We've been travelling

We recently returned from a week-long trip to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.

 

 

 

It was a much-needed break and the weather was perfect in this town, situated on the east coast with stretches of white sandy beaches and turquoise waters of the Pacific.
 

 

There were many activities to choose from at the resort where we stayed..aerobics in the ocean and pool (aqua gym), wind-surfing, kayaking, snorkeling, archery, tennis, trapeze, yoga, zumba and more.

 

 

 

Idyllic settings to relax under palm trees..

 

 

or catch some sun while reading a book.

 

 

We even caught a dazzling full moon.
 

 

 

 The location was idyllic; the weather was perfect.

 

I hope you are enjoying the beginnings of Spring.

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

 

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often. 

 

Creating wall art with fine handcrafted paper

Here is a quick and easy way to add art to a room and in doing so, add color, pattern and perhaps even some texture.

 

This was the fine handcrafted paper I shared with you last week. Both sheets have texture - the flowers are raised - and some sparkle, too.

 

 

The Daisy White and Gold paper cost $6.50

 



 

 

and the Flower Burst Purples cost just $4.95. Both sheets measured 22"x30"

 

 

 

I used 2 canvas boards: a 12"x16" and a 12"x24".

 

 

 

The only other tools: Mod Podge (glue) and a sponge brush

 

 

and a pair of scissors.

 

 

The easiest way to adhere the paper to the canvas boards is to lay the paper upside-down and the canvas as well, over the paper. The idea is to brush on the Mod Podge on the back of the canvas. This is sufficient to hold the paper in place when folded over.

At each corner I cut the paper at a 45 degree angle to the corner of the board (see arrow). I figured this would help me fold the paper more easily and create a clean edge/corner.
 

 

 

Apply Mod Podge (glue) along the edge that will fold over and press it/hold down gently to the board.

 

 

The triangle pieces created by the 45 degree cut were easily folded inwards to make a clean edge.

 

 

Repeat the same on the other three sides.

 

 

Allow time to dry.

 

Clean edges.

 

 

 

 

 



It was getting dark as I took these pictures - the walls are not such a deep lilac. We have not had much sun of late. You can see some sparkle.

 

 

Easy artwork. This did not take me long.

Hopefully, these boards will be up on the walls soon.

 

There is more to share with this room. Stay tuned.

 

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

 

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.



 

 

 

 



Looking at the artwork for a tween room

The artwork for my 11-year-old daughter's room is something we have chosen together. Each piece has either sentimental value or is special for its subject matter. And yes, importantly, it coordinates beautifully with the new wall color, hazy lilac, by Benjamin Moore .

 

As the room is going through change, this is an opportunity for me to create new artwork for one of the large walls which will also hold bookshelves - more on that later. We found some fine handcrafted paper at Paper Source. She picked her 2 favorites because of color (purple) and subject (daisies, a favorite flower).

 

 

I have on hand some canvases (like below) from Jo-ann which will be used to create simple, inexpensive artwork with the paper above.

 

 

 

This adorable framed print of Disney's Belle from Beauty and the Beast was purchased several years ago at the kids' nursery school art auction fundraiser. It has some bold colors and looks stunning against the newly painted walls. We still love Disney!

 

 

 

For the same wall, we shall have room for the much-shared butterflies, created by the kids some years ago. (And yes, the one on the left is upside-down). We were looking at the colors against the wall.

 

 

 

The line-up as we figure out placement. 

 

Now that the color of the walls is a little more grown-up the art will look less early-childhood-like, more tween.

Art in any space must be meaningful or evoke emotion. These pieces will do just that. It is great to be able to reuse some old pieces.

Next week I will share the new pieces created with the fine handcrafted paper.

 

Meanwhile, the desk is being reorganized. Next will be the dresser. We have state tests in April. The room has to be ready for some serious studying by then.

 

Happy weekend and Happy St. Patrick's Day!

 

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

 

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Spring is in the air....

...even though it might be snowing. There is a hint of spring in the air in my house, at least. While I took down the holiday decorations in January I contemplated the post-Christmas/still-winter decor, particularly on the mantle.

I used a couple of branches of these silver berries and just placed them on across the mantel in no specific manner. And then I interspersed 2 votives randomly.

 

Honestly, I had no flowers on here for a while but taller votives. Last weekend I was entertaining and I went in search of some color to herald the coming of spring - soon, I hope. I needed some florals for my dining table, too.

I found gorgeous African roses at the local Trader Joe's in shades of orange and fuchsia which I decided to use together.

I cut them down to fit in my spray-painted Salvation Army glasses now used as vases. This is what the 7" glasses looked like when I first bought them.

 

After some gold spray paint.
 

 

This works in my love for the silver-gold color combination.

 

The day after my party I moved the flowers from the dining room to the coffee table. They were perfect in my recycled salsa and preserves jars with some clear gems for sparkle.

 

A simple arrangement, beautiful pop of color.
I removed all leaves below the rims of the containers and left a few above for some green.
 

 

 

 

This is what I am enjoying in my home today even we have yet another snow day and schools are closed yet again.

 

Tomorrow promises to be in the 50s!

 

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

 

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Painting a tween room: color update

In my last post I shared a design board for my younger daughter's room. Now a tween, her room needed an update. Repainting the walls was the easiest and most budget-friendly way. That was all she wanted, anyway. She was pushing for a shade of purple; the louder the better. I wanted something more mauve or a darker lilac.

We tackled the project this past weekend. I have some touching up still to do and of course, the cleaning up. Here is a peek.

The color we settled on was Benjamin Moore's Hazy Lilac.

 

 

After buying a sample and testing it on the walls I had initially decided to lighten the color by 50%. I also decided to use Home Depot's BEHR Premium Plus Ultra (paint and primer in one) in order to keep this budget friendly. By computer, the store is able to match and lighten or darken colors to other brands based on the formula.

 

Somehow, perhaps because it was a busy afternoon when I visited Home Depot last week, I came away with the original shade of Hazy Lilac. It was not lightened. I chose to use the color anyway. It had been my daughter's original #1 choice.

 

I love how it looks and more importantly, so does my daughter.

 

Of course, we removed the tree wall stickers from the walls before painting.

 

 

These are the stickers she chose to save and reuse in the newly painted room. They were easy to remove.

 

 

 

Her favorites are the owls, the porcupine, birds, a few flowers and leaves. Where they will go is yet to be determined.

 

Over the next couple of days I will put the room back together. There are a couple of elements that will need a little time to be worked on.

 

It sets off the floral chandelier beautifully.

This is before.

 

 

And now.

 

 

This is a great color for a tween/teen. Fresh and modern and girlish. I love the contrast with the white trim. It will work well with the other elements in the room. 

Click here to see the design board for this room.
 

I shall be back with more updates.
 

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

 

Please Note: I have not been compensated in any way by the owners of this shop. The views and opinions expressed in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the shop and on my purchase of products.