People from all over the world stop by this magnificent, yet chaotic, French specialty shop to bring home a French treasure for their own kitchen. The likes of Ina Garten, Julia Child, and more have all walked the aisles.

After spending what seemed like hours and way too much money, I was determined to bring a little slice of French kitchen décor into my own little rental kitchen. Being a renter, I love switching up my décor in small ways every few months, check out my pastel kitchen makeover.

Since we can’t do any intense renovations I love swapping out different decor items to give my kitchen a refresh. Not only is french kitchen decor extremely chic, but it’s also super functional when it comes to cooking. French kitchens are all about great functional cookware and an iconic je ne sais quoi.

Copper Everything

Your first step in adding in a bit of French flare: copper pots! Copper pans and pots are not only beautiful but they are some of the best to cook in. They hold and spread heat distribution evenly while cooking. It’s an iconic sophisticated piece to have in your kitchen that will last you a lifetime. Follow this easy guide to keep your copperware in top shape.

You can also add some copper with these hanging copper spice racks. How cute are these?!

Neutral Décor

While there are some more eclectic French kitchens, a vast majority of them are French-ified with neutral, farmhouse tones. Think taupes, creams, black, and white (and copper!). These wooden utensils are perfect to keep on the counter.

For the most part, I love the neutral color palette but adding in a pop of color like my pink GreenPan set. If you love the look of hanging pots in your kitchen, use this tutorial.

Baskets

Not only are straw baskets useful for trips to the farmers market, but they are a great décor item. Grab a few in different shapes and sizes and use them as plant holders, organization vessels, or even just hanging up on the wall as an artistic statement.

Farmers Market Fresh

A simple way to add an extra French touch to your kitchen is having farmers market fresh flowers and produce. It’s customary to stop by a market 1-2 a week in France for fresh ingredients and the flower selection is usually epic.

Timeless Pieces

In many French kitchens, you’ll find timeless pieces like Dutch ovens, copper pots, and a set of Peugeot salt and pepper mills. Peugeot’s intriguing design is iconic and it allows you to use them in the kitchen and bring them right to the table when serving.

Other timeless pieces include Staub French ovens. I have a variety from petite pieces for rice and sauces, to my 3.75-quart French oven for stews, braises, and soups. They last a lifetime and cook like a dream.

Knives

One of my favorite classic knife brands happens to be French. Laguiole knives are perfect Parisian pieces to have in your kitchen. Laguiole knives are known for their amazing French craftsman and style; they are my go-to steak knives and make the most gorgeous gift set.

Linen Striped Towels

One of the simplest ways to add some French into your kitchen is with a few linen striped towels. They add a nice farm-style neutral textile into your kitchen. Be sure to choose your favorite color stripe for a bit of personality.

Coffee Maker

When you go to France, you’ll be having delicious coffee and espresso at least twice a day. Pretty much all over Europe, the coffee culture is insane. There are so many different ways to brew a great cup between French presses, pour-overs, or even a regular cup of coffee.

We like to keep it simple around here and switch between espresso and drip coffee but lately, I can’t stop using my Moccamaster. It makes 10 cups of coffee in just 6 minutes and stays warm without burning on its unique hot plate. Perfect for an early morning cup or an afternoon pick me up.

The post Everything You Need to Give Your Kitchen a French Makeover appeared first on The Inspired Home.

I get it. My style has evolved drastically over the last decade. And honestly, it’s even changed since I registered everything for my wedding (facepalm). It was only with my kitchen renovation that I finally had to look deep inside my cabinets and drawers and come face-to-face with the realization that it was time for an overhaul. I spend the majority of my time in my kitchen, and I wanted it to be a true reflection of me. Plus, it was time to get rid of the things I was holding onto for, honestly, no good reason.

The beauty of a kitchen renovation, outside of the obvious finished product, is that you are forced to empty absolutely everything out of the space. From old spices in dark corners that you’ve forgotten about to weird gadgets you were gifted one holiday from your quirky aunt. It’s an opportunity to cleanse and purge and bring back only things you love. It’s also okay to leave space for the things you know you want but need to wait to buy or find.

Our kitchen is an odd shape. I think the best way to describe it is an L or Z-shape. It’s not quite a galley kitchen, but it’s certainly not an open square or rectangle. When we moved into our home, the kitchen was filled with banks of cabinets, which in theory is great because of the storage space. But it instead left the kitchen feeling dark and overwhelming. When we renovated, we had a small budget to work off of so we decided to update what was there, rather than gut and start from scratch.

In order to help fix the overwhelming cabinet problem, we left half of the cabinets and painted them, and replaced the other half with open shelving or nothing at all. We picked areas that could use opening up to put open shelves and it worked perfectly. The room feels so much bigger and gets better light.

The downside to open shelving is that it is definitely a trend, and all trends come and go. Additionally, this meant that I wanted to decorate the shelves in such a way that looked aesthetically pleasing but also served some serious function for the overall flow of our high-traffic kitchen. In fact, my husband insisted that our shelves didn’t just serve as my styling board, but served the needs of our family, too. I laugh at this because he was not wrong, and I was happy to honor his requests.

Other updates we made were in the appliances, switching from textured white appliances to stainless steel. We switched our countertops, backsplash, and floors, too. We decided to put in a budget-friendly Carrera marble countertop (yes, in the kitchen counter world, this is the marble budget option in comparison to the trendy quartz!). We did the backsplash ourselves and put in classic white subway tile. For the floors, we splurged a bit and did a stone tile from an artisan company.

There were times throughout my kitchen overhaul that I felt guilty about getting rid of things. Donating feels good up until you realize you’re getting rid of too many items with monetary value. My advice is to donate the things that are mismatched, incomplete, or well-used. If you need to get some money back from your goods, try setting up an Instagram sale. Create a new handle dedicated just to your goods, or set up an Instagram stories sale over one day. I’ve done this before and completely sold out of everything I listed. You could even donate a portion of your sales to a cause near and dear to your heart.

One of my passions is to blend funky vintage wares with new, purposeful equipment. Some examples are that I love to find funky brass trivets and pitchers, barware, and antique ironstone serving plates, and mix them with their modern counterparts and new cookware. I specifically love brands like Dansk and Staub and make an effort to stock my kitchen with their goods.

I’ll share a few examples of the things I parted ways with, to make room for things I love. One of the most obvious to me is scratched and damaged pots and pans. Don’t be afraid to make this change. Not only does this change make for a more aesthetically pleasing collection, it will also improve your cooking.

Another thing to replace is mismatched storage containers. Get rid of the broken, stained, or missing parts and replace them with a full set that will actually serve you without taking up unnecessary space.

I also replaced odd mixing bowls with a uniform set. I brought in a bamboo set for everyday use, and a beautiful hammered copper set for overall beauty and serving. The general idea in all of this is, if you can be more intentional with how you buy for your kitchen, you’ll wind up not only being more organized but much more satisfied with everything, too. Here are a few other items that I brought in, that you might like, too:

The beauty of a kitchen overhaul is you get to set the tone for how you want your kitchen to be when you are done. Your kitchen is meant to serve and inspire you. It’s the heart of the home and you get to decide the beat. Make it beautiful, make it functional, but whatever you do, make it yours.

The post Overhaul Your Kitchen with These Remodel and Organization Tips appeared first on The Inspired Home.

Over the course of the past ten years we have acquired our herd of cats (let’s just call it what it is). Two we adopted from a cat rescue down the street from our first apartment. The next two we adopted for my parents a few years later, but they ended up bonding with our cats so that brought us to four…and then last year we were at Costco and found a two-week-old kitten in the parking lot which tops us out at five.

So yes. You could say, I know cats. Part of my life’s mission is to get more people to like cats and adopt animals in general. Cats seem to be misunderstood and labeled as cold and unfriendly.

But they aren’t. All of my cats have ever been… dog-like? They come and greet you. They play fetch. They love to visit with people. When the Costco kitten was ultra little she did the DC hotel, bar and restaurant scene on a leash.

Now that I’ve made it completely obvious I’m a cat lady, I want to assure you however deep you get into the world of pets it doesn’t have to look like you have a zoo in your house. We are design minimalists. We like space. We like structure. So except for the fact the five cats are right by our sides at all times, you probably can’t tell we have cats in the house.

Here’s how we do it:

1. Focus on using functional, aesthetically pleasing items that aren’t specifically pet-marketed.

You are not required to buy everything from a pet store. We use neutral, natural materials that are often multi-purpose. For cat beds, we have a small sheep rug we bought in Denmark and a basket. It’s actually the same style basket we have throughout the house for blankets or other little groupings of items.

And the cats LOVE IT. For water dishes, we use elevated matte black dishes that match our matte black hardware. You could also just use beautiful ceramic bowls. You don’t have to buy a cat-shaped plastic dish.

2. Implement a cleaning routine.

People always comment on how odd it is to see all five cats together on the couch on Instagram withe everything looking so tidy around. It’s actually not that hard. While part of this is because of the decisions we’ve made for storing items, we have a cleaning routine that takes less about 10 minutes.

For litter boxes, we have top entry boxes that don’t look like litter boxes at all. I clean them twice a day, change their water, wipe down all surfaces and then vacuum. Never underestimate the power of a vacuum. That includes vacuuming the couch.

3. Make smart material choices.

We have hardwood floors instead of carpet which can trap dirt, fur, and dander. We have blankets in their basket that are easy to throw in the laundry. And again, we vacuum all the time. We also don’t have wood caning on furniture or sisal carpets because it’s too similar to the texture of a scratching post. Part of making good choices is about acknowledging what could be confusing for cat behavior (so why set yourself up to get mad?).

4. Buy a tall scratching post.

If you don’t have a tall scratching post you need to buy one immediately. Our cats only scratch their post, never furniture. Cats have a need to stretch their long muscles, so don’t opt for a two-foot post and don’t get mad if they’re ruining your couch if you haven’t provided appropriate places for them to scratch. Place the post in an area you spend a lot of time (ours is near where I sit in the living room). Cats also use scratching as a marking tool, so they’ll want to mark near where their ‘person’ is.

Part two is trimming their nails. I’m not saying start this on your five-year-old cat, but when you have a new kitten, start this process. We have ‘pedicure day’ every two weeks with tiny cat nail clippers and it makes us all a lot happier.

5. Store cat items in a single location.

Store nail trimmers, brushes, catnip spray, food, medication, etc in a box or bin in the closet or cabinet. Having a landing spot for everything makes it easy to know where out of place items live.

6. Practice acceptance.

Stop trying to make things work in your home that your pets keep messing up. Pets are kind of like roommates and there are things you have to accept going into that living situation relationship. For example, if you have a black cat it’s time to accept the fact that your white couch will always be covered in noticeable fur.

So you can make it part of your routine to vacuum or lint roll (we seriously buy lint rollers in bulk) or buy a slipcover. If your cat loves to sit on a specific spot on the coffee table, stop putting stuff there and getting mad if they knock it over.

One cat habit that was driving us crazy was the 4 AM wake up. The cats aren’t doing that because they’re jerks. It’s because cats fall into a category of animals that exhibit crepuscular behavior (active during dawn and dusk hours). It’s totally natural and I can’t be mad at nature. To solve the issue, we bought an automatic cat food dispenser timed for the 4 AM wake up. It makes them happy, we get to sleep in (and honestly often times the cats come back to bed after a snack).

7. Play with them!

Don’t ignore your cat. Cats need stimulation whether it’s a bird feeder at the window, or tie with a ball or laser pointer. If your cat is acting out, it’s because their needs haven’t been met. Take this time to teach them fun tricks (ours come when called and one of them can play fetch). The more you bond with them and exercise them, the happier they will be and the less they’ll conspire to murder your plants for attention.

Cats are fantastic companions! Hopefully, a few of these ideas will bring you both a happier home.

Looking for some other ways to keep your home clean with pets?

Check out these 7 products to help keep your house clean, even if you have pets.

Here are some Feng Shui essentials for happy pets!

This guide to maintaining seasonal allergies with pets is sure to inspire you.

The post How to Make Your House Cat-Friendly and Still Design-Forward appeared first on The Inspired Home.

There are many ways you can store and display your pots and pans in the kitchen, but some of the most gorgeous homes I’ve seen have used their collection of pots and pans as the vintage or found pieces to ground their kitchen designs.

It’s always fun to think of new ways to bring style and function into the kitchen, and putting your pots and pans collection on display can do both!

Although hanging your pots and pans from a traditional pot rack is definitely a showstopper, most of us don’t necessarily have the room, or have decided that light pendants or recessed lighting were a better choice.

If you have unused wall space in your kitchen then I suggest using a wall hanging pot racks to display your pots and pans! Old Dutch International makes gorgeous options in a few different finishes like nickel, bronze and my favorite, copper!

This cookware rack with a grid can be hung directly onto the wall, secured on a stud or two. This way it can hold the weight of the pots and other items you might want to display!

If you don’t have room for the cookware rack, then a bar rack or rail is another great option.

Not only can you store and display pots and pans, but if you have a collection of cutting boards or utensils then you can use those too! Hooks that come with the racks allow you to hang various items at different heights and are fully adjustable.

Using a pot rack gives you so much more convenience because you can access your pots and accessories more quickly! Not to mention if you have any unused space in your kitchen you can use that space as a focal point and at the same time, freeing up space in your cabinets.

But let’s just be honest, it’s just pretty to look at!

The post Store Your Pots and Pans on These Beautiful Pot Racks appeared first on The Inspired Home.

Today, I live on a cattle ranch in the tiny town of Likely, California (population: 99).

My husband Greg and I met in college while both attending business school at the University of Nevada, Reno. About halfway though our time together at UNR, he decided school just wasn’t for him. He came home one day and said,

“I’m not going back to school, I’m going to move to the ranch.”

He said this in a very matter-of-fact tone; there was no swaying him. He had made up his mind, and shortly after, he began working at his family’s cattle ranch in Likely.

Although he had made up his mind to work on his family’s ranch, I had made up my mind to finish my degree, just in case the whole cattle ranch thing didn’t work out for us. At least we’d have a back-up plan.

So for a few years he commuted between the ranch and Reno while I finished up my degree. As my graduation approached, I faced the decision: to move or not to move? I suppose you probably already know the answer to that.

About a month after graduation, we packed up our house in Reno, and headed north for Likely. That was four years ago.

Many of my friends couldn’t believe I had decided to leave behind life as I had known it for cows and wide-open space. To be honest, I don’t think I even gave it a second thought. Something inside me must have known how wonderful a simpler life could be.

I’ve discovered a new outlook on life and discovered what is truly important. I used to draw so much of my identity from a pair of shoes or designer handbag. Today, my happiness comes from the satisfaction of a job well done, taking pride in simple tasks, and living with gratitude. I have found a sense of peace and joy I had previously never known, and I can tell you with 100 percent certainty: no one cares what kind of clothes you wear.

It wasn’t a seamless transition; it’s been quite a journey. The first few months after moving were difficult. I didn’t know any- one, and was on a steep learning curve with zero ranching experience.

Although I was very grateful to have a roof over my head, it also took some time to adjust to our new home. Built in 1963, the house was full of my husband’s grandparents’ old things and in desperate need of a renovation (thankfully, that came later). The house had been empty for nearly eight years before we moved in, except for the rats, mice, ground squirrels, spiders, and carpet beetles that had taken up home there. It was almost enough to send me running back to the city.

However, slowly I adjusted, and I morphed from a city girl into a girl in boots and jeans. Of course, it isn’t always easy. Animals don’t always survive. Early mornings and the stress of ranching can be taxing. However, living out here requires you to slow down, do your own handiwork, step away from materialism, and focus on the important things in life. Now I feel whole after a hard day of work or time spent working on our ranch.

One of the greatest rewards of living here is the deep sense of community. While living in the city, I never really experienced that. Out here, camaraderie and community are woven into daily life. It’s not at all unusual to get calls like:

“You’ve got cows out on the road!” and “Hey, we picked up some of your heifers, come get them anytime.”

Everyone works together for the greater good.

On any given Saturday you might find a group of neighboring cowboys horse- back around a branding barrel helping each other get their calves ready for the summer rangeland. And, you bet we spend Saturday nights spinning around a dance floor.

It’s a simple life, and it’s truly magical. I can’t believe that this is where my story has taken me, but I am so grateful it has. My hope is that I can inspire people to slow down and find contentment in a simpler life.

Copy by Chloe Mackintosh / Photography by Constance Mariena

Chloe Mackintosh, an urban girl turned cowgirl, shares her passion for interior design and ranch life at her blog boxwoodavenue.com.

This story originally appeared in the Fall/Winter 2018 issue of The Inspired Home Journal, titled “Country Club.”

The post Chloe Mackintosh of Boxwood Avenue Talks Living the Simple Life appeared first on The Inspired Home.

Diffuser

Diffusers might be THE product of the decade. Along with oils, diffusers are a must have item in your “dream worthy” room and I can see why! Diffusers are one of the best ways to use essential oils and can help you unwind after a long day. Keeping one next to your bed with the right blends of oils can help you skip counting sheep and shut down all those thoughts in your head. Stylish diffusers like this one are perfect for interior design lovers like myself who cringe at the sight of unwelcoming items on the nightstand.

Pilgrim diffusers not only take care of the stylish problem but add to the world of diffusing by offering a mix of essential oils that zone in on your sleeping patterns. This starter packed called REST helps with insomnia and fatigue.

This Zoe diffuser is multifunctional, low maintenance and elegant! Plus is comes with a remote that helps control the air flow, light setting and the length of diffusing.

Air Filter

There is nothing that has changed my sleeping habits more than plugging in the Blue Air purifier into our bedroom. I have allergies all year long and also suffer from asthma triggers. I alway felt that my symptoms would get worse at night even after taking allergy medicine recommended by my doc. After running the Blue Pure 211+ air purifier for just a few days I could immediately feel a difference in the air quality in our bedroom. The air felt fresher and the room didn’t feel as stuffy!

But the best part is I can really feel a difference when I wake up in the morning. I’m not stuffy or headed to the bathroom to blow my nose! I’m not waking up in the middle of the night or breathing through my mouth either! It makes a world of difference. So I’m a big believer! With cold & flu season coming up soon, I’m so excited to see if this helps ease any of those symptoms as as well! Oh and lets not forget. It’s stylish. That’s important people! It comes with a sleeve in your choice of color so it blends in nicely with the room!

Wake-Up Light

The Philips Wake-Up Light needs to be in everyone’s bedroom. Several independent studies have shown that this wake-up light “improves the quality of waking up, improves moods and makes you feel more refreshed in the morning.”

How you wake up is just as important as how you fall asleep! With the wake up light next to your bed, the light stimulates a sunrise as you slowly wake from your slumber in the morning. The light gradually goes from a soft red, to orange and finally a bright yellow light until you are awake. You can increase or decrease the light depending on how sensitive you are to light. You might need a BRIGHT light while others only need a little light to wake them up in the morning.

Along with that you can wake up to 5 different zen sounds as your alarm goes off! If you aren’t ready to get up just yet, just tap anywhere on the light and snooze away!

Are you ready for a good night’s sleep? I’m sure you will be after trying some of these products out! Let us know what you think!

The post 4 Products for a Dream-Worthy Master Bedroom appeared first on The Inspired Home.

Let me first start off by saying not all entryways are the same. I happen to have a mudroom right off the garage that serves as more of our “everyday” entryway. You’ll find a row of hooks, a bench, and tons of sand from the playground. This entryway is where we greet our guests. We also have a closet around the corner for their shoes and bags. So this entryway is more about a little moment of style that serves as an introduction into our home.

Choose a Theme

When deciding how to decorate your entryway, make sure you choose a theme. It should reflect the rest of your home. My home is a mix of neutrals, greens, blues, and wood tones. My style is also influenced by global pieces and I love a touch of black. So my entryway reflects that!

Anchor Piece

If you have enough room decide on a piece of anchor furniture. It may be a console, bench, chair, dresser or even a carved piece of wood with hooks. No matter what have one piece that gives the space a statement.

Scent

Entryways are THE perfect space to light a candle. So when your guests walk in they immediately can feel the love. During the fall season I love to light a few candles for that cozy ambiance. During the summer I keep things fresh with a few well-scented oils and a beautiful diffuser.

Storage

Entryway storage can come in many forms. Baskets, drawers and even boxes are just some of the many ways you can hide mail, keys or even a some cash for pizza tips! These storage boxes from Bigso Box of Sweden are not only great for the office but for your entryway. Store mail, flyers or even takeout menus in these clever drawers that are functional and stylish with that gorgeous navy finish.

Little decorative pieces like this bowl and basket from Design Ideas are also great storage pieces. The wooden bowl is cleverly carved out as a piece of fruit and the top can be removed for keeping items nice and tucked away.

Are you ready to tackle your entryway?

The post Transform Your Entryway for a Great First Impression appeared first on The Inspired Home.

We wanted to celebrate right and kick off this new abode of ours with a housewarming party! Follow along as I share some of my best tips and tricks to mastering your own housewarming party and actually enjoying it too.

Mail Out Invitations

When was the last time you sent out a paper invitation? I think email invites can get lost in your guests’ inboxes and it is so much more memorable when you receive something tangible. I love to include a small riddle that encourages your guests to bring a bottle of wine or liquor to the party!

When it comes to your guests… don’t be afraid to invite some newcomers! Chances are, you don’t know a great deal of people in your new ‘hood, so invite some friendly looking neighbors and maybe your new local barista or yoga instructor.

Set Some Time for Tours

Even though our house is only 800 square feet, people were really interested in hearing about the way we designed it! We put a ton of effort into the backyard and kitchen and “renovating” your rental can be tricky! Set up times throughout the evening to take a few guests at a time around the home for a full play-by-play of your space.

Pick an Object for Everyone to Sign

I love putting out one object for guests to sign. It’s sort of like a sign in book at a wedding but way less formal. An activity like this gives your guest something to do if they come early and frees up a little bit of your time for those last minute touches. Things like an empty wine bottle, a tray, or blank canvas are great! At the end you’ll also have a funky home décor piece.

Small Appetizers

You just moved in and chances are not everything is in working order quite yet! Keep the food small and tasty. Think cheese platters and smaller appetizers. You’re not expected to put together a 3-course meal at a housewarming party! For moving parties like this, I always like to go heavier on the cocktails than food. I love this great drink dispenser for batched cocktails. For a super fun twist serve your glassware with a Popsicle for dipping in each cocktail!

Give the Party a Focal Point

While this isn’t a formal dinner, it’s nice to have a focal point to the party. This is where you can put out cocktails, appetizers and have music playing. Chances are, not all of your guests know exactly where everything is in your new home yet. We chose our backyard because it provides the most breathing room in our space. We spend so much time in our “outdoor living room” thanks to our GORGEOUS Cosco outdoor furniture that it seemed like the perfect fit!

The post Celebrate Your New House with the Perfect Housewarming Party appeared first on The Inspired Home.

I bought this house 13 months ago. It was filled with filthy mattresses and abandoned iguanas. Smelled like a pet store and a dentist office had a baby. The only way my real estate agent could keep me from going catatonic at signing was by whispering the mantra, “It’s just carpet and paint. It’s just carpet and paint.”

Only this house has turned into so much more than carpet and paint. In the little more than a year that I’ve owned it, the basement has flooded 4 times. Once when a pipe burst in the ceiling, twice as groundwater seeped in through a crack in the foundation, and only once with sewer water. Believe me, once is enough.

We’ve renovated 2 bathrooms, 1 kitchen, the countertops and flooring. Steadied the deck. Rewired the electrical boxes. And replaced one furnace. The other one is on it’s way out.

It’s been a revolving schedule of dust and drywall. At a late afternoon picnic last week, my general contractor walked inside, grabbed a hot dog and beer, mentioned casually that we needed to recover the can lights above the kitchen sink, then headed outside to hang with the fam. A year ago I didn’t even know the guy. Now he attends family parties and calls to check in on random Wednesdays.

Which is all to say: it’s been quite a year.

The things that needed the most attention have received it. Wet carpet and wet paint. Staving off leaks and making sure toilets flush. So you can imagine everything else has been a lot neglected.

Which brings us back to the guest bedroom.

The guest bedroom sits in a quiet corner of the basement. And has become a receptacle for all random furniture and linens that I can’t yet bring myself to drive to the thrift store. Thrift store donation drop-off and post office line-standing, two things I will avoid until the end of time.

We’ve had a few random guests stay in that room. Mostly family. All of whom have received the apologetic “please forgive the decor” tour. The room has been an mash-up of casual and contemporary modern furniture. Flea market finds and a few poorly picked pictured from my “maybe birds on every painting is a fun idea” phase.

In sum, in the spirit of Marie Kondo, little of anything in that room brings joy. It’s a discolored and sad and cold and unwelcoming mess.

In sum, in the spirit of Marie Kondo, little of anything in that room brings joy. It’s a discolored and sad and cold and unwelcoming mess.

So with countdown clock on, and a European guest arriving in no time at all, I set out to make the space modern, cozy and welcoming.

5 Space-Shifting Tricks

When renovating on a limited budget (or any budget, for that matter), having a few priorities helps you spend money on the smartest items. Here are a few of the styling ideas I kept in mind as I selected room accessories.

1. Pick a 3-Color Palette

Our guest room already had a giant king-sized bed. And as much as I wish I could start fresh, I didn’t have time or budget to toss it. So let that piece become the base for my color palette. The grey quilting on the backboard is clean, slightly formal and modern. So I limited my accessories to pinks, whites and grays with a gold accent. Narrowing down the options to a 3-color helps you limit the creative madness, and select basic items that coordinate on the color wheel.

2. Mix Textures

Forget the old-school approach to bedrooming, where everything must match, coordinate and be part of a set. Embrace your inner boho and select an eclectic, natural mix of woods, textures and patterns. A simple rule: purchase opposites. Large furs pillows pair nicely with simple burlap textures, big stripes pair nicely with teensy pinstripes, grey woods look beautiful with natural redwoods and big woven baskets. Don’t be afraid to combine a variety of items to create a cozy look.

3. Go for Greens

Instead of nailing frames to your wall, keep it simple and hang shelves, then decorate with succulents, greens and other plants. Greens always add welcome organic lines to a room. As with the rule above, pair big pots with little pots. Some with texture, some without, but keep plant holders mostly coordinated with your color palette.

4. Build a Bar

Give your guests the comforts of home by creating a sidebar of essentials. Snacks, drinks and a single serve coffee machine, so they don’t have to come rustle around in your kitchen whenever they want to nosh.

5. Hang Curtains

Forget the pricey drapes and try this trick: 15’x4’ painters drop cloths from your local home improvement store can be draped over a curtain rod (or pinned with clip-on drape hooks) for a super cheap, no-sew, beautifully natural looking curtain.

60 Minute Makeover

Total time lapsed: 67 minutes. From removing everything from the old room to tucking in the edges of the new duvet, this quick room renovation took just over an hour. T-minus 5 days until the guest arrives, and I’ve got plenty of time to sit back, relax and celebrate.

Now that’s my kind of renovation.

The post Build the Perfect Guest Bedroom Suite for Just $500 appeared first on The Inspired Home.

Pastel colors are so present in the world of design right now that they almost act as a neutral! They are no longer designated for nursery rooms and children’s play areas anymore.

These pastel tones are perfect for people who want to add in a bit of color to their kitchen but don’t want to fully commit to colored cabinetry or a semi-permanent painted accent wall. Each season I love to swap out smaller décor items like pastel topped canisters, glassware on my open shelves and textiles for a subtle thematic tone.

I know what you’re thinking… seasonal décor for all four seasons, that’s crazy! But the key to seasonal décor is to not go overboard! I’ve seen many rooms blasted with so much red and green for the holidays that I have anxiety just looking at it all. With seasonal décor always remember that, less is more.

My second rule is to choose more than one color! Whatever you do, don’t make EVERYTHING mint green. You will end up turning your kitchen into a seasonal department store display. Pick 3-5 colors that compliment one another to have some balance.

As soon as I laid eyes on this toaster I was in love. I think the moment we started to put pastel refrigerators in our kitchens (thank you, Smeg!) that the kitchen palette was changed forever.

Swapping out a few neutral throw pillows, kitchen towels and everyday neutral glassware are also great items to start with. I’m such a sucker for the seasonal department at Target and similar locations that it gives my shopping binge a purpose! Talk about win, win.

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