Tag Archives: home decor

Sep23

5 Things That’ll Disrupt Your Property’s Homely Factor

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5 Things That’ll Disrupt Your Property’s Homely Factor

Our homes are so much more than simply places to lay our heads at night and store our stuff. They’re where we create memories, feel safe, and feel the love. Or, at least, that’s the idea – the aim is to have a property that feels homey. It should feel like ours, the place where we long to be. And it should feel that way from the moment we pull up to the driveway. Alas, this won’t happen all on its own. We have to work for it, because there are some things that’ll disrupt the homely vibe you’re trying to create. Below, we take a look at five things that’ll do just that:

No Curb Appeal:

You don’t want to pull up to your home after a long day at work and think, “oh, this is my house…” You want to think, “this is my house!” The difference could be in the property’s curb appeal. They say you should start as you mean to go on, and if your front yard is well kept and all-around lovely, then you’ll get those warm feelings as soon as you arrive. Beautiful landscaping is one of the best ways to boost your home’s curb appeal. However, it can be a lot of work or downright difficult if you lack a green thumb. You might want to hire a professional to enhance and maintain your landscape design so your outdoor property looks its best.

Unwelcome Guests:

You’d feel a little uncomfortable if a stranger was living in your home, wouldn’t you? Yet actually, many of us have unwelcome guests in our homes, and they seriously compromise the homely nature of our properties. It’s imperative that every living being at your property is invited to live there. Bugs? Wasps? Bees? You surely didn’t invite them, so get rid of them. And it’s not just the feeling of insects in your home that’s the issue – they can also cause damage: you can learn more at animalcontrolspecialists.com. While prevention is the best way to keep them out of your home, there are effective ways to get rid of them once they’ve made themselves comfortable.

Poor Lighting:

You could work on making your home’s interior beautiful and well decorated and all the rest of it, but if the lighting isn’t right, then it won’t be as homely as it could be. Homeliness is all about feeling comfortable and relaxed, and you’ll find that difficult if there are forever bright lights shining into your eyes. So switch them out for atmospheric side lighting – it’ll help you and your family feel much more relaxed.

Unkempt Corners:

It’s awesome to own a property, but let’s be realistic too – it can be hard work. But it has to be done. You’ll feel ill at ease in your property if there are damaged corners and the dirt is piling up. Make a habit of staying on top of your DIY tasks, and stick to a weekly cleaning schedule.

Lack of Comfort:

Finally, how are your comfort levels? It’s sometimes worth upgrading your couch, bedding, and towels just for the noticeable improvement in comfort that they bring. You’ll feel the difference, especially in the winter, when your home is a pleasant and warm retreat from the chill of the outdoors. Add some hot chocolate, and you’ll be good to go!

Fix up the five points above and turn your house into the homeliest home on the block!

Featured Image By: Pixabay – CC0 Licence

Sep22

Scary Good Vases

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Scary Good Vases

Helloooo everyone! I have tons of knick knacks in my apartment that I love to have on display. From my crystal collection and gifts from friends to items I treasure from my beloved grandparents and, of course, Wilson the volleyball from Cast Away – it makes me happy to see it all every day in my apartment. I have a little bit of everything but, shockingly, no vases which I needed to add to the arsenal to hold the gorgeous rose that my boyfriend got for me.

Luckily, Walmart had their Halloween collection already in store the last time I was there with a client and I was able to snag these beauties. Check it out:

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As a lover of all things creepy, these new vases were right up my alley and for five bucks a pop, I couldn’t pass them up. The shocking black butterfly, skull, and spider against the creamy white bottles are the ultimate spooky chic decor. And, pair it with a blood red rose? Perfection.

These vases were a great find and, although I won’t say I needed them, I did need something to put my flowers in. So, technically yes, I did need them. Having these vases that encase such a sweet gesture makes me smile whenever I look at them. It’s the little things that make me the happiest in a relationship and this definitely scored some extra brownie points for my MAN. And, double brownie points for him unknowingly giving his shopaholic girlfriend a reason to buy more stuff, lolol. 😀

How do you celebrate Halloween? What are your favorite knick knacks in your home? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep21

Lil Red’s Art Gallery: This Is Halloween Edition

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Lil Red’s Art Gallery: This Is Halloween Edition

Howdy! So, while shopping at Walmart with a client, I went a bit too hard in the Halloween department and picked out some new wall art and knick knacks for the apartment. What can I say, I just couldn’t help myself! It may be mid September but, in my humble opinion, spooky season is officially among us and I couldn’t be more excited if I tried! And, although I still have none of the paintings that I got compliments of Goodwill in my apartment, I couldn’t say no to these beauties. Check it out:

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It shouldn’t come as a surprise that as soon as I saw the skeleton pop out picture, it went right into my cart. And, it was a wonderful surprise to me to find the ghoulishly gorgeous butterflies behind the skeleton one. So, into the cart it went. These pictures combine creepy with pretty (My own personal aesthetic!) and I am deeply looking forward to eventually getting them hung up in my apartment.

Normally, I am not one to fill my living space with all Halloween everything and I liked that these pictures were a little dark and disturbing without a giant Frankenstein being plastered on it. However, I guess if it was done in the style of the pictures above, it could be kind of cool! 😉

What is your favorite holiday to decorate for? Which stores have the best Halloween decor? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep11

Moving On Up: New Couch Edition

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Moving On Up: New Couch Edition

Helloooo, darlings! During my move in mid-April, I did almost all of my shopping via secondhand and consignment shops. I was happy to do this because not only did it save me a buttload of money but it gave me a lot of unique pieces of furniture and decor that I’m confident no one else will have. I was also bequeathed with some amazing items by some of my client’s families including my beautiful curio cabinets and crystal collection.

The generosity of the families I work with never ceases to astound me and, thanks to one of them, I have a gorgeous new to me red velvet couch for my living room. Check it out:

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Now, don’t get me wrong. I really like my old loveseat that is currently still in my living room until I figure out what to do with it. But, I’m not going to lie, it’s not the comfiest thing on the planet. When I’m reading or watching a movie, I like being able to curl up and relax. My loveseat is quite small and it makes getting the optimum snugly feeling that I require impossible.

So, when the parents of one of my clients began renovating their living room complete with new furniture, I couldn’t say no to the offer of their old couch. It’s funny, because I never even knew that they owned this pretty little number because my client and I don’t spend time in the living room, we are mainly out and about in the community. And, when I first laid eyes on it, it was definitely love at first sight!

I adore the vintage chic shape, the soft and plush velvet material, and, of course, the color! The best part about my new to me couch is that it’s one hundred percent snuggle approved. Because it’s made on a curve, it fits to my body perfectly when I’m laying down and I am reveling in that because it just wasn’t an option with my straight as an arrow loveseat.

And, luckily enough, the couch goes exceptionally well with my furniture that I already had in place. It wouldn’t have been a big deal if it didn’t but the fact that my new couch looks like it should have been in my apartment all along is the cherry on top. My client’s parents were going to donate the couch if I didn’t want it so I am very happy that it ended up in the Lil Red Foundation, instead, and am so totally thankful for their help in making my little apartment the ultimate home. ❤

How is your house or apartment furnished? Do you like a more modern or vintage look when it comes to your decor? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep4

TJMaxx Fall Hall: Royal Stafford Plates

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TJMaxx Fall Hall: Royal Stafford Plates

Salutations! Saying that I just “like” the dark and disturbing is a severe understatement because the creepy, spooky, scary, and weird is what I am most drawn to. I am a horror fan through and through from movies and literature to art and decor. My preferred activities for a night in would include a scary movie marathon or tucking in with a good Stephen King book. And, with Halloween on my mind, I couldn’t pass up these gorgeous skull embellished plates by Royal Stafford when I saw them at TJMaxx. Check it out:

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After giving a nod to British punk fashion in my latest OOTD, it should come as no surprise that I was eager to add my new plates into the cart after seeing the “Made In England” sticker. And also: skulls, lol! These plates are so beautiful to me and I love the sketch style skull on the more simple plates but the real piece de resistance is the ornate crowned skull. Sadly, there was only one of those bad boys, which was a disappointment because trust and believe I would have bought a few of them!

Do I plan on eating off of these plates? Absolutely not. They’re too pretty to me and I got them for more of a home decor purpose. Now, it’s only a matter of finding just where to put them, because my curio cabinets are already fully stocked with my trinkets and treasures. For the time being, my Royal Stafford dishes are resting safely on my air hockey table until I get a stroke of inspiration for where to put them.

Until then, I am just happy to have found such unique pieces that I find so much beauty in. These are the last items from my TJMaxx Fall Haul and I really think that I was saving the best until the end of this series. And, who knows, maybe I’ll find some more unique dishes by Royal Stafford during my seasonal shopping haul come winter. Fingers crossed!

How do you shop for fall and the changing of the seasons? What is a TJMaxx or secondhand store find that you are particularly proud of? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug18

Fall Is In The Air

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Fall Is In The Air

Okayyyy okay, so fall technically isn’t in the air yet but that doesn’t mean that my apartment can’t smell like it! Because my dumbass thought that burning cigarettes out into some of my candles was a good idea, I needed to restock because none of them will light now. But, lucky for me, Michael’s was having a three for ten dollar deal for their fall scented candles. And, at six dollars apiece originally, I just couldn’t pass that deal up! Check it out:

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I never quite understood people’s obsession with candles until moving into my apartment. And, now, I can definitely see why because the first thing I do when I get home from work in the evening or have a free afternoon is light one up. There is just something about the soft glow of the flame, the delicious scents, and the general atmosphere that is so relaxing when combined with your quiet time reading a book or watching a movie.

I always thought that giving a candle as a gift was kind of basic but OMG would I love to get all of the candles as prezzies now. But, until gift giving season is upon us, these fall scented delights from Michael’s will do just fine. I like all three fragrances that I picked out but the Butterscotch Spice is divine and I’m looking forward to having it lit on my coffee table as a scary movie plays and the crisp autumn wind howls outside.

What is your favorite fall scent? What is one of your favorite “basic” presents to receive? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug13

5 Simple Tips For Adding Value To Your Home

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5 Simple Tips For Adding Value To Your Home

Every homeowner will at times think about adding value to their home, and some will even have it as a priority. Often used as a way to move up the property ladder, homeowners are always looking for easy ways to increase the value of their property, but don’t always know the best ways to go about it. It doesn’t have to be complicated, in fact, there are many ways that you can achieve this.

Whether you’re looking to increase the value of your house for resale or you just want to complete some renovation work to get your home looking picture perfect, it’s best to have a look below at some of the simple tips for adding value to your home:

Creating Open Spaces:

If you’re looking for and don’t mind a huge renovation project, then opening up your downstairs living space into an open plan could be one of the best things you can do in order to add value to your home. It’s something that a lot of buyers, especially those with families are looking for. Creating a space that you can enjoy for entertaining both family and friends which will be used and seen as the center of your home can be enjoyed if you’re staying or deciding to move on. What is guaranteed though is that you will be looking for a space similar in your next home!

Gardens & Outside Spaces:

Sometimes the outside areas of your home can be forgotten, however, they should be a priority especially when you’re looking to add value to your home. At the end of the day, the outside of your home is either the first impression before people enter or the only impression that people have of your home as they never go inside. This means it’s not only important to maintain it but it’s also important to make sure it looks its best on the curb appeal side of things.

Whether you need to replace the doors, repair the walkways, or fit a new garage with an electric door you should think about looking at these as an easy way to increase the value of your home. When thinking about the outside spaces you have to make sure you think about the landscaping of your garden, every buyer will look at the garden as a project if you don’t look after it yourself. You could even look at palm trees for sale as a unique item to add as a tropical feature.

Renovate The Bathroom And Kitchen:

Often seen as two big projects in themselves, upgrading your kitchen and bathrooms can add a significant amount to the value of any property. If you’re looking to sell and want to get the best price possible, then renovating these areas will do wonders for you. Buyers will normally have a ‘move in ready’ kitchen and bathroom on their list because after buying a new home they don’t want to have the costs of renovating them themselves.

A bathroom or kitchen renovation can be a big undertaking and there is nothing wrong with doing it in parts. The best thing that you can do if you are considering this type of upgrade is to start planning ahead based on your budget/time frame. Once you have an idea of what you would like, do your research on a Bathroom remodeler in Oregon City, OR or your local area. They will be happy to come by, discuss further, and give you a quote!

Although these can be seen as big projects that you will need to spend time and money on, rest assured that they will definitely increase the property of your home.

Featured Image By: Terry Magallanes from Pexels

Jul11

Welcome To My Crib: New Curio Cabinets Edition

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Welcome To My Crib: New Curio Cabinets Edition

Hi everyone! While working at one of my client’s homes a few weeks ago, I noticed some gorgeous curio cabinets that they had in their kitchen, which were moved from the living room that they are renovating. I never even knew that they existed and I complimented them because they looked like something that my grandma would have had at the funeral home. And, we all know that my decor style is “funeral home chic”, for sure!

My client’s mom told me that they were getting rid of them and the only reason why they were still there and not at Goodwill was to hold their vacation supplies for their beach trip. I asked her how much she wanted for them, because I knew that I wanted the cabinets for my apartment and she was having none of that. She told me to consider it as my housewarming gift and her and the family dropped them off at my apartment this past weekend.

I recently had time to move some of my knick knacks and treasures from my desk in my office onto the cabinets. And, now, I can see them every day during living room hangs! Check it out:

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My cabinets include a lot of things on them that I love like gifts from my clients and their families, decorations that they helped me pick out during work, and trinkets from my grandma’s funeral home. All of these things are treasured so dearly by me and I’m so happy to have them displayed somewhere that I can appreciate them, because I don’t use my office very often.

The cabinets made a great addition in my living room and filled up one of the blank walls nicely. It is also my tallest piece of furniture in the room, which looks really good with my vaulted ceilings. It adds levels of height to my furniture now, instead of everything being on the same plane and it definitely makes the room more interesting to look at.

My new curio cabinets are already so well loved after just a week of being in my apartment and I am so thankful to the amazing families I work with for their generosity as well as the honor to provide care for their children! ❤

Where do you keep your treasures at at home? How do you add visual interest to a room? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul8

Improvements That Could Increase The Value Of Your Home

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Improvements That Could Increase The Value Of Your Home

Are you looking for ways to improve your home, but aren’t sure where to start? Making improvements to your home can be extremely satisfying and you can customize it all to your liking. If you are on a limited budget, it can be hard to know which parts of your home should be prioritized when carrying out a renovation. If you are looking for improvements that will help to add some extra value to your home and, potentially make it more appealing to future buyers, these ideas should help:

Replace Your Windows and Doors:

Your home’s windows and doors are one of the first things that people will notice about your house; as they are one of the most prominent features on your home’s exterior. Over time, windows and doors are subjected to the elements and have to withstand everything from heavy snowstorms to the hot sun beating down onto them. It’s little wonder that every now and again it is a good idea to get your windows and doors replaced. As windows and doors are such an integral part of your home and perform such an important role, it is vital to choose replacement windows and doors which are well-made and of the highest quality. Mr. Rogers Windows and Doors offers a fantastic range of replacement windows and doors, which are sure to improve the appearance of any home.

It might not seem like it, but changing your front door can really make a big difference. You will want to make sure what you choose is something that you are going to be completely happy with. Look through ideas on Pinterest or pop on HGTV. Then, enter a search for “discount doors houston” or your local area to see your vision come to life.

Convert Your Loft:

Your loft is a part of the house that has enormous potential. If your attic is currently being used as a storage area, then why not bring it to life and get some real use out of it? Your loft offers endless opportunities for use as an extra living space in your home. Using your loft space to add extra bedrooms and bathrooms can really increase the value of your home, and make it all the more appealing to potential buyers. If you have no immediate plans to sell your home, a loft conversion still has its benefits. All the extra living space that you create makes a perfect place for guests to stay and is ideal if your family is still growing.

Update Your Kitchen:

Changing your kitchen can be a large project to undertake, but it is totally worth it when complete. The kitchen is the heart of the home, so making it a space that is as attractive as it is functional is important. Kitchen renovations can be super expensive, but you can adjust your makeover plans to suit your budget, and still make a big difference to the way your kitchen looks. If you are on a tight budget but still want to change things up, why not simply change the doors and worktops, instead? Replacing the doors and worktops may be cost-effective but can still make a dramatic difference to the overall look of the room.

If you fancy going all-out on redesigning your new kitchen, then you may decide to gut it entirely and start again from scratch. Going back to basics means that you are able to utilize the space better and get the kitchen exactly how you would like it. If you are planning on a full on renovation, search for a kitchen remodeler in Tampa, FL or your local area to get started. The experts will be able to walk you through the merits of additions such as high-end integrated appliances, attractive tiles, and kitchen islands that can really help to add value to your home.

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Naomi Hébert on Unsplash

Renovate Your Bathroom:

Alongside the kitchen, the bathroom is the other room in your home that usually costs the most to improve. Due to the costs involved, a beautiful bathroom can have a really positive impact on your home’s value along with how much it appeals to potential buyers. If you have a small bathroom, you may look for ways to redesign it so that it appears bigger and less cramped. This can be achieved by installing a corner bath and corner sink so that less of the floor space is taken up, and every part of the room is utilized.

Be mindful of your budget, make a plan, and soon your house will be feeling brand new with an increased property value, to boot!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Jul3

New Glass Letter Box

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New Glass Letter Box

Hi! I absolutely love receiving things in the mail, especially handwritten letters and birthday or holiday cards. I think that letter writing is a lost art and nothing makes me happier than seeing that someone took the time to sit down and write something just for me. I save all of my cards and letters from my loved ones but, sadly, have had nowhere to put them other than shoved in a drawer of my desk. But, that changed during my shopping session at the craft store, PatCatan’s! Check it out:

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When my client who I was shopping with pointed out how nice this would look in my apartment, I couldn’t agree more and instantly added it to my cart. Right away, it reminded me of the donation box that my grandparents had at the funeral home that they owned and operated. I remember spending many a times dropping made up “airplane tickets” into the box and then going to explore the magnificent property.

Although I won’t be dropping any travel tickets into my new treasure box any time soon, it sure will be perfect for putting my letters in it. I love that I will be able to still see everything in it. All of the signatures, colors, and handwriting will be on display which is just what I wanted but didn’t know how to achieve until finding this little beauty. It is definitely a nod to my funeral home chic aesthetic in my apartment and I can’t wait to fill it up with my card collection!

Do you save your mail from your loved ones? How do you store it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah