This Years Backyard Must Haves

FREE IMAGES I am getting my summer parties planned and excited for some outdoor time! Here is what's on my list for this years backyard must haves:

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Comfy seating!

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Beautiful plants!

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Outdoor Lighting!

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A Fire Pit!

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Friends and Family to share it with!

Light Bright Kitchen

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Light and bright does not mean you have to do head to toe white! If you are looking for a nice bright kitchen without it being completely whitewashed, here's a little inspiration that can help:

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A light natural wood will never steer you wrong! It goes great with the light and airy feel and looks clean too.

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Not into wood? A simple gray or tan can keep your kitchen nice and bright and pair's nicely with white accents for a timeless feel.

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If you are dying for a little color stay on the pale end of things. this light blue is almost white but it's not! Paired with white upper cabinets and a blue back splash make this kitchen feel colorful, light, and airy.

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If you have more of an eclectic style you can use a variation of different natural hues that tie together to complete that bright kitchen you desire. 

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If dark hues are more your style, go big on lighting and natural lighting. Nothing is brighter than the sun! 

Mixing metal finishes: gorgeous inspiration

FREE IMAGES So, I have a conundrum in my master bath. I want to change our light fixtures, but I don't want the light fixtures to match the finish of our faucets and towel racks. I spent some time looking for inspiring ways to mix metal finishes this afternoon, and turns out that it actually makes a space look better balanced when there is a mix of finishes. Below are some of my favorite examples:

This bathroom is closest to ours.  Our faucets pretty much look just like that, our vanity knobs are dark, and I want to get light fixtures with a chrome finish.  Looks pretty good to me!

Traditional Bathroom by Minneapolis Architects & Building Designers Charlie & Co. Design, Ltd

Nickel finish faucets look nice with the dark finish of the sconces and mirror frames.

Mediterranean Bathroom by Aliso Viejo Interior Designers & Decorators D for Design

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Love the gold and chrome here.
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One challenge I'm having is picking a fixture type for our bathroom ceiling.  The ceiling in our bath is very high, and the fixture there now is more like a foyer light, and very tuscan looking, which just isn't our style.  Here are some fixtures types I'm considering.

I like semi-flush, but with the fixture so high up would it provide enough light?

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I also like this style pendant, and it is tall enough to be suitable for a high ceiling.
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I really like this option.

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I really like these pendants, but I would need something wider.

Traditional Bathroom by Irvine Interior Designers & Decorators Blackband Design

A clean and simple chandelier could work too.

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What style fixture would you use for a bathroom with a very high ceiling?

Outdoor Window Treatment Inspiration

FREE IMAGES Sometimes all it takes a little extra something to create an eye catching exterior. Since windows are a major part of the homes exterior look, I wanted to give you some good examples to liven them up a little...or just dream!

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Adding some simple window boxes and beautiful flowers can drawer your attention to the gorgeous windows.

Wowza.
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A pop of color with the shutters makes these stand out, as well as them not being the typical shutters you'd find. I love the simplicity of it.

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Adding an arbor and some great lighting can drawer you attention in. I also love that these shutters are the same size as the windows and doors!

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It could even be as simple as painting the trim a contrasting color to make them stand out! Get outside and get creative with your outdoor windows. Find a way to make your home stand out from the rest. 

Inspiration for incorporating yard sale and flea market finds

FREE IMAGES Since it's the yard sale time of year, I thought I'd show you some inspiring ways to mix in those great flea sale and yard sale finds. It doesn't really matter what style decor you have.

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Here's another example of a what vintage lighting can do adding it with a barn style table and barstools gives it a charming rustic feel. 

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A Welcoming Front Door

FREE IMAGES Adding an extra touch to your front door can set the tone for the rest of your home. It can also make a guest feel at home the minute they pull up! Here are some tips to help you bring your front door to life:


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Make sure your house number is legible. There's nothing worse than having that uncertain feeling on whether you are walking up to the right house or not! Also be sure that it's visible throughout the entire day and going into the night. Outdoor lighting can be a great problem solver in this case.


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Keep it simple! Leave enough room for your guests to be at the front door and not feel overwhelmed or cramped while they are waiting for you to answer. The extra breathing space is comforting and relaxing.


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Add a friendly sign. Nothing says you're welcome more than a welcome sign! Adding a little touch to remind them you are happy they are coming puts a smile on everyone's face.


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Get creative! Adding an extra touch like window decor is stunning. It gives everyone a little eye candy which is great for small doorways where you might not have enough room for planters or decorations.


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Show some personality! Don't be afraid to bring out things you love to to decorate your front door. It'll help your door stand out from others and can also be great conversation starters!

Have Fun with Lighting

FREE IMAGES I have a love/hate relationship with lighting. When it's done right, I love it. When it's done even a little bit wrong, I hate it. Let's not even get into how much most of it costs. It's easy to let lighting be an after thought when we're mostly so focused on furnishings and room layout. A lot of the time I have trouble even considering lighting until most of my room is put together. The good news is is that there is an endless selection of lighting styles out there to find a piece that not only matches your space, but can really take center stage and make a positive contribution to the room. You can make it a talking piece of your space or use it to add a little color!

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If you are starting from scratch and need to locate all of your lighting fixtures, there are tons or retailers online and with showrooms to find what you need. One example is homebase lighting. Homebase is a leading home enhancement retailer selling amazing finds for your home and garden. I particularly love their Habitat Lighting section!

I'm a sucker for lighting in unexpected places - like this chandelier over the island.

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Between the options of ceiling fixtures, floor lamps, decorative lamps, pendants, and outdoor lighting the options can make the task of choosing daunting.  That's why I allow my room to make the decision for me.  Of course, if you find a lamp or fixture you absolutely love,  the room will follow.

Of course, your lighting doesn't need to scream either, a chic little piece can do it's job well in the background.
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There are a few things to consider when selecting your lighting, like how much natural light is in the room, how much light you'll need at night, and where you will need direct lighting and ambient lighting. If you already have enough light in the room adding a fixture or lamp for decorative features can be a little more flexible. 

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You can really go dramatic in the dining room because you don't have to worry about people hitting their heads!
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Don't forget to be a little creative! You can get get a hollow glass lamp and fill it with something fun or meaningful. This gives you complete control of the final look and style for your space. Just because you need a little light in a room doesn't mean it has to be purely utilitarian - make it something worth looking at too!

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This post is in partnership with homebase.co.uk