper piping is used to construct this contemporary mirror and vanity. Copper in the bathroom is a nice break from chrome and nickel.

via Pinterest

Shiny new penny copper sparkles against verdigris green that looks like copper with a rich patina. What a beautiful kitchen! One of my new favorite kitchen designs!

West Elm via

Copper isn't just a metal. Copper colored textiles and paints can add the warm metallic color to interiors. Look for pillows and accents to add a bit of copper to your decor.

The above post was supplied by Design Shuffle, a social network that showcases Los Angeles interior designers and New York interior designers and is a source of inspiration for all who love design.

Some things are coming together...

2011-09-13T13:49:00.007-06:00

I finally got the Pier One gold circles mirror hung. I am happy with the way it looks in my entryway. I think it has the perfect amount of detail and for the price I'm super happy!

The really bad thing about shopping for clients is that I end up shopping for myself too. I have been wanting some furniture pieces for my front room that are to scale with the 20 ft ceilings. I felt like I needed some substantial pieces to pull off the high ceilings that for some reason I had to have. I saw this table and thought it would fit nicely in my front room. It is 3 1/2 ft tall and really long. It was made by a local craftsman. I love the simplicity, quality, color and subtle detail.

I went to Home Goods and Ross and found some great, cheap accessory pieces for the table.

I saw this deer head in a rust color. I purchased it and brought it home and spray painted it white. It looks much better!

This room is slowly coming together...Wow, it can get expensive furnishing a new home!

Mood board for my sister's front room..

2011-09-09T08:03:00.002-06:00

Have you ever tried using Olioboard? I had been looking for an application that would let me drag and drop images to create a mood board and I came across Olioboard. It is really user friendly and already has millions of images stored that you can use to create a space. You can also drag and drop your own images. I have been helping my sister design her front room. She is ready for a change and wanted to completely change the look. Several of these pieces she has already purchased. This was the first board I have created using this program, there is a lot I need to figure out but it was fun using. I am excited for her front room transformation!

It never hurts to ask for a "better deal"

2011-09-07T14:10:00.010-06:00

The older I become the less timid I become of asking a store associate for a "better deal". I often find that the majority of the time they are willing to come down on the price. I love to decorate for myself and for my clients on a budget. It is like an adrenaline rush for me when I can come out of a store and score something of great value to me for a steal. I have really brushed up on my negotiating skills. Beautiful spaces don't have to cost a fortune and I do believe you can acquire great quality pieces with out paying an arm and leg.
When we were building our house, I envisioned having a commercial grade looking stove and high end appliances to coordinate. I read all the consumer reports of the brands that I was considering purchasing. I'm glad that I took the time to do that. Most all of the appliances got horrible reviews and were always in need of repair. I went with the middle grade appliances and so far have not had any problems.
My point is that truly you can get great quality beautiful pieces with out paying for the "name" and it is possible to decorate at least one room in your home the way you want without breaking the bank. You deserve to have one room that makes you smile and feel proud of!

Take this mirror for example. I have been eyeing this mirror from the first time that I saw it on the Pier One Imports website. They marked it down to $150. I wen to my local Pier One store and noticed it was the last one there on clearance. I left the store and still wanted to buy it the next day. I called the store to ask if they would give me an additional discount off the clearance price. It was a little damaged because one of the mirrors had come loose. They gave me half off the clearance price. SCORE! It was so easy to glue the little mirror back into place. I will take pictures of it once I have it hung.

What about you? Do you ever negotiate your purchases?

Totally random....

2011-09-01T02:30:00.004-06:00

I don't have a specific purpose why I am posting pictures of my kids eating corn. I had to grab my camera out the other night and take some photos of them eating just because they looked so cute and were so into every bite! Something us nerdy parents would take pictures of..
I know Eli needs a haircut!

My daughter is one of the most creative kids I know. She can sit for hours working on a craft or art project. She is so imaginative and comes up with the most clever and unique little projects. I always ask her advice on different "design" type things and I usually go with her opinion. She puts together colors, patterns and ideas that I would never have thought of. She was watching me when I was doing my little tile art project and the next day she started putting together this cute flower pattern, she even ironed the linen fabric herself. I am going to have her put together a grouping of three different pictures like this to hang in her room. I think she is a little genius ...and I think she is smarter and more responsible than I am!

Texture, color and design...

2011-08-29T02:30:00.003-06:00

Pinterest has fueled my love for texture, color and design. Just wanted to share some images with you that have accomplished all three characteristics. Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

All images via my pinterest

What to do with that leftover tile..

2011-08-24T02:30:00.001-06:00

I know I have mentioned before that I really love tile and I really mean it! There are endless amounts of gorgeous mosaics out there that need another purpose besides being slabbed on walls and floors, well at least I would like to think so.

What about using that pretty tile as wall art? I got thinking about this and thought I would try my hand at creating some artwork with penny round scraps left over from our bathroom and kitchen. Just so happens that the colors in the penny rounds coordinate perfectly with the fabric that I used for the pelmet boxes in my kitchen and family room.

This was a super easy little DIY. I had some linen fabric and an extra ikea frame on hand. After arranging the tile in a design, I plugged in the old glue gun and fastened the pieces to the fabric, mounted the fabric underneath the mat board and put it in place.

This piece of artwork is on a smaller scale, the only frame that I had was a 8x11. There will be more to come. I have tons of ideas of designs I want to create using different colors, sizes and textures. Looks like I will be hitting the local tile stores..

Bear Lake 2011

2011-08-22T22:31:00.015-06:00

Four days + 22 kids + 14 adults + one cabin= one fun and crazy vacation! We just got back from our yearly Bear Lake Utah family getaway. We look forward to going every year and have so much fun playing games, laughing, hanging out on the beach, boating, eating lots of junk food and getting totally annoyed by all the kids. I love spending time with my family and can't wait to do it again next year!

My Mom, sisters and sister-in-law.

All 21 grand kids...

My cute kids and handsome husband...

This is one of the many reasons why I love summer so much!

Fall fashion

2011-08-17T09:26:00.008-06:00

Looking forward to Fall time but not the season after...

Images via my pinterist

Bramble lighting and my front room design board..

2011-08-15T02:30:00.013-06:00

A few weeks ago me and my sister in law were on our way to Ikea and stopped at this store in Draper called Beds and more wholesale. Both of us saw this lampshade and had to have it. I love the design and color of it! I want to find a tall lamp base and put it in our front room. I bought it for a pretty good steal. The brand is called Bramble, the company has some pretty cool lighting.

These are some more pretty lamps from Bramble.

I had fun coming up with a design board for my front room based on the lamp shade and the green Macy's corona sofa that I currently have. If only this were all in the budget...

Sources:

1. Etsy Seller

7.Macy's

8.Wisteria

9.Etsy seller

It's a thrifty day...

2011-08-11T15:27:00.008-06:00

I found this and this book at the Thrift Store for $1 each. I could tell by the cover that I was going to like the images inside. Both books are from the 1960's. I thought that I would frame the pages and hang them in the playroom. That is one room that I have paid zero attention to. When we first moved in I did purchase the bird cage chandelier from Alice Lane. That is the only special treatment that room has received so far.

Speaking of Thrift Stores, my cute friend Marti purchased this eye catching lamp and made some changes to give it a new life. She painted the base and put new fabric around the shade. I love the finished product. Doesn't it look good? She spent a total of $25, I'm sold! I am a believer that you can make your home unique and pretty with out breaking the bank, you just have to get creative!

If you have any projects you would like me to share, email me at stacichavez@ymail.com

My sister's french country inspired home...

2011-08-09T02:30:00.006-06:00

We spent this past weekend at my sister's home. I'm still trying to decide if it was worth the 3 hour drive with three kids taking their turns crying and simultaneously crying, snacks stuck to the floor and in between the seats, fights breaking out, sugar induced meltdowns and no naps lasting more than 15 minutes long to finally arrive at Never land. I have learned my lesson that a road trip lasting longer than 3 hours is not in the cards for our family at this time unless we get a sound proof barrier in between the front and back seats.

Anway onto the purpose of this post.... No details were spared in the process of building this custom home, it is absolutely gorgeous! The landscaping makes you feel like you have escaped to Europe somewhere. I could sit outside on the porch for hours taking in the picturesque waterfalls, lavender field, and the limitless amount of trees and planting that has taken place. I took my camera on a tour and wanted to share my pictures with you!

Basement entrance just off the putting green.

The ever so scented lavender field. I can't remember exactly how many lavender plants were planted I want to say in the 300's.

There are planter boxes below most of the windows. Of course there is a wishing well why wouldn't there be?

Kitchen

My favorite details down the hallway are the gorgeous pillars and the lighting.

This is the view you see as you walk into the main entrance. There is no need for artwork with the grandiose picture window onlooking the beautiful yard.

I am really in love with shape and the stone used on the fireplace.

Notice how the table curves with the rounded wall in the front entryway.

I love the window seats in the girls bedrooms with the cute color schemes going on.

Tough baby boy...

2011-08-04T02:30:00.005-06:00

I have some really strong willed kids and this little boy is no exception. He knows what he wants and he will fight until he gets it! Recently he started hitting and mostly hitting me. I have tried telling him "no we don't hit that's naughty". That didn't' stop, I think he likes the attention he was getting even if it's negative. I thought I would try ignoring when he hits and that didn't help either.

Has anyone else had a 15 month old baby try to beat them up and if so what did you do? Do you think he's too young for a time out? Maybe I should try that option but where do I put him for a time out? It seems like his crib is the only place that wouldn't get destroyed if I left him there.

I love this boy to pieces and probably baby him a little too much. He is my last baby and he's a boy so he has me wrapped around his little finger!

And no I don't let him eat crayons only red ones!

Decorating with books

2011-08-03T01:49:00.002-06:00

Now that I am turned onto the idea of using books as decorations I feel a little behind the times. I know this isn't a new practice. In fact as I was looking in magazines and online, I noticed that books are used all the time as a way to decorate and give a space personality. There are endless amounts of ways to get creative with how you display and organize books.
My friend Marti has the cutest books bound with the color pink displayed on her media stand, she said she bought them at the flea market. I had to go peruse the isles myself. I love the colors of these three books that I found. I think they do a good job in adding the right dose of texture and color to this space. I might be a regular on the book isle at the local D.I.

Since I dont' crack open books nearly enough I might as well get some visual usage out of them, right?

What about you, do you use books to decorate in your home or do you just read them like normal people do?

These images all accomplish the look 'in my book'.

via Martha Stewart

via Alice Lane

via Lonny Mag

via Real Simple

via Made By Girl

via Pottery Barn

via Apartment Therapy

Settee

2011-07-28T15:18:00.009-06:00

I have been in love with the idea of using a settee in my home or in a client's home. I came across these pretty settee's on csn. I bet you would never guess that each one of these are priced under $450. Yes, it's true! If you buy one, I will be jealous!

Just in case you need more convincing, check out these gorgeous rooms featuring settee's

Images via anthropologie, wisteria and Elle Decor.

The birthday present that came a day late...

2011-07-27T07:44:00.006-06:00

I was out and about shopping yesterday and came across this Einstein artwork done by the artist Stephen Fishwick. I really like his style, he puts a unique spin on pop culture art. I was attracted to the expressive lines and colors. Dave is very selective but I knew he would be crazy about this picture. He loves it! Finally we have something hung on our office walls.

Some more cool portraits done by Stephen Fishwick...

Happy Birthday to my husband...

2011-07-25T15:00:00.002-06:00

Looking forward to spending eternity with you!

My imaginary shopping list...

2011-07-20T08:56:00.007-06:00

My imaginary shopping list at Serena and Lilly would consist of the following...

A room made up of these pieces would be heavenly!