Client e-design

This weekend I was getting a sponsorship & giveaway post ready for an ad spot that I will be running on Natasha's blog - Hello Happiness - and I came across an e-design I did for a client a few months ago.  I can't believe I forgot about this design - it's one of my favorites!

I really like the play on colors and the idea of a barn wood feature wall to bring contrast and texture to the space.  Nancy's house is a farmhouse in the eastern US that is filled with natural light - she has an eclectic style that made this design so fun!

House tour: living room

Our house tour continues!  

It's taken me a long time to decide how I wanted to decorate our living room.  We had the basics because we needed them - couches, lamps, side table, tv stand.  It was the decor that I still needed to decide on to make the space feel put together and home-y.  Ok - so it was mostly the pillow covers I was looking for.  Finally, between Christmas and New Years I found them and could finish up the space.

Here is the design board I put together to help me see the items I wanted in my space all together.

Overall, I've come to like the space.  It feels causal, livable, and trendy.

Our living room is not big, instead of small I prefer to use the word "cozy." 

I found these great pillow covers at H&M.  They are just what I was looking for and SO affordable!

One thing I always try to incorporate into a space is something unexpected.  I liked this tin sign because it was unexpected and has since generated conversation and a few smiles.

I am a big fan of Anna Riflebond's work but instead of spending the money on a large print, I found this calendar page and fit it into a frame.  The "K" is from a local vintage decor store.

Before you start complimenting me on how nice the space is, I have to share a bit of reality.  With a 6-month-old boy who is now on the move, this is what our living room looks like most days. :)  

To see more of our home visit my home tour page!

In addition to decorating my own home, I also offer interior styling services.  The spaces I style are comfortable, liveable, and affordable.  Find more information here.

New year, new look for my living room

Actually, my living room has never really had a "look" because I have never had an idea of how I've wanted it to look. I decided just to live in the space for awhile until I got a feel for it - one that was versatile, comfortable and could still look put together with toys scattered across the floor.

The basics are already in place - couch, love seat, side table, tv stand, and paint color.  It's the accessories that I've needed to decide on. So, after a whole lot of sitting in our living room, I finally got a feel for the accessories I was looking for.

New York Print | Hippies Sign | Lamp Base | Pouf | Blue Pillow | Beige Pillow

Accessories make a space fun because they add energy, comfort, and an element of surprise.  Not to mention, they are interchangeable at any time.

Boho chic inspired e-design

I love the Boho look but I've always been scared to try it.  First, it's out of my comfort zone and second, it's WAY out of my husband's comfort zone.  

Fortunately a recent e-design client loved this style too and asked me to help her to design a boho-chic bedroom with a sophisticated twist.

My favorite thing about this style is that nothing matches and at the same time, everything matches.  The eclectic mix of colors, patterns, and textures will make this room so visually appealing.

If you have a space you'd like to have styled, I'd love to help you. Check out my e-design page for more information.

Easy Breezy Coastal Bedroom Design

While I was on maternity leave I was fortunate enough to work with a couple of design clients! (Thankfully they were patient with me since the designs took longer than normal to complete.)

This client wanted to create a bedroom that had a coastal and somewhat rustic feel.  What came out of the design process was this Easy Breezy Coastal Bedroom design board!

This might be one of my favorite rooms that I've worked on.  I love the light - airy feel, cool colors, and mix of furniture.  Not to mention a couple of interesting pieces like the wave pillow, nightstand, and turtle planter!

This gal was fun to work with and I loved her input with the ideas she had throughout the design process!

If you are interested in your own e-design, check out my design services!

Out of respect for paying clients, I do not share item sources.

Client Design: Home Office

I love it when emails roll into my inbox asking for help to decorate or even re-create a space, especially when the potential client shares my design style!

Alyssa recently got in touch with me to help her update her home office and turn it into a more modern space.  Here are a couple of before pictures...

I love how much space is in this office - I would to have this space!

Ultimately, Alyssa wanted to lighten up her home office and turn it into an open, more creative space that she can share with her kids. Here is what we came up with! 

Since Alyssa already had her kids table, we just needed to update her "adult" furniture!  White furniture is so fun and instantly lightens up a space!  

To create a large desk space that leaves room for both work and craftiness we decided to go with a butcher block counter top (4) braced by cabinets for storage (6 and 7). 

To add some shine and sparkle to the space we decided on gold accents, including a gold polka dot accent wall.

Finally, to create a clean-feeling space, we decided on white walls to let more natural light reflect.  Light colors are perfectly inspiring spaces.  Not to mention, white goes with everything!

If you are interested in re-decorating your space this summer, I'd love to help!  Check out my e-design page and send me an email (designyourdwellingblog (at) gmail.com) to get started!

Bump Day: Baby K's gender neutral nursery design (+an e-design discount!)

We aren't finding out our baby's gender and dang that makes decorating complicated especially when a clear vision for each gender comes to mind.  However, I think I've finally settled on a plan (that will probably be updated once we find out if it's "he" or "she" in July).  So while my sweet husband has been assembly baby furniture, I've been pulling together the design plan!

My overall goal was to create a space that was gender neutral, but could be updated to reflect the baby's gender while sourcing items that we can continue to use as the baby gets older or I could use somewhere else in the house. 

My parents were SO nice to give us this crib as a baby shower gift. I love the modern design and two-tone wood. The only thing that I didn't look at before picking it out was how tall it stood. That being said, if you like this crib just know that it is fairly low to the ground. I still love it! :)

The dresser took me awhile to decide on - I knew I wanted a dresser from the Ikea HEMNES collection because I liked the style but had a hard time deciding on the size.  After consulting with my husband we decided that the smaller 3-drawer dresser was our best option because it allowed for the most options to arrange the room and would fit better than a larger dresser once the baby grows up and moves out of a crib and into a real bed. (Did I mention to you that we live in an old farmhouse? Rooms were made small back in the day.)

Since we opted for the smaller dresser I got this storage cart from Ikea to hold diapers, lotion, and various other baby things that I have yet to learn about. 

The rocker may or may not make it's way into the room. It's a little spendy but if I could have everything I want, I'd like a rocker like this one. 

There are a lot of cute mobiles out there but I plan to DIY mine since I found a style that I like.  If it turns out, I'll do my best to offer up the instructions to you all.

A few things I've loved forever and have always pictured in a baby's room are the giraffe and elephant prints, the Be Brave print, and the Grow sign. Why not be surrounded by things you love?!

I also found a few things along the way that I couldn't resist: the swaddle blanket, the changing pad cover, crib sheet and the rug.

If you want to follow Baby K's Nursery Pinterest board, do so here. 

And, because I had fun pulling my nursery together and have all sorts of ideas stored inside my mind how about a discount on nursery and children's bedroom e-designs?!  

Click here for more e-design details.

MEET MY SPONSOR: RISE ABOVE LIFE, April Bernd

Take time to stop over and meet April - she has such an awesome mission behind her blog in offering a place for anyone to come join together in overcoming life's difficulties.  Thanks April, for being a Design Your Dwelling Sponsor!

I am a photographer and graphic designer and so I was able to make my own art to hang around my home to remind me to be positive and be strong. Family and friends would always comment on my images and wanted one for their own homes.  I never realized how many other people were facing different challenges ranging from a miscarriage, a chronically ill son and a divorce to addiction, depression and severe food allergies. Although we were all struggling with different issues, the need for hope was still the same. 

Rise Above Life art is about putting your heart into art. We help to make personalized designs that are meaningful to you, not cookie cutter and generic. Our mission is to provide a way to put your love into a frame and help families grow closer.  We offer  our designs as both physical prints and digital downloads that you print at home. Readers can try out a free digital download printable when you sign up for our email list at www.riseabovelife.com

Client Design - A Spring Kitchen

Kitchens are some of my favorite spaces to decorate because they are a space that you spend a lot of time - in fact, I've been sitting in my kitchen all day working!

Valerie sent me a note a few weeks back looking for help styling her kitchen, dining, seating area space.  This is a great space, I love how much room there is to gather your family and friends. 

Valerie wanted to leave the paint color and stenciling as is but fill the space with additional color and decor elements.  I worked closely with Valerie on this design since she already had her eye on some dining room chairs and bar stools.   Here is the design we came up with!  I can't wait to see after pictures!

If you are interested in booking a custom e-design for your space, I would love to help!  Click here for more information. I am currently taking clients, turn around time is approximately two weeks.

Tax Day Discount!

Happy Tax Day!

If plans for your tax refund include re-decorating your home, I have the perfect offer for you!  

How does a $25 discount sound on your next e-design?  This offer lasts one day only (April 15, 2014) so claim your e-design now!

For more details on my design services, click here.  To see more e-designs, check out my pinterest board!

Last chance e-design pricing

We'll friends, I hate to break it to you but I'll be raising my e-design prices beginning April 1.

This for a couple of reasons...

First, I've picked up a number of new clients - THANK YOU! (This doesn't mean I'm too busy to help you out if you are interested.)

Second, I'm putting a lot of time into each client's e-design. So to be honest, I feel as though my time is worth something. At least this is what my husband, and a couple of other design bloggers, keep telling me...

No need to worry though, I will not be pricing my e-designs out of the ballpark because I truly believe that living in a space you love should be affordable and I would never charge more than what I would be willing to pay.

Third, this will give me the opportunity to do some more customer specials and discounts!

What will change...
E-Designs will change for $100/room to $150/room.
The second e-design you purchase will change from $85/room to $125/room (bigger discount!)
Down payments will be $75.

How it works: For each e-design purchased for $150, clients get the second e-design for $125.

A note to previous and current customers: If you have already paid for one e-design at $100 your next will be $85 (old pricing).

What will stay the same...
I LOVE doing virtual room consultations.  Pricing for virtual room consultations will stay at the current pricing of $25/room.  The $25 virtual room consult will go toward your purchase of an e-design.

How it works: Purchase a virtual room consultation for $25/room, get an e-design for $125/room.

From now until Monday, March 31 if you book an e-design with me, you will receive the $100/room pricing.  So please book your e-designs now!

If you have questions, or would like to book an e-design. send me an email designyourdwellingblog (at) gmail.com.

Thank you to you all!

Client Design - A Basement Bedroom

I'm still decorating rooms thru E-Designs and I'm still loving it!  Seriously, can this be my full time job someday and my full time job become my part time job?!  A girl can dream, right?!

I recently worked on this bedroom for Monica, whom I also helped to decorate the rest of her basement apartment.  Her basement apartment has been a Pinterest favorite!

Monica gave me a great idea of how she was looking to decorate her bedroom, she just wanted the help pulling it together to make it flow with the rest of her basement apartment.

I have to say, that her basement apartment has been one of my favorites to decorate!  I hope to be able to share some before and after pictures with you!

If you would like to work with me to decorate a room in your home, I'd love to help!  Check out my e-design page for more information or send me an email designyourdwellingblog (at) gmail.com.

Client Design - A Basement Apartment

Right before Christmas I finished up a client design for Monica who owns a basement apartment.  She was looking for ideas to spruce it up and make it feel more modern.  I was pretty excited to be asked to work on a design for her - I sorta felt like Scott McGillivary, the host of Income Property on HGTV (minus the construction and layout) because this basement apartment is just that awesome so it was fun to work on a contemporary design to help make her space feel homey!

Here are a few quick snapshots of Monica's space.

Like I said, the actual design was fun to work on! Here is what we came up with for her living space, office nook, and dining area.

I can't wait to see after pictures!

If you're looking to liven up your living space I'd love to help you out! Find out more about my e-design service here. Plus I've got a sale on my design services through January. Find out more here!

New Year, New Home - A Resolution to Love Your Space!

Happy New Year!  How can it be 2014 already - eeekk!! I just wrapped up one of my favorite years of all time so with any luck that means life should just get better, right?!

On December 30 (no lie) we talked to a contractor about gutting the whole main floor of our 80+ year old Iowa farmhouse, changing the layout to an open floor plan.  A big undertaking but it will be so well worth it to have a better, more open floor plan.  We are both very excited to say the least.  In fact, Adam is building basement storage this very minute...

While we aren't getting an actual new home (I don't want to leave our farm site) it will feel like a new home and I can't wait to share plans along the way!

In honor of the new year and our resolution to love our space, I have a special offer for you - a sale on all Design Your Dwelling design services!!

E-Design Services are on sale for $80/room (originally $100)

Virtual Room Consultations are one sale for $15/room (originally $25)

This offer is available thru January 31.  Email me at designyourdwelling (at) gmail.com and mention the  New Year, New Home offer to get started!

One of my goals for 2014 is to really run with my interior design business.  I love it - it feels so good to help people design a space people are excited to live in!

For more on my design services go here. To see some of the client designs I've worked on, go here.

Cheers to 2014 friends!

Turn on the Twinkle - A Holiday Design Board

I am shocking myself by the fact that I am already thinking about Christmas and decorating for the holidays!  This year I found my decorating inspiration from this Glitzy Greeting card by Tiny Prints.  I love the combination of gold and jewel tones and by adding just a few holiday decorations, a room can easily be transformed into a beautiful space to live and entertain guests during the holidays!

How about this for a holiday space?!

Inspiration

Glityz Greeting: Black Ornament Card

For more Tiny Prints holiday cards go here.

Start With The Basics

sofa | side table | rug | lighting

Add Pillows

happy holidays pillow | purple & gold pillow | polka dot lumbar pillow

Finish With Holiday Cheer

pine cone garland | Mistletoe print | wreath

For more items to go with this "Turn on the Twinkle" look visit my Pinterest board: Christmas Decorating 2

One more thing!  If you are planning to order holiday cards Tiny Prints has a site-wide sale of 25% of your purchase with the code SW1117!  No minimum purchase required. Offer ends November 17, 2013.

If you would like a custom design board created just for you, I would love to help! Visit my e-design page for more information.

October Mood Board Link Party + A Giveaway!

Hi Everyone!  It's been awhile since I've hosted a mood board link party for interior design bloggers but recently I've gotten quite a few requests to bring it back so I thought, why not?!  We are getting into winter when house projects and dreams of home updates can take shape so I invite you to get inspired by all of the fantastic design that have been linked up!

Super simple requests for the link up:

1|| Follow my blog via GFC, Bloglovin, or Facebook - I'll definitely follow back!
2|| Link up as many mood boards or e-designs as you would like!
3|| Check out the designs by other bloggers - I always find inspiration and new shops to check out!
4|| Tweet about the link up or share it on your Facebook page
5|| Link back to this post.

I pin all of your design boards to my Pinterest account from your original post to help drive traffic to your blog!

I am also giving away a virtual room consult to one lucky reader! Sign up to win below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Black & White Bedroom - Free Design + Source List

Lately, I have been falling in love with the simplicity of black and white.  These two colors look so clean and crisp and always classic - at least in my opinion! Yesterday my mind started to wander and before I knew it, I had a vision for a black and white bedroom perfect for a young woman starting out on her own. Sorry guys, I doubt the splash of pink in this design will make you fall in love with it...  What I love most about this bedroom design is the pattern and texture that are brought together!

Because I love seeing a vision coming together (and my husband wont allow me to re-decorate... again) here is the design board and source list for you to bring to life!

1. Drum Shade

2. Enjoy the Little Things (FREE)

3. Faux Deer head

4. Duvet

5. Floral Bedding

6. Mirror

7. Fushia Chair

8. Nightstand

9. Stripe Rug

10. Black lumbar pillow

11. Heart pillow

12. Mirror table lamp

Finish off the look with a metal headboard (I like this one) and fresh peonies on your nightstand!

As always, I do offer custom design services, check out my E-Design page!  This month I am offering 25% off of all custom mood boards!

Client Update: Rustic Glam Kitchen

I just recently finished this kitchen design for one of the neatest clients I've worked with so far!  Lisa's vision was a rustic glam kitchen - mixing old farmhouse appeal with a fresh new look and adding some color into her "very brown kitchen" as she referenced it! :)  Here is what I came up with and she's already planning a few vacation days this summer to do some painting and to be available when her new quartz counter tops and back splash are installed! :)

Out of courtesy for my clients, I do not share their source list.  

If you are interested in having a custom mood board designed specifically for you check out my e-design page.  I have currently have openings for June! :)

Client Design - Vintage Nautical Nursery

Hey Everyone! Welcome to a new week!  I don't know about you, but I had a great birthday weekend full of relaxing and enjoying the weather.  We even got a little golfing in but boy am I rusty - I think I will be practicing in the yard. :)

I was so fortunate the work with Megan on her baby boys nursery.  Her goal was a vintage-nautical nursery that wasn't too "nurseryesqe" as she described! :) Megan already had her eye on a few pieces of furniture and had purchased a few vintage and nautical items.  Here is the design we came up with!

To see Megan's blog post about her new nursery design.  Go here!

Out of respect for my clients, I do not share sources.  However, if you are interested in your own custom mood board, I would love to help.  Check out my e-design page to get started!

Seating Area Design Board + Source List

I'm spending more and more time creating design boards lately!  I often come across a piece of furniture, pillow, accessory, or in the case a rug, that inspires me and I come up with a design board.  This is a look at a causal seating area I pulled together after I found myself inspired by an inexpensive rug from Urban Outfitters. 

Zig Zag Rug | Urban Outfitters

Armless Upholstered Chair | Target

Gold A-Line Floor Lamp | Shades of Light

Yellow Pouf | Lulu and Georgia

Traders Chest | Anthropologie

Starburst Mirror | Target

Twilight Art Print | Target

Rocking Bird | West Elm

Ikat Lumbar Pillow Cover | Etsy

Side Table | West Elm

Vases | West Elm

If you are interested in having a room design pulled together specifically for you and your personal taste, I do that too!  Check out my design services page! Also, if you would like this image as a .jpg for your reference, send an email to designyourdwellingblog (at) gmail.com

Design Board + Source List

Last week I got the Pottery Barn and West Elm catalogs in the mail and stopped at Target.  I found myself inspired by so many decor items that I'm loving right now.  Before I forgot all about them, I decided to pull together a design board with some of my favorites.  Plus, I kind of have a vision of a living room makeover in late 2013 or early 2014 (after our wedding.)   

This is a design board I put together for my own interest so I am more than happy to share the item sources with you.  Hopefully you will find something you like and will fit perfect in your space!

Here ya go!  All items are hyper-linked to their source! Enjoy!

I found the yellow pillow and orange pillow during my shopping trip to Target.  They are so fresh and bright, plus I love the designs.  The chevron pillow is one I've been admiring on etsy and lately I am getting into deer silhouettes so this pillow was a must for this design.

The scribble curtains caught my eye in the West Elm catalog.  Plus they are so affordable!

I've used this charcoal Wyatt sectional from World Market in a few designs.  It's smaller than your average sectional and such a great neutral.

I love neutral furniture because it's so easy to change accessories but I don't love neutral furniture when each piece matches perfectly so I went with this club chair from Target.

For the coffee table, the Cala hammered coffee table fits perfect.  It's definitely a surprise in the space, breaks up the "square" furniture and it doesn't have sharp corners in case you have kiddos.

To ground this space I chose this chunky wool & natural jute rug from Pottery Barn.  

One of my favorite pieces lately is the metal rose sculpture.  I stumbled upon this beauty at Target one day and look at it every time I am in the store! It's huge and it's sleek and just plain awesome!

My few accent pieces are pretty simple.  The lamp and drum shade look light weight and can easily be transformed with paint when you get bored with them as they are.  

Ever since I went to a few wineries in California I have admired these olive buckets.  I figured out that Pottery Barn sells them!  Woohoo! (unfortunately I'm probably going to have to start saving my birthday money to afford one...)

The birds of a feather print, wood ampersand, and 'You and Me' barn wood sign are all etsy finds.

Finally, tall vases of flowers are always fun and there are great options at Target for your to create your own!

If you would like the PDF or JPG version of this design board, email me and I will send it your way.  designyourdwellingblog (at) gmail.com.  I seriously love helping to create beautiful spaces so if I can help you with yours please email me and check out my design services page.

Happy Tuesday!