Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Adding Value to your home ~ Guest Post by: Stairsupplies

Hey! Hope all of you are having a fantastic New Year so far.  I don't know about y'all but with the start of a New Year, I am sooo ready for a new house project.  In a world of a million DIY projects (thank you Pinterest) ;) it can be a little overwhelming to decide which to do first. My advice....consider what will add value to your home. Not just monetary value (although always a plus!) but what adds value to the quality and enjoyment of your life in your home. 

I'm so excited to have a guest blogger from Stairsupplies posting today to share a great project that will absolutely add value to your life and your home. (check out their completed projects)


Hi! I'm Andrew with Stairsupplies. Stairsupplies manufacturers wood stair parts and wrought iron balusters, including standard and cusotm handrails, stair treads, newels, box newels, and all other stair accessories.

There are a few interior projects that can add more value to your home than redoing your stairway. However, this is often a project that many people, for one reason or another, put off doing.  There seems to always be more pressing needs, but a beautiful staircase can easily become the focal point of your home. Plus, this interior project is a great undertaking for winter time remodeling.

Recently, my sister and her husband tackled their stairway. It functioned well enough to escalate people to the second floor, but really showed its 20 year old style. When they built the house 20 years ago, they picked out the standard stair package. This included poplar handrails and newels, and painted white balusters- nothing very exciting, especially with the bland carpet on top. 
As you can see, the stairway was still in relatively good shape. The carpet was stained in a couple places and there were some nicks on the wood balusters, but it still functioned perfectly, just outdated in light of their other remodel projects in the home.  A new bamboo floor (which looks excellent) along with some additional smaller renovations served to bring their home into modern times, but the stairway still dated the house.   With interior decoration and remodeling, even one out of style element can bring the look of the house back 20 years.
They quickly realized that their stairway was in need of remodeling and after talking to the stair specialists, decided upon this stairway.
Carpeted stairs were replaced with full thickness hickory treads. Drywall was cut out to expose the ends of the treads. Plain, white balusters were replaced with beautiful, oil-rubbed bronze iron balusters. The standard, ho-hum poplar handrail and newels were substituted with handsome hickory pieces.

The hickory treads, newels and bronze iron balusters mix beautifully with the bamboo flooring that was recently installed. Each has a reddish tint to it, but there is enough variety in the wood to give the area a unique flavor. Clearly, there is nothing ordinary about this space and each part accents the other. This is key when remodeling your stairway. It is commonly known that each piece in the stairway will shine light on the other pieces, but people often try to match the stairway with the rest of the living space.  Which oftentimes leads to people using the same species of wood on their stairway as they do in their hardwood flooring and other furnishings.  My sister opted to use bamboo on the flooring and hickory on the stairway. The different species of wood are a stunning compliment.

The subtlest part of this gorgeous stairway is the oil-rubbed bronze iron balusters. As was said earlier, there is just enough red in the balusters to tie the whole stairway together. Iron balusters are a great way to add diversity to your stairway as they can add different colors and accents to the stairway without throwing off the color balance.  As an added bonus, iron balusters are heavy and durable and will keep their glow for years to come.  

Notice how much larger the stairs appear after the drywall was cut out to expose the ends of the treads? This functional staircase is now a work of art. Every piece was chosen with an exact purpose in mind. Each part not only compliments the other, but compliments the rest of the space around the stairway.   Not only has this added value to their home, but they now have a beautiful focal point in their living room. 







Sunday, December 29, 2013

Statement Chairs with One Kings Lane


I was recently contacted by One Kings Lane, who asked me to share a post on what statement chair in my home best reflects my personal style.  I love statement chairs almost as much as I love throw pillows, so to pick one was a little tough.  A statement chair can change the look of an entire room, rather pulled together in a grouping or standing alone, they draw your attention to them and make a statement!!
  I went room to room looking at each of my chairs and honestly each one is different but amazing in their own way.

My  kitchen desk chair which I love for its country style and pop of color with the green finish


My living room accent chair with its gorgeous spindle legs and bird print fabric


To my master bedroom statement chair which has one of the most gorgeous embroidered patterned fabrics on it that I've ever seen


But, my favorite has to be my dining room chairs. They are so graceful and soft in appearance, but are durable as all heck ;)  I love everything about them, from their look, their history, the finish and detail on them to the durability and comfort of them. 
 My dining room is the first room when you walk in our house and I couldn't imagine a better statement than the one these chairs make of:

"Welcome to our home...a place where guest enter and leave as friends"



I knew that these chairs were antiques but I really didn't know much about their history. 
 One Kings Lane's new Home Decor Resource Guide was an Amazing tool for not only the history of different styles and era's of furniture, but so many other items as well. Such as, how to DIY Stain-Proof All your Chairs,  (with 3 kids and 3 dogs, this article is a must read in my home) :)


So, here is what I have learned about these chairs I love so much.
They are Chippendale style  which was inspired by English and French design and crafted by an English furniture maker Thomas Chippendale. Chippendale furniture was almost always made of mahogany with intricate carved backs and straight fluted legs.


My chairs have been through a few changes since first crafted, but each change has added character.  The  style is my favorite. Its symmetrical and delicate in appearance but the layers of paint and distress makes this perfect chair a little imperfect...Imperfection has never looked so beautiful!!







I love the simplicity they have at first glance but draw you in to all the detail the longer you look at them. From the carvings across the top, to the curves on the arms, each crafted beautifully.

These chairs are classic and timeless without being too fancy to use. The distressed finish and burlap covered seats sets the tone for my house. It is gorgeous and stylish but at the same time it says sit on me, scratch me, enjoy many family meals with me because with each use it adds a layer of character.  This chair reflects my personal style to a "T"!
Timeless, functional, classic.....with oodles of character! (and by character I mean "love" from my wonderful life with kids and dogs)


Over the next week or so as Christmas décor comes down, and our homes begin to appear empty and plain, we tend to want to spruce things up.  I am going to be doing a few up coming post on "Small changes that make a big impact" for sprucing up your home in the New Year and a statement chair is an awesome place to start.  Rather you are reupholstering or looking to purchase a statement chair remember to check out One Kings Lane Home Decor Resource Guide to tips to the perfect chair.

If you are not a member of One Kings Lane and would like to get full access to all their amazing deals here is a link to join...its Free! One Kings Lane Member Invite
  
Do you have a favorite statement chair?







Monday, December 2, 2013

Decking the halls!


 Christmas waves a magic wand over this world and Behold everything is softer and more Beautiful!
~Norman Vincent Peale





Individual gifts at each place setting




Love the mix of sparkle and rustic



I want to put a Nativity in the centerpiece, but I haven't found one that will fit yet.




I always mix fresh garland with my faux garland...I love the look and texture it has
..and it smells amazing










The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
{thank you Restoration Hardware for making such beautiful stockings}







Merry Christmas from my office to yours!
{new tree for my office...excited to gradually collect new ornaments for it each year}




Found snow covered birch wood sticks this year for my topper...love them









Merry Christmas!!