Diary of a Decorator

It's Fall Y'all

2010-09-15T21:56:00.000-05:00

I love Fall! So glad that the weather is finally cooling off a bit and Football season is underway! I start with basic fall decorations in September. I love how cozy the house feels after I am done. Here are a few pictures of what I have done so far.

The entry table

A look into the kitchen

My ottoman

I am working on my dining room and will put together my table setting as soon as my projects are over. I am putting new shades on my chandelier and changing the material on my dining room chairs. Now is the time to do those touch ups around the house so you are ready for the holidays!

Happy Fall,

Kelly

Boys & Girls Club Teen Room

2010-09-03T01:43:00.001-05:00

I have been on the board of The Boys & Girls Club of Franklin/Williamson County for the past 8 years. I recently took a room and turned it into the Teen Room. It is now a cool hang out just for the older members of the club.

The Teens really like the room and are excited that they have a place all their own. I still have a few details to finish up but for the most part it is ready for them to enjoy.

Home is where your story begins......
Kelly

Embrace your Space: Kitchen

2010-06-05T17:25:00.002-05:00

I like it when a room looks great but I love it when a room feels great! Especially when it is a room I spend a lot of time in. So lets talk Kitchens....

The kitchen should be fabulous! Our lives revolve around this room. This is where we start our day. Sometimes the day starts out hectic and hurried just trying to get out the door. Other times the mornings are relaxed and easy going and we can enjoy a cup of coffee and linger over breakfast.

Whatever size your kitchen is, you should make it a warm and wonderful place for your family to start and end their day. I love cooking dinner with the kids doing their homework at the table and my husband cleaning up after me (as I dirty every bowl in the house) while we talk about our day. This doesn't happen often with our boys busy sports schedules, but when it does I am a happy camper.

Do you love your kitchen? If you don't then it is time to make some changes! I am not talking about a complete renovation (unless you are up for that) more like a rejuvenation. It doesn't have to look like a kitchen right out of a magazine...who lives like that anyway. The goal is to create an environment that your family enjoys and wants to spend time in.

Here is the thing about loving your kitchen....you don't want to leave dirty dishes in the sink, or things piled up on the counter. There is nothing worse then waking up in the morning and walking into a kitchen that is a mess. It puts you in a bad mood immediately. But wake up to a clean kitchen with the coffee brewing (thanks to a coffee maker that has a timer) and you start the day in a much better mood. Same thing goes for coming home after a long day and being slapped in the face by a sink full of dishes. You are in no mood to start dinner and enjoy time with your family because you have to clean up before you even start.

So look at your kitchen and see where you can make some changes. Get things organized and put away. Embrace your kitchen and make it the heart of your home.

Now time to get inspired....

HGTV

Country Living

Embrace your space series intro

2010-05-25T20:27:00.000-05:00

Embrace your space, a journey to a happy home.

Your home is a reflection of who you are. It is a reflection of where you are right now, it tells the story of your life. As you look around...is it a story that you like? What does you home say about you? How does your home make you feel?

When I had my first child, my home told the story of who I was at that moment. Sleep deprived, unmotivated, diaper buyer and bottle washer. Not to mention the fact that an infant was in the house and I had a swing, baby seat, infant car seat, cradle and goodness knows what else laying around our small townhouse. My house told my story very clearly. As our family grew and the kids were young, our house told of games we played, what the boys favorite toys were and how creative Jacob was as an artist. (on and off the walls)

Now my house reflects more of me but still tells the story of the lives we are living. Two teenage boys that play sports, an 8 year old daughter that loves barbies and changing clothes but most of that is now contained to their rooms. My house reflects my family's personality too. Nothing formal, comfortable and casual with plenty of room to relax.

Can your house affect your mood? Absolutely. So embrace your space and create a home that tells a story you enjoy. Join me for my Embrace your Space series, room by room ideas and philosophies that will help make your home the sanctuary it should be.

A good home must be made not bought.

~Joyce Maynard

teenager's room part 1

2010-05-11T13:53:00.001-05:00

I have two teenage boys that share a room. We have enough bedrooms that they could each have their own room but I want them to be together. I like that they have to work things out and don't have the option of going into their room and slamming the door on each other.

We had to get new beds...my 15 year old is 6'3" and growing so the twin beds with a head and foot board weren't working anymore. I looked everywhere for what I wanted. So after 2 months of shopping I decided to just make the beds myself. I wanted the room be their hang out so storage under the beds allowed us to get rid of other furniture.

This is a process so I will keep you updated as we go. I found bedding and painted the room first. Next I layed out the bed measurements and the drawers. Here are the beds.

Teenagers need an entertainment center

Sheving under the window is for trophys and pictures with

storage underneath.

Stay tuned for part 2!

Join the party at

A soft place to land

Vignettes

2010-04-27T23:59:00.001-05:00

I just love a party! How often to you change things around? I do small changes fairly often but every once in awhile I take rooms apart and rearrange things. This is my teenage boy's bathroom...trust me it isn't close to this clean now. I decided to consolidate our beach "finds" and diplay them on these shelves. I made this out of pine boards and trim plus lots of paint. Then I found containers to hold the small shells and picked out some of my favorite beach photos of the kids. I like the way it turned out. The pictures aren't great but the lightly is really bad in this bathroom.

The shower curtain is from Target

From Drab to Fab

2010-04-25T21:04:00.002-05:00

I am slowly redecorating my home office. I have a million other projects going on and my personal stuff always takes a back seat. Any hoooo....I have a huge box of fabric in the attic and from time to time I remember to go through it before I head off to the fabric store. Score! This old office chair my dad gave me 10 years ago needed help, lots of help. I had it covered with blue jean fabric before and ripped it off and started to recover it and realized I would like it better with a slipcover look. So here it is.

Before

After

I made a pattern with lining fabric and winged it. I still have some finishing touches to add

Trim and ties to secure it to the chair and I might add foam to the arms to make it more comfortable.

My office is vintage cottage and I am working on a desk now and shelving, I have a new embroidery machine and need to make room for it. I will post pics along the way.

Happy Decorating,
Kelly

Also linking to
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Spring Decor

2010-03-29T00:45:00.003-05:00

Here are a few pictures of my spring decor. I am joining the Shop Your House party on Finesse Your Nest

Before you say anything....I have two wedding pictures in my entire house and you will see them both

Before

After

I found the bunny in my daughter's room, the container was in the

garage and the moss was in my office.

Full view

I love this old pie safe. It is in my dining room.

Close up

I added moss to the bottom and found a Shabby Chic decorative ball in my

craft room and added it too.

I thought this turned out well and then went to change my table in the foyer. I found the bunny in the attic with my Easter table decor and the bird was in my office. I had the nest in my craft room and the eggs are from JoAnn's last year and the ribbon was from an older project. The container matched the one in the dining room (I have 3) and a different candle with a small grapevine wreath around it in the birdcage.

Before

Okay a little plain but I have been busy!

So after my "shopping spree"

Full lenth view

I had fun and I hope I gave you some ideas for your home!

Happy decorating~Kelly
because home is where your story begins......

Spring Fever

2010-03-25T11:36:00.001-05:00

Time to make a change? Me too. Spring does it to me every time. I start thinking of ways to change every room in my house. I have 3 big projects that I need to get done but they will disrupt my household and I just can't deal with that right now. So I will day dream about the changes I want until I can handle the huge mess.

so I am thinking about the color brown....but I am not loving the white covered books...seriously? I have better things to do with my day.

from Better Homes and Gardens

I do dream about a wonderful screened in porch but sadly I don't have one.

from Better Homes & Gardens

Maybe organize a closet or two?

Okay...my closet will never look like this, but it is fun to think about it!

Do you have a Spring project to share? I would love to hear about it...I will try to finish one up this week and take pictures!

Happy Spring,

Kelly

Home Staging

2010-03-01T19:37:00.000-06:00

Buyers base their interest in your home in the first 20 seconds they walk through the door. We all know that first impressions are everything! The housing market is very competitive and you want your house to stand out from the rest. The point of staging is to appeal to the most potential buyers possible. How you live in your home is one thing, how you sell your house is another.

Here is one of my recent staging projects.

Simplify Sunday

2010-02-01T00:23:00.000-06:00

Life is crazy...if you live at my house it is really crazy. So my journey to create a calmer, more organized home is a must. As an interior decorator, what most of my clients want is a home that is attractive for entertaining and comfortable and easy to live in. A place where their family is nurished and friends are welcome, not a decorator's showroom.

Remember that this is a journey....it is a process and will take some time. As a decorator, I am expected to have a beautiful picture perfect home. Truth is after I decorate everyone else's home, I really don't feel like coming home and working on mine. I have several projects that need to be done and can't seem to find the time or desire to tackle them. I do not deal with chaos very well, and most of you know that when you redo a room.....the whole house becomes chaos.

So I have been doing some simple projects. Small things everyday that are easy to complete in an hour or so. First was my junk drawer in the kitchen. Why do I have a junk drawer? If I am not sure where something goes....it goes in the junk drawer, never to be seen again. Next was the hall closet, and then the linen closet. It feels so good to have those things done. Not very glamorous I know but guess what? I love it

Once I get the smaller things done, the big projects won't be so overwhelming.

My favorite shops in Franklin!

2010-01-23T17:43:00.000-06:00

Show Us Your Life is a weekly blog event hosted each Friday by Kelly's Korner where bloggers indulge readers with fun facts about their worlds. There is a different subject each week and so many interesting bloggers participate! I hope you enjoy!

because home is where your story begins.....kelly

I love to shop...really love to shop! Historical downtown Franklin has several shops and restaurants. Here are a few of my favorites!

PDs is a great place to find decor items at a great price.
119 South Margin St.

Franklin, TN 37064

What's in Store has great accessories! My husband always finds great birthday and Christmas gifts here!

407 Main St.
Franklin, TN 37064

Franklin Farmers Market a great place to support local farmers and vendors.

The Factory at Franklin
Franklin, TN 37064

Hope you can visit us here in Franklin soon!

Define your Style!

2010-01-23T17:03:00.000-06:00

I want to make my own imprint on life, which suggests I know exactly how to express my individual style...but do I? Do you?

I had a couple that wanted help decorating the main rooms of their home. We sat down for our first consultation and I asked them what their style was. They looked at each other and then looked at me and shrugged. They didn't know how to answer, they weren't sure how to define it.

Do you know how to define your style? Have some fun and consider the possiblities! No rules here (we will worry about those later) so don't worry about making the wrong choice, just dream!

Write down 10 must haves for your main living space. How do you want to feel in the space? How do you use the room? Do you want a big comfy chair to curl up in and read, a room to play games in with your kids, a hang out to watch the big game?

Do you like light and airy rooms? White furniture, faded colors and texture with a vintage feel.

Are you more tradtional or modern? Do you like clean lines or layers of textures and accessories?

Maybe Old-World European decor full of character and sophistication appeals to you.

I know you have heard this before but look at magazines and create an idea folder. You don't have to have everything at once, the best homes are made not bought. Develop a plan to avoid costly mistakes. (This is where an Interior Decorator can help) Set priorities and tackle one project at a time. Get a notebook and write down measurements, take this with you when you go shopping. Don't buy anything you don't love, I don't care what the sale price is. Get rid of things that don't work in your space. Donate or sell items to make room for your vision.

Now have a reality check. Your project isn't a design show on TV, the results won't be instant. It is always a process so be prepared to take your time and have fun. Trust me....it will be worth it!

because home is where your story begins.....Kelly

Married Monday

2010-01-18T11:20:00.002-06:00

I plan weddings, beautiful, charming, romantic weddings. I love LOVE. I work with brides that have planned their weddings since they were young girls, the fairy tale, over the top extravaganza. For a year the couple is focused on the ceremony and reception. It is a very exciting time for the entire family but there can be some stressful moments.

Things can get overwhelming quickly so here are some tips to get started.

• Budget A beautiful wedding is possible with any budget. You just need a plan. A realistic plan. Who is paying? What can you afford to spend? What do you want to splurge on and what can you do without?

• Timeline Plan your calendar a year ahead of the wedding date if you can. I have planned a wedding in 4 months but it does create some problems with getting your first choice in venues and vendors, so be flexible.

• Location Traditional religious ceremony in the bride's hometown? A charming venue? Destination? It is easier to see what weekends are available and choose a date if you have your heart set on ceremony site.

• Bridal Party Who will participate in your wedding party? Ask as soon as possible so they can plan their
calendar accordingly.

• Dress Have fun. There is a dress out there for you!

• Invitations How many will you send? What style?

• Flowers, Photography, Color Palette The options are unlimited so try and stay focused.

• Reception A sit down dinner, a cocktail party or a backyard bash, how do you want to celebrate?
Please remember a wedding is a day but your marriage is for a lifetime. Spend some time planning for that too!

Have a love filled week!

Kelly

Inspirations

2010-01-08T21:49:00.000-06:00

Ready for a change?

2010-01-08T21:10:00.000-06:00

Are you a little restless? Looking for a change but not sure what you want to change? Well join the club. I have several projects that I really want to start...remodel my master bath, put new tile floor in kitchen, paint my trim black and the list goes on and on. I also have a few projects in the works, building furniture for my boys bedroom (just need to put the finishing touches on) reorganizing my office (nightmare) and cleaning out the garage (an ongoing project that never seems to end).
So yes....I am a little restless.

When my job is to organize projects for other people, I tend to get behind on my own. Then add in 3 kids that all have activities and homework plus a husband that travels some and I end up getting nothing finished.

Here is where I should follow my own advice.

Prioritize projects
Your house is the biggest financial and emotional investment you will ever have. Take care of it, make it your home. Figure out what will make you happy and go for it.

My priority is my office. It is my creative space, the room where my inspiration and vision boards are. When it is organized, I get so much more accomplished. I rarely do something just for me but this is the year that I am changing that. The other projects will get done too, but all my focus is going to my office until it is complete. That is the secret; when you prioritize you don't spread yourself thin with 4 or 5 projects. You have all of your attention on one and it becomes much easier to complete. I will take you on my journey to complete my office and hopefully inspire you along the way.

So what is your priority? Come on let’s do it together!

because home is where your story begins......kelly

No Resolutions

2010-01-07T01:15:00.000-06:00

I don't make resolutions....never really have. Oh I will say I plan on being skinny by summer, or I am going to work out 3 or more times a week so my arms will look great by summer, or okay you get the idea.

I never think it is a good idea to make life changing decisions on New Year's Eve when you have a drink in your hand (and after you have consumed a few earlier in the evening) but I am a sucker for a new year and all the possibilities it holds. So I made a couple of decisions on the long car ride home the other day and I will share them with you.

First, I am going to live more authentically. I am going to find my joy. Really....I know it sounds silly but I have found that people aren't honest in their lives. They do things they don't want to do because they think they should and don't do things they want to 'cause what will people think. So here is my advice to you....don't be a martyr. No one but you will notice. Do things in love and be generous without any thought of acknowledgement. Don't expect anything in return and guess what happens? Karma baby....good karma! Like your Mama used to say "What goes around, comes around" and it does, you're just not always there to see it.

Next, I am going to let the people in my life that are important to me know it. I am going to make an effort to really connect and not just pass texts and quick phone messages back and forth. Friendship is so important and so easy to take advantage of. I have a ton of acquaintances but only a handful of friends who would hold my hair while I puck...you know who you are! I couldn't imagine how I would have survived this past month without that love and support.

So, no resolutions, to much pressure. Instead, just make an adjustment of priorities and guess what? You will find your joy too.

Joyfully yours,
Kelly

The New Year

2010-01-03T21:26:00.000-06:00

It is with a great deal of emotion that I start this New Year. I lost my mother on Christmas Eve after her 22 year battle with breast cancer. The past week has been a blur.....well really the past 2 months. This holiday season was a very difficult one for my family. I wasn't able to do the special things I normally do with my children during the month of December and never really finished decorating my house.

The week before Christmas was spent at the hospital hoping my mom would get enough strength back to be able to spend Christmas at home. She fought a hard fight but the cancer just wouldn't let go. On Christmas Eve morning I made the difficult decision to bring my mother to my home to spend her last hours surrounded by her family. I sat my children down at the dining room table and told them that "Binky" wasn't going to make it through the day and that I wanted to bring her home. I made sure they understood that she would die here and if that was something that they would be okay with. Each sweet child (ages 8 thru 15) said it would be very sad but they wanted her here too.

So with the Doctor's help we made the arrangements for her to be transported by ambulance with the help of hospice when we arrived. Once she was settled, she opened her eyes for the first time in over 24 hours. I told her where she was and all the grandchildren came in to talk to her. Each one handled it differently but my sweet Tanner was overwhelmed with emotion. He held her hand and cried while he told her how much he loved her. She was able to slowly say in a muffled voice "I love you too" Those were the last words my mom spoke.

We took turns sitting by her bed and holding her hand. I continued to prepare for Christmas morning and tried to finish up wrapping the gifts that I had hidden all over the house. It was just about seven o'clock and my brother called my name in a panic. The hospice night nurse had just arrived and I hurried downstairs. Mom was gone...wow I knew it was coming but nothing prepares you for that moment. I had to call my dad down and tell him she had passed and then we had to tell the children.

I can't tell you how blessed we were. It was the most difficult moment of my life and one of the most precious. As we started handling the business end of everything, we had the support of a wonderful nurse who promised to stay with us until everything was taken care of and she was so comforting and sympatheic, I don't know what we would have done without her.

The first call was to the funeral home back home in Kentucky. They took care of contacting a local funeral home to come and pick up my mom until they could get her the next day. Once that was arranged, we waited for the hospice RN to come by and pronouce her dead. The men from the funeral home arrived and were so thoughtful and caring. They assured us they would take very good care of her. It was so hard to watch them take her.

Okay now what....I took a deep breath and told everyone to get their Christmas PJs on and head to the living room. The annual Christmas Eve tradition of watching Christmas Vacation wasn't going to be missed. Mom wouldn't have had it any other way. We decided to wait to start calling family and friends until after we opened our gifts on Christmas morning. We wanted that night just to ourselves.

As difficult as the next few days were, I have never felt so blessed to have the support of family and close friends to ease the pain. Somehow we made it through and life is slowly getting back to normal. As the New Year rolled around I decided that no huge resolutions were in order this year. I just wanted to say "I love you" more and "I'm sorry" less. I also decided to live honestly. No more agreeing to things I don't want to do out of obligation or guilt. I want to be authentic in my life and in my relationships. I am going to simplify and find joy in the small things that happen during my day. I will be grateful for the many blessing I recieve and say thank you every chance I get.

My mission is to help people simplify their lives in a beautiful way. Isn't that how you want to start the new year too? So follow me on this journey and lets see where it takes us. So glad you came by for a visit, stop by anytime!

because home is where your story begins.....Kelly