Enviable Summer Entryways and Foyers

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There are your "traditional" elements that no entry or foyer should be without - but shoe storage and a key tray don't necessarily make an entry way that makes you smile when you walk in the door.  Here are a few elements that do...

Art with impact.

via Pinterest via Waiting on Martha

Live plants/flowers.

via Pinterest via 11 Magnolia Lane

An oversized mirror.

via Pinterest via Desert Domicile

A dramatic entry rug.

via Abbey Carpet of SF

...and of course, your best friend waiting for you.

via Pinterest via Chango.co

Stephanie Bradshaw's gorgeous, feminine apartment

FREE IMAGES I love this girl's style, I did a post on her office space awhile back.  You can see it here: gorgeous home offices

So, it's no surprise that her home was just as beautiful. Check it out

Love the sunroom type space she has going on...

What do you think?


See and read more at The Glitter Guide

The Art of Buying Original Art

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Buying art can be a little more complicated than just falling in love with a piece and hanging it up! You may find that when you bring home that "gotta have it" piece that it doesn't fit in the space you want it in or it isn't great standing on it's own. 

Here are a few hints to help with the buying process:

via houzz

If you can, visualize it before you buy it. Go shopping knowing what size wall you are trying to fill so you can get a feel for what size of piece of art you are looking for. Pick out a few colors that you know will work great in the room and if you have a specific color you are looking for bring an item that matches it so you can tie it all together.

via bhg

Buy local to support your local artists! Not only does this give the art you bring into your home a story worth telling but you are supporting your neighbors. It will give you another reason to love it!

via apartmenttherapy

Remove the anxiety around pricing and realize that you can find a great, good size piece of art for under $1,000 but even for $100. If you have a budget you need to stick to then keeping within that price is important but finding that perfect piece could be as simple as $50 and be priceless to you.

via housebeautiful

Use the tools you have! Now with the power of mobility we can take a picture of our space and bring it with us art shopping or take a picture of that piece and bring the picture home to see it works where you want it (not all places will allow that). There are also places online that will take a photo of you room and place pieces of art in it to see if it's a perfect match.

via hometalk

There is no better way to make your own than an original piece of art that provides originality and a great story when hosting your friends. If you are looking for ideas of places to shop there's an awesome place called Vango that makes this process so much easier! When in doubt, remember the golden rule: buy what you like. 

Inspiring ways to use a neutral palette

FREE IMAGES It's no secret I'm a fan of grays, whites, and other cool neutrals.  Using neutrals really allows me to experiment with different accent colors via pillows, throws, and accent colors.  That means if I end up not being able to live with a green or purple I loved last month, it's not like I wasted a ton of money on a sofa I no longer like.  However, done right - with layering textures and patterns, neutrals can stand all on their own as a gorgeous palette.

via tumblr

I'm really liking gray and brown lately too, like the gray door and the wooden mirror frame.

via keltainentalorannalla

Drooling over this kitchen.  I don't know if I dust enough to ever have such dark floors, but they are gorgeous when contrasted with the white cabinetry.  And that Moroccan inspired tile? Don't even get me started.

via dustjacket-attic

A bit warmer tones than I normally go for but this is still working for me.

via lovelyclusters

Loving the coffee table.
via Sweet Home Style

via Schuyler Samperton

Chic and Glamorous Art for the Fashion Lover

FREE IMAGES Good art isn't always easy to find. Etsy has made it easier though, and has made it possible to connect a lot of artists with people who love art that isn't mass produced or unattainable to most of us. One Etsy artist I'm loving is the Lady Gatsby shop with fashion inspired prints.

I love watercolors, and then paired with the subject matter - gorgeous perfume bottles, shoes, etc., there are quite a few pieces I'd love for my master bath and office. I was lucky enough to receive a gorgeous Chanel No. 5 print and some super chic correspondence cards, and they look even better in person!

Here are a few other prints and cards I'm loving:

Love it?  See more at Lady Gatsby

disclosure: I received these prints as a sample

A New Look at Technology in Design

FREE IMAGES Sometimes it can feel like technology can get in the way of our home decor. A huge screen TV might not go along with your rustic look, but thankfully there are some clever ways of designing your space around your screens:

via Houzz

Built in cabinets are a great way to go! You can mount the TV on the wall or just place inside the cabinet and have a gorgeous space without the eye sore of screens, wires, and devices that with it!

via dwellerswithoutdecorators

A fireplace is a gorgeous focal point of a room. A TV sitting above it is not! Having this slide away piece on top of the fireplace gives you that gorgeous focal point when it's put away and functional for every day living. 

via mcinteriors

Under the stairs storage has always been a favorite of mine. Storing your TV in the under stair storage is a brilliant idea! It won't break up the flow of the room when it's put away and when you do have it out, it's in perfect view with the rest of the room! 

via Houzz

Using a large photo split in two is a brilliant way to hide the TV. I love the idea of the ceiling mount track for the pictures so you could change out the art pieces if you wanted to later.


via potterybarn

Buying a good old fashioned wall mount to set your TV in is perfect if you are looking for a quick and easy fix!


via pinterest

Don't like the thought of going through the trouble to hide your TV? Try using your it as a centerpiece for your art. Placing your pictures around the it strategically can give the wall a great look without covering up the screen. 

Art for the Eclectic Home: Book Review

FREE IMAGES After receiving Art for the Eclectic Home by Jamin & Ashley Mills, I was excited to check it out. As a new homeowner, I realized that certain walls in my home where bare and could use some fun accessories to tie in my home decor.

This book takes you through the steps of picking the perfect piece and has a great collection of inspiration to help you figure out what exactly you want on your walls! There is so much variety that you are bound to find a few that you love.

Ashley and Jamin go on to tell you that you don't have to spend a fortune to fill your walls with beautiful artwork. Up and coming artists and prints are a great way to personalize your home on a budget.

If you are interested in seeing more from Ashley and Jamin they write a blog together at: thehandmadehome.net!



Are you a home decor book lover? We have a more book reviews coming up soon! Stay tuned!!

Nostalgia@home with Artnlight and Varnam

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There's something delightful about these artists. An unknown amount of happiness or joy when I think about them and their art. Their art for me is sheer Nostalgia and a little sentimental in a way. Their art indulges me in Nostalgia everytime I see them. Its indeed a joy to have them at home. At home with Artnlight and Varnam.

There's very little that I can talk about both of them. Their art takes me  a trip down memory lane. 

Vineeta Nair is the talented blogger of the famous blog "Artnlight". I have been a follower of her blog for a long time. I have seen her experimenting with her decoupaged almirah to her newest line of decoupaged trays, each one so unique in its design. Each product has been enticingly beautiful, that it was hard to select mine. But her newest section of Trays just blew my mind. The colours and the blend which I felt made me want one. The colours are amazing and they remind me of my ammas Kancheepuram sarees, their fragrance, the mogras, the carnatic music and the dance recitals at home. This tray is dipped in nostalgia for me. Its a sweet melange of my home and my favourite state Rajasthan and every trip I keep making into this beautiful state.

all about the nostalgia in a sentimental way

the nostalgic dance recitals

the fragrance

Varnam by Karthik ,amazingly crafted products by the Channapatana women folk. Varnam creates utility ware with a contemporary touch and some serious design intervention.They play with lights. It was like whenever I see their products,its a yearning to buy all,but that doesn't happen either.You have to have your choices always.After along time discussion with Karthik over mails,as my interest fluttered and fluctuated and Karthik remained patiently hearing all..Finally I decided over the vilakku,I am so happy to have them at home..Karthik.

I am Indeed Waiting for more Varnam!

a very special corner at home

All Images and Ideas :Lakshmi Arvind