This is the DIY sister blog to our original blog The MOMentum of Motherhood . Join us here for all things decorating, crafting, remodeling and DIY related....just watch out you don't step in the paint!!!

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Cara: "Client" #52908

I don't think an interior decorator should impose their tastes on their client. A decorator's job is to help them find what their style is, how to use it in their house to create a home. Sure suggestions need to be made. Sometimes I may steer someone away from say, "Kelly Green" on the walls. Even though Kelly Green has it's place, just maybe not in the bedroom, whereas something more of a Sage Green may be nice.


I also don't think someone should have to sell their first born to have someone come in and help them decorate. Everyone deserves a home that is inviting and well, nice. Perhaps not everyone's home is drop dead gorgeous. But when you walk in at the end of the day it should be home. A place to hang your hat, take off your shoes and breathe.


The following is a redecorating project I did last year for a friend. Her house was all white. White walls. white curtains etc. It's not that she didn't have a style. She thought she didn't. We all have a style, sometimes we just don't know how to find it. That's what I love to do, help people find what their style is. It's like a lightbulb goes off on top of their head! Most people don't want to know about why the fenestration of their home may effect the way the furniture needs to be placed in the room. They just want their furniture placed a better way then what they have now. They know what colors they like, just not how to incorporate them into their home. These are two of the rooms I did in the house:


Big Brother's Room Before:





He is a big lacrosse fan and his favorite color is blue. We painted the room a 2 shades of blue with a funky green stripe to make it look like a real boy's room. I took two old kiddie sizes lacrosse sticks and painted one the color of his favorite college team and the other his home team colors, and hung them on the wall. We kept the curtains and bedding so there's wasn't a ton of money spent to make some big changes.







Little Brother's Room before:
The Jedi was a big Star Wars fan although keeping that in mind we need to make the room a little more grown up. Again we kept the bedding and curtains. The walls were painted a pale gold color. Then by adding molding at the ceiling I created a border using a dark navy blue paint. The Wallies stars keep with the Star Wars theme but can they stay when and if the Jedi decides he's not that into Star Wars anymore.





The boys rooms are probably my favorite of the whole decorating project. Mostly I guess 'cause I love those guys but getting the "wow" from them when they saw their rooms was priceless.
~Cara

Friday, March 19, 2010

Welcome....

Alter Ego:
I love to decorate. I certainly missed the boat and should have pursued it years ago. Alas in my "old age" I dabble. I help friends who need decorating and design "help". I purchased my dream house four years ago and jumped right in with fixing, changing, painting and purchasing. Well as usual life sometimes gets in the way of our plans and for a while redoing has been low on the list of things that need to get my attention.

This blog will be devoted to all things decorating and design in nature. Come visit our other blog The Momentum of Motherhood where my buddy and I blog about the ups and downs of life as suburban moms.

My family is my life, decorating is my passion. I would love to be a real decorator when I grow up someday but for now this is it.
~Cara


Remix
Cara is the designer type and I am the crafty type. I love kid crafts. Coming up with something new for school. Crafting with my Brownie troop - helping the kids make something special to bring home. I am also all about the bottom line - so my crafts are generally wallet friendly.My design style is simple. I like clean lines, no clutter - nothing on the surfaces - a place for everything and everything in its place. Sometimes there aren't places for things so I am trying to figure out everyday storage solutions, reusing and repurposing. We moved into our dream home in September and I still have boxes! As I go along, I will share with you what we are doing in our house - or what crafts I am working on with the kids - its all about inspiration - and hopefully I can inspire you do to something too.
~Jenn
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